V (The Second Generation)
Encyclopedia
V: The Second Generation is a novel written by American television writer/producer Kenneth Johnson. It is an alternative sequel
to his 1983 science fiction
television miniseries
V, which depicted an alien invasion of Earth by an advanced race of carnivorous reptilians known as "The Visitors
." The novel was released on February 5, 2008.
Just when all seems hopeless, the message that Resistance leader Juliet Parrish sent into space at the end of the original miniseries is finally heard. An alien race called the Zedti, who are long-standing enemies of the Visitors, reinforces the Resistance in their time of need and soon the war is turned in their favor. However, all is not as it seems, as the Zedti's actions make the Resistance wonder about their newfound allies' actual motives.
both The Final Battle mini-series (1984) and the subsequent weekly series (which had been made without Johnson's involvement). He made it known that NBC
wanted a remake of the original V miniseries, rather than a sequel
. In an interview with the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, he said the idea for a sequel was born during the production of the Original Mini-Series DVD in 2001, particularly while remastering the final scene where Julie Parrish and Elias Taylor send the distress signal.
In a press conference at the 2007 San Diego Comic Con, Johnson revealed that the novel has been written and negotiations were taking place with NBC regarding the production of its film version, a four-hour TV movie. However, in 2008, Warner Bros, which holds the television rights to the V franchise, opted to remake V from scratch
, with a script written by Scott Peters
(co-creator of The 4400
), thus ending Johnson's plans for The Second Generation being made for television. The pilot of the remake aired on ABC
on November 3, 2009.
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
to his 1983 science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
television miniseries
Miniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
V, which depicted an alien invasion of Earth by an advanced race of carnivorous reptilians known as "The Visitors
Visitors (V TV series)
The Visitors are a fictional invading alien race from the V science fiction franchise. The "Visitors" are reptilian humanoids who disguise themselves to look human but prefer to eat live prey, such as mice. In the 1983 and 1984 miniseries, but not the 1984 TV series, the disguised Visitors can be...
." The novel was released on February 5, 2008.
Plot summary
Set 20 years after the original miniseries, The Second Generation depicts an Earth still under Visitor domination with the Resistance fighting a losing battle. They desperately try to persuade the masses that the Visitors are evil aliens bent on mankind's destruction. However, they are largely ignored, as the many technological and social advancements brought by the Visitors to the planet have convinced the majority that the aliens have their best interests in mind. They are halfway to taking all of the planet's water, under the guise of cleansing it of all polluting substances. Many people were also convinced to join the Visitors' civilian militia, the Teammates (an evolution of the miniseries' Visitor Youth), for the purposes of hunting resistance members.Just when all seems hopeless, the message that Resistance leader Juliet Parrish sent into space at the end of the original miniseries is finally heard. An alien race called the Zedti, who are long-standing enemies of the Visitors, reinforces the Resistance in their time of need and soon the war is turned in their favor. However, all is not as it seems, as the Zedti's actions make the Resistance wonder about their newfound allies' actual motives.
Background
In 2004, Kenneth Johnson announced plans to produce a sequel to the first V miniseries from 1983, which would disregardCanon (fiction)
In the context of a work of fiction, the term canon denotes the material accepted as "official" in a fictional universe's fan base. It is often contrasted with, or used as the basis for, works of fan fiction, which are not considered canonical...
both The Final Battle mini-series (1984) and the subsequent weekly series (which had been made without Johnson's involvement). He made it known that NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
wanted a remake of the original V miniseries, rather than a sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
. In an interview with the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, he said the idea for a sequel was born during the production of the Original Mini-Series DVD in 2001, particularly while remastering the final scene where Julie Parrish and Elias Taylor send the distress signal.
In a press conference at the 2007 San Diego Comic Con, Johnson revealed that the novel has been written and negotiations were taking place with NBC regarding the production of its film version, a four-hour TV movie. However, in 2008, Warner Bros, which holds the television rights to the V franchise, opted to remake V from scratch
V (2009 TV series)
V is an American science fiction television series that ran for two seasons on ABC, from November 3, 2009 to March 15, 2011. A remake of the 1983 miniseries created by Kenneth Johnson, the new series chronicles the arrival on Earth of a technologically advanced alien species which ostensibly comes...
, with a script written by Scott Peters
Scott Peters (writer)
Scott Peters is a Canadian television producer, television director and screenwriter, most probably known for his involvement in writing, co-creating and producing for the science fiction television series The 4400. He is also the head writer of the 2009 sci-fi series V, a remake of the 1980s...
(co-creator of The 4400
The 4400
The 4400 is a science fiction TV series produced by CBS Paramount Network Television in association with Sky Television, Renegade 83, and American Zoetrope for USA Network. The show was created and written by Scott Peters and René Echevarria, and it stars Joel Gretsch and Jacqueline McKenzie...
), thus ending Johnson's plans for The Second Generation being made for television. The pilot of the remake aired on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
on November 3, 2009.