SCI FI PI

Space 1999 Will Return as Space 2099 - From the Remakers of V!

I don’t know why anyone bothers trying to mess with the classic TV sci fi series to reboot or reimagine them.

I mean, honestly, has ANYTHING good EVER come from it?

Okay, apart from Star Trek: Next Generation… and Deep Space Nine. And Voyager.

Yes, and apart from Battlestar Galactica.

Hoping to emulate such noble enterprises, the good folks over at ITV Studios America, in conjunction with Jace Hall, the creative force behind the recent “V” reimagining, have decided to take the classic British 70’s sci fi Space: 1999, and travel into the future with it. One hundred years into the future, to…

Space: 2099.






That’s the moon, with a space ship on it.

In case your parents were busy being bong-smoking, fornicating teenagers in the years 1975-1977 when the original show aired to tell you about it, and thus you are unaware of this historic gem, let us enlighten you.

For those of you who HAVE seen it, relive the glory. Here's the opening credits sequence from the original, still tremendous after all these years:




Space: 1999 started with the fairly out-there inciting incident of nuclear waste being stored on the dark side of the moon exploding, thereby knocking the moon out of orbit and hurtling through space. The 311 inhabitants of the Moonbase Alpha go hurtling with it, taken on a journey through space where they encounter alien civilizations and all matter of mindbending 70’s freakiness.






It was a series in two halves (having gone to two seasons) – a first, really good season; and a second, sort of 'meh' season. But it was imbued with some intelligent writing and enough 70s kitsch to get you through ten BSGs (original series).

As HDFilms' President Jace Hall, the creative lead on the new project, recently told io9 in an interview:

"The goal of our project is not to "replace" or "alter" Space: 1999 or its original memory – our goal is to wonderfully explore some of the great thought-provoking key axioms and notions that gathered and excited people around the original Space: 1999 in the first place. We are very interested in exploring the human condition through compelling individual characters against a backdrop of an epic situation."



Here we are now, Jace Hall, entertain us.



Jace is also very keen that the sci fi world get involved early in his development of this much loved piece of history.

Here’s one of his recent blog posts:

“Hello!

“Just wanted to drop a quick note letting everyone know that while we may not be able to specifically respond to everything / everyone, we do in fact read ALL the forum posts and greatly appreciate the thoughts and suggestions that have been evolving here.

“We are finding the feedback to be invaluable and although it is very important for us to keep focus on the overall vision that HDFILMS and ITV has for the project, We can already tell you that these forum discussions are having an effect - which is the point of all this..!

“I want to continue to encourage the discussion here. Also, if someone suggests something that you disagree with, I would like to see those thoughts expressed as well. This discussion should be between all of us together, not just the "fans" talking to "HDFILMS."

“The more debate and discussion that goes on here, the better the final result will be I believe.

“Humbly,
“Jace”


So if you’ve got an opinion, drop Jace a line here.

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  Bearfax 3 months ago

  Does this mean Martin Landau, Barbara Bain (both fresh from Mission Impossible) and Barry Morse (ex The Fugitive) wont be rubbing shoulders with Catherine Schell (ex James Bond's 'On Her Magesty's Secret Service' and Peter Sellers (the only Clouseau) 'Return of the Pink Panther') and of course Ozzie Nick Tate in in the new one. How can they make a Space 2099 without Landau, Bain, Morse, Schell and Tate. I mean somethin's amiss.

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    Captain 3 months ago

    Given that Jane Badler returned to the remake of V, I wouldn't be shocked if we saw cameos in this reiteration of Space: 1999.
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    madcatjo 3 months ago

    Well the can't make 2099 with Barry Morse 'cause he....kinda...dead, you know. (He passed away in 2008).
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  Bearfax 3 months ago

  Well that's OK then Mon Capitan.
  
  
  To assist, I understand Schell is only 67 and Tate 69, but Landau is pushing it a bit at 83. They would have to of course bring in Ghost Hunters International to get Morse and Bain on the show, given they met their makers in 2008 and 1993 respectively...minor point that but given the mystical nature of the series esp in season 2, it would be consistent with the feel of the program.
  
  
  Right up ZV's alley really I'd say, wouldnt you? 'Ghost Hunters Intergalactic Space: 2099' is as good a title as any, I'd suspect.

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  madcatjo 3 months ago

  Um, Barbara Bain is still with us. Still working, too. Tony Anholt (Tony Verdeschi, Season 2) passed away from cancer in 2002.

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