Occasionally a piece of TV and movie news pops up that simply must be addressed. The internet is ablaze today with news that the original rights holders of the Buffy franchise are planning a rebooted movie. Observe:
A new incarnation of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” could be coming to the big screen.
“Buffy” creator Joss Whedon isn’t involved and it’s not set up at a studio, but Roy Lee and Doug Davison of Vertigo Entertainment are working with original movie director Fran Rubel Kuzui and her husband, Kaz Kuzui, on what is being labeled a remake or relaunch, but not a sequel or prequel.
While Whedon is the person most associated with “Buffy,” Kuzui and her Kuzui Enterprises have held onto the rights since the beginning, when she discovered the “Buffy” script from then-unknown Whedon. She developed the script while her husband put together the financing to make the 1992 movie, which was released by Fox.
The new “Buffy” film, however, would have no connection to the TV series, nor would it use popular supporting characters like Angel, Willow, Xander or Spike. Vertigo and Kuzui are looking to restart the story line without trampling on the beloved existing universe created by Whedon, putting the parties in a similar situation faced by Paramount, J.J. Abrams and his crew when relaunching “Star Trek.”
One of the underlying ideas of “Buffy” allows Vertigo and Kuzui to do just that: that each generation has its own vampire slayer to protect it. The goal would be to make a darker, event-sized movie that would, of course, have franchise potential.
The parties are meeting with writers and hearing takes, and later will look for a home for the project. The producers do not rule out Whedon’s involvement but have not yet reached out to him. Speaking from Tokyo, Fran Kuzui said the company is constantly approached not only about sequels but theater, video games and foreign remakes for “Buffy.” When Vertigo’s Lee contacted them, they were intrigued.
No. No No NO! This is just wrong. And it simply cannot, under any circumstances, be compared to the successful – and enjoyable – reboot of Star Trek. Permit me to explain.
I may be opening myself up to fan boy attack, but from what I’ve read and from my own talks with original Star Trek fans, the franchise was essentially dead. Recent movies were declining in quality and were becoming mere parodies of themselves. Much in the same way that Batman movies, before Batman Begins, were killing the franchise. Handing the reins of Star Trek to an established and creative man like J.J. Abrams was a brilliant move. So was giving Batman to Chris Nolan. What harm could they have done? It’s not like they could have possibly made the situation worse (sorry, George Clooney, but it’s true). In the end, both filmmakers revitalized the franchises by portraying origin stories that brought the original characters back into sharp focus and made us care for them again.
Buffy is different. While the series may have floundered a bit in middle seasons (I can admit this, for I am a die-hard fan), the show ended on a fantastic note. The original 1992 movie was a horrible parody of all things vampire. The movie was original written by Joss Whedon, but he has publicly claimed that the powers that be twisted his script into the final horrible, and unrecognizable, product. The television show was his do-over and he did it so well. It ended on a perfect note and even spun off the Angel series (of which, again, I am a huge fan). Buffy is not dying. She’s not dead (anymore). There is no need to reboot the franchise.
Ms. Kuzui talks of introducing new characters and a new storyline. What for? We don’t give a flying flip about new characters. It’s the old characters we love. Sarah Michelle Gellar’s portrayal of Buffy. Spike, Giles, Willow! These are the people we cared about. If Joss Whedon were to announce tomorrow that he was bringing back the original cast to do a Buffy movie under his direction I would pre-buy my ticket before filming even began. However, you cannot capitalize on the recent – and still somewhat inexplicable – popularity of Twilight and vampires and remake the Buffy movie.
Fran Kuzui has apparently not directed a single movie since the original Buffy movie. This does not bode well. At least J.J. Abrams and Chris Nolan proved themselves as directors and creators before their franchise reboots. You’re playing with fire, Ms. Kuzui. I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
The one thing that so many of these articles is forgetting is that Buffy does not have a built-in fan base, but Joss Whedon's Buffy does. The fans are not in love with the Buffyverse, they are in love with the Whedonverse. Nobody liked the original film. No why? Because they ignored Joss, so much to the point where he left the movie. The Kuzui's don't understand the world, Joss does. This will have absolutely no built in fanbase because the fanbase have already grown to despise this picture before it has even begun. Give us the Buffy movie we want (the one Joss would make), not a rehashing of the crappy original.
