J. Michael Straczynski has announced plans for a Babylon 5 feature film, set to enter production in 2016.
Speaking at San Diego Comic-Con last week, Straczynski revealed that he would soon begin writing the script for a Babylon 5 movie, envisioned as a reboot of the beloved sci-fi series. He aims to finalize the screenplay by the end of 2015, with production kicking off the following year.
While plot details remain scarce, Straczynski has confirmed that the film will reimagine the series’ core concept. He has also expressed interest in casting original Babylon 5 stars, including Bruce Boxleitner and Mira Furlan, in new roles. “I’d love to see Bruce as the President of the Earth Alliance,” he stated.
The hope is that Warner Bros., which produced the original TV series, will back the project with a big-budget production. However, due to Straczynski’s original deal with the studio in the 1990s, he retains the feature film rights. If Warner Bros. declines to fund the project, Straczynski plans to move forward independently through his Studio JMS, with a budget of $80-100 million.
This marks a significant step forward for a Babylon 5 film, which Straczynski has long pursued. With Studio JMS thriving, bolstered by projects like the upcoming Netflix series Sense8, he now has the financial flexibility to produce the movie without major studio backing if necessary.
Straczynski has previously pitched multiple Babylon 5 films. In 1996, he developed a script centered on the Telepath War, followed by Babylon 5: The Motion Picture, which focused on President Sheridan investigating a White Star crew’s mysterious deaths. The closest attempt, The Memory of Shadows, nearly entered production in 2004-2005 but ultimately fell through due to funding issues. Now, with a new reboot on the horizon, the long-awaited Babylon 5 movie may finally become a reality.