Soldier

For the longest time, I've wanted to find the original source of the claim that Soldier was written to be part of the same universe as Blade Runner. Not because I wanted to disprove it, but because I could not find an actual quote from anyone that mattered. Today, I think I might have found the original source in the September/October 1998 issue of Cinescape.

While most places online seem to attribute the claim to David Peoples (who co-wrote BR and the script for Soldier), if this article is indeed ground zero, the claim comes from Soldier's director, Paul W. S. Anderson, who has no connection to BR, but refers to Soldier as a "sidequel" to BR, and personally considers it belonging to the same universe. It continues with Soldier's production designer (who was art director for BR) David L. Snyder referring to Soldier as an extension and sibling film to BR, and that BR was a primary inspiration for Soldier's design. Beyond this, nobody else is quoted about any connection between the films. I will post a picture of the relevant section of the article at the bottom of this post.

So, I cannot find a source of David Peoples saying he wrote it intending a connection to BR. I personally don't doubt that he did so, or else I feel like he probably would have said otherwise by now. I unfortunately can't find any interviews where he discusses Soldier; most interviewers (rightfully so) ask him primarily about BR, Unforgiven, and Twelve Monkeys. On a sidenote, I have found that someone is making an independent documentary about Soldier and has interviewed Peoples, so I hope that is completed and that it gives more insight.

Now, although I've seen little to no opposition to Soldier's inclusion on this Wiki, I think it's best to pose the question of whether it should continue to be included. While it has never been officially stated to be set in the Blade Runner universe, it has never been contradicted out of canon. It is in its own separate continuity section simply because it's never been official. Personally, I am fine with keeping it this way, but if anyone has other thoughts about it, please speak up. And if you manage to find a source of David Peoples himself commenting on the connection between Blade Runner and Soldier, please share it!

Here is the relevant snippet from the Cinescape article, by Beth Laski:

I might also post this on Soldier's talk page, but figured I should put it here first.

Something that's been on my mind lately as I've been editing is the film Soldier. It's here on the Wiki because David Peoples wrote it as a "spin-off sidequel" to Blade Runner. As such, there are a couple of nods to Blade Runner in the film, such as an appearance by a spinner and name-checking the Tannhäuser Gate and Shoulder of Orion. Of course, these could also be considered merely easter eggs, as the film also references at least seven other Kurt Russell films and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

Now, I don't mind Soldier being on this Wiki because of Peoples saying it's a Blade Runner film (I'm not sure if anyone else involved with the production consider it to be "Blade Runner canon") and I don't think anything in it contradicts Blade Runner material in any way (though it's been years since I've actually watched Soldier). Also, I doubt anyone's going to make a Wiki just for the film Soldier, so I think it's a good enough home for it all here, although there isn't currently much Soldier info on the Wiki. The priorities are clearly Blade Runner and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, as it should be.

But enough blabbering from me. Is anyone adamant about Soldier's removal? Is everyone just like me and will just let it be? Anyone REALLY want Soldier to stay on here (and hopefully willing to help expand the related articles)?