Buffy to be rebooted??? WTF?

[Raph's Girl]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090526/film_nm/us_buffy_1

A new incarnation of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" could be coming to the big screen, courtesy of the director of the original movie.

"Buffy" creator Joss Whedon isn't involved and it's not set up at a studio, but director Fran Rubel Kuzui is working on a relaunch with Vertigo Entertainment, which specializes in English-language remakes of Asian films, such as "The Grudge" and "The Departed."

While Whedon is the person most associated with the "Buffy" franchise, 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 Kaz put together the financing to make the 1992 movie, which was released by Fox.

Kuzui later helped bring back Whedon to make the TV series, which began its successful run on the WB in 1997. She 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. Kuzui and Vertigo are looking to restart the story line without trampling on the beloved existing universe created by Whedon.

One of the underlying ideas of "Buffy" allows the filmmakers 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 she is constantly approached not only about sequels but theater, video games and foreign remakes for "Buffy." When Vertigo's Roy Lee contacted them, they were intrigued.

"It was Roy's interest in taking Buffy into a new place that grabbed us," she said. "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 preparing to 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."

Star Trek having a reboot I can understand but Buffy does not need a reboot!

[GK Punk]

I don't see why not. It was rebooted for the TV series, why not do it again.

[Wes]

Well, the movie sucked... and the TV series did make reference to events that happened in the movie, so I wouldn't quite call it a reboot. But yeah, I'm not so sure I want to see a new Buffy movie either.

A movie about a different Slayer, however, might be cool.

[Brodie]

Maybe Buffy will be attractive this time.

[Candy Kappa]

originality is dead REBOOT EVERYTHING!

[Sage Ninja]

this might get me shot but I kind of hope we can see a black Buffy. Or an asian Buffy. Because really I'm getting tired of the white, teenie bopper, valley girl buffy that we've seen mostly.

[Jester]

Originally Posted by Wes

Well, the movie sucked... and the TV series did make reference to events that happened in the movie, so I wouldn't quite call it a reboot. But yeah, I'm not so sure I want to see a new Buffy movie either.

A movie about a different Slayer, however, might be cool.

I actually kind of liked the movie. (Don't get me wrong, I much prefer the show.) It had some sort of camp appeal to me, I dunna. Maybe it's one of those "so bad it's good" movies for me. It always made me laugh.

[Peanut]

Originally Posted by Sage Ninja

this might get me shot but I kind of hope we can see a black Buffy. Or an asian Buffy. Because really I'm getting tired of the white, teenie bopper, valley girl buffy that we've seen mostly.

I've never even seen the show or the movie, and couldn't give sh*t either way, but this is the dumbest thing I've heard today.

[愛]

Originally Posted by Sage Ninja

this might get me shot but I kind of hope we can see a black Buffy. Or an asian Buffy. Because really I'm getting tired of the white, teenie bopper, valley girl buffy that we've seen mostly.

[Jester]

Isn't the name Buffy itself a "white, teenie bopper, valley girl" name?

[Andrew NDB]

Don't get too worked up about this. It sounds like this is definitely just politics... TPTB are trying to lowball Whedon and they're playing hardball for cash (which isn't too favorable in Whedon's corner, with one failed TV show after another lately).

A betting man would bet on Whedon, and as soon as he's aboard he's bringing Gellar and everybody for a proper Buffy movie.

[Cure]

She wasn't even a teeny bopper, so that's retarded. And it's like not Buffy has been around lately, so I don't see how you can tire of something that isn't there.

[TheCanadiandrome]

well, if it's going to have nothing to do with the original movie and/or the series, then screw it! if they want to make another movie, make a damn sequel! a sequel to the original movie and the series, and include everyone. this just sounds like a bad idea to me. and if Whedon chooses not to participate, all the more reason for it not to be done

[Cropsy]

Well a more serious Buffy would work on the big screen.

[Wes]

Originally Posted by Peanut

I've never even seen the show or the movie, and couldn't give sh*t either way, but this is the dumbest thing I've heard today.

I don't get why it's so dumb.

Anyway, there have been Slayers of all different shapes, sizes, ethnicities, whatever (see Kendra, the two Slayers Spike killed, and the Slayers who popped up all over the world after Willow did her white witch mojo on the Fray battle axe), so it wouldn't be unheard of.

And hey, Brodie, I thought SMG was kinda cute at the beginning of Buffy! Not so much when the show moved to UPN and she stopped eating altogether, but yeah.

[Peanut]

Originally Posted by Wes

I don't get why it's so dumb.

Anyway, there have been Slayers of all different shapes, sizes, ethnicities, whatever (see Kendra, the two Slayers Spike killed, and the Slayers who popped up all over the world after Willow did her white witch mojo on the Fray battle axe), so it wouldn't be unheard of.

For what foreseeable reason would a change of ethnicity for the main character of a series be even remotely sensible? What purpose would it serve? Is making her black going to add some new layer of depth to the character? Doubtful. Unless you consider the "hilarious" ethnic stereotypes that are sure to make an appearance in such a case character depth. That's why it's dumb. It's an arbitrary difference made for the sake of what? To appeal to a different demographic? To give it a nice coat of "ethnic diversity is awesome!" paint?

I've got one for you, give me one reason why it isn't a dumb idea and I'll change my tune.

[Brodie]

" nice coat of "ethnic diversity is awesome!" paint"


I see what you mean.

[Wes]

Originally Posted by Peanut

I've got one for you, give me one reason why it isn't a dumb idea and I'll change my tune.

Somehow I doubt that, given the volatile nature of your reaction, but here goes!

Originally Posted by Peanut

For what foreseeable reason would a change of ethnicity for the main character of a series be even remotely sensible?

Simply put, they're changing almost everything else -- they're getting rid of the supporting characters, etc. -- so I don't see why it would be dumb to change one more thing. Without all of the background and depth that she developed with her friends and during various battles, Buffy isn't really a character but a premise: teenage girl who fights vampires. From that starting point, her ethnicity doesn't really make a whit of difference one way or another.

Originally Posted by Peanut

What purpose would it serve?

Maybe none! But not serving a grand purpose doesn't make it dumb -- for that, it'd have to serve a dumb purpose and/or bring about a dumb result. It wouldn't necessarily do either of those things (though, as with anything else, there's always the possibility that they'd screw it up).

Originally Posted by Peanut

Is making her black going to add some new layer of depth to the character? Doubtful. ... It's an arbitrary difference made for the sake of what? To appeal to a different demographic? To give it a nice coat of "ethnic diversity is awesome!" paint?

They'd have to change quite a bit more than Buffy's skin color to give depth to the character -- like I said, the character didn't really have a ton of depth to begin with (which is kinda why the movie and the 1st season of Buffy weren't all that great) -- but yeah, a change like that could help to give this new Buffy some depth. And it could help to broaden the target audience and diversify the cast. I don't regard those as bad or dumb outcomes.

But in any case, I was just saying that it wouldn't be dumb to turn "teenage white girl who fights vampires" into "teenage minority girl who fights vampires," since they're apparently changing everything else and there's nothing about the character/premise that requires her skin to be a specific color. If that's the dumbest thing you'd heard all day, I'd love to live in your world.

[Peanut]

I read the last line of your post, because I couldn't be bothered to read the rest of it, especially considering I really don't care one way or the other. But yes, yesterday, that was the dumbest thing I had heard at that point. I should note that I had been working all day, though, so I still had the rest of the night.

[XERO]

Wasn't Pee Wee Herman the second-in-command vampire in the movie?