Post by lidar2 on Feb 20, 2020 12:25:31 GMT
First off, to avoid any misunderstandings, BF are NOT, as far as we know at the time of writing, doing Doomwatch.
Personally I really wish they would and I was thinking about it after it came up on the "What Other Properties …" thread.
BF have taken a number of different approaches to their franchises, so assuming they acquired the rights to Doomwatch and were prepared to take the financial risk on it, there are a number of possible models they could adopt:
1. Doomwatch - The Lost Episodes
This would be essentially audio reconstructions of the missing episodes, the same approach as they took with The Avengers Lost Episodes. There are 5 missing episodes from TV season 1, and 4 is the perfect number for a box set, so 4 could go into the first boxset and it all works beautifully … except … the opening/introductory episode is not amongst the missing episodes, so you instantly make it that little bit harder for new listeners to jump on. The second boxset would start with the 5th lost episode that ends with the dramatic shock that ended season 1, but if they stuck to a Lost Episodes approach they would then skip all of TV season 2 and pick up the second episode of the boxset with the next set of missing episodes from TV season 3. So the aftermath of the dramatic shock would never be resolved on audio, and the audio series would only really work if listened to in conjunction with viewing the DVD. This is probably the approach that would appeal most to fans like me, but would appeal least to non-fans and for that reason is probably not commercially viable.
2. Doomwatch - The Missing Off-Screen Adventures
This is the approach BF take with Dr Who, Blakes 7, Survivors. The biggest problem with doing it for Doomwatch would be the relative lack of surviving cast members, although recasts are a possibility.
3. Doomwatch - Re-imagined
This the approach BF have taken with The Prisoner, Space 1999, Adam Adamant. Of all the options, this probably has the most potential appeal to non-fans and new listeners, but would appeal to fans as well. Could either be set in 1970 or 2020 or any time in between
4. Doomwatch - 50 Years Later
This is the approach BF took with The Omega Factor, bringing back characters/actors still alive today playing older, 21st century versions of their characters, combined with introducing new characters. However, 50 years is a long time and even if the actors were still alive, it is unlikely some of their characters would be still fit and active. In 2020, going by the actors ages, Quist would be 99, Ridge would be 88, Bradley would be 101 - so even if parts were recast, some dramatic license would be required to de-age the characters by about 30 years. Maybe a Doomwatch with recasts set in 1980 or 1990 could work?
If it was up to me, I would want the Lost Episodes, but I can see how that would have a limited appeal and be a hard sell to potential new listeners. So if they ever did Doomwatch I think it would be have to be re-imagined.