Denis Villeneuve's Blade Runner: 2049 defied expectations and became one of the most beautiful and deep science fiction films of recent times. Despite its critical success and the love for it amongst fan groups, general audiences didn't exactly flock to experience this event film.
Poor box office results means that the studio aren't likely to want to put another sequel to the franchise into production. While an anime show is in production, it seems that the future of the big screen stories in this world remains bleak. There's plenty of reasons that this should become a much loved trilogy but also many more as to why the franchise should be left alone.
End The Franchise: An Open Ending
The ending for Blade Runner: 2049 left an interesting set of stories on the table. It's a position that films rarely end with and it leaves the audience questioning the plot for years after.
It's also a natural conclusion though. One story had come to an end, setting up the future of this world. The next story doesn't need to be told though as there's a mystery to how the future replicant revolution could have played out.
Revive The Franchise: Unsatisfying Conclusion
In the same way though, the conclusion is somewhat unsatisfying. While it's an interesting storytelling technique, there's also the potential to continue on this story and find out what really happens next.
A sequel has all the components in place to carry on from this film and there's a number of story beats to pick up from. With the main villain of the film not even defeated, there's some unfinished business.
End The Franchise: Lack Of Audience
While the marketing, movie and casting all supported the fact that this would have a bigger audience, Blade Runner: 2049 under-performed resulting in a poor financial gain.
There's a suggestion here that the audience just doesn't exist for a franchise that's so old and was always a cult favorite to begin with. Sci-fi fans might want to see more but the general public may not.
Revive The Franchise: More Potential
There's a lot more potential when it comes to this futuristic world. With so much technology to explore, the way in which the society operates and the world of the replicants, the franchise could go on for some time.
The surface has only just been scratched in terms of where this narrative could be heading. It would be a shame to cut it off now when there's a lot more to achieve.
End The Franchise: New Franchises
There's plenty of new franchises to explore, that perhaps are even based on original content. With the streaming wars, the increase in video game movies and the comic book movie trend, there's a lot of big new series to explore.
Perhaps the Blade Runner franchise should sit on the shelf again for some time, while other franchises can have their moment to shine. It could even inform the future of the genre.
Revive The Franchise: The Cast
The cast of this franchise is so stellar that it would be fantastic to see them reunited again. The lead of the series thus far has really been Harrison Ford, although Ryan Gosling was also a brilliant leading man.
With the future of the franchise potentially resting on the shoulders of Carla Juri, there's a lot of great places this series could go to next, with so many amazing people on screen!
End The Franchise: Difficult To Follow
It's pretty difficult for these films to be followed up on though. They are so perfect that there's a potential for the film to perform even worse! If the quality isn't there it could really remove audience enthusiasm.
With a lack of excitement around the first film still, it's also difficult to bounce back from this. Another release, especially in the current times, could spell more disaster for the series.
Revive The Franchise: The Aesthetics
The cinematography and visual world that has been created for Blade Runner is one of the most original and unique in all of film. Every shot is almost like a work of art.
There needs to be more visual storytelling from such an amazing landscape, with the concept art and final editing creating a rich world to explore in future movies.
End The Franchise: A Perfect Legacy
There's a great legacy behind these films that perhaps shouldn't be tampered with. A new movie could take it all in a new direction that doesn't fit with what's come before.
There's something so perfect about leaving the series on the last film, that any decision after that could ruin the narrative that has so meticulously been set out.
Revive The Franchise: A Reflection
This dystopic fiction is in many ways a reflection of our current society. There's a strong chance the future is affected by capitalism and global warming in the way that the world in Blade Runner is.
It's important for these films to be made in order to hold up a mirror to our own society, to see what should change to avoid such a grim fate in the future.