Sci Fi TV Reboots that Should Happen: Reboots are all the rage mostly because the entertainment industry prefers name recognition over original ideas. But there are some properties that truly deserve a do-over because they didn’t quite achieve their goal the first time around or they were cut short.
What Is It?
This British series from the 1970s follows a group of young people with telepathic and telekinetic powers that represent the next stage in evolution. They search for others of their kind and help them to understand and control their powers as they start to manifest. They also work with the Galactic Federation which monitors planets with intelligent life and helps others like the Tomorrow People across the galaxy.
Aired: ITV, 1973-79, 8 Seasons Totaling 68 Episodes (It aired in syndication and on PBS in the United States)
Starring: Nicholas Young, Elizabeth Adare, Peter Vaughan-Clarke, Margaret Burton Philip Gilbert
Created By: Roger Price
Where Did the Original Fail?
The original series had a budget that made classic Doctor Who look like a high-dollar production, often falling far short of the writers’ ambitions. It also tended to target younger viewers and deliver more Earth-based, action-oriented stories (because those cost less) rather than focusing on its cosmic elements. Plus, the acting ranged from wooden to over-the-top while the dialog had plenty of copy-and-paste lines.
Why Reboot It?
Despite the cheesiness of the original Tomorrow People, the show had a certain charm and an epic scope that was never fully realized due to budget constraints. It also introduced an intriguing mythology, with the Galactic Federation working alongside planets whose intelligent species had begun to manifest mental abilities, while also monitoring those on the verge. Additionally, the Tomorrow People had to adhere to specific guidelines—such as avoiding violence—in order to be accepted by the Federation. It was a great setup for a show that could offer both family-friendly viewing and cosmic-level storytelling. The original series occasionally ventured into the latter territory, but that’s where the budget limitations held it back. Most of the time, the storylines fell back on a villain-of-the-week formula, typically involving someone trying to capture or control the Tomorrow People.
With current CGI technology, the more cosmic themes that the original touched on could be better realized. There were a lot of good ideas in the ’70s show and some good stories as well, and it is definitely worth revisiting. This could be brought back as a reboot or they could go the revival route that continues from the original similar to what Doctor Who did. It may not be a well-known property, especially in the United States, but a reboot or revival could deliver a sleeper sci fi series.
Did It Before
Series creator Roger Price did a complete reboot of The Tomorrow People in the 90s with a new cast and with no ties to the original show. That one also dropped the Galactic Federation from the picture and delivered mostly Earth-based stories that were not as well-received as the original series. In 2013, The CW also attempted a reboot, but that also dispensed with the cosmic elements and basically delivered a budget-friendly retread of the X-Men premise. It disappeared from the airwaves after only one season.
Where Can You Watch It?
The Tomorrow People never received a DVD release in the U.S., though there is a Region 2 set available in the UK that collects the entire original series. It is not available on any of the major streaming services that I am aware of, but you can watch it on YouTube at this link.
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