I woke up this morning to discover that a sequel to Joss Whedon’s much-beloved cult classic “Serenity” may be in the works again!
I’ve heard these rumors before, but Moviehole.net had an interview this morning with Alan Tudyk, who played Wash in the movie (and the cancelled Fox TV series “Firefly” that it was based on), and according to a comment by his interviewer on FirstShowing.net:
“No, he wasn’t taken out of context – Tudyk’s pretty certain SERENITY 2 is on the books again.”
Here are some excerpts from the original interview:
“They had to put [the new DVD] out because they’ve been selling out of the other one and so Universal’s like ‘So, let’s do another one’. And now… there’s now a chance there’s going to be another movie.”
“Everybody in the Firefly crew – and that includes the ones who died in the movie – are excited about the prospect of doing another.”
“Serenity” holds a special place in our hearts here at Scene-Stealers. Much has been written on the film and even more said in a three-part on-camera movie review (extended due to an heated, ongoing unresolved argument between J.D. and myself).
You may recall in my original print review, I said that it had re-invigorated the sci-fi genre and put George Lucas’ new “Star Wars” trilogy to shame. I gave it a rock fist way up and hoped that it would turn into a franchise. Later that year, it appeared at number six on my list of the Ten Best Movies of 2005.
Alas, after our theatrical screening of the movie, J.D. did not feel the same way. In his print review, he was less than excited about “Serenity,” although he gave it a very minor rock fist up. We filmed our on-camera review and got into it (and out of it, spending much time debating the merits of “Star Trek,” among other things) over three separate installments.
Part One (video) Part Two (video) Part Three (video)
But then something happened.
After renting the movie on DVD, J.D. has an epiphany. He got it. He was hooked. I’ll let him tell you in his own words, but he liked “Serenity” so much that he ended up buying the entire “Firefly” TV series on DVD! He felt so bad about his original review that he issued a retraction called “In Defense of Watching Something More Than Once.” Later that year, “Serenity” turned up as a runner-up on his Top 10 list of Overlooked Movies. Two days ago, the film appeared at number nine on his Top 10 Directorial Debuts.
Anyway, it looks like Universal is pretty interested in making another installment. In the original article, Tudyk mentions that a straight-to-DVD movie would be a possibility too. I’m totally fine with this, as creator Joss Whedon (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) is used to working with a tiny budget from all his TV work. But I can’t help but want them to give him another crack at a theatrical release.
Lead actor Nathan Fillion was terrific in “Waitress” earlier this year, and that movie is also poised to become a cult hit on DVD soon, so maybe his stock will rise enough to elevate the movie to a theatrical release. Ultimately, if the two versions of the movie on DVD and the “Firefly” TV series continue to sell well, I would think it would be impossible to ignore.
After all, getting people to see it is the big battle. Or, in J.D.’s case, getting them to see it twice. If you know someone out there who didn’t like it the first time, try again. Then tell them to buy their own copy and maybe we’ll all get lucky and receive one more adventure from Mal Reynolds and the crew.
Eric is the Editor-in-Chief of Scene-Stealers.com, a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, and contributor for The Pitch. He’s former President of the KCFCC, and drummer for The Dead Girls, Ultimate Fakebook, and Truck Stop Love . He is also the 2013 Air Guitar World Champion Mean Melin, ranked 4th best of all-time. Eric goes to 11. Follow him at:
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Well I am pretty certain that this will be straight to video.
Well I am pretty certain that this will be straight to video.
As a fan, and i am, i can only hope they take the extra effort and make it a full length movie…I had such a good time getting wrapped up in the instant mythology of characters and backstory that the movie was just an excellent experience.
As a fan, and i am, i can only hope they take the extra effort and make it a full length movie…I had such a good time getting wrapped up in the instant mythology of characters and backstory that the movie was just an excellent experience.
Dear santa;
I have been a very good boy and would like a firefly movie where Mal and Inara finally get it on.
Pete
PS: unless it turns out Serenity runs on power generated by sexual frustration, in which case…
Dear santa;
I have been a very good boy and would like a firefly movie where Mal and Inara finally get it on.
