TMoS recasting rumor-actions & reactions

[Jan]

It's been rightly pointed out that the original thread regarding the rumored recasting of the original Babylon 5 and Crusade characters has gotten too long and unwieldy. I completely agree (and anyway I hate that thread title! <g>) so I've started this thread to continue our discussions.

Edit: For those just joing us, this is a brief sequence of the events that alarmed me (previously posted on B5TV.com:

<,A few weeks ago I started hearing rumblings along the lines of there being disagreement between JMS and WB about something to do with casting. Then I started hearing that WB was starting to feel that TMoS, being TV based, wasn't high-profile enough and so was negotiating with other studios. Then came the PW blurb that rang all sorts of alarm bells with me given it's lack of the usual information (such as the studio) or any source for it's information. Nobody I'm in contact with is familiar this supposed industry site. And then I got an email from Fireflower/Dani verifying everything I've heard and with additional information about the casting issue.>>

I'll leave the 'Uh-Oh thread open for a little bit for people to follow up anything that still should be, but otherwise, let's all settle into this nice clean thread.

If you want to post your thoughts on the reported recasting, share ideas for actions to take, let us know where you've helped spread the word, post your letter to WB to help others get ideas for their own, this is the place.

And, thank you ALL for being such a great community.

Jan

[grumbler]

Dunno why the thread title cannot simply be re-named, but accept that it cannot easily be done, I will post here in fututre.

[Bonehead]

Thanks Jan, good idea.

I can't believe the amount of visits to these threads, and the number of new posters that we've had these last few days.
Shame we couldn't get this when we tried on JMS' birthday, but at least everyone is standing up to be counted now when things look bad.

Well done everybody so far.

For my small part I've been going back to some of my old hangouts/forums. Just general sci-fi stuff, most with bab5 sections. Also some old gaming forums where I used to go a lot. (usually containing some very passionate sci-fi fans). I'm just tracking down some of the Babylon 5 game mods that have been made in recent years, most of them have forums also.

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Btw, the Babylon 5 mod/game created for the original Star Trek Armada2 game is still number 3 in the top ten downloads over at armada2files It has been this way for pretty much the whole year since its release. (First and second place in the top 10 are just two small patches for the original game)

I think this speaks volumes considering it is a Star Trek game, with a huge community of Star Trek fans and gamers. I'd even go so far as to say it's probably converted many of them. Its been downloaded 11999 times from this site alone (and its available from several), and it's sitting pretty above all the Trek downloads.

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Well, when these unimaginable rumours began I was slightly doubtfull about taking action at first, fearing perhaps it was slightly futile. But as others have pointed out, we have nothing to loose by trying.

Keep up the good fight people.

[Jan]

Originally posted by grumbler
Dunno why the thread title cannot simply be re-named, but accept that it cannot easily be done, I will post here in fututre.

I tried, really. Don't know if there's something I don't know (probably) or what but... anyway, it didn't work.

Jan

[Vader1025]

I think the only we can do IS stnd and be counted...I mean JMS's stories were the foundation of what we know and love but the acters made us fall in love with stories.
Bruce IS Sheridan
Mira IS Delenn etc

I can't think of JMS ever "recasting" other than bit roles ie "the Minbari from the Great machine"(sorry forgot his name) or Anna Sheridan.

If we loose this battle, we may end up with a Babylon 5 without ANY of the mains in it and this would really confuse the casual fan (if you actually can watch B5 casually)

[Jan]

Originally posted by Vader1025
If we loose this battle, we may end up with a Babylon 5 without ANY of the mains in it and this would really confuse the casual fan (if you actually can watch B5 casually)

Or no B5 movie at all. The first rumblings I heard were that JMS was in a stare-down with the suits but no real hint as to why. Then along came the recasting thing and I understood. I truly believe that JMS is loyal to the people who brought his stories to life.

Could it be done without him? I don't know. And to tell you the truth, I'm not sure which would worse; a B5 movie without JMS' full support and new cast - or no B5 movie at all.

Jan

[Towelmaster]

"a B5 movie without JMS' full support and new cast"

Knowing how moviecompanies f*ck up original stories I have no doubt that that would be the worst thing of the two that could happen.

I don't want another Planet of the Apes,. I want "an original JMS".

[Doktor]

Originally posted by Jan
And to tell you the truth, I'm not sure which would worse; a B5 movie without JMS' full support and new cast - or no B5 movie at all.

That's a no-brainer. B5 needs JMS on board to keep it true to the vision that makes it special. Without that, it'll just be more tedious sci-fi with no real character. Maybe the director would manage to make a decent movie, but I doubt it'd have any resemblance to the B5 that we all know and love.

[MulderLestatBlk]

Lets create an online phenomenon. You know, get the word out there, kinda like these guys did with something, so very obscure:http://www.planettribes.com/allyourbase/signs.shtml

Photoshop is very popular all over the net...I don't know where I'm going with this. But photoshop seems to get people looking. O_o;; Is this just a really silly idea, or what? But if it gets the message out...someone should also create banners and icons for: http://www.keepb5alive.com/

So people who have personal webpages all over the net, can post their support, with a banner link on their webpage, blog, etc.

Also, someone should think of advertising the webpage, here at: http://www.fark.com/farq/classifiedad.shtml
Trust me. That webpage gets TONS of hits a day, click the about fark.com thing. (It is seriously crazy and there are Babylon5 fans in there...just waiting to click away.) Even though the webpage is sortof weird.

also, NSFW, mean Not Safe For Work. I mostly stay away from those links, at least they give a warning. -_-;; It's not much worse then the links on Ain't it cool news...and creating an account is free...and submitting to the classified ads, costs $25.00. (this webpage gets 5 million hits a day.) It's the best idea that I have...-_-;;

[shakiroz]

Confirmation of mostly new cast for the film...

I sent an email to Patricia Tallman's fanclub asking for confirmation from her on whether or not "all our favorite B5 characters [were] in the new theatrical film being produced." and this was her reply...

________________________________________
From: ptfanclub
Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2004 8:35 PM
Subject: Re: Need Pat's help...

Marc --

From Pat:

<<They are using mostly new, I don't know of any on the old cast who has heard anything. I saw they were recasting Galen the techno mage. >>


At this point I guess it doesn't hurt to write a letter or teo unless the script written by JMS doesn't even call for the original cast but he always said that he would include them in a bog screen feature as a thanks for all their support through the years so this is odd...

[MulderLestatBlk]

Noooooooo! If they don't listen. I won't give them a dime. Ugh...Warner Brothers is awful.

[Doktor]

The uncertainty is killing me

[frulad]

You know, I'm wondering how long this has been percolating. Back at the end of October at Chiller Theatre, I saw Mira, Walter, Pat and Billy in a huddle. I thought perhaps they were just chatting and catching up with each other, but now I'm wondering if they weren't comparing notes about not hearing anything about the movie?

[frulad]

Another thought- Should we perhaps mention that Mia is schefuled to appear on at least three more episodes of Lost in what appears to be a pivitol/high profile role? Since the show is one of the most successful new shows of the season shouldn't that raise her name's "Marquee Value" somewhat?

[Jan]

Originally posted by frulad
Another thought- Should we perhaps mention that Mia is schefuled to appear on at least three more episodes of Lost in what appears to be a pivitol/high profile role? Since the show is one of the most successful new shows of the season shouldn't that raise her name's "Marquee Value" somewhat?

Has that been confirmed now? I'd heard that she might but hadn't seen anything definite.

Jan