10 Movies That Should Have Prequels
Most sequels don’t do the original movie justice. Less laughs, contrived story lines, and forced product placement make many feel like a parody of the original as we wait for a Wayans brother to pop up and let us know it’s actually a spoof. Prequels have a different draw and often fill a better need. While the “Star Wars” prequels were a disaster, they had the right idea by filling fans in on the story of Luke and Leia’s parents and how the Empire came into power. Ideally, the proposed prequels on this list would have their original stars cast in their prime.
Blade Runner
Though Ridley Scott’s most recent cut of 1982’s “Blade Runner” was much more definitive as to whether or not Rick Deckard was actually a replicant, it doesn’t spoil learning the back story of the compelling character Harrison Ford played masterfully. With a storyline that jumps in right after a montage of Los Angeles in 2019 with Deckard interviewing Rachael, a potential replicant, there’s plenty of gray area to fill in and explore. Following his roles as Han Solo and Indiana Jones, Ford found himself back in the future, chasing robots and beefing with Rutger Hauer. With the advances in CGI, creating another futuristic metropolis for a younger Deckard to storm has the makings of a blockbuster.
Beverly Hills Cop
Quick-tongued, sure-shooting police officer Axel Foley solved some big crimes in the “Beverly Hills Cop” franchise with his street smarts, but why did he become a cop in the first place? What kind of cases did Axel solve in his hometown of Detroit before he ventured out to Beverly Hills? A chance to see those rookie years on the force would be a must-see flick.
James Bond
With a thick stack of James Bond novels written, Ian Fleming proved he’s got an endless well to draw from to keep the franchise going. Why not turn the clock back to Bond’s first real mission, prior to “Casino Royal,” and learn more about the character? Maybe his swagger levels are a bit lower and he’s still feeling out the whole spy gig, or maybe it’s better to just keep him Bond, James Bond. Fleming and the franchise hit more than they missed and we all love the insane weapons he dreamt up, so this prequel seems like a no-brainer.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Do we really think Charlie and his fellow gold ticket winners were the first kids to take a trip through Willy's crazy chocolate factory? Let's go even further back and get the scoop on the years when Wonka was building the factory. Did he make a lot of money in the oil industry, and then lose his mind with the sole purpose of making sweets? Sign up Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, and let's figure out another edible dreamland.
The Royal Tenenbaums
With the variety of characters related to the eccentric family, “The Royal Tenenbaums” is set up perfectly to produce an amazing prequel. Each character already had an intricate back-story, so taking a in-depth look at the high school days of Chas, Richie and Margot should be on Wes Anderson’s to-do list.
The Breakfast Club
Nothing will ever touch the dynamic of the kids in detention in "The Breakfast Club" as John Hughes nailed the classism of the American high school. Since another Saturday in the library would be beat, the prequel can focus on how each character got detention by following them through their actions during the school day. Who wouldn’t want to see that?
The Karate Kid
Just like the franchise's second installment, "The Karate Kid" could take it back to Okinawa where a young Mr. Miyagi is becoming a karate master. What struggles did he go through and who taught him how to catch flies with chopsticks? All these questions need to be answered on the big screen.
The Matrix
For three full movies, sci-fi fans have entertained the idea that Keanu Reeves was the key to saving free thought. Since the Wachowski Brothers pulled that off, it's not a stretch to then explain the entire switch over to virtual reality and how it all went down. If a rich backstory isn’t your thing, they could just focus on what the mysterious Morpheus did before scouting I.T. workers to fight the evil machines.
Indiana Jones
Since there was already a television show based on Indiana Jones as a young buck, let's hear the story of pre-"Raiders of the Lost Ark" Indy squaring off with his nemesis Belloq again. No Short Round kiddie characters, but a mandatory love interest—maybe played by Scarlett Johansson—would definitely be needed along with plenty of bad guys because it's always awesome to watch them lose. Peru seems like a good setting for the main action. Watching Indy narrowly dodge being eaten alive is guaranteed to be cooler than what the "Crystal Skull" turned out to be.
The Incredibles
“The Incredibles” is one of those Pixar movies that adults and kids can both enjoy, plus the storyline is ripe for a prequel. It can take place at a time when Mr. Incredible, once again voiced by Craig T. Nelson, was at the peak of his crime fighting game and didn’t have a family. Maybe it can also tell the story of how he met his future wife Elastigirl.
Most sequels don’t do the original movie justice. Less laughs, contrived story lines, and forced product placement make many feel like a parody of the original as we wait for a Wayans brother to pop up and let us know it’s actually a spoof. Prequels have a different draw and often fill a better need. While the “Star Wars” prequels were a disaster, they had the right idea by filling fans in on the story of Luke and Leia’s parents and how the Empire came into power. Ideally, the proposed prequels on this list would have their original stars cast in their prime.