Yesterday, Warner Bros Pictures announced they are developing a new Buffy The Vampire Slayer movie – according to their press release, from Buffy “creators Fran and Kaz Kuzui”. This caused the internet to turn on its ‘what the frak’ face, along with a few former cast members – given Buffy the Vampire Slayer was created by writer Joss Whedon.
Former cast member David Boreanaz (‘Angel‘) produced this photograph of himself reacting to the news. Eliza Dushku (‘Faith’) was more blunt: “Joss [Whedon] made the Buffster [and without] him… I just don’t trust the girl. Or the world.”
Amber Benson (‘Tara’) jokes “Apparently, they’re rebooting ‘Buffy‘ [without] Joss Whedon: I told him that asking to play the title role would frighten the Studio Execs.”
Actress Emma Caulfield (‘Anya’) reacted to the news simply: “ahahahhaha..”
Anthony Stewart Head (‘Giles’) addressed the issue directly: “The bottom line is if a movie was ever to be made, it should be made with Joss Whedon, whether it’s a retrospective or not. But it would be madness to do it without him. [The Kazuis] have the rights to because they have the rights to the original movie, but it should be interesting to see. It may be a bit like watching a car wreck.”
An even more interesting angle to this tale is the choice of talent to produce the movie. Warner Bros Pictures — a studio which only does big budget, worldwide theatre releases — has chosen a writer who appears to have no prior movie writing experience, nor TV, nor theatre. Additionally, The Guardian reports she has been “asked to write and star in [the] vampire movie”. As Buffy.
So, what is going on here… My take? They’re trying to power play Joss Whedon. By putting out a writer without commercial writing experience to take on a franchise which had been previously spearheaded by an Oscar nominee writer, to rumours of the character being played by an actress whose acting credentials appear to barely exist — I believe they are trying to force Joss Whedon to join the project. Reboots, when they’ve worked previously, have long established industry talent working on them for long durations to make sure the investment pays off.
The reality is this – instead of being excited by the twilight on the horizon, a majority of both the Buffy fans, the former TV show cast members and mainstream press alike are looking at this and giggling. It’s going to be the funniest movie release of 2011/12, should it happen. Producer of this reboot, Charles Roven says, “There is an active fan base eagerly awaiting this character’s return to the big screen.” Far from boycotting the movie, I’m ready and waiting to see Warner Bros attempt with the kind of glee I reserved for Tuesday nights on FOX. You could argue that’s the intention, but it isn’t – either the studio hasn’t thought this one through, or they’re trying to drive the franchise close to the cliff to see if Whedon saves it. My vote? Buffy will live forever. Just not right now.
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