So, off to a good start, the idea that there are fans of the original show who are working to make this possible WITH JMS' help with him reprising his role as show runner does mean that there is a positive atmosphere in the workplace. The fact that JMS says that the CW understands the uniqueness of BS is also a good sign which is backed up by them having him return as show runner and that they are giving JMS their full support.To answer all the questions, yes, it’s true, Babylon 5 is in active development as a series for the CW. We have some serious fans over at the network, and they’re eager to see this show happen. I’m hip deep into writing the pilot now, and will be running the series upon pickup. The network understands the uniqueness of Babylon 5 and is giving me a great deal of latitude with the storytelling.
I will admit this does make me a bit nerves Reboot that is working to be something new because of the changing times has a hit or miss history to it. Just to take on example of it going badly A Series of Unfortunate Events on Netflix wasn't a adaptation of the books it was a Reboot of the novels which many fans of the books have mixed feelings about and speaking as someone who only knows of the series through the movie (which I actually enjoyed just FYI) I didn't much care for the show. BUT you all know my love for She-Ra which is a MASSIVE reboot that takes ideas from the original and takes more modern ideas to them and that show was a huge hit with critics and viewers alike and while it has a more mixed reception with the older fanbase many new fans of the series said they got into He-Man BECAUSE of the She-Ra Reboot.As noted in the announcement, this is a reboot from the ground up rather than a continuation, for several reasons. Heraclitus wrote “You cannot step in the same river twice, for the river has changed, and you have changed.” In the years since B5, I’ve done a ton of other TV shows and movies, adding an equal number of tools to my toolbox, all of which I can bring to bear on one singular question: if I were creating Babylon 5 today, for the first time, knowing what I now know as a writer, what would it look like? How would it use all the storytelling tools and technological resources available in 2021 that were not on hand then?
In relation to my last point I do wonder if JMS was inspired by She-Ra to do this reboot which more of less does what Westworld and Battlestar Galactica which, again, took the many ideas from the original and remade it with more modern ideas to tell its story.How can it be used to reflect the world in which we live, and the questions we are asking and confronting every day? Fans regularly point out how prescient the show was and is of our current world; it would be fun to take a shot at looking further down the road. So we will not be retelling the same story in the same way because of what Heraclitus said about the river. There would be no fun and no surprises. Better to go the way of Westworld or Battlestar Galactica where you take the original elements that are evergreens and put them in a blender with a ton of new, challenging ideas, to create something fresh yet familiar.
I get where he's coming from and while you might think why not just have a Next Generation Sequel that focuses on new characters B5 kinda already tried that with the Rangers Spin-off (which again I actually liked that's besides the point) and there's also the issue of trying to make a new story when B5 already did that by showing the fallout of ALL the choices the heroes made in the Season 4 finally. So, not only would JMS be retrying an idea that already failed but he would need to try to work within his own frame work and THAT already was met with a rather luckwarm reception in Voices in the Dark. So, in addition to losing many great actors who really captured their characters JMS already tried all this and it failed so going for a straight-up remake does make sense.To those asking why not just do a continuation, for a network series like this, it can’t be done because over half our cast are still stubbornly on the other side of the Rim.
How do you telling continuing story of our original Londo without the original Vir? Or G’Kar? How do you tell Sheridan’s story without Delenn? Or the story of B5 without Franklin? Garibaldi? Zack?
We'll no doubt see the return of the original continuity as that's becoming something of a trend right now and odds are he might be going for a Star Trek 2009 thing where it's revealed that this is a alternate universe so there could be a literal crossover later on.
While I don't think B5 was the first show to really use episodic television it WAS one of the series that popularized it AND is often used a good to example of how to do it well... BUT While JMS did clearly plan SOMETHINGS out like George Lucas I think he's overstating how planned out he made the show as he has admitted in the past how he had to change things due to executive meddling and needing to make Season 5 from nothing after the studio told him they were cutting the show short only for him to get a fifth season. That's not intended as an insult just a observation, JMS DID clearly plan the show out but a lot of it was being made up as he went along. But with the advancement and a more supportive studio JMS will hopefully be able to make a show with fewer trap doors then before.The original Babylon 5 was ridiculously innovative: the first to use CGI to create ships and characters, and among the very first to shoot widescreen with a vigorous 5.1 mix. Most of all, for the first time, Babylon 5 introduced viewers accustomed to episodic television to the concept of a five-year arc with a pre-planned beginning, middle and end…creating a brand new paradigm for television storytelling that has subsequently become the norm. That tradition for innovation will continue in this new iteration, and I hope to create additional new forms of storytelling that will further push the television medium to the edge of what’s possible.
Again, a good sign that the studio is backing JMS on this AND are fans of the original. To quote another show I love "It's never good to stay in the past to long." Time marches on, we change and the person we were a few years ago is not the same person we are today. Maybe the Babylon 5 Reboot will join the ranks of She-Ra and be one of the new standards to which all reboots are measured or maybe it will be seen as a lackluster follow up to a beloved classic like the Star Wars Disney Sequel Trilogy has become. We don't know at this point, all we know is that the show and it's creator have the support of the studio, we have a writer who has had many hits over the years up to and including the incredible Sense8 and no matter what, this will draw attention to the original series. so, matter what the Original B5 will benefit from this so there's always a positive outlook to things.Let me conclude by just saying how supportive and enthusiastic everyone at the CW has been and is being with this project. They understand the unique position Babylon 5 occupies both in television and with its legions of fans, and are doing everything they can to ensure the maximum in creative freedom, a new story that will bring in new viewers while honoring all that has come before.
Onward!
