The ‘Mystery Science Theater 3000’ Trailer Means It’s Almost Movie Sign on Netflix
It’s been almost 20 years since Mystery Science Theater 3000 was cancelled by the Sci-Fi Channel (this was back in the days when that station knew how to spell its own name). And bear in mind, this is after the show had already been cancelled once before, on Comedy Central, and its lone big-screen effort flopped in theaters. Just about any other series with that track record would be long dead and buried in 2017, but the legend of MST3K has grown over the years, aided in part by the ongoing popularity of its alumni, who’ve formed splinter groups like RiffTrax and Cinematic Titanic. Now, after a massively successful Kickstarter campaign, series creator Joel Hodgson is bringing MST3K back with an all-new cast on Netflix.
Here’s the official synopsis:
The anticipated reboot of fan favorite series Mystery Science Theater 3000 will be available on Netflix in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK and Ireland in the “Not-Too-Distant Future." Original creator Joel Hodgson will be joined by comedian Jonah Ray (“Jonah Heston”) as the new host and Felicia Day (Geek & Sundry) as “Kinga Forrester.” A Kickstarter campaign, spearheaded by Hodgson and Shout! Factory, surpassed the goal of funding the production of 14 new episodes and set the world record as the highest-funded film and TV crowdfunding campaign in history.
While there are some updates here (as well there should, the old show went off the air almost two decades ago), as a hardcore MSTie, I love how the new Netflix show evokes the aesthetic of the old. The Satellite of Love (if it’s called that in the new series) looks familiar, and the classic image of the dude (now played by comedian Jonah Ray) flanked by two puppet robots in silhouette endures as well. Some things never of out of style. The new season of Mystery Science Theater 3000 arrives on Netflix on April 14.