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No more movie...

Well, I said that if I couldn't see it done right, I'd rather it wasn't done at all. Seems I'm not the only person with that view....

[quote][url=http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated/msg/87849e52e7910750?dmode=source]Originally posted by JMS[/url]
[b]I'm putting this here because the new message threader I sent eaerlier
is taking a while to move through the system. ÊSo this info will repeat
soonish on another subject.


jms


-----------------------------------------------


The rule of thumb in Hollywood is that for every thousand scripts that
get written, only a few dozen get into development, and out of those,
only one will ever get made...if that.


A little over a year ago, I was approached by a company that wanted to
make a Babylon 5 movie. ÊThey optioned the rights, and commissioned a
script. Ê(It's worth mentioning that I, not WB, own the rights to a B5
movie. ÊWhen we were negotiating the original B5 deal -- by whose terms
I will never see a dime in profit -- the one thing they did let me have
were the movie rights, figuring they'd never be worth anything in the
long run.)


Anyway...on December 27th of 2003, the script for "The Memory of
Shadows" was turned in, and the process began of trying to make the
deal work with all the various forces involved. ÊIt is, to say the
least, a very difficult process on any movie where the studio does not
directly take the financial reins. ÊIn terms of B5, Warner's position
was esssentially, "We only do big-budget movies with big names, so
you're on your own." ÊIf there were big-name movie actors in the film,
they'd get behind it; without that, things become very problematic,
especially as far as the financing was concerned. ÊYou much have to put
together a consortium of international interests and business plans
rivaled in complexity only by the Allied invasion of Normandy Beach.


Nonetheless, every attempt was made by the people involved to get this
deal in place. ÊThis was not being done by Doug or myself, but rather
by the company/individuals who approached us and optioned the rights.
At times, it seemed we were inches away from a deal...stages were
reserved at Elstree, actors were contacted, a director was in place,
the script went through many revisions, a few key staff were hired,
again not by me...it was really a year-long roller coaster ride.
During that time, the people involved, with every good intention, tried
very hard to pull the necessary pieces together on the deal. ÊThe
option expired in late December 2004, but I renewed it without cost, to
give those involved more time to try and make things work.


In the end, however, the deal could not be put together, and it did not
look as if that was going to change at any point in the foreseeable
future. ÊSo the option has reverted, and to all intents and purposes,
the project has dead ended. ÊNor do I think this particular incarnation
will arise again at any point in the future, though prognostication has
always been a tricky art, especially if you have to do it without the
benefit of hindsight.


This was not the first time someone's taken a run at a B5 feature film,
and it will not be the last. ÊEventually it will happen, because such
things are simply inevitable. ÊIf they can do a Brady Bunch movie, you
can be sure that sooner or later, somebody's going to do a B5 movie.
The only thing I can say without equivocation is that when that day
comes, as the rights-holder, I will make darned sure that it's done
right, because I'd rather have no B5 movie than one that doesn't live
up to what fans and I myself would want to see.


To that end...I can wait.


Anyway, just thought you should know the story.


jms


copyright (c) 2005 by
Synthetic Worlds, Ltd.
Reprint permission specifically
denied to SFX Magazine
[/b][/quote]
«1

Comments

  • SpiritOneSpiritOne Magneto ABQ NM
    *sigh*

    well, like you said, if its not going to be done right...

    :(
  • Well shit. Wish he had full rights to Babylon 5 so he could go Indie...without the need of WB support (maybe I've got the situation wrong, bust still)

    I guess I can wait too...but, DAMMIT!
  • Alpha-1Alpha-1 Elite Ranger Germany
    DamDamnDamn:mad: :mad: :mad:

    I start to begin to hate WB....

    Why can't they just let JMSmake this movie as he wanted??!!!??

    Damn :mad:

    Perhaps we should start bombarding WB with emails and letters??? :angryv:
  • money. if they don't think they can make money, they won't do it. They don't care about making the public happy...only keeping their pockets thickly padded
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    While I'm sad to see it go, I am also of the opinion that if it isn't done right it shouldn't be done at all.
  • We couldn't expect much from what's considered a dead series I suppose. I really was looking foward to the revival of B5 though.. :(
  • Welcome to Firstones!! Beers in the fridge, and the nuts are all over the place!!!

    Babylon 5 is far from dead:D It is just an 'object at rest' for the moment...on the show front...but fan fiction, computer game mods and freeware...B5 is gathering its forces, quietly...and when the time is right...BAM, with a vengeance!!

    Until then, we have BSG:-D

    Again, welcome to Firstones!!! Hope you'll stick around!
  • ShadowDancerShadowDancer When I say, "Why aye, gadgie," in my heart I say, "Och aye, laddie." London, UK
    [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Biggles [/i]
    [B]While I'm sad to see it go, I am also of the opinion that if it isn't done right it shouldn't be done at all. [/B][/QUOTE]

    i agree with you Biggles, but that doesnt make me feel any better at the moment. :(


    i really cant post what i was thinking when i saw the title of the thread:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
  • Damn..

    I fear we wont see no other Babylon 5 movies with an Old cast of actors. I never though WB would be so selfish.

    Well at least i got my DVD-disks to remeber them.
  • How... Damn... Who... Blast... Why I Oughta.
  • Oh bugger...

    I'm getting the feeling like "Unlucky Alf" from The Fast Show.
  • MessiahMessiah Failed Experiment
    Well.. In twenty years, Babylon 5 : The next generation will commence, I guess well have to wait until then ;) :p
  • rikuriku Earthforce Officer
    for some reason I felt it coming =/
  • Entil'ZhaEntil'Zha I see famous people
    [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by riku [/i]
    [B]for some reason I felt it coming =/ [/B][/QUOTE] [

    Not suprising at all. but it seems odd, most film studios have different lables, and some do different type things, like NewLine, they also have FineLine that does some of their stuff, most studios have the main name and then others, i'd be surpised if WB doesnt have an arm that does smaller budget movies.
  • WB can go straight to hell, right along with TNT.

    Please tell me those Warner ***** (male chicken) don't own the rights to Stargate or Farscape - I don't want to pay any more blood money than I must to those leeches.

    Very typical of them, though. At times I wonder if Ostriches are running these companies. They always seem to have their heads underground. I mean, seriously - they wanted a big name cast? Look at Battlefield Earth. That was a truly horrible movie. Big names, bad movie. Worst $8.50 I ever spent. Even Highlander: Endgame was less disappointing (which is a feat considering 75% of the original commercial is footage about a plotline that doesn't exist in the actual movie: ie: both McCloud's fighting the villain, the guy splitting in two, him blowing that globe thing into a bunch of shards, that portal dealy...).

    This is the straw that broke the camels back WB. After I buy all my B5 DVDs (got 4 seasons so far), I'm done with WB stuff completely.
  • Alpha-1Alpha-1 Elite Ranger Germany
    somehow its good that jms has the rights on a b5 movie. is it not possible for him now to go to other movie studios and do the whole thing without Wb or the permissionm of WB ?
  • RigsRigs Earthforce Officer
    *sigh*

    Babylon 5 may endure, but unfortunately, being human n' all, I do not...While it's true that I'd rather see it done right than not at all, I can't understand why WB thinks it would be a bust without the original cast. I mean, aren't the season DVD sales rockin' their world? Isn't that enough? Like JMS said, if they can make a freakin' waste of film Brady movie, or Lucas can confuse sci-fi fans everywhere making them say "What the hell are you thinking?!?" making the prequel trilogy, instead of, IMO, making movies with the EU material out there, then I guess a B5 movie IS inevitable. Hell, maybe I'll write the damn script...

    Speaking of which, think about this...if you go to Something Awful ([url]www.somethingawful.com[/url]) and read their 'Untitled Document' feature, you can see that if you put some people together and have them write bits and pieces of a story, even if it doesn't really line up square, it still ends up being entertaining. So why don't we really put Firstones on the map. Why don't WE write the script? We could gather ideas, such as timeline, plot and cast, and put together a page here to list it. I know we could come up with something convincing. Maybe the telepath war? Or more on the shadow and civil war? Or maybe even...oooooh! oooooh!...the Spoo Revolt of 2266!!!

    =-Rigs-=
  • Well Im sure our cast would be obvious...

