Reactions to Joss Whedon's recent SFX interview
POSTED BY: APark
UPDATED: Thursday, September 30, 2010 14:46
VIEWED: 8825
PAGE 3 of 3
I try not to react to articles like this. If they ever announce more Firefly. Great. If they don't, I have a show I can watch over and over.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
When I first read this I was quite dismayed--I thought that it was Joss saying "Nothing more in the 'Verse."
But I think he's talking very specifically about Firefly, recognizing that the likelihood of a show is about as high as the likelihood of Jayne receiving an honorary doctorate in medicine.
But he's not talking broader about the 'Verse--he separates Serenity from Firefly. And, we can assume, the comics as well. Moreover, the fact that the overall 'Verse is so clearly with him suggests that he would very much like to continue work in it. Whether he will or not is another matter, but it's certainly not waving the white flag to the Alliance.
Of course, we all wish that we had 9 seasons of Firefly, because that would mean over 200 hours of 'Verse shininess. Plots, subplots, etc. We won't ever get that (thanks, Fox). But we may get more comics, and one day, when the economy rebounds and studios loosen their iron grips on their wallets maybe, just maybe...
well, I can dream. The success of Inception should lead any studio executive of reasonable intelligence to realize that there is indeed a market for smart sci fi.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
As the original poster, I appreciate everyone's thoughts on this thread. I'm reading most people to think that there might be another Serenity -- movie or comic books, etc. -- down the road but no chance for another TV series (Firefly). Perhaps because it's late and I've moved LOTS of rocks today (literally), but why is that? Is it because the chances of the actors being available at the same time are next-to-nil, is it too big a risk for potential funding sources, or is it licensing issues, or maybe it's a combination? I read another post that said the licensing rights leave Fox in 2012.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Well, all of the above ;)
Nathan Fillion and Adam Baldwin are both on stable, successful shows--as much as they love the project, their agents would hunt them down with tazers if they even had a thought of leaving those shows for another attempt at a sci fi western. Summer Glau has another attempt at a show coming up, and Morena Baccarin is on a show that may survive for another year (V).
Honestly, the only way you could even have a Firefly tv show would be to hire all new actors, with the possible exceptions of Sean Maher and Jewel Staite.
And then there's the problem of getting a network to fund it. I do think that one of the smaller networks--eg CW--would do it, as would a cable network, but it'd be costly for them to acquire the license, and Joss would probably not be up for trying to do it on a substantially lesser budget with a very different cast. A major part of the genius of Firefly is how well the cast works together, and that is immensely hard to replicate.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by APark:
As the original poster, I appreciate everyone's thoughts on this thread. I'm reading most people to think that there might be another Serenity -- movie or comic books, etc. -- down the road but no chance for another TV series (Firefly). Perhaps because it's late and I've moved LOTS of rocks today (literally), but why is that? Is it because the chances of the actors being available at the same time are next-to-nil, is it too big a risk for potential funding sources, or is it licensing issues, or maybe it's a combination? I read another post that said the licensing rights leave Fox in 2012.
The overall message is more like , " Never give up hope."
Sure , there are many potential logistical issues , but business models are changing every day , especially in 'television'. There seems to be a movement away from what is known as broadcasting , and more toward a model that could be termed 'webcasting'.
If there were an entity like 'NBC/Universal' as one example , that would put the word out that they've acquired rights and that they're pitching for fan support to the tune of a dollar per fan per delivered episode , would you throw in ?
I would...Easily , and enthusiastically ! A lot of other Folk would come running , too.
Just because certain of the BDH's have other commitments at present , doesn't mean they couldn't make cameos for now , or be engaged further in the future...The job of the writers is partially to work within existing circumstances at a given point in time.
'Subscriber-supported' may be a viable business model in the near future...
Firefly is just too pretty to let die...Compared to the number of years between classic seasons of Star Trek , and the first Trek movie , we are still way ahead of the curve...
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by out2theblack:
Firefly is just too pretty to let die...
The last time that was said, the subject of said comment died :(
But you're right that there is plenty of time. Star Trek fans waited quite a long time to get a film. So, there's little reason to give up hope.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by firefly28:
Well, all of the above ;)
Nathan Fillion and Adam Baldwin are both on stable, successful shows--as much as they love the project, their agents would hunt them down with tazers if they even had a thought of leaving those shows for another attempt at a sci fi western. Summer Glau has another attempt at a show coming up, and Morena Baccarin is on a show that may survive for another year (V).
Honestly, the only way you could even have a Firefly tv show would be to hire all new actors, with the possible exceptions of Sean Maher and Jewel Staite.
And then there's the problem of getting a network to fund it. I do think that one of the smaller networks--eg CW--would do it, as would a cable network, but it'd be costly for them to acquire the license, and Joss would probably not be up for trying to do it on a substantially lesser budget with a very different cast. A major part of the genius of Firefly is how well the cast works together, and that is immensely hard to replicate.
Sean Maher is on a show now, too (as is Gina). So that actually just leaves Jewel as she's mostly doing TV films (and Summer as her show will probably get canceled...and I wonder how much longer Chuck will last). I think what you're forgetting is that most/all of these actors would be willing to get out of their current projects or do work-arounds if it meant a second shot at Firefly, but that's never going to happen so the point is moot.
I would honestly be thrilled if they did a novel continuation a la Level 26 (where they still shoot short scenes with the original actors, which you can look up online when you get to certain sections of the book, but the story is primarily in novel form). They could totally do that.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
My reaction to all of this is that Joss never says in this, and keep in mind we aren't reading the full article, that he is never coming back to Firefly/Serenity. Just that he shakes his head at the idea of a Serenity Sequel and that Firefly is unfinished business for him. Given his schedule with the Avengers, at the time this interview was done, he probably isn't in a place to think about a Serenity sequel. Given the large scale of Avengers, the amount of trust that is being put in him by Marvel, and the focus he has to put into working with a crew of actors, who by this time are already established in their characters, spending his time focusing on Serenity's Sequel would be a big disservice to Avengers.
It's completely understandable that he feels that Firefly was unfinished business. It ended too soon for him as it did for us.
I think the quote from Galaxy Quest holds true here. "Never give up. Never surrender." We held on for Serenity and we can hold on for more till Joss is ready, if he ever is.
[
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME