‘Alias’ comeback could still be on the cards

Could Jennifer Garner step back into the role of Sydney Bristow if “Alias” returns? Image: AFP/Joe Klamar

At the STX Television Festival in Austin, United States, the screenwriters and producers of the J.J. Abrams spy thriller series hinted at a possible small screen return for the show. The idea of a revival may have been discussed, but nothing has been decided yet.

There’s no reason why “Alias”, the cult J.J. Abrams series which screened on ABC, might not be swept up in the tide of nostalgia that has engulfed U.S. TV in recent years. The possibility of a revival has been floating around for a while, but “the right idea” is yet to materialize, according to Josh Applebaum, former screenwriter and producer on the show.

However, the possibility of seeing spy Sydney Bristow return to the small screen has been out there since 2010. Two years ago, a possible comeback was even being evoked alongside the return of “The X-Files” and “Prison Break”, two iconic series that have already been revived on Fox. At the time, the specialist press reported that ABC had made progress on the project, even promising the return of lead star Jennifer Garner and co-star Victor Garber, who played Sydney Bristow’s father. It was unclear whether Bradley Cooper, who found fame in the series, would be on board.

Since then, revivals have come thick and fast on U.S. TV, but ABC gave no word on the progress of “Alias”. After “Prison Break”, “The X-Files”, “24”, “Twin Peaks”, “Heroes”, “MacGyver” and “Full House”, the 2017 to 2018 U.S. TV season will see “Will & Grace”, “Dynasty” and “Roseanne” return.

Screened between 2001 and 2006 on ABC, “Alias” followed the adventures of Sydney Bristow, a CIA double agent who infiltrated SD-6, a global criminal organization. The series gave a serious career boost to actors Jennifer Garner and Bradley Cooper (who played Sydney’s best friend, Will Tippin until in 2003) and shone the spotlight on J.J. Abrams, who went on to create “Lost” and direct “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”.

Warmly received by critics, the five seasons and 105 episodes of “Alias” featured various celebrity guest stars, including Quentin Tarantino, Roger Moore, Faye Dunaway, Ethan Hawke, Christian Slater, David Cronenberg, Ricky Gervais and Angela Bassett. JB

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