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.

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

  • 4/21 1:00AMFollow the Leader
    "John Robinson is possessed by an alien spirit. The alien forces the family to prepare to return to the spirit's home world, even if it requires he sacrifice Will to keep his secret from the rest of the family."
  • 4/28 1:00AMBlast Off Into Space
    "Dr. Smith and Will befriend an old miner named Nerim. After a series of earthquakes indicates that the planet is breaking up, Dr. Smith tries to convince them that it is merely the effects of mining, and no harm will come to the planet. John informs him that he is wrong and that the Robinson family will be departing within the day. It is a race against time to escape the crumbling planet."
  • 5/5 1:00AMWild Adventure
    "After leaving their planet, Dr. Smith manages to plot a course back to Earth."
*available in most MeTV markets

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?

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4 Comments

SpaceYear2014 8 months ago
When will they Colorize the first Season of Lost in Space?
When will they Colorize the first Season of Lost in Space?
JDnHuntsvilleAL 28 months ago
And like every other Hollywood reboot, it will be AWFUL.

Can you believe they remade "West Side Story"? WHY for god's sake?
Dayna 28 months ago
Is this a TV series or is it the Netflix series? In the Netflix series, Dr. Smith is a female (Parker Posy) and she's evil.
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