Buffy the Vampire Slayer Remake Moves Forward; Joss Whedon Reacts
Posted 11.23.10 by Ryan
Fans were upset when it was announced that a remake of 1992's Buffy the Vampire Slayer was in the works but without Joss Whedon. While Whedon wrote the screenplay for the 1992 movie and reworked the story into the popular TV series, the rights to Buffy belong to Kaz and Fran Kuzui, who bought the rights from Whedon in 1992 (Fran also directed the original movie). Whedon has admitted that the Kuzuis contacted his agent after the news of the Buffy remake surfaced, but remarked that the remake was "something better left untouched by me." Over a year later, and Warner Bros. is moving forward with the Buffy remake.
THR reports that actress turned screenwriter Whit Anderson's draft piqued the interest of producers Charles Roven and Steve Alexander. While details on the remake are being kept secret — though we can infer that the movie will still involve a girl named Buffy who slays vampires — Roven said that "while this is not your high school Buffy, she'll be just as witty, tough, and sexy as we all remember her to be."
Only, the Buffy that everyone remembers is Whedon's Buffy. Responding to E!Online's Kristin Dos Santos, Whedon offered his reaction to the news.
Kristin, I'm glad you asked for my thoughts on the announcement of Buffy the cinema film. This is a sad, sad reflection on our times, when people must feed off the carcasses of beloved stories from their youths — just because they can't think of an original idea of their own, like I did with my Avengers idea that I made up myself.
Obviously I have strong, mixed emotions about something like this. My first reaction upon hearing who was writing it was, "Whit Stillman AND Wes Anderson? This is gonna be the most sardonically adorable movie EVER." Apparently I was misinformed. Then I thought, "I'll make a mint! This is worth more than all my Toy Story residuals combined!" Apparently I am seldom informed of anything. And possibly a little slow. But seriously, are vampires even popular any more?
I always hoped that Buffy would live on even after my death. But, you know, AFTER. I don't love the idea of my creation in other hands, but I'm also well aware that many more hands than mine went into making that show what it was. And there is no legal grounds for doing anything other than sighing audibly. I can't wish people who are passionate about my little myth ill. I can, however, take this time to announce that I'm making a Batman movie. Because there's a franchise that truly needs updating. So look for The Dark Knight Rises Way Earlier Than That Other One And Also More Cheaply And In Toronto, rebooting into a theater near you.
Leave me to my pain! Sincerely, Joss Whedon.