The Effects of New Characters on the Narrative Structure in Film Sequels

Abstract

In the movie industry, the complex cinematic universes constructed for sequels are crucial elements that strengthen the narrative continuity and bond between the audience and the story. In successful cases, this will result in a strong attachment and easy identification by the viewer, since they would emotionally relate to what and how things are represented in the film. On another aspect, sequels frequently answer ontological questions that arose in the first film. This clarification accounts to a satisfying completion in terms of overall story and feel. In order to achieve this, sequels often introduce new characters, side stories and flashbacks. This slight contribution adds to the expansion of overall cinematic experience, enriching and deepening the film texture. For this study, the 1982 film Blade Runner and its sequel Blade Runner 2049 (2017) are analyzed on how the inclusion of new characters and spaces in the cinematic universe effects the narrative structure of the films.