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

[JackBauer]

Taking a skim through these threads it sounds to me like if were gonna get a movie, its gonna be nothing like what we want. Whats everyones opinion on a scale of 1-10 on if they think TMoS will be an original characters movie...

[Doktor]

I really couldn't call it. There's obviously problems at the top, but who knows how it'll turn out? Replacing the original cast would be an act of monumental stupidity, but then one should never underestimate the ability of studios to behave with monumental stupidity.

[circularREASON]

i don't know.

the B5 universe is so much larger than what we witnessed in the tv series, the movie could be something a lot better than we would hope for.

I dont go along with all the panicing at the moment.

Trust the Great maker.

[grumbler]

The unspoken assumption in the original post is that we only want an original charactors movie. Not so. I would prefer an original charactors movie, but understand that there are lots of reasons why making another movie with new charactors makes more sense. I want the latter as well, just not as much.

What I will not see is a movie with original (i.e. B5) charactors played by new actors, nor a movie where JMS is taken out of control and some newbie's "vision" judged superior. But those are really the only stipulations I put on what I "want."

[Doktor]

Originally posted by grumbler
What I will not see is a movie with original (i.e. B5) charactors played by new actors, nor a movie where JMS is taken out of control and some newbie's "vision" judged superior. But those are really the only stipulations I put on what I "want."

I agree entirely. I'd prefer an 'original characters' movie, but whilst I oppose the recasting of those roles, I'd be quite happy to see a movie featuring entirely new characters. In fact, in some ways I'd prefer that if the alternative was an artificial plot-line that stretched credibility to lever all the original characters into the same story.

[Morden]

@ grumbler, doctor: Agreed.

What seems to be clear: We won't get a Teep-War-Movie, we won't get s.th. about Sinclair/Valen in the past, we won't get a movie-version of one of the popular B5-books, and TMoS obviously won't feature most of the original cast.
But regarding this whole Galen/Diane Baker/ShadowTec-Leftover - things, that sounds really interesting to me. So, hopefully, with TMoS we get s.th. that'll pick up some of the Crusade-plotlines.
But I wouldn't like to see Galen be recasted. Peter Woodward was a great choice for this role. Well, and I would like to see at least a guest appearence of Gary Cole als Cpt. Gideon.

[grumbler]

Originally posted by Morden
But I wouldn't like to see Galen be recasted. Peter Woodward was a great choice for this role. Well, and I would like to see at least a guest appearence of Gary Cole als Cpt. Gideon.

I don't like the recasting of Galen, but I understand it and don't put it on the same scale as recasting Sheridan or Delenn. Whether or not PW is available, an investment of tens of millions of dollars is riding on the skills of whoever is playing Galen. It would be a wonderful "breakout" role for PW, but I can understand and accept the lack of willingness to risk everything on his working out (if that is, indeed, the reason the role is recast). He only appeared in eight episodes of a very minor series, so he is not nearly as entrenched in the role as even, say, Zack Allen. Recasting him is really more like recasting Na'Toth (which HAD to be done, but still worked out).

[JackBauer]

NaToth was easy cause of the makeup. You cannot recast Sheridan or Deleen or really any of them who were starring roles in the original series. They will not do a Babylon 5 movie without JMS because JMS/Doug Netter and Warner Bros. own Babylon 5.

[KoshN]

Originally posted by grumbler
I don't like the recasting of Galen, but I understand it and don't put it on the same scale as recasting Sheridan or Delenn.

I put it very close to that level. While PW may not have played Galen for 4 or 5 years worth of episodes, he IS Galen. Most people, especially in the USA, seem to have a very favorable response to Peter Woodward.

Originally posted by grumbler
Whether or not PW is available, an investment of tens of millions of dollars is riding on the skills of whoever is playing Galen. It would be a wonderful "breakout" role for PW, but I can understand and accept the lack of willingness to risk everything on his working out (if that is, indeed, the reason the role is recast).

In that case, casting PW as Galen is no risk at all. He seems to appeal to US audiences.

Originally posted by grumbler
He only appeared in eight episodes of a very minor series, so he is not nearly as entrenched in the role as even, say, Zack Allen.

You know, I was never much impressed with Zack Allen. Zack was a minor character, more of a background character and a grunt, and Galen definitely is not.


