Aint-It-Cool-News reports about the Buckaroo Banzai : Ancient Secrets & New Mysteries Series (1998-1999)
The following information is from the Ain't-It-Cool-News web site located at http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com. Glen Oliver ran the Coaxial (i.e. TV and Cable) part of the site at the time and the following updates are archived on the Buckaroo Banzai FAQ with his permission for historical purposes.
(This first installment is located at http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=2446)
"The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai" TV series???(updated 10-4 @ 9:45am CST USA)
Glen here...9:45am CST USA. I have received some indication that the BB pilot / proposed series mentioned below is in the works for Fox Broadcasting.
More soon!
Glen here
Well hell
This is potentially one of the most tremendously cool bits of news I have ever had the privilege to report in my time here at Aint It Cool News.
I can not personally vouch for the veracity of the following information, but I will say that my source for this news seems to be rather comfortable with its accuracy. None the less, please leave a margin for error in the following news - until I have confirmed it. And be assured, my efforts to confirm this news will be vigorous and pointed - presuming this doesn't become officially announced in rather short order.
A long time ago there was a movie called THE ADVENTURES OF BUCKAROO BANZAI: ACROSS THE EIGHT DIMENSION. It starred Peter Weller, Ellen Barkin, John Lithgow, Jeff Goldblum, Christopher Lloyd, Clancy Brown, and more. `Twas an eclectic and interesting cast in the twisted and bizarre tale of a rock star / neuro-surgeon / physicist / super hero who was saving the world from alien "Lectroids", whose landing decades ago prompted Welle's 1938 "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast.
The film concluded with the written promise for a sequel - BUCKAROO BANZAI AGAINST THE WORLD CRIME LEAGUE. Despite a vocal and supportive fan baseand Fox's *apparent* willingness to foot the bill for another Banzai adventurethe project became embroiled in a bitter legal conflict, and was never to happen.
If memory serves (and I might be wrong here), ABC television even expressed interest in developing a BUCKAROO BANZAI television series. Alas, the same legal battles annihilated such potential. In short, BANZAI was a franchise that was waiting to happen - but it was never allowed to come of age. Fans were left to enjoy a comic book (which I have), a hard-to-find but insightful novelization (which I have), some "Team Banzai" and "Yoyodyne" patches, T-shirts, and hats which were marketed at the time (which I have), and dream of an alternate reality in which BUCKAROO BANZAI actually had the *opportunity* to seize the potentials which had come its way. By the way, I am told Buckaroo's Oscillation Overthruster made a cameo appearance in BABYLON 5, but I've never been clear on the details of this.
All along, fans have been asking themselves "have they forgotten?" or "Have they moved on?" NOW comes a preliminary (and sketchy) report indicating BANZAI creators W.D. "Rick" Richter and Earl MacRauch have inked a deal to write a pilot for a proposed series based on THE ADVENTURES OF BUCKAROO BANZAI. No other information is available at this time (thanks to IXIGIOUS 12 1/2 for this information).
If anyone at the network or studio has ANY knowledge of this, please tell me. If I need to plug this thing multiple times a week to help get it on the air, I will. If The Powers That Be are waffling and need a petition, we'll do a petition.
If correct, this information would mean the fulfillment of a notion that is very close to my heart. I really want to see this happen. Partly because it helps me remember the kid I was back in 1984, partly because I think (for all of its rough edges) BB is an intriguingly goofy and endearing premise, and partly because I've always seen BANZAI as "unfinished business". Come what may, I'd like to see it run its course.
I'm now gonna go fondle my "Team Banzai" Japanese headband, and listen to Boddicker's score while cleaning my living room.
More to come
To read the responses to this article on the Aint-it-Cool-News website, check out the Talk Back section located at (http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/tb_display.cgi?id=2446#18261)
(This second installment is located at http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=2450)
Follow-up to BUCKAROO BANZAI series article (script development confirmed)!!!
