Remember V? The 1983 alien invasion mini-series was a major television event when it originally premiered on NBC, and is still remembered fondly by many science-fiction fans. And now, 35 years later, V is coming back in the form of a big screen, big budget movie trilogy!
According to Digital Spy, Desilu Studios, Inc. will produce a new film based on V with original series creator Kenneth Johnson at the helm, with the hope of launching a trilogy of films. Johnson will both write and direct the adaptation, and will produce alongside John Hermansen and Barry Opper (the Critters franchise). “We are delighted to team up with Desilu to bring the timeless — and timely — story of resistance against tyranny into the 21st century,” Johnson said. “V will be the first of a cinematic trilogy which will tell the full epic tale in the manner I always envisioned.”
The project also marks a return for the Desilu brand. The long-defunct studio was originally founded by Lucille Ball and her then-husband Desi Arnaz, and was responsible for producing the original Star Trek before going under decades ago, but it has now been resurrected by businessman Charles B. Hensley. “Desilu was revolutionary in its time and as the saying goes, everything old is new again,” said Hensley. “Coming from the consumer products space, it makes sense for the company’s trajectory and shareholders to focus on film and television properties with high merchandising and licensing potential such as V the movie franchise.”
The new film series will presumably follow roughly the same story as the original, which told the tale of the “Visitors” — reptilian aliens who come to Earth disguised as humans in an attempt to take over — and the human resistance that rebels against their rule. After the hit original series, V-fever swept through the ’80s with a sequel mini-series, a regular TV series, a number of V spinoff novels, and even a DC comic book series. The franchise’s popularity waned after the close of the decade until 2009, when a reboot series starring Stargate SG-1‘s Morena Baccarin aired for two seasons on ABC. But if this new movie deal gets off the ground — and given the current craze over ’80s nostalgia, it very well could — V may become more popular than ever.
