UK Science Fiction Classic Coming to Syfy

Blake’s 7: Syfy cues up US remake – by John Plunkett

Cable channel that successfully rebooted Battlestar Galactica orders pilot of Terry Nation’s hit 70s sci-fi show.

Blake’s 7, which was dubbed “The Dirty Dozen in space”, is being remade for the same US cable TV channel, Syfy, that successfully revived another 70s sci-fi show, Battlestar Galactica, in 2004…

It remains to be seen what form the Blake’s 7 remake will take or how faithful it will be to the original. Veteran director Martin Campbell, who helmed Piers Brosnan’s first outing as James Bond in Goldeneye, is set to direct the pilot…

Blake’s 7, about a band of escaped convicts led by Roj Blake, played by Gareth Thomas, and later Kerr Avon (Paul Darrow) who wage war on the evil Federation, may or may not offer an opportunity for a modern-day allegory or two.

Created by Terry Nation, who was also responsible for creating Doctor Who’s Daleks, Blake’s 7 began on BBC1 in 1978 and ran for four series.

It ended on a bleak note, with all of the rebels apart from Avon shot by rebel guards. The final scene, in which Avon stepped over Blake’s body, raised his gun and smiled before shots rang out, suggested Avon was killed as well.

It is not the first time the space opera has been earmarked for a TV revival. None have so far been successful, although it was revived as a series of audio dramas, some of which have been broadcast by the BBC, and books…

The new version of the show will be produced by US TV producer Georgeville Television.

It will be directed by Campbell and written by Joe Pokaski, whose credits include another TV sci-fi show, Heroes. If Syfy likes the script for the pilot, it will go straight to a 13-episode commission.

Read it all

It’s a great premise, that’s for sure. Perfect logline and all that. Let’s hope it this new version goes the way of another reboot by the name of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA and not the all-new dead end that was HEROES.

One thought on “UK Science Fiction Classic Coming to Syfy”

We're looking forward to your comments!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.