Glen here
happier than I've been in a very, very long time. I have been able to CONFIRM yesterday's report that Fox Television has ordered a pilot script for a proposed series based on THE ADVENTURES OF BUCKAROO BANZAI.
Concept creators W.D. Richter and Earl MacRauch are currently hard at work on said script. There are several important factors to note here:
1) That Fox has ordered a script for a BUCKAROO BANZAI series pilot *does not* mean Fox is obligated to proceed with the filming of said pilot once the script is delivered to Fox. Scripts are written and subsequently left un-filmed all the time. THIS IS NOT MEANT TO IMPLY NEGATIVITY ABOUT THE PROJECT. IT IS NOT MEANT TO IMPLY MY BELIEF FOX WILL REJECT TO PILOT SCRIPT. I'm simply trying to saystatisticallywe're not out of thewoods *yet*.
2) Even if a pilot for a BUCKAROO BANZAI series is filmed, this does not obligate Fox to follow it up with a series. Pilots are filmed all the time which don't even get aired, some pilots are aired but never get followed-up with a series. AGAIN, I AM NOT TRYING TO BE NEGATIVE HERE. JUST REALISTIC.
In short, BUCKAROO BANZAI is going through a step-by-step process which is very ordinary in the development of a potential series - the same process most other series / projects in development must go through. BB does have the distinct advantage of having a pre-existing (and strong) fan base, but when all is said and done, it's right in there with the rest of the shows - having to jump through all the same hoops on its way to our television screens. But it is *really* happening, and there is a *serious* possibility this could all work out well!
Now, I am delighted to present an official statement from BANZAI creator W.D. Richter:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Banzai Institute for Biomedical Research and Strategic Information
STATEMENT BY W.D. RICHTER CONCERNING A REQUEST BY THE FOX NETWORK THAT THEY MIGHT COMMISSION A PILOT SCRIPT FOR AN EXTENDED TELEVISION EXAMINATION OF THE LIFE AND TIMES OF DR. BUCKAROO BANZAI:
"After all these years, one of course, expects the inevitable and amazed reaction, 'We thought it would never happen!' Let me simply share with you B. Banzai's own reminder when delivered the glad news by Earl Mac Rauch:
'The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once. That said, now on to the business at hand.'"
-Rick Richter
November 3, 1998
To read the responses to this article on the Aint-it-Cool-News website, check out the Talk Back section located at (http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/tb_display.cgi?id=2450#18271)
(This third installment is located at http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=2460)
The current fave (among Coaxial readers) to play Buckaroo Banzai (if a re-cast is needed) is...
Glen here
doing something I've never really done before.
In the wake of this week's announcement that Fox Television was in the process of developing a pilot for a potential ADVENTURES OF BUCKAROO BANZAI television series, I suppose it was inevitable that fans of the original film would begin throwing around ideas as to who would make a great Dr. Buckaroo Banzai.
Interestingly and surprisingly, most of the casting ideas I have seen on the Net (and in my "inbox") have pretty much pre-supposed the movie's original cast would not be returning for the series. This is probably a safe bet, but one never knows in a situation like this.
None the less, below you will find a few pictures of the actor whose name has turned up *most* in my "inbox" as the Coaxial reader / Banzai fan-preferred re-cast of Peter Weller's Buckaroo Banzai character. This actor's name is Jeff Falcon. He recently starred in a movie called SIX STRING SAMURAI. You can learn more about the film and Mr. Falcon through this link.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND, my presenting these images does *not* imply Weller & Co. might not return for the series - I have heard NO INDICATION as to any plans in regards to casting. Also, PLEASE UNDERSTAND that my presenting the images of Mr. Falcon *does not* inherently suggest he is actively being considered for the part, as it is currently unclear whether or not the Banzai part will even *require* re-casting.
This is simply a fun "what if" based on a fair amount of reader / fan response to the news of a potential series, and based on an odd (but probably true) pre-supposition that the BB character will need to be recast for weekly series.
