10-06-2018, 06:24 PM
About a month ago, @"BrynStevens" started a thread about "Deconstructing/Re-setting the Pokémon franchise" It's a great thread (if you're a Pokémon fan, and you haven't seen that thread yet, then you probably should ), but it got me thinking about reboots in general. There have been loads of them, for all kinds of franchises - and they've had wildly varying rates of success. Some of them have re-established themselves as tentpoles of entertainment, whereas others have flopped and fallen by the wayside. So, is there any kind of formula for making a remake or reboot succeed? If so, what is it?
I think the first point is: it has to be able to step out of the shadow of the original, and stand up on its own two feet. The thing is: people will come for nostalgia, but they won't stay for it. The original audience will tune in in droves for the first episode; however, by the end of the series, they'll have had their fill of nostalgia, and they'll probably go back to whatever they were doing before the series began. The only way they'll stay is if they legitimately enjoy the new show on its own merits (that is, they'd still enjoy it if it was called something else, and it featured none of the original cast or characters).
Of course, relying on the original audience isn't the only option. If the original audience has aged out of the target demographic (e.g. if reviving a children's show from 20 years ago), or if they've mostly passed away (e.g. if reviving a show from 60 years ago), then it might not even be an option. If going down this route, then I suppose the only option is build a new audience. The thing is, unless the appeal of the original show was truly timeless (as in, Tetris-level timeless), this is going to involve making substantial changes in order to appeal to modern viewers. This, in turn, is likely to anger or alienate any remaining members of the original audience - so, it'd have to do very well among new audiences if it's to last beyond the first series.
Does anyone have any more thoughts on this? Or can anyone name any examples of past reboots, and why they succeeded or failed? Or, perhaps there's a future reboot that you have high or not-so-high hopes for?
I think the first point is: it has to be able to step out of the shadow of the original, and stand up on its own two feet. The thing is: people will come for nostalgia, but they won't stay for it. The original audience will tune in in droves for the first episode; however, by the end of the series, they'll have had their fill of nostalgia, and they'll probably go back to whatever they were doing before the series began. The only way they'll stay is if they legitimately enjoy the new show on its own merits (that is, they'd still enjoy it if it was called something else, and it featured none of the original cast or characters).
Of course, relying on the original audience isn't the only option. If the original audience has aged out of the target demographic (e.g. if reviving a children's show from 20 years ago), or if they've mostly passed away (e.g. if reviving a show from 60 years ago), then it might not even be an option. If going down this route, then I suppose the only option is build a new audience. The thing is, unless the appeal of the original show was truly timeless (as in, Tetris-level timeless), this is going to involve making substantial changes in order to appeal to modern viewers. This, in turn, is likely to anger or alienate any remaining members of the original audience - so, it'd have to do very well among new audiences if it's to last beyond the first series.
Does anyone have any more thoughts on this? Or can anyone name any examples of past reboots, and why they succeeded or failed? Or, perhaps there's a future reboot that you have high or not-so-high hopes for?
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