| Babylon 5: The Legend of the Rangers | |
|---|---|
_poster.jpg) Sci Fi Channel promotional poster | |
| Genre | |
| Based on | Characters byJ. Michael Straczynski |
| Written by | J. Michael Straczynski |
| Directed by | Michael Vejar |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Christopher Franke |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producer | Ron McLeod |
| Production location | Vancouver |
| Cinematography | Henry Chan |
| Editor | Stein Myhrstad |
| Running time | 90 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | Sci Fi Channel |
| Release | January 19, 2002 (2002-01-19) |
| Babylon 5 TV seasons and films 1993–2023 |
|---|
| In order of series chronology: |
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Babylon 5: The Legend of the Rangers (subtitled:To Live and Die in Starlight) is the fifthtelefilm set in theBabylon 5 universe (not including the pilot,The Gathering).
Originally airing January 19, 2002, on theSci Fi Channel (now Syfy), it was written byJ. Michael Straczynski and directed byMike Vejar. Though shot as a pilot for a possible new series, it aired opposite NFL playoffs and the subsequent poor ratings led to it not being picked up.
Rangers, termed Anla-shok in the fictional Minbari language, are warriors in theBabylon 5 media franchise. The Ranger order was formed byValen during the FirstShadow War. When the three castes refused to work with him to defeat the Shadows, Valen went outside the caste system to organize a group of warriors.
After the First Shadow War, the Rangers became dormant. WhenJeffrey Sinclair took leadership of the Rangers while he was ambassador on Minbar, he took Valen's title ofEntil'Zha or "The One Who Creates the Future".
When the Shadows made their first openly aggressive acts, the force swung into action and became a central part of the opposing alliance. Sinclair,Delenn, andJohn Sheridan each factored in Ranger leadership throughout the events depicted in the television series. While several actors includingBryan Cranston depicted individual rangers,Marcus Cole was the only ranger featured as series main cast.
Rangers recruited from both Minbari and Humans during the events of the series. In addition to distinctive regalia, they used collapsible Minbari fighting pikes which could be pocketed, then extended to staff length for use. In space combat, rangers often crewed White Star class vessels.
As theShadow War ended, hundreds of civilizations were devastated. It is up to the Interstellar Alliance, with the help of theRangers, to rebuild what the great war had destroyed and to hold peace among the worlds of the ISA.
In the year 2265, David Martel (Dylan Neal), a Ranger, is given the command of a twenty-year-old Ranger starship,Liandra, and is asked to escort aValen-class cruiser to a secret location carrying several diplomats, including AmbassadorG'Kar (Andreas Katsulas). Upon arrival, the two craft are attacked on behalf of an unknown, mysterious, and ancient force known only asThe Hand whose lethal power is far greater than any previously known toEarth or any other world in the Interstellar Alliance.
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