Buffy Relaunching Without Whedon, Gellar...Regard for Fans?

domino84 · 05-28-2009, 05:17 AM

Hi

I was going to post the link to the article, but it's pretty short, so I just copied and pasted it as well.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/2009...vies_eo/125695

Gina Serpe Gina Serpe – Tue May 26, 10:40 am ET
Los Angeles (E! Online) – Blame Robert Pattinson. And, for that matter, Captain Kirk.

What with vampires and franchise relaunches suddenly all the rage, plans for a new Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie have inevitably come to pass, with the rights holders of the franchise announcing plans for a new Sunnydale-set film.

But there is a catch.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the film, which will neither be a sequel nor prequel but a relaunch, is moving ahead with absolutely no involvement from film and series mastermind Joss Whedon. It will also fail to feature TV's Buffy herself, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and will in fact have no connection to the long-running series—meaning Angel, Willow, Xander and Spike will also be MIA.

That sound you just heard was the Whedonverse imploding.

The brain boxes behind the already fan-angering remake are Fran Rubel Kuzui, the director of the 1992 box-office bomb (which starred Kristy Swanson as the titular slayer abetted by Luke Perry), and her husband, Kaz Kuzui. Kuzui Enterprises has retained the rights to the franchise since their ill-fated film outing.

The idea behind the new reboot is to maintain the show's mythology while introducing a new slayer and Hellmouth-threatened group of pals, building on the idea that each generation has its own vampire slayer.

If all goes according to plan—and it's shaping up to be a rather large if—Kuzui is looking to franchise the film.

As for Whedon, he has yet to comment on the film's development. While Kuzui said they have not ruled out inviting cult king Whedon—still very much active in the Buffyverse, having shepherded several Buffy comic books to best-seller status in recent years—to take part in the film, they have not yet spoken to him about their plans.

Anyone else heard anything about this.

Domino

SamIAm · 05-28-2009, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by domino84

Anyone else heard anything about this.

Yeah, it's been going around. Honestly, the original movie is so divorced from the series, the little bit of ire I've seen seems misplaced. The movie always was a different entity, and not a great movie either, so who cares if it gets remade? Maybe it'll even be a better flick this time around.

Whedon did respond to Ausiello's questions about it though. He said he hopes it's cool.

25cent · 05-31-2009, 11:49 AM

Yeah I'm kind of excited about it. Hayden Panettiere or Kristen Bell would be perfect Buffys.

Angela · 05-31-2009, 06:03 PM

Mostly I really don't care. But honestly, the lack of effort to involve Whedon is a plus in my book.

Dannyblue · 05-31-2009, 07:59 PM

Making a reboot if the original movie was all there had ever been would be one thing. But doing it when the basic concept was carried on in another medium, and is still fresh in people's minds makes me think, "Are they this hard up for a project that can make them some money?" The answer is probably yes.

Also, my problem with the movie is that these are the same people who, when making the original Buffy movie, decided teenagers (their target audience) wouldn't want a movie that was too scary or filled with too much action. Because we know how much teenagers hate those.

jerry · 05-31-2009, 08:31 PM

I could see a reboot happening, and even working, eventually, even without Joss. But I don't think enough time has passed, and I don't think it could work without the supporting characters.

Morrigan · 06-01-2009, 08:59 AM

It's hard to say, I know that when they started making new Highlander movies there was a huge outcry that it had to be a Duncan movie as the series was so popular. On the other hand they pretty much destroyed everything I loved about the series in the 5th movie and killed off Conner in the 4th which hurt.

At this I almost wished that they went the reboot route and ignored the series altogether.

I guess the same could be said for BTVS. Maybe it's just better to do a reboot of the original movie and pretend that BTVS never happened. I'm sure there's going to be protests either way but at this point I really don't care.

LordKain · 06-01-2009, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morrigan

It's hard to say, I know that when they started making new Highlander movies there was a huge outcry that it had to be a Duncan movie as the series was so popular. On the other hand they pretty much destroyed everything I loved about the series in the 5th movie and killed off Conner in the 4th which hurt.

At this I almost wished that they went the reboot route and ignored the series altogether.

I guess the same could be said for BTVS. Maybe it's just better to do a reboot of the original movie and pretend that BTVS never happened. I'm sure there's going to be protests either way but at this point I really don't care.

I always hated Duncan to be honest with you.

As for the Buffy movie I personally believe if Joss was on board then it would completely suck cause the guys ass has been kissed one time to many by to many sycophants.

