Will FOX be smart enough to avoid disaster on release date for Tmots?

[Radhil]

If it takes to long to get it released, then interest could be loss

What interest is there, beyond message board gossip? It's not even broadly announced yet.

not to mention the posibility of the rumors about SW Episode 7, 8 and 9. If they happen we could see the first one them released as early as 07.

If they happen, they are likely to happen on the same plodding schedule that Lucas like's 'em. Namely, every three years. So if they come (and that's still big if), '08 is more likely.

not to mention the posibility of the rumors about SW Episode 7, 8 and 9. If they happen we could see the first one them released as early as 07.

Ugh, no. Lets concentrate on getting one movie before we concentrate our worries on the "future of the franchise". Need an apple before an orchard.

[SciFiRanger]

Grumbler your timeing on this one sounds like it's more probable than not. If it takes to long to get it released, then interest could be loss not to mention the posibility of the rumors about SW Episode 7, 8 and 9. If they happen we could see the first one them released as early as 07. Possibly making the WB's window of opportunity smaller for B5 on the big screen. So if there are to be any sequels to TMoS, they may have to contend with Lucas at that point. Super Shadow says they are a go, and that only Harrison Ford is holding out for 40 mil per flick but the rest of them have signed on to do the Sequel Trilogy. If Episode 3 dose as well as they hope, I think we'll be getting 7,8 and 9 whether we want them or not.

[grumbler]

The script is done. Shooting starts when they have contracts in hand, and the effects are ready to "mesh." That means now to "sometime." Release between summer '05 to summer '06. '07 seems pessimistic.

[frulad]

My (quasi-)educated guess would be that even if they announced tommorrow that TMoS would start shooting next Monday, I would doubt we'd see the movie before 1st Quarter 2006.

Actually 2006 would be a good time. So far the only blockbusters scheduled are X-Men 3 (May 6) and Superman (TBD). Although announced, I have no reason to believe that though announced, Mission: Impossible III or Indian Jones IV will be seen that year as things stand now...

[Michael Malloy]

I certainly agree about the potential release...year. Could it be 2007? Or is that too optomistic? After all, we don't know who is in it or when shooting will begin. All we seem to firmly know now is a film is planned, and JMS has a lot to do with it.

I must apologize for giving far too much credit to Fox. Sorry. My mistake.

[Radhil]

To give some faith here to the idea of fringe sci-fi franchises going up against juggernauts -

Firefly, the little show that died, only to be reborn as the movie Serenity, was moved out of the summer/spring zone specifically so it wouldn't be crushed by the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal (re: Lucas), and could have a proper ramp up. The execs - the suits, the people we love to hate as scheming meddlers - want to preserve it where it can be seen without getting demolished by competition.

I doubt the same execs are involved here (I think Serenity is under Universal's banner), but that is at least a similar case, and a comforting sign.

That said, if TMoS releases next year at all, I'd be greatly suprised. Things rarely move that fast - they don't even have the actors signed or an official announcement, let alone a production and release schedule. So coming under the Star Wars shadow seems kinda unlikely.

[Capt.Montoya]

I'll say that many "casual fans" of B5 don't go around the web looking for news about it anymore and might need the "B5:TMoS" title to remind them.

But... you would get those fans easily with a simple trailer that shows the station and a few of the regular characters, even without the obligatory mention along the lines of "the saga continues" we'll get in the trailer the visuals would be enough to bring back the casual fans.

So I'm starting to agree that for broader mass appeal it might be much better to call the movie "The Memory of Shadows" and let people draw the connection themselves.

[grumbler]

Elver, six months ago i would have disagreed with you, but I thinki the title and concept will be evocative enough that the advertising should only mention, not dwell on, the B5 connection. After all, i am willing to bet bulk of the fans that would buy tickets based purely on B5ness already know about the project and the rest will be clued in without a heavy advertising link.

The key to success will be getting the ST and SW fans who dismissed the show as "too cheap" to buy tickets, and that is best done without making the linkage to a dismissed show too clear.

However, I am also willing to bet that word of mouth after it premieres will sell this flick no matter what the adverts say, and that will probably make or break the film.

[elver]

Maybe the training wheels finally came off the Giant Sloth?

Bada-bing!

Oh, come on. Nobody appreciates surreal humour anymore? Bah!

Personally I'm more concerned about the Powers that Be marketing it first as "Babylon 5" and then as "The Memory of Shadows" -- which is to say that people won't know what B5 is or won't care anymore after all these years causing them to dismiss it as something too esoteric to bother about.

In my humble opinion, they should market it only as "The Memory of Shadows" -- a science fiction movie about something happening in space (be it the Telepath War or whatnot -- and after reading Nautilus Coil, I must say, I'm looking forward to seeing the Telepath War) and if it's set in the B5 universe, then that's just an added bonus to the fans. Plus those that like the movie will have something to buy and watch and read until JMS (the secret identity of whom is the superhero the Giant Sloth?) gets around to another B5 project.

[Jan]

Re: Will FOX be smart enough to avoid disaster on release date for Tmots?

Originally posted by Michael Malloy
Every time recently that Star Tripe has realeased a new fillm, it has been again overhwelming comptetition at the box office.

Does anyone here think things will be more intellingently handled with the B5 movie project? Star Wars III is due out in the spring.

Of course, since we've heard nothing for a long time it seems progress on Tmots is moving ahead at the speed of a very cold Giant Sloth. No cast, nothing.

(Minor correction - it's Warner Brothers, not Fox)

I'd've thought that the Paramount folks releasing ST would be assuming that anything released against their film was bucking the overwhelming competition that is/was ST. Though I can't say I remember what films were released in competition with any of them at all.

While I don't know how much influence JMS might have on when TMoS is released, I'm sure he'll use what he has to try to get it set at a decent time. As Space Duck mentioned, JMS wasn't in any hurry as long as the Star Wars flicks were being released. Obviously it'd be best if it doesn't come out the same week as the next Harry Potter film, too.

And we do now have word that they seem to be working on negotiating with cast members. Peter J was *very* blunt at DragonCon in September that he'd believe in the movie when he saw the contract. It was pretty clear a few weeks ago that he believed in it now and that things looked good for his character to be in it. Maybe the Giant Sloth is warming up?

Jan

[Space Duck]

JMS has talked about this (I think)

I seem to remember one of JMS' old posts where he mentioned that he would not want to release any B5 movie until SW ep I through III were released in theaters (the comment was made before SW I, I think).

Besides, I doubt that the Giant Sloth will have reached the finish line before the end of next year.

[Michael Malloy]

Every time recently that Star Tripe has realeased a new fillm, it has been again overhwelming comptetition at the box office.

Does anyone here think things will be more intellingently handled with the B5 movie project? Star Wars III is due out in the spring.

Of course, since we've heard nothing for a long time it seems progress on Tmots is moving ahead at the speed of a very cold Giant Sloth. No cast, nothing.