• Hello and welcome to MSFC. We are a small and close knitted community who specialises in modding the game Star Trek Armada 2 and the Fleet Operations modification, however we have an open field for discussing a number of topics including movies, real life events and everything in-between.

    Being such a close community, we do have some restrictions, including all users required to be registered before being able to post as well as all members requiring to have participated in the community for sometime before being able to download our modding files to name the main ones. This is done for both the protection of our members and to encourage new members to get involved with the community. We also require all new registrations to first be authorised by an Administrator and to also have an active and confirmed email account.

    We have a policy of fairness and a non harassment environment, with the staff quick to act on the rare occasion of when this policy is breached. Feel free to register and join our community.

Rebooted Babylon 5?

Majestic

Administrator
Staff member
Administrator
Seraphim Build Team
Joined
17 Apr 2006
Messages
18,272
Age
39
I saw came across this article, yes it's from late last year.

http://screenrant.com/babylon-5-movie-reboot/

I for one am not a fan in rebooting the series, to me why mess with an almost prefect series. Instead I'd rather see maybe a spin off series about a ship in the civil war starting in like season 2 of Babylon 5. Maybe have it initially stay loyal to Clark and then goes rogue before joining Sherdian's Army of Light. The amount of story material there and having it tie in with the existing series would be a better option than rebooting Babylon 5.

Your thoughts on all of this?
 

Chiletrek

Warriors from Fluidic Space
Staff member
Forum Moderator
Toaster
Joined
22 Oct 2006
Messages
3,414
Age
41
Hello:
And I agree with you, because a reboot will destroy everything we love about the series, just like the possible reboot of Stargate :( .
 

Majestic

Administrator
Staff member
Administrator
Seraphim Build Team
Joined
17 Apr 2006
Messages
18,272
Age
39
I agree Chiletrek. Too many bloody reboots these days. I am rather sick of them. I'd rather see new series/stories that work in with the existing material in these IP universes.

I would also like to see a good sci-fi series return to TV, a new babylon 5 or stargate series would be most welcome.
 

MajorPayne

Crewman 3rd Class
Joined
11 Jan 2012
Messages
120
Well to be honest there are a few reboots which do work well. For example, the animated Thunderbirds series looks dam good, and I'm hoping Space 2099 is going to be made :)

As for B5. Well, my thoughts would be along the lines of continuation with B6 (don't really care about them stating another station wouldn't be made. People change their minds all the time).
 

Majestic

Administrator
Staff member
Administrator
Seraphim Build Team
Joined
17 Apr 2006
Messages
18,272
Age
39
As for B5. Well, my thoughts would be along the lines of continuation with B6 (don't really care about them stating another station wouldn't be made. People change their minds all the time).


As I said to @SciFiFan on Facebook. I wouldn't mind seeing a series set like 100 years in the future with a war between Earth and the ISA, with the outcome being a new Babylon station. We saw a glimpse of the start of the war in the last episode of season 4. That I would be okay with. It could start with a TV movie about the war a little like "In the Beginning" a retelling of it. And Babylon 6 being the focus of the series.
 

SciFiFan

MSFC Hunter Vanguard
Staff member
Forum Moderator
Lone Star Hunter
Joined
13 May 2009
Messages
2,087
Age
45
Another suggestion I had would be to continue the original story line and pick back up with the war between the Alliance and Centauri Republic.
 

Terra_Inc

MSFC's Cheshire Cat
Staff member
Site Manager
Necromancer/Troll hunter
Kitten Commander
Joined
16 Dec 2009
Messages
3,121
Age
34
I for one am not a fan in rebooting the series, to me why mess with an almost prefect series.
From a financial point of view, I think it makes a lot of sense. The problem with spin-offs is that they often assume the viewer has seen the original, or at least has a faint idea what it's about. Even if that's not the case, many people will assume that they need to know the original to understand or enjoy the spin-off. Whereas, if you start the whole thing new, you will most likely get lots of new viewers and fans, and a lot of the older fans will come back as well.

