Thanks to darthlocke4 for the heads up.
In 1984, “The Last Starfighter” broke new ground as one of the first Hollywood blockbusters to use computer-generated imagery.
A little over 30 years later, “Starfighter” writer Jonathan Betuel is back to do it again. Betuel is working on a new “Starfighter”-themed TV show, and he has teamed up with Los Angeles-based Surreal to once again push the boundaries on what’s technically possible: “The Starfighter Chronicles” aims to be the first TV show to embrace virtual reality.
The new show, which is still in early development, doesn’t directly continue the original “Starfighter” story, which catapulted a teenage video-game fan into outer space to fight in an interstellar war. Instead, it’s a serialized story about alien law enforcement. “It’s about instilling a moral code,” said Betuel during a recent interview:
A little over 30 years later, “Starfighter” writer Jonathan Betuel is back to do it again. Betuel is working on a new “Starfighter”-themed TV show, and he has teamed up with Los Angeles-based Surreal to once again push the boundaries on what’s technically possible: “The Starfighter Chronicles” aims to be the first TV show to embrace virtual reality.
The new show, which is still in early development, doesn’t directly continue the original “Starfighter” story, which catapulted a teenage video-game fan into outer space to fight in an interstellar war. Instead, it’s a serialized story about alien law enforcement. “It’s about instilling a moral code,” said Betuel during a recent interview:
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There's material that you can adapt in whatever year and will maintain its story telling values and then there's incredibly dated material. This is one of these 80s phenomena that can't be adapted into this generation simply because the tech it aimed at has evolved
ReplyDeleteThere is a new book coming out titled, Armada, that has mass allusions to The Starfighter, but also allegedly goes in a different direction. Early reviews are mixed, because the author's previous work, Real Player One (which also has homage to the 80's, --it appears to be the author's theme of choice), is considered much better, as I hear the time frame of Armada is what makes it hard to connect with the characters, but I hope to read both sometime and see for myself.
ReplyDeleteAs for this spinoff, which seems more like a remake, I think it can work, as long as they update the technology. Additionally I think theories like "Simulation Hypothesis" are interesting ideas to play with, as "instilling moral code" could be like putting code into the universe that is just a mass computer 'creating' reality!
I think there is an audience for these ideas, but the key is finding a way to make audiences care about those ideas and the difference between now and the 80's is TV is king instead of film and characterization and drama has become more prevalent in science fiction.
Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI have seriously been telling half the people I'vbe met for years that I want either a reboot or a sequel. It was never the greatest movie ever but it was definitely one of the top unsung scifi movies ever. You could get actors I hate to sign on to this and I'd still be looking forward to it.
Wh-wh-What?
ReplyDeletehmmm, I recall watching this movie on cable as a kid and really enjoyed it, and although I could see a movie "reboot" or even better yet a sequel, I'm not so sure that a weekly TV series would work, but because I liked the movie, I'll check it out if it ever makes it to series...
ReplyDeleteWell, I've seen the movie far too many times and agree with what you said.... much as I usually hate remakes/reboots it could be worthwhile for a heavy CGI film like this... or a sequel/series would be pretty awesome too.
ReplyDeleteActually, the ideal for a TV series would be to start from the beginning and the first season could essentially retell the movie with a new cast and SFX and WHEN it gets a second season they could continue on as a space cop procedural kinda thing that they seem to be talking about.
I think the best tv series would be idea for the last star fighter would be to potentially treat the movie the way Stargate SG-1 treated the movie Stargate. Basically treat it like a pilot and build a universe from that. My pitch would be: Alex returns from space to recruit his 20-something year old brother Louis because he can't trust anyone on Rylos since Xur's cult has gain strength and once again there's a threat to the Frontier.
ReplyDeleteright so instead of a kid being obsessed at playing a standup in a trailer park you have a kid obsessed with playing his xbox/playstation living in a trailer park, then space.
ReplyDeletewhats really the issue? yes, tech has evolved, people have not.
Saw this in the theater as a kid. Not the best movie but it did the job, and it was Robert Preston that made this film watchable.
ReplyDelete