Original series creator J. Michael Straczynski has announced plans for a feature-length film adaptation of his sci-fi cult series, Babylon 5, which would see production begin by 2016.
Announcing his plans in full at San Diego Comic Con, Straczynski said the the film would apparently outright reboot the 1990s series that once played rival to Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek: Deep Space 9. However, Straczynski didn’t rule out including a number of series favorites, namely Bruce Boxleitner’s starring Commander Sheridan as “the President of the Earth Alliance.”
News on the film’s budget or support by Warner Bros. remains unclear, though it’s reported Straczynski could finance it himself through his own production company.
TV Wires reports that the “big budget” film would hopefully begin production “once the script has been completed,” but thanks to Straczysnki’s own deal with the studio back in the early 1990s, he, rather than Warner Bros, “owns the feature film rights to the show.” Whoever chooses to produce the film, Straczynski might proceed on his own accord, possibly funded and produced through his Studio JMS banner on a budget of “$80 – $100 million.”
At least three Babylon 5 feature films were pitched by Straczynski throughout the years, the first being in 1996 to tell the story of The Telepath war. The second, tentatively titled Babylon 5: The Motion Picture, told the story of President Sheridan investigating when the entire crew of a White Star are found dead. The third, the cancelled The Memory of Shadows, came closest to fruition in 2004/2005 prior to its failing to find funding.
We’ll just have to see where this one goes in the meantime.