"Blade Runner" is coming back, whether you like it or not.
Alcon Entertainment and Warner Bros. announced earlier today that they're in final negotiations to secure the rights to the science fiction franchise created by Ridley Scott, able to make prequels and sequels but not a remake—though story elements introduced in the original Harrison Ford film are not off limits.
Andrew Kosvoe, Broderick Johnson and Bud Yorkin of Alcon spoke with io9 about the "Blade Runner" acquisition and their reasoning behind pursuing the film's rights.
"It's one of [our] favorite films, and we throughout that the universe that has been created here, is one that's complete with ideas and possibilities," said Johnson. "We're intellectually fascinated and stimulated to explore the themes that the movie invokes and the underlying material. At the end of the day those are the things that make great movies. Those and characters and whatnot, it's an opportunity of a life time to try and explore this further."
That said, the Alcon folks are quick to remind readers of something I suggested earlier today—the "Blade Runner" prequels and sequels may never come to pass: "This may work, or it may not work. We may make this movie, but in truth it may never get made."
"But what I can tell you for certain today is that we will not go about this process in some form of large group think where 15 execs are going to sit around a table micromanaging the creative talent," added Kosvoe. "Broderick and I will meet with writers and directors and we will figure out what direction we want to go and what story we believe in. And then we will have them the artistic autonomy to go out and make a great movie."
Though there aren't specific writers or directors attached to the new "Blade Runner" films quite yet, the trio identified the man at the top of their wish list as "Inception" filmmaker Chris Nolan.
"Our friend Chris Nolan who we did 'Insomnia' [with] would be in the pie in the sky for us," said Kosvoe. "I think the methodology that Chris Nolan brought to 'Batman' is precisely what we aspire to whomever the filmmaker is, whether Ridley comes back and joins us or it's someone else. It's precisely what we aspire to with 'Blade Runner,' that's the template for us."
And just to be clear, Ridley Scott isn't officially involved in these "Blade Runner" films—not yet, at least.
"We won't say if we've reached out to Ridley Scott or not, but what we will say is that Ridley Scott's blessing to what we're doing is very important to Alcon," said Kosvoe. "It's important to Bud [Yorkin], and certainly we have the greatest degree of respect to him as a filmmaker. He's one of the greatest living directors and one of the greatest directors of all time. So of course he's very important."
Are you warming up to the idea of "Blade Runner" sequels and prequels? Let us know what you think in the comments section and on Twitter!
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