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Post by barnabaslives on Aug 3, 2020 3:16:15 GMT
I'm not really sure I want to open up the usual recasting debate of "Out of respect, it's too soon" vs "For practical reasons, recasting must happen" although I don't suppose I mind if people do have comments along those lines.
I'm just noticing though that Big Finish has me terribly spoiled and life doesn't seem quite the same without Blake's 7 to look forward to as well as Doctor Who (and Dark Shadows, of course).
I wanted to say that for me recasting isn't a necessity for me to stay interested in the range, quite the contrary in fact. It's Big Finish that gave me an appreciation of Blake and Avon. Back in the day I thought, "I'll stick with Kirk and Spock", lol. It was the other characters - Cally and Villa (and Gan) - that seemed the most interesting and accessible to me and to me these other characters are still enough to make it every bit Blake's 7.
The more we talk about "bankrolling" audios for the Fourth Doctor or others, the more I truly hope Big Finish is making of use of opportunity and also "bankrolling" Blake's 7 behind the scenes - or that there is something going on behind the scenes at least.
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lidar2
Castellan
You know, now that you mention it, I actually do rather like Attack of the Cybermen ...
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Post by lidar2 on Aug 3, 2020 12:22:20 GMT
I dunno. I guess there is a clear commercial rationale for bankrolling Tom audios - they will definitely sell well once released. It's maybe not so clear cut with B7, especially if the big 3 (Thomas, Darrow, Pearce) are not present.
My other thought is that there is so much potential within the B7 universe - so many possibilities for spin-off series, etc. In that respect the B7 universe is like the Star Wars or Star Trek universes. And as long as the original cast are around and BF are making audios featuring them, they are in some way holding themselves back from exploring the full potential of the B7 universe.
Don't get me wrong - I was gutted and lost a part of my adolescence when Darrow died, and I would like nothing more than more audios with Avon, but I think the sad passing of so many of the leads has to be seen as an opportunity to broaden the canvas within the B7 universe. Recasting deceased actors so BF can keep doing more of the same would feel like a missed opportunity.
Having said that, I'd still buy them . . . .
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shutupbanks
Castellan
There’s a horror movie called Alien? That’s really offensive. No wonder everyone keeps invading you.
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Post by shutupbanks on Aug 3, 2020 14:42:04 GMT
I’ve been thinking about it a lot and the only thing I can come up with is that Big Finish more than doubled the amount of Blakes 7 in the universe and I will always be grateful for that. I also enjoyed - really, really enjoyed - the B7 Media revival and would have happily listened to that for a few seasons. So I think I would be okay with a recasting but only if we get the whole cast redone as well. I loved Yasmin Bannerman’s take on Dayna but it still jarred for me hearing her much younger voice alongside the more, er, senior members of the cast. Or failing that, a continuation with some established characters and some brand new ones as well. Rather like what Star Trek did with their spin-offs ie, O’Brien being the linking character from TNG on DS9. A show with Vila being roped into leading a new rebellion because of his being such a big part of the old rebellion and having to bluff his way through the efforts of an earnest young crew in awe of him would be great fun for a few episodes.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2020 14:44:37 GMT
It's an odd one for B7, really.
We're very lucky to have so many Doctor Who mainstays not just still with us but willing to work on audio. B7 we've obviously in the last 5 years lost the heart and soul of the whole franchise. Recasting is an obvious way round but BF do like to wait a good while out of respect before considering it, especially when it's people they've worked with who have passed. There's also the issue of do the other originals want to do it without the "real" cast? I remember Katy Manning before she came back as Jo saying she loved playing Iris but couldn't do Jo because the idea of doing it without Jon Pertwee was too hard for her. Clearly she came to terms with that as she got more comfortable with BF and more time elapsed. But would the B7 "secondary" characters be willing to play second fiddle to a new Blake, Avon and Servalan? I don't know. Tricky one.
It's a sad reality that B7's more limited run means that the people who have passed makes it much harder than Who where there are loads of eras to explore. Lidar is right, it would be nice to explore the world of B7, in and around it - but the Rebellion Reborn spinoffs tried that and people were ho-um. Maybe now it's kinda that, readings or nothing - people would be more open to it.
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lidar2
Castellan
You know, now that you mention it, I actually do rather like Attack of the Cybermen ...
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Post by lidar2 on Aug 3, 2020 15:02:39 GMT
What B7 really needs is something to reinvigorate interest in the franchise and bring a whole new generation of fans in. The timing of the early 1990s VHS releases worked well - DW just off the air, not really that much available for scifi fans on VHS (Star Trek excepted). The DVDs are competing in a much more crowded market nowadays.
