B5TV.COM - NEW Babylon 5 Series

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B5TV.COM (http://www.b5tv.com/index.php)

- B5.related (http://www.b5tv.com/forumdisplay.php?f=16)

- - NEW Babylon 5 Series (http://www.b5tv.com/showthread.php?t=46009)

Jan	September 27th 21 18:14

NEW Babylon 5 Series

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv...cw-1235021237/

Quote:

Described as a “from-the-ground-up reboot” of the original, Straczynski will pen the script for a new potential version of the former syndicated drama from Warner Bros. TV. The new take revolves around John Sheridan (originally played by Bruce Boxleitner), an Earthforce officer with a mysterious background, who is assigned to Babylon 5, a five-mile-long space station in neutral space, a port of call for travelers, smugglers, corporate explorers and alien diplomats at a time of uneasy peace and the constant threat of war.*His arrival triggers a destiny beyond anything he could have imagined, as an exploratory Earth company accidentally triggers a conflict with a civilization a million years ahead of us, putting Sheridan and the rest of the B5 crew in the line of fire as the last, best hope for the survival of the human race.

vacantlook

September 27th 21 18:48

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

My brain is currently malfunctioning, I think. The first part of me is all, how real is this, this can't be real this time, can it? The second part of me is all, as long as jms is in charge, I'm on board. The third part of me is, how will this differ from the original, what will change, what will be the same, what will embrace the original, what will deviate, can I handle/accept the change?

Markas

September 27th 21 19:11

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

A friend just mentioned this to me. I feel the same way as Vacantlook. We have been waiting for this for A LONG TIME!

crazybillyo

September 27th 21 19:12

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

I'll be in the car.

Bester

September 27th 21 19:24

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

Didn't JMS recently contact the BBC to enquire about the Dr Who showrunner position? So, his plan was to do that AND write and produce a new B5 show?

No-one can accuse him of being lazy, I guess.

Jan	September 27th 21 19:41

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bester (Post 465224)

Didn't JMS recently contact the BBC to enquire about the Dr Who showrunner position? So, his plan was to do that AND write and produce a new B5 show?

No-one can accuse him of being lazy, I guess.

He knew it was a long shot. Plus we don't have any actual news on when this might actually go into production.

Markas

September 27th 21 19:42

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

He certainly likes being busy.

Lyta's Shadow

September 27th 21 20:20

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

I will watch this without question, brilliant news! Part of me wishes this was a series that told a new story in a different time / location in the Babylon 5 universe, the fact it is a reboot means it will most likely overwrite what came before. I'll reserve judgement until I see the series.

Also, B5 without somewhat clunky 90s CGI? That will take some getting used to!

Ubik	September 27th 21 21:01

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

I'm as intrigued as the rest of you, but it being on the CW puts the fear into me. Most of their shows are pretty awful with low production values. Part of me wishes it had been the rumored animated series, or at least made for HBO MAX.

I guess we'll be waiting a few years to see what this turns out to be. Rest assured I'll be watching with the rest of you!

tygirwulf

September 27th 21 21:46

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

Well, to be honest, B5 didn't have the best production values the first time 'round, either. I've only watched one CW show, the production was ok, just not movie-quality. It's the writing, the direction and the action that will make or sink it.

I thought something was up when JMS put a request online to talk to people who had the original B5 model files, "for reference purposes."

Jan	September 28th 21 00:37

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

More detail from JMS (long Twitter thread):
https://twitter.com/straczynski/stat...21159221043202

Karajorma

September 28th 21 02:26

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

Here's the big question no one seems to be asking.

"Does he already know how it will end?"

What I'm hoping for is a completely different story as different as Battlestar Galactica was from the original but with the whole series known from beginning to end so that "The Plan" doesn't feel tacked on at the end like it did in BSG, Lost, DS9 or any of the other shows that followed B5 but didn't think ahead the way B5 did.

If the ending has already been planned, and given that this is JMS, he probably has as it was the greatest strength of B5, I'm 100% onboard.

EDIT: My only other wish - Use new character names! It gets tedious having to write "Sheridan in the Original B5" all the time!

Kyehlar

September 28th 21 03:38

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karajorma (Post 465238)

Here's the big question no one seems to be asking.

