Ever since Joss Whedon’s space western was canceled back in 2003, its fans — at first, a relatively small contingent, but as time and DVD sales grew, so did the ranks swell — have wondered what could possibly rescue it from the tightly clenched jaws of death. And until now, nothing could. But with Netflix resuscitating other long-canceled shows, and greenlighting original programming, what had been a firm NO is now a wobbly MAYBE.
There were lots of reasons why Firefly never got a second shot at life (not counting the 2005 feature, Serenity), not the least of which is that ship-based science fiction shows are expensive. The rights can be a bit of a tangle: Fox owns the rights so if anyone wanted to make more episodes, they’d need to buy the opportunity — and networks who might be right for Firefly, like Syfy, have already crunched the numbers and found them not entirely attractive. Especially for a show that already failed once. And the cast could be hard to lock down—okay, Nathan Fillion will be hard to lock down. Since Firefly ended, he’s become a full-on TV star, and his time won’t come cheap if, contractually, it could come at all.
All of that makes total sense. Or, rather, it did…before Netflix made the deal to make new episodes of the late, lamented Arrested Development.
Suddenly, all of that logic goes out the window. Because, presumably, Netflix will rebuild all of those sets, has negotiated the rights, and got the cast to sign on. They’re trading onArrested Development’s cult status to bring new subscribers to their service, in the same way that HBO counts on critical acclaim to enlarge their viewership. Add that to the fact that Netflix is producing original series left and right — from people like David Fincher and Eli Roth — and it’s a whole new ballgame.
Would shooting new episodes of Firefly be expensive? Yes, but I don’t think any more than your average episode of a TV drama: Special effects are getting cheaper all the time and sets are sets, whether they’re emergency rooms, police precincts, or starship bridges. Fox already does business with Netflix — the whole Whedonverse is streaming — so the rights issue shouldn’t be all that headache-y. (Plus, I’m sure Fox wouldn’t mind being able to eventually sell a whole new season of Firefly on DVD and Blu-Ray.)
And most of that cast, I’m sorry to say, isn’t all that gainfully employed — at least the surviving members of Serenity’s crew. I’m sure they’d drop everything to do more of a show they loved (and get paid for it). And Fillion has said, time and again, that Firefly was the best job he ever had and that all Joss had to do was call. I’m sure he could work something out with the Castle brass.
So, the question isn’t really “could Netflix bring back Firefly?” — it’s “what are they waiting for?”
Could Netflix Bring Firefly Back From The Dead?
It very well might, definitively would be a good businessmen decision.
I'm sure you're very happy about this.
That would be amazing. Just got to keep Joss' ego in check, and bring Tim Minear in, and it'd be a godsend.
I adore Firefly, but Whedon should just leave it be and have it remembered for what it could've been.
Love you for finding this info, but if Whedon doesn't direct the show, I don't think I could give it a chance.
@Avalonia said:
@iLLituracy said:
Nope.
Nope to your existence. You are hereby denied the right to live.
Saying mean things to me won't get Firefly back on the air.
@Avalonia said:
@iLLituracy said:
@Avalonia said:
@iLLituracy said:
Nope.
Nope to your existence. You are hereby denied the right to live.
Saying mean things to me won't get Firefly back on the air.
But it makes me feel...wait. Why are you even
talkingtyping? You're dead.
Please, go on, tell me about how I make you feel better. :3
@iLLituracy said:
@Avalonia said:
@iLLituracy said:
@Avalonia said:
@iLLituracy said:
Nope.
Nope to your existence. You are hereby denied the right to live.
Saying mean things to me won't get Firefly back on the air.
But it makes me feel...wait. Why are you even
talkingtyping? You're dead.Please, go on, tell me about how I make you feel better. :3
YOU'RE STILL ALIVE SO ALL YOU'RE DOING IS ANNOYING ME.
@Avalonia said:
@iLLituracy said:
@Avalonia said:
@iLLituracy said:
@Avalonia said:
@iLLituracy said:
Nope.
Nope to your existence. You are hereby denied the right to live.
Saying mean things to me won't get Firefly back on the air.
But it makes me feel...wait. Why are you even
talkingtyping? You're dead.Please, go on, tell me about how I make you feel better. :3
YOU'RE STILL ALIVE SO ALL YOU'RE DOING IS ANNOYING ME.
...oh okay.
To be fair to Fox, Whedon constantly blew the budget and filmed in HD when they asked him to film in SD. He really didn't help himself.It would certainly be nice, Firefly was needlessly butchered.
