Reboot Still Happening

[hoponlilmama]

Nobody knows what to do with characters aging. I remember Picard season 2 having Guinan played by Whoopie, which is fine…until you consider that Guinan is supposed to be like quasi-immortal and looked exactly the same in TNG as she did in a flashback bit hundreds upon hundreds of years prior.

Their solution was to say that she “decided to look old” because it “makes humans more comfortable”. If Spike and or Angel come back, 100% expect a similar “they decided to age because that’s a thing they can do I guess” line.

Oh good Lord, no.
In the words of Buffy, "how lame is that?"

 

[AlphaFoxtrot]

Well, that's been an issue since Highlander. My opinion is, just apply some makeup, let the audience treat it like they would a recasting. Aside from, don't get fat., of course.

I like how young Guinan apparently lived in the 19th Century, but was really upset by racism of the 21st Century. Also, I liked how all the mystery and mystique of the character was drained out of her for the sake of Season 2 of Picard, the "Future is now ruled by Fascist Harry Kim because you can't process your Mother's death" storyline.

 

[Cohen]

Nobody knows what to do with characters aging. I remember Picard season 2 having Guinan played by Whoopie, which is fine…until you consider that Guinan is supposed to be like quasi-immortal and looked exactly the same in TNG as she did in a flashback bit hundreds upon hundreds of years prior.

Their solution was to say that she “decided to look old” because it “makes humans more comfortable”. If Spike and or Angel come back, 100% expect a similar “they decided to age because that’s a thing they can do I guess” line.

In the Sequel series Hyperion produced with Willow's daughter as the main character, Willow does a kind of permanent glamour on Spike to make him look 20 years older so he can blend in as the (wait for it....) librarian of the new Sunnydale High School. lol

 

[Kendar]

So, the reboot is still all go. If and when it happens, then good but until then it'll be a case of if, but and maybe.
Why not have old blokes or gals portray themselves as young blokes or girls? That is what we have AI, CGI and wishful thinking for, so who cares if it takes another 20 years or so -
maybe J. J. Abrams or those of the crew do.

Q./
Can a stake or a cross bow still look bloody old?

At this point I suspect it is still "all go" only in a technical sense, in that they haven't officially said it's off the table. Practically speaking, I suspect it is dead.*

*At this point I think there will be enough of a gap that it won't be THIS reboot, but another one several years from now.

 

[AlphaFoxtrot]

Re: Gay Willow; That's a good question with reboots. Do you go with the characters at their most iconic, or do you seek to emulate the character development that lead the character to their most iconic?

The problem is, Buffy's creative and commercial zenith was Seasons 2 & 3. If you are a Spike or a Tillow shipper, those seasons may mean nothing to you.

 

[Btvs fan]

Not really. I want more original IPs, honestly.

I was watching the big “Game Awards” show and all the crazy announcements they have every year, and pretty much every single one was a sequel to an existing IP or a “spiritual successor”. Media needs to stop trying to remind people of how good nostalgic properties are and try to create new ones

To be fair I wouldn't say no to a Red Dead 3 (Prequel or Sequel) and ill certainly try the 3rd Jedi Fallen Order Game 😄

Also regards Picard. Season 3 was such a breath of fresh air after Kurtzmans abominations I don't understand why Paramount haven't given Terry Matalas his own Trek show


BTW maybe my mind is playing tricks on me as SMP is saying she'd changed her mind about a reboot but I swear she'd said she been up for it previously wanting Zendaya as Buffy 🤔

Post automatically merged: Dec 20, 2024

The problem is, Buffy's creative and commercial zenith was Seasons 2 & 3. If you are a Spike or a Tillow shipper, those seasons may mean nothing to you.

You touch on an issue that was relevant back when the show was about. It was that it's theme was High School is hell, using monsters as metaphors and based around Joss not getting over his High School experience. Hell he was so obsessed he even ran the show like a high school according to people who worked there.
But once the characters graduated the show was really struggling what to be. Not helped by the spin off with Angel being the adult show with adult themes.

You know what's ironic. You don't need to do a reboot. You could do a Sequel with Buffy in her 40s balancing Slayer and motherhood. Now that would require
A Joss and Sarah working together but if money is to be made for both its doable
B Joss being interested in women as characters over 40 to write one. He didn't use to be but now he's older and hopefully more wiser it's a possibility

 

[NotASlayer]

Not really. I want more original IPs, honestly.

