A 45-year-old British cult-classic sci-fi TV show is getting a reboot, and it needs to look to The Expanse for guidance. Though sci-fi has only gained mainstream recognition in the past couple of decades, many of the best science fiction series started before the turn of the century.
Some of these seminal TV series, like Star Trek and The Twilight Zone, are still praised these days. However, others are relegated to cult-classic status, gaining a dedicated fanbase who appreciate niche 70s and 80s shows.
However, one of these niche shows, Blake’s 7, is getting a second chance to reach a wider audience with a reboot. As the creative team moves forward with the new show, they should look to The Expanse, the best sci-fi show of the 21st century, as an example.
British Sci-fi Show, Blake’s 7, Is Finally Getting A Modern Reboot After 45 Years
The British TV show Blake’s 7 is a cult-classic sci-fi series created by Terry Nation, the man who invented Doctor Who’s Daleks, that ran from January 1978 to December 1981 on BBC1. The show overcame its minuscule budget to create a compelling space opera.
Set almost 700 years in the future, Blake’s 7 follows Roj Blake, the leader of a small band of rebels on the alien spacecraft Liberator, who want to take down the totalitarianregime of the Terran Federation, which has colonized the planets. After 45 years, the genre-focused company Multitude Productions picked up Blake’s 7 for a reboot.
The Expanse Provides The Perfect Framework For Blake’s 7’s Reboot
A lot has changed in sci-fi TV since Blake’s 7 aired, so the show will need to update itself at least a little bit to fit the modern landscape. The messages are still extremely relevant, but the production value, effects, and script are a bit dated. The good news is that the creative team already has the perfect blueprint.
The Expanse and Blake’s 7 are both dark space operas with a major focus on smart writing and character-driven storylines. As the creative team modernizes elements of Blake’s 7, they can look to The Expanse for guidance.
What’s The Status Of The Blake’s 7 Reboot?
The Blake’s 7 announcement only occurred nine days ago, so it’s obviously extremely early in development. However, the Deadline announcement provided plenty of information about their plan.
The reboot has a good team working on the project. Emmy-nominated director Peter Hoar, of The Last of Us fame, is working with Matthew Bouch, the executive producer of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, and Jason Haigh-Ellery, the co-executive producer of the Doctor Who audio stories.
They haven’t brought on a network or streamer, but they will be searching for buyers soon. Their goal with Blake’s 7 is to get a co-production deal with the BBC and an American streamer. However, they are going into it with Doctor Who’s co-prod deal with BBC and Disney+ as a cautionary tale that money isn’t always reflective of quality.