@FadeToBlackBolt said:
@ApatheticAvenger said:To be fair to Fox, Whedon constantly blew the budget and filmed in HD when they asked him to film in SD. He really didn't help himself.It would certainly be nice, Firefly was needlessly butchered.
Very true, but playing the episodes out of order isn't exactly the proper way to handle financial disputes with the creator. Whedon is rather famed for being a bit difficult, look at how long it took his Astonishing X-Men run to get through. The end result, however, was more than worth the delays.
I would argue the same would have been true of Firefly if Fox had given it the support it needed. If Buffy could last as long as it did, so could've Firefly.
True, but Firefly didn't pull the audience required for how much money Whedon was spending.@FadeToBlackBolt said:
@ApatheticAvenger said:To be fair to Fox, Whedon constantly blew the budget and filmed in HD when they asked him to film in SD. He really didn't help himself.It would certainly be nice, Firefly was needlessly butchered.
Very true, but playing the episodes out of order isn't exactly the proper way to handle financial disputes with the creator. Whedon is rather famed for being a bit difficult, look at how long it took his Astonishing X-Men run to get through. The end result, however, was more than worth the delays.
I would argue the same would have been true of Firefly if Fox had given it the support it needed. If Buffy could last as long as it did, so could've Firefly.
For Buffy's last few seasons, they saved money by not hiring script-writers.
(Burn)
@FadeToBlackBolt said:
@ApatheticAvenger said:True, but Firefly didn't pull the audience required for how much money Whedon was spending. For Buffy's last few seasons, they saved money by not hiring script-writers. (Burn)@FadeToBlackBolt said:
@ApatheticAvenger said:To be fair to Fox, Whedon constantly blew the budget and filmed in HD when they asked him to film in SD. He really didn't help himself.It would certainly be nice, Firefly was needlessly butchered.
Very true, but playing the episodes out of order isn't exactly the proper way to handle financial disputes with the creator. Whedon is rather famed for being a bit difficult, look at how long it took his Astonishing X-Men run to get through. The end result, however, was more than worth the delays.
I would argue the same would have been true of Firefly if Fox had given it the support it needed. If Buffy could last as long as it did, so could've Firefly.
Ha, you are right of course. People just don't know good television when they see it, they want Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men while Firefly was cancelled and Community is on the chopping block. Really makes you lose faith in humanity.
True, true. And that's providing you had any faith to begin with =P@FadeToBlackBolt said:
@ApatheticAvenger said:True, but Firefly didn't pull the audience required for how much money Whedon was spending. For Buffy's last few seasons, they saved money by not hiring script-writers. (Burn)@FadeToBlackBolt said:
@ApatheticAvenger said:To be fair to Fox, Whedon constantly blew the budget and filmed in HD when they asked him to film in SD. He really didn't help himself.It would certainly be nice, Firefly was needlessly butchered.
Very true, but playing the episodes out of order isn't exactly the proper way to handle financial disputes with the creator. Whedon is rather famed for being a bit difficult, look at how long it took his Astonishing X-Men run to get through. The end result, however, was more than worth the delays.
I would argue the same would have been true of Firefly if Fox had given it the support it needed. If Buffy could last as long as it did, so could've Firefly.
Ha, you are right of course. People just don't know good television when they see it, they want Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men while Firefly was cancelled and Community is on the chopping block. Really makes you lose faith in humanity.
@ApatheticAvenger said:
@FadeToBlackBolt said:
@ApatheticAvenger said:True, but Firefly didn't pull the audience required for how much money Whedon was spending. For Buffy's last few seasons, they saved money by not hiring script-writers. (Burn)@FadeToBlackBolt said:
@ApatheticAvenger said:To be fair to Fox, Whedon constantly blew the budget and filmed in HD when they asked him to film in SD. He really didn't help himself.It would certainly be nice, Firefly was needlessly butchered.
Very true, but playing the episodes out of order isn't exactly the proper way to handle financial disputes with the creator. Whedon is rather famed for being a bit difficult, look at how long it took his Astonishing X-Men run to get through. The end result, however, was more than worth the delays.
I would argue the same would have been true of Firefly if Fox had given it the support it needed. If Buffy could last as long as it did, so could've Firefly.
Ha, you are right of course. People just don't know good television when they see it, they want Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men while Firefly was cancelled and Community is on the chopping block. Really makes you lose faith in humanity.
Well people don't like the same things. Something you like and might think it is great, for someone else might be the wost thing ever.
