10 Beloved Movie Legacies At Risk Of Being Ruined Forever
Whatever happened to "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"?
The significance of cinema cannot be underestimated. Whether it be unforgettable characters, scenes, or experiences as a whole, those elements that combine to make a film feel perfect and complete can last the test of time for decades, generations, and centuries.
That is where legacy comes into play.
Harrison Ford's Indiana Jones, Rutger Hauer's "Tears in Rain" monologue in Blade Runner, and The Godfather as a whole all represent respective legacies that will be remembered, quoted, and watched for years to come. However, with Hollywood's current obsession with sequels, prequels, remakes, and reboots, legacies are under threat for many films and franchises that are close to people's hearts. The industry is being drained of originality and instead replaced with unwanted and unwelcome trips down memory lane to make a quick buck, or two, or perhaps a billion in some cases.
While nostalgia can be narratively and economically successful, forcing the continuation of a naturally concluded story can only do more harm than good, regardless of whether the intention is to cater to fans or generate revenue.
With that in mind, the following ten films face the risk of having their treasured legacies tarnished, so let's hope that their upcoming returns are given the respect they deserve and stick the landing, or don't make the jump at all.
10. John Wick
Can't the man rest? By the sounds of it, apparently not, seeing as a fifth John Wick film has been officially greenlit at Lionsgate with franchise figurehead Chad Stahelski returning to direct.
Now, when it comes to the titular assassin in question, we were led to believe that death had finally caught up to him at the end of 2023's fantastic fourth and suspected final chapter. And although there is an ambiguous shot, which is by no means a coincidence, of his supposed resting place before the screen goes black and the credits roll, it felt like Keanu Reeves' beloved action man had finally found peace through death. But, of course, he isn't dead.
Reeves' resurrection and subsequent reprisal of the character will be welcomed by many, understandably. However, it is only natural to feel a little worried about the decision, especially given that the actor is now 60 years old.
The adopted and shared cinematic trope of 'dead doesn't actually mean dead' that has dominated films as of late can be a tedious and, honestly, tiresome approach to storytelling for the sheer purpose of making money, and you can't help but feel that this is the case here.
Stahelski has dispelled theories that John Wick could be indestructible in the past, so it would simply be another instance of the character's unmatched resilience and resistance to death that keeps him going. Please make it worthwhile, guys...