Buffy Without Joss, Why Not?
May 26, 2009 by Cynthia
Yesterday, the Hollywood Reporter broke a story about a potential Buffy the Vampire Slayer relaunch that wouldn’t include Joss Whedon in the mix. Basically, the original rights holders, Fran Rubel and husband Kaz Kuzui were approached by Vertigo Entertainment (The Grudge) with the idea of producing a new feature film based on the franchise. The article states that the producers hadn’t ruled out Whedon’s involvement but they have not yet “reached out to him.”
As you can imagine, the fans went wild. Buffy without Joss? Sacrilege! I say, baloney. I fully admit that Joss Whedon was 100 % responsible for the phenomena that was Buffy. It was his direction, his wit, his creative genius that made that show the icon that it is today. However, that doesn’t mean the franchise should be put out to pasture just because he’s no longer involved. Have we already forgotten Star Trek? J.J. Abrams admitted that he wasn’t a huge fan of the original series, and yet he did an excellent job of paying homage to the original while still giving us something new and exciting.
Says Hollywood Reporter, “Vertigo and Kuzui are looking to restart the story line without trampling on the beloved existing universe created by Whedon.” This could mean remaking the first movie with a darker, more modern tone (likely removing that tongue from the cheek) or even shifting the story to a new slayer. How long has Buffy been out of high school? Could be time for some fresh blood. There’s also a potential for films based on the various slayers throughout history, but I think this would be the least likely choice if they’re looking for a reboot.
The truth of the matter is, the Kuzuis brought Buffy to the public in the first place. It was their belief in the core idea, cheerleader by day, monster slayer by night, that got the show on the air. Yes, it was Joss Whedon who molded the concept into the one we love, but there comes a time when all of us parents must step away and let our children go out on their own.
I love the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and I’d like to see that concept portrayed on the big screen. I’d prefer a bigger version of the witty series we all know and love, but I wouldn’t say no to a dark and scary Grudge version either.
Image: Newscom
Why not? Seriously?
I think Marc Bernardin of Entertainment Weekly put it well:
“The only reason that Buffy remains a viable franchise is because of the rabid, happy-to-purchase fanbase. And the only reason that fanbase exists is because of Joss Whedon.”
Please sign the Get Joss! petition if you agree:
http://bit.ly/getjoss
No, the real truth of the matter is the Kuzuis gave us the crap Buffy of the original movie. They had nothing to do with the series creatively.
In fact, I’m far more upset by the idea of a Buffy done by the Kuzuis than I am by the idea of a Buffy done without Joss Whedon.
“In fact, I’m far more upset by the idea of a Buffy done by the Kuzuis than I am by the idea of a Buffy done without Joss Whedon”
That’s my problem as well. the Kuzuis just scream “very bad remake”. And it’s obvious that they just want to cash in on the current vampire buzz and back to the beginning-crap. It’s just too early for a Buffy remake that doesn’t have anything to do with the TV-series.
Is it too much to ask that they find new ideas and not remake every crap movie that exists.
PS: Yes, J.J.’s Star Trek was awesome but even he didn’t exclude characters and a Buffy remake wouldn’t involve any of the awesome TV-characters (Spike, Angel….) and that just simply sucks. Reminds of the Dragonball disaster!!
this not a good idea by any stretch of the imagination. These people gave us the craptucular original “Buffy”. The Kuzui’s and Glen Larson’s need to sit down and shut up, they gave great ideas but have no clue or vision to carry them out.
Why not? Because there is already a version of BtVS that was more Kuzui and less Whedon (the 1992 movie) and it sucked. Conversely, the version that was less Kuzui and more Whedon (the 1997-2003 TV series) was legendary. The Kuzuis have already proven themselves incapable of doing the franchise any shred of justice, while Whedon has irrefutably shown himself to be the master of that particular domain.
And the recent ST reboot is a poor comparison. The creator of that series, along with many of the original actors, is gone. The outdated plots and sets and dialog were due for an overhaul – had to have one to remain relevant, in fact. If the same is true for BtVS 30 or 40 years from now, then we can draw parallels to ST and perhaps discuss a reboot. Not before.
Buffy without the original cast (of the t.v. show) and Joss? I think I might cry.
this not a good idea by any stretch of the imagination. These people gave us the craptucular original “Buffy”. The Kuzui’s and Glen Larson’s need to sit down and shut up, they gave great ideas but have no clue or vision to carry them out.
The old Buffy movie was a dud, no one CARES about it. For me, you’d need to get together the best of the WRITERS from the tv series. Give them a new slayer, new Scoobies. Keep Whedon away from it, because he obviously doesn’t give a bleep about returning to Buffy and I wish he’d quit with the maybe/maybe not dance. And while I’ve got the attention of the world (heh) I’d rather a series than a movie. Thank you.
“Have we already forgotten Star Trek? J.J. Abrams admitted that he wasn’t a huge fan of the original series, and yet he did an excellent job of paying homage to the original while still giving us something new and exciting.”
The original Star Trek franchise aired decades ago though. All its actors and actresses are pretty much dead. However, Buffy is farily new, and the Kazuis are planning on revamping (pardon the pun) EVERYTHING about the series except the “vampire” part (probably just to cash in on the Twilight craze). This includes the actors/actresses of Buffy who are very well alive and active, and the alienation of these people would definitely draw fans away from the movie, if not diminish the quality of the movie drastically. Not to mention the appeal of Joss’s writing.