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Reboot (fiction)

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In serial fiction, to reboot means to discard much or even all previous continuity in the series and start anew with fresh ideas.[1] Effectively, the writer(s) declare all established fictive history to be irrelevant to the new storyline, and start the series over as if brand-new.[1]

Through reboots, filmmakers can revamp and reinvigorate franchises to attract new fans and stimulate revenue.[1] Therefore, reboots can be seen as attempts to rescue franchises that have grown "stale".[2] They can also be a "safe" project for a studio, as a reboot with an established fan base is less risky (in terms of expected profit) than an entirely original work,[3] while at the same time allowing the studio to explore new demographics. Two academic articles have been published in peer-reviewed journals on the reboot which can be accessed for free here: 'Beginning Again - The Reboot Phenomenon in Comic Books and Film' [1]; 'Regeneration and Rebirth: Anatomy of a Franchise Reboot' [2]. Both articles are by William Proctor who is writing a PhD thesis on the reboot at Kingston University, London.


Etymology

The term originates from the computer term for restarting a running computer system.[1]

Comparison to remakes and prequels

A reboot differs from a prequel in that a prequel is generally consistent with the canon (previously established continuity) of the series. With a reboot, the older continuity is largely discarded and replaced with a new canon.[1]

Additionally, prequels are often developed by the same creator as the original series they lead up to, while a remake is often produced by a different author from that of the original series, and can be seen as re-telling of the same story and essentially maintaining the same canon. The term "remake" usually applies to films which use a previous film as its main source material, often re-using the same storyline while updating times and places to match contemporary settings, such as 1998's A Perfect Murder or 2001's Ocean's Eleven, whereas the term reboot is ascribed to franchises such as Police Story (rebooted in the 2004 film New Police Story), Batman (2005's Batman Begins), James Bond (2006's Casino Royale), Star Trek (the 2009 Star Trek film - though still in the existing Star Trek canon, but in an alternate universe), Spider-Man (2012's The Amazing Spider-Man),[2] and Superman (2013's Man of Steel).

Reboots in comic books

Reboots in comic books use time travel or reality warping to erase all previous continuity and restart a fictional universe from the beginning. Some reboots – referred to as "soft" reboots[citation needed] – incorporate stories from the previous continuity into the new one rather than erasing them completely, while subjecting them to revision in order to fit them in.

The events of DC Comics' Crisis on Infinite Earths and Flashpoint storylines – both using the time travel and reality warping methods – resulted in entirely new histories being written for the DC Universe and its characters. The Top Cow storyline Artifacts – using the reality warping method – ended with the destruction and recreation of its entire fictional universe, with several continuity changes occurring as a result.

Reboots

Television

Franchise Original release year Reboot Reboot release year
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe 1983 He-Man and the Masters of the Universe[citation needed] 2002
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2003
Battlestar Galactica 1978 Battlestar Galactica[citation needed] 2004
Beyblade 2001 Beyblade: Metal Fusion[citation needed] 2009
Fullmetal Alchemist 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood[citation needed] 2009
Hawaii Five-O 1968 Hawaii Five-0[4] 2010
La Femme Nikita 1992 (film), 1997 (TV) Nikita[5] 2010
Scooby Doo 1969 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated[citation needed] 2010
Charlie's Angels 1976 Charlie's Angels[6] 2011
ThunderCats 1985 ThunderCats[citation needed] 2011
Bakugan Battle Brawlers 2007 Bakugan: Tech Explosion[citation needed] 2012

