One browse at Julian Casablancas’ newly designed website and you’d be forgiven for thinking you had just stumbled upon Warner Bros’ official page for Blade Runner. The only problem is, the Internet as we know and love it wasn’t really kicking about in 1982, back when the extent of marketing a film couldn’t go beyond trailers, posters and radio spots.

The all too familiar cyber-punk setting is provided by Warren Fu, a gentleman well-versed in all things sci-fi as one look at his resume will tell. Fu got his big start on the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy as a storyboard and visual effects artist (roughly 99% of all males dream job). The immediate Blade Runner feel makes even more sense (is that a Spinner?) since the trilogy’s infamous “city planet” Coruscant, one of the series’ major settings, was directly influenced by the urban Hades that is LA circa 2019 depicted in Blade Runner.

Since then, Fu has moved into music video/website territory, perhaps most famously directing the 2nd version of The Strokes’ “You Only Live Once” video, which features more 2001 visual cues than you could poke a starchild with. Fu’s relationship with The Strokes has only strengthened since, not only designing their website but directing drummer Fabrizio Moretti’s side-project, Little Joy’s video for “No One’s Better Sake” and most recently the extremely cinematic “trailer” for Casablancas’ solo debut, Phrazes for the Young. Recently a casting call was put out in Los Angeles for Julian’s first music video, requesting “real Mad Max diehards with a post-apocalyptic look” and steampunk advocates. Though it wasn’t mentioned, it sounds like Fu to me.

Fu displays an uncanny ability to reference familiar sci-fi cues, while making the work completely his own, much like The Strokes’ own remarkable modern take on recognised, classic rock. Fitting.

UPDATE: Warren Fu just sent me an email confirming he is indeed doing Julian’s upcoming video, though he did not say what one: “Yeah, you know me too well… I’m directing Julian’s upcoming video.” So there you have it, folks.