With that said, as a fan I think it will be hard to top the original. Yeah, it has some flaws, the aged VFX and the problem with season 5 are some of them. But I definitely agree with Maj that it is one of the best Sci-Fi series ever made. It just has its heart in the right place, IMHO. And of course, many of the original actors will be very hard to replace.
 

Majestic

Administrator
Staff member
Administrator
Seraphim Build Team
Joined
17 Apr 2006
Messages
18,272
Age
39
From a financial point of view, I think it makes a lot of sense. The problem with spin-offs is that they often assume the viewer has seen the original, or at least has a faint idea what it's about. Even if that's not the case, many people will assume that they need to know the original to understand or enjoy the spin-off. Whereas, if you start the whole thing new, you will most likely get lots of new viewers and fans, and a lot of the older fans will come back as well.

That is why I suggested a movie then a series. The movie set up like "In the Beginning" That explains the lead up to the new series. It could be dialogued by Delenn or Sheridan, or both. Explaining the Earth-Minbari War, the creation of the Interstellar Alliance after the Shadow War and the eventual desire by Earth to go to war with the ISA due to wanting to expand etc.

That way people don't need to see the original, the movie gives them a brief run down on the earlier series.
 

CABAL

<< ■ II ▶ >>
Staff member
Administrator
Star Navigator
Rogue AI technocrat
Joined
15 Aug 2009
Messages
3,511
Age
32
I would prefer a continuation over a reboot, but JMS stated that it was difficult to make Lost Tales without Andreas Katsulas or Richard Biggs. That problem can only get worse. Continuity lockout is also a problem, as Terra stated.

If they do a reboot, I would like something different rather than a simple rehash. Much of the same concept, but with a different spin and a different set of characters. Nobody could ever replace Andreas Katsulas as G'kar, so they shouldn't even try. They should make a completely new and distinct character as the Narn representative instead. A different set of characters alone would massively change the way the story unfolds.

I'd also like to get a better look at some of the species. The Narn were excellently done, but the Minbari could have used some Worker Caste characters, the Centauri could have benefited from just one or two more commoners, and the Shadows really needed somebody to show that they had a good side. The Vorlons had Kosh and Ulkesh (Kosh II) to show us their good and bad sides, but the Shadows didn't have any characters with any redeeming qualities and their tech is shunned while Vorlon tech is embraced. Kind of odd for a conflict meant to show us that neither extreme was correct.
 

SciFiFan

MSFC Hunter Vanguard
Staff member
Forum Moderator
Lone Star Hunter
Joined
13 May 2009
Messages
2,087
Age
45
You can do a reboot without throwing everything away. Jurassic World is esentially a reboot of the Jurassic Park franchise. They started something new without ignoring or discarding the old.
 

Majestic

Administrator
Staff member
Administrator
Seraphim Build Team
Joined
17 Apr 2006
Messages
18,272
Age
39
You can do a reboot without throwing everything away. Jurassic World is esentially a reboot of the Jurassic Park franchise. They started something new without ignoring or discarding the old.

What a real reboot really is. It accepts the past while embracing the future.
 

kjc733

Wibble
Staff member
Site Manager
Seraphim Build Team
Master Shipwright
Joined
30 Mar 2008
Messages
2,477
Age
39
No. No NO NO NO!!!! :no::no:

In case I was being too subtle, I'm against a reboot. They got it right the first time. Yes the vfx are a little behind by todays standards, but they are still perfectly watchable (partway through S4 now). Yes the extras needed acting lessons. But we all know what'll happen if it gets rebooted - they'll all be about 15, Ivanova will spend most of each episode with her clothes off (... maybe... no, still No) and they'll manage to screw up the story because it won't get the required number of episodes commissioned (the story is a complex arc) and will be closed out early. Or (just as bad), it'll prove popular and they'll string it out for as long as possible, forgetting where the story actually goes. Plus it's too complicated for most people (and tv execs), lets face it, it didn't massively catch on the first time round.

I would support a separate storyline. I like the idea of the civil war storyline, but there'd be too much temptation to make the crew the big heros of the story. Which leaves either a late sequel (taking on the Drahk after the cure has been found - will EF succumb to revenge?) or a prequal (Dilgar War? Minbari War? Last Shadow War?)

