Babylon 5 reboot

[Skanky Vamp]

I figger some folks here might be interested in this.
from giz

It’s time for one of the most beloved sci-fi classics of the ‘90s to come back—and the man behind it the first time around is back for more.

Variety reports that Warner Bros. has ordered a reboot of Babylon 5, produced and written by Straczynski as part of a deal between Warner Bros. TV and Straczynski’s Studio JMS. The series is not a continuation of the show, but a “from the ground up” reboot of the cult classic 1993 series, which ran across five seasons and seven made-for-TV movies until 1998. Set in a future where humanity has gone into the stars and found a plethora of alien civilizations to attempt to live in harmony, Babylon 5 followed Earthforce officer John Sheridan (Bruce Boxleitner) as he took command of the titular space station Babylon 5, a hub for diplomatic meetings, trade negotiations, and eventually a staging ground among renewed conflicts between the civilizations of the world and even humanity’s own descent into totalitarianism.

The series was beloved for its dark sci-fi plots and its approach to a massive, intertwined narrative over the course of its seasons and movies—and spinoffs like the TNT series Crusade—to tell a long form story, rather than plots-of-the-week, with iconic alien characters like Mira Furlan’s Delenn and Andreas Katsulas’ petty villain turned spiritual figure G’Kar. Although the series came to an end in 1998, it inspired a whole universe of tie-in novels, and its influence can be felt everywhere from the likes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine to Straczynski’s own work collaborating with the Wachowskis on Sense8.

We’ll bring you more on the CW’s plans for Babylon 5 as and when we learn them.

 

[sk]

Heard about this the other day.

Straczynski also wrote about it recently:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1442621159221043202

Looking forward to it. Especially since Straczynski is involved himself.

Would love to see a show like Babylon 5 made today with a decent budget and better special effects.
Hopefully it works out so we will get to see it.

/SK

 

[Mr Trick]

Still need to see original series, could be a good chance to check it out. At least the original creator is involved. Fingers crossed he has some good ideas to update and is allowed to make his show.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

From Straczynski:

“Heraclitus wrote ‘You cannot step in the same river twice, for the river has changed, and you have changed.’ In the years since B5, I’ve done a ton of other TV shows and movies, adding an equal number of tools to my toolbox, all of which I can bring to bear on one singular question.

If I were creating Babylon 5 today, for the first time, knowing what I now know as a writer, what would it look like? How would it use all the storytelling tools and technological resources available in 2021 that were not on hand then? How can it be used to reflect the world in which we live, and the questions we are asking and confronting every day? Fans regularly point out how prescient the show was and is of our current world; it would be fun to take a shot at looking further down the road.

Let me conclude by just saying how supportive and enthusiastic everyone at the CW has been and is being with this project. They understand the unique position Babylon 5 occupies both in television and with its legions of fans, and are doing everything they can to ensure the maximum in creative freedom, a new story that will bring in new viewers while honoring all that has come before. Onward!”

 

[Fuffy Baith]

I've never seen Babylon 5, for a long time I thought it was a Star Trek show. lol. But I know it's got a big fandom and people are excited. It will be on CW which is a concern, since their stuff is not the best quality. But if the original creator is coming back, it might work out. If anything this will maybe get new people to check out the original show.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

If anything this will maybe get new people to check out the original show.

So they can report back how the original sucks and is boring and looks so cheap and stopped watching halfway thru the first season if they even last that long.

 

[thetopher]

I checked out as soon as I heard that the CW was involved. CW equals toxic. I'll stick with the original which, character and story-wise still holds up fine.

Currently the trend towards reboots/continuations of old shows is not the best anyway, so the chances of this being 'progressive' (and therefore sucking) are pretty high.

But I hope I'm wrong.

 

[Fuffy Baith]

So they can report back how the original sucks and is boring and looks so cheap and stopped watching halfway thru the first season if they even last that long.

That's a pessimistic view of it. I try to remain optimistic yet realistic. I'm sure people will watch the original and hate it but there will be some that watch it and enjoy it, just like anything. Basically it can only add to the Babylon 5 fandom.

 

[Mr Trick]

I checked out as soon as I heard that the CW was involved. CW equals toxic. I'll stick with the original which, character and story-wise still holds up fine.