I was watching the big “Game Awards” show and all the crazy announcements they have every year, and pretty much every single one was a sequel to an existing IP or a “spiritual successor”. Media needs to stop trying to remind people of how good nostalgic properties are and try to create new ones

Sadly, I doubt we will see much in the way of new IPs from any of the bigger media creators. Originality seems to be the focus of smaller outfits; the bigger ones, though they could be original, would rather milk existing IPs to death, because it's generally less risky.

And, the problem with smaller outfits who do manage to create something new end up being preyed on by the media conglomerates and stripped for parts. Sometimes creators have little interest in the money that they are offered but they are often not the people making the end decision.

 

[Btvs fan]

Sadly, I doubt we will see much in the way of new IPs from any of the bigger media creators. Originality seems to be the focus of smaller outfits; the bigger ones, though they could be original, would rather milk existing IPs to death, because it's generally less risky.

And, the problem with smaller outfits who do manage to create something new end up being preyed on by the media conglomerates and stripped for parts. Sometimes creators have little interest in the money that they are offered but they are often not the people making the end decision.

Rockstar doing Grand Theft Auto is a classic example of that. I know it won't but I'd love it if the latest Grand Theft Auto game bombed when it comes out given how they treated Red Dead Fans.

 

[Plasma]

Rockstar doing Grand Theft Auto is a classic example of that. I know it won't but I'd love it if the latest Grand Theft Auto game bombed when it comes out given how they treated Red Dead Fans.

I assume you mean Red Dead online, because Red Dead 2 is one of the best games I’ve ever played

 

[NoShip]

B Joss being interested in women as characters over 40 to write one. He didn't use to be but now he's older and hopefully more wiser it's a possibility

This is a HUGE 'if' since Whedon has never shown such interest before. (see The Nevers)

 

[AlphaFoxtrot]

Re: Buffy Age 40: It could work. After all, it's a lot cheaper to appeal to old fans than try to create new fans. I mean, my best lead for a Buffy story is "Class Reunion" where the estranged Scoobies are invited to their 20th High School reunion in Sunnydale, where they greet Cordie and Anya. Why is everyone alive again? Why is the City back to normal? Do I look like a Fanfic writer to you?

My problem is, aside from how and why Willow keeps having kids in these scenarios, do I really want to see middle aged Buffy fighting demons with a torn meniscus? Do I really want to see Buffy as a divorced mother fighting against the torn meniscus demon? Or the high cholesterol demon? Or the Returns on my 401K demon? I mean, I'm fine with the Earth 2 version of Buffy, where she is married to Human Angel and has a daughter, but I doubt that's in the cards.

P.S.
Kennedy: "Do you know why I am pregnant?"
Willow: "I decided I wanted a kid, but I'm working on my second doctorate, so I used magic to make you forget you were a lesbian and sex ed. Then I let Faith dress you up in a French Maid's dress and take you out on the night on the town. But you won't remember this conversation, praise Lethe!"
Kennedy: "That seems convincing. I'm calling my Mother."
Faith: "Huh, I thought something was odd about that request."
Willow: "It was deja vu."

 

[Plasma]

Re: Buffy Age 40: It could work. After all, it's a lot cheaper to appeal to old fans than try to create new fans. I mean, my best lead for a Buffy story is "Class Reunion" where the estranged Scoobies are invited to their 20th High School reunion in Sunnydale, where they greet Cordie and Anya. Why is everyone alive again? Why is the City back to normal? Do I look like a Fanfic writer to you?

My problem is, aside from how and why Willow keeps having kids in these scenarios, do I really want to see middle aged Buffy fighting demons with a torn meniscus? Do I really want to see Buffy as a divorced mother fighting against the torn meniscus demon? Or the high cholesterol demon? Or the Returns on my 401K demon? I mean, I'm fine with the Earth 2 version of Buffy, where she is married to Human Angel and has a daughter, but I doubt that's in the cards.

I think the problem you have with bringing back Buffy and doing a Force Awakens type deal is you’re not expanding the brand. There’s a ton of lore and potential for exploration in the Buffyverse, but refusing to go beyond Buffy makes it feel all the same and as though the brand has no future.

Credit to Star Wars, but they go out and do crazy projects that are set in different eras, like the Old Republic or the recent High Republic initiative. New Jedi Order, Legacy of the Force, Fate of the Jedi, and so on.

If Buffy is to persist as a brand, I’d like to see more of that. Honestly, give us a Nikki Wood show. Or, with the big 80s nostalgia lately, show us whoever was the slayer in the 80s. Make it a limited 10 episode series on Disney+ if need be. The slayer lineage goes all the way back to Sineya. Show us that sort of content.

