Fans of the TV Buffy the Vampire Slayer may consider this a complete travesty, but Warner Bros. announced today via press release that they’re planning on rebooting the theatrical Buffy franchise:
LOS ANGELES, NOVEMBER 11, 2010: Atlas Entertainment announced today it is rebooting the beloved franchise, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, with Warner Bros. Pictures. Atlas Charles Roven and Steve Alexander will produce the feature film alongside Doug Davison and Roy Lee of Vertigo Entertainment (The Ring, How to Train Your Dragon, The Departed). Whit Anderson is writing the script.
The fact that a reboot is happening isn’t really new: the studio has been trying to get a new version started for years, but there was a theory I heard a few years ago that these rumors were nothing more than scare tactics, designed to frighten Joss Whedon (the REAL creator) into getting involved in the movie.
Well, now that 20th Century Fox no longer owns the rights – Warners optioned them from Fran and Kaz Kuzui, the ones who initiated the film franchise – that ‘scare tactics’ rumor can be laid to rest as Warner Bros. is going ahead with the production without any input from Whedon… at least at this point.
Deadline has a quote in their article from an “insider” who says “While this is not your high school Buffy, she’ll be just as witty, tough, and sexy as we all remember her to be”. While unamed sources are rarely legit, they run the risk of alienating the show’s fanbase if they tinker too much.
UPDATE: Joss Whedon spoke out in an email to E! online yesterday, and had this to say about the Buffy news:
“This is a sad, sad reflection on our times, when people must feed off the carcasses of beloved stories from their youths — just because they can’t think of an original idea of their own, like I did with my Avengers idea that I made up myself.
Obviously I have strong, mixed emotions about something like this. My first reaction upon hearing who was writing it was, “Whit Stillman AND Wes Anderson? This is gonna be the most sardonically adorable movie EVER.” Apparently I was misinformed. Then I thought, “I’ll make a mint! This is worth more than all my Toy Story residuals combined!” Apparently I am seldom informed of anything. And possibly a little slow. But seriously, are vampires even popular any more?
I always hoped that Buffy would live on even after my death. But, you know, AFTER. I don’t love the idea of my creation in other hands, but I’m also well aware that many more hands than mine went into making that show what it was. And there is no legal grounds for doing anything other than sighing audibly. I can’t wish people who are passionate about my little myth ill. I can, however, take this time to announce that I’m making a Batman movie. Because there’s a franchise that truly needs updating. So look for The Dark Knight Rises Way Earlier Than That Other One And Also More Cheaply And In Toronto, rebooting into a theater near you.
Leave me to my pain! Sincerely, Joss Whedon”.
24 comments
It's about time that Facebook developed an Unlike buttong. I want to link to this article but there's no way in Hell I'm clicking "Like" with regards to this news.
Jesus, can't they let these things rest a while before starting the reboot? Hell, it hasn't even been 10 years since the show ended.
Aren't the 2 existing versions enough? Get creative and make something new!
Hopefully, this will be on the air by the time the new "Spider-Man" movie comes out. 2002 was too good of a year to only experience once.
They should leave Buffy alone. Whatever ownership the studio feels they have over the franchise is all on paper. Ask a fan who really controls the fate of the Slayer and it's one Joss Whedon. Nobody wants to see anything without that guy attached. They got a monumental backlash the last time they announced the reboot, why keep announcing it and piss off the exact people they're counting on to watch the damn thing. For the record, I'm taking a hardline stance on remakes now, in that I won't watch them. If a hardened Trekkie refuses to watch the new one, you sure as s*** aren't getting me to betray Joss Whedon and watch whatever rubbish Warners come out with.
We have a Buffy movie and tv series. Isn't that enough? Is it because of the vampire trend that WB thinks we will hurl them some dollars their way?
Great. Just what this world needs. More vampire movies.
They want this in the can before all the Twilight girls get a clue.
First: This movie is totally unnecessary except as a calculated business move. Second: BUFFY without Whedon is not BUFFY. If they've really got to make a new movie then I would hope they'd continue the TV series and use its cast; but at the very least, Whedon must be involved. Without him there is precisely 0.00% chance that I will pay for to see it.
Buffy Reboot: Nerdrage Cometh
Warner Brother obviously doesn't give two squirts of piss about Whedon's fanbase or their outrage. They're looking for a whole new audience of teenage girls that want to see vampire romance. Knock yourself out with your boycott. They don't want your business.
Where is the outrage?!?!?! You! Hate, shitbird! *Sigh.* Fine. I'll hate for all of us. If you people are willing to sit back and watch while Whedon is ripped off, then I'm going to lecture about how Whedon has been influenced by Stan Lee and David Mamet. Are you still listening?
None of the cast like Gellar personally or professionally. Recast Buffy with Kristen Bell, bring back everyone else, and there you have it.
Joss Whedon's a tit and this reboot will be all the better without him.
there's no Kuzui like Kaz Kuzui
Dear Joss. We're making the picture awesome without you, but we will be thinking of you when we are cashing the checks, love Warners. P.S. No credit.
Feels like it's a bit too soon. They really should have waited a few years whilst The Avengers does good business and people see how good Whedon is theatrically – like they need a reason – then do a reboot. But nooo… got to get onto the vampire train whilst the current series is giving its death rattle (Twilight). Terrible idea. I think what's even worse is the fact that they're ditching all supporting characters (obviously not really associated with the film version so can't really get their hands on all of them) and starting new ones.
Whoever is in charge of this needs to pop their eye out like Xander, and skull fuck themselves with a rusty spoon. Without Joss Whedon, this will suck hard.
This will suck harder than the vacuum of space! The Kuzui's may own BUFFY but the movie they made was AWFUL! Joss Whedon saved Buffy from oblivion and created a legendary series. NO BUFFY REBOOT!! I will not pay to see this…..no way no how!! The last time I was this adamant was with STAR TREK: THE ABOMINATION!!!
Whedon's response had the desired effect on me- I was angry, but now I simply don't care. Go Joss!
So I guess everytime they make a Marvel movie they need Stan Lee's blessing, right? God you people are fucking stupid.
Get Edgar Wright to direct this so we can all shut the fuck up.
In re: comment #22; Not a stupid as you are, you obnoxious, rude fuckwit. Stan Lee wrote COMIC BOOKS (and he didn't create nearly as much of that as he takes credit for; his best work was co-plotted with, and often just plotted by, Kirby and Ditko); Whedon actually works in the medium in question here, i.e.: FILM. Having to put up with shitheads like you (I'm referring to you, LOLWUT?)really makes going online into a chore.
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