I posed a similar question on Marc's board and thought I'd put it out here as well.

It has been 40 some years since UFO first aired. I have to wonder what a modern Straker will be like, or a modern Lake, or Freeman, or Foster. Are the characters products of their generations, or are they truly timeless? Will we recognize them and how close can they be to their original counterparts and still be believable in a modern setting?

Thoughts anyone?

Librarian wrote on Oct 15^th, 2011 at 8:01pm:


I was very surprised that Anderson got away with that. It certainly added nothing to the plot.

I'm still of the opinion that 75% of the mix is going to be writing and direction. To me that would be true even if the original actors were still young enough (assuming they were still alive) to play the roles.

I think I may have metioned this elsewhere, but the best example I can think of is the first two Star Trek movies. Robert Wise directed TMP like an epic, where Nicholas Meyer directed TWOK like an episode. TWOK was done so well that it is considered by most ST fans to be the 80th episode.

I think you are correct Deb, about the timelessness of the archetypes. Jim's new story, Any Time, Any Place proved that quite well. He must have a great mentor. (Matt winks at Denise.)

One of the reasons that I didn't try to bring UFO into the present is I would have to modify the characters to include more modern ways of thinking. Although I intend to do just that when I start my 2012 series. That is going to be a rewrite of the original premese, including some of the backstories.

Straker, as he is shown on the series, actually feels more like a Korea vet than than Vietnam, although I still use the Vietnam history in my stories, including, keeping him a full bird at 32. Yes, it puts him a couple of years short of minimum time and grade, but I'm admitting poetic license here.

It's too bad they won't come to us for the story, I'd put the guild right on top when it comes to good plot ideas.

Face it.  Straker -- the way he was portrayed in the series as brilliant and dedicated -- would always stand out in a crowd.  It was the one thing that always confused me watching the episodes; that they never showed how he appeared to the outside world.  He would have stood out.  He couldn't help but do so with the characteristics they gave him and the way Bishop played him. 

In my stories, I give him opportunities to be observed by outsiders, something that my daughter never quite understands.  She thinks I'm just taking the opportunity to drool when I do that, but she doesn't know what I see.  I've known many powerful men over the years, and they have that something extra that is visible to everyone around them.  No one needs to say a word; they all just know that this person is special. 

As for retconning the UFO we know for a contemporary movie, are we sure that's what they're doing?  Do we know the time frame they're using?  And if they intend to make it a contemporary movie, then that will definitely have an impact on the characters and their personalities and mannerisms.  You can't get around it.  Current society is affected by so many different pressures and needs than what affected those in the '80's.  Hell, even Gerry didn't get it right when he envisioned 10 years in the future!  Many other aspects of society were more important in that decade than UFO was able to predict.  I think the basic personalities will still be there, but to say that any of them would be the same is questionable.

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Okay, this bit is off topic, BUT - TMP was made from an hour series script, stretched to make it film length. Stretched badly and boringly.

Re Straker:
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Does he need to be hidden? I don't understand why everyone thinks he should be hidden. Most of the 'general public' is oblivious to the military anyway and unless one was serving with him, why would other  military personnel even think about a particular officer?

I want Gerard Butler as Foster. I'd watch that ...