"Does he already know how it will end?"

According to the twitter posting, apparently he does know how it'll end.

Quote:

Most of all, for the first time, Babylon 5 introduced viewers accustomed to episodic television to the concept of a five-year arc with a pre-planned beginning, middle and end…creating a brand new paradigm for television storytelling that has subsequently become the norm. That tradition for innovation will continue in this new iteration, and I hope to create additional new forms of storytelling that will further push the television medium to the edge of what’s possible.

Karajorma

September 28th 21 04:00

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

It does show that he knows it was the most important innovation, but it doesn't prove that he won't try to be innovative by doing something else this time.

Quote:

That tradition for innovation will continue in this new iteration

It's exactly innovative to do the same thing again. I hope he will, but I'm not taking that statement as proof, I'd want something a little more definite.

Looney

September 28th 21 04:15

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

:dancing::dancing::dancing::dancing::dancing:

What more can I say?!?!?!?!?!?!?! :D

Springer

September 28th 21 07:24

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

I will of course watch it.

But - I have a lot of trepidation going into this, maybe even a little sadness. It's hard to put into words and maybe I need to cogitate on it for longer, but the original B5 is very dear to me. Maybe my fear is that the reboot will eclipse the original in people's minds, just by being newer and flashier, and my instinct is to be protective of the original.

I also find reboots to be, generally, a creatively bankrupt concept. Of course there are exceptions and some reboots do work out, like BSG, but I would rather see JMS produce a completely new space-based show.

I will keep my fingers crossed that this is good. It might be hard for me to warm to it at first, and I think the new show will have to work to justify its existence. If it can do that, then I will be in all the way.

And, it might open the door for merchandise related to the original show. At least get the blu-ray out...

PS. There were two rumoured projects, this but also the animated show. Hopefully this hasn't nixed the possibility of the animated show.

Kyehlar

September 28th 21 07:43

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

We've seen how reboots have revitalized franchises. BSG, Star Trek, and even non-sci-fi series such as Hawaii Five-0, MacGuyver, etc. It brought in both new and old fans for the new material, and it also put an eye on the original versions. My friend and I just recently watched B5, and it was his first time watching it. He just never had the opportunity back in the 90's to watch it the first time.

So really this is good for B5, because it will draw attention to the original material, and a newfound appreciation for it and the actors that are no longer with us.

Moonface

September 28th 21 08:07

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

It seems I was spot on with my timing of making a Season 1 recap now :D

I'm sooo excited! ...

...

...

My poor girlfriend ^^

Ubik	September 28th 21 09:04

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

Hey, at the very least, we have something new to discuss and politely argue about. :lol:

Moonface

September 28th 21 09:08

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

Can anyone explain to me what a CW is?

As in
"To answer all the questions, yes, it’s true, Babylon 5 is in active development as a series for the CW."
- JMS

Ubik	September 28th 21 09:24

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonface (Post 465255)

Can anyone explain to me what a CW is?

As in
"To answer all the questions, yes, it’s true, Babylon 5 is in active development as a series for the CW."
- JMS

It's an American TV channel partly owned by WB and partly owned by CBS I think. Tends to cater towards teen audiences, shows are often a bit low budget. They've had the most success with adaptations of DC comics properties for series:

Arrow, The Flash, Lois and Clark and other stuff like Jane the Virgin, Supernatural, Riverdale, Sabrina reboot.

I was instantly a bit concerned, but I think JMS will have opted for this deal for a reason, probably a greater degree of control for a less glitzy budget. Jury's out until the reboot airs I guess. As long as it isn't wall to wall pleather and a sexy young cast, I am game.

JMS also confirmed that the individual who had blocked past B5 reboots / new content at WB is now gone.

Bester

September 28th 21 09:55

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

It's an understandable fear. But, as I understand it, WB will be producing the series, with CW simply distributing. So, as long as they don't give JMS any stupid TNT-style notes, we should be fine.

Springer

September 28th 21 10:13

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

Whatever its budget, I think the new show needs to look as good as The Expanse or Discovery if it is to compete with them.

Either way, it should mean that this message board will become a much busier place!

