Disney-ABC: Lost is our Star Trek and we are going to milk it forever!

Sad Professor

Full article here. Here are the important bits:

Don't despair, "Lost" fans. The island won't be disappearing come May.
Anything and everything is on the table, as Disney execs map out a long-term strategy for "Lost," the ground-breaking mystery/sci-fi series that returns in February to begin its sixth and final season.

In the short run, that could mean "Lost" novelizations and comicbooks, as well as gaming extensions, digital distribution, recut "Lost" DVDs and an oft-rumored "Lost" amusement park attraction. But further down the road, that might also mean a new TV or feature take on "Lost," complete with new auspices and cast -- in other words, "Lost: The Next Generation."

"We've been talking about this for a couple of years now," says ABC marketing exec VP Mike Benson. "We want to keep it alive but make sure we maintain the integrity of the franchise. We're not about milking this thing for all that it is right now; it's important to see this live for years to come."
...
If and when new "Lost" content emerges, Disney/ABC will have to find someone new to entrust with the franchise.
...
Benson and fellow marketing exec VP Marla Provencio say they would like to handle the "Lost" franchise much in the same way Paramount navigated "Star Trek" through the years.

"We do believe 'Lost' can be a 'Star Trek' for us," Benson says

Originally created by Gene Roddenberry, "Star Trek" carried on even after its initial TV run, eventually returning via a string of movies. That led to four smallscreen spinoffs: "Next Generation," "Deep Space Nine," "Voyager" and "Enterprise."
...
"We have to find different, creative and innovative ways to keep the fans happy and to keep the franchise healthy."
...
Why the effort to keep "Lost" going? Quite simply, it's too valuable a commodity for Disney and its various divisions to just let it go.

Here's what the writers had to say about this a couple of days ago:

Cuse: The Walt Disney Co. owns "Lost." It's a franchise that's conservatively worth billions of dollars. It's hard to imagine "Lost" will rest on the shelves and nothing will ever be made with "Lost." Eventually somebody will make something under the moniker of "Lost" -- whether we do it or not. We just made a commitment to this group of characters whose stories are coming to a conclusion this May.

Lindelof: Somebody made a sequel to "Gone With the Wind." Sometimes the franchise transcends the storyteller. The definitive edition of "Lost" ends this May on ABC, and that is the story that we have to tell. It has a beginning, middle and end. That ending will not have cliffhangers, or be set up in such a way that people will be saying, "Clearly they're going to make more of these." We don't have any connection to another TV series or movie, but there's a new "A-Team" movie coming out, for god's sake. This is a business that thrives on known commodities. "Tron" is the most buzzed-about Disney movie for next year, and it has been gathering dust for 20 years. I cannot imagine there will not be something with "Lost" on it involving smoke monsters and polar bears and time travel.

cooker3

Meh if Damon Lindelof is not behind it then I don't regard it as Lost. He is lost as far as I am concerned.

I never watched Star Trek so I don't know that much about it but you can have a pretty much unlimited amount of ships and crews exploring the universe, pretty much an infinite amount of spin-offs I would guess.

I don't really see how they do that with Lost. How do you even define a show as a Lost spin-off? I guess the island is the most logical answer, would you use the same island or just the generic concept of a "secret" island where crazy **** happens. I guess I could see a "re-imagining" in about 20 years with a new bunch of people but other then that I don't really see a good quality spin-off resulting from it.

Mr.Nice Guy

I remember writing a thread about something like this 2 years ago:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055254517

As I said back then I would be all for it but I'd be sceptical about whether it would be any use without the Lost writers involved in some capacity. I don't think it would tarnish the show's memory in any way whatever they do but if they are going to try a 'Next Generation' type thing then you would hope they would try and make it at least worthwhile.

Dman001

At the end of season 6, Lost is offically over for me. I dont care how many spin-offs or sequels they do I know it wont be anywhere near as good as the original. I hate to see them milk Lost for all it's worth but I suppose it happens to all successful franchises.

gustavo

I'm not sure fans would want more Lost after it finishes next year


I for one wouldn't like the idea of Lost as a show to be tarnished by spin offs and such like

Just leave it be at 6 seasons

cooker3

gustavo wrote: »

I'm not sure fans would want more Lost after it finishes next year


I for one wouldn't like the idea of Lost as a show to be tarnished by spin offs and such like

Just leave it be at 6 seasons

Actually I think a lot of lost fans would love it. It attracts the same hardcore element that Star Trek has. For me the show is the show and what happens these 6 seasons will be the final word but if some other Lost based show appeared let's face it we would all at least give a go.

I don't think it will any way tarnish the show as it will be separate. If turns out to be useless just regard it as non canon.

Jay Ru

meh, i'll be amazed if they wait even ten years to bring this out as a new show r a movie. Lost - The Teenage years i can see it now!

me-skywalker

Well we know from Eloise that there are other 'islands' or areas with the same properties as this island so any spin-off coudl be based anywhere on these or within these.

I wouldn't be against it but I wouldnt be putting in the same amount of time haha

robby^5

Dman001 wrote: »

At the end of season 6, Lost is offically over for me.

Same.

At this stage I'm just along for the ride. I don't even enjoy the show as much as I used too, but damned if I'm going to miss out on an explanation for everything. Have put up with too many cliffhangers not to be rewarded with some sort of conclusion!