Editing Blake's 7 (section)

== Planned revival ==
The revival of ''Blake's 7'' has been mooted for some years. Terry Nation raised the possibility on a number of occasions and proposed that a new series would be set some years after the existing one. Avon, living in exile like [[Napoleon]] on [[Elba]], would be persuaded by a new group of rebels to resume the fight against the Federation.<ref name="TVZ#34">{{Cite journal |author = Nazzaro, Joe |date = September 1992 |title = Terry Nation's Blake's 7 Part Two |journal = TV Zone |issue = 34 |pages = 28–30 |issn = 0957-3844}}</ref>

=== Radio and audio ===
{{main|Blake's 7 (audio drama)}}
During 1998 ''Blake's 7'' was broadcast again by the BBC by radio. ''The Sevenfold Crown'' was broadcast by [[BBC Radio 4]] on 17 January 1998 as part of its ''Playhouse'' strand. The play was produced by Brian Lighthill and written by [[Barry Letts]]. Paul Darrow, Michael Keating, Steven Pacey, Peter Tuddenham and Jacqueline Pearce reprised their television roles, but Josette Simon and Glynis Barber were replaced by [[Angela Bruce]] as Dayna and [[Paula Wilcox]] as Soolin. The story was set during the fourth series between the episodes ''Stardrive'' and ''Animals''. This was followed by ''The Syndeton Experiment'', which featured the same cast, producer and writer and was broadcast as ''The Saturday Play'' on 10 April 1999 by BBC Radio 4.<ref>Pixley, Andrew (2004). ''Blake's 7. The Radio Adventures'' [CD liner notes]. London: BBC Audiobooks</ref> [[BBC]] Audiobooks released a CD of readings of [[Trevor Hoyle]]'s novelisations of episodes ''The Way Back'' read by Gareth Thomas and ''Cygnus Alpha'' read by Paul Darrow.<ref>{{Cite web
| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2009/04_april/blakes_7.shtml
| title=Fan favourite Blake's 7 revived on audio CD
| author=Ben Griffiths
| work=BBC Worldwide Press Releases
| publisher=BBC
| date=17 April 2009
| access-date=17 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707223136/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2009/04_april/blakes_7.shtml
| archive-date=7 July 2019
| url-status=dead
| df=dmy
}}</ref>

On 11 December 2006, B7 Productions announced that it had recorded a series of 36 five-minute ''Blake's 7'' audio adventures, written by [[Ben Aaronovitch]], [[Marc Platt (writer)|Marc Platt]] and [[James Swallow]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.blakes7.com/index.php/2006/12/blakes-7-reborn-on-audio/ |title=Blake's 7 Reborn on Audio |work=Blakes7.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222051358/http://www.blakes7.com/index.php/2006/12/blakes-7-reborn-on-audio/ |archive-date=22 December 2010}}
</ref> This featured [[Derek Riddell]] as Blake, [[Colin Salmon]] as Avon, [[Daniela Nardini]] as Servalan, [[Craig Kelly (actor)|Craig Kelly]] as Travis, [[Carrie Dobro]] as Jenna, [[Dean Harris]] as Vila, [[Owen Aaronovitch]] as Gan, [[Michael Praed]], [[Doug Bradley]] and [[India Fisher]].<ref name="Indie">{{Cite news
| title = Blake's 8: The Cult is Back
| author = Jonathan Thompson
| date = 24 December 2006
| url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/blakes-8-the-cult-is-back-429759.html| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121104121154/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/blakes-8-the-cult-is-back-429759.html| url-status = dead| archive-date = 4 November 2012}}</ref> The new series was broadcast by BBC Radio 7 and repeated during mid-2010 as three one-hour episodes: ''Rebel'' (written by Ben Aaronovitch), ''Traitor'' (Marc Platt) and ''Liberator'' (James Swallow). B7 Productions also produced series of 30-minute prequel audio episodes named ''Blake's 7: The Early Years'', which explored the earlier histories of the central characters.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00sm8xy#synopsis |title=Radio 7 Programmes – Blake's 7: The Early Years, When Vila Met Gan |publisher=BBC |access-date=15 December 2010}}</ref>

During 2011 [[Big Finish Productions]], under licence from B7 Productions, announced that it would be producing a series of audio dramas named ''Blake's 7: The Liberator Chronicles'', which would be "&nbsp;... a series of exciting, character-driven tales that remain true to the original TV series. We're aiming for authenticity—recreating the wonder of 1978 all over again!" The company also said it would publish a series of ''Blake's 7'' novels at a rate of two per year.<ref name="Starburst">{{Cite web |url = http://www.starburstmagazine.com/news/471-news-blakes-7-to-get-big-finish |title = News: BLAKE'S 7 To Get Big Finish |author = Kris Heys |publisher = Starburst Magazine Ltd |date = 5 July 2011 |access-date = 13 January 2012 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> During January 2013 Big Finish released an initial full-cast audio production, Warship. This was followed during January 2014 with a series of six full-cast single-disc original stories, with a second series starting in November 2014.