Pete
PS: unless it turns out Serenity runs on power generated by sexual frustration, in which case…
Pete,
That should be “Dear Bhuddha” 😀
Bill
PS I liked Serenity from the first viewing and immediately bought the Firefly DVDs. One of the things that I find interesting is that the movie and series are both very enjoyable but in very different ways. The episodic nature of the series has a natural concordance with moving from planet-to-planet as the crew did. The movie had a genuine epic feel to it, and it was nice to see a continuous series of interlocking events. The result is two very different tellings of part of the same “history.” It’s a tribute to Joss Whedon that he was able to deliver on both counts.
Pete,
That should be “Dear Bhuddha” 😀
Bill
PS I liked Serenity from the first viewing and immediately bought the Firefly DVDs. One of the things that I find interesting is that the movie and series are both very enjoyable but in very different ways. The episodic nature of the series has a natural concordance with moving from planet-to-planet as the crew did. The movie had a genuine epic feel to it, and it was nice to see a continuous series of interlocking events. The result is two very different tellings of part of the same “history.” It’s a tribute to Joss Whedon that he was able to deliver on both counts.
You mean we may finally get to find out the mystery that is Book? Everytime I re-watch the series or the movie it drives me crazy. I really want to know what the big mystery is.
They can easily come up with stories to fill in the time between the end of the series and the movie, allowing both Wash and Book to return.
I hope that the studio gives us Browncoat’s what we’ve been asking for… more Firefly/Serenity!
You mean we may finally get to find out the mystery that is Book? Everytime I re-watch the series or the movie it drives me crazy. I really want to know what the big mystery is.
They can easily come up with stories to fill in the time between the end of the series and the movie, allowing both Wash and Book to return.
I hope that the studio gives us Browncoat’s what we’ve been asking for… more Firefly/Serenity!
Dear Buddha-
I have been a good little girl for you for a few years now, never straying from the Firefly path, even in the face of Max temptation, I have stayed true to the fandom and to the series. All I want now, please, is a movie where my questions are awnsered, and the Mal/Inarra finally occurs.
Dear Buddha-
I have been a good little girl for you for a few years now, never straying from the Firefly path, even in the face of Max temptation, I have stayed true to the fandom and to the series. All I want now, please, is a movie where my questions are awnsered, and the Mal/Inarra finally occurs.
I couldn’t agree more with your take about this movie and the excellent setting and plot that make it head and shoulders better than any of George Sellout Lucas’ movies. The dialogue is so smart, this despite the fact that the language of the time is meant to be a space age hybrid between Mandarin and hillbilly. The people are smart in a context that makes sense in this new age wild, wild west. And the relationships are complex and intelligent. This is really very well thought out and executed.
I always love a “good versus evil’ story that is well done. And with all the underdog bells and whistles that Firefly gives us, it makes this an excellent story. There is so much more that could be done, especially if the producers could put some bigger money behind such a project. If done well as a sequel, we die hard fans might even be lucky enough to see an additional mainstream following, which could even lead to other films. Who knows?
In the end I agree with the others. I just want more of a great cast and a great story. Hell, I even miss those loveable Rivers for what it is worth!
Thanks for the updates. Hopefully you will have the big news coming down the pipe soon.
Tom
I couldn’t agree more with your take about this movie and the excellent setting and plot that make it head and shoulders better than any of George Sellout Lucas’ movies. The dialogue is so smart, this despite the fact that the language of the time is meant to be a space age hybrid between Mandarin and hillbilly. The people are smart in a context that makes sense in this new age wild, wild west. And the relationships are complex and intelligent. This is really very well thought out and executed.
I always love a “good versus evil’ story that is well done. And with all the underdog bells and whistles that Firefly gives us, it makes this an excellent story. There is so much more that could be done, especially if the producers could put some bigger money behind such a project. If done well as a sequel, we die hard fans might even be lucky enough to see an additional mainstream following, which could even lead to other films. Who knows?
In the end I agree with the others. I just want more of a great cast and a great story. Hell, I even miss those loveable Rivers for what it is worth!
Thanks for the updates. Hopefully you will have the big news coming down the pipe soon.
Tom
I’m not even sure I would get the chance to see a new serenity movie. I would probably die of a massive heart attack, brought on by over excitement and inexpressible joy. I would probably force myself to come back as a ghost. Death couldnt even stop me from seeing such a movie. Sigh.
Hey, a serenity sequel could even peak interest enough in the mainstream to bring back the criminally canceled Firefly. One can only hope…
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