After the early demise of ABC’s sci-fi series FlashForward, speculation is rising that the network may try to retain its crestfallen Lost fanbase with a remake of Alias. Discussions about rebooting J.J. Abrams’ fantastic Jennifer Garner series are reportedly in very initial stages, which is sort of exciting if you’re a starved fanatic of the original. Still, I hope these early talks never move beyond ABC producers’ nostalgic roundhouse kicks in the mirror, because a certain rumor about this potential remake reminds us of the CW’s upcoming Nikita, and in the worst way possible.

Forget the obvious point that female-starring action series haven’t fared well in recent years (as the unemployed Jamie Sommers and Sarah Connor can attest), because that’s only a fraction of the real reason to discourage this Alias revival. According to E!, the new version would eschew the original’s mythological underpinnings, which makes this idea sound just like Nikita, which is already a franchise reboot itself. Don’t we have watered-down remakes covered with V alone? Adding a flat Sydney Bristow reiteration to the mix sounds like a recipe for clinical depression in the messageboarding underworld.

Besides, is the original series’ somewhat dense Rambaldi storyline reason enough to ditch mythology altogether? I can’t commit to any production that hinges on the idea that a cult sci-fi hit would be better loved if it removed the cult and sci-fi. I suppose Sydney’s iconic red wig would be re-rendered in a drawing room-friendly aubergine, too?

Is This Alias 2.0 News Too Good to be True [E!]

According to E!, the new version would eschew the original’s mythological underpinnings, which makes this idea sound just like Nikita, which is already a franchise reboot itself.