Glen here…

Here’s an update / follow-up to YESTERDAY’S COAXIAL REPORT regarding the possibility that the first episode of the BABYLON 5 spin-off series CRUSADE is being re-configured as the *second* episode. This would then make room for a new series-opening episode, which would better introduce the main characters of the show, and convey how they get wrapped up in an epic space adventure to save Earth from a gestating alien plague.

THE RUMOR IMMEDIATELY BELOW THIS PARAGRAPH HAS BEEN PROVEN INCORRECT. FOR MORE UP-TO-DATE INFO, CLICK HERE! There's still more (apparently) valid info further down the page, though...

Five episodes of CRUSADE have already been photographed. The series is now in the middle of a month-long regrouping to accommodate changes to sets, costumes, etc. I have been told that the current plan is to scrap all five episodes which were originally filmed, and start over from scratch. This will avoid continuity troubles - like having to integrate the new sets and costumes into an already running series, etc. Said sources also indicated the vague possibility of recasting, but offered no further evidence to support the notion of re-casting.

Glen here...as far as I know, this next information is still valid.

This news comes on the heels of a *second* report just received by Coaxial. Said report should be seen as very reliable. A little background first: at one point in the development of CRUSADE, there were plans to return to the Babylon 5 space station quite a few times (the number I hear mentioned most often is seven times). I am told that CRUSADE main character Mathew Gideon (Gary Cole) would have become "involved" with Babylon 5 commander Elizabeth Lochley. To accommodate this, several station sets from the Babylon 5 television series had been retained for future use. This second report indicates that all Babylon 5 related sets have now been stricken completely.

The source indicates that "a decision has been made to distance Crusade from the look of B5." Interestingly enough, one of the "suggestions" forwarded in a recent "memo" said to be wandering through TNT was the idea that CRUSADE should distance itself from the BABYLON 5 universe as much as possible, and be more self-referential.

If you’re interested in this report…or interested in the outcome of these events…feel free to check the text of this article over the next few days. I will post a message at the top of this article indicating it has been recently updated (with confirmations, denials, etc.) I will not continue to post *new* article after article about this subject. To do so would take too much space on the "Coax of the Day" side-bar on the Aint It Cool News main page.