So, don't go around spreading news that Falcon isor may beBuckaroo Banzai. This is simply a fun conjecture based on fan feedback, and *nothing* more at the moment.
All pics came from the site linked above...
Wednesday, December 16th, 1998
The following information is found on the Ain't It Cool News Co-Axial web site (http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=2640) and is reposted here with permission :
"BUCKAROO BANZAI series update (?)
Glen here with a follow-up to Coaxial's recent coverage of Fox's proposed BUCKAROO BANZAI television series.
This piece really needs no introduction, although I suppose I should indicate that the pilot script currently being written by W.D. Richter and Earl MacRauch is still being worked on, but is nearly completed (or so I am told).
After the script is completed, it will be presented to The Powers That Be over at Fox, who will then decide whether or not they want to go ahead and shoot a BANZAI series pilot.
The following messagesent in by JOHN PHILLENDABLANK indicates that some sort of "prop presentation" is also being developed parallel to the script. Whether this is a presentation which will accompany delivery of the script to The Powers That Be, or simply a presentation configured to promote the below-mentioned prop company for a job on the (potential) series is an answer I do not have at the moment.
None the less, it does indicate that wheels are churningpeople are tryingand that we're getting closer and closer to a final decision on whether or not THE ADVENTURES OF BUCKAROO BANZAI will soon take to the air waves.
Here's JOHN's message:
a Southern California based prop company is compiling a prop presentation to go along with the script work that is currently being done.
Among some of the work being done and items being compiled:
A new Overthruster has been modeled. A working model of it should be done soon - if it isn't working already. It does include the three buttons that you see manipulated in the film.
((Glen Note: this is so damn cool I can barely think about it without going into convulsions & seizures of geek-ness.))
They have fan made version of the slide viewer (from the original movie's backstage scene set right before they perform). The original prop was built up from a talking Viewmaster, the re-creation is wonderful.
Apparently, blueprints of a "go phone" have been drawn-up, with idea of building the prop from a Swiss army knife.
Also included in the "props" is a copy of the Marvel comic book."
The following information is found on the Ain't It Cool News Co-Axial web site (http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=2733) and is reposted here with permission :
"Official Buckaroo Banzai Web Site now on-line!!!
Glen here...
The following message from W.D. Richter kind of speaks for itself, so I'll spare you a prolonged introduction. In My Humble Opinion, the site to which Mr. Richter refers is really very well done, and extremely cool.
I'm surprised someone like Dr. Banzai...who so skillfully walks the cutting edge on a daily basis...has waited this long to go public with his Institute's web site. None the less, it's a total blast to visit, and it's truly delightful to see such a resurgence in Dr. Banzai's popularity - especially with the coming presidential elections, and all.
Here's everything you need to know about (and a link to) The Official Web Site of the Banzai Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Strategic Information. Or, in less formal terms, "The Official Buckaroo Banzai Web Site".
This is brand new. Enjoy!!!
Thank You so much, Misters Richter and MacRauch, - and Mrs. Johnson, too!
Happy New Year to all...
_____________________________________
January 1, 1999
Dear friends of Buckaroo Banzai:
In response to the many inquiries we have received regarding the possibility of a Buckaroo Banzai television series on the Fox Network, I am pleased to announce the official Banzai Institute web site. Like the Institute itself, this web site is dedicated to the betterment of the human condition through scientific research, public service, and rock-n-roll.
The Banzai Institute web site, available on the World Wide Web at http://www.banzai-institute.com, features the latest news of Institute activities interwoven with tantalizing hints of Buckaroo's future adventures. Also available on the site are notes on Buckaroo merchandise, links to fan sites, and an exclusive interview with Dr. Banzai himself, written by Reno Nevada (with a little help from his friend, Earl Mac Rauch). Of special interest to students of Banzai history is a never-before-seen video excerpt from the original director's cut of the 1984 movie, THE ADVENTURES OF BUCKAROO BANZAI ACROSS THE EIGHTH DIMENSION.
