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Revision as of 11:19, 11 June 2013

In serial fiction, to reboot means to discard all continuity in an established series in order to recreate a character, timeline, and/or backstory from the beginning.[1]

Etymology

The term is thought to originate from the computer term for restarting a computer system.[1]

Reboots in various media

Reboots remove any non-essential elements associated with a franchise by starting the franchise over and trimming it down to the core elements and concepts.[2] For consumers, reboots allow easier entry for newcomers unfamiliar with earlier titles in a franchise.[2]

Film

With reboots, filmmakers revamp and reinvigorate a film series in order to attract new fans and stimulate revenue.[1] A reboot can renew interest in a series that has grown stale, and can be met with positive, mixed, or negative results by both the consumers and film critics.[3] Reboots also act as 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, while at the same time allowing the studio to explore new demographics.[4]

Video games

Reboots are common in the video game industry,[2] particularly with franchises that have multiple entries in the series.[2] Reboots in video games are used to refresh the storyline and elements of the game.[2]

Comic books

The term also applies to comic books,[1] where a comic's previously published stories are erased from continuity in order to provide a clean slate and allow a writer to start over from the beginning while retaining the essential concepts.[5] Reboots in comic books are done to retell a story, revamp characters, open up new story opportunities, and bring renewed interest to a comic without burdening the readers with its complex history.[1]

Comic books that reboot a continuity sometimes include an explanation for the reboot within the comic itself, such as merging parallel worlds and timelines together[6][7] or destroying and recreating a universe from the beginning.[8]

List of reboots in serial fiction

Film

Series Series start year(s) Reboot(s) Reboot year(s)
The Punisher 1989 The Punisher and Punisher: War Zone[9] 2004 and 2008
Batman 1989 Batman Begins 2005
James Bond 1962 Casino Royale[10] 2006
Neon Genesis Evangelion 1995–97 (TV series and films) Rebuild of Evangelion 2007
Hulk 2003 The Incredible Hulk[11] 2008
Friday the 13th 1980 Friday the 13th[12] 2009
Star Trek 1966 (TV series), 1979 (films) Star Trek 2009
A Nightmare on Elm Street 1984 A Nightmare on Elm Street[13] 2010
Conan the Barbarian 1982 Conan the Barbarian 2011
Planet of the Apes 1968 Rise of the Planet of the Apes[14][15] 2011
Spider-Man 2002 The Amazing Spider-Man 2012
Judge Dredd 1995 Dredd 2012
The Evil Dead 1981 Evil Dead 2013
Superman 1978 Man of Steel 2013
Godzilla 1954 Godzilla 2014
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1990–2007 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2014
RoboCop 1987 RoboCop 2014

Television

Series Series start year(s) Reboot(s) Reboot year(s)
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe 1983 He-Man and the Masters of the Universe 2002
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2003 and 2012
Battlestar Galactica 1978 Battlestar Galactica 2004
Beyblade 2001 Beyblade: Metal Fusion 2009
Hawaii Five-O 1968 Hawaii Five-0[16] 2010
La Femme Nikita 1992 (film), 1997 (TV series) Nikita[17] 2010
Charlie's Angels 1976 Charlie's Angels[18] 2011
ThunderCats 1985 ThunderCats 2011
Bakugan Battle Brawlers 2007 Bakugan: Tech Explosion 2012

Video games

Series Series start year Reboot(s) Reboot year(s)
Ecco the Dolphin 1992 Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future 2000
Alone in the Dark 1992 Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare, Alone in the Dark 2001, 2008
Wolfenstein 3D 1992 Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Wolfenstein: The New Order 2001, 2013
Shinobi 1987 Shinobi 2002
Road & Track Presents: The Need for Speed 1994 Need for Speed: Underground, Need for Speed: Shift, and Need for Speed: Most Wanted 2003, 2009, and 2012
Prince of Persia 1989 Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and Prince of Persia 2003 and 2008
Doom 1993 Doom 3 2004
Ninja Gaiden 1988 Ninja Gaiden 2004
Altered Beast 1988 Project Altered Beast 2005
Spyro The Dragon 1998 The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning and Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure 2006 and 2011
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
Devil May Cry 2001 DmC: Devil May Cry 2013
Tomb Raider 1996 Tomb Raider 2013
Thief 1998 Thief 2014
Mirror's Edge 2008 Mirror's Edge TBA

Comic books

Series Series start year Reboot(s) Reboot year(s)
DC Universe 1934 Silver Age of Comic Books, Crisis on Infinite Earths,[5] and Flashpoint 1956, 1986, and 2011
Legion of Super-Heroes 1958 Legion of Super-Heroes (1994)[5] and Legion of Super-Heroes (2004)[5] 1994 and 2004
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1984 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2011
Valiant Comics 1992 Valiant Comics 2012

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 c d e Why Franchise Reboots Can Be A Good Thing - CraveOnline
  3. ^ Tallerico, Brian (27 April 2009). "Twenty Film Franchises in Need of a Reboot". movieretriever.com. Retrieved December 9, 2009.
  4. ^ Sunday Discussion: The Mighty Hollywood Reboot Trend. Firstshowing.net (October 6, 2008). Retrieved on June 13, 2011.
  5. ^ a b c d Lorendiac’s Lists: The DC Reboots Since Crisis on Infinite Earths | Comics Should Be Good! @ Comic Book Resources
  6. ^ Crisis on Infinite Earths #1-12 (April 1985 – March 1986)
  7. ^ Flashpoint #1-5 (May – September 2011)
  8. ^ Zero Hour: Crisis in Time #4-0 (Sept. 1994)
  9. ^ 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
  10. ^ Total Film 6 Oct 2009: Bond Reboot of the Decade Interview with Barbara Broccoli & Michael G Wilson, where they confirm that they regard it as a reboot. Retrieved 2012-07-21
  11. ^ "The Incredible Hulk: A Smashing Sampling of Scenes". Superhero Hype!. May 27, 2008. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
  12. ^ Nathan Lee (February 13, 2009). "A Slice of Life". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  13. ^ 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)
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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)
  16. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (October 8, 2009). "Trio to Reboot "Hawaii Five-O"". Variety. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
  17. ^ Martin, Denise (July 25, 2010). "Why A Nikita Reboot Can Work". TV Guide. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
  18. ^ Charlie's Angels (TV Series 2011– ) - IMDb
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