It appears all of those rumors were true. The sexy, tough, comical and tough Buffy is heading back to theaters in a big way as Roy Lee and Doug Davison of Vertigo Entertainment (The Ring, The Grudge) are working with original movie director Fran Rubel Kuzui and her husband, Kaz Kuzui, on what is being labeled a remake or relaunch, but not a sequel or prequel. Read on for the skinny and talk back to let us know who YOU think should play the new Buffy.
"Buffy" creator Joss Whedon isn't involved and it's not set up at a studio, but Roy Lee and Doug Davison of Vertigo Entertainment are working with original movie director Fran Rubel Kuzui and her husband, Kaz Kuzui, on what is being labeled a remake or relaunch, but not a sequel or prequel.
While Whedon is the person most associated with "Buffy," Kuzui and her Kuzui Enterprises have held onto the rights since the beginning, when she discovered the "Buffy" script from then-unknown Whedon. She developed the script while her husband put together the financing to make the 1992 movie, which was released by Fox.
Kuzui later teamed with Gail Berman, then president of Sandollar Television, bringing back Whedon to make the TV series, which was produced by Fox TV and launched on the WB in 1997. Kuzui and Sandollar received executive producer credits on "Buffy" and its spinoff, "Angel."
The new "Buffy" film, however, would have no connection to the TV series, nor would it use popular supporting characters like Angel, Willow, Xander or Spike. Vertigo and Kuzui are looking to restart the story line without trampling on the beloved existing universe created by Whedon, putting the parties in a similar situation faced by Paramount, J.J. Abrams and his crew when relaunching "Star Trek."
One of the underlying ideas of "Buffy" allows Vertigo and Kuzui to do just that: that each generation has its own vampire slayer to protect it. The goal would be to make a darker, event-sized movie that would, of course, have franchise potential.
The parties are meeting with writers and hearing takes, and later will look for a home for the project. The producers do not rule out Whedon's involvement but have not yet reached out to him.Speaking from Tokyo, Fran Kuzui said the company is constantly approached not only about sequels but theater, video games and foreign remakes for "Buffy." When Vertigo's Lee contacted them, they were intrigued.
"It was Roy's interest in taking Buffy into a new place that grabbed us," she said, noting that original exec producer Sandy Gallin also was consulted. "It was based on our respect for what he does, and his particular sensitivity to Asian filmmakers, that we wanted to work with him."
Kuzui, who is prepping do direct a movie in Japan in the fall, added: "Everything has its moment. Every movie takes on a life at some point, and this seems like the moment to do this."
Rebooting completely without any connection the TV show is a bad idea. Sure, the Kristy Swanson movie came first, but as any fan knows, the heart and soul of the franchise didn't develop, didn't even exist until the series came along, thereby making everything in the series the true way it was meant to be. You get rid of that, you might as well not even call it Buffy the Vampire Slayer...because after the show, not even the 1992 movie deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as the TV show.
This is a terrible. Im a HUGE FAN of the tv series and infact the tv serious did mention vaguely the events of the Krisy Swanson movie so the original movie and TV she where connected. Sarah Michelle will always be Buffy. If they want to make a big screen Buffy, they need to make it with the TV show cast, there are MANY fans who would LOVE to see that, i know i would. if they do "relaunch" buffy with a different cast, i wont be watching it.
Give us at least a decade before they remake a character like Buffy...Sarah M. Geller is still fresh in our minds and I for one can't see anyone else playing Buffy. Oh and No Joss? what kind of fuckery is that!
Seriously - the producers need to do another slayer other then Buffy who has too much past with tv audiences and fandom. Since sci-fi films are popular at the moment with Terminator: Salvation, Star Trek, Transformers 2 and the like, a possible look at the futuristic FRAY character of the slayerverse might serve a better big screen adaptation?
How in the world are they going to pull off not having Xander, Willow, and Angel etc in the movie? What made Buffy great was its ENSEMBLE cast of THOSE SPECIFIC characters!
Oh I'd like to add that they want to do a 'relaunching' ala Star Trek. I'm no Trekkie but I enjoyed the new Star Trek film, though that relaunch kept the same characters!!
With all the remaking going on in Hollywood do we really need a new Buffy right now? -NO!
If they have to have a reboot movie then maybe they could cast Elisha Cuthbert as "Buffy". In "The girl next door" movie I though she resembled Kristy Swanson, the original Buffy. Plus she's tiny like Sara Michelle Gellar. Just a suggestion.
This makes me so fucking mad. The series does NOT need a reboot. I jumped when I saw this because I was excited but without the tv cast, fuck this. Sarah Michelle Gellar is the ONLY Buffy that would make anyone really happy. There is no reason to pull a star trek on this series at all. ALSO, Without Joss Whedon, Good Luck! Without Xander, Willow and the rest of the scoobies, this movie will ultimately fail...OK rant over.
I was excited until I saw the word "reboot". Why do this? How in the hell are they going to make this movie successful without the original cast and Joss? No Xander or Willow? I agree with the people up there; they might as well just make a movie about a different slayer. If they do decide to make this, it will bomb completely. Nobody wants to see a reboot of Buffy if they loved the TV series. This is so stupid.
Bigs craps... That's a lot of whining! Each generation has its own slayer. Makes sense to me, go for it. The story works and there's a huge fan base... just bring Paul Reubens back and I'm sold completely!!!
No Sarah michelle Geller, No Joss Wheden,
They are foolish, I predict a flop on the scale of 'Catwoman'.
Screw this film
They should just call it Duffy the Vampire Slayer
How funky is your chicken...How loose is your goose...who gives a shit. The original movie was shit except for Swanson, the series was shit, thanks to Geller. She's hot but thant only makes up for so much. Not looking forward to it nor do I care, just thought I'd throw that out there...
The first movie was a complete tard fest. I can't believe the same people responsible for that one are behind this...what makes them think they can do it right this time? Obviously the hype surrounding the awesome looking Blood, The Last Vampire got their juices flowing...
Angel...has more soul than the insepid morons who came up with this idea. As much as i want to see a Buffy Movie...I want it to involve the core cast of the tv show I am in love with. Not a reboot with actors I don't care about. Call it something else..just not Buffy!
No, the Kuzui's were responsible for bastardizing Joss Whedon's original script turning into that awful comendy. I may have been a Buffy fan since it's conception but i will refuse this movie
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