Nix | July 24, 2009
54 comments

Comic-Con ‘09: Farscape Panel

To be honest with you, as a longtime fan of Farscape, I had every intention of attending the show’s Comic-Con ’09 panel as just a fanboy. I’m happy to say that there were actually some news-worthy nuggets from the panel. Ostensibly a press release to fans about the upcoming Farscape megaset DVD from A&E (you can read more about that here), the panel, which featured stars Ben Browder (snazzily dressed in a suit and tie) and Claudia Black, creator Rockne O’Bannon, and Henson Company head honcho Brian Henson (they did all the puppets on the show, as well as produced it), nevertheless offered up some interesting news about the future of Farscape.

Some of you may or may not know, but O’Bannon has continued the story of Aeryn Sun and John Crichton in comic book form from Boom! Comics. According to O’Bannon, the comic takes place immediately after the events of “The Peacekeeper Wars”, and follows John, Aeryn, and their new son, and it’s all canon. Meaning, what happens there was supposed to happen in the fifth season of Farscape had it not been canceled by the Sci Fi Channel.

According to Henson, they are looking at the very real possibility of continuing the Farscape story, or as Henson puts it more than once, “the next big chapter”. The plan was originally to do a series of short, 5-minute long webisodes and parlay that into something bigger. Neither Henson nor O’Bannon would elaborate on what that “next chapter” is, or in what form (Henson did remarked that they have talked about a Farscape movie when prompted by a fan), but everyone involved seemed very keen on doing more with the Farscape universe.

Some great moments from the panel includes Browder relating the hilarious story about hitting the Rygel puppet for the first time and Claudia Black rejoicing in her use of “frell”, the show’s substitute for, you know, that other word that begins with an “f”.

Overall, it was a very enjoyable panel. As a longtime fan of the series, the thought of more Farscape makes me giddy. Though, as Henson relates, that will depend on the economy. According to O’Bannon, they were this close to getting the aforementioned webisodes made, but that proved a non-starter when the bad economy hit. At the moment they are trying to raise money and make it happen, but that’s proving difficult with the still faltering economy in its current shape.

And as Firefly can attest, I’m sure the people with the purse strings will be looking at the sales figures for the Farscape DVD megaset very, very closely, if you know what I mean…


Category: Farscape TV Series, Featured, Sci-Fi TV News |
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  • http://laurenfurze.wordpress.com/ TheFifthSister

    Being a long time fan I was devastated that I couldn't attend Comic Con because I live in the UK. But what you've written has made me so giddy! I love that the comics are keeping Farscape alive but I can't help but want to see Claudia and Ben acting out the story line. I really hope it gets to continue on the small screen, the big screen or the computer screen… I just want it to continue. If I didn't already have the complete series on DVD from the original DVD release (you know, two discs/five episodes per boxset that meant the complete series cost more in total than buying each complete season boxset) I'd buy the re-released set. I'll just have to get more people into the show I guess.

  • http://twitter.com/frelling_cute Michael Mora

    I am eagerly awaiting more Farscape and looking everywhere for that Farscape 10th Anniversary shirt that was available for one day.

  • fsc

    Hi – you can email farscapecanada.com about anniversary tees. :)

  • Jan Foley (jannert)

    This is great news, about the comic. I’ve already pre-ordered the first one. I guess I was kind of expecting them to wait a bit, though. The story arc seemed finished at the end of Peacekeeper Wars. However, many plot threads can be extended into the future. Of course, Crichton and Aeryn’s son. Grayza is pregnant as well. Sikozu is a bioloid, (who might or might not still be alive.) If she’s a bioloid, there must be a “real” Sikozu out there somewhere. Crichton’s nephew Bobby. Will he follow Crichton into space? Nice next-generation feel to that potential plotline. (It would be a shame to allow Crichton to meet his Dad again, though …that goodbye-by-telephone scene had such emotional closure.) Earth and its attitudes towards the knowledge “we are not alone” are so crucial to Farscape. I hope any new stuff being developed keeps that thread alive. In a way, that thread is a more absorbing potential plot than any wormhole weapon or alien war, etc. Of course there is also Nerri …and the Nebari …and Jothee …and Rygel’s return to Hyneria …and Furlow? Oh, my, so many goodies to look forward to…

  • Jan Foley (jannert)

    This is great news, about the comic. I’ve already pre-ordered the first one. I guess I was kind of expecting them to wait a bit, though. The story arc seemed finished at the end of Peacekeeper Wars. However, many plot threads can be extended into the future. Of course, Crichton and Aeryn’s son. Grayza is pregnant as well. Sikozu is a bioloid, (who might or might not still be alive.) If she’s a bioloid, there must be a “real” Sikozu out there somewhere. Crichton’s nephew Bobby. Will he follow Crichton into space? Nice next-generation feel to that potential plotline. (It would be a shame to allow Crichton to meet his Dad again, though …that goodbye-by-telephone scene had such emotional closure.) Earth and its attitudes towards the knowledge “we are not alone” are so crucial to Farscape. I hope any new stuff being developed keeps that thread alive. In a way, that thread is a more absorbing potential plot than any wormhole weapon or alien war, etc. Of course there is also Nerri …and the Nebari …and Jothee …and Rygel’s return to Hyneria …and Furlow? Oh, my, so many goodies to look forward to…