Blu rays with completely re-done special effects would give it a boost, but I think the chances of that are precisely zero - not enough money in it to be viable. I'd love to see Star One with a decent looking alien battlefleet.
I do think that at some point B7 will be re-imagined on TV, but that could be years away and it doesn't do much to help BF in 2020.
Personally I think in the short term a return to Liberator Chronicles is the way to go for the surviving cast members, plus a Next Generation type new series in the medium term.
If I was a betting man I would say whatever BF come up with next will star Olivia Poulet as Avalon . . .
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Post by Ian McArdell on Sept 5, 2020 17:48:27 GMT
What B7 really needs is something to reinvigorate interest in the franchise and bring a whole new generation of fans in. The timing of the early 1990s VHS releases worked well - DW just off the air, not really that much available for scifi fans on VHS (Star Trek excepted). The DVDs are competing in a much more crowded market nowadays. Blu rays with completely re-done special effects would give it a boost, but I think the chances of that are precisely zero - not enough money in it to be viable. I'd love to see Star One with a decent looking alien battlefleet. I do think that at some point B7 will be re-imagined on TV, but that could be years away and it doesn't do much to help BF in 2020. Personally I think in the short term a return to Liberator Chronicles is the way to go for the surviving cast members, plus a Next Generation type new series in the medium term. If I was a betting man I would say whatever BF come up with next will star Olivia Poulet as Avalon . . . I think you might well be right. They clearly like working with her... she's their Emma Peel too - and narrating November's B7 audiobook too.
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Post by charlesuirdhein on Sept 5, 2020 20:42:14 GMT
ANIMATION! Yes it's expensive, of course it won't sell enough, but we have a big chunk of soundtracks for them already. Imagine an animated Warship to drop into the gap between Season B and Season C?
(Though when it comes to animation I still want Lanyon Moor done first! Sixie and the Brig!)
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Post by Sir Wearer of Hats on Sept 5, 2020 21:59:50 GMT
I personally wouldn’trecast and set in the sane universe. A recast is for a reboot.
The last reboot had it’s heart in the right place, but needed some polish. And it needed a real world political landscape ready for it.
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lidar2
Castellan
You know, now that you mention it, I actually do rather like Attack of the Cybermen ...
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Post by lidar2 on Feb 26, 2021 9:55:51 GMT
What B7 really needs is something to reinvigorate interest in the franchise and bring a whole new generation of fans in. The timing of the early 1990s VHS releases worked well - DW just off the air, not really that much available for scifi fans on VHS (Star Trek excepted). The DVDs are competing in a much more crowded market nowadays. Blu rays with completely re-done special effects would give it a boost, but I think the chances of that are precisely zero - not enough money in it to be viable. I'd love to see Star One with a decent looking alien battlefleet. I do think that at some point B7 will be re-imagined on TV, but that could be years away and it doesn't do much to help BF in 2020. Personally I think in the short term a return to Liberator Chronicles is the way to go for the surviving cast members, plus a Next Generation type new series in the medium term. If I was a betting man I would say whatever BF come up with next will star Olivia Poulet as Avalon . . . Called it!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2021 14:50:59 GMT
What B7 really needs is something to reinvigorate interest in the franchise and bring a whole new generation of fans in. The timing of the early 1990s VHS releases worked well - DW just off the air, not really that much available for scifi fans on VHS (Star Trek excepted). The DVDs are competing in a much more crowded market nowadays. Blu rays with completely re-done special effects would give it a boost, but I think the chances of that are precisely zero - not enough money in it to be viable. I'd love to see Star One with a decent looking alien battlefleet. I do think that at some point B7 will be re-imagined on TV, but that could be years away and it doesn't do much to help BF in 2020. Personally I think in the short term a return to Liberator Chronicles is the way to go for the surviving cast members, plus a Next Generation type new series in the medium term. If I was a betting man I would say whatever BF come up with next will star Olivia Poulet as Avalon . . . Called it! Well done you lol personally I am glad they have decided to expand the universe further but do hope we get similar with our regular cast members also...this was a wee surprise for me so am glad B7 is to continue and am sure under BFs capable hands this may be a real enjoyable journey
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shutupbanks
Castellan
There’s a horror movie called Alien? That’s really offensive. No wonder everyone keeps invading you.
