After loads of back and forth about the possible new Buffy movie rights holders Fran Rubel Kazui and Kaz Kazui has stated that the movie might not involve any of the series cast or even creator Joss Whedon. Controversial move? Clearly these guys want to most succesful movie they can make with a potential for a franchise if they can manage it and to them maybe Whedon's record is not to their taste.
This will no doubt anger Whedons army of fans, a Buffy without Joss? What good can that bring?
I was hesitant to this idea when i first heard about it but lets weigh up both sides.
PRO WHEDON
-No-one knows the Buffyverse like Whedon, he created it and brought it into spectacular life for seven years. His creative input into a constantly surprising tv show was seemingly endless.
-Buffy is a tale of young girl dragged from high school life to battle vampires. The comedy derived from a valley girl battle evil ones is right up Whedons alley.
- By rights it should be someone involved who loves the Buffyverse. Not someone out to make a franchise or create a flashy, fast edit wirefighting film that can sell more toys.
- Cast. With Whedon on board i have no doubt that the cast would return to their roles and it would be great to see the scooby gang back together again, but on the big screen. With no Whedon i think that a new cast would be total, no returning characters from the show. Anything else would alienate fans and to be honest, can you really see someone else nailing Xander?
NO WHEDON
- Nowadays remakes/reboots/adaptations and such are pretty much excellent. We've seen Star Trek, James Bond, Iron Man and Batman all take bows in spectacular manner. Maybe some fresh blood at the helm would work wonders.
- Buffy started out as a comedic take on a mythical dark side of the world. But as the tv show progressed it became more and more about the drama of being Buffy and her mopy love life. I loved Buffy but even a devotee like myself ends up fast forwarding the Buffy drama moments now as they are so repetitive and so overused.
- Box Office. Sadly the real reason behind so many movies today. Massive;y inflated pay packets from everyone unsure that production companies want maximum returns for their moolah and Whedons track record is not great. Serenity didn't recoup it's budget at the box office (but made $110M in dvd and tv sales. So producers might want to make a more box office friendly version of the film. which would be, well, terrible.
I say don't do it unless everyone comes back.