Alcon Entertainment is close to securing the rights to "Blade Runner" for prequels, sequels and other projects, the company announced Wednesday.
It will be the most significant acquisition in Alcon's 13-year history, the company said.
Producer-director Bud Yorkin owns the rights to the iconic 1982 science fiction movie and will produce along with Cynthia Sikes Yorkin and Alcon. Frank Giustra and Tim Gamble, the CEOs of Thunderbird Films, will serve as executive producers.
Warner Bros. will distribute the project domestically. International rights have not been determined.
In a written statement, Alcon co-CEOs Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove said, “We are honored and excited to be in business with Bud Yorkin. 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.”
Alcon's franchise rights are all inclusive, but the agreement will not allow the company to remake the highly acclaimed thriller.
"Blade Runner" is an adaptation of Philip K. Dick's novel, "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep." Hampton Fancher and David Peoples wrote the screenplay and Ridley Scott directed.
Alcon COO Scott Parish and head of business affairs David Fierson are negotiating on behalf of the company.