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Post by shutupbanks on Feb 27, 2021 1:11:12 GMT
What B7 really needs is something to reinvigorate interest in the franchise and bring a whole new generation of fans in. The timing of the early 1990s VHS releases worked well - DW just off the air, not really that much available for scifi fans on VHS (Star Trek excepted). The DVDs are competing in a much more crowded market nowadays. Blu rays with completely re-done special effects would give it a boost, but I think the chances of that are precisely zero - not enough money in it to be viable. I'd love to see Star One with a decent looking alien battlefleet. I do think that at some point B7 will be re-imagined on TV, but that could be years away and it doesn't do much to help BF in 2020. Personally I think in the short term a return to Liberator Chronicles is the way to go for the surviving cast members, plus a Next Generation type new series in the medium term. If I was a betting man I would say whatever BF come up with next will star Olivia Poulet as Avalon . . . Called it! Well done, that man! Who do we reckon future “WOB7” releases will feature? My money is on Bek from Shadow getting a guernsey: his story about a rebellion on Space City seems tailor-made for Big Finish. A sequel to Cygnus Alpha would be great, as well: with the void created by Varga’s death and by the collapse of the Federation a couple of years later, what sort of society is being shaped there? And, since I’ve reached that point in ST: Discovery, the collapse of the Federation sometime after TNG/ DS9/ Voy would be ripe material for a story about the rise of a fascist state calling itself by the same name but without the lofty ideals or the same resources. In fact, and this may be the wrong thread for it, but the B7 universe being a later part of the Mirror Universe would be a great story (and I know I said elsewhere that I’m happy with my stories not all being part of the same universe, but this is my headcanon now).
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Post by Sir Wearer of Hats on Feb 27, 2021 5:38:11 GMT
Something set during Series D, when everyone thinks Blake’s rebellion is over and Phylene-50 is being rolled out, maybe have the “new crew” be Federation personnel appalled at rhe use of Pylene-50? Or be Servelan loyalists.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2021 8:14:01 GMT
Something set during Series D, when everyone thinks Blake’s rebellion is over and Phylene-50 is being rolled out, maybe have the “new crew” be Federation personnel appalled at rhe use of Pylene-50? Or be Servelan loyalists. Controversial idea: Maybe their leader (or one member of their gang) is one of the faceless Federation soldiers from Gauda Prime in Blake...
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Post by Sir Wearer of Hats on Feb 27, 2021 9:45:54 GMT
Something set during Series D, when everyone thinks Blake’s rebellion is over and Phylene-50 is being rolled out, maybe have the “new crew” be Federation personnel appalled at rhe use of Pylene-50? Or be Servelan loyalists. Controversial idea: Maybe their leader (or one member of their gang) is one of the faceless Federation soldiers from Gauda Prime in Blake... Once many moons ago, when the B7E Derek Riddle lead audio was announced, I speculated it would have been a really interesting idea to have the story open with some Federation Troopers going all Federstion Trooper on some poor sod, intimate that the poor sod would be the lead (ie they’re a rebel leader, political activist etc) but then reveal .... that the trooper is Roj Blake and he’s about to get show trialled onto Cygnus Alpha.
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ljwilson
Chancellery Guard
It's tangerine....not orange
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Recasting
Feb 27, 2021 10:10:39 GMT
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Post by ljwilson on Feb 27, 2021 10:10:39 GMT
Is it just me or is there no info on whether these are full cast, narrated, or a bit of both?
Hopefully the first one!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2021 12:30:25 GMT
Controversial idea: Maybe their leader (or one member of their gang) is one of the faceless Federation soldiers from Gauda Prime in Blake... Once many moons ago, when the B7E Derek Riddle lead audio was announced, I speculated it would have been a really interesting idea to have the story open with some Federation Troopers going all Federstion Trooper on some poor sod, intimate that the poor sod would be the lead (ie they’re a rebel leader, political activist etc) but then reveal .... that the trooper is Roj Blake and he’s about to get show trialled onto Cygnus Alpha. I mean, that's still a really good idea. It'd be a good opportunity to play with expectations a bit. In that scenario with the reboot, perhaps Blake's show trial is by the resistance cell he allegedly betrayed instead. A kangaroo court with evidence supplied by Federation infiltrators. The final nail in Blake's coffin before he's shipped out. He ends up "rescued" by the Federation and sent off to Cygnus for "psychological rehabilitation after a traumatic ordeal" (i.e. his conditioning snapped and the real Blake came back).
