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To Boldy Go Where We Have All Been Before

  • elliehaine
  • Feb 4, 2024
  • 3 min read

Updated: Nov 12, 2024

One of the most common trends within media at the moment is the revival of older franchises. These shows, like recent entries in the Star Trek universe, show that a return to comfort is a popular, and easy decision. With even more revivals happening, or being rumoured to be in the works, how do fans feel about this rise in nostalgia?


Promotional poster for Star Trek: Discovery Season 1

            Already popular franchises, like the iconic Star Trek have seen a major revival in recent years. Star Trek: Discovery, helmed by Bryan Fuller and Alex Kurtzman, have seen an explosion in the universe, from new frontiers, such as the children’s animated show Star Trek: Prodigy, and to old classics, such as Star Trek: Picard, the less than spiritual successors to Star Trek: The Next Generation. These revivals have not been without controversy, with Discovery being accused of being “woke” due to its more modern themes (namely the inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ community). Recently, they seem to have found their footing, with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds being incredibly popular with fans new and old. With these shows heading into a new frontier constantly, including the franchise's first ever musical episode (a must watch), why do they keep on looking back for ideas?

Promotional poster for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 1

On the topic of revivals, Joy Panama, a longtime science fiction fan stated:

“With a constant push for profit, studios are taking less risks and banking on franchises that have already proved profitable, taking advantage of people’s nostalgia instead of establishing new, potentially risky, IPs. It really depends on execution. Attempts to modernise shows like Star Trek have proven inconsistent but when it works people get excited like they would in the old days. There is a duty of care for these properties in order to preserve the originals.”

            But what is happening to the untapped franchises? These, like Stargate (stemming from the 1994 film directed by Roland Emmerich) have set on the backburner of studios repertoires for years. Rumours of a Stargate revival have been ever increasing since Amazon acquired MGM in March 2022. The intellectual property has not been under-utilised, with prequel shows and video games (such as Stargate: Timekeepers). Despite this, Amazon Studios and MGM have been sitting quietly on the franchise, with actors and fans keen for a return. The constant rumours of a renewal have becoming tiring, with the suspected announcements at San Deigo Comic Con and the later New York Comic Con just providing false hope.

Main cast of Stargate SG-1

            Compared to some other franchises, Stargate is a relatively safe franchise to bring back. The show remained relatively free from controversy within its original run – there is only one episode that remains typically unaired, and for good reason too. Despite the main antagonists of the first two shows being wrapped during their original run, there are still stories left to be tod within the world. In a revival, the story that remains uncompleted following the cancellation of Stargate Universe could be finished.

She continues, on the topic of a particular revival that she is hoping for:

Promotional image for Firefly

“I am hoping for a reboot of Firefly as the cast is down to do it. Few shows have come close to its tone and execution. The original series has aged incredibly well and a new series could easily fit in to the modern lineup of shows, with a bump to production value perhaps.” Firefly is a television show set in the distant future created by Joss Whedon in 2002. It ran for one season before being cancelled but was later given a sequel in the form of a film, Serenity. Since then, it has sat quietly in Universal Studios catalogue, with fans constantly hoping for another revival.

            With studios constantly returning to franchises that they know worked, will there be an increasing trend of these revivals in 2024? Or will all of this become some passing fad to be replaced with shiny new ideas?

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