Get ready Buffy fans, because your favorite vampire slayer is headed back to the big screen.
Warner Bros. have announced that “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” will be returning to kick some ass in a franchise reboot. While die hard fans might be bummed to learn that Joss Whedon will not be involved, the studio has pinned their hopes on scribe Whit Anderson (pictured to the right) and believe her take on the character will be successful.
Speaking with the LA Times, Charles Roven (who is producing the new film via his Atlas Entertainment shingle) said, “Generally, I wouldn’t have said ‘Let’s revive this,’ but Whit’s take is pretty compelling and a lot of fun, and it’s interesting to see all of this re-imagined. This is a completely new reboot. Tone is extremely important and you want the audience to realize what is at stake and the peril is real, but at the same time what’s going on should be fun and inviting and keep everyone engaged. It needs to be relevant to today, too, and that is what Whit has found a way to do.” He adds, “There is an active fan base eagerly awaiting this character’s return…. While this is not your high-school Buffy, she’ll be just as witty, tough and sexy as we all remember her to be.”
Obviously, these are early days and there is no word yet on plot details, a director or casting (though how do you top the bonkers casting of the 1992 film that had, among others, Donald Sutherland, Paul Reubens and Rutger Hauer). But Anderson, who was a fan of the television series, has a deep respect for the character saying, ““The thing that was so wonderful about ‘Buffy’ is what made it special was so timeless. The deep struggle she had with duty and destiny, that tug between what you’re supposed to be doing and what you want to be doing. The fate of the world is on her shoulders but some days she wakes up and she just doesn’t want to do it. And are we doomed and destined to love someone? That conflict was very interesting to me. Those are the things I loved about her and her world. She also represents — like all the heroes — something empowering for us. She’s reminds us of what we could be if we were in our top form, the best of us if we were at our very best, and even then we still see the vulnerability and doubts she has inside. That’s where we all connect.”
What needs to happen is this: true Buffy fans….nay, Joss Whedon fans…need to just skip this film. When it releases and the net profit is a big fat zero — hurt them the only place they can feel it — then maybe the fans will feel vindicated. Joss — we\’re with you.
I typically scoff at fanboy outrage as well, but what stock does Buffy have as \”brand recognition\” if non-fans seem to be actively dismissive of the central conceit. Why piss off the one group who would be guaranteed to drop the cash to see another spin on Buffy?
Handing the reigns to one of Whedon\’s cohorts who have solid careers going in Matt Reeves or Drew Godard or multiple others would be a good first step. But without Whedon\’s creative input, or at the very least his blessing, Warner Bros is needlessly risking damage to a potential brand, not to mention bad blood from Whedon and his \”coaching tree\” who are quickly gaining some punch in Hollywood and by all statements are very much against the idea.
i have zero interest in buffy, but she\’s cute. she should play buffy. then i would care. also, lol @ fanboy outrage over this.
yeah, this is being met with massive scorn from the fan community and an idea that was considered too stupid to have made it this far.
i\’m sure Brett Ratner\’s Twin Peaks reboot is just around the corner…
Why can\’t Hollywood leave well enough alone.
BtVS was classic and there is no way a film is necessary, especially one without Joss Whedon. The only way this would be worth watching is if they did a movie based on the Buffy Season Eight Graphic Novels.
Thanks Hollywood for desecrating yet another classic.