Reboot of ReBoot officially coming to TV with 26 new episodes

Get ready for some serious '90s nostalgia.

A new version of thecomputer-animated classicReBoot is returning to TV with 26 half-hour episodes. Corus Entertainment, which own YTV and other television networks, announced on Mondayat theBanff World Media Festivalthat it has given the show the green light.

The series is going into production at Vancouver-based Rainmaker Entertainment, but there is still noword on a release date or whether the program will be returning to YTV. It will be distributed internationally byTWC/Dimension Television.

TitledReBoot: The Guardian Code, the new showwill follow four 16-year-old humanswho become guardiansincyberspace. Rainmaker presidentMichaelHefferon said in an email that the show will feature a mix of live action and computer animation.

Guided by a cyberbeing from the original Guardian Program named VERA, teens Austin, Parker, Grey and Tamra will enter cyberspace to do battle with viruses. Guardians, like the character Bob in the original, are the police of the cyberworld, able to resist viruses and heal other sprites.

All four teenswill wearprotective suits that will allow them to survive in the digital world.An image of the character Austin as his guardian alter-ego Vector was released Monday. The other three character's will go by the namesGoogz, D-Frag and Enigma in cyberspace.

The world of the new show has expanded significantly sincethe original series, which aired from 1994 to 2001on YTV in Canada and which was sold in 84 countries.

"The world of Mainframe is so much bigger now, with internet access; cyberspace is vast," said Hefferon."Everything from satellites, power utilities, drones, appliances, mobile devices, toys all are connected, online and provide some of the new location and plot points."

And while some things are changing, others will stay the same.

Hefferon said that Bob, hero of the original series, will be a part of the pilot episode and that other beloved favourites, such as Dot and Enzo, will have a role to play as well.

Original villain Megabyte will have a particularly prominent role in the new show, according to Hefferon.

"With the advances in technology, it was fitting to upgrade Megabyte aesthetically, along with his abilities/powers. But ReBoot fans will recognize him as the same villain they grew to love, or despise from the original ReBoot series."

Many online have speculated that the reflection in the teaserimage released Mondaygives a sneak peak at the revamped character.

Megabyte's memory-challenged henchmenHack and Slash will be back as well, Hefferon said.

But Megabyte won't be the only villain inthe new series. Hefferon said a mysterious hacker called The Sourcerer will play a major role.

Hefferon says that while the new program will definitely be focused on young people, fans of the original will have plenty to enjoy as well.

"The core essence of what made ReBoot so successful 20 years ago carries through" saidHefferon. "The appeal for the new series will go well beyond kids."