As Dr. Banzai says in his introduction to the site, we hope that you "move with grace and leisure among these sundry offerings" which are being made available to all Institute members and other friends of Buckaroo Banzai, wherever they may be.
Faithfully yours,
W.D. Richter
The following information is found on the Ain't It Cool News Coaxial web site which can be found at http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=2766 and is reposted here with permission :
"Buckaroo Banzai" series pilot letter writing campaign ACTIVATED!!! ((If you care, act now!))
Glen here...
Okay folks. Over the last few months, many of you have asked: "Is there anything we (the readers of Coaxial) can do to help along Fox's proposed Buckaroo Banzai television pilot?"
And...as often as I could...I replied that I would let you know if I ever thought there was anything Banzai fans could do to help this pilot get made.
Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls - our time is now!
I am told that some important decisions regarding the future of this project will be made VERY soon. This is a critical time for the Banzai pilot script, entitled (last I heard) Buckaroo Banzai: Ancient Secrets & New Mysteries. I am also told this would be a truly magnificent and strategic time to hurl heaping gobs of love, affection, support and encouragement towards our good friends at Fox Broadcasting.
Can doing so make a difference? YES!!! But it is absolutely critical to remember that these people are OUR FRIENDS. They are good people, who are open-minded and sincerely evaluating a project in which many readers of this page are interested. As a side note: I have received more messages about a possible Buckaroo Banzai television series than *any* other project I have covered in my 2 years at Coaxial (except for endless expressions of anti-DIVX sentiment).
We are *not* out to threaten our friends at Fox, we are *not* out to boycott them or rub them the wrong direction . We are out to express our appreciation to them, and let them know how excited we are about the possibility of a Buckaroo Banzai television project. It's that simple.
I strongly suggest going about this in two ways:
First, The Powers That Be will undoubtedly be monitoring THE BUNKHOUSE - the official message boards of The Banzai Institute of Biomedial Engineering and Strategic Information. To voice your support for the Banzai pilot on the message boards at the official Banzai web site, CLICK HERE to go to http://www.banzai-institute.com/0601bunk.html.
Secondly, it seems the The Powers That Be still respond best to a good, old-fashioned letter sent by that institute of perpetual delay and frequent un-reliability, The Postal Service. That's right - our cause could be greatly benefited by a balls-to-the-wall "letter writing campaign". I know we've all gotten spoiled with the ease of e-mail and such, and I know it's a bit of a nuisance to sit down and type or hand write a letter...find an envelope...stick it in an envelope...get a stamp...find a mailbox...etc. But as annoying as it is, this approach may well have the most impact.
Send the letter to:
Fox Broadcasting Co.
10201 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90035
So if you have any interest in helping out this project, do it now. Don't wait, don't say "I'll get to it the day after tomorrow." Write a fast letter - now. Go to the message board - now. 'Cause if you don't - and you have any interest at all in seeing a Banzai television project grow to fruition - you may forever regret your complacency.
Moments like these are what this site is about. So go to it, my friends..."
The following information is found on the Ain't It Cool News Coaxial web site which can be found at http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=2907and is reprinted here with permission.
"BAAAANNZZZAAAAAIIII!!!!!
"Everything comes to he who waits...and I have waited so very long." - Skeletor (Frank Langella), MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE
Glen here...
...with some news about Fox Broadcasting's proposed Buckaroo Banzai television project. Sources close to the Fox development / production process have indicated that the Buckaroo Banzai series pilot script (referred to frequently over the last several months here on Coaxial) has been received "quite warmly" by the folks over at Fox. This means the Fox people liked it, and will be keeping the Banzai television project around for further development.
Sources indicate that...at this point in time...Banzai is being eyed as a mid-season replacement series for Fox. Needless to say, it's a bit too late for the project to be prepped as a mid-season replacement this season - as "mid-season" (in television terms) is already upon us (February-March).
Presumably, this suggests that Buckaroo Banzai would most likely hit the air shortly after the beginning of 2000 - after some of Fox's Fall 1999 programming bites the dust, thus opening up a time slot for BB.
