Fantastical Truth

307. Can True Fans Bring Dead Franchises Back to Life?

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Doctor Who is dead and not regenerating any time soon.[1. Photo by Krists Luhaers on Unsplash.] Star Wars is suspended in the bacta tank. Star Trek is redirecting all power to life support. Meanwhile, Netflix struggles to sing life into Narnia, bad philosophers stone Harry Potter, and goblins threaten to overrun all that was good in Middle-earth. But there were some who resisted. When studios keep killing great stories, could fans bring resurrection?

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      • 1. Star Trek and Star Wars are on life support
      • Star Wars—everyone blames Disney, Kathleen Kennedy, streaming.
      • And of course The Acolyte all but ended fan interest in that galaxy.
      • Much ink has been spilled about that, so we needn’t do a remake.
      • Star Trek—everyone blames Paramount, Alex Kurtzman, streaming.
      • Recently even Project Hail Mary author Andy Weir called Trek bad.
      • Weir later semi-apologized, but only for a seeming personal slight.
      • And this just in: J.J. Abrams’ company is downsizing and moving.
        • 2. Fantasy lands get slain by corporate orcs
        • Rings of Power stumbles on, seeming to promise a “good orc” plot.
        • Andy Serkis directs The Hunt for Gollum, a dubious “side quest.”
        • Then came the big news that Stephen Colbert is writing another.
        • This second side-quest movie hints at revisiting Fellowship events.
        • As for Colbert, he’s arguably an agitator and has no fantasy credits.
        • Meanwhile, no news is bad news re. Netflix’s “rock ‘n’ roll” Narnia.
        • Some fans are more optimistic. We wish we could be, but cannot.
          • 3. Solution: fight joyously for stories you love
          • “If you don’t like it, don’t watch it.” Fair. But it’s okay to criticize.
          • Avoid the traps of “blackpilled” cynicism we mentioned last week.
          • Great stories go on, launching from big studios or small creators.
          • Even that trailer from Amazon/MGM’s He-Man looks refreshing!
          • But don’t lose hope for big franchises either. They may yet return.
          • Next for Ryan Gosling? Star Wars: Starfighter from Shawn Levy.
          • New owners could restore Star Trek and DC. Let’s pray for them!
            • Com station
            Top question for listeners
            • Which dead or dying franchise would you love to see return to life?
              • Next on Fantastical Truth

              In March 2026, social media platform X field-tested a new feature. Thanks to AI advances, with little fanfare, we now have universal translators. And suddenly the “curse of Babel” was temporarily lifted. Americans and Japanese conversed with joy about tasty barbecue, patriotism, and the stories we love. But for decades already, people around the world have found the wonder of Japanese-made fiction—manga, anime, games, and beyond. Why do we love these stories?

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