Currently the trend towards reboots/continuations of old shows is not the best anyway, so the chances of this being 'progressive' (and therefore sucking) are pretty high.

But I hope I'm wrong.

It should be progressive. Its a 2021 sci-fi show. What's the point of rebooting a show from the 90s and not updating it?

From what I saw of Star Girl that wasn't a typical CW show. So who knows if you have the right people involved and the writer is given freedom then it could be good. There might be certain restrictions, but there's should still be room for the story to stand on its own.


Anyway this is a fun video about the news. They even do some fancasting at the end which is entertaining. They review the old show too.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

That's a pessimistic view of it.

Not at all. If you knew the series you would understand why I said what I said. There is a stark difference between season 1 and season 2.

 

[thetopher]

It should be progressive. Its a 2021 sci-fi show. What's the point of rebooting a show from the 90s and not updating it?

I simply used the word progressive because the word woke (i.e modern progressiveism) is seen as a pejorative on these boards even though its often accurate.

'Woke' is actually incredibly regressive and blinkered in many respects and seems to go hand in hand with terribly written shows these days, especially reboots and re-imaginings of older IP's.
Like I said, once upon a time I may've been interested in 'Babylon 5 2.0' but too many IP's have been run into the ground by toxic ideology.

 

[Mr Trick]

I simply used the word progressive because the word woke (i.e modern progressiveism) is seen as a pejorative on these boards even though its often accurate.

'Woke' is actually incredibly regressive and blinkered in many respects and seems to go hand in hand with terribly written shows these days, especially reboots and re-imaginings of older IP's.
Like I said, once upon a time I may've been interested in 'Babylon 5 2.0' but too many IP's have been run into the ground by toxic ideology.

You didn't answer my question though. Its a modern sci-fi reboot. Why shouldn't it move with the times and update the characters? The creator himself has said there's certain things he wished he could have done in the 90s show which was frawned upon by the network at the time. Also its a genre thing. Sci-fi seems one of most natural genres to explore different cultures. At the end of the day good writing is good writing and bad writing is bad writing. If this is bad it will be down to that. Not because they decided to update the characters.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

I don't see how anyone could possible watch the original series and call it anything less than progressive, especially in terms of government and military. To say the reboot should be progressive is seriously selling the original short.

As far as I know the only thing that Straczynski wanted to do an was not allowed was to have Delenn start as a male minbari in the first season and then upon exiting the cocoon become the hybrid she was.

 

[Hunga Munga]

Babylon 5 must be like Beetlejuice or something . I read the thread , then it appeared overnight on Amazon Prime 😱 . Still pretty watchable 🙂

 

[thetopher]

You didn't answer my question though. Its a modern sci-fi reboot. Why shouldn't it move with the times and update the characters?

I never said it shouldn't be updated to reflect and explore ideas that couldn't have been done way back when.
I just indicated that it shouldn't be updated in the manner of many other current IP's; with trendy ideology's that basically seem toxic to decent storytelling- judging on the mountains of previous examples.

 

[Dogs of Winter]

The CW seems like a strange fit but it could be interesting.

I watched B5 for the first time over lockdown and it had a lot to like - the overall arc which has a really good payoff, it explored complex themes in an absorbing way and had engaging characters that grow on you

But there were definite weaknesses - the special effects, a lot of the acting wasn't great, and it sometimes felt rushed which meant the quality of the dialogue especially was variable - the dialogue in the big moments was normally really good, but it could feel a bit forced in the smaller moments. Plus most of Season 1 obviously

With a bigger budget, less time constraints and good casting it could really work

I just read one of JMS's posts where he mentioned that of the 11 main characters who were in the show when it was at its best between S2 + S4 over half of them died early (between mid 40's and mid 60's) which is really sad. RIP

 

[Mr Trick]

Going to check out the original soon. It seems to be free for me with ads on Amazon (via IMDB I think), which I didn't even know I was signed up for. So I'll take the chance fate has offered me, ha!

 

[Hunga Munga]

I didn't get ads on any of IMDB as a Prime member , not so far anyway . I think it is probably the definitive version to watch . Don't forget the prequel TV movie (in the bonus section 😉 ) tho , to be honest , I found the TV series streets ahead in quality over the first movie ...and watched it later with no problems .

Definitely the best 'new' thing I've seen recently . 🙂