Whedon Can’t Get Enough Serenity

This story originally appeared in PW Comics Week on November 6, 2007 Sign up now!

By Wil Moss -- Publishers Weekly, 11/6/2007 10:03:00 AM

Joss Whedon isn’t very good at good-byes. When his Buffy the Vampire screenplay was made into a movie in 1992, that would have been enough for most. But Whedon ended up bringing Buffy back in 1997 as a television show—again, most people would have been satisfied with that. But as the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 comic book indicates, Whedon couldn’t let go just yet.

All that goes double for Serenity. The sci-fi western about a group of rogue space travelers started out in 2002 as a TV series called Firefly, but it was canceled after only 11 episodes. Whedon then managed the impressive task of bringing the property back to life as a feature film called Serenity.

And he’s not done with it yet. In November Dark Horse is releasing a hardcover collection of the Serenity: Those Left Behind miniseries he co-wrote in 2005, and he’s already got another miniseries in the works for early 2008. As he explains in the following interview, there’s something about Serenity that makes it harder for him to let go, harder than even Buffy—which means no riding off into the sunset for the Serenity crew anytime soon.

PW Comics Week: So Buffy has this attractive blonde female and a popular genre as a framing device. What is Serenity’s appeal?

Joss Whedon: Ultimately, anything with spaceships and a compelling cast of funny, pretty people is pretty much something a certain section of people are going to tune into. It was definitely not as pop-simple as Buffy. Buffy the Vampire Slayer tells you the joke in the title; Serenity is something you have to reach out to—which is one of the reasons why Fox killed it with an ax (or I should say [killed] Firefly). But it’s kind of actually a fairly timeworn formula in the sense of mixing genres we understand—the western in this particular case with sci-fi trappings—perhaps a little more overtly than other people have, but pretty much to the same effect. It’s “How can we tell the kind of stories we love in the genre we’re comfortable in, we’re excited by?”

PWCW: How much do you credit the success of Serenity with your fan following?

JW: I think I have to credit all of it to the fan following. Fans obviously have gone a lot further than just seeing the movie, they’ve kept it alive—they even kept it in theaters with their charity screenings; they’ve made it mean something with the charity work they’ve done; they’ve created a community. The comic book has been a big deal for Dark Horse, that’s why we’re working on another one right now, and also because we thought of another good story to tell. [The fans] had a lot to do with it getting from TV to movies—[they] can’t be overestimated in this particular instance.

PWCW: What’s it like taking something from screen to comics?

JW: It’s complicated, with Serenity particularly. It’s easy with Buffy in a way because again it’s a pop idea, it could have been a comic book before it was a movie. Serenity doesn’t really lend itself to that in the same way. You can tell fun, compelling stories about it, but you have sort of an ensemble drama that you’re making into a comic book, so you have to find stories that are gonna move in a different rhythm than Buffy stories.

With Serenity and Firefly, you couldn’t do a regular monthly comic the way you can with Buffy because their life isn't [event after event] in the same way. I know that’s strange because we did do a TV show that was not monthly but weekly, but it lends itself to these stories that we tell in a few issues that we really think out beforehand.

Whereas Buffy, maybe because it was on for so many years, already has its own "Marvel universe" attached to it, with hundreds of ancillary characters and situations, so it’s easier to build that kind of story. With Serenity, you want it to feel more like a novel than a straight-up superhero comic.

PWCW: Can you tell me anything about the plot of the second miniseries?

JW: The second one basically involves the rather stunning concept of the gang trying to pull a heist that doesn’t go completely wrong. And what happens when things go right for them, how that’s not going to work at all.

PWCW: Does it have a title yet?

JW: Better Days. And that’s also a reference to the fact that it takes place before the movie and before certain people were iced.

PWCW: Are there more Serenity comics planned?

JW: Scott [Allie, Dark Horse editor] was definitely like, “Can we not wait three years in between comics next time?” I’m like, “I hear where you’re going with that.” It is definitely contingent on us having time and finding a particular story. With Buffy, I have an overarching story and I can do anything I want in that. Obviously, like I said before, Serenity doesn’t work that way, so it has to be right. It’s not simple. And the dialogue is very easy to get wrong. Luckily [co-writer Brett Matthews] worked on the show, so he really understands it, but it’s hard to make sure—you can’t take a wrong step with that or it won’t work. Hopefully, we’re not doing that with Buffy, either, but it’s a little more delicate.

