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Alcon Entertainment Acquires 'Blade Runner' Prequel/Sequel Rights

by Alex Billington
March 2, 2011

More news to get riled up over. Alcon Entertainment released a press release (via Deadline) announcing that they're in final discussions to secure film, television and ancillary franchise rights (meaning any other spin-offs/series and so on) to produce prequels and sequels to Ridley Scott's iconic science fiction thriller Blade Runner. I guess the good news in this is that the deal excludes rights to remake the original. Phew! However, they can produce projects based on "situations introduced" in the original film. No official movies have been announced yet, but I'm sure they've got some plans for plenty of Blade Runner-related projects.

Before we get into any complaining, let's hear what the producers have to say. Alcon Ent. CEO's Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove state: "This is a major acquisition for our company, and a personal favorite film for both of us. We recognize the responsibility we have to do justice to the memory of the original with any prequel or sequel we produce. We have long-term goals for the franchise, and are exploring multi-platform concepts, not just limiting ourselves to one medium only." So not just TV, movies or video games - all three! Blade Runner was released in 1982 and has been treated fairly well by Warner Bros, including a fantastic Blu-Ray re-release a few years back. The film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 1993 as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

Let's look on the bright side here, they're not remaking Blade Runner, they're only using it as a jumping off point for sequels, prequels and whatever else they can think of, probably video games and more. Obviously the big concern here is whether they can actually develop a sequel (or prequel) that kicks ass and lives up to the original, unlike Terminator Salvation or any of the other 80's sci-fi movies rehashed into crappy direct-to-DVD sequels. Alcon will be developing the projects, and Warner Bros will distributie anything that needs it. We'll continue to follow development and will let you know when they announce any movies. Thoughts?

Filed under Development, Movie News, Opinions

From around the web:

http://twitter.com/Level1Alt パトリツク ♬ Rip

Sounds pretty bad, just make original scifi movie and sequel. The tech and the visuals will be totally different that i already do not care =P
Cmo

so they can make a prequel/sequel and release 10 different versions of it like the original. I think this is a bad idea....blade runner is one movie that shouldnt be messed with
Ivan

I don't mind if they use the Blade Runner world, but the characters should be left out of it.
Loser

I will blow my brains out now, this can`t be happening
Replicant

Franchise? IT ISN'T A FRANCHISE! It's a movie based on a Philip K. Dick novel. I'm sorry, but nothing will live up to the original or the book. If anything, just adapt other Dick novels to the screen or do something original. Attempting to make prequels and sequels to Blade Runner, well, that already shows you don't respect it at all. I hope they go backrupt.
Tester

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHh0rf0ojEc
http://twitter.com/JohnnyNeat Johnny Neat

Terrible idea, but I'm going to go out on a limb and state that Michael Fassbender play young Rick Deckard if needed.
- Noreply
  
  Something tells me you haven't watched Blade Runner.
lando

first of all, the book is nothing like the film so what are you talking about? second of all, as a fan and owner of anything in print from the movie, I'll state the obvious: the original film exists and there is nothing that they can do to detract from it in any way!!! if a sequel/prequel sucks then they stand on their own and dont change a thing from the monolith that is blade runner. I understand the apprehension regarding the material, but its SUCH A CLASSIC that there is no way to keep someone from trying to milk it some more and try to re-introduce it to the world and the fans. They can make deckard a bunny rabbit tomorrow for all I care, I have the briefcase edition that I can watch whenever I want so I dont really care what they TRY to do at this point.
- Anonymous
  
  you're right of course, lando. things get called 'classic' too easily these days, but Blade Runner thoroughly deserves it - and nothing's going to change that. yet i see where Replicant's coming from. when i hear someone say 'We recognize the responsibility we have to do justice to the memory of the original with any prequel or sequel we produce.' to a stand alone film (itself based loosely on a *short* story) that never intended to have either, it just smacks of desperation and a total *lack* of responsibility to me. but one look at the top 20 all time grossing films tells you all you need to know about the need Hollywood has for franchises. i know that every film can't be Blade Runner, or even Inception, but i'd rather they tried that than go back to the well yet again.
  - Lando
    
    I do agree with that idea. They need to have the balls to try original material (like inception) and perhaps build new franchises rather than go back and tap the corpses of classics (I whole heartedly agree BR is a classic)
    - Anonymous
      
      amen to that.
Anonymous

I personally believe Alcon is taking a bold step. Making a prequel or a sequel rather than an out and out remake would at the very least still be original in that they'll have to come up with a new story that will fit into the world that Philip K. Dick created. So for the most part these guys are taking a huge risk and obviously have the balls to do it. As a huge fan of 'Blade Runner,' my old friend, Desi already wrote a script years ago and submitted it to producers at Warner Bros., that visits that world. Well they turned it down saying it was too dark for them and he's been trying to get it made for a couple of years now. The story is 100% original while living in that Blade Runner-esque world. You guys can take a look at the animatic of the concept art on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/user/AMRAPicturesEnt#p/a/u/2/er3UVM8Q3po The story titled 'Signed in Blood,' creates another aspect of the Blade Runner dystopian world, in which new cities have been built on the dying and decaying remains of the past. There is a subculture of assassins and the main character, Morty, an aging assassin, is the best professional killer who ever lived. Morty has grown tired of killing and wants to get Hana, the woman that Morty loves and George, Morty's young protege, out of the killing business. But the powers that be won't let Morty go because he's too valuable an asset. It's a story that deals with love, loyalty, betrayal, revenge, and redemption and travels from New Los Angeles, California to Paris, France, to New Tokyo and back again. It has an epic shootout with a Japanese Yakuza gang in flying cars and flying bikes. In fact Desi's been negotiating to get the use of real jet packs and flying cars as well as some of the most highly advanced robots being developed today, for the movie. If you guys like the concept maybe you can champion it's cause. If nothing else the fans would have a story that they had some input into getting it made.
Nocsyn

feedddd trollss feeeeeeedddddddddd