From the beginning of Crusade, Galen was instantly my favorite Crusade character. He has an intensity, clarity of enunciation, and a presence. His Crusade work made me want to look up his other work, and I found him in the Brimstone pilot (another of my favorite episodes of one of my favorite TV shows). From there, I watched his "Conquest" series. Never saw his Egypt/Pyramids series, though IIRC it was quite popular and got good reviews here in the USA.

Originally posted by grumbler
Recasting him is really more like recasting Na'Toth (which HAD to be done, but still worked out).

Luckily, the real Na'Toth came back for a Season 5 episode. That took a lot of the bad taste out my mouth re. the interim Na'Toth. Save the best for last, and all that.

[Michael Malloy]

I would never consider Galen a minor character. Even though he didn't appear in every single episode of the murdered Crusade series, his presence WAS THE ESSENCE OF CRUSADE, IMO.

Remember, Sheridan and Delenn didn't appear in every single episode of B5, and the very popular G'Kar and Londo were not in nearly as many shows as Sinclair, Sheridan, and Delenn either.

I don't know what is going on with WB's suits. The silence from them at this time seems ominous to me. I imagine they have kidknapped JMS's creation and have left him in the dust of their haughty corporate attitudes.

Just knowing that JMS knows much more than he allowed to share with the fans leaves too many bad scenarios in my imagination.

[iamsheridan]

To me it doesn't matter if it is a major or minor character: multiple actors playing the same character or multiple characters played by the same actor hurts my Sense of Wonder.

/IamS

[Shr'eshhhhhh]

"Recasting him is really more like recasting Na'Toth (which HAD to be done, but still worked out)." Originally posted by grumbler.

I'm sorry but I must disagree there, Na'toth 2 was a very bad move. The second actress played so differently they may as well have written her as a different character. Draal 2 was actually an improvement on Draal 1 but still a complete change.

When Andrea Thompson had to leave, rather than recasting the role they brought back Pat Tallman. It seemed less fake and gave Andrea a great send off scene. (I still want to see Talia back at some point but Lyta made a much better choice for all the dark Vorlon stuff later) Simularly when the Claudia stuff happened we got Capt Lockley who by the end of Crusade was turning into a character in her own right, (and not just Susan's replacement)

If PW is unavailable (and it would be a great shame if he is) they should bring in a new character to do all the things that Galen would have done. That way the new actor could make the part his/her own and leave the door open for PW to turn up in any further films or spin offs.

When we lost Richard Biggs JMS was adamant that Dr Franklyn would not be recast. I applauded that decision at the time. I think the same should go for any other returning characters in this film. If you can't get the originals, write a new character.

[ARK1701]

Originally posted by KoshN
I put it very close to that level. While PW may not have played Galen for 4 or 5 years worth of episodes, he IS Galen. Most people, especially in the USA, seem to have a very favorable response to Peter Woodward.

I agree.

Andreas Katuslas was G'Kar the first time I saw him, same for Londo, and IMHO Peter Woodward did the same for Galen.

[deelsee7]

I agree that it will be hard to accept anyone other than PW as Galen, but according to the Technomage Trilogy and general B5 canon, the character Galen IS the right character for the storyline as leaked.

I also believe Carrie Dobro IS Dureena.

Watching what was produced of Crusade makes me long to see more of that story, and makes me remember how GREAT JMS is in the television medium. My real hope is that TMoS gets made under JMS's control, and that it is successful enough to spawn another TV SERIES. Movies are fine, but due to time limitations, they really amount to short stories. I like novels, rich character development, intricate and interwoven plotlines, moral and ethical dilemmas, etc.

As long as JMS has creative control of TMoS, I will trust his judgement, and I will go see the movie and buy the DVD - whatever it takes to get another series - preferrably Crusade with the original actors!

[Chakoteya]

Okay, at the risk of being shot down in flames - Waddya mean 'hoped for'?

I'm getting increasingly of the opinion that places like this simply fuel discounted and sniping because people post their own ideas for upcoming projects, and when the real thing doesn't match their mental image, they get all upset and complain!

I'm all for news that something is in the pipeline, yes.
But.
I HATE wandering into a site and getting huge spoilers for plots without warnings, and I especially loathe 12 months of speculation culminating in condemnation of the finished product.

Filming hasn't even started yet, casting calls are only just out.

Leave it alone! Wait until it's finished and released THEN comment.

Please?