A new 'Lost In Space' television series is being made

Fifty years after the original premiered, a reboot has been announced. We list a few things we'd like to see (and hear) in the new show.

November 23, 2015, 12:07PM By MeTV Staff

Danger, Will Robinson! Everyone's favorite robot is about to be rebooted. Again. It should better than the 1998 movie, which turned B-9 into a broad-shouldered, four-arm tank.

Lost in Space

1/26 1:00AMThe Space Primevals
"The primitive beings are actually wards of a computer, Protinius, which can confer temporary advanced sentience on the leading man in order to communicate Protinius' will. The episode also features a temporary camaraderie between Don and Smith, a burying of the hatchet, when Don is rescued by Smith from a pit, and then says "Doctor Smith" - using the word Doctor for the first time unknown ages. However, their camaraderie dissolves and the characters are back to "normal". Not the first time Smith has become selfless and a man of some integrity, but as usual, Smith returns to normal."
2/2 1:00AMSpace Destructors
"Dr. Smith and the Robot are exploring a cave. Smith pushes several buttons on a conspicuous control panel. The buttons activate a cyborg creating device. It is up to Will to stop Dr. Smith. "
2/9 1:00AMThe Haunted Lighthouse
"Before leaving their planet, the Robinsons meet a boy alien called J-5. They take him with them to return him to his home planet. They meet a strange ship, which turns out to be an earth "lighthouse" for lost ships. Thinking this ship will help them with extra fuel and star charts they celebrate, however when J-5 learns that they don't have enough fuel to take him home, he angrily sets about to destroy them all with a creation of his imagination. J-5 begins a new life at the lighthouse, and the Robinson's leave in the knowledge he will be looked after by the kindly, old lighthouse keeper."

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Irwin Allen's classic family sci-fi adventure will be remade for Netflix, after a reported bidding war. The new series will be executive produced by a team of veterans including writers Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless, director Neil Marshall (who steered arguably the most exciting, epic episodes of Game of Thrones) and producer Kevin Burns. For Burns, this is a passion project years in the making. The producer attempted a TV movie around the turn of the millennium, not to mention a reboot series a few years later that was filmed by Hong Kong director John Woo. Working with Allen's widow, Burns looks to revive the TV pioneer's projects from the 1960s.

Lost In Space recently celebrated its 50th birthday. There is no word on when the series will arrive on the streaming service. Perhaps around the time the new Star Trek sets off on its own streaming missions?

As we await further details, here are some things we'd like to see in the new series.

1) A cool robot that pays homage to the original

Designing a fresh B-9 is perhaps the greatest challenge for the new team. The look of the robot will immediately set the tone and either lure or turn off fans of the franchise. Sadly, Robert Kinoshita, the original designer and legend of onscreen robots, passed away last year. Finding the right balance between homage and modern will be crucial.

2) A conflicted Dr. Smith

Originally, the Smith character was a saboteur. As Lost In Space turned to a more lighthearted and (literally) colorful tone in its second season, Smith became less of a threat. Considering the darker moods of modern television, we expect Dr. Smith to be painted as villainous again. We just hope that he's not an outright bad guy. (Assuming, of course, they have a Dr. Smith character. But they have to, right?)

3) Some nods to the outlandish aliens

Season two turned the adventure show into something more akin to a live-action Saturday morning cartoon. Growing up, we savored both styles. As mentioned above, we expect a more serious take on the story. However, that doesn't mean the creators can't mine some of the wilder ideas. There can be an intelligent twist on the space Vikings, space pirates, android duplicates, dragons, miniature robots and Morbus.

4) A John Williams theme.

Certainly, the composer will be busy with the slew of Star Wars movies on the horizon, but surely he can take some time to revisit one of his great early works?

What do you think? What would you like to see in a new Lost In Space?