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THE LEGACY OF FRANK BLACK?

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Posted

Great idea for a film. Unfortunately, I doubt it'll ever get made. Problem is, as much as we enjoyed the show, it didn't do well in the ratings when it was on. Not to mention that it's a 10-year old show. Look at what happened with Serenity. There was huge fan outcry when Firefly was cancelled, the film was made, and it didn't do nearly as well as expected. MillenniuM was a great show, but the star is (sorry Lance) a B-movie actor who's now in his 60s, and the show's been off the air for what, 8 years?

And what exactly has Chris Carter done since? He just doesn't have the juice to push a project like this through anymore.

Believe me, I'd love to see a film or a new series, but the chances of either are slim to none. I'm happy Fox decided to release the show on DVD, and nothing will take away from the goodness of those three seasons.

Posted
Great idea for a film. Unfortunately, I doubt it'll ever get made. Problem is, as much as we enjoyed the show, it didn't do well in the ratings when it was on. Not to mention that it's a 10-year old show. Look at what happened with Serenity. There was huge fan outcry when Firefly was cancelled, the film was made, and it didn't do nearly as well as expected. MillenniuM was a great show, but the star is (sorry Lance) a B-movie actor who's now in his 60s, and the show's been off the air for what, 8 years?

And what exactly has Chris Carter done since? He just doesn't have the juice to push a project like this through anymore.

Believe me, I'd love to see a film or a new series, but the chances of either are slim to none. I'm happy Fox decided to release the show on DVD, and nothing will take away from the goodness of those three seasons.

Wow...talk about blunt force trauma!!!...welcome to the board by the way...the issues you have brought up have been previously discussed at various times on this board. I dont think anyone here at TIWWA harbors more than guarded optimism that any continuation of MillenniuM will occur, most certainly not in OUR lifetime...Yes, Carter is not the presence he was a few years ago, thats why the success of the 2nd x-files movie is crucial to ANY future success of MillenniuM...

As far as Lance being a B-movie actor, i certainly dont consider either Aliens or Near Dark b-movie material....and you could, in all honesty point the same finger at any of the cast members of MillenniuM...the only one who has "gone on to greater things" so to speak is O"Quinn as Locke on Lost...but in the totality of the issue at hand, and upon reflection back to those three wonderful seasons, i dont think the show shuffled off its mortal coil because people looked at Lance and the rest of the crew as b-actors, the show did not succeed because it required the average everyday functionary to think too much, to ponder the possibility that their next door neighbor just might not be the scout leader he appeared to be. The show was, and is most certainly now, defined by the small but vociferous Legion of fans as exemplified here at TIWWA...I dont really think it was EVER intended to be a hit across all demographic lines...people want fluff, they want mindless entertainment. This is what spelled MillenniuM's doom...

4th Horseman...

Posted

Believe me, I hate calling Lance a B-movie actor, but both Aliens and Near Dark were 10 years behind him when the show began (not to mention Near Dark, while a fantastic film, was a B-movie). I like the way Lance acts, and I've sat through some gawdawful movies to watch him work his craft, but I'm the exception, not the rule.

Millennium had a great lead-in with The X-Files, but let's face it, 9PM on a Friday is a brutal time slot. Add to that a main character in his 50s, no regular characters in the 18-35 demographic, an unrelentingly dark premise, and plots that aren't spoon-fed, and it's no wonder the show didn't make it.

I find it incredibly frustrating as I watch the DVDs. How on Earth could intelligent people not like this? But then again, I say the same thing about Firefly and Dark Angel too.

Oh, and sorry about the bluntness, it's my nature unfortunately.

Posted
Believe me, I hate calling Lance a B-movie actor, but both Aliens and Near Dark were 10 years behind him when the show began (not to mention Near Dark, while a fantastic film, was a B-movie). I like the way Lance acts, and I've sat through some gawdawful movies to watch him work his craft, but I'm the exception, not the rule.

Millennium had a great lead-in with The X-Files, but let's face it, 9PM on a Friday is a brutal time slot. Add to that a main character in his 50s, no regular characters in the 18-35 demographic, an unrelentingly dark premise, and plots that aren't spoon-fed, and it's no wonder the show didn't make it.

I find it incredibly frustrating as I watch the DVDs. How on Earth could intelligent people not like this? But then again, I say the same thing about Firefly and Dark Angel too.

Oh, and sorry about the bluntness, it's my nature unfortunately.

