Big screen “Buffy” without Joss?

According to this Hollywood Reporter article, the Kuzuis intend to reboot the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” film franchise. The original movie was produced and directed by the pair, who retained Executive Producer credit on the TV series. The main difference here: due to the rights as outlined in the original agreement, they are under no obligation to involve Joss Whedon in any way, and are running with a reboot concept pitched by Roy Lee from Vertigo Entertainment. This won’t involve characters created for the TV series, either, including Angel, Spike, Xander and Willow. My personal commentary: they’re going to need to hit it out of the part to get the existing fanbase to accept a “Buffy” project that doesn’t involve Joss Whedon. I’m sure I’m not the only fan who greatly preferred the TV series to the original movie.

8 replies on “Big screen “Buffy” without Joss?”

  1. Everyone with even the slightest interest in this topic should watch the “E! Hollywood Story” episode on the first Buffy film. Kuzui got the job as director because she had an “in” with the Money People. She certainly had no film-making experience, and no idea what she was doing. In the interviews with her, she resembles for all the world some suburban country club mom who couldn’t decide whether to fill her free time playing tennis, scrap booking, or making a Hollywood movie. She was the butt of jokes and target of derision for everyone from the stars and DP down through craft services. But apparently she — or her husband — knew how to write a contract, because her production company got that exec producer credit and end graphic every week (poor Whedon must have really wanted to have his script filmed in the worst way, or maybe just got some bad advice), and now she’s “re-booting” a franchise she very nearly strangled at birth via her own ineptitude.

    “Hooray,” as they say, “for Hollywood.”

  2. The body isn’t even cold and yet they’re talking about a reboot? What’s with Hollywood these days? They’re not even pretending to have any new ideas.

    • I wouldn’t even say the body is cold. The comic book incarnation Joss is running has been, for the most part, quite enjoyable. Without a truly stellar trailer for this incarnation, I think the opening weekend will underperform (because the series fans seem to be more aware of Joss’ name than others) but it will then continue as usual.

  3. I thoroughly enjoyed the original movie with Kristy Swanson as Buffy, and I’ve always wondered why it didn’t achieve more popularity. So maybe they’ll be able to pull this off.

  4. Did their investments die or is there another reason why someone’s intending letting this woman ruin the franchise? There are already two different versions of the story available – her original based on Joss’ story only reworked as a horror-comedy (as was popular at the time: Gremlins, Ghostbusters, et al), and Joss’ masterpiece as seen in seven seasons of the TV series. Seriously, wtf? Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the original, but we do NOT need another remix.

    • I think you got the right idea about the investments. If they don’t make something, will their rights/options to do so expire?

  5. I doubt it matters whether Buffy fans accept it. It would actually be a mistake to not reboot the franchise. Only hardcore fans would be able to understand a Buffy movie based on the television series. We don’t need another Serenity movie.

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