Sp...what are the chances of TMoS being what we hoped for?

[z^3]

Just a random thought, but (putting aside the recasting rumours), I wouldn't put an awful lot of stock in the fact that the original cast have been relegated to the side-lines or as bit parts. Think about it this way: JMS is certainly savvy enough to realise that a B5 movie with the original cast wouldn't go down too well with the suits, therefore pitching this as a story about Diane Baker and other new characters would cater for the suits' tastes, while in the "background" lies the true emphasis (i.e. on the "supporting" cast)...

[Michael Malloy]

I think being "supporting cast" members would be a super slap in the face for the original actors and even more for JMS.

Sure, suits (lawyers and the like), are the dregs of humanity but I don't think their messing around is really what is going on this time at least not with original characters other than Galen. I don't understand why anybody would deliberately pass up Peter Woodward for this part, unless he was very difficult to work with. But I don't think that is the situation because we would have gotten word of it long ago if it was true. The ONLY reason I can think of for re-casting Galen is if, for whatever reason, P.W. wants out.

[WorkerCaste]

Originally posted by z^3
Just a random thought, but (putting aside the recasting rumours), I wouldn't put an awful lot of stock in the fact that the original cast have been relegated to the side-lines or as bit parts. Think about it this way: JMS is certainly savvy enough to realise that a B5 movie with the original cast wouldn't go down too well with the suits, therefore pitching this as a story about Diane Baker and other new characters would cater for the suits' tastes, while in the "background" lies the true emphasis (i.e. on the "supporting" cast)...

That might be the case if it was at the treatment or story pitch phase, but IIRC, JMS has delivered a script. Pretty hard to disguise a lead as supporting in the script itself.

[z^3]

Originally posted by WorkerCaste
That might be the case if it was at the treatment or story pitch phase, but IIRC, JMS has delivered a script. Pretty hard to disguise a lead as supporting in the script itself.

Good point, however we have heard only minimal details about the plot. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that if there are A and B stories, one would include the star names, one the original cast, with the marketing spin placed on the star names. This would seem to be a workable compromise...

Is there any news yet on casting-calls for other characters? I'd be expecting to see something soon...

(And a general question to those who know more abour casting and the film industry than me - is it accepted procedure to put out a casting call (for Galen, for example), then invite the original actor (Peter Woodward) to apply? I know that if I were the actor in question, I would consider it a slap in the face, but you never know...)

[We_Are_One]

Originally posted by Doktor
Define "should".

What's so unreasonable about people having preferences and expectations? Also, our main concern is that it isn't gonna be the movie that JMS wants either, so I'm far from clear what point you're trying to make.

"Should" as in the plot and characters in JMS' script.

And who says it's not "the movie JMS wants"? I haven't seen the script. Have you or anyone else? If you or anyone has factual and concrete info (not rumors, legends or delusions) that WB or anyone has substantially altered JMS' vision for TMoS I sure would like to see it.

I think JMS has enough integrety that if that happened he tell "the suits" to frell off.

[Capt.Montoya]

Originally posted by We_Are_One
"Should" as in the plot and characters in JMS' script.

And who says it's not "the movie JMS wants"? I haven't seen the script. Have you or anyone else? If you or anyone has factual and concrete info (not rumors, legends or delusions) that WB or anyone has substantially altered JMS' vision for TMoS I sure would like to see it.

I think JMS has enough integrety that if that happened he tell "the suits" to frell off.

Sure he would... which might mean the end of the line for B5... and just as unfilmed as that script.

So in this case I'd actually expect JMS to be (or persuaded to be) more accomodating to some modifications on his vision for TMoS.

Or maybe I'm just convincing myself of not expecting too much so I might be amazed?

[grumbler]

Originally posted by We_Are_One
"it sounds to me like if were gonna get a movie, its gonna be nothing like what we want"

Just my two cents, but maybe it should be the movie JMS wants?

JMS might buy two or three tickets, but that won't pay the cost of the movie!

If the movie JMS "wants" is something that has little or nothing to do with the B5 story we have seen so far, then, no, this movie should not be what JMS wants. Not that this is likely, but I think we need to keep in mind that we don't need to subordinate our desires to JMS's decision-making. After all, he stated that TLOTR as we saw it was, in fact, the show he set out to make.

[circularREASON]

Before I start, I would like it known that I am not dissing anyone on this forum as we are all entitled to our opinion.

And this is mine - for what it is worth.

Does anyone on this board know exactly what is going on with regards to TMoS?

All I seem to be reading these days are rumours and supposition. No-body here has any real facts yet.

