IT looks like two beloved sci-fi series, which legendary filmmaker Ridley Scott helped launch, are being given the sequel treatment.

Expect a heady mix of fan frenzy and a healthy dose of cynicism with plans for new Blade Runner and Alien movies in the next few years.

Canadian filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, who directed the acclaimed Prisoners and Enemy, is in negotiations to lead the project with Scott producing.

Hampton Fancher, who co-wrote the 1982 classic, is returning to pen the new film with Michael Green.

The original Blade Runner starred Harrison Ford as Deckard who hunted down artificial 'replicants' hidden among the human population in a future dystopian Los Angeles.

Fans will know the film's appeal was in its themes of humanity and morality and may fear the sequel could ruin the the original's purposely ambiguous ending(s).

If it gives you any comfort, Ford, now aged 72, has recently described it as the best thing he's ever read.

It seems to be a year of recapturing old glories – or living in the past depending on your viewpoint – with Ford reprising his role as the rogue, wise cracking smuggler Han Solo in the new Star Wars later this year.

Speaking of which, 65-year-old Sigourney Weaver looks all set to reprise her role as the iconic Ripley to battle xenomorphs in a fifth Alien film.

South African director Neill Blomkamp, who made District 9 and Elysium, is in talks with 20th Century Fox for a new story in the Alien universe.

But this move is even more controversial than Blade Runner because Blomkamp wants to set his film after Ridley Scott's horror film Alien and James Cameron's action sequel Aliens.

This will effectively act as if Alien 3, which the late, great Pete Postlethwaite was in, and Alien Resurrection never happened.

On top of that, there are the logistical challenges of presenting characters who are suddenly 30 years older than they were in Aliens.

Michael Biehn is also due to reprise his role as Dwayne Hicks after being ingloriously written out of Alien 3 so suffice to say fans' interest has been peaked.

But there are plenty of reasons to be wary too.

Remember the last time we all got excited about a film set in the Alien universe?

Although beautifully shot and intriguing, Scott's Prometheus was, for many, an overblown disappointment.

With Villeneuve behind the camera for 'Blade Runner 2' and Blomkamp for 'Alien 5' we can at least hope for a fresh take.

And it is pleasing that both these stories want to expand these well loved sci-fi universes rather than 'reboot' them.

You only have to look at the pointless remakes of Paul Verhoeven's Total Recall and RoboCop to know how that can end.