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.

Bryan Fuller is a God

As I mentioned in my previous post “My first blog award” , I own a lot of TV shows on DVD. I love being able to come home from work and watch an episode of a show I love and just be totally sucked into that world – commercial free. As I have gotten older and my DVD collection has grown I have noticed just how much I appreciate the amazingly talented writers who have me seriously addicted to their shows. So I would just like to give an honorable mention to two of my favourite writers… what I wouldn’t give to meet these guys…

If you are looking for a new series to get into, or have forgotten about some of these beauties I highly suggest you give them a watch.

Joss Whedon is a legend.

First with Buffy the Vampire Slayer and then the spin-off Angel. I have watched every episode of both of these shows numerous times… which at a total of 254 episodes (144 Buffy and 110 Angel) running at about roughly 45 minutes each episode (minus commercials) is roughly about 190 hours (feel free to correct my probably horribly math) which is over 7 days straight just watching these shows! And that’s not including any extras/bonus material. I am a sucker for the good (and I mean, good… dodgy, unrealistic doesn’t cut it) supernatural theme as it is, but the character depth and story lines in these shows just drew me in. I love the way each episode tells a story but its part of a bigger story that takes the whole show or season to pan out. I love the seriousness and then humor, and the ability to relate to it in one way or another… basically, every aspect of these shows wooed me.

With such a healthy respect for Whedon and being a bit of fan of Eliza Dushku (Faith from Buffy) I was naturally very intrigued when I heard that Joss had been working on a new show “Dollhouse” with Eliza as the star. I immediately jumped on eBay and purchased the first season. When it arrived I was far from disappointed. It was amazing! I watched the whole season within a week (ie after work, EVERY night) and am currently waiting for season two so I can get another fix. Unfortunately, unlike Buffy’s seven season run (and continuation in comic books) Dollhouse was dropped after the second season.

I have noticed that Whedon did another show, called "Firefly", which I am yet to watch… Have any of you seen this? Does it live up to standards?

Buffy

Angel

Dollhouse

Bryan Fuller is a God

I only discovered Dead Like Me last year after a recommendation from a friend but from the very first episode I was so hypnotized. I had never watched anything like it. Modern day reapers who specialize in tragic/accidental deaths and frequent a local coffee shop to get there “jobs” for the day… what’s not to love? Although I suppose it has some similar supernatural themes to Whedons epic shows; the dialogue and story lines were so creative and jovial, especially for a rather morbid theme. Rules were well thought out for the supernatural side of things, much like in the Buffyverse and I think that sticking to these rules and not changing them really keeps the faith of the viewers. Doing my usual IMDB search, I quickly realized that the marvelous brain behind Dead Like Me had worked on writing for two other shows. Wonderfalls and Pushing Daisies.

I first found Pushing Daises at JB Hifi and finished two seasons over a week (I didn’t even go anywhere on the weekend, I was glued to screen). It was just as magnificent, if not better then Dead Like Me… The whole show was a like a colour soaked fairy tale for adults, with (again) a supernatural theme, and some sarcastic humor for good measure. This only cemented my new found love of Bryan Fullers stories, and after a lovely blogger comment from Amber of Nostomanic reminded me, I began the hunt for Wonderfalls. It didn’t take me long to realize that this, like Pushing Daises and Dead Like Me; it too had been short lived. Wonderfalls only had a few episode actually go to air and was never released in Australia. My good friend eBay however, does not discriminate and I found a US copy of Wonderfalls on my door step within a week (last Friday to be exact). And can I just say… Wonderfalls = Wonderfull. It is such a pity when such an amazing show is cut down in its prime, it didn’t even have a chance… From what I have heard was planned for future season, it would have only continued to amaze further.

Dead Like Me

Pushing Daisies

Wonderfalls

These shows are just mind blowing, and if you have never seen them I suggest you do. Even if you are not a supernatural fan you will still enjoy these… My Mum is currently being forced to watch Pushing Daisies so she knows what I have been banging on about lol and she isn’t a huge supernatural fan but she is really enjoying it.

What is your favourite television series? Are you a Fuller/Whedon worshipper like me? Is there a show I should watch? I’d love to know :)

* For all images sources please click on image.