The brand needs a new face and a new hero for today’s generation to latch onto. It’s not like there isn’t plenty of room to expand and show us more in continuity.

 

[NotASlayer]

I think the problem you have with bringing back Buffy and doing a Force Awakens type deal is you’re not expanding the brand. There’s a ton of lore and potential for exploration in the Buffyverse, but refusing to go beyond Buffy makes it feel all the same and as though the brand has no future.

Credit to Star Wars, but they go out and do crazy projects that are set in different eras, like the Old Republic or the recent High Republic initiative. New Jedi Order, Legacy of the Force, Fate of the Jedi, and so on.

If Buffy is to persist as a brand, I’d like to see more of that. Honestly, give us a Nikki Wood show. Or, with the big 80s nostalgia lately, show us whoever was the slayer in the 80s. Make it a limited 10 episode series on Disney+ if need be. The slayer lineage goes all the way back to Sineya. Show us that sort of content.

Agreed, there is a ton of stuff they could explore. The mindset, though, seems to be stuck in "It must be about Buffy." The existence of Angel shows that there is potential outside of Buffy, but it seems there is a fear of exploring it.

 

[NoShip]

Agreed, there is a ton of stuff they could explore. The mindset, though, seems to be stuck in "It must be about Buffy." The existence of Angel shows that there is potential outside of Buffy, but it seems there is a fear of exploring it.

I think the fear is of low profit margins. I saw a list of the most lucrative movies of 2024 today and 9 out of 10 were sequels (Wicked was the only original). Given how studios demand guaranteed mega-profit margins, I don't see Disney taking any risks. So..... Buffy the Vampire Slayer will remain about Buffy the Vampire Slayer..... only.

 

[Plasma]

I don't see Disney taking any risks.

Depressingly, they tried this past year with The Acolyte. Which flopped horrendously. But instead of looking at the dreadful writing and acting, they’ll say “oh it’s because no Luke Skywalker.”

You can do original IPs or ideas in franchises. The problem comes with the fact that they get untalented hacks to produce it.

 

[AlphaFoxtrot]

Re: Sequels and Spin-Offs: Star Wars has more cultural cache than anything but Star Trek and Superman and Batman. You can take risks with it, because ultimately, the original trilogy will always make money. Buffy doesn't have that. Buffy has a cult classic movie that enjoys more popular recognition than most of us are willing to admit, it has three to four seasons of critically beloved television with half the audience of "Dharma & Greg," and a moderately active fanbase.

But to be fair, the real issue is probably the rights, whatever the six companies that own a piece of the product want, isn't worth it

 

[NoShip]

But to be fair, the real issue is probably the rights, whatever the six companies that own a piece of the product want, isn't worth it

This sounds much closer to reality than anything else I have seen posted on this topic. 👍

Just out of curiosity, what are the six companies. I know about Kuzuis and Dolly Parton and Whedon and Fox-Disney.

 

[NotASlayer]

But to be fair, the real issue is probably the rights, whatever the six companies that own a piece of the product want, isn't worth it

That is probably valid. If everyone wants a piece of the pie, then even small percentages or fees have a good chance of adding up. Although you would think that the owners would realise that getting something is better than getting nothing, especially if all the risk is put on someone else (once again, just like Slayers did).

 

[AlphaFoxtrot]

Re: Rights; Warner Brothers had the film rights for the aborted 2010 reboot. I don't know what the current status of those are, or if they would have to consulted at all. But I suspect, if they have any rights at all, they just have to be paid off.

The other wild card would be the CW. Or whatever the current legal ownership is for WB/UPN. I recall some networks own a portion of their series for future profit sharing purposes. I do not know if Buffy would be affected by this.

But I want to make it clear, this is speculation on my part, and if true, they would be silent partners, whom, at worst, could sue to delay production if they can prove the production deal was bad for business.

What I suspect is happening, (keep in mind I have no evidence of this), the Kuzuis want to be bought out. Like, they are in their 70s now, they want to retire. So, you just can't lease the rights, you have to buy everything. But that doesn't cover the TV IP, just the film rights. All this talk of a TV show was to inflate the value of their portfolio.

 

[NoShip]

What I suspect is happening, (keep in mind I have no evidence of this), the Kuzuis want to be bought out. Like, they are in their 70s now, they want to retire. So, you just can't lease the rights, you have to buy everything. But that doesn't cover the TV IP, just the film rights. All this talk of a TV show was to inflate the value of their portfolio.

I had not thought of this. 👍

Working out the rights would be hard enough to stop anybody who was not absolutely convinced that New Buffy would be a huge hit.