Babylon 5 Movie through Studio JMS

[Ubik]

Amazing news! This is FAR better than sock puppets!

I think, logically, it has to be a reboot with a new cast. Too many of the original cast have passed beyond the rim, and many are now too old to convincingly reprise their roles. I would also speculate that it can't really be set after the events of the TV series, because that would alienate far too much of the films potential audience - the general cinema going public. It would have to be what Serenity is to Firefly. Done in such a way that new viewers can get to know the universe with no prior knowledge.

However, I could see a lot of the old cast getting cameos, perhaps in the vein of Star Wars VII. Or, as the above videos suggests, perhaps playing totally different characters that are relevant to the story.

Looking forward to more reactions. I thought this place would be ON FIRE given this news!!!

Stepping back for a monent though. Even if JMS writes a script, is there really any certainty this will get made? It would still need a home, backers and financing. So, whilst I'm very excited, I'm not holding my breath until I see something more concrete, like ink on the page with a studio.

I think we all remember the TMOS experience. Hopefully this is different and JMS is better placed now to get this made.

[Looney]

Amazing news! This is FAR better than sock puppets!

I think, logically, it has to be a reboot with a new cast. Too many of the original cast have passed beyond the rim, and many are now too old to convincingly reprise their roles. I would also speculate that it can't really be set after the events of the TV series, because that would alienate far too much of the films potential audience - the general cinema going public. It would have to be what Serenity is to Firefly. Done in such a way that new viewers can get to know the universe with no prior knowledge.

However, I could see a lot of the old cast getting cameos, perhaps in the vein of Star Wars VII. Or, as the above videos suggests, perhaps playing totally different characters that are relevant to the story.

I believe Ubik is probably correct, but don't write the old cast out just yet. I think there is still some room to play there. Remember, there is a lot of time between the end of the series and Sleeping in The Light. Those characters would age during that time period. We are also talking about a Universe that could have many, many other stories with those characters popping in and out of those stories. I absolutely believe every cast member could pull off versions of themselves that fall into a time frame in the middle, say nine to ten years prior to Sleeping in The Light up to Sleeping in The Light. The real question is what is more easily funded, total reboot or continuation, and which of those two would make the most money.

I personally don't want to see a reboot unless I am involved to make sure it is done correctly. I was thinking about that the other day. What if we got a modernized reboot that was just awful? What if we were stuck with all of the modern cliches of today's entertainment industry models - super genius smart mouthed teen hacker goth girl as Ivanova. I mean, I trust JMS to try to stick to his original vision, but it has become so personal to me that what can I do but worry.

And oh yeah all of that aside, WE'RE GETTING NEW MATERIAL ! ! ! ! Still air-hugging invisible people while jumping up and down with an occasional fist pump toward the sky.

[Ubik]

I believe Ubik is probably correct, but don't write the old cast out just yet. I think there is still some room to play there. Remember, there is a lot of time between the end of the series and Sleeping in The Light. Those characters would age during that time period. We are also talking about a Universe that could have many, many other stories with those characters popping in and out of those stories. I absolutely believe every cast member could pull off versions of themselves that fall into a time frame in the middle, say nine to ten years prior to Sleeping in The Light up to Sleeping in The Light. The real question is what is more easily funded, total reboot or continuation, and which of those two would make the most money.

I personally don't expect to see it refrencing the TV show, except as a wink and nod to existing fans. If it is to be a big feature film, it has to be made in such a way that it's accessible to new viewers. Whilst I love the old cast dearly, I think a commercially viable feature film would require a fresh cast of people. Too many of the key actors are gone now, and you'd end up with Trek movie syndrome, where many of the actors look like they've just been exhumed from the grave to reprise their roles. Their came a point whereby Shatner really didn't convince as Kirk. He was too old. Same goes for B5. Time to start fresh.

But yes, it's overwhelmingly cool that there may be new material. I'm rooting for a fresh start that gives a new generation of talent the chance to shine in the universe we all love so much!

[Truth66]

Amazing news! This is FAR better than sock puppets!

I think, logically, it has to be a reboot with a new cast. Too many of the original cast have passed beyond the rim, and many are now too old to convincingly reprise their roles. I would also speculate that it can't really be set after the events of the TV series, because that would alienate far too much of the films potential audience - the general cinema going public. It would have to be what Serenity is to Firefly. Done in such a way that new viewers can get to know the universe with no prior knowledge.

