Firefly never got a true sequel TV series, and discussions still take place about the possibility of a revival or a reboot - but a spinoff would be the better choice. While it might feel like a dream come true for the original cast to pick up where they left off, or to retell the original in a new setting, a unique collection of circumstances means that a new series taking place in the same universe would be the superior solution.
The only season of Firefly to air followed Captain Mal Reynolds and a rag-tag crew as they struggled to survive aboard the ship Serenity and stay out of the reaches of the tyrannical Alliance. While Fox cut many of the show’s storylines short when they canceled the show in 2002 after just 14 episodes, the show developed a cult following that has led to the stories being continued in other formats. The 2005 movie Serenity brought the crew back together to tie up some loose ends, and much like another of Joss Whedon’s TV series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a selection of comics and graphic novels have continued the narratives. However, speculation that a season 2 revival might be around the corner seems ever-present.
While this continued hunger for more Firefly stories suggests a return to the TV series might be in order, both a revival and a reboot are the wrong choice. A revival is untenable: the original cast are all embroiled in other projects that they would not be able to step away from. Additionally, a revival would face the challenge that between Serenity and the graphic novels the crew’s stories have already been told to a point where new viewers would either have to read the backlog of comics or be left in the dark. Meanwhile, a reboot would risk losing elements that made the original so successful and prevent the possibility of smaller cameo appearances from the original cast that would be meaningful for long-term fans. A spinoff would be the best choice as it would walk the line between the two, using a new cast and main story to explore the same beloved universe while being accessible to new viewers and still allowing for cameos and nods to the extended narratives that have already taken place.
Spinoffs are becoming more common, and there is good evidence that a spinoff of Firefly could be successful as have reliably tuned in for narratives that continue to explore original universes from Angel to Private Practice, and more recently with Young Sheldon. This is not to mention the success of sprawling extended universes like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Star Wars that have demonstrated the power of tying stories together with cross-property cameos.
The story continuations have already laid a lot of groundwork for fleshing out the wider universe, introducing other characters, and providing cameos. Notably, the comic Float On depicts old crewmates of Hoban “Wash” Washburne reminiscing about his exploits in days gone before providing a shock appearance at the end from a pregnant Zoe that would go on to fuel later stories.
After so long, any spinoff would need a new cast and, owing to the controversies surrounding Joss Whedon, likely a new showrunner. But a desire for the Firefly universe to return to TV screens certainly exists, and it would be crucial to be able to give viewers a glimpse of familiar faces and to honor the original, while still allowing the spinoff to be its own thing.
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