You are so right! I dont know anyone who will go see this. Buffy fans will rebel b/c it’s not THEIR Buffy. Buffy fans love Joss’ Buffy. That is it. I challenge anyone to find one person who liked the original movie enough to see a new one, but didn’t like the series. Such people do not exist.
Non-Buffy fans will not want to see a movie that carries the name of a series they (in my opinion inexplicably) did not like.
Whose the target audience for this movie?
I would urge the people thinking about making this movie to read the FOX press release where they said they saved Dollhouse basically because Whedon fans are fanatic and awesome and they trust his brilliance. Studios have learned before not to mess with his work. This is a movie that will flop… but nobody will even know that b/c there’s no target audience to go see it.
The one thing that so many of these articles is forgetting is that Buffy does not have a built-in fan base, but Joss Whedon’s Buffy does. The fans are not in love with the Buffyverse, they are in love with the Whedonverse. Nobody liked the original film. No why? Because they ignored Joss, so much to the point where he left the movie. The Kuzui’s don’t understand the world, Joss does. This will have absolutely no built in fanbase because the fanbase have already grown to despise this picture before it has even begun. Give us the Buffy movie we want (the one Joss would make), not a rehashing of the crappy original.
You are so right! I dont know anyone who will go see this. Buffy fans will rebel b/c it's not THEIR Buffy. Buffy fans love Joss' Buffy. That is it. I challenge anyone to find one person who liked the original movie enough to see a new one, but didn't like the series. Such people do not exist.
Non-Buffy fans will not want to see a movie that carries the name of a series they (in my opinion inexplicably) did not like.
Whose the target audience for this movie?
I would urge the people thinking about making this movie to read the FOX press release where they said they saved Dollhouse basically because Whedon fans are fanatic and awesome and they trust his brilliance. Studios have learned before not to mess with his work. This is a movie that will flop… but nobody will even know that b/c there's no target audience to go see it.
I agree with you alexanderman 1000%. I was more of an Angel fan myself, but the ensemble cast is what made Buffy. I would rather see a Spike or Faith spinoff, or hell, even a Buffy movie with the current cast than a reboot. Doesn't Kuzui realize she already almost killed this franchise once?
I agree with you alexanderman 1000%. I was more of an Angel fan myself, but the ensemble cast is what made Buffy. I would rather see a Spike or Faith spinoff, or hell, even a Buffy movie with the current cast than a reboot. Doesn’t Kuzui realize she already almost killed this franchise once?
"Buffy is not dying. She’s not dead (anymore). There is no need to reboot the franchise."
This is the crux of the matter. It's six years later and fans would happily welcome back Whedon's "Buffy" and any of the cast. And they are all still capable of resuming their roles.
Evenually, a relaunch may – and probably would – work. But it's too soon to try such a thing now. Buffy-isms still litter pop-culture more than half a decade after the last episode aired. "Fire bad, tree pretty." "Annual apocalypse." "It's Tuesday… Dawn's in trouble." Today's TV generation still has their "Buffy." I think they'd have a better chance of success if Kuzui waits a while for a new audience to develop.
“Buffy is not dying. She’s not dead (anymore). There is no need to reboot the franchise.”
This is the crux of the matter. It’s six years later and fans would happily welcome back Whedon’s “Buffy” and any of the cast. And they are all still capable of resuming their roles.
Evenually, a relaunch may – and probably would – work. But it’s too soon to try such a thing now. Buffy-isms still litter pop-culture more than half a decade after the last episode aired. “Fire bad, tree pretty.” “Annual apocalypse.” “It’s Tuesday… Dawn’s in trouble.” Today’s TV generation still has their “Buffy.” I think they’d have a better chance of success if Kuzui waits a while for a new audience to develop.
