Like most geeks, I’ve watched Blade Runner more times than I care to count. And not once in the course of those innumerable viewings did I ever think “What this movie really needs is a sequel. Or maybe a prequel.” But that’s the difference between me and the Hollywood producers who are planning on turning Blade Runner into a franchise. I have no interest in watching Blade Runner: The Early Years. I have no interest in watching Blade Runner II: The Wrath of Deckard, in which our grizzled protagonist takes on a whole fleet of attack ships off the shoulder of Orion. Actually, that might be a fun movie, but it wouldn’t be Blade Runner.
I don’t have anything against franchises. I’ll gladly pay money for the next Star Trek sequel. But Blade Runner works well as a self-contained story. It doesn’t need a continuation or a prelude.
Now, Galaxy Quest, on the other hand…
