SlashFilm says The CW is working on a reboot of the cult 1990s space opera Babylon 5. The article adds J. Michael Straczynski — who created the original show — will be in charge of the reboot.
That’s a lot to unpack.
For the uninitiated, Babylon 5 takes place in the distant future on a titular giant space station. Despite being newcomers among other space-faring civilizations, humanity constructs Babylon 5 as a neutral meeting ground for interstellar diplomats and traders. Naturally, criminals, spies, and terrorists follow. Governing Babylon 5 is an enormously challenging and politically delicate job.
Babylon 5 was practically single-handedly created by J. Michael Straczynski. A Hollywood veteran of four decades, Straczynski helped write movies like Changeling, Ninja Assassin, Thor, Underworld: Awakening, and World War Z. He also wrote screenplays for TV shows like Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Sense8, and the 1980s version of The Twilight Zone. Babylon 5 aired for five seasons between 1993 and 1998. Despite impressive world-building, solid characterization, and epic storyline, the show never gained a widespread appeal-like Star Trek.
While it’s cool a new generation might be introduced to this show, the fact that The CW is behind the project is… a bit troubling. After all, the network does specialize primarily in fairly shallow, teen-friendly shows. So, for the time being, we are only somewhat hyped.
