It’s been nearly four decadessinceKenneth Johnson’s epic miniseries,V, premiered onNBC, and yet, the show remains one of themost influential sagas in television history. Debuting on July 11, 2025, the show was truly a first-of-its-kind venture for television, combining deeply political sensibilities with terrifying sci-fi action and unforgettable characters, such asMarc Singer’s Mike Donovan andJane Badler’siconic villain, Diana. The miniseries inspired the 1984 sequel,V: The Final Battle, a weekly series, and a short-lived 2009 reboot on ABC. For all its merits, however,V, as a franchise, was never given a chance to reach its full potential. That has not been for lack of trying, butin this day and age, it’s time to bringVback for a definitive franchise. The timing has never been better. From political relevancy to proven story potential, we’re eager to revisit the franchise!
‘V’ Was Never Given the Chance to Reach Its Full Potential
In the age of streaming, there arean endless number of epic sci-fi showsfrom which viewers and fans of the genre can choose.In 1983, however, the genre was rarely attempted on television, andVwas truly groundbreaking. The show was naturally filled with all the action that makes forgood sci-fi, but it is filled with gripping nuances and biting storylines. Johnson loosely based the series onSinclair Lewis’It Can’t Happen Here, with the alien visitors who come to earth promising to help solve humanity’s woes whilst hiding more sinister motives, being a metaphor for the potential for fascism in America. Though the series features a defined group of heroes, “the resistance,” and a set of villains in the visitors and their allies, the show also blurred the lines between good and evil, with the resistance often having to make tough choices in battle. And, at its heart, it was a show about victory, citing WWII’s famous “V for victory” campaign as its powerful thesis. Yet, for all its attributes, the show never reached the heights it could have.
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Johnson remains an ambitious filmmaker, and it’s evident while watchingV. According to Johnson’s audio commentary, released on thehome media version, the original plan was to follow the miniseries up with a weekly series version. However,there were budgetary disagreements with Warner Bros., and it was decided to follow the show withV: The Final Battle. Though initially involved, Johnson was unhappy with the direction the sequel was taking and departed. NBC did eventually go forward with a weekly series, but without Johnson’s involvement, the quality quickly deteriorated.
Watching the spin-off today, it more often than not feels like a soap opera dressed like a sci-fi series, moving further away from the intense themes of the original. Badler’s Diana was often tasked with carrying the show, and she certainly delivered. But it’s hard to ignore how disjointed the series became.It was cancelled after only one season.
As forthe ABC reboot, it didn’t fare much better.The show avoided the themes of fascismand only lightly played with the politics of the time, leading to a largely inconsistent show. While there are some fantastic performances fromactors likeElizabeth Mitchelland some exciting drama, the series often missed what made the original so special and ultimately suffered due to equally poor planning from ABC. Though it premiered to high ratings, a multi-month hiatus followed after just four episodes, leading the series to ultimately be cancelled after two seasons. After so much mishandling, however,the show is in the perfect position to make a comeback.
Now Is the Right Time To Reboot ‘V’
Despite the 2009 attempt ultimately failing,the time has never been better for aVreboot.Whilethe original series is an icon, special effects have come a very long way. Sure, the famous gerbil scene wasthe stuff of nightmaresback in 1983, but it hasn’t exactly aged well. With what can be achieved now, these sequences can once again be made terrifying. Considering how strong the story itself is, a remake could easily balance out many of the genre complaints we see today. Yes, it will be effects-heavy, but it’s so much more than just spectacle. When one considers the political unease and unrest of the last few years, the thesis of the show has never been more relevant. But perhaps the strongest argument for rebooting the series now is the fact thatwe already have the perfect candidate to helm it.
Kenneth Johnson is Eager to Reboot ‘V’
It’s rare thata creator gets to reboot their own creation, but Johnson has long sought to do so withV. When speaking withRadioTimes, Johnson talked about his protectiveness when it comes to remaking the show, saying “I have not really licensed anybody else to do anything withV, because I’ve been concerned that they would botch it up.” Johnson has a right to be protective. The original creator ofThe Bionic Woman, Johnson was unhappy with the 2007 remake, as well as the 2009 version ofV. While Johnson said he may not want to necessarily direct the reboot, he is still actively working on bringingVback in a big way. What’s more, he’s already proven he can helm it as a full-fledged franchise.
Published in 2008, Johnson returned to the world ofVwithV: The Second Generation. The massive novel is an alternative sequel to the original miniseries, ignoring the events ofV: The Final Battleand the weekly series.Whilesequels that retcon past events are often risky, the book is truly remarkable. Though it’s set 20 years after the original, Johnson doesn’t miss a beat. The politics are as biting as even, and the characters, both new and old, are absolutely fascinating. Above all, it’s an epic story filled with surprises, action, and an ending that is deeply satisfying. Reading it, one can’t help but feel that it absolutelybelongson the screen. Given how close to perfectV: The Second Generationfeels, it’s clear that Johnson is the man to finally give the franchise the chance it deserves.