But let's remember, we've been here before. Crusade anyone? Remember how they screwed that up?
 

CABAL

<< ■ II ▶ >>
Staff member
Administrator
Star Navigator
Rogue AI technocrat
Joined
15 Aug 2009
Messages
3,511
Age
32
and they'll manage to screw up the story because it won't get the required number of episodes commissioned (the story is a complex arc) and will be closed out early. Or (just as bad), it'll prove popular and they'll string it out for as long as possible, forgetting where the story actually goes. Plus it's too complicated for most people (and tv execs), lets face it, it didn't massively catch on the first time round.
It would probably be easier to sell now, actually. The success of Breaking Bad, Lost (even if it was horrible), BSG '04, and Game of Thrones has finally convinced execs that multi-season arcs are profitable. That said, if they do a reboot without JMS it will tank.

But let's remember, we've been here before. Crusade anyone? Remember how they screwed that up?
When TNT bought season 5, they realized that people were tuning in for B5 and then not sticking around for their other programs. Rather than be satisfied with a successful show, they decided to intentionally ruin Crusade so they could get out of the contract. A network that actually wants the show would presumably be better about it.

This gives me an idea. Reboot Crusade without the stupid interference.
 

kjc733

Wibble
Staff member
Site Manager
Seraphim Build Team
Master Shipwright
Joined
30 Mar 2008
Messages
2,477
Age
39
How about something on PsyCorps?
 

Majestic

Administrator
Staff member
Administrator
Seraphim Build Team
Joined
17 Apr 2006
Messages
18,272
Age
39
@kjc733 I am of the same opinion, something new that accepts and embraces the original series is welcomed. A total reboot I hope doesn't happen.
 

SonicJordan

Captain Penton Ford
Joined
26 Feb 2015
Messages
36
Age
33
I hope the reboot is like the rebooted Battlestar Galactica, not the 2009 Star Trek movie.
 

kjc733

Wibble
Staff member
Site Manager
Seraphim Build Team
Master Shipwright
Joined
30 Mar 2008
Messages
2,477
Age
39
I hope the reboot is like the rebooted Battlestar Galactica, not the 2009 Star Trek movie.
If you mean uprated visual effects - I'll go for that.

if you mean a meandering plot line where the writers didn't really have a clue where they were going, filled with characters who are all so friggin self absorbed they make continuously stupid decision and keep switching partners on a regular basis - I stand by my original assessment!
:no::no::no::no::no::no::no::no:

I actually quite liked the new BSG, but they could have done it with a third of the episodes and cut out the whole religious claptrap and it would probably have been better for it.
 

CABAL

<< ■ II ▶ >>
Staff member
Administrator
Star Navigator
Rogue AI technocrat
Joined
15 Aug 2009
Messages
3,511
Age
32
If you mean uprated visual effects - I'll go for that.

if you mean a meandering plot line where the writers didn't really have a clue where they were going, filled with characters who are all so friggin self absorbed they make continuously stupid decision and keep switching partners on a regular basis - I stand by my original assessment!
:no::no::no::no::no::no::no::no:

I actually quite liked the new BSG, but they could have done it with a third of the episodes and cut out the whole religious claptrap and it would probably have been better for it.
It's a good tone for most of B5, though, the Shadow War in particular.

I don't think I would mind a remake, but it would need to start off at least as good as the original's season 2, stay that good at a bare minimum, and would need to bring something new to the table. They can't just rehash the original plot verbatim; they would need a different character lineup and the story would have to be different enough that we wouldn't be able to tell how it ends in advance. If they don't do all this, then there wouldn't be much point in watching.
 

Majestic

Administrator
Staff member
Administrator
Seraphim Build Team
Joined
17 Apr 2006
Messages
18,272
Age
39
If you mean uprated visual effects - I'll go for that.

if you mean a meandering plot line where the writers didn't really have a clue where they were going, filled with characters who are all so friggin self absorbed they make continuously stupid decision and keep switching partners on a regular basis - I stand by my original assessment!
:no::no::no::no::no::no::no::no:

I actually quite liked the new BSG, but they could have done it with a third of the episodes and cut out the whole religious claptrap and it would probably have been better for it.