Morrigan · 06-01-2009, 11:28 AM

I didn't hate Duncan but he was never my favorite character...Methos was the best, most interesting, and well acted character.

The thing was that even though I loved Connor more (hah, can't believe I'd ever say that in an ATS thread

) there was more history and story surrounding Duncan.

This is where I can see there being an issue between Buffy:The Movie (re-boot) and BTVS. If they pretend that the TV Show didn't exist it's going to piss off the fans. However, if they try to incorporate the two it will probably suck as much as the Highlander movies and piss all over the things people loved about the show.

I think Jerry's right, it's probably too soon for a re-boot.

LordKain · 06-01-2009, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morrigan

I didn't hate Duncan but he was never my favorite character...Methos was the best, most interesting, and well acted character.

The thing was that even though I loved Connor more (hah, can't believe I'd ever say that in an ATS thread

) there was more history and story surrounding Duncan.

This is where I can see there being an issue between Buffy:The Movie (re-boot) and BTVS. If they pretend that the TV Show didn't exist it's going to piss off the fans. However, if they try to incorporate the two it will probably suck as much as the Highlander movies and piss all over the things people loved about the show.

I think Jerry's right, it's probably too soon for a re-boot.

Nothing and I mean nothing is ever going to beat both the orginals Connor MacLeod and Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez as for the Highlander TV show personally I only watched the pilot and I didn't like it myself.

If they incorporated both the film and the series it would make things even worse then they are now because everyone who watched the TV series is going to be pissed off because people like Boreanaz, Gellar, Carpenter, Marsters won't be in it and will be pretty judgmental on the movie.

I personally don't think a Buffy film is a good idea because the show never had a large enough audience to begin with but hey that's just me.

DamnSkippy · 06-01-2009, 01:23 PM

Looks like I may the only person who thinks this could work as a reboot.

I'm glad they're not trying to get any of the TV characters/cast involved because, I for one, wouldn't want to see it if it was a Buffy/Angel movie and I couldn't see them making it Buffy/Spike or Cordy/Angel (since that was Ats). So, in any universe that includes the TV characters, only a select few would be happy anyway and not even then if they didn't use the original actors.

Of course, they could try using some of the characters with no romantic pairings which would please even fewer of the original fans but might appeal to a wider non-fan audience.

So, IMO, the only way to go to try to gain new fans and still please some of the old is to reboot the movie and ignore the TV verse. IMO, it could be very successful if they did not try to go camp with it (like the original) but, instead, went very dark like Underworld or like the AU verse in the episode "The Wish". Making Buffy a complete badass and having swords a blazin' (or machine guns) and upping the special effects so that it's a big time action film would be my wish and the only way, IMO, that it could make big bucks.

Livvie · 06-01-2009, 01:25 PM

I know a lot of you are on LJ but I'm not sure how many are in active Buffy comms. The point is that when this hit my flist, the amount of people bitching about it was flooding every page. It was ridiculous. I never saw this much bitching when they tried to reboot or wake up any other franchise.

Most Terminator fans weren't all up in arms about Sarah Connor Chronicles. I know a good amount of Trekkies were upset with the announcement of the new Star Trek but love it now.

I know it isn't the same thing but if you just pretend the original Buffy movie never happened, there are so many tv shows to movies (Charlie's Angels, Starsky & Hutch, Brady Bunch, Miami Vice, Aeon Flux). Bad quality aside, a lot of the fans of the original show weren't pissing and moaning the way that I have seen.

Frankly, from reading all the articles, they want to go a lot darker with this than with the whole liek omg! I'm a cheerleader feel of the first movie. And Whedon's idea of dark is killing off any character that can't run fast enough.

Personally, I'd liked to see them bring on Greenwalt (cause he can do dark, have you seen his other series?), a great cast, and have it completely blow everyone out of the water. But I am a bitter Whedon-hater that way. LOL

Angela · 06-01-2009, 02:09 PM

You know, the only way I might even consider seeing this would be if it was a reboot of the movie that ignored the TV-verse. I still have a thing for vampires (thanks, True Blood!), and I absolutely fell in love with the reimagined BSG. So it could be good.

LordKain · 06-02-2009, 10:38 AM

The only way I see this Buffy project making any serious money and being a success would be if someone like JJ Abrams or James Cameron directed it cause Joss Whedon sucks and David Greenwalt's a hasbeen who hasn't found work in 2 years.