However, I could see a lot of the old cast getting cameos, perhaps in the vein of Star Wars VII. Or, as the above videos suggests, perhaps playing totally different characters that are relevant to the story.

Looking forward to more reactions. I thought this place would be ON FIRE given this news!!!

Stepping back for a monent though. Even if JMS writes a script, is there really any certainty this will get made? It would still need a home, backers and financing. So, whilst I'm very excited, I'm not holding my breath until I see something more concrete, like ink on the page with a studio.

I think we all remember the TMOS experience. Hopefully this is different and JMS is better placed now to get this made.

I totally agree. I am also quite excited about the possibility of a B5 movie finally being made. Having said that, I am also cautious in my optimism as there have been other B5 projects that were "In the works" that fell flat like TMOS, the reboot of the series and possibly others.

[Ubik]

Stepping back for a monent though. Even if JMS writes a script, is there really any certainty this will get made? It would still need a home, backers and financing. So, whilst I'm very excited, I'm not holding my breath until I see something more concrete, like ink on the page with a studio.

I think we all remember the TMOS experience. Hopefully this is different and JMS is better placed now to get this made.

Correction to my own post (from Jan's update):

"So it's been a really big year for Studio JMS. And due to that, he can now look to doing a feature film ffor B5. JMS recapped that WB owns everything about B5 except the movie rights and even though he holds the film rights, to take a B5 movie to another studio without holding the TV rights wouldn't work. There's one studio in LA that doesn't care about that - Studio JMS - and in 2015 JMS will write the script. He'll give WB the opportunity to step up, but if they don't, Studio JMS will make it in 2016 on thier own with a $1-200,000,000.00 budget."

Colour me really freaking excited. This IS happening!

And on the casting / reboot nature of the film:

Asked if the film would be a reboot or a continuation:

"It would have to be a reboot because it's been twenty-plus years since we started that show and some of the age ranges wouldn't work with some of these characters so we'd need to move a few people around. But what I want to do is use the original cast one way or another but we'd have to move some things around. I'd love to see Bruce as the President of the Earth Alliance; it would be the perfect role for him."

[Jan]

Untitled Babylon 5 Feature Film

Might as well start this thread now. Will move relevant portions of posts in other threads soon (read: once I get home to a real keyboard)

Relevant info: JMS is going to write the feature script next year and if Warner's wants to be involved, fine. If not, Studio JMS will do it solo.

More as it develops.

Jan

[Looney]

Correction to my own post (from Jan's update):

"So it's been a really big year for Studio JMS. And due to that, he can now look to doing a feature film ffor B5. JMS recapped that WB owns everything about B5 except the movie rights and even though he holds the film rights, to take a B5 movie to another studio without holding the TV rights wouldn't work. There's one studio in LA that doesn't care about that - Studio JMS - and in 2015 JMS will write the script. He'll give WB the opportunity to step up, but if they don't, Studio JMS will make it in 2016 on thier own with a $1-200,000,000.00 budget."

Colour me really freaking excited. This IS happening!

And on the casting / reboot nature of the film:

Asked if the film would be a reboot or a continuation:

"It would have to be a reboot because it's been twenty-plus years since we started that show and some of the age ranges wouldn't work with some of these characters so we'd need to move a few people around. But what I want to do is use the original cast one way or another but we'd have to move some things around. I'd love to see Bruce as the President of the Earth Alliance; it would be the perfect role for him."

I am a little more nervous now that I know the word "reboot" was used - tough to capture lightning in a bottle twice. Thankfully it is JMS doing it and what we'll likely get is an alternate B5 Universe that is at least as awesome as the original B5 Universe so NOW I AM "FREAKING EXCITED" too!

A reboot of B5 without any inconsistencies. A reboot of B5 with modern and movie storytelling boundaries. A B5 Universe where people don't destroy all of CG material and deny me my BLU-RAY release.

But I am so worried about recasting. I honestly don't know how it is possible. Ummmm ... Daniel Day-Lewis, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley, seriously who could possibly play Londo and G'Kar? And a Londo and G'Kar who's arc's and performances come even slightly close to their TV counterparts. On the flipside, I know JMS didn't mean this, but I would love to see Boxleitner as a President Clark type character.

[Ubik]

But I am so worried about recasting. I honestly don't know how it is possible. Ummmm ... Daniel Day-Lewis, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley, seriously who could possibly play Londo and G'Kar? And a Londo and G'Kar who's arc's and performances come even slightly close to their TV counterparts. On the flipside, I know JMS didn't mean this, but I would love to see Boxleitner as a President Clark type character.

