Actual April announcement

[Jan]

Silly question: Why not a B5 universe TV series with a good budget, a continuation of Crusade, something to wrap things up?

No reason that I know of (though I doubt we'll ever see a simple continuation of Crusade). Remember, it seems to have changed a little over time. As I posted yesterday:

What's interesting to note is that originally JMS reported telling WB that they'd have to fund a big-budget feature or nothing. In NY, he phrased it that it had to be a feature or TV series with a sufficient budget giving him complete creative control.

What instigates pilots? The studio (e.g. Warner Brothers Domestic Television Productions)? Do they go to the networks to pitch them ideas that they think the networks might want? The networks? Do they go to the studios, telling the studios generally what the want?

I don't really know but I imagine it depends on several factors including what kind of network (consortium, cable etc.). I remember some of what JMS said back in the day but I don't imagine that much of it would still be valid today.

Jan

[JasonDavis]

What instigates pilots? The studio (e.g. Warner Brothers Domestic Television Productions)? Do they go to the networks to pitch them ideas that they think the networks might want? The networks? Do they go to the studios, telling the studios generally what the want?

Pilots are usually instigated by a studio, but networks can commission them too. At this point in the game, most networks are closely allied with a studio (e.g. NBC/Universal, Fox/Fox, et al) so it's effectively a joint process. If the Fox network wants a new crime procedural, a showrunner with an overall deal at the Fox studio will likely develop and pitch one.

Just a few years ago, there was a lot less network/studio integration and you'd have Universal Studios pitching shows to Fox (House, MD) or ABC Studios (then known as Touchstone) pitching shows to NBC (Scrubs).

[lotjx]

Well, JMS has nuts, I'll give him that. Only in Hollywood would asking for $100 million dollars be easier then asking for $30 million.

[Garibaldi's Hair]

Did he really say a $100 million? Thats Star Wars money. A $100 million for a B5 movie, good lord thats the entire budget for the entire series, spin-offs, TV movies and maybe even the merchandising. I don't think he is going to get that. If WB gives more then $30 million, I will literally be shocked. I am actually now very curious to see what he could do with a $100 million and how long it would be.

I think you're forgetting the perspective of time here. From memory, I recall the budget of B5 came it at a little under $1 million per episode, so the entire series would have likely cost around the $100 million mark, especially if you include the TV movies.

But the series ended almost 13 years ago. What would B5 cost to make today. I have no idea, but I would guess at quite a bit more than a little under $1 million per episode.

Likewise with a movie. I would have thought a good quality B5 movie could have been made for $30 million in 1999/2000, but now? Don't think so. Serenity came in at around $40 million, IIRC, and that was 6 years ago now. I doubt JMS would agree to any proposal for a B5 movie where the budget wasn't at least on a par with the 2011 equivalent of Serenity's budget ... in fact the Wikipedia entry for Serenity quotes $100 million as the typical budget for a story set in space.

[Jan]

Only in Hollywood would asking for $100 million dollars be easier then asking for $30 million.

Which would you hand money over for? A 'franchise' that's already generated over half a billion in DVD sales? Or a spec historical film slated to be directed by somebody who's never directed a feature before? Regardless of the fact that they're both by the same person, investors are far more likely to go with something proven.

Jan

[Ranger 6 and 7/8]

ok, here┤s my 2 cents. Smallville is on the way out and they just announced the renewal of Supernatural for at least another season. CW doesn┤t really have anything else in the pike to hang on to their niche audience. They need something to keep those viewers from going over to Fox or Syfy and totally losing out in that timeslot. Could this be the reason for sudden interest in B5?

[JoeD80]

Fox/Fox, et al) so it's effectively a joint process. If the Fox network wants a new crime procedural, a showrunner with an overall deal at the Fox studio will likely develop and pitch one.

According to my landlord who works for the Fox Television studio, they tend to run it more like Warner's. The studio and network don't communicate directly. The studio is still happy to produce shows for other networks and the network is still happy to use other studio's shows. Modern Family on ABC is a recent example.

[AmyG]

Yesterday, the B5 page on Facebook ù the bigger one, the one that had 35,000 fans/likes ù disappeared. It went 'poof!', and I no longer had it listed in my "Info" section of my profile. Today it is back, and it is very obviously officially connected with WB (check the content, and the links). That is VERY interesting.

I realize I am one of few with mixed feelings about this. Of course I love Babylon 5 and wish there were more of it, but I think I want that in a nostalgic way: more of the *original* series. I haven't overwhelmingly loved *anything* that followed the original series, even Crusade. And anything new will have a great big gaping hole in the shape of G'Kar. There are plenty of B5-universe stories that I still want to see, but nearly all of them would involve writing around G'Kar in some way. Short of giving us the Technomage trilogy or the Psi Corps trilogy on screen (which I somehow doubt), what G'Kar-less content could be coming our way? Any speculations or predictions?

[Jan]

I think this is the page Amy's referring to:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Babylon-5/138328566236880

Jan

[AmyG]

Yes, 'tis.

[lotjx]

I wouldn't trust anything on CW formerly UPN and WB after they screwed up Buffy and Angel. I would also they really didn't do the Superman franchise many favors with Smallville either. Besides Fox who has a notrious short leash for show, as far as I know Bones hasn't been renewed and thats one of their top 5 shows, I trust CW less then any network out there. None of the other big three networks would touch it either. I could see maybe NBC doing something since their in utter choas right now. The perfect place would be Sy Fy, but they seem to have little interest in doing TV shows and just want to do reality TV that at time has nothing to do with their core audience. FX would be my ideal place since you have a TV studio that is willing to take risks with Sons of Anarchy, Archer, Justified, Sheild and others. Even the ones that didn't work out like Terriers at least got a fair shake. It has a wide diversity of shows and I think they maybe doing Powers from the comics as a show. BBC America is basically what Sy Fy used to be and the Brits love B5, so that could be a match made in heaven.

I would speculate what we could see, but I have gotten in trouble with that before. I would say again, the mini-series route is the best way to go. Torchwood is doing it with some success. I would say the PSI Corp war is the best place to go and to frank its the one where you really don't need G'Kar and Franklin.

[AmyG]

SyFy? If new B5 were on SyFy, everything would take place in the forests of Planet Vancouver! FX would be amazing; I love so many of their shows! And look at how great HBO is doing with "Game of Thrones"; I mean I doubt HBO would throw "Game of Thrones" money at B5 and do a series, but just the fact that they did it with "Game of Thrones" makes me think that some suits, at least, believe there is money/ratings to be had in SF/F again.

I'm both happily excited and terrified.

[Jan]

In response to Amy's thread on his Fan page, JMS wrote:

It'll be at least another few weeks as the powers that be ensure that every i has been dotted and ever t crossed. There's always a chance things could go pear-shaped, as the Brits say, but things are looking promising for the moment.

Jan

[Commander Raiden]

till there is concrete information, we just don't know.....

[Dr Maturin]

I haven't overwhelmingly loved *anything* that followed the original series, even Crusade.

Agreed.

FX would be amazing; I love so many of their shows!

Agreed!