Ten Movies that Need Prequels More than Alien

Director Ridley Scott recently announced that he was about to begin work on a prequel to one of his most popular films, the sci-fi/horror/genre-defining movie Alien. While we can't deny that we'd love to see a good Alien movie, a prequel seems like the wrong way to go, since Sigourney Weaver's Ripley, the fan-favorite character from the series, couldn't be in it, and to show where exactly the xenomorphs come from would take all of the mystery out of them. We came up with a list of genre films that need prequels -- good ones -- more than Alien does, starting with another Ridley Scott film...

Blade Runner
When we pick up the story, artificial humanoid "replicants" are illegal on earth, and have already staged a violent revolt in outer space. Seeing how the replicants came about and turned on their creators would be pretty cool to watch, especially if there were CGI cameos by a young Rutger Hauer and a young Harrison Ford among the replicant hordes.

Kill Bill
We've seen how their partnership ended, but we'd love to watch a movie about the heyday of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad, after Beatrix Kiddo and Elle Driver trained with Pai Mei. They must have all gotten along at some point, right? Like an evil Charlie's Angels?

Harry Potter
No, eight movies is not enough. Once this whole "Chosen One" business is done with, let's go back in time and see what happened the first time Voldemort rose to power, and the original Order of the Phoenix had to stop him. The torturing of the Longbottoms, the "death" of Peter Pettigrew and ultimately the murder of the Potters would make for some great cinema.

Leon (The Professional)
We love this movie so much, and we always wanted to know what it was that led Leon the Cleaner to come to America. Tony once hinted that he had some sordid history with a girl, and we'd love to see a young Leon, at home in Italy, getting in over his head.

The Matrix
There have been animated shorts that explored the origins of the war between machines and man, but since it involves a massive robot-human war, we'd like to see it done as a live-action movie, without the artistic license of the anime.

Lethal Weapon
In the first movie, Martin Riggs is suicidal over the death of his wife, who we later find out was killed by drug dealers trying to eliminate Riggs, then a narcotics officer. The lack of any Murtaugh action would be regrettable, but, if cast right, a young Riggs being driven over the edge could be pretty awesome to watch.

Dirty Harry
Clint Eastwood was already 40 by the time he played Detective Harry Callahan. What was Dirty Harry like before that? We know he was a Marine, and that his wife died in a car accident -- show us his start on the force, and the dirty jobs that earned him his nickname.

Blade
We love Wesley Snipes as Blade, and we've heard stories from Whistler about how he found Blade living on the streets, feeding on animals and almost feral. He trained the Daywalker to control his bloodlust, and recruited him into his war on vampires. We don't know how old he was when that happened, but a true origin tale with a young Blade would be pretty boss.

Conan the Destroyer
It seems like the movies show us Conan's full origin: captured, family murdered, forced to march in a circle for 20 years. But in between his gladiator days and his showdown with Thulsa Doom, we'd like to see more of young Conan's early years as a thief. Make it happen, by Crom!

Tomb Raider
How about a movie that takes place before the first two existed, when Lara Croft had a real British accent, there were more tombs and less robots, and the movies weren't terrible? That would be nice.

What movie would you like to see a prequel to?

18 Comments

August 3, 2009 5:55 PM
evelyn27
Reply

I love Lethal Weapon!!! I'd watch that.

August 3, 2009 7:48 PM
erica
Reply

A Matrix sequel "WITHOUT the artistic license of anime"??

Dude--The Matrix was basically a live-action anime movie. You can't take out the anime, without ruining what made the first movie great to begin with.

August 4, 2009 12:37 AM
steveotivo
Reply

In regards to a young Rutger Hauer did they forget about the 4 year lifespan. Maybe they meant a Nexus 5 Rutger!

August 4, 2009 2:19 AM
Lauren
Reply

I want Harry Potter prequel!! Even if JK isn't involved, I would still want it. Which is totally wrong of me, but the thought of the last two movies coming out and having nothing to look forward to from that franchise is scaring me. Desperation makes me...well, desperate. And I'd rather have a Kill Bill in the future with Vernita Green's daughter hunting the Bride.

August 4, 2009 9:52 AM
Snowflake
Reply

OMG I totaly agree with these. Harry Potter?! Leathal Weapon?! Blade?! and a Tomb Raider Movie that doesn't suck?! That is what I am talking about! Anyone interested in talking actors for these prequels?

August 4, 2009 1:17 PM
Cierra
Reply

I'd LOVE to see a Kill Bill prequel. It would be great to see how all the assassins earn their names and became infamous. I'd so watch that...a lot.

August 4, 2009 1:30 PM
Kikstad
Reply

No more prequels!!! How about that? Go forward not backward.

http://nickleshi.blogspot.com

August 4, 2009 4:57 PM
Pjowens75
Reply

Prequels? Heck no. More remakes!! Isn't it time for a Spiderman remake?

August 5, 2009 11:27 AM
jim
Reply

The movie that really needs a prequel is Road House. Imagine the compelling story of Dalton learning the bouncing trade from one of the coolest characters ever, Wade Garrett. Unfortunetly, the awesome Sam Elliot would be too old to play Wade Garrett again. Still, how awesome would that be?

August 5, 2009 1:44 PM
zelmia
Reply

I would agree about the Harry Potter one as long as Steve Kloves doesn't write it. Hell, anyone on this forum could write a far more accurate script than that clueless gimboid. And I'm pretty sure Rowling wouldn't have to lift a finger. There is enough material in the existing works to put what happened in Voldemort I all together. I mean, if we could all do it in our heads, there is no reason Warner Bros. couldn't do it for the big screen.
But I would actually have it basically focus on Dumbledore, starting with his own time at Hogwarts and what happened with his family up through the end of Voldemort I. But there is plenty of material there for however far back you want to go. The Marauders' time up through Voldemort I would also be a pretty good story. Imagine the look on James, Sirius and Lupin's faces when Snape walks in to his first OP meeting and Dumbledore introduces him as their new spy.

August 5, 2009 1:50 PM
Daniel
Reply

Wasn't La Femme Nikita the sort-of prequel to Leon (The Professional)?

August 5, 2009 1:55 PM
Brody
Reply

I would LOVE to see a Potter prequel. I'd want Rowling to at least consult on the screenplay, though, because if they're going to do it, it should be done right.

August 5, 2009 3:29 PM
Nutjob
Reply

There are already rumors that there is going to be a Tomb Raider prequel. Of course, everyone wants Megan Fox to get the part...

August 5, 2009 3:54 PM
April
Reply

Absolutely Kill Bill and Harry Potter. I'd definitely be down for watching a movie about the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad or a movie about the original Marauders.

August 5, 2009 4:36 PM
Treavor
Reply

The Incredibles. Monologuing, Helen and Bob's love story, what made Lucius finally settle down, the dysfunction that created Buddy (Syndrome!), all the Supers alive & fighting crime together, and the biggest reason - Edna Mode in her heyday.

August 6, 2009 12:15 AM
Wm Joseph
Reply

In "Blade: The Series", there is one episode about Blade as a child, how his powers manifested, how he somewhat learned control, and I think that they did have a younger fella playing "Whistler".

August 6, 2009 7:21 AM
jords
Reply

There are so many ways to spin a Harry Potter prequel: The Marauders & Voldemort (aka The First War), Dumbledore & Grindlewald, The Hogwarts Founders and how Slytherin broke away from the school....

I know it's a dream, but I'd love to see any and all of these come to live WITHOUT Cloves at the helm. (Michael Goldenberg, I miss you!)

October 28, 2009 7:32 PM
Tessa
Reply

I would totally go see a movie about Dumbledore and Grindelwald's epic love and breakup.

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