I note that the only confirmed character so far is Sheridan - not Sinclair. I am assuming that, as JMS has intimated previously, characters whose actors have passed away won't be rebooted. So there will be no Delenn, no Garibaldi, no G'Kar, no Franklin, no Vir etc in this new show? That in itself will drastically change the storyline from the original.

Moonface

September 28th 21 10:23

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ubik (Post 465256)

It's an American TV channel partly owned by WB and partly owned by CBS I think.

:/ so streaming from the get go won't be a thing in Europe I guess

Jan	September 28th 21 11:09

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

Quote:

Originally Posted by Springer (Post 465250)

Thanks. This is probably the most thoughtful post I've seen about people's fears. I understand the impulse to be protective of the original but I'm glad to see that you're open to the new one.

Ubik	September 28th 21 12:51

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonface (Post 465259)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ubik (Post 465256)

It's an American TV channel partly owned by WB and partly owned by CBS I think.

:/ so streaming from the get go won't be a thing in Europe I guess

I have seen plenty of CW shows pop up on Netflix. I feel like distribution will be fairly global.

Ubik	September 28th 21 13:01

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

Quote:

Originally Posted by Springer (Post 465250)

It does bode well, that in his tweet JMS mentioned the B5 reboot in the same breath as Westworld and BSG. This means the show will be a drastic overhaul, which I can totally get behind. We'll be getting something very different, and I'd wager, nothing like a straight remake that some fans seems to think we're getting.

Moonface

September 28th 21 13:25

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ubik (Post 465261)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonface (Post 465259)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ubik (Post 465256)

It's an American TV channel partly owned by WB and partly owned by CBS I think.

:/ so streaming from the get go won't be a thing in Europe I guess

I have seen plenty of CW shows pop up on Netflix. I feel like distribution will be fairly global.

your words in Valens ear ;)

Ubik	September 28th 21 14:38

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

I must admit it is nice discussing this here, Facebook and Reddit are unbearable, it's a torrent of 'noooo, this will ruin everything' and 'I will raze the earth and salt it before I watch a show with a new cast', etc, etc...

AntonyF

September 28th 21 15:23

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

I have many reservations.

How do you replace that cast? How can you have Delenn or G'Kar without the unparalleled people that played them?

I thought JMS has told the story that he wanted to tell, I don't understand reopening it.

I have reservations about the CW. I guess it makes sense that WB has the rights to B5 so CW is their network (I assume that's still the case). CW was formed because even a big franchise like Star Trek couldn't keep UPN afloat. CW is also teen drama through and through. I don't see sci-fi being their natural fit.

Then there's the history. Didn't he say no more as WB kept dilly dallying about further straight to DVD movies? Will they have the patience to do another five year show? They haven't even bothered to Blu-ray edition it, yet they suddenly have faith in the franchise for a new iteration?

Jan	September 28th 21 15:32

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

Quote:

Originally Posted by AntonyF (Post 465266)

Didn't he say no more as WB kept dilly dallying about further straight to DVD movies? Will they have the patience to do another five year show? They haven't even bothered to Blu-ray edition it, yet they suddenly have faith in the franchise for a new iteration?

Yes and no. They did dilly-dally about commissioning more. He said no when they offered what he considered a budget that wouldn't meet the needs for doing so. He'd said even before the Lost Tales was released that it would have to be a large bump.

We need to keep in mind that this isn't a green light yet - just a development deal.

Ubik	September 28th 21 16:42

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

From JMS on Facebook:

Quote:

J. Michael Straczynski - Hang with JMS

To answer all the questions, yes, it’s true, Babylon 5 is now in active development as a series for the CW. We have some serious fans over at the network, and they’re eager to see this show happen. I’m hip deep into writing the pilot now, and will be running the series upon pickup. The network understands the uniqueness of Babylon 5 and is giving me a great deal of latitude with the storytelling.

As noted in the announcement, this is a reboot from the ground up rather than a continuation, for several reasons. 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 the 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.

So we will not be retelling the same story in the same way because of what Heraclitus said about the river. There would be no fun and no surprises. Better to go the way of Westworld or Battlestar Galactica where you take the original elements that are evergreens and put them in a blender with a ton of new, challenging ideas, to create something both fresh and familiar.