Even though this scenario has Buckaroo debuting a little later than many of us would have liked, it is actually a very good thing - as it gives series overlords Earl MacRauch and W.D. Richter (who brought us the original Banzai motion picture) more time to pull the project together - and do it right.
There are sketchy indications that project morale is high inside both Fox and Team Banzai, but SOURCES ARE QUICK TO REMIND ME THAT THIS SITUATION IS STILL SOMEWHAT FLUID. The project could be accelerated, or pushed back even further. At this point in time, however, the likelihood of a Buckaroo Banzai television project becoming reality appears to be rather high.
In other Banzai related news, I have received multiple and consistent reports indicating that a Buckaroo Banzai DVD release (all souped up with goodies and extras) is a very strong probability. No word on possible street dates, but a Banzai "Special Edition" is something that was actually in the wind back when those things called laserdiscs were still around. Now that The Age Of Banzai seems to be upon us, I'm told a fulfilling DVD release may well be coming our way. And so might the release of Michael Boddicker's original score.
Both of these coveted items may be some time in coming, though. But the possibilities exist, and they are strong.
So there you have it folks. Slowly but surely...slowly but surely. Now, if only Fox would let Buckaroo Banzai and the Hong Kong Cavaliers perform Auld Lange Syne at 12 a.m. January 1, 2000 during its New Year's night broadcast. What a wonderful world it could be..."
AINT-IT-COOL-NEWS COAXIAL #8
Wednesday, March 24th, 1999
The following information is found on the Ain't It Cool News Coaxial web site which can be found at http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=3299 and is reprinted here with permission.
"Buckaroo Banzai" series ((pic & footage from FX test))
Glen here...
...with a tiny bit of news regarding Fox's proposed television series Buckaroo Banzai: Ancient Secrets and New Mysteries.
While some of this news wasn't really supposed to "slip out" quite yet, it has done so anyway - as news of this type is prone to do. As such, I thought I would go ahead and pour some fuel on the simmering fire (so to speak).
For those who haven't heard, Foundation Imaging (who did the CGI effects for the first three seasons of Babylon 5, are currently working on Star Trek: Voyager, and are bringing us the forthcoming Starship Troopers CGI series recently covered on Coaxial) has done a reel of test effects for the Buckaroo Banzai television series currently in development.
The reel is quite dazzling, two of its sequences involve the extensive use of Team Banzai's beloved Jet Car. Here's a small picture of the Jet Car as rendered by Foundation.
Yeah, yeah, I know - it's a small picture. That's because this picture was actually taken from a site which is all about visual effects - and this is a cute little picture which they had available there. HOWEVER, should you wish to see a brief but telling piece of actual footage from Foundation's work on Buckaroo Banzai, there is a (crudely transferred) .mov file available at the site - which gives you a fair sense of "the look" of Foundation's proposed FX for the series.
CLICK HERE (Link removed - no longer working) to jump directly to the VFXPro article featuring the Banzai stuff !
Earlier today, I had some trouble accessing the article directly through the link provided above. If you can't access the site through that link, try this:
CLICK HERE (Link removed - no
longer
working) then click on the image field at
the top
of the screen which says "New Tek's HyperVoxels 2.0". That
will take
you directly to the article
which features the Banzai image reproduced herein, as well as
provide a
link to download the Jet Car footage.
Enjoy !!!
Special Thanks to STEVE for calling this footage to my attention !!!
Thursday, July 1st, 1999
The following information is found on the Ain't It Cool News Coaxial web site which can be found at http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=3895 and this excerpt is reprinted here with permission.
ROBOGEEK rants about TV, and raves about "GvsE"!!!
Glen here......with a report from AICN friend and cohort
ROBOGEEK!
Robo's all fired up about a few glitches (and one bright, shining moment) on the television scene of late, and would like to share his thoughts with you. If you'd like to share your thoughts with Robo, feel free to e-mail him through the numerous links provided in this article.
