If you at all (like me) are a fan of the Blade Runner series, you know the rocky road the film had. Starting with it’s miserable production, a masterful directors cut, and then a decline into studio intervention, the film was a flawed but amazing cult favorite that finally had a happy ending with the astonishing Final Cut, released in 2007.

If you’re also a fan of Blade Runner like me, you probably do not want to read the rest of this story.

Announced today, the production company Alcon Entertainment (they who brought us The Blind Side and The Book of Eli) have obtained the franchise rights to Blade Runner, allowing them to produce both sequels and prequels however they wish.

Look, I realize I perpetuate much of the problems facing Hollywood, by embracing the many sequels, remakes and reboots of geek based franchises. Heck, I even push for adaptations of some of my favorite works.

But this has to stop.

Yes, some of these remakes and sequels paid off great, but the fact is, original ideas are being ignored for the easy plays, and in turn, the well is running dry.  Honestly, one of the best sci-fi movies I’ve seen in years (Inception) was a VERY original idea, and the fact that I know it only got made because The Dark Knight did well and WB wanted Nolan for a third Batfilm sorta bothers me.

This GQ article articulates the point far better than I can, but seriously, can we just let certain titans exist in their own realm of quality entertainment and STOP TRYING TO RECREATE THEM.

Or hell, if you must recreate them, DO THEM UNDER A NEW NAME. That way, you can try to OUT do them, without the pressure of flying under that name.

The full press release follows. If anyone needs me, I’ll be opening up some veins.

LOS ANGELES, CA, MARCH 3, 2011—Warner Bros-based financing and production company Alcon Entertainment (“The Blind Side," “The Book of Eli") co-founders and co-Chief Executive Officers Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove, in the most significant property acquisition negotiations in the Company’s 13-year history, are in final discussions to secure film, television and ancillary franchise rights to produce prequels and sequels to the iconic 1982 science-fiction thriller “Blade Runner."

Alcon is negotiating to secure the rights from producer-director Bud Yorkin, who will serve as producer on “Blade Runner" along with Kosove and Johnson. Cynthia Sikes Yorkin will co-produce. Frank Giustra and Tim Gamble, CEO’s of Thunderbird Films, will serve as executive producers.

Alcon’s franchise rights would be all-inclusive, but exclude rights to remake the original. The Company, however, may produce projects based on situations introduced in the original film. The project would be distributed domestically by Warner Bros. International rights are yet to be determined.

Johnson and Kosove stated: “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.“

Among its many distinctions, “Blade Runner" has been singled out as one of the greatest movies of all time by countless polls and media outlets, and overwhelmingly as the greatest science-fiction film of all time by a majority of genre publications.

Released by Warner Bros. almost 30 years ago, “Blade Runner” was adapted by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples from Philip K. Dick’s novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” and directed by Ridley Scott following his landmark “Alien.“ The film was nominated for two Academy Awards (Best Visual Effects, and Best Art Direction).

“Blade Runner" was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” The film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 1993 and is frequently taught in university courses. In 2007, it was named the 2nd most visually influential film of all time by the Visual Effects Society.

Alcon’s COO Scott Parish and head of business affairs David Fierson are negotiating on behalf of the Company.