The difference also with Serenity is I have more trouble letting it out of my hands. Buffy I ran as a show, and obviously Firefly had a writing staff, a great one, but, for example, with novels—they’re like, “[Let's do] Serenity novels!” The idea of somebody else writing a Serenity novel, I can’t handle. [But] there are 10 Buffy novels.

PWCW: Do you think that’s because you had more time with Buffy?

JW: I think so. If anybody wrote a Serenity novel right now, it would be the only thing apart from these comic books, which come out very rarely—that there is to say about Serenity. If something’s going to be said about Serenity, it’s going to be said by me. It’s too close to me still. It’s the child that never got to grow up and go to college.

PWCW: And to just touch briefly on your contribution to the new Dark Horse Presents on MySpace, SugarShock—how has that experience been? We don’t see a lot of short, one-off things from you.

JW: I’ve done a few. I vaguely had the concept in my head for a while, and Scott said, “Hey, we’re doing Dark Horse Presents.” I write these things like manic episodes, which is exactly how they read. That’s not to say I don’t take time honing them, but they really do sort of happen fast. I just wanted to do something that was deeply silly, kind of indie, and would just let me play. Scott found me the staggeringly best artist—Fabio [Moon] just captures exactly what I had in mind and doubles it. It’s been just fun, just straight out, nothing but fun to do SugarShock.

Staite: No Serenity 2 In Works

Jewel Staite, who played Kaylee in Joss Whedon's Serenity, told fans on her MySpace.com blog not to believe rumors of a sequel film.

"Let's address these Serenity 2 rumors before anything else," Staite wrote. "I have no idea what you people are talking about! Seems to me someone (with a name that starts with A and ends in LAN) said something in an interview that was misconstrued as the sequel being green-lit, which is not the case at the moment. I will never say it will never happen, because that's just blasphemy in my opinion, but it's not happening at the moment, ... no matter what you read on the Internet."

Staite referred to comments made by her Serenity/Firefly co-star Alan Tudyk, who played Walsh, to Moviehole.net hinting that a sequel was in the works. Tudyk's character was memorably killed off in 2005's Serenity, which was a film spinoff of the cult Fox SF series Firefly.

Staite can now be seen playing Dr. Jennifer Keller on SCI FI Channel's original series Stargate Atlantis.

Nice Morena Baccarin fan site

The ladies of Firefly/Serenity

Welcome to Morena Baccarin Online, your number one source for the actress Morena Baccarin. Everything you need to know about the actress best known for her role in the short-lived television show Firefly can be found here! Our image gallery has over 4000 pictures!

Here's a good interview with Morena.

Whedon Auctions Dinner For Charity

Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon is auctioning off himself—that is to say, dinner with him—to benefit Equality Now, a charity that promotes equal rights for and fights violence and discrimination against women around the world.

Fans can bid for one of five seats at a private dinner with Whedon, who also created Firefly/Serenity and Angel, at Comic-Con International. "For three hours, Joss gets to be your biggest fan," Whedon writes on his official auction page on eBay.

The dinner is being sponsored by Dark Horse Comics, which is currently publishing Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer season-eight comic series, and MySpace.com. Auction Cause is handling the auction.

The auction will also feature other items, including a watch and autographed comics. The auction kicks off July 2.

Serenity Collector's Edition

Universal has announced a new two-disc collector's edition of Serenity which stars Nathan Fillion. This Joss Whedon directed sci-fi will be available to own from the 21st August, and should retail at around $26.98. The film itself will be presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, along with English Dolby Digital 5.1, and DTS 5.1 Surround tracks. Extras will include a audio commentary with Whedon, a second commentary with Whedon, Nathan Fillion, Adam Baldwin, Summer Glau and Ron Glass, a Joss Whedon intro, deleted scenes with director commentary, extended scenes, outtakes, and a Take A Walk On Serenity featurette. Completing the package will be a Green Clan featurette, a We'll Have A Fruity Oaty Good Time! feature, A Filmmaker's Journey featurette, a Future History: The Story Of Earth That Was featurette, a Re-lighting The Firefly featurette, a What's In A Firefly? featurette, a Session 416 feature, and a Sci-Fi Inside: Serenity feature.

Drive

FOX, home of award-winning suspenseful dramas 24 and PRISON BREAK, revs up this spring with the intense new drama series DRIVE from executive producers Tim Minear (Firefly, Angel, Wonderfalls, The Inside) and Ben Queen.

