What's old is new again, or at least that's what Hollywood would like to have you believe. With that in mind, here is Contributor Off the Cuff Tom with his wishlist for potential Reboots:
In today's reboot/sequel-driven landscape, there have been far more flops than successes.
So here are my TOP 5 pre-2000s series that I would love to see back on our screens in no particular order…
#1 Gargoyles
THIS is a no-brainer! Gargoyles and the Manhattan clan haven’t 'Gone Away'; they've been living in the paneled pages for the past 2 decades. All overseen by Greg Weisman, each new iteration builds on the last, making a revival highly compelling.
So how do we put it back on screen? I say throw it RIGHT back on where the comics left off. The fanbase has been rabid, eating up the newer media, so for new fans, it's, yes, a hard catch-up, but considering how many shows now put up a season or episode recap constantly, there's no reason casual fans can't get onboard, too.
The only question would be the voice cast. Since the show left the Disney Afternoon block, there have been several actors who are no longer with us. So casting would be very hard as the Hudson is not only wide but also deep.
#2 The Pirates of Dark Water
The ABC Saturday Morning smash hit, The Pirates of Dark Water, deserves a comeback, especially during Johnny Depp Pirate-mania! Even today, fans of One Piece can appreciate this show's potential for a fresh take.
This is a perfect hero's journey series and could even use a bit of Avatar-style storytelling. Start from scratch and be inspired by the original series. Since 1991, cartoons are seen as more than 22-minute toy commercials; you can absolutely have a more well-rounded crew, and with that, opportunities for character growth.
#3 SWAT KATZ: The Radical Squadron
If you were to take anthropomorphic cats, add a face-melting theme song, and a jet that has every deus ex machina button imaginable, you'd have SWAT KATZ!
The contained serialized storylines made it accessible no matter which episode you fell into. Still, it excelled in characterization, so that if a returning villain like the Metallicats showed up, you didn't necessarily need to know the previous appearances.
Again, this is another show thats gotten the recent comic treatment but should really be back on TV. The only thing is maybe have a more consistent storyline, BUT DON'T CHANGE THE THEME SONG!!
#4 The Centurions
Now this is the show that came with a built-in toyetic quality from the jump. Running for 65 episodes, each very standalone, this property needs the big, cohesive storyline we have become accustomed to over the past decade.
Knowing how rare and fervent the fanbase is not just in the States but abroad, having the last few toy lines produced and sold outside of America made them so rare and valuable that it's an easy get to put back on the screens.
The downside, though, after speaking with a TV exec/collector friend of min,e is that it's in the Hasbro toybox, and you know how they don't like to play nice with all of their toys; only the ones they can keep reprinting and making money off of from deco swaps/repaints.
#5 Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog
WAIT, THIS IS A LIVE ACTION SERIES?!?! Yes, it is, but this could translate to an animated series SO freaking well. And the best part? You don't need to location hunt or be at the mercy of the elements to film outdoors.
It would help put Saban back on the map after the dismal collaborative effort with Nickelodeon on the the Super Sentai "super adaptations" of what was Power Rangers.
Considering the general population is now so globally connected because of the little thing called the Internet, and that learning new cultures isn’t taboo, the Wee TV execs should give this a fair shake and reimagine it in an animated setting.
*Honorable Mention*
This is going to be in a gray area, as it was based on an 80s cartoon with a true sequel series back in the late 2010s, but VOLTRON FORCE didn't get a fair shake. This show only ran for an extended single season, but it was in production and scheduling hell! Combined with NO toy sales, it made it impossible to see a future.
It’s a darn shame considering this was the truest sequel series, because we don't talk about or even mention the CGI series. It tried its best to expand the lore and pay homage to the original series.
I'm not in any way taking away from Legendary Defender on Netflix, but Nick messed up dropping this one!
What do you think about these callbacks? Let me know, and follow along with all things OFF THE CUFF HERE
