B5 Reboot

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**Wolfstan**

Not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing. As it's Straczynski doing it, then hopefully it's a good thing

http://www.blastr.com/2014-8-8/straczynski-bringing-sci-fi-classic-babylon-5-back-life-movie-reboot-2016

Straczynski bringing sci-fi classic Babylon 5 back to life with movie reboot in 2016
Trent MooreFriday, August 8, 2014 - 12:54pm

There have been rumblings about Babylon 5 coming back to life for a while now, and creator J. Michael Straczynski has heard the call — and he’s already working on a script.

TVWise is reporting that Straczynski is actively writing a script, with hopes to wrap a final draft by the end of 2015 and ramp up production in 2016. The project is reportedly a reboot of the Babylon 5 concept, and not a continuation of the original series, which ran from 1994 to 1998.

The report notes that Straczynski hopes to reuse some of the original cast members, such as Bruce Boxleitner and Mira Furlan.

Thanks to some shrewd negotiating, Straczynski actually owns the film rights to the franchise — so he isn’t beholden to getting a particular studio to sign on. But he is apparently hoping Warner Bros. (the studio that produced the original series) might be interested once the script is complete. You know, assuming it’s good.

If Warner Bros. doesn't bite, Straczynski apparently aims to finance the film through his own Studio JMS, though that might be a tall order to bankroll an $80-100 million sci-fi epic. But considering the franchise’s name cachet with genre fans — not to mention the fact that studios are mining just about any brand they can get their hands on these days — you’d think someone would be interested in co-producing.

Regardless, we’re psyched to hear some new Babylon 5 could be on the horizon, and we can’t wait to see how the franchise might be interpreted in the modern day. What would you like to see from a new Babylon 5 tale?

**easysauce**

this could either be good, or horrible.

I certainly hope for the former as there is a lack of good sci fi at the moment

**Frazzled**

How do you reboot (in movie form) using original cast members when it was 20 years ago and some of the best ones are...dead?

**trexmeyer**

easysauce wrote:this could either be good, or horrible.

I certainly hope for the former as there is a lack of good sci fi at the moment

Frazzled wrote:How do you reboot (in movie form) using original cast members when it was 20 years ago and some of the best ones are...dead?

Based on the most recent Babylon 5 production (The Lost Tales? I believe), this will be terrible. The best cast members are D E A D, dead.

**Hlaine Larkin mk2**

Unless by reboot they mean rebooting the franchise (ie completely new casts) so the fact some of the previous iterations actors are dead isn't as big a deal
I hope this won't be terrible but there will always be the originals in case it does

**Jehan-reznor**

I am interested, knowing Straczynski story wise it will be good.

**Frazzled**

Jehan-reznor wrote:
I am interested, knowing Straczynski story wise it will be good.

He clearly saw the dustup on the Destroyer vs. BSG thread and it brought him out of retirement.

The movie will open up with a scene where an Omega and Warlock class destroyer squadron is obliterating the combined Cylon fleet that tracked BSG to earth. The destroyers are going through them like

through a goose.

Hey, what can I say?

**LordofHats**

Lets be real here. The only thing that nerds are gonna get more hot and ready for than this is a new Star Trek TV series (that isn't JJ Trek). So lets all sit back and wait for the inevitable disappointment that comes from wanting something so badly nothing will ever live up to it.

**nomsheep**

This could be fun to watch, but I won't get too excited yet.

**MeanGreenStompa**

A new story in the same universe would be good.

Trying to take a 20 year old story that ran over a 5 year arc, to great critical acclaim, jam it into a movie with a 'reboot' a'la JJA's hackjob on star trek...

I think it's a terrible idea. There's plenty of scope to turn it into an interesting idea, but as this reads now, it stinks.

**Kilkrazy**

I never watched the Babylon 5, however I would always prefer Hollywood to create a new story than recycle an old one.

That said, the Battlestar Galactica new series was mostly pretty good.

**Zond**

If it's in the B5 universe and uses existing cast to springboard new stories involving new characters post decommissioning of B5, awesome. If not... Uhm, hope it's good?

**Platuan4th**

Zond wrote:
If it's in the B5 universe and uses existing cast to springboard new stories involving new characters post decommissioning of B5, awesome.

They tried that. Twice, actually. Both times using movies.

The fans didn't like either one.

**whitedragon**

The name of the place.....Babylon 6?!?!?

**Ensis Ferrae**

LordofHats wrote:
Lets be real here. The only thing that nerds are gonna get more hot and ready for than this is a new Star Trek TV series (that isn't JJ Trek). So lets all sit back and wait for the inevitable disappointment that comes from wanting something so badly nothing will ever live up to it.

