Reboot (fiction)
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The Godzilla film franchise, which began in 1954, was rebooted four times (in 1984, 1999, 2014 and 2016). Pictured here is a promotional image from Godzilla Raids Again (1955).
In serial fiction, a reboot is a new start in an established fictional universe, work, or series that discards all continuity in order to re-create its characters, plotlines and backstory from the beginning.[1][2] It has been described as a way to "rebrand"[3] or "restart an entertainment universe that has already been established".[1] Another definition is a remake which is part of an established film series or other media franchise.[citation needed] The term has been criticised for being a vague and "confusing"[4] "buzzword",[5] and a neologism for remake,[6][7] a concept which has been losing popularity in the 2010s.[8][9]
Contents
1 Origin
2 Types
2.1 Comic books
2.2 Film
2.3 Television
2.4 Video games
3 List of reboots in fiction
3.1 Comics
4 See also
5 References
Origin
The term is thought to originate from the computing term reboot, meaning to restart a computer system.[1][2]
Types
Reboots cut out non-essential elements associated with a pre-established franchise and start it anew, distilling it down to the core elements that made the source material popular.[10] For audiences, reboots allow easier entry for newcomers unfamiliar with earlier titles in a series.[10]
Comic books
In comic books, a long-running title may have its continuity erased in order to start over from the beginning, enabling writers to redefine characters and open up new story opportunities, and allowing the title to bring in new readers.[1][11] Comic books sometimes use an in-universe explanation for a reboot, such as merging parallel worlds and timelines together, or destroying a fictional universe and recreating it from the beginning.[12][13][14]
Film
With reboots, filmmakers revamp and reinvigorate a film series in order to attract new fans and stimulate revenue.[2] A reboot can renew interest in a series that has grown stale.[15] Reboots act as a safe project for a studio, as a reboot with an established fanbase 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.[16] Reboots also allow directors and producers to cast a new set of younger actors for the familiar roles of a film series in order to attract a younger audience.[citation needed] Unlike a remake, however, a reboot often presupposes a working familiarity on the part of the audience with the original work.[citation needed]
Television
In television, a reboot of a TV show can be a return to production after cancellation and a long hiatus,[17][18] but is also understood to mean a remake of an older series.[19][20]
Video games
Reboots are common in the video game industry, particularly with franchises that have multiple entries in the series.[10] Reboots in video games are used to refresh the storyline and elements of the game.[10]
List of reboots in fiction
Comics
| Series | Series start year | Reboot(s) | Reboot year | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
DC Universe | 1934 | Silver Age | 1956 | [citation needed] |
Crisis on Infinite Earths | 1986 | [12] | ||
The New 52 | 2011 | [13] | ||
Legion of Super-Heroes | 1958 | Legion of Super-Heroes | 1994 | |
Legion of Super-Heroes | 2004 | |||
Saiyuki | 1997 | Saiyuki Reload | 2002 | [citation needed] |
Saiyuki Reload Blast | 2010 | [citation needed] | ||
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure | 1987 | Steel Ball Run | 2004 | [citation needed] |
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | 1984 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | 2012 | |
Valiant Comics | 1992 | Valiant Comics | 2012 | |
Sonic the Hedgehog | 1992 | Worlds Collide | 2013 | [citation needed] |
Sonic the Hedgehog | 2018 | |||
Ben 10 | 2005 | Ben 10 | 2016 |
See also
- Artistic license
- Canon (fiction)
- List of modernized adaptations of old works
- Prequel
- Reset button technique
References
^ abcd Willits, Thomas R. (July 13, 2009). "To Reboot Or Not To Reboot: What is the Solution?". Bewildering Stories. Retrieved August 20, 2013..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ abc Parfitt, Orlando (August 25, 2009). "Top 12 Forthcoming Franchise Reboots". IGN. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
^ Alexander, Julia (March 15, 2017). "The Matrix reboot isn't a remake: Here's the difference between the two". Polygon. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
^ "Hollywood's 10 Best Reboots". IGN. September 21, 2012. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
^ Peters, Ian; et al. (August 6, 2012). "Reboots, Remakes, and Adaptations". In media res. Retrieved July 19, 2018.CS1 maint: Explicit use of et al. (link)
^ Child, Ben (August 24, 2016). "Don't call it a reboot: how 'remake' became a dirty word in Hollywood". The Guardian. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
^ Patches, Matt (August 9, 2012). "The Reboot Glossary: Which Hollywood Buzzword Fits the Bill?". Hollywood.com. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
^ Faughnder, Ryan (August 24, 2016). "Hollywood's summer problem? Reboots people don't want". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
^ Desta, Yohana (October 9, 2014). "Why Hollywood Is Producing So Many Damn Remakes". Mashable. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
^ abcd Norris, Erik (March 7, 2013). "Why Franchise Reboots Can Be A Good Thing". Mandatory. CraveOnline. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
^ Lorendiac (March 16, 2009). "Lorendiac's Lists: The DC Reboots Since Crisis on Infinite Earths". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
^ ab Crisis on Infinite Earths #1-12 (April 1985 – March 1986)
^ ab Flashpoint #1-5 (May – September 2011)
^ Zero Hour: Crisis in Time #4-0 (Sept. 1994)
^ Vasquez, Zach (October 23, 2018). "Beyond the grave: what's next for the horror reboot?". The Guardian. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
^ Billington, Alex (October 6, 2008). "Sunday Discussion: The Mighty Hollywood Reboot Trend". FirstShowing.net. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
^ Francis, James Jr. (June 11, 2018). "Why did the television reboot become all the rage?". The Conversation. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
^ Husser, Amy (February 27, 2016). "Reboot overload? Fuller House leading pack of nostalgia-inspired TV revivals". CBC News. CBC.ca. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
^ Swarts, Jessica (April 12, 2016). "We've listed a few 'Twilight Zone' Remake Episodes which aren't terrible". Inverse. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
^ Otterson, Joe (December 6, 2017). "'Twilight Zone' Reboot From Jordan Peele, Simon Kinberg, Marco Ramirez Greenlit at CBS All Access". Variety. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
