Babylon 5 Reboot At The CW Confirmed By Creator Straczynski

The rumored Babylon 5 reboot at The CW has been confirmed by creator J. Michael Straczynski on social media. Straczynski took to Twitter to answer some questions about the reboot for fans. The most important part is, yes, this reboot is happening. However Straczynski gives a few other interesting details also. Check it out.

The network understands the uniqueness of Babylon 5 and is giving me a great deal of latitude with the https://t.co/jnCj989Csd noted in the announcement, this is a reboot from the ground up rather than a continuation, for several reasons. Heraclitus wrote —

— J. Michael Straczynski (@straczynski) September 27, 2021

if I were creating Babylon 5 today, for the first time, knowing what I now know as a writer, what would it look like? How would it use all the storytelling tools and technological resources available in 2021 that were not on hand then?

— J. Michael Straczynski (@straczynski) September 27, 2021

So we will not be retelling the same story in the same way because of what Heraclitus said about the river. There would be no fun and no surprises. Better to go the way of Westworld or Battlestar Galactica where you take the original elements that are evergreens and —

— J. Michael Straczynski (@straczynski) September 27, 2021

How do you telling continuing story of our original Londo without the original Vir? Or G’Kar? How do you tell Sheridan’s story without Delenn? Or the story of B5 without Franklin? Garibaldi? Zack?

— J. Michael Straczynski (@straczynski) September 27, 2021

— the concept of a five-year arc with a pre-planned beginning, middle and end…creating a brand new paradigm for television storytelling that has subsequently become the norm. That tradition for innovation will continue in this new iteration, and —

— J. Michael Straczynski (@straczynski) September 27, 2021

— unique position Babylon 5 occupies both in television and with its legions of fans, and are doing everything they can to ensure the maximum in creative freedom, a new story that will bring in new viewers while honoring all that has come before.

Onward!

— J. Michael Straczynski (@straczynski) September 27, 2021

As you can see, the details are laid out for us here by Straczynski. Fans of the original Babylon 5 will be happy that the creator of the show is writing this. Will they be happy this is a complete reboot and not a continuation? I genuinely do not know the answer to that question. Given my leanings, and age, I should be a huge Babylon 5 fan. However I seem to remember there was a reason I could not watch it after Season 2 on the time slot it was shown in the U.K. and I therefore lost track of the plot. I just never got round to catching up years later when the show was available on re-runs.

Suppose that puts me in a unique position as someone who likes the idea of this, and doesn’t quite have the same love for the original as most. Though, my main worry here is the name on the paychecks, The CW. Historically, if it was made by The CW I haven’t enjoyed it. First two seasons of Arrow and The Flash were watchable, but after that things went in a bad direction for me.

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Then again, with Straczynski seemingly in charge of the story, surely even The CW can’t mess this one up, right?

What do you think, any B5 fans reading this? What do you think as the Babylon 5 reboot at The CW has been confirmed by creator J. Michael Straczynski? Sound off below.