More remake news to impart today … and for me, this is the best news ever! ABC announced its Fall line-up yesterday and revealed that they have officially picked up the remake of the 80′s sci-fi TV movie/mini-series/series V for air later this year. Now, I know that many of you may be unfamiliar with V but those of you who do know what I’m talking about surely remember what a freaking awesome TV series it was. V told the story of aliens from outer space called the Visitors who come to Earth in search of our friendship as well as our help in obtaining “a mineral that is common and abundant on Earth” (in return they offer the cure for Cancer among other technological gifts) … but after we welcome them with open arms, a small number of people find out that the Visitors have come to our planet for more nefarious reasons and form a Resistance to battle them for control of our planet:

Oh man … I loved this show so much! The original TV movie aired in 1983 and then the mini-series and eventual series aired in 84-85. I am thrilled that ABC has decided to pick up this remake and that Elizabeth Mitchell from Lost has been cast as a lead in the series. Now, depending on what you may or may not know about the season finale of Lost that aired last week, this news might be a bit spoilerish for you … but never fear, according to Entertainment Weekly, Mitchell will be appearing again in future eps of Lost:
ABC [announced] that it has picked up a reboot of the camptastic ’80s thriller V and that Lost heroine Elizabeth Mitchell is a full-time castmember. Translation: She will not be returning to Lost as a series regular. However, before you go declaring Juliet DOA from last week’s detonated hydrogen bomb, I should point out that this piece of scoop comes with a big but attached: Mitchell’s Lost days are not done. Multiple sources confirm that the actress is expected to appear in an unspecified number of episodes next season, so it’s entirely possible Juliet survived Jughead and her absence will be explained in another way. (Check out Doc Jensen’s column this Wednesday for a comprehensive Juliet theorypalooza.)
Woot! Not only is one of my fave TV series getting a rebooted revamp but it will be lead by a truly amazing actress in Elizabeth Mitchell. AND THE GOOD NEWS DOESN’T STOP THERE … there are 2 preview clips from V that are available to watch online. After the jump, check them out in full …
Here is the first clip, when the Visitors‘ leader Anna addresses the people of Earth:
LOOOOVE IT! Of course there are some changes from the original … in the 80′s series this character was named Diana and she wasn’t the top leader, she is just the second-in-command who plots to take eventual leadership from the leader. In this second clip, Anna sits down for a TV interview with an American journalist (Scott Wolf) but only on her terms:
I am so amped about this remake. Unlike the very crappy Kath & Kim remake (and the Ab Fab remake that got killed before it even debuted), I think V has the ability to be very successful … much the same way that the remake of Battlestar Galactica did. The cast looks impressive (Elizabeth Mitchell is joined by Morris Chestnut, Lourdes Benedicto, Joel Gretsch, Morena Baccarin, Scott Wolf and more) and the feel from just these clips makes it seem like it’s going to be a serious take on the original (and not a campy mock of it). I hope those of you unfamiliar with the original will seek out the 80′s TV movie V and check it out for yourselves (click HERE to watch the promo video of the original mini-series that aired in 1983). I’m soooo excited! Is anyone out there lookin’ forward to this remake of V?
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I’ve never heard of V but it sounds like a good premise. I’m bummed that Juliet “might” be killed off. I hope she isn’t. I liked her with Sawyer.
@Ana S. — ooh, I’m telling you … cheese never looked so good as it did on V. I just ordered the whole series on DVD since it’s been ages since I watched it (I owned the VHS tapes back in the early 90s but I have no idea where they could be). I don’t want to spoil the true intents of the Visitors’ arrival on Earth but it’s really damn good!
OMG I totally remember V! It freaked me out when I was a kid…especially when the lizard baby was born….eek!
lol there’s something about that alien woman, i don’t like her face. i’m aware that that is completely ridiculous.
love elizabeth mitchell! hopefully it works out with her being on both this and lost!!! i think she survived jughead and he and sawyer will be united!!!
I’m excited. It looks great. Finally true Scifi on a major network. It’s been a long time. :)
I just saw the clips of this show. They look AWESOME!!! Does anybody know when this show is going to air? I looked it up and it doesn’t seem to be in the ABC fall line-up. Is is a midseason replacement show?
@Joanna — “I looked it up and it doesn’t seem to be in the ABC fall line-up. Is is a midseason replacement show?” HMM, that’s possible … but the series has only been ordered for 13 eps (possibly to see how well it does). It could get squeezed in this Fall but, as you say, it could also be a mid-season replacement. UGH, I can’t wait!!!
OMG, I totally remember watching thru my fingers -especially when they ate the bugs! I’d be so scared but I had to watch!
LOVE LOVE LOVE this… can’t wait
SO HAPPY!!!! I have both the original V and V – The Final Battle on DVD…I really need to get the series on DVD. I too once had it on VHS, but it’s long gone by now. I just can’t say how much I’m looking forward to this!
OMG, I am so excited. I totally remember the original series. I was glued to the TV watching it when I was a kid!
OMG…so freakin’ AWESOME! I remember watching this as a kid and my 3rd grade classroom putting on a “V” play – humans vs. Visitors. LOL! So excited to see this!
OMG …. love it. love it.
That lizard baby freaked out everyone…. LOL. Made my day.
@Kat — the birth of that baby (a twin born after the human-looking baby) was the SHOCK of all shocks! LOVE THIS SERIES!!!
I knew this was a possibility, but didn’t realize it had already been cast/filmed! HOORAY! I loved “V” so much when I was a kid. Used to play it in the backyard with my friend Elizabeth, who we always used to make be The Star Child. lol LOVE IT!
I LOOOOOOVE “V”. This is great news. I do recall the nightmares I had as a kid but whatever..I loved to watch the series. lol I would love to see a cameo from some of the original cast in the tv movie and series.
@Dach — ME TOO! If they don’t bring back Jane Badler (the original Diana) I’ll be bummed. Faye Dunaway and/or Marc Singer would be cool too ;) WEEE!
OMG! I remember this series. I remember a guy eating a parakeet. Couldn’t sleep well after that. :P
V traumatized me when I was little! All I remember is the aliens ate mice and the human skin pulling off to reveal lizard skin! FREAKY!!!!
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According to the below, it will be mid-season:
http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/05/video-abcs-v.html
Can’t wait!
I was obsessed with V and I just about wet my pants to see these video-clips. I loved the Diana character! I read the books and even still have the TV-series (not the miniseries but the regular series) companion books (they’re like comic books) that came out at that time. OMG! Happy happy happy!
So excited about this!!!!!!!!
I LOVED V when I was kid even though it scared the crap out of me and I had to watch it through my fingers from under a blanket.
This looks pretty good. Can’t wait to see more.
But I guess this means Juliet is really dead, huh? Bummer