Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's Space: 1999 is getting the reboot treatment from HDFilms, the studio behind the recently cancelled V reboot on ABC. Step one of bringing the memorable sci-fi series back to television: push the titular date forward a century to Space: 2099.
ITV Studios America is teaming with HDFilms to re-imagine the series, and make it accessible to fans of the original, as well as those who've never heard of the program before.
For the uninitiated, Space: 1999 came from the Anderson's prolific productions, which churned out a multitude of science fiction programs in the '60s and '70s; most notable, perhaps, was the marionette-filled series Thuderbirds and the alien invasion drama UFO - which was rumored at one point to be turned into a film featuring Fringe star Joshua Jackson.
Space: 1999 starred Martin Landau (Ed Wood, Frankenweenie), as Commander John Koenig, and chronicled the adventures of Moonbase Alpha (a research center stationed on earth's moon), after an enormous nuclear waste explosion sends the moon, and the 311 men, women and children living on it, hurling through the galaxy. As they journey toward the unknown, the residents of Moonbase Alpha encounter many different forms of alien life, new civilizations and experience bizarre occurrences outside of human understanding.
HDFilms president Jace Hall commented on the series by stating:
"Science fiction is a powerful format capable of visualizing the human condition in thought-provoking ways. While we are indeed re-imagining the franchise and bringing something new and relevant to today’s audiences, I feel strongly that some of the overall tones set by the original Space: 1999 television show represent an exciting platform to explore possibilities.”
Taking into consideration some minor tweaks and additions, Space: 1999 isn't really that different from other, more well-known space-faring sagas like Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, or even the campy Lost in Space. Despite the narrative similarities, however, Space: 1999 set itself apart through its overall visual style, which was influenced heavily by Stanley Kubrick's, 2001: A Space Odyssey. It will be interesting to see how that style has changed after 35 years.
HDFilms' V notwithstanding, sci-fi reboots have been quite popular in recent years; proven by the success of Ronald D. Moore's Battlestar Galactica (which may also spawn a film from Bryan Singer) and, of course J.J. Abrams' incredibly popular reboot of Star Trek, and its highly anticipated sequel.
Of course, now that 1999 has long since passed, leaving mankind without much in the way of manned spaced exploration, it may very well be 2099 before a colony pops up on the moon – unless Newt Gingrich has his say.
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Screen Rant will have more updates on Space: 2099 as they are made available.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter