Babylon 5 Movie through Studio JMS

[Looney]

It has been mentioned before, but I really love the effort behind Star Trek Continues.

http://www.startrekcontinues.com/episodes.html

I don't love everything they do, but I often feel I am watching the original series. I think they really capture the tone. It is far from perfect on multiple levels, but it is still pretty entertaining. Far and away the best Star Trek fan produced thing I've seen as far as level by level effort. Star Trek Renegades productions I've seen have had decent production values and work put into them, but I've also felt like the scripting behind them has been greatly lacking. Star Trek Continues feels more like stories the original Star Trek might have told. Don't get me wrong, I didn't care for more than one of the stories they chose to tell, but that is just a personal opinion on the choice not the effort they put into telling it.

[Jan]

I haven't seen very many but I was surprisingly moved by Phase II's "World Enough and Time" episode.

[Brian G Turner]

Would be very interesting to know what sort of period/context JMS would plan to set any movie against.

[Ubik]

Would be very interesting to know what sort of period/context JMS would plan to set any movie against.

A full reboot was what he specified when discussing the possible feature film, but hasn't said much beyond that. I would imagine it would be updated to reflect modern political themes and concerns.

Personally, I'd want to see a story that diverged from what we already have, cause there's little point in re-treading old ground.

[Ubik]

So, when do you folks reckon we're likely to see a B5 feature film? 2245!? Sooner? Never?

[Looney]

Hmmmmm . . . I don't think I would ever say never, but I am also not so sure I would say we'll ever see a feature film. At this point I imagine WB will eventually come around to the notion they own the rights to the franchise and the TV rights, so the best we might hope for is a new incarnation on TV or streaming - please not on CW. I've been thinking about it a lot and I don't think they are ever going to let JMS do his own feature without a serious kickback and control over the future. And yeah he owns the movie rights, but I doubt they'll just say, "Okay, make your movie." I mean as far as I know he can't do anything else with B5 other than claim he has the right to make feature films. He can't do B5 novels, comic books, I am starting to think maybe he can't do audio dramas, or basically anything to tell a B5 story other than a movie. Am I wrong? So does it sound like the corporation that controls so much of that franchise is just going to be cool with him making money off of a feature film without them getting a huge piece? Doesn't sound like the way things work in this world?

I don't know, I wish he could get everything he wants to make a feature film, but I just don't see WB letting him do it on his own. Now it would be great if they would fund him and let him do it like he wants, but I think we all WB corporate wants to control of everything so that is highly unlikely. Plus we all know WB is not likely to take a chance on an old SciFi franchise right now when it doesn't involve superheroes. They are investing all of their money in trying to match Marvel/Disney. Who knows though?! Maybe there is new blood at WB who are smart enough to recognize quality and know how to get things done. I can't help but think it would be very helpful if Rising Stars and Midnight Nation were HUGE success, but in all honesty I think the best we can hope for is critical success in a market already saturated by comic book superheroes. Sense 8 Season Two being a huge hit wouldn't hurt.

[Jan]

You're right. JMS owns the movie rights *only*. He can't do ANYthing else at all, whatsoever without WB permission (and payment, I'm sure). But if he wants to do a feature film for B5 and is content to only let it run in the theaters (as he doesn't hold the TV rights), and he can get the backing to do so, WB has no say in the matter as far as I know. Own is own.

Success with Midnight Nation and Rising Stars (ETA: And Ten Grand - Woo-Hoo!!) is likely to help with the attracting of investors. That's what JMS meant when he said he needed to build up the 'street cred' of Studio JMS.

Time will tell...

[Ubik]

A question; do people think the cancellation of Sense8 will in any way hamper progress on the B5 film? I wonder if this is good or bad for the street cred that needs to be built.

The positives are that the press and fan reaction to the cancellation has been very strong. People clearly love the show. Another thing is that this frees up JMS in terms of time, with no more Sense8, perhaps there is room in his schedule to start considering this again. And whilst my feelings are mixed on this, he and the Ws are very tight now, this can only be good in terms of networking within hollywood. I think Sense8 has done a lot to restore their reputation.

[Apsu]

I was thinking those last days about the recent trailer of Star Trek Discovery. I was wondering if in case of success, it would let people/investors/netflix-like-actors see Babylon 5 as another potentiel and profitable franchise to be revived too.

[Lope de Aguirre]

I was thinking those last days about the recent trailer of Star Trek Discovery. I was wondering if in case of success, it would let people/investors/netflix-like-actors see Babylon 5 as another potentiel and profitable franchise to be revived too.

Yeah, good idea.
I hope so.

[DaveNarn]

Nah, Super Heroes are still the money maker.

If only he could get the Justice League on a new Babylon 5 show...

[Ubik]

Nah, Super Heroes are still the money maker.

If only he could get the Justice League on a new Babylon 5 show...

If Jack the Ripper can visit B5, so can Batman.

[Babel-17]

After years of saying the Amber Chronicles deserve a series, I might be getting my wish. Googling it, I see Altered Carbon is going to be adapted as well.

Good things are happening! Hopefully the trend is a good sign and portent for a new B5 series.

http://io9.gizmodo.com/status-updates-on-all-the-major-movies-and-tv-shows-stu-1790125170

[Ubik]

Yeah, good idea.
I hope so.

Dude, you have good taste in films! Was just looking at your BluRay collection list. Not often I see SF fanatics who appear to love the work of Harmony Korine. As of this day 'Julien Donkey Boy' is the only film that's ever made me feel physically ill. This is a feat in itself, and Herzog's performance in that film is priceless. Not one I dig out often, but powerful stuff.

[Looney]

See I don't think I would ever share my collection because I wouldn't want to hear criticism from everyone.