So, the Bodysnatcher Collection, and then…. What?

As Series VII (and the occasional spin-off bit of merchandise) has shown, the only people who can write Red Dwarf are Rob Grant and Doug Naylor. It’s very different to Star Trek or Doctor Who in that respect so “New Adventures” are really not something I’d be interested in.

>How would you keep the faith going?

Watch and continue to enjoy the original episodes. Discuss little minutiae that pops up on repeat viewings. Continue to bicker about remastered, later episodes and CGI. Works for me.

I think as followers of the faith we can see just how much effort is going into the re-mastered, we know what’s gone into it, we know it’s going to be lovely and we know there is new stuff on there.
In reality though, in the outside world there are already mutterings of re-hash and dare I say, flogging a dead horse among the few that know about it.
The faithful throng seem to be deminishing in numbers and ‘Dwarf’ talk on the webboard is being overtaken by other stuff, it’s getting more and more noticeable.
We’re a few months away from release yet and a lot can happen in the way of promotion, but just how many people are aware of the upcoming release outside of those that visit rd.co?
When Red Dwarf is mentioned most people bring the movie up still and the I-VIII DVD’s were/are highly praised, so there is still very much an interest.
Personally, I feel something altogether new is required to maintain that interest and to move forward, hopefully the new ‘collection’ will fit the bill, but it has to be sold to the casuals as well as the faithful.

The talked about comic and piece works mag could have been a way forward perhaps and books are always good. I’d love to see an animated version and this could bring in a whole new generation of fans. Maybe having Rob back in the fold may spark some new venture, I live in hope. Hopefully GNP have something up their sleeves, something that wont be thwarted by a lack of finance. I dont think that the collection will be the last of it, but the time to end it all will come one day.

Meanwhile, with the upcoming DVD, DJ and a new BTL being planned, there’s still a lot to look forward to for the time being.

> Or we can all sit around playing the Red Dwarf RPG (or, more likely, sitting by ourselves rolling up endless variations on the scenario generator- I know I do).

Ooh – more feedback please!

I have very, very mixed feelings as to where I’d like to see Dwarf go next. A Movie would be absolutely fantastic – it’s taking Dwarf into a new area, and I really really want to see what Doug can do with it.

If we don’t get that, a special to tie everything up would also be great… if only to resolve that pesky cliffhanger.

A series of specials, or even a full-blown series… I’m ambivalent about. In a lot of ways, I’d love to see them – I’m still a fan of Dwarf, and I want to see what Doug can do. But the fact remains that I’m not that keen on VII/VIII – and whilst I wouldn’t prejudge any new series, it does get to the point, when there’s been 52 episodes, and I’ve not been that keen on the last 16, where I think… enough is enough. On the other hand, I’d really like to see the series end on a high.

In a lot of ways, I’d like to see what Rob and Doug can do with other stuff – either together, or frankly far more likely, solo. Rob Grant’s got a hugely successful novel-writing career, of course, but I’d love to see what he could do for telly – and I just want to see anything from Doug Naylor at this point.

The fanboy in me wants to see more Dwarf – even if it’s just back on telly, and the Movie doesn’t happen. But I can’t help but feel that in terms of something I might *really* love, a completely new project might be more likely to succeed – with me, at any rate.

All just my personal opinion as to what I think *I* would love, obviously…

That would be an amazing DVD. Animated would certainly be a big deal, but storyboarded would be absolutely fine, especially with a full cast recording (if the guys can get together in a room with Ed for SOMETHING then I’m sure they’d be up for that, that’s if that wasn’t what they were actually doing….*deludes self knowing full well Andrew said it had nothing to do with GNP*)

” do think it?s really important to point out that this is the way it?s supposed to happen. How else WOULD people know, aside from promotion? It?s not even available for pre-order yet. This isn?t an indication of a failing, or low public awareness – it?d be daft to spend money increasing awareness, outside the core fanbase, when we?re still 4 months from release.”

Indeed, I wasn’t insinuating a lack of promotion, merely the lack of perception at this time outside of fandom. This isn’t a failing, it’s a fact though never the less..

Baz asked what we would have to live with now that every avenue of Dwarf gone by has been exhausted.

The point I was trying to make (poorly) is that we may not have to live without more Dwarf. We still live in the hope that more will be done, if that’s the case, we wont have to live soley on the past..
Doug has said he can see more life in it, GNP are clearly still thinking ahead.
I can only summise that each new idea depends largely on the success of the last effort.
For me as I see it and it’s only opinion, The ‘remastered’ will be viewed by many as an ‘extras only’ release. We know it’s going to be pure gold, we know it’s going to be crammed with ‘new’ material and ‘lost’ goodies etc. In fact, we could go on forever about why this is virtually all new.
I think it will be a success, how big a success it is depends on how people percieve it.
Among my friends etc there was a huge buzz surrounding I-VIII, ‘Beat the Geek’ met with some interest and everyone would like to see more Dwarf in TV/Film/Book form.
I have to say though, despite my ebullient stance on the new DVD, nobody seems to share my excitement.
I suspect when the advertising/promotion starts nearer the time, views will change and I hope they do.
Whether anything rests on the success of this release for future ideas, I have no idea, but my simplistic view is, the more it sells, the better our chances of getting more.
The bottom line is, people want ‘new’, I think the market is there without doubt.
I just hope that this is seen as new by the masses…

That movie on DVD idea was a shock! Not a bad one.

I think Dwarf will end up like Hitch-hikers… It will probably happen in 20 years time. And I will be upset about that.

You could do a spin-off set in the same universe with different characters, though…

or Star Trek: Slash.