Now that the “Firefly” movie starts production next month, is every TV space opera going to get a feature? Will “Andromeda”? “Farscape”? “Lexx”?
“Reno Nevada” speculates:
Hery Herc,
Reno here with a little bit of detective work concerning what Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski has been up to do. For months now, JMS has been dropping hints about a B5 project that was in the works, but he couldn’t say what until all the details had been worked out.
In a usegroup post from January 29th, we first learned the initials of the projects subtitle- “TmoS”. Much speculation ensued.
On February 26, JMS posted- “Y'know, if there's anything more annoying than having to sit on good news, I can't think of what it might be.
The only things I can say right now about B5:TMoS is that now that all the correct agreements have been signed, sealed and delivered, the draft has gone in, met with great enthusiasm all around, notes have been received, and the next draft is in process and has to be delievered within two weeks so that certain other steps can be set into motion.
I still can't tell you what it *is* because that has to come from the proper people through the proper channels at the proper time...but I can tell you a few cases of what it *isn't*...it isn't a novel, or a short story, a comic, an animated series, a radio drama or a stage play. Beyond that, deponent sayeth not.
Except to say that it's pretty cool.”
More speculation now online. Would it be a tv series, a mini-series, a tv movie? No one knew but everyone had their opinions and hopes.
A few weeks later (March 19) in the midst of another post, JMS dropped this clue- “Oh...and starting around the Ides of May, look to the wrong side of the river for word from Harry, Jack and Albert.” Harry, Jack and Albert are the brothers Warner, founder of the studio that owns the Babylon 5 franchise.
And then finally yesterday, JMS dropped what could be the biggest (and probably most obvious clue) of all.
“Soon, I promise, all will be made clear. I don't like being Mr. Mysterioso on this, but if I say too much, the-powers-that-be will use my head to make a 2.35:1 sized hole in the wall.”
Well, it doesn’t take much of a leap of logic to deduce that this mysterious Babylon 5 project is going to be a theatrical film. As we all know 2.35:1 is a refernce to a film aspect ratio. If he were referring to TV he would have said 1.33:1 (standard tv ratio) or 4:3 (high def/widescreen tv ratio).
This has me excited. JMS and his crew managed to stretch every dollar they had and get it up on our television screens for five years. What will the movie be about? No word, not even a hint, as of yet. Though a few years back JMS did say that the Telepath War that was often mentioned during the series (and during B5 spin-off Crusade) might make an interesting film. While it's still a few weeks away to the "Ides Of May" (that's May 15 for those who don't get the Shakespeare reference), I know where my money is placed on what this new B5 project is.
Reno out.
