The first panel I queued up for on Saturday morning at New York Comic Con was for The CW’s new series Roswell, New Mexico. The show, which you may have guessed from its title, is a reboot of the extraterrestrial teen drama Roswell that aired on The WB in the 90s.
Despite being the target demo during the original run, I’ve never seen more than a few episodes of The WB’s Roswell. Still, I was interested in this panel because I like seeing things before anyone else (they showed us the pilot episode) and because it stars Jeanine Mason who won season five of So You Think You Can Dance. (I’m a die hard SYTYCD fan.)
So I went into this panel without much attachment to the original and actually missed the first few minutes of the pilot thanks to some wonky panel scheduling on the part of New York Comic Con. Regardless, I still got a lot of juicy tidbits to share from the exclusive screening and subsequent Q&A with the cast and creators.
- When asked about the reboot, creator/executive producer Carina Adly MacKenzie explained that the original Roswell is on Hulu, so it was important for this project to stand on its own and be different enough to justify its existence.
- She further clarified that while she loved the original series and The WB, that channel and its programming was really white and she wanted to add a strong Latina character to the television landscape.
- Along those lines, the character of Liz will go back to her original name from the “Roswell High” book series that both shows are based on: Liz Ortecho. That’s right, the 90s version was whitewashed.
- Diversity in front of and behind the camera was something that was important to the creators.
- Roswell, New Mexico will tell stories about a border state in 2018. Based on the pilot episode it’s not shy about its politics, alien metaphors, or parallels to the current immigration debate, which I applaud. We’re long past subtlety.
- Another way this series differs from the original, it takes place ten years after high school. This is another choice I’m all for. The characters are adults, which gives them far more agency in their actions. This show won’t be another Pretty Little Liars where we continually wonder why they aren’t in school or where the hell their parents are at.
- We will get a high school flashback episode though, episode 6 to be specific. The majority of it will take place in 2008.
- The original cast has been really supportive of the new incarnation.
- In fact, Shiri Appleby is set to direct an episode this season.
- Be on the lookout for the occasion easter egg, there’s a mention of Tess in a prom scene they just shot.
- Not quite an easter egg but still fun, keep an eye out for all the clever Crashdown Cafe menu item names.
- The series films on location in Santa Fe, NM.
Also, here’s the trailer for your viewing pleasure!
The Roswell, New Mexico reboot will premiere on April 29, 2019 on The CW.
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Panel: Saturday October 6, 2018 – “Roswell, New Mexico World Premiere Pilot Screening and Q&A”
Screening: Season 1, Episode 1 “Pilot”
Panelists: Jeanine Mason, Nathan Parsons, Carina Adly MacKenzie, Julie Plec, and Chris Hollier.