To those who have asked why we’re not just doing a continuation…for a network series like this, it can’t be done because over half our cast are still stubbornly on the other side of the Rim. How do you telling continuing story of our original Londo without the original Vir? Or G’Kar? How do you tell Sheridan’s story without Delenn? Or the story of B5 without Franklin? Garibaldi? Zack?

The original Babylon 5 was ridiculously innovative: the first to use CGI to create ships and characters, and among the very first to shoot widescreen with a vigorous 5.1 mix. Most of all, for the first time, Babylon 5 introduced viewers accustomed to episodic television to the concept of a five-year arc with a pre-planned beginning, middle and end…creating a brand new paradigm for television storytelling that has subsequently become the norm. That tradition for innovation will continue in this new iteration, and I hope to create additional new forms of storytelling that will further push the television medium to the edge of what’s possible.

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.

Karajorma

September 28th 21 17:04

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ubik (Post 465264)

Reminds me of the GINO people (Galactica In Name Only) - They were all nuttier than squirrel poo.

Foxchild

September 28th 21 18:27

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

I came to peace with never getting new B5 content a long time ago, so, like many here, I'm approaching this with optimistic trepidation. I trust JMS as a writer, but not so much the CW, but with WB holding the rights, this was likely the only way this would ever happen. I recall JMS talking about such a reboot a good while back, potentially casting OG castmembers as different characters (Bruce as Santiago, etc.), which, with the time passed and lost actors, this is probably the best way to go about it. So, for now, I'm looking forward to seeing what they do, hoping for new takes on iconic moments, kind of an "alternate universe" B5. And, as others have mentioned, if this at least gets us some bluerays with remastered effects, it's worth it.

JohnGaunt3.0

September 28th 21 19:04

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

Not to be a buzzkill, but until the pilot gets made a lot of people seem to be counting chickens not only before they've hatched but before the eggs have even been laid.

Count me in on the Cautiously Optimistic But Distrustful of WB column.

Jan	September 28th 21 19:39

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

Curious why you would be distrustful of WB?

Bester

September 28th 21 19:40

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ubik (Post 465264)

Absolutely agree. I'm getting sick of all the "don't make it woke" nonsense on social media and YT.

I predict this site will suddenly see a surge of new members 😁

darth_librarian

September 28th 21 19:57

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

Quote:

Originally Posted by Springer (Post 465258)

Well, I came back after 10 years! Lovely to see you all again!

Agreed on budget, CW does not have a great rep there and this is no tentpole streaming show as with Stranger Things. I hope they get a look and feel closer to The Expanse. It's a great show.

On the plus side, it's got a chance of going several seasons. https://www.cancelledscifi.com/2021/...recard-the-cw/

Overall I am genuinely conflicted I would have preferred B5 TNG over a reboot but it sounds from the Twitter thread that he has good ideas which may help. And much of the show is set on a space station.

I am anxious not to become the angry GINO type I used to argue with here, there, and everywhere ...

nypinta

September 28th 21 20:22

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ubik (Post 465264)

I came in search of a forum for this very reason, in fact.

Springer

September 28th 21 20:59

Re: NEW Babylon 5 Series

Quote:

Originally Posted by AntonyF (Post 465266)

I thought JMS has told the story that he wanted to tell, I don't understand reopening it.

I think this is the crux of my concerns. I'm not sure if this is a rational argument or just an emotive one, but doing a reboot is almost like saying the story wasn't told well enough the first time so it needs to be remade. I mean, I get tired of people rubbishing the original show, saying it is dated or cheap looking and the effects and acting are bad, etc etc and the reboot will amplify those voices.

And if it is going to be drastically different to the original, why not make it something new as opposed to a reboot? After all, novelists don't rewrite novels 20 years later. Painters don't repaint their most famous works 20 years later. Why does this only happen in TV and cinema?

However, despite my misgivings I have had a day to think about it and I am beginning to cautiously accept the idea, and maybe even grow a little excited. And the original show will still always exist, whatever happens with the reboot.

With regard the blu-ray of the original series, maybe it will get a release timed with the debut of the reboot, if it gets off the ground?

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