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Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski has been granted an option by his B5 collaborator Harlan Ellison on the latter’s classic tale ‘”Repent, Harlequin!” said the Ticktock Man’, according to a report at Deadline (to which Straczynski linked via Twitter).

Although the pair have worked together for many years, Deadline notes that Ellison only granted the option after Straczynski produced a finished screenplay for the story about Everett C. Marm, an ordinary man who disguises himself as the anarchical Harlequin and engages in whimsical rebellion against the Ticktockman. The story first appeared in Galaxy magazine, and won multiple awards including the Hugo and Nebula.

Straczynski will now look for production partners and a director for the project.