The next time you’re cut off by a crazed driver on your way to work, cut him a little slack. He could be racing for his life.

DRIVE is an action-fueled drama following a diverse group of Americans driving for their lives (or the lives of their loved ones) in a sinister, cross-country road race. Some of them have been coerced into joining The Race; others have sought out The Race themselves, hearing rumors of the $32-million prize. Each has a reason to compete. And each must win.

Among the varied racers are a man thrust into The Race in an effort to find his missing wife; a single mother competing under great strain ... or possibly something much more strange; a buttoned-down scientist and his rebellious 15-year-old daughter; two brothers in a stolen, pimped-out Impala that carries secrets of its own; and a gorgeous and mysterious female stowaway who may well hold the key to the secrets of The Race.

There are other competitors as well, but when no one is told whom they’re racing against, or even where the finish line is, anything is possible. With each mile clocked, the drivers get closer, not only to the finish line and a critical, life-changing victory, but to understanding the mystery behind The Race itself.

Created by Tim Minear, Ben Queen and executive-produced by Tim Minear, Ben Queen and Greg Yaitanes, DRIVE is a 20th Century Fox Television Production.

2-Night, 3-Hour Premiere
Sunday, April 15th and Monday, April 16th
Drive

SATIN TIGHTS NO LONGER

"You (hopefully) heard it here first: I'm no longer slated to make Wonder Woman. What? But how? My chest... so tight! Okay, stay calm and I'll explain as best I can. It's pretty complicated, so bear with me. I had a take on the film that, well, nobody liked. Hey, not that complicated.

Let me stress first that everybody at the studio and Silver Pictures were cool and professional. We just saw different movies, and at the price range this kind of movie hangs in, that's never gonna work. Non-sympatico. It happens all the time. I don't think any of us expected it to this time, but it did. Everybody knows how long I was taking, what a struggle that script was, and though I felt good about what I was coming up with, it was never gonna be a simple slam-dunk. I like to think it rolled around the rim a little bit, but others may have differing views.

The worst thing that can happen in this scenario is that the studio just keeps hammering out changes and the writer falls into a horrible limbo of development. These guys had the clarity and grace to skip that part. So I'm a free man.

Well, sorta. There is that "Goners" movie I can finally finish polishing, and plenty of other things in the hopper I've wanted to pursue. I'm as relieved as I am disappointed, and both of those things lead to drink, so that's a plus. Truly, you may be hearing some interesting things brewing in the coming months. But all potential jets therein will be visible.

But most importantly, I never have to answer THAT question again!!!! And you don't have to link to every rumor site! Finally and forever: I never had an actress picked out, or even a consistant front-runner. I didn't have time to waste on casting when I was so busy air-balling on the script. (No! Rim! There was rim!) That's the greatest relief of all. I can do interviews again!Thanks for your time. You are the people who make the world go 'round. Or, no, science does that.

-j.

ps All right, it was Cobie Smulders. Sorry, Cobes."

Joss Whedon

Interview with Jewel Staite

Hi Jewel and thank you so much for giving us at SGPnet the chance to have this interview with you. We are very proud about that opportunity, because we know you must be very busy at the moment. You're making a lot of German Browncoats happy with this interview.

On "Firefly" you played the mechanic Kaylee Frye of the space-ship "Serenity". Kaylee was a sweet little girl with a heart of gold. She was so innocent and adolescent, that she just needed to be protected. She was clever, friendly and always optimistic, and that's what made Kaylee so likeable.

Thank you, Jewel, for bringing Kaylee to life, for showing us her way of living in this rough and dirty universe and for co-creating one of two parts of a sweet couple that finally got its chance to get together in "Serenity". That must have been a great day for all shippers, when Kaylee and Simon kissed each other.

So, are you ready for the questions? Then let's go!


Read more here!!!

Exclusive Interview with Corey Bridges

Joss Whedon's much beloved Firefly may have found a new media to keep it alive for all the Browncoats that can't get enough of the metaverse. On December 8,2006 The Multiverse Network, Inc., announced that it optioned the rights to develop an MMOG based on Firefly the television series. The game itself is in the early beginning planning stages, but I had to interview Mr. Bridges about the concept and how he would bring the beloved characters and story to the gaming world.

Firefly is such a beloved tv show, how do you plan to capture that essence in the game?

