Re-imagining

For information on the new Battlestar Galactica TV series, see Battlestar Galactica (RDM).

The phrase re-imagined or re-imagining is a buzzword used to describe a film or TV show that bases its storyline, characterizations and motivations from an prior work, but may drastically change the overall storyline, characters, situations and locales to the point where it is neither a spin-off or continuation of the original work. Essentially, a re-imagined show is a relaunch of a story concept that usually takes only the essence of the original work.

A re-imagined product differs from plagarism or a remake (e.g. Charlie's Angels movies) since:

1. plagarism is an unauthorized endeavor subject to legal action;
2. Re-imagined products are authorized by the copyright holder, much like a remake.

Re-imagined shows may revise story arcs from its original parent. The battlestar Pegasus from the Original Series makes its way into the Re-imagined Series as a more advanced ship, complete with a commanding officer named Helena Cain, mirroring Lloyd Bridges' character.

Re-imagined television and motion picture projects are frequently met with criticism by fans of the original work, who may feel that the re-imagined work will taint the original or eclipse it completely.

Hollywood frequently makes updated movies known as "remakes," which usually, but not always, attempt to reintroduce younger audiences to older works. A recent example of a true remake is Poseidon, a remake of The Poseidon Adventure.

Bryan Singer's Superman Returns, in contrast, is both a continuation and re-imagining as it bases its storyline from events from the popular Superman and Superman II movies, but dismisses all events from the lackluster and unpopular Superman III and Superman IV films.