Blade Runner prequels and sequels being developed

Variety reports that Blade Runner, Ridley Scott’s cult classic sci-fi noir, is being prepped for prequel and sequel development. Alcon Entertainment is in final discussions to secure film, TV and ancillary franchise rights to the 1982 thriller, which starred Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, M. Emmet Walsh, Daryl Hannah, William Sanderson, Brion James, Joe Turkel, Joanna Cassidy, James Hong, Morgan Paull and Kevin Thompson.

Alcon’s Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson said they are in preliminary stages, deciding whether to hire a filmmaker or a writer first, if they’ll develop a prequel or a sequel, and if they’ll try to convince Ridley Scott to get involved.

Franchise rights would be all-inclusive, excluding rights to remake the original. However, Alcon could produce projects based on situations introduced in the original.

The original Blade Runner took place in a noir version of 2019 Los Angeles, and centered in Deckard (Ford), a former blade runner. The reluctant cop has been tapped to track down and terminate 4 replicants that have hijacked a ship in space and have returned to earth seeking their maker, in hopes of extending their limited lifespan.

Warner Bros. will distribute any new Blade Runner films domestically via its distribution pact with Alcon.

“This is a major acquisition for our company, and a personal favorite film for both of us,” Kosove and Johnson said. “We recognize the responsibility we have to do justice to the memory of the original with any prequel or sequel we produce.”

The original Blade Runner was adapted by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples from Philip K. Dick’s novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

Alcon’s only previous sci-fi effort was the Denzel Washington film The Book of Eli, which was released last year.