Ian Somerhalder and Evangeline Lilly Agree on 1 Thing About Lost That Makes Complete Sense: ‘It’s just tainting something that’s precious’

A question that hasn’t really been talked about much in the entertainment world is the whole spin-offs, remakes, and reboots thing. How smart is it to consider bringing back something that was super successful? Lost was a big deal back in the day, and it really kicked off this conversation in the 2000s when the show wrapped up after six seasons.

Ian Somerhalder and Evangeline Lilly, who were part of the cast, have shared their thoughts on this topic before, strongly believing that reviving something like Lost wouldn’t be a great idea. They both have pretty convincing reasons for their stance.

Ian Somerhalder And Evangeline Lilly Share Common View On Possible New Versions Of Lost

These days, Lost is seen as a classic, and not much chatter surrounds it anymore. However, even though the conversation about a spin-off or revival was more prevalent in the 2000s, anything is possible. Many shows that were popular long before the series, like Sex and the City, Full House, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and Twin Peaks, for example, have made a comeback with remakes/sequels.

It’s a tricky subject, because while it’s intriguing to think about bringing back a show that was such a sensation in the past, careful treading is needed. Ambition and enthusiasm can sometimes go too far and end up ruining what has been celebrated as a classic.

The series premiered in 2004 and wrapped up after six seasons, cementing its status as a TV classic that sparked conversations for years to come and cultivated a dedicated fan base. When the idea of a potential revival came up, some cast members voiced their opinions. Ian Somerhalder shared his thoughts in an interview with HollywoodLife, saying:

Reboots and revivals scare me… they were amazing in their time, and we should always strive to make the new ones even better than the old ones!

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Evangeline Lilly echoed the same sentiment as her former co-star:

The thing about reboots and remakes is that I don’t like them in general, period… I feel like it’s just tainting something that’s precious. I’ve said I don’t want to do things in the past and I’ve done them — you know, never say never — but sitting where I am today, my assumption is no.

Despite this, it seems that Lost has managed to offer something special for fans who missed the series. A documentary exploring the details, behind-the-scenes stories, and the entire production process was released this year.

Lost Got A Documentary

Lost was the kind of series that captivated audiences with every episode, leaving fans with unforgettable memories. It’s rare for productions to achieve such a feat. So, it might seem a bit wild that, years later, nothing has really been done to revisit or discuss it.

The truth is, even if remakes, reboots, and spin-offs don’t sound like great ideas in theory, a documentary could be the perfect solution. Twenty years have gone by, and many fans have been waiting for a tribute, which was finally released this year, titled Getting Lost.

In an interview with Hawai’i Public Radio, Taylor Morden and Emily Claire, the director and producer of the documentary, shared more insights about how the project came to be.

The film raised over $250,000 through crowdfunding, hitting its initial target in just 24 hours. It covers a bit of everything, from interviews with the cast and showrunners to the not-so-glamorous aspects behind the scenes — after all, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Morden said:

We were like it’s going to be about the fans and we’re going to make this documentary, and it’s going to be cool because it was a cool time. And then you talk to Jorge Garcia, and he’s like, ‘Well, let me get the word out to the people.’ And then all of a sudden, Josh Holloway is interested, and Michael Emerson, and he calls Terry O’Quinn, and by the time that gets out, Evangeline Lilly’s on board, and Maggie Grace, and you’re just like, I guess we’re just making ‘Lost’ now.

Apparently, the writers’ room on the show wasn’t exactly a great place, as comments last year revealed it had a toxic environment, with some writers and cast members alleging racism and sexism. This made Morden and Claire reconsider the idea of releasing the documentary. However, since the project had already been in the works for a year and a half, backing out didn’t seem like a viable option.

Getting Lost got a trailer, and was screened at a specific theater in Hawaii. The producers plan to make it available on digital platforms by the end of the year.

Lost is available for streaming on Netflix.