Joss Whedon created a phenomenal, unique show. The characters were amazing but so was the feel of the show--the sense of adventure, and quirky humor--and that sense of being on the frontier, where there's unknown danger just past the edge of camp. An MMO can do a good job conveying those aspects of the show. You can't play as Captain Mal Reynolds--but you might meet him in the game. And maybe you could accept a smuggling mission from Badger or, if you're kinda nuts, from Niska. Just don't fail. We'd love for cast and crew from the show to be involved in the game. We just finalized our partnership with Fox, so now we are able to reach out to cast and crew, and see if they are interested in being involved in this project.

I read that you will be providing the tools for the game to be made. Do you have a team of developers ready to work on this game?

That's right. What we're doing at Multiverse is actually building a whole network of MMOs and other virtual worlds. You'll be able to use one installed program--the Multiverse Client--to play any game that's built with our world-creation tools. So that's what Multiverse does. But in our discussions with Fox, this opportunity arose to enable a Firefly game to be made, and we couldn't pass up the opportunity to make that happen. We'll be hiring an independent team--someone who has the vision worthy of Firefly--to make the game.

So you were a Browncoat yourself?

Yep. Although I have to say, I didn't really know true Browncoat spirit until I went to a Firefly convention last weekend. It was remarkable--the convention's organizers cancelled the show at the last minute. But the Browncoats, who are used to people cancelling things things they love, said, "The hell with that--we're going to hold our convention anyway." So a replacement show sprang up from the ashes. People from all around the world--who weren't even at the convention--donated money so that the fans who were already in the hotel would have their show. Actors from the show--even though they'd been stiffed by the original convention's organizers--showed up out of the goodness of their hearts, to hang out with people, sign autographs, take pictures, and so forth. It was incredibly inspiring.

Is there any sort of time line on the game? Would you hope to show a test at next year's E3?

You'll be able to play at least a beta in 2008. That's a pretty short timeframe, compared to traditional MMO development, but the Multiverse technology platfrom saves at least a couple years in development time. We haven't decided whether we'll show anything at E3. In the meantime, look to the Firefly fan sites for news. We'll be keeping them in the loop because without the Browncoats, we wouldn't have had the inspiration to make this project happen.

Thank you Mr. Bridges for your time and for chatting with us about the verse! I look forward to reporting here what happens with the game.

Dallas Comic Con

The lovely Morena Baccarin of Firefly/Serenity and Stargate SG-1 fame joins the Dallas Comic Con Fan Day on Saturday March 17th! Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to meet Morena and give her a big Texas welcome. Browncoats, help spread the word!

Admission: FREE!!

Smulders Open To Wonder Woman

Cobie Smulders, the brunette Canadian actress who stars in CBS' How I Met Your Mother, told SCI FI Wire that she'd be open to auditioning for the title role in Joss Whedon's proposed Wonder Woman movie. She first broached the idea in the February issue of Esquire magazine, which is on sale now.

"It's funny," Smulders said in an interview at CBS' winter press tour in Pasadena, Calif., last week, "when you do like an interview for two hours, and then they take the Wonder Woman quote. ... My boyfriend ... [is] really into comic books, and ... he was the one who kind of said, 'Hey, it would be cool if you could do that.' And I don't know. Who knows? I'll go in for it if it comes up, but it's definitely not, like, in the works or anything."

Smulders said that the idea has come up before. "I think it's just the curse of having brown hair in this industry and being an actress," she said. "I think it's just a general, like, question that everyone's going to pose their clients."

Whedon, creator of TV's Buffy the Vampire Slayer and director of the feature film Serenity, has been hired to write and possibly direct a Wonder Woman movie, based on the DC Comics franchise.

Serenity's Fillion On Lost

Serenity star Nathan Fillion guest-stars on the Nov. 8 episode of ABC's hit series Lost, "I Do," which also marks the decision by Kate (Evangeline Lilly) to hook up with either Jack (Matthew Fox) or Sawyer (Josh Holloway). Fillion will play a character named Kevin in the episode, which is the last new one for a while as the series takes a 13-week hiatus, returning in February.

In "I Do," Jack makes a decision regarding Ben's (Michael Emerson) offer, Kate feels helpless when it looks like an angry Pickett (Michael Bowen) is going to make good on his threat to kill Sawyer, and Locke (Terry O'Quinn) discovers a hidden message that may guide him through the next steps on his journey to unlocking the secrets of the island.

"I Do" was written by Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse and directed by Tucker Gates. It airs at 9 p.m. ET/PT.