Babylon 5 - the final word (mostly)
J. Michael Straczynksi, the creator of the 5-year TV series Babylon 5 in the 90’s, has been doing little side stories from the B5 universe on and off since the show ended. A few TV movies, a canceled series (Crusade), a backdoor pilot (Legend of the Rangers - LOTR), and a direct-to-DVD anthology (B5: The Lost Tales - TLT) were all made, and none of them really reached the same level of quality as the original show. There was also a theatrical release (B5: The Memory of Shadows - TMOS) in the works for a while, but that fell through before even pre-production. There was a proposal for one more D2D starring fan favorite Garibaldi, but after the announcement JMS just made, it looks like that won’t happen, unfortunately:
B5 as a five year story stands beautifully on its own. If anything
else is to be continued from that story, it should be something that
adds to the legacy of B5, rather than subtracts from it.As well intentioned as Rangers and TLT were, as enticing as it was to
return to those familiar waters, in the end I think they did more to
subtract from the legacy than add to it. I don’t regret having made
them, because I needed to go through that to get to the point where I
am now psychologically, but from where I sit now, I wouldn’t make them
again.So I’ve let everyone up here know that I’m not interested in doing any
more low-budget DVDs. I’m not interested in doing any low-budget
cable things or small computer games. The only thing I would be
interested in doing regarding Babylon 5 from this point on is a full-
featured, big-budget feature film.It’s that or nothing.
And if it’s nothing, I’m totally cool with that because the original
story stands on its own just fine. I’m not lobbying for it, I’m not
asking fans to write in about it (nor should you) because such
campaigns never really have much impact…that’s simply the position
I’ve taken up here. Lord knows I don’t lack for other things to do
these days. I’m busier on more prestige projects with terrific people
and great film-makers than at any other time in my career.At the end of the day, for me, it’s not just a matter of getting more
B5. It’s a matter of getting more *good* B5 that respects what came
before it and doesn’t have to compromise visually or in terms of
action. The original show deserves better than that, the surviving
cast members deserve better than that, and the fans who have supported
it over the years definitely deserve better than that. A lot better.
So, barring a big-budget movie, which is pretty unlikely, Babylon 5 will see no more stories. That’s a shame, because JMS had created a universe rich with story-telling potential, and there’s a lot left that could be done. But then again, aside from the vast potential snuffed out in Crusade, I’d have to agree that the other efforts suffered greatly when compared to the original series. He’s right in saying that the 5-year story stands on its own. And if it has to end, then I’m okay with that.
And as he says, he’s got plenty of other stuff to keep him busy.
Still… I wouldn’t mind a couple more book trilogies…
Tags: babylon 5, crusade, dvd, film, jms, tv
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