Have fun, and enjoy. Here's ROBOGEEK!!!
[A lot of the article is cut out here.]
The first episode of GvsE I saw was the pilot, entitled "Orange Volvo." There's only one series with a cooler pilot name, and that's Fox's forthcoming mid-season replacement Buckaroo Banzai (whose pilot is called "Supersize Those Fries" -- you heard it here first). And while "Orange Volvo" is unavoidably burdened by a lot of expository set-up of the series' mythology, it kicks things off to a very groovy start, setting the tone of the series.
[The rest of the article is cut out here.]
Wednesday, July 21, 1999
The following information is found on the Ain't It Cool News
Coaxial
web site which can be found at http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=4013
and this excerpt is reprinted here with permission.
"Buckaroo Banzai" series FX test images ((aka Foundation-o-Rama)) !!!
Glen here......with a report from the recent Shore Leave convention in Baltimore.
This report comes from Chief O'Brien, who was kind enough to take a few moments from repairing the subcutaneous Drosophila melanogaster to file this report:
___________________
Chief O'Brien wrote:
If you haven't seen it already, Foundation has produced a short trailer for Buckaroo Banzai: Ancient Secrets and New Mysteries.
The "Banzai March" was re-mixed with a kind of techno edge to it (I really wanted a copy).
The sequence opens with lightning hitting the ground and charging up some batteries in a potato field - which are all connected to a giant transmitter. The transmitter fires its visible signal into space.
Fade to an icy landscape (the exact same one used in the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Timeless"), where the Jet Car is scooting along, and then is chased by a pair of flying craft. The Jet Car escapes by activating its overthruster beam and driving through a mountain!
((Glen Note: the Overthruster portal closes immediately behind the jet car; the flying craft smash into the mountain as they try race through the portal before it closes...))
The last sequence has the jet car driving along a road - only to find out that it's a runway, and the space shuttle Atlantis is landing behind the Jet Car!
Apparently, the front landing gear on the shuttle is in need of repair - because the Jet Car positions itself so that the shuttle can land right on top of it, thus our hero saves the day once again!
((Glen Note: this last sequence is amazing: there is a lot of detail on the shuttle, and small things like the Jet Car's suspension lowering under the wheight of the shuttle's nose give many shots a close to photo-realistic feel. Well, here - see for yourself!))
©Copyright 1999 Harry Bailly Prod & Polygram.
All rights reserved. CGI by Foundation Imaging.
©Copyright 1999 Harry Bailly Prod & Polygram.
All rights reserved. CGI by Foundation Imaging.
All hail Foundation! And, "Supersize Those Fries!" ((which is the title of the Banzai pilot episode, by the way...))
Sunday, August 1, 1999
The following information is found on the Ain't It Cool News Coaxial web site which can be found at http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=4082 and this excerpt is reprinted here with permission.
"Buckaroo Banzai" rumors debunked
Glen here... With some odds and ends which should have been posted much faster than I was able to accommodate:
Problems on the Buckaroo Banzai series ?
In response to the rumors originating from Backstage Pass...which indicated the proposed Buckaroo Banzai television series is currently subject to in-fighting between Banzai creators and Fox television...long time Banzai compatriot W.D. Richter (who directed the Banzai feature film and is developing the series alongside film / series pilot scripter Earl MacRauch) issued the following statement:
____________________
To: All Fans of B. Banzai
From: W.D. Richter
Subject: The Way Things Are
A few years ago, I overheard Dr. Banzai remark to a concerned unit of Tibetan commandos as the clock struck midnight in a particularly dark hollow of the Universe: "We're all in this together...whatever 'this' is."
Now, B. Banzai was actually waxing philosophical, I concluded, and was thus referring to our shared time on this and other planets ... but his remark might easily be brought down to Earth and used to describe the crazy adventure of bringing his exploits back to the screen -- silver, cathode-ray, or plasma, take your pick.