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Post by Sir Wearer of Hats on Feb 27, 2021 22:17:03 GMT
Once many moons ago, when the B7E Derek Riddle lead audio was announced, I speculated it would have been a really interesting idea to have the story open with some Federation Troopers going all Federstion Trooper on some poor sod, intimate that the poor sod would be the lead (ie they’re a rebel leader, political activist etc) but then reveal .... that the trooper is Roj Blake and he’s about to get show trialled onto Cygnus Alpha. I mean, that's still a really good idea. It'd be a good opportunity to play with expectations a bit. In that scenario with the reboot, perhaps Blake's show trial is by the resistance cell he allegedly betrayed instead. A kangaroo court with evidence supplied by Federation infiltrators. The final nail in Blake's coffin before he's shipped out. He ends up "rescued" by the Federation and sent off to Cygnus for "psychological rehabilitation after a traumatic ordeal" (i.e. his conditioning snapped and the real Blake came back). imagine that Roj Blake is a Federstion idealist, he believes in rhe Federstion, but thinks Servelan and the current President have corrupted it (hence his show trial for something he knows he’s innocent of). The only reason any rebel group has anything to do with him is Liberator. Over the course of the series Blake begins to realise how awful the Federation really is,so becomes a genuine rebel against rhe system wanting to tear it down. He then dies in the first raid against the Federation as a genuine rebel who believes in democracy etc. Blake’s name is taken up by his replacement/s as a rallying cry - the solider who discovered his soul etc. even the crew of Liberator only follow him because they have reasons of their own, Avon and Jenna want the ship, Vila wants to get off safely with some prize loot, Gan has that chip in his head that makes him obey any Federation authority figure (ie Blake) etc. Avon eventually steals Orac and another (potentially another System) ship and runs off knowing Blake will be the death of them. Vila goes with Avon because they believes that Avon will keep their crew alive as long as they’re useful, and Vila is very useful.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2021 1:09:23 GMT
I mean, that's still a really good idea. It'd be a good opportunity to play with expectations a bit. In that scenario with the reboot, perhaps Blake's show trial is by the resistance cell he allegedly betrayed instead. A kangaroo court with evidence supplied by Federation infiltrators. The final nail in Blake's coffin before he's shipped out. He ends up "rescued" by the Federation and sent off to Cygnus for "psychological rehabilitation after a traumatic ordeal" (i.e. his conditioning snapped and the real Blake came back). imagine that Roj Blake is a Federstion idealist, he believes in rhe Federstion, but thinks Servelan and the current President have corrupted it (hence his show trial for something he knows he’s innocent of). The only reason any rebel group has anything to do with him is Liberator. Over the course of the series Blake begins to realise how awful the Federation really is,so becomes a genuine rebel against rhe system wanting to tear it down. He then dies in the first raid against the Federation as a genuine rebel who believes in democracy etc. Blake’s name is taken up by his replacement/s as a rallying cry - the solider who discovered his soul etc. even the crew of Liberator only follow him because they have reasons of their own, Avon and Jenna want the ship, Vila wants to get off safely with some prize loot, Gan has that chip in his head that makes him obey any Federation authority figure (ie Blake) etc. Avon eventually steals Orac and another (potentially another System) ship and runs off knowing Blake will be the death of them. Vila goes with Avon because they believes that Avon will keep their crew alive as long as they’re useful, and Vila is very useful. That'd be a very interesting way of doing it. Roj Blake, the idealist, only not the kind of idealist those familiar with the original series would have thought him to be. Until, he very much is. Beefs up the idea of the Federation in the modern world, too, where mass surveillance and information control are two heavily explored ideas nowadays.
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Post by anothermanicmondas on Feb 28, 2021 11:47:37 GMT
Is it just me or is there no info on whether these are full cast, narrated, or a bit of both? Hopefully the first one! not yet, however, a year ago Big Finish did say "There is definitely still a future for Blake’s 7 at Big Finish. However, emulating the format of the TV series – which has always been the goal – is now no longer possible. We don’t feel it would be appropriate to re-cast, and continuing the series without either Blake or Avon just isn’t feasible. However, this is not to say that there will be no more full-cast adventures set in the Blake’s 7 universe. It’s early days yet, but we are devising a new format for the series that will allow the surviving cast members to appear in further adventures.” the plot description does suggest that Jenna and Travis are involved and Sally Knyvette recently said on twitter "I’m working on various B7 episodes in My home studio-more news soon!!"
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Recasting
Feb 28, 2021 14:20:48 GMT
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Post by smith11 on Feb 28, 2021 14:20:48 GMT
Is it just me or is there no info on whether these are full cast, narrated, or a bit of both? Hopefully the first one! not yet, however, a year ago Big Finish did say "There is definitely still a future for Blake’s 7 at Big Finish. However, emulating the format of the TV series – which has always been the goal – is now no longer possible. We don’t feel it would be appropriate to re-cast, and continuing the series without either Blake or Avon just isn’t feasible. However, this is not to say that there will be no more full-cast adventures set in the Blake’s 7 universe. It’s early days yet, but we are devising a new format for the series that will allow the surviving cast members to appear in further adventures.” the plot description does suggest that Jenna and Travis are involved and Sally Knyvette recently said on twitter "I’m working on various B7 episodes in My home studio-more news soon!!" It says in the news piece they are Full cast audios so don’t need to worry 😊
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