There was once a weekly event that graced television screens around the world, with such intricate plots and mind-blowing cliffhangers, that it committed its viewers, whose hearts had just stopped, into the Pandora’s Box that would open before them with every episode. It inspired so many other popular shows and movies, and its influence is still spreading its wondrous tentacles everywhere and some perhaps don’t even know about it.
“Alias” was not an ordinary show, it was a weekly emotional roller-coaster. It was a soap opera’s dream and a secret agent’s nightmare. From the opening scene of its pilot episode, to the final scene of its finale, it entangled its audience in its web of intrigue, lies and impossible love. The characters home lives were so intricate and convoluted that it made the terrorist organization they fought seem infantile.
J.J. Abrams, its creator, is a master at providing it’s not-what-it-seems plots. On a weekly basis, we would become casualties of his genius, pawns of bewildered plots. Perhaps, he is in some dark room, still laughing, about opening all those corners of our minds that can never be closed again.
For “Alias,” captivating its audience was the show’s top priority, always, even if it meant pushing the opening credits as far out as almost 20 minutes. That’s just the first act! Nothing could prepared its audience for what was to come next. This Golden Globe award winner, with more than 100 nominations, claimed all its victories unarguably. It also featured a large and monstrous list of guest stars, such as Ethan Hawke, Christian Slater, Isabella Rossellini, Quentin Tarantino, Djimon Hounsou, Ricky Gervais, David Carradine, Faye Dunaway, Sir Roger Moore, Rutger Hauer, Vivica A. Fox, Angela Bassett and Richard Roundtree.
Now that I have your attention, I would like to tell you what I am really writing about. Their was an apparent conclusion to the series when when we saw its fifth season’s finale. Yet, to its fans, who’d grown to expect the unexpected, and to see beyond what was served before you, the show still had more possibilities to explore. Some journeys could not be finished, even if the credits are already rolling. Could you imagine if “Star Wars” had ended after “The Empire Strikes Back?” I mean, Luke’s training was incomplete, Han Solo was frozen in carbonite just when his romance had started to bloom with Leia. This is the case with “Alias.”
It never ended for the fans or the folk behind it, and this is evident by how it continues to be expressed in all of the writers’ and directors’ current work. “Alias” seeps through newer show like “Lost” and “Fringe.” We also saw a large scale picture of what an “Alias” theatrical movie would deliver with J.J. Abram’s “Mission Impossible 3,” his directorial movie debut (considered by many to be the best of the bunch). If “Alias” had truly ended, why do they find it so hard to let go? Even “Star Trek,” J.J.’s latest movie, contains multiple “Alias” treats for all its fans.
The cast members of the series have moved on to become huge stars, some bigger than others. Jennifer Garner, the Heroine of “Alias,” generates one big movie after another. Perhaps Bradley Cooper is on top of the world right now, with the success of “The Hangover” and “The A-Team” on the way, but when asked in interviews if they would be interested in returning to their “Alias” roles, both actors have expressed profound interest. And Rachel Nichols is red hot after turns in “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” and “Star Trek.”
This is why I feel that J.J. and his writers should stop fighting their “Alias” withdrawal and work on a follow up project for it. A big screen “Alias” movie would please the fans and allow the obvious “Alias” intoxication that they all have to be faced and expressed openly to the world. A TV movie would be good, too, but why, when they all have become box office contenders?
While speaking to some fans of the show to gather some feedback for this article, various interesting points where brought up. Here is what one fan said: “I think the end of the series left it wide open for them to make a stand alone spy movie with the characters we know and love so well, it could be what a second X-Files movie should have been, but wasn’t.”
Listen to the fans! “Alias” has a huge following, but its individual stars do as well. It is the best time to consider this idea and it is a good idea to consider. This coming April, it will have been 47 months since the show ended. How about giving us some news then? This would be a key date for the fans of the show. The “Alias” journey is not over …
Follow Josue Sanchez on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Josue_can.
Great article! Will Tippin definitely would have to be brought in to the spy world for an Alias movie because Bradley Cooper is such a huge box office draw right now. Come on, Bad Robot, write a script!
Yes I loved the show, but the alias ending was just a whimper of a once wonderful plot line.
The Rambaldi end was less than what we imagined. We were expecting a X-files meaning of the world ending. The last episode was a quick way, to tie up the bleeding Alias entrails’ in a slow two hour episode.
As much as I loved the show, to bring it back as a movie, without a serious story, will be just another forgettable movie to add to the list.
I havent watched all the seasons but i agree that Alias was a great tv series and as you said has inspired many “new” tv shows. I think an “Alias” movie would be so damn cool. Luv JJ Abrams work he’s an amazing professional and would do it easily. Hope they can read your article. Would be awesome 🙂
Great article Josue! I would love, love, love an Alias movie. I miss that show everyday! It was definitely one, if not, the best show on television at the time. J.J. Abrams is a master.
I loved loved loved Alias. I would be first on line for sure. Great Article Josue. I especially loved the “little” segue toward the real reason for article ,lol. I agree Alias definitely left us wanting more and JJ Abrams is just the director to bring it to us.
Great article and I couldn’t agree more! Alias ended and left all of us fans wanting more. A movie would be a perfect way to tie all those loose ends together and now is a great time given the success Bradley Cooper and Jen Garner have had at the box office. You can bet I would be there opening night all decked out in my ALIAS attire, complete with the signature red wig!
Come on J.J.!!
Great article Josue!! An Alias Movie would be Awesome. 🙂
I loved Alias too, and a movie would be just great.
I always admired Sydney (PLUS she has the same name as an Aussie city!)she had some great moves!
Great article! Would love to see an Alias movie cause J.J. Abrams is the man.
Josh i totally agree…Alias is probably one of my favorite TV shows of all time, but if they make a movie of it I hope its with the love, artistic talent, and effort that was put into seasons 1-4. Season 5 unfortunately was rushed so that Jen Gardner could have her baby and JJ Abrams could move on to bigger things..so lets hope it happens, but happens right.
Yes please please make an Alias movie! (I have the Rambaldi sign tattooed on my body).
I agree with you completely. Jennifer has been wasted in the roles she has taken since her TV blockbuster. If Sex and the City gets 2 movies, Alias should get a series of 10.
the magic has ended. Lost died a horrible death. Undercovers was stillborn. Star Trek was drek. JJ has lost the touch. You don’t him anywhere near Alias.