And so now, it seems, we must temporarily divert our energy from the task at hand to contend with rumors that the forces of evil have gathered to demand we "dumb down" the great pilot script Mac Rauch completed in January ... and that Mac and I are "fighting tooth and nail" against such madness.
But this is only more gibberated nonsense. In fact, we have received no orders from anybody anywhere in any form whatsoever. Yet. But if we do, can youimagine what Buckaroo's instructions to us might be?
I have my hunches.
____________________
Glen again...
So, in other words, Richter is saying the rumors of trouble between Banzai staff and Fox are not true. It should be noted that every other indication received by Coaxial have pointed to no problems within the show's development - save for one annoying glitch:
Progress on the series' development seems to be moving very, very slowly. Which isn't a problem per se (except to those of us who want to see the series now, now, now) because said slowness isn't necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes, projects like this simply take a while to unfold properly (trust me from personal experience on this one). Doesn't mean doomsday, doesn't mean strife or dissent. Just means it's moving slowly - most probably due to a combonation of non-belligerent factors.
So there you have it. Believe me, if I ever get wind of people messing with Buckaroo, I'll be shouting it from the highest mountains and start rallying the troops. But for now, that isn't remotely necessary...
AINT-IT-COOL-NEWS COAXIAL #12
Wednesday, August 25, 1999
The following information is found on the Ain't It Cool News Coaxial web site which can be found at http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=4264 and this excerpt is reprinted here with permission.
Will DARK HORSE adopt "Buckaroo Banzai" ???
Glen here...with a bit of rather self-explanatory news concerning current efforts to revive the Buckaroo Banzai franchise.
Regular readers of COAXIAL are keenly aware of W.D. Richter and Earl MacRauch's efforts to resurrect the Buckaroo mythos in the form of a TV series at FOX. The following information...sent in by my friend and pseudo-source FAMOUS AMOS (no, it's not the Famous Amos)...suggests that not only is a TV series in the works, but substantially more coolness may be afoot. Here is Famous Amos' message:
_______________
Famous Amos wrote:
Pocket Books (publisher of the Star Trek novels) is considering a series of Buckaroo Banzai novels to be written by Earl Mac Rauch, who wrote the original movie screenplay.
The first in the series (called The Banzai Chronicles) would be a new edition of the original Buckaroo Banzai: Across the Eighth Dimension.
Further volumes in the series, tentatively entitled The Lizardo Quintet, would detail the exploits of the esteemed Dr. Banzai in his struggles against the notorious Emilio Lizardo, and the 600-year-old master criminal Hanoi Xan.
Earl Mac Rauch also wrote (with W.D. Richter) the pilot screenplay for Buckaroo Banzai: Ancient Secrets and New Mysteries, a series currently in development at FOX.
Also, W.D. Richter and Earl Mac Rauch are said to be in "preliminary" discussions with Dark Horse Comics over a possible Banzai product line.
Rumor has it Dark Horse is interested in much more than just a Banzai comic, that they may want to do novels and "quite a lot more."
A lot would seem to depend on what does - or doesn't - happen with the Fox pilot, but Dark Horse is evidently interested in developing Banzai projects even if Fox passes.
- Famous Amos says "bye"!
_______________
Glen again...
If Amos' scenario plays out to its full potential, Buckaroo may soon be taking gigantic strides towards assuming a (much deserved) position of greater visibility in America's oh-so-fickle pop culture.
I've always very much believed that one of the most important keys to resurrecting the franchise (and perpetuating the mythos) was to approach these personalities...and their adventures...on a cross-platform basis. Comics, toys, videos, music, books, CD-ROMS, and movies or TV. From what I am told, it appears Dark Horse might be headed this direction should everything pan out properly. I could go on and on about why I think this approach is so critical, but I'm actually rather hungry at the moment.
All things being equal, methinks Dark Horse has the muscle and franchising experience to make big things happen for Team Banzai in very short order. I, for one, am keeping my fingers crossed on this one...
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