No Joss Whedon + No Sarah Michelle Gellar = No Buffy

Warning: Buffy Fans this could reduce you to the fetal position in tears or could possibly result in violence or petty vandalism…

The original Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie - Image from ThinkHero.com

If you have not already heard the news you are likely to be just as mortified as I was this morning. About a year ago there was some talk about a Buffy movie re-make without any involvement from Joss Whedon and without any original cast members, well it seems that this blasphemes idea has been now been CONFIRMED.

After seeing “a Buffy movie” mentioned on one of the Facebook fan pages I googled it and to my dismay it seem that this is actually going ahead. From the articles I have read (of which there are many) what I can gather is this…

Fran Rubel and Kaz Kuzui who owned the film rights to Buffy the Vampire Slayer have decided to reboot the franchise. Warner Bros and Atlas Entertainment are now developing a new film based on the series with Whit Anderson, and a little known young writer will is currently writing the script. Apparently the film is going to be a “complete reboot” and “While this is not your high-school Buffy, she’ll be just as witty, tough and sexy as we all remember her to be”. The new film is said to be being released in 2012.

Whedon has been quoted as saying “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." Read more here.

One of my favourite articles I have found about it was at AfterEllen.com, here. I cant find the authors name but I can not agree more with their description…

“Naturally, I’m skeptical, and by skeptical I mean a string of expletives which cannot be printed on this all-ages site. How dare they mess with a beloved, iconic character like Buffy? How dare they bring her back without her universally respected creator? How dare they put the franchise in the hands of an inexperienced young writer? Blasphemy! Horror! Rage! So much screaming!”

Buffy Cast Season 1 - Image from CinemaVoyage.com

Buffy Cast Season 7 - Image from BuffyGalaxy.com

Kirsty Swanson from the original Buffy movie has said she would be involved in the reboot, however several cast from the television series have hit back via twitter.

Buffy Casts twitter responses - Image from AfterEllen.com

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The character Buffy Summers first appeared in the original movie in 1992 and although admittedly I am not particularly a fan of the original movie, I do have great respect for it because without it there wouldn’t have been the television series. But lets face facts, if the television series had not followed the movie then there wouldn’t be the die hard fans who cherish the DVDs, continue to purchase the merchandise and read the comics 7 years after it has finished. Without the television show Buffy would just be a funny name on a weekly rental you walk past at the video store. I mean no disrespect to Joss by saying that but there is just no comparison between the series and the movie.

Details of the film are being kept under wraps at moment, but this news has simply crushed me. Buffy is an icon and proved that it can withstand the test of time, it does not need a reboot especially by someone who has zero involvement in the original successful cult television show. To re-make Buffy is simply tainting this amazing franchise. The many committed fans already love the show so a “fresh twist” isn’t needed, and any attempt to imitate Whedons genius will only fail and disappoint.-

There are many fan pages on Facebook already along the lines of “no Buffy without Joss” and “No to Buffy films/TV without Whedons Approval” which are worth fanning if you are interested in any further developments. One in particular I would like to mention, “Boycott the Buffy Reboot Movie” . Its pretty self explanatory but the jist is, if this movie goes ahead do not give these money hungry Hollywood hotshots a cent of your money for sucking dry and tainting this fabulous show. If you really must see it (as I have seen on the page) download it illegally. There is a petition online here if you agree.