    *Releases Warleader*
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    I wouldn't say that's reason to feel better, after what they did to Jeremiah.
  • AnlaShokAnlaShok Democrat From Hell
    [IMG]http://www.wideopenwest.com/~scarlettpays/zim/B5castbirdm.jpg[/IMG]
  • You know, that is so classic, never seen it before, but so classic to what's going on, it should be the website logo towards WB with the caption "The Original Cast's opinion of Warner Bros."
  • JackNJackN <font color=#99FF99>Lightwave Alien</font>
    Yes... Yes, that is soo appropriate! :D

    ;)
  • PJHPJH The Lovely Thing
    What the hell??????

    I thought everything like that was settled LONG ago already and it was about to begin production any day now with 100% certainty.

    What is wrong with B5 franchice as nothing seems to work out.

    So much for everything B5 then.

    - PJH
  • whitestar90whitestar90 Elite Ranger
    That just sucks bigtime, was so looking forward to seeing it :(
  • :angryv:
    Who are you?

    ---A sodding B5 fan

    :shadow1:
    What do you want?

    ---The TMOS movie!
  • [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Messiah [/i]
    [B]Well.. In twenty years, Babylon 5 : The next generation will commence, I guess well have to wait until then ;) :p [/B][/QUOTE]

    But in twenty years we wont see same Sheridan, Delen,Susan Ivanova, Markus, Gkar, Londo, Vir, Franklin, Garibaldi,Lyta, Bester,Talia,Lennier... you cant simply replace thouse characters with new Faces.

    You know, i might not live in America... so i might dont know what kind of ratings they are based if movies are good or bad. but i know this... out of all movies and TV-series.. i would watch and Buy this one.

    They said: they wanted to see Big Names?... But you know what.. i am geting tired of seeing thouse *Big Names* over and over , againg and againg on TV. But of late, i stop watching TV at all... its just full of American crap here in Europe.
  • SpiritOneSpiritOne Magneto ABQ NM
    big names and big movies huh?

    Currently coming from the big names at Warner Brothers...

    Racing Stripes - a movie about a zebra, racing... and oh yeah, to throw big names around snoop dog plays an old dog and david spade plays a fly that fives encouraging talk to the zebra. wow.

    Miss Congeniality 2 - Cause the first one didnt make you want to rip your own eyes out of your head, they made a sequeal! Starring Sandra Bullock, the actress you go to when your turned down by every other thing in hollywood without male gentalia including Rupaul.

    The Jacket - A former Marine named Jack who was shot in the head is arrested for murder in small town vermont. He gets sent to an insane assylum where he is subjected to near torutre conditions of being drugged straight jacketed and put into one of those drawrs they put dead people into. He thinks he sees the future, and not some drug induced vision from hell. oh boy.

    Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - direct qoute from the movie site "Based on Ann Brashares' best-selling novel, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants tells the story of four teenage friends facing a summer in which they will all be separated for the first time. On a shopping trip, the girls find a pair of thrift-shop jeans that fits each of them perfectly and they decide to use these "magic" pants as a way of keeping in touch over the months ahead, each girl wearing the jeans for a week to see what luck they bring her before sending them on to the next". Im assuming they dont wearing the pants during "that" week. Starring a bunch of young girls no one has ever heard of.

    oh boy, cant wait to go see these great WB movies in the theater. [IMG]http://www.boards.aqmilitis.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/puke.gif[/IMG]
  • LOL Anlashok!! :D

    I'd almost forgotten that poster. Almost. But, I'll give the folks at WB (you know who you are) the same blessing I gave TNT after the fall of Crusade:

    [quote]May a dung-covered goat simultaneously deficate in the backseat of your car, eat the contents of your briefcase, boff your secretary and marry into your family, all on a Monday morning. And may the rest of your week go downhill from there![/quote] - an irate ME

    Thanks to JMS for sticking by his guns. And always remember folks, faith manages.
  • [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by croxis [/i]
    [B]hey I liked Miss Congeniality [/B][/QUOTE]

    ...You would!

    ;)
  • Haha! Hey, Sandra Bullock's a hotty...the picture of her in a wet T-shirt on her knees in the surf on the cover of....I don't remember which magazine back in 1999 or so...still a good memory:-D
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