I honestly think there are plenty of actors out there who could do the roles justice, and who is to say that some roles wouldn't be inverted or played out differently, or even gender switched... Recall that Delenn was initially male / androgenous in The Gathering!

I'm open to it being something new and different. It will not diminish the original series in any way, and why would we want the same meal twice? I have faith that JMS will treat it with respect and give us a few surprises along the way.

Boxleitner as Clark... oh that would be delicious!

[babylonlurker]

I totally agree. I am also quite excited about the possibility of a B5 movie finally being made. Having said that, I am also cautious in my optimism as there have been other B5 projects that were "In the works" that fell flat like TMOS, the reboot of the series and possibly others.

That is all true. But JMS' position is *much better* now with his experience from the last few years, Studio JMS, Feature movies, Sense8, comics etc.

JMS' problem before has been - not enough creative control for his own taste.

That is now solved, and he is in a much stronger position when negotiating.

[Looney]

I can't wait for the next big day, Title Day.

[B5-Stefan]

I only drop in, if there a RELEVANT things going around. <hohoho>

Might as well start this thread now. Will move relevant portions of posts in other threads soon (read: once I get home to a real keyboard)

Relevant info: JMS is going to write the feature script next year and if Warner's wants to be involved, fine. If not, Studio JMS will do it solo.

More as it develops.

Jan

First: WOW!
Second: if JMS pulls his drawer, there must be already some scripts: TMOS, Telepath-war...
Third: did he at SDCC give a glimpse if the feature will be about an all new story or refining an existent idea?

Stefan (now hooking up)

--
JMS: "Never Surrender Dreams"

[phazedout]

I was in Tallin at a major ingress event, forgot passport had huge stress attack in the ferry port yadda yadda yadda, stil got there and had fun avoiding the Evil Yellow Light.

am I excited? well I am still a little shattered to be able to generate actual excitement but guys. I have the Babylon 5 shield inked permanently upon my body.

I thinkn that shows how comitted I am to it, yes?

Go studio JMs, as to WB, they don't want it but they are the perptual two year old child with the property "oh we don't ant to play with it but if you do? no! my toy! go 'way!

Phaze
on the "And then, ladies and gentlemen, I had to shoot him" ID

[Ubik]

I only drop in, if there a RELEVANT things going around. <hohoho>

First: WOW!
Second: if JMS pulls his drawer, there must be already some scripts: TMOS, Telepath-war...
Third: did he at SDCC give a glimpse if the feature will be about an all new story or refining an existent idea?

Stefan (now hooking up)

--
JMS: "Never Surrender Dreams"

Hey Stefan, this will all probably get moved across, but a wealth of information is already present in this thread. I won't repeat my comments, but long story short, it'll be a reboot. New cast, with older cast members potentially being slotted into roles more suited to their age. If I know JMS, things will be different, and our expectations will be turned upside down, in a good way. I doubt a simple re-telling would satisfy him creatively.

[Milkman]

reboot scares me.. would rather have a new story in the B5 universe myself with as many old characters as possible having rolls as they would fit in. I like the old story and the cast as they interacted. That group of people made magic on the screen. It will be hard to top that... there will always be comparisons... etc.

BUT

Im still excited about more B5.

[Ubik]

reboot scares me.. would rather have a new story in the B5 universe myself with as many old characters as possible having rolls as they would fit in. I like the old story and the cast as they interacted. That group of people made magic on the screen. It will be hard to top that... there will always be comparisons... etc.

BUT

Im still excited about more B5.

Reading all the fan reactions today, I was struck by how fervently some disliked the reboot idea. Many cries of 'use the old cast' and 'don't change MY SHOW'.
I kinda agree that the B5 story doesn't need telling again, but this is JMS. This won't be a straight reboot, hell reboot pretty much implies that things will be different.

There's no reason we wouldn't get a different story this time around. I think we'll get the same basic universe, with all the races we love, but I can't see JMS wanting to tell the same tale twice. There is so much scope to take it in other directions. The show we got never quite followed the original intended path, and grew as it went along. Even if the big story ideas (Shadow War, etc) were to remain similar, HOW we get there could be very different.

I trust JMS to be creative and challenge us as fans, I think there are cool things in store if this gets off the ground.