Well said. They are better off not messing with it, give it a pass over with new CGI and some visual improvements and fixes.

Then they should look at rebooting Crusade and Legend of the Rangers and bring something new to them, a total change on either of those shows would be most welcome by most fans I think.

They just should not reboot B5 itself. Use a remastered as a launch pad for a new series.
 

CABAL

<< ■ II ▶ >>
Staff member
Administrator
Star Navigator
Rogue AI technocrat
Joined
15 Aug 2009
Messages
3,511
Age
32
Then they should look at rebooting Crusade and Legend of the Rangers and bring something new to them, a total change on either of those shows would be most welcome by most fans I think.
I'd love to see a Crusade reboot. Not sure about Legend of the Rangers, though.
 

Majestic

Administrator
Staff member
Administrator
Seraphim Build Team
Joined
17 Apr 2006
Messages
18,272
Age
39
I'd love to see a Crusade reboot. Not sure about Legend of the Rangers, though.

If LoR was done totally different, same concept of a Ranger crew, but on board something more modern like a Whitestar or other new and small ship I think it would be cool. Maybe set during the Drakh war or something. Maybe as a follow on to a Crusade reboot.
 

SciFiFan

MSFC Hunter Vanguard
Staff member
Forum Moderator
Lone Star Hunter
Joined
13 May 2009
Messages
2,087
Age
45
I agree with the above statements. Release a remastered B5 (take the original film and update the CGI). Then possible reboot Crusade or make a new B5 that picks up with a new commander during the Drahk war. Just my personal opinion.
 

CABAL

<< ■ II ▶ >>
Staff member
Administrator
Star Navigator
Rogue AI technocrat
Joined
15 Aug 2009
Messages
3,511
Age
32
B5 was shot in widescreen because JMS saw widescreen TVs and sale of individual episodes coming a mile off, but the CGI was done at 4:3. You can see on the widescreen version that when the scene has effects, like PPG shots, they had to crop the original scene down from 16:9 to 4:3, then down to 16:9 again, with a noticeable dip in quality. If they still have the original film, then a remaster should be doable and not have that problem. It would also be a good way to build hype for a new B5 project.
 

at3unit3

Cadet Freshman
Joined
12 Jun 2016
Messages
24
Age
42
Love B5 didn't at first until well until I found out that DS9 and Voyager were on their Series Finale. The more I watched the more intrigued I got. I will say I am sort of upset that Crusades got canceled because I'd love to see how they find the end to the plague. We we all know they did since Earth was still around when Sheridan passed beyond the rim. As for a reboot I have to agree. every reboot I've seen including the new Star Trek movies I think are a flop and mostly because. Producers are more interested in hot characters and CGI then actual storyline. And yes I know B5 was mostly CGI but it at least had a great story.
 

Ankhalagon

Cadet Freshman
Joined
9 Aug 2016
Messages
10
Age
42
A reboot of Crusade or RoL would be fine. As long as they don´t mess with the original series.
The Star Trek reboot is nice as a standalone, but it reminds me too much of Enterprise, and I don´t like that thing.
 

Archonon

Master Chief Petty Officer of Starfleet
Joined
13 Aug 2016
Messages
539
Age
46
A reboot of the 5 year main arc of B5, NO.

I would much rather see a continuation of Crusade, don't care the actors are older...dye their hair. It pains me how unresolved that series was left by lame TNT.

Outside of that, I'd like to see perhaps some folks on a Warlock Destroyer during the Dra'kh War or against that Centauri conflict Sheridan saw in a vision during Lost Tales. Especially if they give some love to fighter pilots, in the vein of Battlestar Galactica.
 

Borg_Queen

Bringer of order to chaos
Joined
25 Apr 2006
Messages
4,831
Age
44
Not sure on the reboot of B5, but I do agree with that a reboot of Crusade and LoR would be better.

I'm not fond of unresolved cliffhangers, and both those shows had that. So a reboot of those to tell the entire story this time would be nice. :)
 
Top