Or probably more accurate to say they'd get hot and ready for would be Firefly

**LordofHats**

Ensis Ferrae wrote:
Firefly

*Fireflies aren't immune to fire right?*

**Zond**

Platuan4th wrote:
Zond wrote:
If it's in the B5 universe and uses existing cast to springboard new stories involving new characters post decommissioning of B5, awesome.

They tried that. Twice, actually. Both times using movies.

The fans didn't like either one.

I'd say it's more complex than that assuming we're referring to Rangers and Crusade. I guess a reboot could work, I like the first rebooted Star Trek film, however it's easier to capture the episodic nature of TOS and the relationship between three main characters (substituting Uhura for McCoy) but I can't see the B5 arcs or complex themes being addressed well, a bit like Into Darkness.

**Vaktathi**

Hrm, not sure if want. I really, *REALLY* liked Babylon 5, but I also feel it ended right when it should have, if possible not just a bit later.

It's so quintessentially mid 90's in style and substance that a reboot involving any of the same cast would feel...awkward.

I mean, if done well, it could be really awesome, but it's a very win big/lose big type deal to me.

**Platuan4th**

Zond wrote:
Platuan4th wrote:
Zond wrote:
If it's in the B5 universe and uses existing cast to springboard new stories involving new characters post decommissioning of B5, awesome.

They tried that. Twice, actually. Both times using movies.

The fans didn't like either one.

I'd say it's more complex than that assuming we're referring to Rangers and Crusade. I guess a reboot could work, I like the first rebooted Star Trek film, however it's easier to capture the episodic nature of TOS and the relationship between three main characters (substituting Uhura for McCoy) but I can't see the B5 arcs or complex themes being addressed well, a bit like Into Darkness.

Yeah, I meant Rangers and Crusade.

**notprop**

This would be a good opportunity to have the Vorlons reimagined as something other than a bunch of old Vespa parts and JMS's mans curtains!

Also less "acting" and more space battles would be good.

**Breotan**

The only decent B5 movie was the first one. The rest were trash and that aborted attempt at a spinoff series was too.

**cuda1179**

There were aspects of Crusade I liked.

As for the movies, In the Beginning was pretty good.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also I'd like to note that they are also Re-doing Battle Star Galactica again. This time as a movie.

**chaos0xomega**

Presumably reusing the original cast doesnt mean they will be reprising the same roles. I imagine itll be a bit like BSG where a couple of the original cast members came back to play new characters.... at least I think they did, but maybe im making that up?

**Hlaine Larkin mk2**

chaos0xomega wrote:
Presumably reusing the original cast doesnt mean they will be reprising the same roles. I imagine itll be a bit like BSG where a couple of the original cast members came back to play new characters.... at least I think they did, but maybe im making that up?

I can't remember his name but the guy who originally played Apollo (Jamie Bamber in the reboot) was Tom Zarick but he was the only one from the original in the the reboot afaik

**chromedog**

Yeah.

Dirk Benedict couldn't accept that they'd made Starbuck and Boomer into female characters (even if starbuck was still a stogie chomping, boozing, card player) and refused any part in it.
He also hasn't aged well.

Richard Hatch was more pragmatic. He couldn't get HIS do-over of Galactica on screen - but they were offering to give HIM a role on their one - and what-the-hell, actor's gotta eat, and pride won't keep your belly full.

**chaos0xomega**

Regardless, point being that original actors doesn't mean a reprise of original roles, which is fine by me, as it wouldn't be the same without Andreas Katsulas anyway.

**Vaktathi**

chaos0xomega wrote:
Regardless, point being that original actors doesn't mean a reprise of original roles, which is fine by me, as it wouldn't be the same without Andreas Katsulas anyway.

200% this.

Though to be fair, they did at least cover G'kar's exit from the story wayyyyyy in advance.

**gorgon**

Vaktathi wrote:
Hrm, not sure if want. I really, *REALLY* liked Babylon 5, but I also feel it ended right when it should have, if possible not just a bit later.

It ended at the right time, IMO. The story was told. And I think that played into Crusade's failure.

Regarding the BSG re-reboot...I get the reasons why, I'm just not sure that I see the point. If that makes any sense.

**KamikazeCanuck**

I don't love B5 as much as most people seemed too but it sure doesn't need a remake. It ws quite the accomplishment at the time almost an entire 5 year run written by one guy, don't see a remake improving upon it. A new series set in the universe about something else would be welcome though. There's a lack of space opera out there nowadays.

**AegisGrimm**

The only way to improve on B5 would be in the graphics department, because boy it shows the age. Even the interior sets would be good by today's standards(other than 90's hair and clothes- especially on the women), and if they could show the space shots with current technology, the series would look awesome.