Livvie · 06-02-2009, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LordKain

The only way I see this Buffy project making any serious money and being a success would be if someone like JJ Abrams or James Cameron directed it cause Joss Whedon sucks and David Greenwalt's a hasbeen who hasn't found work in 2 years.

Greenwalt's been working steadily since the early 80s and took some time off for medical and family reasons. That doesn't mean he hasn't found work. He hasn't been looking, he doesn't need to from all the residuals he gets from other shows he worked on.

James Cameron hasn't directed a movie since 2005 and he's been writing for Sarah Connor Chronicles, which was cancelled. I'm not sure how you can call Greenwalt, who took time off for personal reasons, a hasbeen and yet put Cameron in the same pool of directors.

05-28-2009, 05:17 AM	#1
domino84 Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: South Africa Posts: 62	Buffy Relaunching Without Whedon, Gellar...Regard for Fans? Hi I was going to post the link to the article, but it's pretty short, so I just copied and pasted it as well. http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/2009...vies_eo/125695 Gina Serpe Gina Serpe – Tue May 26, 10:40 am ET Los Angeles (E! Online) – Blame Robert Pattinson. And, for that matter, Captain Kirk. What with vampires and franchise relaunches suddenly all the rage, plans for a new Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie have inevitably come to pass, with the rights holders of the franchise announcing plans for a new Sunnydale-set film. But there is a catch. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the film, which will neither be a sequel nor prequel but a relaunch, is moving ahead with absolutely no involvement from film and series mastermind Joss Whedon. It will also fail to feature TV's Buffy herself, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and will in fact have no connection to the long-running series—meaning Angel, Willow, Xander and Spike will also be MIA. That sound you just heard was the Whedonverse imploding. The brain boxes behind the already fan-angering remake are Fran Rubel Kuzui, the director of the 1992 box-office bomb (which starred Kristy Swanson as the titular slayer abetted by Luke Perry), and her husband, Kaz Kuzui. Kuzui Enterprises has retained the rights to the franchise since their ill-fated film outing. The idea behind the new reboot is to maintain the show's mythology while introducing a new slayer and Hellmouth-threatened group of pals, building on the idea that each generation has its own vampire slayer. If all goes according to plan—and it's shaping up to be a rather large if—Kuzui is looking to franchise the film. As for Whedon, he has yet to comment on the film's development. While Kuzui said they have not ruled out inviting cult king Whedon—still very much active in the Buffyverse, having shepherded several Buffy comic books to best-seller status in recent years—to take part in the film, they have not yet spoken to him about their plans. Anyone else heard anything about this. Domino

05-31-2009, 11:49 AM	#3
25cent Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: PHX AZ Posts: 789	Yeah I'm kind of excited about it. Hayden Panettiere or Kristen Bell would be perfect Buffys. __________________ Crystal Palace Football Club

05-31-2009, 06:03 PM	#4
Angela Cake.....or death? Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 4,960	Mostly I really don't care. But honestly, the lack of effort to involve Whedon is a plus in my book. __________________ Hitler never played Risk when he was a kid. -Eddie Izzard, Dress to Kill But you didn't have what it takes.... an evil hand! Resistance is futile. Assimilation is---oooh, porn! Go Mavs!!!!

05-31-2009, 07:59 PM	#5
Dannyblue a.k.a. Danielle Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 3,147	Making a reboot if the original movie was all there had ever been would be one thing. But doing it when the basic concept was carried on in another medium, and is still fresh in people's minds makes me think, "Are they this hard up for a project that can make them some money?" The answer is probably yes. Also, my problem with the movie is that these are the same people who, when making the original Buffy movie, decided teenagers (their target audience) wouldn't want a movie that was too scary or filled with too much action. Because we know how much teenagers hate those. __________________ IMAGIC. My LiveJournal, where you'll find my fanfiction, fanart, etc.

06-01-2009, 08:59 AM	#7
Morrigan Who Da Man?! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Garden State Posts: 9,854	It's hard to say, I know that when they started making new Highlander movies there was a huge outcry that it had to be a Duncan movie as the series was so popular. On the other hand they pretty much destroyed everything I loved about the series in the 5th movie and killed off Conner in the 4th which hurt. At this I almost wished that they went the reboot route and ignored the series altogether. I guess the same could be said for BTVS. Maybe it's just better to do a reboot of the original movie and pretend that BTVS never happened. I'm sure there's going to be protests either way but at this point I really don't care. __________________ ME: Farking up all your good memories one character at a time ~ Prima

05-31-2009, 08:31 PM	#6
jerry Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 2,389	I could see a reboot happening, and even working, eventually, even without Joss. But I don't think enough time has passed, and I don't think it could work without the supporting characters.