(well apart from the casting issue but are there only that many characters in the movie? )

The information I am waiting for is news from the Great Maker himself.

In regards to the movie not being what we want ,the movie will be what JMS wants otherwise why would he be doing it. Just because Babylon 5 had a list of main and recuring characters does not mean JMS has to shoe horn them all into a feature film. (as much as we might want him to). It might not be right for the story he wants to tell.

I am sure he will do what is right and in a few months we will all be looking back at this time and having a good giggle.

[Jan]

Originally posted by circularREASON
I am sure he will do what is right and in a few months we will all be looking back at this time and having a good giggle.

That would be nice. Certainly better than looking back and wishing there were going to be a movie.

Jan

[grumbler]

Originally posted by circularREASON
Does anyone on this board know exactly what is going on with regards to TMoS?

No, and you make a good point. We do not know that there is even going to be a movie, or what its title is. Everything about this project (including the fact that there IS a project) is speculation based on rumors and hints.

However, as we have conducted ourselves in the way we thought best when we speculated on the movie title, so we must do so when we speculate on casting. No one is foaming at the mouth, and no one is sharpening their pitchforks. The most rabid response so far has been a call to send positive letters.

It is good to want actual info from JMS, but since he cannot give it (though he says he wants to) decisions have to be made in the absence of such hard data. For some, the decision will be to stand pat and await events, for others the decision will be to write letters and participate on WB forums. To each his/her own, I suppose. I sure DO hope we are laughing at ourselves in three months.

[Osh-Kosh]

Great Maker!!

i'll be honest with ya....i am just thinking Warner Brothers is going to take this and completely screw it up. i mean, let's look at the past folks and look at what WB did before....i am pryaing the JMS gets to do things his way with TMOS....the original cast is a MUST! from what i have heard though, alot of the original characters are not even going to be in this theatrical movie. could that be true?? anyway, i am hoping we all get the B5 we deserve!

[Jan]

Re: Great Maker!!

Originally posted by Osh-Kosh
i'll be honest with ya....i am just thinking Warner Brothers is going to take this and completely screw it up. i mean, let's look at the past folks and look at what WB did before....

Hi, Osh-Kosh!

Not sure what you mean? Except for the recent editing of the Crusade commentary that JMS did, WB has treated B5 pretty well I thought. At least, no worse than any other show?

All we can do is send in our letters and Babylon Bucks and *tell* them what we want to see.

Jan

[bakana]

JMS said all he really needed to say several years ago:
A) That he wanted to do Movies (PLURAL) because the Actors deserved a movie sized paycheck as a reward for all their hard work.
B) That he would NOT pad a script just to work an actor into a story.
That's why he wanted Multiple Movies.

So, we know JMS feelings on the matter.
Everything else is subject to the whims of Warner
MBAs.

And, if this comment

In December reports accredited to leaks from casting agencies stated that the role of at least one B5 character was to be recast.

on Cinescape is accurate, it may be the Casting Agencies hoping to stir up Trouble between the Cast members and Warner in hopes someone will say the wrong thing and Force a recasting.
It wouldn't be the first time someone in Hollywierd Stirred the pot just for a Tiny chance of gaining something.
Or maybe someone thinks they've got the "Perfect Replacement" if they can just get the right people Mad.

Remember, Hollwierd careers can be Made or Broken based on nothing but Rumors & Innuendo.

[grumbler]

bakana,

Can you link me to that post from years ago where JMS talked about movies (plural)? It has always struck me as meaningful that JMS has only ever talked about a single feature. My interpretation has always been that this is because he only thought he had the one story to tell using the original cast, and didn't want to give the impression that this would be a franchise series of movies a la Star Trek where you had a movie every two years with ot without a story.

[z^3]

Originally posted by grumbler

Can you link me to that post from years ago where JMS talked about movies (plural)? It has always struck me as meaningful that JMS has only ever talked about a single feature. My interpretation has always been that this is because he only thought he had the one story to tell using the original cast, and didn't want to give the impression that this would be a franchise series of movies a la Star Trek where you had a movie every two years with ot without a story.

Sorry to jump in here, but my interpretation of events has been that the Telepath War was always slated as *the* (singular) movie.

However, we know that JMS hates loose-ends to plot threads, and (correct me if I'm wrong on this) has inferred that TMoS will clear up (some of) Crusade's threads.

Assuming that the Telepath War doesn't feature in TMoS, that would make two movies (plural) - one to finish what was started and one to tell the story originally intended for the big screen. So I think the assumption of more than one *potential* movie is valid.

I was going to find some quotes to back this up, but it's late and I'm tired...