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Three classic Irwin Allen sci-fi series are getting reimagined for a new TV ''universe''
The 1960s sci-fi shows will be revitalized by an Oscar-winning writer who has collaborated with Ron Howard.
The Everett Collection
Three of Irwin Allen's iconic sci-fi shows are getting new life for a modern TV audience. Land of the Giants, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, and The Time Tunnel will soon be reimagined by an Oscar-winning writer, producer, and director.
Akiva Goldsman will be developing a new "universe" based on the three shows. This won't be the first time that Goldsman has been tasked with reinventing old properties — Goldsman wrote the screenplay for 1995's Batman Forever, as well as the follow-up Batman & Robin. Nor is it his first time working with Irwin Allen's content! He wrote and produced the 1998 Lost in Space film, starring William Hurt, Gary Oldman, Matt LeBlanc, and Heather Graham. While the movie's reception was negative, it was a success financially and ended Titanic's 15-week run as #1 in the box office.
In 2002, Goldsman won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for the Ron Howard-helmed A Beautiful Mind. He would go on to collaborate with Howard again in 2005 with Cinderella Man, in 2006 with The Da Vinci Code, and in 2009 with Angels & Demons.
Goldsman also has experience reviving classic 60s series for a modern TV landscape. He's worked on Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Short Treks, Star Trek: Picard, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
What do you think? What would you like to see from this new Irwin Allen TV universe?
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25 Comments
In the early 90s, Steven Spielberg wanted to remake TV series of Lost in Space and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. When he was denied the rights to do so, he later produced similar shows: Earth 2, which ran one season from 1993 to 1995, and SeaQuest 2032, which ran three seasons, from 1993-96.
"Goldsman also has experience reviving classic 60s series for a modern TV landscape. He's worked on Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Short Treks, Star Trek: Picard, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds."
No
No
Quite simple- if it ain't broke, don't fix it. 99% of remakes are horrid.
Go for it! Why not? I’d be willing to give them a try especially the Time Tunnel. I wonder which network is he working for?
Netflix? Hulu? That would be interesting but network would be iffy.
Netflix? Hulu? That would be interesting but network would be iffy.
With the possible exception of "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea," ALL of Irwin Allen's shows were fatally hobbled by Allen's juvenile monster-of-the-week sensibilities. They might've been acceptable as Saturday morning kiddie shows, but not prime time dramas.
Perhaps even more egregious, with the exception of "VTTBOTS" -- which was a Navy ship's crew with a mission, of sorts -- ALL of Allen's show were about people who were lost or stranded -- kind of like "Gilligan's Island," only in outer space, in time warps or among giants who were malevolent for no discernible reason -- who fought every week merely to return to a status quo. There was never any real improvement in their, or anyone else's lives, striven for. That is NOT the stuff of compelling drama, is not satisfying for an audience and cannot be sustained over the life of a show, even a brief life.
Unless Mr Goldsman understands that, he is destined to fail.
Perhaps even more egregious, with the exception of "VTTBOTS" -- which was a Navy ship's crew with a mission, of sorts -- ALL of Allen's show were about people who were lost or stranded -- kind of like "Gilligan's Island," only in outer space, in time warps or among giants who were malevolent for no discernible reason -- who fought every week merely to return to a status quo. There was never any real improvement in their, or anyone else's lives, striven for. That is NOT the stuff of compelling drama, is not satisfying for an audience and cannot be sustained over the life of a show, even a brief life.
Unless Mr Goldsman understands that, he is destined to fail.
To paraphrase 'Cuthbert Rumbold', "This souunds HIDEOUS!"
'Akiva Goldsman... wrote the screenplay for 1995's Batman Forever, as well as the follow-up Batman & Robin. Nor is it his first time working with Irwin Allen's content! He wrote and produced the 1998 Lost in Space film,'
This is NOT a good track record!
Bereft Tinsel Town refuses to leave anything alone.
Did none one learn their lesson from the disastrous 'Earth 2' and 'Sea Quest'?
'Akiva Goldsman... wrote the screenplay for 1995's Batman Forever, as well as the follow-up Batman & Robin. Nor is it his first time working with Irwin Allen's content! He wrote and produced the 1998 Lost in Space film,'
This is NOT a good track record!
Bereft Tinsel Town refuses to leave anything alone.
Did none one learn their lesson from the disastrous 'Earth 2' and 'Sea Quest'?
Land of the Giants was cute but more of a Sci-Fi Gilligans Island. So I would give it a pass.
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Maybe depending on who does the episode writing. Hopefully they will watch the old series before writing new episodes.
Time Tunnel,,,
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Maybe depending on who does the episode writing. Hopefully they will watch the old series before writing new episodes.
Time Tunnel,,,
Leave the classics alone! Does anyone remember how Goldsmith destroyed the Lost in Space movie?
Very excited to see a new LAND OF THE GIANTS! One of my favorites ever!
they will be ruined if remade
leave the classics alone
the sexes and races will probaby be changed.
imagine dr. smith in drag
today's society won't appreciate the work.
leave the classics alone
the sexes and races will probaby be changed.
imagine dr. smith in drag
today's society won't appreciate the work.
We don't have to imagine Dr Smith in drag. They already had a female Dr. Smith in the NetFlix series.
Remakes reek.
I love the idea of revisiting each of these premises. But the actuality seems almost never to be a palatable result. I've been very disappointed with Goldsman's work such as "Lost in Space" and his "Star Trek" output. As a general rule, those who get their hands on these things always want to turn the property into some sort of "buddy comedy", or a "grown up" story, or some other "reimagining" that isn't the original thing. Only very, very rarely do they do a version that, while it may take advantage of modern film's scope and technology, is anything like the supposed "source material".
(Side note for anyone who steps to Goldsman's defense with some version of "How do you argue with success?", I don't. I'm talking about MY opinion only.
(Side note for anyone who steps to Goldsman's defense with some version of "How do you argue with success?", I don't. I'm talking about MY opinion only.
Remakes are pretty bad. Besides, there has been several time-travel shows on tv already (TWO Quantum Leaps, Seven Days etc) and even one with a submarine. Deep Sea something. What would be cool if there was a crossover with all those Allen shows.
Or they could put those resources to use creating films about real events... between remakes and just plain trash there's not much out there.
Just leave them alone is right.
Hollywood is not fit to copy these shows in any capacity.
Hollywood is not fit to copy these shows in any capacity.
I would watch a remake of the time tunnel.I think the special effects and writing would be really good.Maybe Rob Lowe and Keifer Sutherland.
I like your thinking, but frankly, those two actors are getting a little long in the tooth- some younger talent would work better (and attract the core audience demographic needed for success).
I am a longtime fan of these original Irwin Allen television shows, but there is no way I would watch any remakes. These shows had talented actors, imagination and heart, something that could not be duplicated in the unimaginative CGI special effects junk of today.
Why not just create something completely new and leave the classics alone?
No! No no no! No more cinematic universes!
Leave these classics alone!
Yes, hands off the immortal "Great Vegetable Rebellion" on Lost in Space. Wherein
a giant carrot(Stanley Adams) rules a planet, and turns Dr. Smith into a stalk
of celery.
Actually I do agree with you on remakes, but that episode was on MeTV+ last night, and
it was the worst!
a giant carrot(Stanley Adams) rules a planet, and turns Dr. Smith into a stalk
of celery.
Actually I do agree with you on remakes, but that episode was on MeTV+ last night, and
it was the worst!