SyFy Channel wants to bring back Alien Nation

[GreenScar]

On the eve of its rebranding from The Sci Fi Channel to SyFy (seriously guys, WTF?) the home of Battlestar Galactica has announced plans to revive another venerable TV show featuring the conflict and cooperation between humans and other beings: Alien Nation. Variety says Tim Minear (Angel/Firefly) is scripting, hewing close to concepts behind the original 1988 feature that spawned a season’s worth of episodic TV on Fox and five additional TV movie sequels. The film told of a human cop and his alien partner who is part of a race (the ‘Newcomers’) carried in a slave ship that crashed on Earth and is attempting to fit into human society.

Fox 21 will produce, and president Chris Topper described the show as ideal for the channel at the moment, as it is both a sci-fi tale and a procedural police drama that allows for many standalone stories. “[Sci Fi is] looking for more grounded sci-fi and close-ended episodes,” said Topper. “And at the heart of ‘Alien Nation,’ it’s a cop movie. It’s grounded. And it has a tremendous amount of dramatic possibilities and humor.” The trade says Minear will likely set the series in the Pacific Northwest twenty years after the original story told in the film. The Newcomers now number in the millions, and live in segregated ghettos.

“You can take (the original ‘Alien Nation’) a step forward and really do a show that encompasses the clash of civilizations, and the idea of a ghettoized minority,” said Minear. “You can touch on racism, terrorism, assimilation, immigration. And there’s room for satire.” Interesting that this comes up now as District 9, which tells a very similar story, begins to hit public consciousness. But it is a good idea. The original feature was great, thanks in part to leads James Caan and Mandy Patinkin, and while I have no doubt that Minear and whatever writing team is assembled can come up with all sorts of ways to use the ghettoized immigrant alien group to tell good stories, the success here will come down to casting. The previous Fox TV show couldn’t quite manage that trick, and if this series can pull a couple of great leads I’ll get interested really fast.

Are you interested in Alien Nation coming back?

[Blufury]

Been a long time since I've seen Alien Nation. I'd welcome this.

[P@t_Mtl]

Never got to actualy watched it the first time around, I would give it a chance if it was brought back

[doctorD]

I guess I thought the whole "Sy Fy" thing was a joke but saw a commercial advertising it last weekend. Not sure why they are doing this but oh well...

Anyways, wow Alien Nation...as long as they do something to change it up like what was done with Battlestar Galactica, I might be interested.

[FRAK]

I wish your post title ended with the word "Farscape."

[kernel_thai]

I have nothing against Tim Minear or Alien Nation but r we completely out of ideas? All anyone seems interested in r reboots or americanizing shows from other parts of the world.

[sub-zero]

Didn't really get into it the first time.

[Moefiz]

This was a pretty good show by in the 90's...

I won't mind seeing a revamp of this at all...

[iamsparticus9]

firefly would be better...but as long as stargate universe is more like sg-1 and less like atlantis i'll be happy

[ToExcited]

With the garbage playing now on TV. I will defiantly welcome a return of Alien Nation.

[Teabaggins]

Will they still be driving Ford Tauruses?

[Moefiz]

Originally Posted by Teabaggins

Will they still be driving Ford Tauruses?

Hey..don't know the Ford Tauruses..they were the car back in the day especially when they had those police chases...

[darkpoet25]

I wouldn't mind watching this again, it wasn't too bad for what it was. Makes me wonder if they would bring back Sightings, and Friday the 13th The Series. Anyone remember those two series?

[sub-zero]

Originally Posted by Moefiz

Hey..don't know the Ford Tauruses..they were the car back in the day especially when they had those police chases...

Robocop drove his taurus till the wheels fell off............which wasn't for very long.

[dcowboy7]

The new name will be Syfy.

[Elandyll]

<sigh>
If only they'd pick up Virtuality instead (and / or Reaper)...

I guess the setting of Alien Nation would be cheaper though.

[anomynous]

How about they bring back Sci Fi first

[kida999]

2021 update. looks like Disney has interest in alien nation

source

[John1701D]

You bumped a 15 year old thread with a 4 year old news story??

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by kida999

2021 update. looks like Disney has interest in alien nation

source

Here’s a 2023 update about that, Nichols is off.

https://theplaylist.net/jeff-nichols...ding-20230908/