  • Jan Foley (jannert)

    This is great news, about the comic. I’ve already pre-ordered the first one. I guess I was kind of expecting them to wait a bit, though. The story arc seemed finished at the end of Peacekeeper Wars. However, many plot threads can be extended into the future. Of course, Crichton and Aeryn’s son. Grayza is pregnant as well. Sikozu is a bioloid, (who might or might not still be alive.) If she’s a bioloid, there must be a “real” Sikozu out there somewhere. Crichton’s nephew Bobby. Will he follow Crichton into space? Nice next-generation feel to that potential plotline. (It would be a shame to allow Crichton to meet his Dad again, though …that goodbye-by-telephone scene had such emotional closure.) Earth and its attitudes towards the knowledge “we are not alone” are so crucial to Farscape. I hope any new stuff being developed keeps that thread alive. In a way, that thread is a more absorbing potential plot than any wormhole weapon or alien war, etc. Of course there is also Nerri …and the Nebari …and Jothee …and Rygel’s return to Hyneria …and Furlow? Oh, my, so many goodies to look forward to…

  • Jan Foley (jannert)

    This is great news, about the comic. I’ve already pre-ordered the first one. I guess I was kind of expecting them to wait a bit, though. The story arc seemed finished at the end of Peacekeeper Wars. However, many plot threads can be extended into the future. Of course, Crichton and Aeryn’s son. Grayza is pregnant as well. Sikozu is a bioloid, (who might or might not still be alive.) If she’s a bioloid, there must be a “real” Sikozu out there somewhere. Crichton’s nephew Bobby. Will he follow Crichton into space? Nice next-generation feel to that potential plotline. (It would be a shame to allow Crichton to meet his Dad again, though …that goodbye-by-telephone scene had such emotional closure.) Earth and its attitudes towards the knowledge “we are not alone” are so crucial to Farscape. I hope any new stuff being developed keeps that thread alive. In a way, that thread is a more absorbing potential plot than any wormhole weapon or alien war, etc. Of course there is also Nerri …and the Nebari …and Jothee …and Rygel’s return to Hyneria …and Furlow? Oh, my, so many goodies to look forward to…

  • Jan Foley (jannert)

    This is great news, about the comic. I’ve already pre-ordered the first one. I guess I was kind of expecting them to wait a bit, though. The story arc seemed finished at the end of Peacekeeper Wars. However, many plot threads can be extended into the future. Of course, Crichton and Aeryn’s son. Grayza is pregnant as well. Sikozu is a bioloid, (who might or might not still be alive.) If she’s a bioloid, there must be a “real” Sikozu out there somewhere. Crichton’s nephew Bobby. Will he follow Crichton into space? Nice next-generation feel to that potential plotline. (It would be a shame to allow Crichton to meet his Dad again, though …that goodbye-by-telephone scene had such emotional closure.) Earth and its attitudes towards the knowledge “we are not alone” are so crucial to Farscape. I hope any new stuff being developed keeps that thread alive. In a way, that thread is a more absorbing potential plot than any wormhole weapon or alien war, etc. Of course there is also Nerri …and the Nebari …and Jothee …and Rygel’s return to Hyneria …and Furlow? Oh, my, so many goodies to look forward to…

  • Jan Foley (jannert)

    This is great news, about the comic. I’ve already pre-ordered the first one. I guess I was kind of expecting them to wait a bit, though. The story arc seemed finished at the end of Peacekeeper Wars. However, many plot threads can be extended into the future. Of course, Crichton and Aeryn’s son. Grayza is pregnant as well. Sikozu is a bioloid, (who might or might not still be alive.) If she’s a bioloid, there must be a “real” Sikozu out there somewhere. Crichton’s nephew Bobby. Will he follow Crichton into space? Nice next-generation feel to that potential plotline. (It would be a shame to allow Crichton to meet his Dad again, though …that goodbye-by-telephone scene had such emotional closure.) Earth and its attitudes towards the knowledge “we are not alone” are so crucial to Farscape. I hope any new stuff being developed keeps that thread alive. In a way, that thread is a more absorbing potential plot than any wormhole weapon or alien war, etc. Of course there is also Nerri …and the Nebari …and Jothee …and Rygel’s return to Hyneria …and Furlow? Oh, my, so many goodies to look forward to…

  • Jan Foley (jannert)

    This is great news, about the comic. I’ve already pre-ordered the first one. I guess I was kind of expecting them to wait a bit, though. The story arc seemed finished at the end of Peacekeeper Wars. However, many plot threads can be extended into the future. Of course, Crichton and Aeryn’s son. Grayza is pregnant as well. Sikozu is a bioloid, (who might or might not still be alive.) If she’s a bioloid, there must be a “real” Sikozu out there somewhere. Crichton’s nephew Bobby. Will he follow Crichton into space? Nice next-generation feel to that potential plotline. (It would be a shame to allow Crichton to meet his Dad again, though …that goodbye-by-telephone scene had such emotional closure.) Earth and its attitudes towards the knowledge “we are not alone” are so crucial to Farscape. I hope any new stuff being developed keeps that thread alive. In a way, that thread is a more absorbing potential plot than any wormhole weapon or alien war, etc. Of course there is also Nerri …and the Nebari …and Jothee …and Rygel’s return to Hyneria …and Furlow? Oh, my, so many goodies to look forward to…

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