Finally, some actual news on Gen 5.

https://www.equestriadaily.com/2020/08/new-cast-of-characters-confirmed-for.html

After starting to wonder if Gen 5 was just another one of those internet rumors that quickly takes on a life of its own, I'm delighted to learn that it's a real thing. I also must admit a great relief with the news that the talk of it involving a cast who resemble the Mane Six but aren't the Mane Six is just talk.

Don't get me wrong, folks. I love the characters we watched grow and develop in MLP: FIM. But I gotta say that if the next generation involved ponies who looked like our favorite heroes but weren't them, said ponies would still have a devil of a time getting out of the original Mane Six'es shadow, and that would more than likely lead to a disappointing series. In my view, the best way to make Generation 5 work is for there to be a whole new cast and a whole new story. Far better to give us a whole new cast to watch grow than to have us comparing the new with the old.

As for whether or not Gen 5 will lead to a new fandom like Gen 4 did, I'm not pessimistic about it like many fans have been when I discuss it with them. Yeah, the Brony Fandom was a magnificent thing that probably won't be repeated any time soon...but at the same time, do keep in mind that not even Lauren Faust herself expected MLP: FIM to take off like it did. And all it took for it to keep appealing to the fans (and drawing more) was a design team willing to listen to said fans. If it can be done once, why can't it be done again?

So, keep watching Equestria Daily for more news, because Gen 5 is for real now. And if you're like me, good luck dealing with the slow crawl of time towards that special day. I know I'll need it.