BABLYON 5: THE LOST TALES TO BEGIN PRODUCTION
NOVEMBER 13, 2006
NOVEMBER 13, 2006
BURBANK, CA, November 13, 2006 – Warner Home Video (WHV) and Warner Bros. Television (WBTV) have announced the start of production of “Babylon 5: The Lost Tales,” a made-for-video movie that will be targeted towards the 'Babylon 5' loyal audience and science-fiction fans in general .
The announcement was jointly made by Jeff Brown, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Non-theatrical Franchise, Warner Home Video and Gregg Maday, Senior Vice President, Movies and Miniseries, WBTV. WHV will be the home entertainment distributor for this made-for-DVD release which will include two new Babylon 5 stories collectively entitled “Voices of the Dark” in one film plus exclusive behind the scenes content.
The stories will be written and directed by executive producer and original “Babylon 5” creator J. Michael Straczynski. Executive producer Doug Netter also returns in that role. Actors from the original series that have signed on to participate in the project include Bruce Boxleitner (“President John Sheridan”), Tracy Scoggins (“Captain Elizabeth Lochley”) and Peter Woodward (“Galen”).
After its original planned five-year run – introducing the concept of a five year arc before other TV series began to use multi-season arcs -- the show... spurred the creation of five feature length movies based on the series including "The Gathering", "In the Beginning", "Thirdspace", "River of Souls" and "A Call to Arms", as well as the limited series 'Crusade'.
On an immense space station built by the Earth Alliance in the 2250s, the crew of Babylon 5 are charged with maintaining the peace among the various alien races by providing a sanctuary where grievances and negotiations can be worked out among duly appointed ambassadors. Aside from its diplomatic function, Babylon 5 also serves as a military post for Earth and a port of call for travelers, traders, businessmen, criminals, and Rangers.
The story of The Lost Tales picks up several years after the events of its original story, and follows several of its major characters in new adventures set against the backdrop of the Babylon 5 universe.
In addition, JMS has indicated that during these mini-movies, he will be paying tribute to the memories of actor Andreas Katsulas and Richard Biggs, both of whom passed away since the series ended.
His exact quote is: "I also managed to work in a nice nod to Andreas and Richard in the two mini-movies."
So that doesn't necessarily mean that the characters have to be considered dead as well. I'd like to think that G'Kar especially, who became the soul for the series, is still alive out there. And if those visions of the future from the series were any indication, he must be.
I've always been torn as to whether or not 'Babylon 5' should be in the main Toobworld or not. A lot of the series might be considered at odds with Toobworld "facts" laid down by 'Star Trek', which got there first and has been so dominant over the TV landscape for the last forty years.
But with effort, a lot of that can be reconciled. However, being the lazy bleep that I am, I haven't done much of that lately.
I guess I'm not a very fastidious caretaker for the TV Universe....
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
2 comments:
We know that G'Kar survives for a number of years after the main body of the show is set. And Dr Franklin is still alive at the time of the final episode - the 20 years later coda. So he can't kill them off... and he's always said he'd never recast them.
I can't wait for these.
Neither can I!
What I'm finding fascinating from a Toobworld point of view is that the concept of what constitutes "television" is ever-expanding.
Direct to DVD, movie spinoffs (but not remakes), YouTube and other online content, webisodes, mobisodes, Tardisodes and other kind of "isode" that might be geared for your cell phone....
Where does it end? Do tie-in novels count? I've said before that I'd love to include "Ishmael" to the 'Star Trek' canon. What about comic books?
There's a line of Valentine's Day cards featuring characters from 'Law & Order: Special victims Unit'; do they get thrown into the mix?
Okay - that would be silly. But you get the idea....
I'm not even sure if the idea that if it's broadcast, it's in is enough. What about the pilots shot but never aired?
As always, my vision of the TV Universe - unlike the more orderly Westphallian interpretation of yours, Crossoverman, - is a big sloppy mess.
Who'd a thunk that the concept of Order and Chaos would boil down to being Felix and Oscar?
Hey, it's 4 am.... I'm rambling. Gotta go back to bed....
Thanks for visitng, Crossoverman!
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