06-01-2009, 11:28 AM	#9
Morrigan Who Da Man?! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Garden State Posts: 9,854	I didn't hate Duncan but he was never my favorite character...Methos was the best, most interesting, and well acted character. The thing was that even though I loved Connor more (hah, can't believe I'd ever say that in an ATS thread ) there was more history and story surrounding Duncan. This is where I can see there being an issue between Buffy:The Movie (re-boot) and BTVS. If they pretend that the TV Show didn't exist it's going to piss off the fans. However, if they try to incorporate the two it will probably suck as much as the Highlander movies and piss all over the things people loved about the show. I think Jerry's right, it's probably too soon for a re-boot. __________________ ME: Farking up all your good memories one character at a time ~ Prima

06-01-2009, 01:23 PM	#11
DamnSkippy Join Date: May 2003 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 4,895	Looks like I may the only person who thinks this could work as a reboot. I'm glad they're not trying to get any of the TV characters/cast involved because, I for one, wouldn't want to see it if it was a Buffy/Angel movie and I couldn't see them making it Buffy/Spike or Cordy/Angel (since that was Ats). So, in any universe that includes the TV characters, only a select few would be happy anyway and not even then if they didn't use the original actors. Of course, they could try using some of the characters with no romantic pairings which would please even fewer of the original fans but might appeal to a wider non-fan audience. So, IMO, the only way to go to try to gain new fans and still please some of the old is to reboot the movie and ignore the TV verse. IMO, it could be very successful if they did not try to go camp with it (like the original) but, instead, went very dark like Underworld or like the AU verse in the episode "The Wish". Making Buffy a complete badass and having swords a blazin' (or machine guns) and upping the special effects so that it's a big time action film would be my wish and the only way, IMO, that it could make big bucks. __________________ Deb ~ Bark/Angel Chipper/Shipper C/A Stillness - Non-Animated Icon Challenge Community devoted to Cordy and Angel David Stillness - Non-animated Icon Challenge Community for David Boreanaz Bones Hush - Textless Icon Challenge Community for the show Bones Nonna Rosina Productions

06-01-2009, 01:25 PM	#12
Livvie nutcase Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Seventh Ring of Hell Posts: 1,108	I know a lot of you are on LJ but I'm not sure how many are in active Buffy comms. The point is that when this hit my flist, the amount of people bitching about it was flooding every page. It was ridiculous. I never saw this much bitching when they tried to reboot or wake up any other franchise. Most Terminator fans weren't all up in arms about Sarah Connor Chronicles. I know a good amount of Trekkies were upset with the announcement of the new Star Trek but love it now. I know it isn't the same thing but if you just pretend the original Buffy movie never happened, there are so many tv shows to movies (Charlie's Angels, Starsky & Hutch, Brady Bunch, Miami Vice, Aeon Flux). Bad quality aside, a lot of the fans of the original show weren't pissing and moaning the way that I have seen. Frankly, from reading all the articles, they want to go a lot darker with this than with the whole liek omg! I'm a cheerleader feel of the first movie. And Whedon's idea of dark is killing off any character that can't run fast enough. Personally, I'd liked to see them bring on Greenwalt (cause he can do dark, have you seen his other series?), a great cast, and have it completely blow everyone out of the water. But I am a bitter Whedon-hater that way. LOL __________________ "No regrets. That is what I say. That and everybody Wang Chung tonight" -Out Cold "I only want to have sex with the C part of C/A. Not interested in the A." -Me to Nikkiwawa

06-01-2009, 02:09 PM	#13
Angela Cake.....or death? Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 4,960	You know, the only way I might even consider seeing this would be if it was a reboot of the movie that ignored the TV-verse. I still have a thing for vampires (thanks, True Blood!), and I absolutely fell in love with the reimagined BSG. So it could be good. __________________ Hitler never played Risk when he was a kid. -Eddie Izzard, Dress to Kill But you didn't have what it takes.... an evil hand! Resistance is futile. Assimilation is---oooh, porn! Go Mavs!!!!

06-02-2009, 10:38 AM	#14
LordKain Devil Hunter Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 220	The only way I see this Buffy project making any serious money and being a success would be if someone like JJ Abrams or James Cameron directed it cause Joss Whedon sucks and David Greenwalt's a hasbeen who hasn't found work in 2 years.

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