Babylon 5 Creator Explains Why He’s Making a Reboot Instead of a Sequel or Revival

Following the news that Babylon 5 is expected to make a comeback in a reboot of the series to be written by original series creator J. Michael Straczynski, the man himself took to his Twitter account to explain where the series currently is and what fans can expect from what will be a brand new era for the sci-fi series. While fans have been calling for a sequel to the series for decades, the writer said that, although the show has not yet been confirmed by the network, he has a new story, is deep into writing the pilot and has a lot of people on his side to get the show back on screens again.

In what turned into a long post on his social media, J. Michael Straczynski wrote why the new show had to be a reboot rather than a direct sequel to the original 90s series. He said, “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.”

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“The network understands the uniqueness of Babylon 5 and is giving me a great deal of latitude with the storytelling. 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?”
“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. 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?”

“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.”
“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!”

The original series of Babylon 5 aired from 1994 after a successful pilot the previous year, and ran for 110 episodes across five seasons. As well as gaining numerous awards, the show also led to numerous spin off movies, including the TNT series Crusade, and various tie in novels, games and books. Fans will now await further news on the return of the show as and when it becomes known.

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.

— J. Michael Straczynski (@straczynski) September 27, 2021

The network understands the uniqueness of Babylon 5 and is giving me a great deal of latitude with the https://t.co/jnCj989Csd noted in the announcement, this is a reboot from the ground up rather than a continuation, for several reasons. Heraclitus wrote —

— J. Michael Straczynski (@straczynski) September 27, 2021

— “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:

— J. Michael Straczynski (@straczynski) September 27, 2021

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.

— J. Michael Straczynski (@straczynski) September 27, 2021

Topics: Babylon 5

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