A beloved BBC science-fiction series from the late 1970s is officially heading for a revival, with Blake’s 7 confirmed to be in development as a reboot nearly five decades after its original debut.
The cult favorite, created by Doctor Who legend Terry Nation, will be reimagined by Peter Hoar, whose credits include Doctor Who and The Last of Us. Hoar has launched a new genre-focused production banner, Multitude Productions, and has acquired the intellectual property alongside executive Matthew Bouch and producer Jason Haigh-Ellery, according to Deadline.
The original Blake’s 7 aired on the BBC from 1978 to 1981 and followed political dissident Roj Blake and a group of morally ambiguous rebels as they battled the authoritarian Terran Federation. Bouch has indicated he would “love it to go to the BBC,” where the series first found its audience.
Speaking to Deadline, Hoar reflected on the show’s enduring appeal, saying: “The Blake’s 7 story is legendary because they were given a ‘softly softly’ slot that was intended for police drama with a budget intended for one big set and a few location shoots.”
“At the time it felt like it meant something. Those shows got into my veins. I could tell they didn’t have money but I was able to compartmentalise and enjoy the ride knowing that the sets wobbled.”
Bouch also spoke about the wider ambition behind Multitude Productions, explaining: “We’re driven by our passions but also seeing that there is a gap in the market in the UK – particularly with the well-publicised dropping off of Doctor Who – for genre-based British IP.”
In addition to Blake’s 7, Multitude is developing adaptations of Luke Rhinehart’s The Search for the Dice Man, Patrick Carman’s Skeleton Creek, and a currently unnamed “well-known video game and a sci-fi series.”
Originally created by Nation who famously invented the Daleks, Blake’s 7 quickly became a hit upon its debut. In 1978, producer David Maloney told Radio Times, “We’ve got something Star Wars doesn’t have – time to develop our plot, characters and action. They’ve got two hours we’ve got 12.”
Hoar has since drawn comparisons between Blake’s 7 and the modern Star Wars spin-off Andor, arguing that success comes not from budget size but “because of the integrity, wit and sophistication.”
Whether the reboot can capture the same spirit remains to be seen, but for fans of British sci-fi, the return of Blake’s 7 marks a major moment.
Source: Radiotimes