Netflix is no stranger to a sci-fi spectacle, but its current-day retelling of 1960s series Lost In Space is one landing you won’t want to miss. Gemma Dunn tells us more

The original series may have aired many moons ago, but news of a modern-day Lost In Space has stirred up a whole world of excitement. Crash landing on Netflix this month, the reimagined sci-fi series - a remake of the Irwin Allen hit which ended in 1968 after three seasons - will once again document the Robinson family's fight against all odds to survive in unknown intergalactic territory.

Deemed an opportune time to revisit the show for a new audience, the creators - Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless, with Zack Estrin acting as showrunner - will serve up 10 hour-long episodes. Their aim is to rekindle a classic that can be watched by the whole family.

If you haven't caught the original, here's everything you need to know before lift-off in 2018. We know the family have a planetary challenge on their hands - but just why are they lost in space? The official synopsis: Set 30 years in the future, colonisation in space is now a reality, and the Robinson family is among those tested and selected to make a new life for themselves in a better world. But when the new colonists find themselves abruptly torn off course en route to their new home, they must forge new alliances and work together to survive in a dangerous alien environment, light years from their original destination.

But they're not alone. As the Robinsons adjust to the challenge of life on a new planet, they are joined by two outsiders in the cunning Dr Smith and roguish Don West. Not to mention son Will's newfound friend, a sentient robotic alien being.

A family show through and through, there was no question the creators would hold true to the core values of the original show in the most part - including those all-important character dynamics. As the matriarch of the Robinsons, Maureen (House Of Card's Molly Parker) is an aerospace engineer with stunning intellect and a fierce protective instinct over her kids.

Playing the role of her husband John Robinson, is Black Sails' Toby Stephens. John is a military veteran and dad to the three Robinson children, and relies on his strong and natural leadership.

Taylor Russell, Mina Sundwall, and Maxwell Jenkins join the cast as the three Robinson children: Judy, Penny, and Will, respectively.

Casting Russell and Sundwell was a chance to show two strong female characters - while the casting for the role of Will was notably intensive given the character's iconic status.

Parker Posey and Ignacio Serricchio round out the cast, playing the roles of Dr Smith and Don West.

Lost in Space takes place on an unknown planet, so one of the challenges - and opportunities - for the show was how to create a world that doesn't exist.

But untypical of many sci-fi hits, the design team were committed to shooting on location (as opposed to green screens), complete with natural light.

Vancouver in British Columbia was chosen as the ideal setting for the lost planet - termed Goldilocks Planet - thanks to its diversity and vast spaces. But it was a case of finding spots that hadn't been used in previous productions, so as to offer viewers a whole new sphere of reference.

The aim was to have "one foot in reality and then one foot in wonder".

The other key design was that of Jupiter 2, the Robinson's spaceship that crashed on the lost planet.

It was up to production designer Ross Dempster to create a unique set that also felt like home - a vision made into reality, with the help of a top-class visual effects team that had previously worked on Game Of Thrones, and an award-winning special effects set-up.

Giving a clear nod to the classic, yet intent on putting their own stamp on the production, the team behind the retelling will definitely show new audiences - and long-standing fans - just how far television production, characterisation and technology have come in the last 50 years.

Firstly, Dr Smith is a female.

The role, which was memorably played by Jonathan Harris in the Sixties, has gone in a new direction with Golden Globe nominee Parker Posey taking up the reins. It remains to be seen how she will play the cunning, yet charismatic villain; but in the current climate, change can only be a good thing.

Away from the human cast, you can expect to see fan favourite 'Class M-3, Model B9, General Utility Non-Theorising Environmental Robot' - known simply as Robot -designed by Robert Kinoshita.

But expect a much newer take, as the 21st-century design is now its own species: a modification like none before, with features such as a face which changes colour from blue to red.

If you've seen the trailer, you'll also know there's a nice nod to the Sixties' series theme tune which was penned by Oscar-winning composer John Williams - it still contains the much welcome words: 'Danger, Will Robinson!'

All in all, expect some unanswered questions from the original to be tied up - and much like the first, expect to have fun!

  • Lost in Space will be available on Netflix from Friday, April 13