The blunt comment was made tounge in cheek...its true that he was NEVER in demand like some of his contemporaries, but he was the absolute, without a doubt, best choice for MillenniuM...did you know that Carter was considering John Hurt origionally for the role? The premise of doom and gloom, along with the "push the envelope" gratuitiousness was too much for most people, again, after a hard day at work, only wanting to come home, plop down in front of the boobtube and not have to think too deeply. In fact, those intellectuals who actually understood and liked the show have all migrated here, to TIWWA!!!! LOL....fasten your seatbelt my friend, this place is not only a haven for the most intelligent people you will find anywhere on the net, but the driving forces behind its continued success, The Old Man, Libby, Ravenwolf are just spectacularly wonderful people as well...we are glad to set another plate at the TIWWA table .....welcome..

4th Horseman...

Posted
Suffice to say, alot of the things you've talked about you are going to see echoed and explored in the vitual fifth season.

Hi Zeus,

Can you give us any idea when the fifth season will be set?

Posted

I think Lance has, like any working actor, been involved in some projects far below his acting ability or worth. Its obvious on the DVD's that he understood and cherished the role of Frank Black, the intelligence behind it, and how rare such a role is in the industry.

Since Hollywood prefer to put out similar films to those that are proven to be successful, ie notice the last few years explosion of remakes of Korean and Japanese horror films, if someone went to a producer and said; I've got this great idea about a FBI profiler who sees visions of serial killers minds and he's on the run from a secret cult, they'd look at the success on TV of all those psychic detective shows and serial killer movies and probably greenlight it with a modest budget. But guaranteed they'll want a young sexy cast to get all the teenagers in and disregard what makes the concept unique: Lance himself.

The likes of Firefly (of which I am a massive fan) has something that Millennium didn't: a organised and vocal web presence, and a popular writer behind it.

So any feature film would have to start fresh and treat the audience as if they've never seen the original series: the danger is that the film becomes some alternate version of Millennium, a pick and mix of storylines and characters, rather than a continuation or resolution of their story, and I would guess, focus on an older Jordan played by whatever early twenties actress is flavour of the month. A new series is ideal, but it probably is more likely if the X Files movie is a success (possibly having Frank in a cameo), that Carter would try and have Frank reappear in a Millennium movie (though I doubt called Millennium).

I rewatched the season 3 making of doc and was interested to hear the 'secret manifesto' of what would continue after saeson 3, the theme of "racing towards an apocalypse of our own making", of taking the show to more political ground (possibly towards the White House?). Then I came across this fan made montage of the use of the ouraboros on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQXA5WnHbpA

This got me thinking, adding notes to what I originally posted and the graphic novel outline I'm doing, about working that political connection into the story. What do you think?

Guest SouthernCelt
Posted
The likes of Firefly (of which I am a massive fan) has something that Millennium didn't: a organised and vocal web presence, and a popular writer behind it.

Interesting that you're a big fan of 'Firefly' -- so am I but I've found on TIWWA the members are divided between those that love the show and those that never saw it in original run and haven't bothered to beg/borrow/steal/rent the DVDs to see it.

I rewatched the season 3 making of doc and was interested to hear the 'secret manifesto' of what would continue after saeson 3, the theme of "racing towards an apocalypse of our own making", of taking the show to more political ground (possibly towards the White House?). Then I came across this fan made montage of the use of the ouraboros on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQXA5WnHbpA

This got me thinking, adding notes to what I originally posted and the graphic novel outline I'm doing, about working that political connection into the story. What do you think?

Interesting video. I'm not sure I see what he's trying to say with the images though. It would seem to be saying that the MM Group is connected to the masons to the KKK to the Nazis to the Skull & Bones to the current US administration...well, you get the drift. For someone who doesn't know anything about MM and the storyline(s), the images from the series may just seem like fluff but for MM fans we know that equating/connecting all those philosophies/organizations is contradictory...at least IMHO.

As far as working in a political connection, that would be OK but you need to keep it fictional enough not to appear to be a political thriller aimed against a particular party or political group.

Posted

As far as working in a political connection, that would be OK but you need to keep it fictional enough not to appear to be a political thriller aimed against a particular party or political group.

Posted (edited)

To be honest, I'd rather any continuation of the show stayed out of politics. I believe I'd lose interest quickly if it strayed into them because the original show did without.

I'm a firm believer that the 1st season was the best, and I'd like a return to that. While season 2 had some interesting themes (like Frank and Catherine's separation and certain aspects of the Millennium Group's spirituality), what made season one great was Frank's duality; the unrelenting darkness of his job and the bright yellow house and his family.

I just don't think anything can top that, season 1 is the best TV created, period.

Edit-To be clear, Lance's portrayal of Frank's duality is what made the series for me. Sure there were other interesting aspects of the show, but Lance is what made it. Trying to turn the show into a political thriller would be, in my opinion, a huge mistake.

Edited by Cail

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