The original spaceman is returning! According to The Hollywood Reporter, comic author, writer and producer Brian K. Vaughan will adapt Buck Rogers for Legendary Television. Don Murphy and Susan Montford will produce alongside Flint Dille. Dille is the grandson of John F. Dille, who created the original Buck Rogers comic strip in 1928.
The character Buck Rogers made his debut in 1928’s pulp magazine Amazing Stories. A few years later, in 1932, Buck made his way to the radio airwaves with his own show. Fast forward to 1979: actor Gil Gerard portrayed the captain in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. A short-lived TV series of the same name, which also starred Gerard, ran from 1979 to 1981 on NBC. Later novels were also released through 1983.
Now, the story follows Rogers, a 20th-century astronaut who emerges out of suspended animation 500 years into the future. He takes on baddies and woos damsels in the 25th century. Twiki, a robot sidekick, and Dr. Theopolis, a talking computer, join the futuristic malarkey. Nothing is known regarding the new iteration’s plot or characters. However, I think it’s safe to say the TV series will most likely be contemporized beyond its 20th-century mindset.
As for Vaughan, he wrote for Lost and the Stephen King-adapted Under the Dome. Additionally, he penned the screenplay and served as co-producer for Hulu’s Runaways. For his comic ventures, Vaughan wrote Y: The Last Man, Saga and Ex-Machina. Ex Machina received a film adaptation in 2014 starring Domhnall Gleeson, Alicia Vikander and Oscar Isaac.
I say: bring it on. While I normally loathe reboots, decades have passed since the most recent Buck Rogers on-screen adventures. Young folks most likely have no clue who he is. Perhaps they can revitalize the whole story and diversify the casting. Modernize it for this century’s sensibilities.
What do you think about a Buck Rogers TV series from Brian K. Vaughan? Sound off in the comments below!
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I am excited to see what they come up with. I loved the TV show so much.