Is ‘Buffy’ ‘Buffy’ Without Buffy?
According to the Hollywood Reporter, a remake of the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) film may be in the works, one that Joss Whedon would not be involved with. Put down your wooden stakes (why do you even have those things?) — it’s not because Whedon’s unrivaled bad luck has struck again. This time, it’s by choice. While speaking to Entertainment Weekly’s Popwatch blog, he mentioned that the project is “something better left untouched by me.” And unless the new script involves some sort of demon time warp, the likelihood that Sarah Michelle Geller will reprise the role of Buffy is low, low, low. Like, nonexistent.
Rumor has it this new slayer flick would be a complete reboot. It would have a darker storyline, no connections to established characters such as Angel, Spike, Xander, or Willow, and feature a more modern slayer. You know, one with a Facebook page, a Twitter account, and an iPhone. Can’t expect a girl to slay some vampires without Google Maps, right? This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. JJ Abrams proved with Star Trek that, in the right hands, it is possible to successfully reboot iconic television shows and movies.
What I want to know is: What’s the deal with vampire fads and mainstream media? They come and go like tidal forces, often times flooding the market whenever they return. Considering the popularity of Twilight/New Moon/Eclipse/Breaking Dawn and True Blood, it’s not surprising that Hollywood producers want to get their hands on more vampire properties. I would honestly much prefer Buffy be resurrected in some capacity than lost to time.
Via io9.
I never really watched Buffy when it was on TV, so this doesn’t really mean much to me.
I have no faith that this movie will be any good, but then again, I don’t like most vampire things.
Maybe they’ll turn this reincarnation of Buffy into the story of a girl who falls in love with a sparkly vampire…wait…that’s been done.
No! Buffy is not Buffy without both Joss and SMG. I wouldn’t pay a dime to see this reboot. I would however pay over and over to see a reunion movie with the real cast and Joss.
As a fan of the TV series, it’s hard for to imagine that I’d want to see this movie. Feels a little too much like crass commercialism.
As a media researcher, however, it’s also hard for me to imagine audiences in general flocking to this in such great numbers that it’d make a decent profit and justify a multi-film franchise (because isn’t that the real reason to leverage old intellectual property rather than making something new?). I’m sure there are people like you, Chris, who would rather see some Buffy than no Buffy in the future, but the vibe I’m getting from most fans I talk to and see posting online about this is that Buffy ain’t Buffy without the original creator/writers/cast/characters. The people behind this movie aren’t going to coast on the colossal success and nostalgia value of the original movie, so I’m not sure who they think they’re reeling in here.
@Jason,
All the people who aren’t familiar with Buffy? I’d wager there’s quite a few, especially among the younger views who DO flock to Twilight films and clamor about True Blood. It’s been, what, 10 years since the Buffy TV show, and over 15 since the film… All the kids who are 18, now, were 8 (or 3) when Buffy was relevant. So for HS Goth kids ages 14-18 Buffy is off the radar. And there’s a whoooooole lot of Goth kids…
For those of us that remember, the first Buffy movie sucked after Fox took over the project and killed Joss’ vision. It was only when Joss got creative control on the TV show that Buffy became what he wanted it to be.
I can’t see an reboot of Buffy without Joss being a success period. Buffy the Vampire Slayer still sounds like a bad B movie without Joss’ magic to make it fab.
I can live without the original cast, I can live without the TV characters but I can’t live without Joss’ perfect touch on the project.
I am boycotting this project.