Several individuals and companies have produced unofficial material based upon Blake's 7. [[Alan Stevens (writer)|Alan Stevens]], later of [[Magic Bullet Productions]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Magic Bullet Productions |url=http://www.kaldorcity.com/aboutus.html |access-date=22 April 2008}}</ref> produced three unofficial audio cassettes between 1991 and 1998: ''Travis: The Final Act'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Travis: The Final Act |url=http://www.kaldorcity.com/audios//b7/travis/index.html |access-date=22 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525224950/http://www.kaldorcity.com/audios//b7/travis/index.html |archive-date=25 May 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''The Mark of Kane''<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Mark of Kane |url=http://www.kaldorcity.com/audios//b7/kane/index.html |publisher=Magic Bullet Productions |author=Alan Stevens |access-date=22 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525225031/http://www.kaldorcity.com/audios//b7/kane/index.html |archive-date=25 May 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and ''The Logic of Empire''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Logic of Empire |url=http://www.kaldorcity.com/audios//b7/logic/index.html |access-date=22 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525225018/http://www.kaldorcity.com/audios//b7/logic/index.html |archive-date=25 May 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Stevens also produced a series of audio dramas named ''[[Kaldor City]]'', created by Chris Boucher, which link the ''Blake's 7'' universe into Boucher's ''Doctor Who'' serial ''[[The Robots of Death]]'' through the character Carnell ([[Scott Fredericks]]), whom Boucher created for the ''Blake's 7'' episode "Weapon".

=== Television ===
During April 2000 producer Andrew Mark Sewell announced that he had bought the rights to ''Blake's 7'' from the estate of Terry Nation, and was planning to produce a [[TV movie]] set 20 years after the finale of the original series.<ref name="BBC News April 2000">
{{Cite news
| title=Blake's 7 relaunch on film
| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/705922.stm
| publisher=BBC News
| date=7 April 2000
| access-date=8 November 2006
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107171201/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/705922.stm
| archive-date=7 November 2012
| url-status=dead
| df=dmy
}}</ref> During July 2003, Sewell announced that he, Paul Darrow and Simon Moorhead had formed a consortium called 'B7 Enterprises' that had acquired the rights and was planning a television [[miniseries]] budgeted at between five and six million U.S. dollars. Darrow would play Avon and the series was to be televised during early 2005, depending on "&nbsp;... many factors, not least financing".<ref name="BBC News July 2003">
{{Cite news
| title=Blake's 7 set for hi-tech return
| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3102295.stm
| publisher=BBC News
| date=28 July 2003
| access-date=8 November 2006
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415183755/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3102295.stm
| archive-date=15 April 2012
| url-status=dead
| df=dmy
}}</ref> Paul Darrow subsequently left the project during December 2003, citing "artistic differences".<ref>
{{Cite web
| url = http://www.hermit.org/Blakes7/news/PaulDar1.html
| title = Statement by Paul Darrow with regard to the proposed Movie
| access-date =8 November 2006
| date = 9 October 2003
| work = Hermit.org&nbsp;— Judith Proctor's Blake's 7 Pages
}}</ref>

