So, they’re thinking of making a new “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” feature film, and Joss Whedon might not be involved AT ALL.
Thoughts? Questions? Howls of impotent rage?
thwartme
From the link:
According to the news item, the producers aren’t against the idea of Whedon’s involvement, but they haven’t “reached out to him.” What’s more, this new “film” would have no connection with the TV series, nor would it feature any of the show’s robust supporting cast. In other words, they’d be jettisoning everything and everyone that made Buffy work. I swear, sometimes it’s as if Hollywood sets out with “failure” plugged right into the GPS.
So the title and basic concept would be the only thing they have in common, much like the original movie and the series. I already ignore the latter, and can easily do the same to this one if it winds up sucking just as hard. It doesn’t really bother me at all, though it does leave me scratching my head.
Er. Already ignore the former. I’m sure there are fans of the original movie that hate the series, but I’ve yet to meet one.
I was all excited you might be some intense fan of the movie who was all angry that the series wasn’t faithful to the film. Probably with your own website full of rants against Whedon for ruining the concept, and claims that the series “never happened”.
Ah well. I actually liked the movie alright, and the series was fun, but honestly the concept has already had better luck then it deserves, I doubt a third re-imagining is going to go anywhere.
Plus making fun of Valley Girls seems a little dated at this point.
Well, Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Ephron are probably looking for a new career boost…
Well, if they make it hard-R, and hire some hot leads, and take the whole “suckage” thing to its logical conclusion…
…it will still suck.
Not only is Joss apparently not going to be involved but the director of the original movie is being brought in to work on the project.
Meh, I’ll probably still see this if it ever gets made, mostly out of curiosity. If they manage to screw it up badly I’ve still got twelve seasons worth of DVDs that work just fine.
Terrible, terrible idea. This cow is out of milk, FFS. Hopefully one effect of the recession will be that stupid film ideas like this don’t get funding.
The director of the original movie is Fran Rubel Kuzui, whose husband, Kaz, helped finance it. Her directorial skills had little to do with her getting the job; the Kuzuis’ rights are also the reason she’s being “brought in” for the current discussion. Joss was not happy with what they did to his script; haven’t seen the movie myself, but I’ve heard enough about it.
The Kuzuis OK’d Joss’s use of his concept for the TV show, in exchange for money & credit as Executive Producers in the credits of Buffy (& Angel.) They had no further creative input.
So, they want more money. Check out her IMDB Profile–she hasn’t been working much.
I really liked Donald Sutherland as Merrick, but that’s about it. Anthony Head was a kickass replacement, anyway.
Well, thank God. I was afraid all the fanboys I know wouldn’t have anything to whine about, since that “Dollhouse” show got renewed. Would have been dreadfully stressful for the poor dears to find another topic beyond “man, <this> sucks! Joss always gets screwed!”
whew Bullet dodged, there.
It’s well established that fandoms complain. All fandoms, not just Joss’s. No matter how good the show is, the fans will find something to nitpick. Even if it’s perfect, the fans will complain they can’t find anything to nitpick (and this never happens anyway).
Lucky for you, fans tend to argue within their own circles, at least until someone sticks their head in and provides a meaty target. Just leave 'em alone and they’ll leave you alone.
Huh. I complained about I, Robot, which wasn’t a bad movie but pissed me off because it didn’t need to have the Asimov title on it. I complain about the Star Wars prequels. I am a big fan of SW.
There is a difference between fanboys and people who just like a show and wish to see a movie based on the show, directed by the director they love, etc.
I am defending Whedonites, which I almost never do, but I really can’t see how this is not a legitimate target for complaint. From what I can tell they are basically running with the Buffy name but it’s not actually like the show…ok, then what’s the point?
IMO, what that usually accomplishes is fans of the show are alienated and everybody else is like “Wha…?” because the movie doesn’t make any sene.
That’d be Fran Rubel Kazui, who was more-or-less responsible for Buffy happening at all, and was the one who brought Joss in for the series after his script was taken over by others (including Kazui herself) for the film.
I have no problem with Kazui being involved, I just hope that - if it happens at all - Joss gets some say. Joss-ness is one of the cool things about Buffy to me.
I would now like to say “Kazui” few more times.
Kazui. Kazui. Kazui.
Thank you,
thwartme
Double Post
That isn’t the case here, though. This is a take-off of the movie, the same as the series was. It sucks that Joss is being left out since this was his idea, but considering he was left out of the movie that this is a remake of (and is a large part of the reason there even was a series), it’s at least got precedent.
Do you have a cite for Kuzui being in any way involved with the series? My understanding has always been that she and her husband were listed as producers but had absolutely no involvement with the show in any shape, form, or fashion.
Huh, I’ve considered myself a fan of Joss’s for years but I never knew about the Kazui’s connection to the Buffy franchise.
Does Whedon not actually own any of the rights to Buffy? I knew he was a script polisher in Hollywood but it never occured to me that the script for the original movie may have a ‘work-for-hire’ type situation. Is that what happened? Who actually owns the production rights to the concept?
I never meant to imply that she was involved in the writing/decision making of the series, just that she was one of the people who helped make the series happen at all. From this article:
So she “discovered” Buffy, got the film made, and helped get Joss in on the series. I’d say that counts as being “more-or-less responsible for Buffy happening at all”.
I liked the movie. I liked the series a lot more, but I thought the movie was fun. I hope Joss is involved, but I’ll probably end up seeing whatever they come up with.
thwartme
Oh, I didn’t mean the creative process, I just meant in general, and I’m completely surprised that she had any involvement at all with the show, let alone being a driving force in getting it produced in the first place. My impression has always been that she was credited for no other reason than contractual obligations.
Thanks for the info. Very interesting.
Fine…but I don’t see it as being wrong to complain, is all. Not that I even see that many people doing that!