To all fans of Babylon 5

POSTED BY: Radhil
UPDATED: Tuesday, February 1, 2005 00:15
VIEWED: 6450
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RADHIL

Friday, December 10, 2004 5:06 PM

There appears to be some sadly serious crap going down with a prospective new feature film in the B5 universe. Now, Joe Straczynski the Great Maker hasn't said anything yet, so I don't know the full truth, but this seems to be coming in from a lot of sources.

Namely, there was a movie in the works. Now the studio seems to have all sorts of fun ideas like replacing the original cast with younger lookin' folk and flashier names.

Since this is the board of the fightin' Browncoats, and it looks like a campaign is getting together, I figured I'd spread the news.

Read this board thread for the full deal:
http://jmsnews.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=584

Radhil Trebors
Persona Under Construction

JR

Friday, December 10, 2004 5:58 PM

This from:
http://www.comingsoon.net/news/topnews.php?id=7515

Quote:

Babylon 5 Movie Starts Filming in April
Source: Production Weekly
December 8, 2004

Steven Beck will direct a big screen adaptation of the popular sci-fi TV series Babylon 5. The movie, titled The Memory of Shadows, is intended for theatrical release and was written by series creator J. Michael Straczynski. Production Weekly reports that the project starts filming this April in the UK.

In "Shadows," the technology of the ancient and extinct Shadow race is being unleashed upon the galaxy by an unknown force, and Earthforce intelligence officer Diane Baker, whose brother was recently killed in a mysterious explosion, it out to find out who is behind the intergalactic conspiracy.

Joining her is Galen, a techno-mage who has been charged with keeping the technology out of the hands of those who would abuse it.

This article makes it sound like TMoS was written for a different cast altogether (like Crusades or Legend of the Rangers) If that really is the case, then no campaigns would be needed since it is following JMS's plan all along.

--

When faced with a moral dilemma, just stop and ask yourself; What would StrongBad do?

RADHIL

Friday, December 10, 2004 6:44 PM

Ayup, I've seen that article. And yes, according to all sources, the stars of the story wouldn't be anyone from the old cadre. That doesn't rule out strong supporting roles though. And from what I've heard (in that thread above, and the sources are two very reliable people), there is some sort of major problem with the original cast.

I don't know what their role would be, nor how many, nor anything really. Hell, the movie isn't even officially announced, ComingSoon's scoop aside, and despite that it's been widely known for months. All I know is that this is going on.

Radhil Trebors
Persona Under Construction

MRSKBORG

Friday, December 10, 2004 9:46 PM

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/art-main.html?2004-12/09/11.00.film

Pretty much the same article on scifi.com, TMOS is going into production April time in UK. I'd pretty much given up on them ever getting round to doing this movie given they've been talking about it for sooo long, but seems to be more a Crusade type movie with Galen being in it. I'm not holding my breath despite the fact that I'm a huge B5 fan.

"This movie may be a beautiful butterfly, but I loved that damn caterpillar." Joss Whedon.

MONTANAGIRL

Friday, December 10, 2004 11:26 PM

I think this is pretty much the same info at The Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5 that a friend sent to me yesterday.
http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/guide/116.html

CHERNOBYL

Sunday, December 12, 2004 8:57 AM

As I understand it JS was kicking around the idea of 'Memory of the Shadows' for quite a while but the recen deaths of a couple cast members meant he had to rework the idea/script/plot/whatever. That said, I'll see whatever it turns out to be as I've been a big fan of B5 for years.
Chern

CYBERSNARK

Sunday, December 12, 2004 7:05 PM

Ditto. Colour me intrigued.

Only three factions are known to have the Shadow tech; Earthforce, the Drakh, and SPOILERS (from JMS' unfilmed Crusade finale scripts).

Let's just say that Galen's presence makes sense (here's hoping that they manage to work in some Crusade references).

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

MISGUIDED BY VOICES

Tuesday, December 14, 2004 6:47 PM

For a movie that starts filming in four months, they seem a lot light on the ground in preparation. I know JMS is due in the UK which ties in, but a few things strike me as odd here:

1. They want a "big" name - most of whom will be scheduled up for April already.

2. They are shooting in the UK. Not exactly budget concious given the strength of the pound against the dollar and the fact that Brown just nixed the film tax breaks. Given how B5 was run, doesn't make much sense to "waste" money over here (though I hope its true as it means I can try and get a glimpse!)

3. Steve Beck? 13 Ghosts and Ghost Ship to his name. Okay, the guy that did Pirates of the Carribbean did a big leap too, but still - and I would kind of hoped they would have gotten Vejar, Greek or Trevino maybe, who were excellent on the show and TV movies.

I dunno - my head hurts. I want the movie, but not with new people playing the old cast - I'll take a whole new cast (presumably would be a jump off to a spin off series) if I have to...

"I threw up on your bed"

MISGUIDED BY VOICES

Saturday, December 18, 2004 9:37 PM

Dammit.

Dammit. Dammit.

"I would like to be able to comment on this, but for the time being I am not able to do so."

That's JMS' response to the TMOS situation, which given the words in the thread I'm assuming we're to read between the lines that he's commenting that he can't comment.

Given he's at loggerheads over the Crusade commentary as well (though one might presume they are two different departments/even businesses), sounds like there is a real risk that they are looking at recasting.

So, having seen Farscape and Firefly, WB decide to jump on the bandwagon because they have the perfect property to do it, and they manage to screw up the fan support from even before day one.

"I threw up on your bed"

JAYNEZTOWN

Friday, January 28, 2005 4:25 AM

more B5 info

Quote:
...
Babylon-5 news
http://www.thealienonline.net/ao_030.asp?tid=1&scid=9&iid=2695

http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/578/578536p1.html?fromint=1

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