Firefly and SyFy?

[yellowcrayon]

An article on io9 today mentions the possibility of Firefly being brought to SyFy. With the cancellation of BSG and Farscape, they're looking for a new space opera, and Mark Stern, SyFy's Creative Director of Original Programming hints at his love for Firefly.

SyFy Seeks the Next Big Space Opera

The part in question:

So what are you looking at to replace the channel's missing space opera?

You know it's so early days, I don't have anything really specific. We're talking to a lot of people that we already work with, about ideas. We don't want to do something that is the same old. You don't want it to feel recycled. So that's the challenge of doing that. I'm a huge fan of Firefly, and shows that take that idea and take that part of the genre and reinvent it in a whole new way. I'd love to find our version of, not specifically Firefly, but similar to what Joss [Whedon] tried to do with that in terms of, "lets recast the Western in space." Love that idea, and I love that show.

While I get that he outright stated "something similar" as opposed to just bringing it back...

We all know that he'd have 9 actors on immediately. The only question is whether he'd have Whedon.

This already has a fanbase, and one that's already grown drastically since the show's cancellation by FOX.

At the very least, I'm willing to head up a petition to SyFy about bringing back Firefly. Hell, I'd even work on contacting Nathan Fillion himself to see if he'd be interested in signing it. 😉

Another note is that Universal owns SyFy. Universal owns the rights to Serenity. Joss Whedon owns the rights to Firefly.

Can an engraved invitation get any more engraved?

Also, they're looking forward to about 2011 or some such. It'd give our beloved cast members time to work out schedules, and clear up time and we could have back an awesome show (shut up, Al, I know you don't agree).

Enough crazed late night coffee-induced ramblings from your resident barista. 🙂

~~YC

 

[white avenger]

TV shows that are canceled for whatever reason very rarely return after as long a period of non=production as this. At best, we could look forward to a "Next Generation" spinoff, with new characters on the old ship. At best, 1 or 2 of the original cast might have a cameo part in the pilot, maybe as a flashback, explaining how "Serenity" got a fresh crew. Add to that, if Joss either can't or wont involve himself with the new show, we will have a repeat of the non-Joss "Buffy" movie that has stirred up so many fans.

 

[yellowcrayon]

Yeah, I realize it's a very, very long shot in the dark. Doesn't mean it wouldn't be awesome. 😉

I do honestly believe the hardest part of bringing back Firefly would be getting Joss Whedon to involve himself. Granted, I think Dollhouse turned out kinda poorly, all things considered (at least when faced with his other shows), and I think it would behoove him to re-attach himself to a much better show. I do think some of his reluctance to do anything with Firefly is rather arrogant over-egotistical crap that many writers I've seen go through "Nooo, I'm a WRITER, I must move on and WRITE things and do things for the sake of WRITING"... etc. Just my opinion, though. 😉

 

[Blondie Bear]

I would love Firefly to come back. Unfortunately, Nathan Fillion is kind of busy with Castle (a WONDERFUL show, btw), so I don't see an old-cast thing happening. Maybe another movie, but not the series. 🙁

And may I just again register my dislike of "SyFy." Please. WTF is THAT? Siffy?

 

[yellowcrayon]

I agree about SyFy.

Anyway, as I pointed out, this is for a couple years in the future. Which would give Nathan a chance to either work schedules to do Castle *and* Firefly, or to finish Castle and then start Firefly. However, Nathan himself would pick up Mal again in a heartbeat, without a paycheck. So I imagine he'd find a way to work things out. 😉

 

[BillyidolwannaB]

I just bought Firefly just there. Im just gonna watchit tonight. I just hope its just as good as Buffy and Bangel.

 

[AndrewCrossett]

I'm sure Fox knows perfectly well that Firefly wouldn't work without Joss and at least most of the original cast. The time for relaunching the series is past, but they could very well do one, or a series of, made-for-TV movies that could then be released on DVD. That would maximize the possibility that the cast members would be able to participate.

 

[AndrewCrossett]

yellowcrayon agrees: A SyFy Channel Original... as Fox has nothing to do with Firefly anymore... 😉

They don't? I thought they owned it, like they do Buffy and Angel. I remember when it got cancelled, Fox wouldn't allow Joss to try to take it to another network.

 

[yellowcrayon]

If I've got my info correctly, Universal Studios owns the rights to Serenity (and they have the Mule for all to see on their backlot tour at their Hollywood location - and the set from flashbacks to Angelus... very fun). Joss Whedon, however, is the one who has the rights to Firefly, not FOX. I can double-check and see.

EDIT: I know that SciFi in '06 had re-licensed the rights to Firefly from FOX. I've yet to find any definite info about who has what rights yet.

EDIT the Second: Yeah, from what I can tell, Universal has the rights as early as '03. In the end, though, it doesn't matter. It just matters who has the money. Rights are for sale assuming you have money. 😉

 

[Revolver]

I would love Firefly to come back. Unfortunately, Nathan Fillion is kind of busy with Castle

And Adam Baldwin is busy doing Chuck, and Morena Baccarin is doing V. Joss might be bringing Summer onto Dollhouse. Kind of seems like it would be really tough to get the whole crew back together.

---------- Post added at 10:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:41 PM ----------

yellowcrayon agrees: This would be in like... 2 years... 😛

Yeah, but all of these shows are fairly young. I know they could get cancelled but that's four shows potentially that would need to end within the next two years. The people who make shows rarely end them voluntarily after two or three years.

 

[Crashing Doors]

I like the idea of TV movies (or theatrical, of course) as opposed to a TV series. It's just been too long for a TV series, but TV movies could be very successful. Plus it'd be easier to get the actors together since they all (mostly) seem to be working on other projects.

 

[Willow-Tree]

Hmmm... maybe something similar to Firefly, like a minor character becoming the lead or something. I wouldn't want a brand new series without Joss.