B7 Enterprises announced on 31 October 2005 that it had appointed Drew Kaza as non-executive chairman, and that it was working on two ''Blake's 7'' projects. ''Blake's 7: Legacy'' was to be a two-part, three-hour mini-series, which would be written by [[Ben Aaronovitch]] and D. Dominic Devine. ''Blake's 7: The Animated Adventures'' was to be a 26-part children's animated adventure series written by Aaronovitch, [[Andrew Cartmel]], [[Marc Platt (writer)|Marc Platt]] and [[James Swallow]].<ref>{{Cite web
| url = http://www.blakes-7.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3256&view=next&sid=82f33910b55c3a229b42b3e35ed363fc
| title = B7 Productions Press Release&nbsp;— Appointment of Drew Kaza
| access-date = 8 November 2006
| date = 31 October 2005
| work = Louise and Simon's Blake's 7 Fan Site
| archive-date = 15 January 2008
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080115182218/http://www.blakes-7.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3256&view=next&sid=82f33910b55c3a229b42b3e35ed363fc
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>
In an interview with ''Doctor Who Magazine'', writer and producer [[Matthew Graham]] said that he had been involved in discussions to revive ''Blake's 7''. Graham's concept was that a group of young rebels would rescue Avon, who had been kept [[cryogenically frozen]] by Servalan, and then roam the galaxy in a new ship named ''Liberator''.<ref>
{{Cite journal
| last = Darlington
| first = David
| date = 21 June 2006
| title = Script Doctors: Matthew Graham
| journal = Doctor Who Magazine
| issue = 370
| page = 46
| issn = 0957-9818
}}
</ref>

On 24 April 2008, television station [[Sky1]] announced that it had commissioned two 60-minute scripts for a potential series, working alongside B7 Productions.<ref name="BBC News 24th April 2008">{{Cite news
| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7364663.stm
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828232931/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7364663.stm
| archive-date=28 August 2012
| title=Blake's 7 poised for Sky comeback
| publisher=BBC News
| date=24 April 2008
| access-date=24 April 2008
| url-status=dead
| df=dmy
}}</ref> On 4 August 2010, the station said it had decided not to commission the series. B7 Productions said the decision was "&nbsp;... obviously disappointing", but that the development process has resulted in the "&nbsp;... dynamic reinvention of this branded series". It said it was confident it would find another partner to develop a new version of ''Blake's 7'' for television.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Matthew Hemley | url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/29175/sky-1-drops-blakes-7-revival | title=Sky 1 drops Blake's 7 revival |work=The Stage |publisher=The Stage Newspaper Limited |date=4 August 2010 | access-date=15 December 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611141902/http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/29175/sky-1-drops-blakes-7-revival |archive-date=11 June 2011 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

During July 2012, ''[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]'' reported that a remake for US television networks was being developed by the independent studio Georgeville Television.<ref name="Deadline1">{{Cite web| title = Martin Campbell And Georgeville TV Shop Reboot Of Cult U.K. Sci-Fi Series 'Blake's 7′ | url = https://deadline.com/2012/07/martin-campbell-and-georgeville-tv-shop-reboot-of-cult-u-k-sci-fi-series-blakes-7-305552/ | date= 23 July 2012 | access-date =29 July 2012 | author = Nellie Andreeva | work = [[Deadline Hollywood]]| publisher = [[PMC (company)|PMC]] }}</ref> The [[Syfy]] network announced on 22 August that [[Joe Pokaski]] would develop the script and [[Martin Campbell]] would direct the new remake.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/08/22/syfy-to-develop-cult-adventure-classic-blakes-7-casino-royales-martin-campbell-to-direct-heroes-joe-polaski-to-write-pilot/145935/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120824011113/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/08/22/syfy-to-develop-cult-adventure-classic-blakes-7-casino-royales-martin-campbell-to-direct-heroes-joe-polaski-to-write-pilot/145935/|url-status=dead |archive-date=24 August 2012 |title=Syfy to Develop Cult Adventure Classic 'Blake's 7'; 'Casino Royale's' Martin Campbell to Direct, 'Heroes' Joe Pokaski to Write Pilot |last=Bibel |first=Sara |date=22 August 2012 |work=[[TV by the Numbers]] |access-date=22 August 2012}}</ref>

On 9 April 2013, the BBC reported that a new series of ''Blake's 7'' would be broadcast by [[SyFy]].<ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{Cite web |title=Blake's 7: Classic BBC sci-fi to return on Syfy channel |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-22079232 |date=9 April 2013 |access-date=9 April 2013 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref> Other media reported that a full-series order of thirteen episodes had been placed.<ref name="Den Of Geek">{{Cite web |title=Blake's 7 reboot goes to full series order |url=http://www.denofgeek.com/tv/blakes-7/25155/blakes-7-reboot-goes-to-full-series-order |date=9 April 2013 |access-date=9 April 2013 |author=Louisa Mellor |publisher=[[Dennis Publishing|denofgeek.com]]}}</ref> Again, however, no new series materialised.