Re: IT\'S DEAD, JIM?
A Star Wars TV series?!
Any leftover Shadow tech elements that might have been involved in TMoS would have to be reworked for a new script to avoid rights issues. None of the new characters would be able to be used at all. But any original B5 characters and already WB owned story elements would be able to be used in some way, including elements of CRUSADE, etc. Dialogue would not be able to be used again, so all lines would be revamped in their entirety. The same leftover Shadow tech idea would be approached still, but from a completely different direction with new side characters.
JMS has said that, yes, he's going to let the film rest for a couple of years before trying again. I don't blame him. I know how much effort he's put into this attempt and how draining it can all be. I knew he would need to recharge his batteries, but that he could and would never will let the hope to make a B5 film die. I believe JMS wants to see B5 on the big screen as much as we do.
Yes, he was about to sign some contracts on this new series, the show creator being someone he knows and respects and the show being one he said he would be stupid to turn down. It would have to be fully planned in advance and the first season written in advance before shooting could begin this summer or fall for a 2006 premiere.
I do not believe this is the SW series, nor is it any ST series. It is either something completely new that no one knows about, or it's the Frank Spotnitz re-envisioned NIGHT STALKER series which has supposedly been greenlit.
For those who don't know what that is, THE NIGHT STALKER was a short lived series in the early 70's starring Darren McGavin. It was about a cop who investigated the paranormal. It was also the inspiration for Chris Carter in creating THE X-FILES.
If you recall, there was an ep. of THE X-FILES where the first agent to start investigating the X-Files was approached by Muldar. The older version of this character was played by Darren McGavin (an homage and inside joke).
Co-Producer and writer on THE X-FILES, Frank Spotnitz, has now gotten the greenlight to make a new re-envisioned series of THE NIGHT STALKER. NIGHT STALKER dealt more with the paranormal and the supernatural in a horror-type setting than X-FILES did (and actually the script for the new X-FILES film is supposedly a supernatural, horror/thriller story).
I would not be surprised if this new series isn't THE NIGHT STALKER. And unlike Chris Carter, Spotnitz (and hopefully JMS) is planning this series in detail in advance (something THE X-FILES suffered from).
My opinion only, but much more likely than any SW or ST series.
CE