@ComicMan24 said:
@ApatheticAvenger said:
@FadeToBlackBolt said:
@ApatheticAvenger said:True, but Firefly didn't pull the audience required for how much money Whedon was spending. For Buffy's last few seasons, they saved money by not hiring script-writers. (Burn)@FadeToBlackBolt said:
@ApatheticAvenger said:To be fair to Fox, Whedon constantly blew the budget and filmed in HD when they asked him to film in SD. He really didn't help himself.It would certainly be nice, Firefly was needlessly butchered.
Very true, but playing the episodes out of order isn't exactly the proper way to handle financial disputes with the creator. Whedon is rather famed for being a bit difficult, look at how long it took his Astonishing X-Men run to get through. The end result, however, was more than worth the delays.
I would argue the same would have been true of Firefly if Fox had given it the support it needed. If Buffy could last as long as it did, so could've Firefly.
Ha, you are right of course. People just don't know good television when they see it, they want Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men while Firefly was cancelled and Community is on the chopping block. Really makes you lose faith in humanity.
Well people don't like the same things. Something you like and might think it is great, for someone else might be the wost thing ever.
Anyone who thinks Community is the worst thing ever is going to have their taste in television brought into question. The same goes for people who find Two and a Half Men to be quality comedy (and I say that knowing my best friend likes the show). :P
@FadeToBlackBolt said:
@ApatheticAvenger said:True, true. And that's providing you had any faith to begin with =P@FadeToBlackBolt said:
@ApatheticAvenger said:True, but Firefly didn't pull the audience required for how much money Whedon was spending. For Buffy's last few seasons, they saved money by not hiring script-writers. (Burn)@FadeToBlackBolt said:
@ApatheticAvenger said:To be fair to Fox, Whedon constantly blew the budget and filmed in HD when they asked him to film in SD. He really didn't help himself.It would certainly be nice, Firefly was needlessly butchered.
Very true, but playing the episodes out of order isn't exactly the proper way to handle financial disputes with the creator. Whedon is rather famed for being a bit difficult, look at how long it took his Astonishing X-Men run to get through. The end result, however, was more than worth the delays.
I would argue the same would have been true of Firefly if Fox had given it the support it needed. If Buffy could last as long as it did, so could've Firefly.
Ha, you are right of course. People just don't know good television when they see it, they want Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men while Firefly was cancelled and Community is on the chopping block. Really makes you lose faith in humanity.
I'm an atheist, so faith in humanity is pretty much all I've got. :P
Become a Christian Nihilist.@FadeToBlackBolt said:
@ApatheticAvenger said:True, true. And that's providing you had any faith to begin with =P@FadeToBlackBolt said:
@ApatheticAvenger said:True, but Firefly didn't pull the audience required for how much money Whedon was spending. For Buffy's last few seasons, they saved money by not hiring script-writers. (Burn)@FadeToBlackBolt said:
@ApatheticAvenger said:To be fair to Fox, Whedon constantly blew the budget and filmed in HD when they asked him to film in SD. He really didn't help himself.It would certainly be nice, Firefly was needlessly butchered.
Very true, but playing the episodes out of order isn't exactly the proper way to handle financial disputes with the creator. Whedon is rather famed for being a bit difficult, look at how long it took his Astonishing X-Men run to get through. The end result, however, was more than worth the delays.
I would argue the same would have been true of Firefly if Fox had given it the support it needed. If Buffy could last as long as it did, so could've Firefly.
Ha, you are right of course. People just don't know good television when they see it, they want Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men while Firefly was cancelled and Community is on the chopping block. Really makes you lose faith in humanity.
I'm an atheist, so faith in humanity is pretty much all I've got. :P
God created everything, and that was His biggest mistake =P
@FadeToBlackBolt: Ha, I can't exactly just up and decide to become a Christian and believe in god after years of deliberation that led to me concluding that there isn't one.
@ComicMan24 said:
@ApatheticAvenger: And this is your opinion. Other people don't like Community. That doesn't mean that their opinion is wrong or that they don't know good TV whn they see it. Not all people like watching the same things.As for TAAHM I can agree that it is not good.
Sure, not all people like watching the same things, I was just saying that anyone who thinks Community is awful must be rather dense. The point is, a lot of genuinely good television shows are getting pushed aside for utter garbage because people watch it. Two and a Half Men is still on the air, Firefly and Arrested Development aren't.
@ComicMan24 said:
@ApatheticAvenger: Well I was just using Community as an example. Have never watched that. And I agree with what you are saying even though if you ask me, Firefly is a bit overrated but still yeah a lot better than a lot of still on-going shows.
I would say it's only overrated because of die hard fans, but obviously it's not for everyone.
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