As Cutter mentioned, this is the CW, but MJS has a good track record, and I feel like they're unlikely to mess with his vision too much. Here's to hoping.

Oh fuck... Here comes "Babylon 5" mainstream Marvel'ish and Kuntsman'like with extra lens flares ADHD edition.

Really hope I'm wrong, but not holding my breath.

Yeah. There is plenty that could go wrong, but if anyone can do a B5 reboot well it would be JMS. So... only time will tell.

When I read this headline on another site I almost decided to overdose on ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine and hot baths and end it all, but then I thought about it. JMS is anal about B5, he isn't agreeing to make anything unless he has very favorable terms and can basically make what he wants. He's making it, running it, and writing it, so if anything gets fucked up its on him. Possible, but as much as B5 is his baby, I don't see it.

NKD wrote on Sep 27, 2021, 21:13:
When I read this headline on another site I almost decided to overdose on ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine and hot baths and end it all, but then I thought about it. JMS is anal about B5, he isn't agreeing to make anything unless he has very favorable terms and can basically make what he wants. He's making it, running it, and writing it, so if anything gets fucked up its on him. Possible, but as much as B5 is his baby, I don't see it.

exactly. he's let the IP languish for decades because he refused to sell out his vision. there's no way he didn't negotiate full artistic control like he did the first time around.

i'm curious if he'll stick with the story of the original show, or if he'll go with the original story bible which was much different. i hope the latter - the show was very compromised towards the end because they didn't know if they were gonna get a season 5 until very late so wrapped up all the major story threads at the end of season 4. as a result season 5 was largely throwaway garbage. also originally there was no john sheridan - it was supposed to be sinclair the whole way until Michael o'hare had to step away due to severe mental issues.

Which is interesting, would the story have been as good with Sinclair being in charge of B5 the whole time? The whole thing with the Minbari war being ended because he had Valen's soul makes a lot more sense with his travelling to the past and becoming Valen. If he had stayed at B5, we wouldn't have gotten that story. Plus, I enjoyed the time with Tracy Scoggins as Captain.

nono, the original ending was still that sinclair becomes valen, it just happens at the end of the series instead of a side story. that's why o'hare had to come back and wrap that up - it was an essential part of the story after they did all the set up in season 1, with him lighting up the triluminary after being captured by the minbari at the end of the earth/minbari war. think about how sheridan's story ended - he also vanished in a flash of light never to be seen again. just replace his story with sinclair/valen.

I suppose. I still liked both Boxleitner and Scoggins.

Where did you get this information about what the original story/intention was? Not that I am particularly doubting you, just wondering if there is some good reading to be had. Also, do you know if Sinclair was supposed to get involved with Delenn as Sheridan did?

Mr. Tact wrote on Sep 27, 2021, 23:29:
I suppose. I still liked both Boxleitner and Scoggins.

Where did you get this information about what the original story/intention was? Not that I am particularly doubting you, just wondering if there is some good reading to be had. Also, do you know if Sinclair was supposed to get involved with Delenn as Sheridan did?

Google it, it's out there from JMS.

he used to post extensively on newsgroups back when that was a thing. i don't know if he ever published the b5 bible (i doubt it) but he's written about it a lot. i bet if someone asked him on twitter he'd give some good answers.

i was a big fan of sheridan too. he made the show his own, which i thought was quite the accomplishment considering what a gifted actor o'hare was. scoggins was 'tevs. she didn't have much material to work with. i don't remember if sinclair was supposed to get involved with delenn, but it would make sense except for the whole becoming her own ancestor bit.

edit: JMS's twitter is indeed blowing up if you're interested in some pre-pre-liminary questions being answered.

This comment was edited on Sep 28, 2021, 01:36.

One of my favorite shows of my teens, possibly my favorite show of that time period...but good luck finding actors to replace Peter Jurasik and Andreas Katsulas. Everybody else on the show was mediocre, then those two guys basically stole every episode they were in.

At least they do have Straczynski involved, but how the hell old is he now, like 70? Oh well, hopefully it turns out okay. At least the CGI team will be more than 1 guy with an apple desktop this time around.

I guess I'll be able to watch it about 3--5 years after each season is released, when it comes to Netflix.

*EDIT* Typo.

This comment was edited on Sep 28, 2021, 11:56.

I just finished rewatching Babylon 5 a few months ago, as a kind of tribute to Mira Furlan's life and achievements. What a great show. So many awesome characters, and such great (for the most part) stories. Too bad it never had the budget it deserved. This might be great, might be terrible. I have no idea where they are going to find the likes of actors who could play Londo and G'Kar and Delenn with such conviction.

This comment was edited on Sep 28, 2021, 06:58.

About Sinclair and Delenn, yes, they were supposed to get involved. They already had a Minbari bonding ceremony in year 1! Also while I too believe the best ending would have been to have Sinclair go back in time and become Valen at the end of the show, the original storyline didn't work out this way. So I can imagine that JMS will try to rewrite everything as if the actor and studio changes did not happen, but I still don't like it, because he has shown with Crusade, that he didn't understand that the success of B5 was not only due to his writing, but also due to the fantastic CGI ships and music. I hope he understands now otherwise the reboot will be screwed!

Yes the leads were memorable, but it was all the excellent side characters and story arcs that made this show great like: Mollari, G'kar, Inavova, Garibalid, Vir, Na'Toth, Marcus, Lennier, Bester, and even Lyta.

Regardless of how it relates to the original cannon, with JMS, I expect the new one to also be populated with lots or interesting and engaging side characters and stories.

Jonjonz wrote on Sep 28, 2021, 07:09:
Yes the leads were memorable, but it was all the excellent side characters and story arcs that made this show great like: Mollari, G'kar, Inavova, Garibalid, Vir, Na'Toth, Marcus, Lennier, Bester, and even Lyta.

Regardless of how it relates to the original cannon, with JMS, I expect the new one to also be populated with lots or interesting and engaging side characters and stories.

I don't remember B5 having "leads", it was an ensemble cast from the start.

B5 was the best show ever made. I'll die on this hill. But I can't help but wonder if the B5 curse will continue with this reboot. Only a handful of the cast and crew are still alive because of it. 😬

For the record, Straczynski is 67. So, could be good for a couple of decades, might be dead tomorrow -- much like many of us.

Londo and G'Kar were main characters whether or not they were "lead" characters would depend on the definition. One of the side line stories I really liked was the telepaths. The whole idea the Vorlons were responsible for their existence and the dominos which fell in human society because of it.

Wesp5 wrote on Sep 28, 2021, 04:10:
About Sinclair and Delenn, yes, they were supposed to get involved. They already had a Minbari bonding ceremony in year 1! Also while I too believe the best ending would have been to have Sinclair go back in time and become Valen at the end of the show, the original storyline didn't work out this way. So I can imagine that JMS will try to rewrite everything as if the actor and studio changes did not happen, but I still don't like it, because he has shown with Crusade, that he didn't understand that the success of B5 was not only due to his writing, but also due to the fantastic CGI ships and music. I hope he understands now otherwise the reboot will be screwed!

he stated on his twitter this will not be a faithful reboot, but more of a remix. he used the comparison of some new dance style that combines 40s swing with modern techno beats. make of that what you will.

I don't know much about Babylon 5 but I do know I really would have liked to make sweet love to Claudia Black.

Farscape is still the best of all

but this is good news