Babylon 5 film in trouble - PLEASE HELP!
AG
A rumor has come up, verified by some B5 fans with industry contacts (myself
included), that Warner Bros. is seriously considering recasting the original
roles for the upcoming Babylon 5 film, "The Memory of Shadows." This is, of
course, a DISASTER for any true fan of the series. Apparently, what the
studio has done is put out casting sheets for the major characters, on the
premise that no one will care enough to raise a fuss about it, and then they
can go ahead and cast whomever they want!
If you want to read more about this, there is a very good thread at the
jmsnews.com forums, and also information at the b5tv.com forums, and on the
moderated Babylon 5 Usenet newsgroup (rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated).
I'm sure Warner Bros. believes that tv actors don't have big enough names to
carry a film. Or maybe they want young, pretty, unskilled actors in the
roles because they think they're easier on the eyes. But I hasten to remind
them that if we were to follow the model of Star Trek, using the tv cast in
the first feature film - and all subsequent ones - didn't seem to hurt the
franchise at all! And, I also want to point out that Viggo Mortensen wasn't
anything like a "name" before the first Lord of the Rings film.
I believe I speak for all of us when I say that, to a one, we do NOT want
recasts in the roles of our beloved characters.
I'm usually the first one to turn a jaundiced eye when someone suggests a
writing campaign. But I have heard the call, and I believe that NOW is the
time. The film hasn't even been officially announced yet, so casting is
certainly not yet set - NOW we need to make as much noise as possible, to
show Warner Bros. that this is something that will not go over well at ALL
with the fans. And if you think that those who are already fans are not a
statistically significant percentage of the audience for this project, I
remind you that the main reason we are getting a movie at all is the
astonishing DVD sales figures. Sales figures that were so astonishing
courtesy of you and I, and every other fan who scraped together hard-earned
money to buy each box set the moment it became available.
The address for Warner Bros. is:
Warner Bros. Films
Development Department
Babylon 5: The Memory of Shadows
4000 Warner Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91522
Also, there is a message board on the "official" Babylon 5 site owned by
Warner Bros. Please visit the message board, register, log in, and POST! I
think that besides directly writing letters to the studio, this is the best
place for Warner Bros. to be made aware of our displeasure. You can register
here:
http://boards3.warnerbros.com/wbol/forum.jspa?forumID=2574423
This rumor has been independently verified by several people who work in the
entertainment industry, and who are long-time posters on the various Babylon
5 message boards and newsgroups - in other words, trusted sources! The
information was leaked by the studio for a reason: they want to see if the
idea of recasting the television roles gets a strong negative reaction. So,
please, if you want to see the B5 film we have ALL been waiting for, and you
DON'T want to see strange faces playing G'Kar, Sheridan, Delenn, Londo, etc.,
please, please, PLEASE take the time to send Warner Bros. a letter about
this, and post on all the message boards and newsgroups you can.
MAKE NOISE. Now is the time. If we don't make noise and we get a film full
of young, pretty faces who AREN'T Mira, Andreas, Bruce, Peter, Peter, etc.,
we'll be kicking ourselves for a loooong time. At least if we do make the
effort, we'll know we did all we could.
Thanks in advance for your efforts. Faith manages.
AG
Raj Rijhwani
<0001HW.BDE07E3D...@news.verizon.net>
ais...@nospam.fjordstone.com "AG" wrote:
> I believe I speak for all of us when I say that, to a one, we do NOT want
> recasts in the roles of our beloved characters.
If this is being pitched as a mainstream movie, then fans of the former
B5 are in the minority. They'll make the movie they want, regardless,
and screw the fans (or indeed JMS). Look what they (that shadowy and
amorphous "they" again) did to Thunderbirds, which had 3 generations
worth of credibility in its original form.
They'll make a film, it'll make money in a summer release, and they won't
give a penny shit about any "campaign". In there positions nor would I.
It's the money that does the talking.
--
Raj Rijhwani | This is the voice of the Mysterons...
r...@rijhwani.org | ... We know that you can hear us Earthmen
http://www.rijhwani.org/raj/ | "Lieutenant Green: Launch all Angels!"
linka
on.......we need a good grossing film to relaunch B5 to the Next
Generation of Babylonions........
Are the characters even going to be in the new movie
does anyone know when it is set in relation to the B5 timeline