25 years after its final episode, the 1990s ground-breaking science fiction space opera, known for its pioneering CGI special effects, is to make a return to the screen this summer in the form of an animated film called Babylon 5 – The Road Home.

The animated film’s log line suggests viewers will “Travel across the galaxy with John Sheridan as he unexpectedly finds himself transported through multiple timelines and alternate realities in a quest to find his way back home. Along the way he reunites with some familiar faces, while discovering cosmic new revelations about the history, purpose, and meaning of the Universe.”

The animated film was written by B5 creator and writer J. Michael Straczynski, directed by Matt Peters and features Sam Resister as executive producer.

Original cast members confirmed as making their return to provide voice overs for their characters include Bruce Boxleitner as John Sheridan, Peter Jurasik as Centauri Ambassador Londo Mollari, and Bill Mumy as Lennier.

Tweeting about the announcement of the project earlier this month, Claudia Christian who will reprise her role of feisty Commander Susan Ivanova, tweeted “So it begins”- a reference to the famous quote from Vorlon Ambassador, Kosh Naranek.

There had been some questions asked about whether the current Writers Union strike in Hollywood would impact release of the movie, which is scheduled to be released by Warner Brothers Animations and air directly to video later this summer. Staczynski confirmed via social media that the current industrial action would not impact the project as production was already complete and “in the can.” Straczynski also confirmed that this new animation is in addition to the planned B5 series reboot, and that work on that project would begin just as soon as the writers strike is resolved.

There was also some doubt over whether the deaths of several of the main cast members since the original show ended in 1998, would hinder production or lessen fan interest in a reboot. It was confirmed, however, that many of those characters, most notably Narn Ambassador G’kar who had been played by the legendary Andreas Katsulas before his death in 2006, would be returning and voiced by new actors in the animation.

The reboot of Babylon 5 follows swiftly on the heels of other successful sci-fi reboots, most notably the Star Trek Picard series. The third season of Picard saw the crew of the USS Enterprise D reunite to save the Federation from both the Gamma quadrant Changelings and the arch enemy of Picard, the Borg. Directed by Terry Matalas, the 10 episodes, which featured the original cast from the 90s hit TV show, received almost unanimous praise from fans.

Describing on Twitter what fans can expect from the Babylon 5 animation, Straczynski wrote: “Classic B5: raucous, heartfelt, nonstop, a ton of fun through time and space & a love letter to the fans.“

Will you be watching this new return of an old classic; do you think reboots really work? Let us know in the comments below.

WRITTEN BY WoorLord
EDITED BY Solace
IMAGES SOURCED FROM J. Michael Straczynski on Twitter - Preview Image from Babylon 5 Logopedia - IMDB.com - sportshub.cbsistatic.com