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Disclosure: I had a roommate freshman year of college who never left our room and watched V non-stop on ancient bootleg VHS, even while I tried to sleep. I’d wake up at 5 a.m. and he’d be hovering over me in a zombie state, one eye on me, the other on the hypnotic glow of…V. It was traumatizing. He flunked out after one semester. I’m sure V is awesome, but I don’t need the flashbacks. However they might be inevitable, as V creator, Kenneth Johnson, has plans to bring his ’80s sci-fi/aliens TV series to theaters in a big way. Here’s what he recently told The Dead Bolt

“… since I own the motion picture rights to V, we’re in the process to do a remake of the original mini-series first as a theatrical feature, which I’m so jazzed about because it will give me an opportunity to really realize it and execute it in a way that was impossible to do back then. Then that will lead to the obvious sequel, because it is a franchise, and then we’ll get into The Second Generation and I’m hoping we’ll be able to do two movies, because there’s certainly enough material in the novel to warrant two separate sequels. That’s my goal at this point and that’s what we’re in the process of doing. I just literally came from a meeting, 15-20 minutes ago with a fellow in Beverly Hills who really says that we’re gonna do it.”

Let’s hope this fellow in Beverly Hills isn’t Jason Priestley. V centers around an alien lizard race (like “reptilians”?) called the Visitors that decide to crash our overrated Earth party in huge UFOs. They take on a human appearance and wage war for dominance of the planet. The V franchise has enjoyed a healthy life into the present in book form. Thanks to Slashfilm reader/bud Jonny for the tip.

Discuss: I know a number of you are probably V fans, so geek out in the comments. Was V more fit for the big screen than TV in the first place, in your opinion? What are the chances these films happen?

  • Jed
    I take it Hugo Weaving isn't part of this "V"...LOL

    I don't remember this show at all.
  • tatat
    I thought V died at the end of the first one when he got shot by those british agents in the alleyway.
  • You can't kill an idea.
  • Daniel
    "V" was my Vietnam. I was there. I saw things.
  • clarence somerset
    This isn't Moore's 'V for Vendetta'?

    Tough marketing for this one!
  • Lance Y.
    To the misunderstanding people -Uh,, This V isn't V for Vendetta- it's a whole different genre.

    As for general thoughts, I think some of the mainstream audiences won't remeber the original show and mistake it as V for Vendetta, hence whats happening right here.
  • Dee L
    >

    Lance Y. is correct people. This "'V' stands for Visitors" It was a mini-series which was shown on 3 seperate days... oh-so-long ago(1983).

    It's debatable as to whether the story could be better told on the big screen as opposed to the small screen. I think it had more opportunity on the small screen than it would have had on the BIG screen. My Reasoning: TIME.... If you need more explanation than that; then you've neither read the book nor seen the mini-series...Do that first and if you still need more from me...Boy will you get it :-)
  • Hunter Stephenson
    I'm putting a Slashfilm Amber Alert out for Jonny. Where are you to play ref to these comments?
  • John
    It's about time! Ever since the crap that was Independence Day came out, I've been hoping they brought V back, and I'm glad Johnson is in control of it so it'll be done right.
  • Goro
    Marc Singer is the BEASTMASTER!
  • "Lance Y. is correct people. This “‘V’ stands for Visitors” It was a mini-series which was shown on 3 seperate days… oh-so-long ago(1983)."

    Well,
    Thats not true, "V" stands for victory and was the graffity that the restistance warriors sprayed on walls to mark their fight.

    i saw the original series at the time and bought the dvd releases few years ago.
    this show was da s**t. and alot of its images were indeed copied by the likes of independence day and others.

    its not that original by now to remake on the big screen,but i'll certainly go and watch when they do.
  • I really hope they make this V trilogy. I loved the miniseries, even with all its 1980s cheese. I'm glad that Kenneth Johnson wants to update it, and give us sequels!
  • Meli
    I'm all for updating! Man, how I dug V as a kid. It was
    chalk full 80s cheesy, so an updated version would be
    interesting because you could keep it on the darker side.
    Sure this project could fall flat on its face, but I'm going
    to sit here and geek out with excitement.
  • I can't wait for more neck bulging, rat swallowing action.
  • Patricia
    I ~~LOVED~~ this show. I know it wasn't meant to be political but it had a great story and this show is relevant today. People back then spread the word about the EVIL visitors even though it wasn't popular. People are doing that about the war in Iraq.

    Thanks for bringing back "V"
    I will look forward to seeing it.

    Pat
  • I can't believe there are people that never heard of V. The damn show is still around on DVD! This mini-series was a major television EVENT. It spawned a mini-series sequel and an TV series. I had a metal V lunchbox!

    I was pretty political actually. The visitors were very much aligned with the rich and powerful and gave off a real 80's Republican vibe. But the whole thing was a real allegory to Nazis. Look at the logo. Look at the way they took over.
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