Posted by Pam McCaughey on Feb 14, 2001; 8:36pm
URL: https://www.shado-forum.com/Re-UFO-2-ideas-tp1491365p1491370.html

I'm not really sure how derivative the new UFO wants to be. We've had a
spate of invasion-themed movies lately - everything from "V" on TV (gak -
that was an awful one!), to Independence Day and Mars Attacks! I agree they
are going to be looking for a much wider audience this time, and may take a
lesson from such successful pix as MIB and ID, which combined elements of
the alien menace with a good dose of humour here and there. Star Trek moved
beyond its own fandom when the fourth movie (the whale story) came out. The
ecologically-based screenplay, placing the cast in those "fish out of water"
scenes on good ol' terra firma, and the legitimate laughs made it the best
of the lot as far as reaching out to non-Trek movie-goers.

UFO has at present a select "sure" audience and must work to get people to
take it seriously in its new incarnation. I almost think a 4 hr miniseries
might be the best idea, rather than a theatrical release. You pack alot more
of everything into a miniseries, including character development, plotlines,
hardware, etc. That's how V became a series. I'm also concerned that GA's
involvement, even his name on the credits might scare people away - after
all - he's mostly known for his puppet shows - and there are some viewers
who never saw UFO but "know" about Thunderbirds and classify them as
kiddie-fare.

In some ways, UFO2 may have to start from scratch, simply to eradicate all
those items from the original that wouldn't work today. Like the purple
wigs, ha ha. They'll obviously want to introduce new characters, as well as
(we hope) bringing back some of the originals (i.e. Bishop, Billington, et
al). SHADO itself will have undergone some radical changes in the
intervening years, and the technology in every area must be updated - will
they be using cell phones, laptops, etc? S-F takes an enormous creative team
and time to consider all these parameters, and how they will be resolved,
then developed realistically as sets, models, SFX, SGI. And, there really
has to be some sort of "bridge" which brings us from the past into the
present time of the movie/mini-series. In order to boost viewership, would
the producers consider trying to attract some current name actors/actresses
to take roles, in addition to participation by the original actors? There
has to be SOME reason for modern viewers to tune in - esp those NOT familiar
with the show at all. In order to differentiate themselves, UFO2 will have
to offer something apart from the invasion theme. A plot twist. A catch.

UFO's original premise was interesting enough to get us to contribute ideas
to a web-site 30 yrs after the show went out of production - to keep
watching those few episodes made way back when. So let's hope what hooked
us, will "hook" a whole new generation of UFO fans!

Pam