Film

Franchise Original release year Reboot Reboot release year
Godzilla 1954 Godzilla 1985; Godzilla 2000 1985; 1999
The Punisher 1989 The Punisher; Punisher: War Zone[7] 2004; 2008
Batman 1989 Batman Begins[7][8] 2005
James Bond 1962 Casino Royale[8] 2006
Halloween 1978 Halloween 2007
Hulk 2003 The Incredible Hulk[8][9] 2008
Friday the 13th 1980 Friday the 13th[10] 2009
Star Trek 1966 (TV), 1979-91 (films) Star Trek 2009
A Nightmare on Elm Street 1984 A Nightmare on Elm Street[11] 2010
Conan the Barbarian 1982 Conan the Barbarian 2011
Planet of the Apes 1968 Rise of the Planet of the Apes[12][13] 2011
Spider-Man 2002 The Amazing Spider-Man 2012
Frankenweenie 1984 Frankenweenie 2012
Superman 1978 Man of Steel 2013
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1990 Ninja Turtles 2014
The Mummy 1999 The Mummy 2014
Neon Genesis Evangelion 1995-1997 (TV series and movies) Rebuild of Evangelion 2007-2013

Video games

Franchise Original release year Reboot Reboot release year
Alone in the Dark 1992 Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare 2001
Wolfenstein 3D 1992 Return to Castle Wolfenstein 2001
Jazz Jackrabbit 1994 Jazz Jackrabbit 2002
Rygar 1986 Rygar: The Legendary Adventure 2002
Shinobi 1987 Shinobi 2002
Need for Speed 1994 Need for Speed: Underground; Need for Speed: Shift 2003; 2009
Prince of Persia 1989 Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time; Prince of Persia 2003; 2008
Doom 1993 Doom 3 2004
Ninja Gaiden 1988 Ninja Gaiden 2004
Spyro The Dragon 1998 The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning; Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure 2006; 2011
Tomb Raider 1996 Tomb Raider: Legend; Tomb Raider 2006; 2013
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter 1997 Turok 2008
Castlevania 1987 Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2010
Dead to Rights 2002 Dead to Rights: Retribution 2010
Medal of Honor 1999 Medal of Honor 2010
Splatterhouse 1988 Splatterhouse 2010
Mortal Kombat 1992 Mortal Kombat 2011
FIFA Street 2005 FIFA Street 2012
Need for Speed: Most Wanted 2005 Need for Speed: Most Wanted 2012
SSX 2000 SSX 2012
Syndicate 1993 Syndicate 2012
True Crime: Streets of LA 2003 Sleeping Dogs 2012
Twisted Metal 1995 Twisted Metal 2012
Devil May Cry 2001 DmC: Devil May Cry 2013

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Willits, Thomas R. (2009). "To Reboot or Not to Reboot: What is the Solution?". bewilderingstories.com. Retrieved December 9, 2009.
  2. ^ a b Tallerico, Brian (27 April 2009). "Twenty Film Franchises in Need of a Reboot". movieretriever.com. Retrieved December 9, 2009.
  3. ^ Sunday Discussion: The Mighty Hollywood Reboot Trend. Firstshowing.net (October 6, 2008). Retrieved on June 13, 2011.
  4. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (October 8, 2009). "Trio to Reboot "Hawaii Five-O"". Variety. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
  5. ^ Martin, Denise (July 25, 2010). "Why A Nikita Reboot Can Work". TV Guide. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
  6. ^ "imdb.com".
  7. ^ a b Todd Gilchrist (December 6, 2007). "Interview: Lexi Alexander". IGN. Archived from the original on December 9, 2007. Retrieved June 28, 2011. Alexander: I would say it's a complete reboot because the first one – neither of them – are relevant to us at all
  8. ^ a b c Box Office Mojo, "Franchise Reboot Battle". Accessed 28 June 2011.
  9. ^ "The Incredible Hulk: A Smashing Sampling of Scenes". Superhero Hype!. May 27, 2008. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
  10. ^ Nathan Lee (February 13, 2009). "A Slice of Life". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  11. ^ Rich, Joshua (April 3, 2009). "'Nightmare on Elm Street' reboot: Jackie Earle Haley to play Freddy Krueger". Hollywood Insider. Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 4, 2010. Retrieved April 4, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ Lussier, Germain. (April 14, 2011). "Collider Visits The Set of RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES; Plus Video Blog". Collider.com. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
  13. ^ Kevin Melrose (April 7, 2011). "Fox's Planet Of The Apes Prequel Gets Renamed … Again". ComicBookResources.com. p. 1. Retrieved June 28, 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); More than one of |pages= and |page= specified (help)
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