Uh-oh...

[Jan]

I'm not much of one for passing on rumors but I just got a disturbing email from a friend. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that it may very well be true. With permission:

Heya, Jan!

Can you get through on the newsgroup Straczyski posts on? I've been hearing things I don't like the sounds of. It finally got me to register there but there's trouble. Yeah, I emailed the moderators. This is waht I was trying to post:

<<Suddenly I'm hearing rumors from people that there's trouble with your new movie.

A friend of mine told me that Warner's getting cold feet because they only want Blockbuster hits with big stars. Isn't Babylon 5 successful enough? I know you said the DVDs sold really well. Just because it's a TV show doesn't mean it won't be a hit. Are they talking to other studios? Anyways, my friend told me that the money folks are looking for movie stars to take the place of Bruce and Mira and the rest because they think nobody'll come see TV actors. That's dumb. He says that you don't want to change the actors and that's what's holding everything up. I'm glad to hear that but now there's the news about you filming in April. Does that mean everything's okay now? I don't think I want to see it without the stars I already know.

Please tell us!!!

Dani>>

Tx,
Dani

It would explain a lot. No way JMS is likely to just roll over on his cast being swept aside.

Jan

[cruiser]

*stomps foot on the ground repeatedly*
No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No

I wonder which email at WarnerBros would be suitable for a write in campaign....or if it even would be worth it.

[SciFiRanger]

Uh Oh is right!

This would be a disaster for us hard core fans looking forward to seeing our beloved stars put out in the cold. Not to mention the impact it would have on newbees who would otherwise be more inclined to check out the original series.

Not only can I not picture any other actors in the rolls of John Sheridan or Delenn but if they recast the roll of Galen with anyone other than Peter Woodward, I may not even want to see it until it comes out on DVD. Well I guess I wouldn't go that far but someone will get a nasty letter from me to be shure!

I've been wondering what the big delay has been since it seemed JMS was about to let us in on the details right before we lost Richard. That was like six months ago and we should have heard something from him by now.

I hope this one is really just a rumor as I'd bet all of us will be very upset if it's not. Peter has stayed in the public eye thanks to his affiliation with the History Channel but I'm not sure if that was enough exposure to grant him silver screen status in the minds of the suits.

As we all know they only care about ticket sales. Could we have another TNT style debacle on our hands, Good God I hope not. I'll keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best. "There is always Hope, because no one has figured out a way to kill it yet".

If they do this, then they may have just found a way!

[Dr Maturin]

<<Anyways, my friend told me that the money folks are looking for movie stars to take the place of Bruce and Mira and the rest because they think nobody'll come see TV actors.>>

"I don't watch TV. It's a cultural wasteland filled with inappropriate metaphors and an unrealistic portrayal of life created by the liberal media elite."

Wow, this has the potential to be bad news. Michael Douglas as John Sheridan?

[Ranger1]

Bad news ill take them as a lame rumor.

[Jan]

I've been hearing vague things for a while now. I've made contact with a fair number of people in my search for B5 scripts. That's kinda why I posted the poll yesterday. This was the first time I'd had independent news confirming what I'd been hearing. It fits with what we know of WB only wanting huge productions and it verifies that JMS is fighting to protect it.

Jan

[Doktor]

That has an unpleasant ring of truth to it. While all of this is rumour and speculation, it'd certainly explain the long delay in new information. It'd also tie in with Jerry Doyle's comment denying he'd been approached about a part in the movie.

On the positive side, I'd be surprised if JMS was willing to re-cast any of the roles (although more likely with any Crusade characters I would've thought), so I imagine the worst case scenario would be a new story in the B5 universe with new characters, and maybe a few cameos or supporting roles for the original cast. That wouldn't be so bad. I mean I'd kill for anything new in the B5 universe!

I always had concerns about the viability of a story with most of the original cast. Given how much we know about the chronolgy of the B5 universe, I found it difficult to see what story (even the telepath war to some extent) could plausibly use most of the original cast without damaging continuity or feeling contrived. Maybe new characters would actually be the best way forward?

[Ranger1]

Fu****g great

let them take Ashton Kutcher to play Lanir and Julia Roberts as Delen,FU**K im not going to the theater for that kinda crap.

Will wait for the DVD.

* I hope its not true!!

[Doktor]

One other thought. If they re-cast any of the original cast, I won't go and see it. Period. I doubt any of the fans I know would either. Watch it on DVD, sure. Go to the cinema and pay to watch our memories raped? No way.

[Doktor]

LOL ranger1, great minds think alike! You must've been posting that just as I was writing

[Ranger1]

Yeah i did,took me some time..im still SO pissed (considreing its only a rumor)

[Doktor]

Jan - can you clarify whether you've heard that the studio want to recast the original roles, or do they just want big stars playing new characters?

[Jan]

Originally posted by Doktor
Jan - can you clarify whether you've heard that the studio want to recast the original roles, or do they just want big stars playing new characters?

What I've heard is that casting descriptions have been sent out for several roles, some of them totally recognizable as being well known characters, some less definite. Another source is that this is being strenuously resisted by JMS. Could this just be fishing on the part of the ones sending the inquiries out? Sure. That part we can't know.

Even back a few months ago at a convention, Pat Tallman theorized that there might possibly be one or two 'old' cast but that in her experience, "Hollywood" would go after 20-something beautiful people. I'd discounted it since she didn't seem to really believe that the movie was going to happen. I'm considerably less sure now.

Jan

[Doktor]

Well they're shooting themselves in the foot if they re-cast. I'm pretty realistic with my expectations in these circumstances. I'd accept that the studio's nervous about making a return on its investment, so it'd be understandable if they wanted 'big name' actors in the lead. So yeah, I'd accept new characters with cameos from the old cast. There's space in the B5 universe for new stories with new faces. But re-casting the original characters? What the hell's the point? We stuck with B5 for FIVE F*****G YEARS, despite threats of cancellation at the end of every season. We stuck by those characters and the ACTORS THAT PLAYED THEM. If the studio wants to show such a flagrant disregard for the loyalty of the fans and the sh*t we've put up with over the years, then they can do it without my butt or my friends' butts on the movie seats. Way to stick the final nail in the coffin of all things B5. This had SO better not be true! I'm holding on to optimism though.... surely JMS would go with new characters rather than re-cast the original ones? If the studio thinks we'd tolerate new actors, then they clearly don't think the characters are of much importance. Argh. I'm feeling a little annoyed!

[Ranger1]

I don't believe that would happen,JMS wont let that happen.

New characters? sure why not,but replacing old characters with different actors? no way in hell. Wont happen.