Really? You really think the series ended on a fantastic note? Wow…it's all so fricking subjective, isn't it? I thought the last season was almost unwatchable — by FAR the worst of the show.
I'm not sure what middle seasons you didn't like. 4-6 seem to me to be the strongest.
But I agree with everything else you said. ;-)
Really? You really think the series ended on a fantastic note? Wow…it’s all so fricking subjective, isn’t it? I thought the last season was almost unwatchable — by FAR the worst of the show.
I’m not sure what middle seasons you didn’t like. 4-6 seem to me to be the strongest.
But I agree with everything else you said. ;-)
My Opinion: Season 5 was awesome, as was Season 7.
I didn't like Season 6 much for the same reason I didn't like Season 4. Both of them had too many "Real life sucks" plotlines. They both had some of the best single episodes, but their over-all story arcs were just not that interesting.
But it is subjective, and everyone is entitled to their opinion.
:)
My Opinion: Season 5 was awesome, as was Season 7.
I didn’t like Season 6 much for the same reason I didn’t like Season 4. Both of them had too many “Real life sucks” plotlines. They both had some of the best single episodes, but their over-all story arcs were just not that interesting.
But it is subjective, and everyone is entitled to their opinion.
:)
i almost cried when i read about this in my entertainment weekly…
i agree with all the comments here, buffy is joss whedon's whether or not he owns the rights. these same people trying to revamp the series screwed up JOss's vision of buffy back in the ninties, so i don't see who in their right mind thinks they can do any better the second time…jj abrams and chris nolan are established directors but if fran kuzui hasn't even directed a movie since his epic fail back in 1992, it just doesn't make me very confident that buffy is in good hands…
this is all just a scam to make more money seeing the recent success of twilight and true blood, since studios think what the kids are into these days is vampires, but they don't realize that buffy had alot more going for it besides a "dark, forbidden love" vampire-human romance.
sidenote: season five and seven were the best. the only season i really thought was crap was the first one but thankfully it was only twelve episodes…
i almost cried when i read about this in my entertainment weekly…
i agree with all the comments here, buffy is joss whedon’s whether or not he owns the rights. these same people trying to revamp the series screwed up JOss’s vision of buffy back in the ninties, so i don’t see who in their right mind thinks they can do any better the second time…jj abrams and chris nolan are established directors but if fran kuzui hasn’t even directed a movie since his epic fail back in 1992, it just doesn’t make me very confident that buffy is in good hands…
this is all just a scam to make more money seeing the recent success of twilight and true blood, since studios think what the kids are into these days is vampires, but they don’t realize that buffy had alot more going for it besides a “dark, forbidden love” vampire-human romance.
sidenote: season five and seven were the best. the only season i really thought was crap was the first one but thankfully it was only twelve episodes…
I think they shouldn't do the remake considering the circumstances. Joss Whedon is a genius and i absolutely love everything he's done. Kuzui probably thought "Oh, Twilight and True Blood are really popular, might as well make another Buffy movie…but lets change it all together"…dude…i dispise twilight and true blood…hate them…always will…Buffy and Angel shows had some originality to it and what Joss created in the shows was brilliant. But with Kuzui not getting Joss to take charge and do what he does best to make this movie the best there ever was WITH the original characters, then without him the movie would wind up worse thing to happen to the Buffy/Whedonverse. With these reports on the internet etc. i have a feeling this movie wont be that successful. The only people who will watch it are Twilight dorks who think they are seeing another version of Twilight. And with Megan Fox supposedly playing Buffy…I like the girl but dude…she would not make a good Buffy. By all means put her in the movie..but not as Buffy.
Wow that was longer than I expected.
