[UPDATE: Buffy creator Joss Whedon has responded to the news. Check out his comments below.]
There have been rumblings of a Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie reboot for a couple of years now. The last time we heard, original rights holders Fran Rubel Kazui and Kaz Kazui were interested in developing a new film that would take the franchise in a “darker direction” – and they were doing it without the involvement of Buffy creator Joss Whedon.
When the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series debuted on television in 1997, it was more than a quirky cult hit – it also acted as vindication for Whedon, whose original vision for the 1992 film of the same name had been severely compromised by Kazui Enterprises. When the movie reboot rumors surfaced, fans were understandably apprehensive about the property reverting back to Kazui, the same people who had so poorly mishandled it in the first place.
It was later reported that Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical) had been offered the lead role of Buffy and that TV series star Sarah Michelle Gellar might make a cameo appearance. Thankfully, this never materialized and the project seemingly vanished.
Well, now it’s back – Warner Bros. has optioned the rights and a new Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie is officially underway. Charles Roven and Steve Alexander will produce the reboot alongside Roy Lee and Doug Davison of Vertigo Entertainment (How To Train Your Dragon, The Departed).
The script is being written by Whit Anderson and evidently this new take on Buffy‘s mythology was enough to spark Roven’s interest:
“Whit approached us with an exciting idea about how to update Buffy…There is an active fan base eagerly awaiting this character’s return to the big screen. We’re thrilled to team up with Doug and Roy on a re-imagining of Buffy and the world she inhabits. Details of the film are being kept under wraps, but I can say while this is not your high school Buffy, she’ll be just as witty, tough, and sexy as we all remember her to be.”
I know I won’t be alone in declaring that I’m not terribly supportive of this. Whedon has such an offbeat and specific sense of humor. The Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV show had just the right balance of scares and laughs and it did it all with a pitch-perfect tongue-in-cheek attitude. It’s an incredibly difficult tone to achieve. In fact, look no further than the original Buffy movie for an example of how easy it is to screw up.
I’m just not convinced that this is a property that needs updating – especially when new generations of fans continue to discover Whedon’s TV show. The concept -a high school valley girl becomes a hardened vampire slayer – meshed well with Whedon’s unique style of writing, but I’m not sure how it’s going to hold up with a “darker” approach.
Update: It looks like Buffy fans aren’t the only ones saddened by this news. After the story broke, E!‘s Kristin Dos Santos sent an email to Joss Whedon asking how he felt about this development. Here’s his reply:
Kristin, I’m glad you asked for my thoughts on the announcement of Buffy the cinema film. 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.
Meanwhile, Bones creator Hart Hanson just tweeted this picture of Buffy alum David Boreanaz’s reaction to the news:
That pretty much sums it up.
What do you think? Is Buffy the Vampire Slayer ripe for re-imagining or should they leave well enough alone?
Source: Warner Bros. Pictures
Update Source: E! and Twitter.
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Damn its so stupid. If they wanted to do this, and not use any of the cast, and likely change everything they should have made a movie like “slayers the next generation” or something, and focus on a few of the newbies, since there’s alot of slayers out there now! Buffy was awesome and run it course, and if it were to continue, it’d continue only through the original cast! I’d find watching some new slayers together more intereting
Should get David Boreanaz and Sarah michelle Gellar and the original cast from the Television show to do the new Buffy the vampire slayer movie. The Television show was so awesome. and to everyone’s question is vampires still in popular answer is yes.
It’s sad when someone like JW has put so much work into something and to have it STOLED & RUINED is terrible enough. Not to let Joss do it is a swift kick to the stomach. It’s sad. Writers treat their work as a baby. Hollywood, the only BTVS film I plan on watching is from the father himself & his cast.
Terrible idea, I don’t know why Hollywood can’t seem to get the clue not to mess with something that has such a huge fan base. Look what they did to the original movie, it’s ghastly. Even the popularity of the new Star Trek movies is mostly from new fans, not from the massive fan base it has. Not to mention, they simply remade Nemesis but with different actors, it’s really sad. Taking Buffy to the big screen should be done with Sarah Michelle and Joss Whedon along for the ride, or not at all.
HOLLYWOOD, STEP AWAY AND LEAVE WELL ALONE!!!!! If you have to follow this story on be prepared for a flop. There are many out there that should give you fair warning dirty dancing 2 etc. Buffy fans do not need or want a new film so please please listen.
i agree with joss, it’s such a sad reflection on the laziness of our country when 98% of our movies are just old favorites being regurgitated. it’s pathetic how every successful movie since the 70s has been redone in the last 5 years. and look at the history of Buffy; with joss in control, HUGE success. without him it fails. those are the facts. how big a success can a new vampire slayer be in a generation that thinks vampires who stalk you and watch you sleep at night means true love? the new writer may very well be the biggest buffy fan ever, but the fact still remains that she will do what it takes to get as many tickets sold as possible. she won’t stay true to joss’s vision, because that’s not where the money is today.
i want to be a vampire
Ues the cast we all know and loved we love u Sarah u will always be the best Buffy to us
I’m PISSED off about this whole new Buffy Movie. I’m 25 years 10 years younger than the Cast of the Buffy tv show. Did not start watching the show until 2 years ago it’s one of my favorite shows if not possibly my favorite show. And I love TV Shows. I love and adore that cast everyone of them on and off camera. That is proof that this generation does not need a new generation buffy with new cast members. IF there is going to be another Buffy it needs to be with the same CAST as on the Show and Joss as Director and Writer.
if they make a buffy movie Joss needs to be a major part of it. his direction and writing are what made the show what it was. and it needs to be the original cast. buffy was my favorite show of all time and if it’s a different cast and writer i will NOT go see it. bring back the same characters and writer and it would be a hit. plus i wanna see buffy and angel get back together!
if they do the movie then they need to have the OG cast and have joss whedon on board otherwise you will turn this into a joke!!!
instead of recreating that only finsihed up on tv not to long but is continuing in comics still why dont they remake some tv series that had finsihed ages ago e.g. Xena the warrior princess or Hercules
when i first heard a new buffy film was coming out, i was extatic. then i discover that joss wasnt taking part… and i admit, things started going downhill from there onwards. if they wasnt to make some thing buffy’y then why not make a sequal? hollywood, the fans message to you:
you just never know when to stop. so for gods sake leave it…
Only one thing to say: the only way a new Buffy movie should be made is if Joss Whedon writes and directs. Who agrees?