Alcon Entertainment stirred up a hurricane of controversy when it acquired the rights to produce prequels and sequels to Blade Runner. Since its release in 1982, Blade Runner has cultivated a reputation as one of the all-time great science fiction movies. Alcon co-founders/co-CEOs Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove acquired the property because they, too, are fans of the property. But they must tread carefully to avoid keep from alienating the core fanbase, a very protective bunch.

Thankfully, they have Blade Runner star Harrison Ford on their side. Or at least, Ford is not actively rooting against their efforts. While making the rounds to promote Cowboys & Aliens, Ford told Omelete:

“If they go into it with the ambition and some very good idea of how to bring something new to it, maybe it’ll be successful.”

Read the full quote after the jump.

Omelete asked, “There’s a lot of talk about a new Blade Runner movie. Maybe developing into a TV series, things like that. How do you feel about it?” Ford responded:

“I don’t have any feeling whatsoever. It was an interesting part of my professional life, I’m glad I made that movie, I’m glad that it got released without the hideous voice-over and I don’t know anything about it. I don’t have a judgement about how wise it is to revisit it. I personally think if you’re gonna do… The ambition every time that I’ve been involved in a sequel of a film or a movie that had a number of iterations, I always felt that we were responsible for bringing something new to the characters and to the experience of the audience. If they go into it with the ambition and some very good idea of how to bring something new to it, maybe it’ll be successful. I wouldn’t feel bad if I were not invited to the party, because I would understand they would want fresh blood to be spilled. So there you are. They’re making another Jack Ryan movie and I’m not involved. So that’s the way it is.”

That’s a pretty optimistic response for an actor with a prickly reputation, and a very reasonable stance. In most cases, it would probably be best to leave the classics alone. But if a new Blade Runner movie or TV series is inevitable, of course we hope the folks in charge seek out a fresh take. There’s always more story out there, and some of it’s worth telling. If the chosen approach is tired or wrongheaded, Mr. Ford and I will be happy to ignore it. (Same goes for that Jack Ryan reboot.)