I think they shouldn’t do the remake considering the circumstances. Joss Whedon is a genius and i absolutely love everything he’s done. Kuzui probably thought “Oh, Twilight and True Blood are really popular, might as well make another Buffy movie…but lets change it all together”…dude…i dispise twilight and true blood…hate them…always will…Buffy and Angel shows had some originality to it and what Joss created in the shows was brilliant. But with Kuzui not getting Joss to take charge and do what he does best to make this movie the best there ever was WITH the original characters, then without him the movie would wind up worse thing to happen to the Buffy/Whedonverse. With these reports on the internet etc. i have a feeling this movie wont be that successful. The only people who will watch it are Twilight dorks who think they are seeing another version of Twilight. And with Megan Fox supposedly playing Buffy…I like the girl but dude…she would not make a good Buffy. By all means put her in the movie..but not as Buffy.
Wow that was longer than I expected.
I agree with BuffyFan; season 7 seemed to lack any interesting direction despite all the potential of the original evil and the new slayers. Its tone just seemed to drift so far from the things that appealed to me in Buffy, it could have been any sci fi-dramedy.
While five and six also drift in certain regards away from the established tone, but five works to an extent, despite Glory getting very boring due to overuse and the actress' inability to carry the character that much. Six is among my favorite seasons specifically because of how dark a direction it takes the character dynamics. It all manages to feel so organic and logical the way the core trio's own issues play out, I can easily imagine that being the direction those people would go in in the real world.
Four is another one of my favorite seasons, as I feel it carries over the high school tone nicely while still allowing the characters room to grow and evolve. Adam is one of the most interesting villains of the entire series to me, though he was extremely underdeveloped. Four seems like the logical ending point of the original series direction and tone, before it starts switching it up in five. Overall, I would place four in third place and six in fourth.
It's hard to beat the dynamic of 3 with the mayor (the best villian) and Faith, though 2 is also right up there. I think seven would be my least favorite season, though the first was pretty hit and miss.
As far as a Buffy reboot without Whedon, it's obviously a painful, angering idea to most fans of the show, myself included. But stepping back from that perspective, I can see the financial logic in it. Take an established hit franchise about vampires and young women, at a time when they're already popular, reboot it for a younger audience that did not religiously watch Buffy; it's a great idea in theory. Of course the fatal flaw is that the Kazui creative team has already proven their inability to successfully pull off such a feat. Their only hope, I believe, is to produce it, but bring in a talented writer and director and let them do their thing.
I agree with BuffyFan; season 7 seemed to lack any interesting direction despite all the potential of the original evil and the new slayers. Its tone just seemed to drift so far from the things that appealed to me in Buffy, it could have been any sci fi-dramedy.
While five and six also drift in certain regards away from the established tone, but five works to an extent, despite Glory getting very boring due to overuse and the actress’ inability to carry the character that much. Six is among my favorite seasons specifically because of how dark a direction it takes the character dynamics. It all manages to feel so organic and logical the way the core trio’s own issues play out, I can easily imagine that being the direction those people would go in in the real world.
Four is another one of my favorite seasons, as I feel it carries over the high school tone nicely while still allowing the characters room to grow and evolve. Adam is one of the most interesting villains of the entire series to me, though he was extremely underdeveloped. Four seems like the logical ending point of the original series direction and tone, before it starts switching it up in five. Overall, I would place four in third place and six in fourth.
It’s hard to beat the dynamic of 3 with the mayor (the best villian) and Faith, though 2 is also right up there. I think seven would be my least favorite season, though the first was pretty hit and miss.
As far as a Buffy reboot without Whedon, it’s obviously a painful, angering idea to most fans of the show, myself included. But stepping back from that perspective, I can see the financial logic in it. Take an established hit franchise about vampires and young women, at a time when they’re already popular, reboot it for a younger audience that did not religiously watch Buffy; it’s a great idea in theory. Of course the fatal flaw is that the Kazui creative team has already proven their inability to successfully pull off such a feat. Their only hope, I believe, is to produce it, but bring in a talented writer and director and let them do their thing.