"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" in for feature film relaunch

[Brian Damage]

A new incarnation of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" could be coming to the big screen.

"Buffy" creator Joss Whedon isn't involved and it's not set up at a studio, but Roy Lee and Doug Davison of Vertigo Entertainment are working with original movie director Fran Rubel Kuzui and her husband, Kaz Kuzui, on what is being labeled a remake or relaunch, but not a sequel or prequel.

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

Kuzui later teamed with Gail Berman, then president of Sandollar Television, bringing back Whedon to make the TV series, which was produced by Fox TV and launched on the WB in 1997. Kuzui and Sandollar 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. Vertigo and Kuzui are looking to restart the story line without trampling on the beloved existing universe created by Whedon, putting the parties in a similar situation faced by Paramount, J.J. Abrams and his crew when relaunching "Star Trek."

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

"It was Roy's interest in taking Buffy into a new place that grabbed us," she said, noting that original exec producer Sandy Gallin also was consulted. "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 prepping do 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."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/...12dfb80c0f7098

[masterdkd]

I would rather watch Angel or Wesley Wyndam-Pryce movie instead. It would have to take place after the series finale. I like to see Wesley come back from being dead and being with Fred/Illyria again.

[masterdkd]

I would rather watch Angel or Wesley Wyndam-Pryce movie instead. It would have to take place after the series finale. I would like to see Wesley come back from being dead and being with Fred/Illyria again.

[JamesG]

Head Slams Buffy Movie
2 June 2009 1:00 AM, PDT

Buffy The Vampire Slayer star Anthony Head will refuse to watch the new movie spin-off of the hit U.S. show - because the first big screen Buffy outing was such a disaster.

The franchise began with the 1992 film of the same name, starring Kristy Swanson, which spawned the small screen series with Sarah Michelle Gellar in the lead role and Head playing her mentor Rupert Giles.

The cult TV programme came to an end in 2003 but is set to be rebooted with a film featuring a brand new vampire slayer.

But Head, who was a big fan of the show's lead writer Joss Whedon and his storylines, is adamant he won't be supporting the movie - because Whedon's script for the first picture was changed beyond all recognition by director Fran Rubel Kuzui

He says, “I wouldn’t want to see it, no. The Kuzuis didn’t do a great job on the movie the first time around. It was Joss’ script at the age of 19, but they changed a lot of it. They said, ‘Look, we know best and we know how to make this movie,’ and it became quite schlocky and high camp. It would be madness to do (the movie) without Whedon. It may be a bit like watching a car wreck.”

-IMDB News

[TJL]

Joss Whedon has a very loyal fanbase; especially with Buffy And Angel.
His lack of involvment in this remake will piss off a lot of fans.

But, the new Star Trek reboot had little or no involvement from previous Star Trek writers and producers, and it turned out very well and even the most hardcore Trekkers were impressed.

[Buffyboy323]

Originally Posted by TJL

Joss Whedon has a very loyal fanbase; especially with Buffy And Angel.
His lack of involvment in this remake will piss off a lot of fans.

But, the new Star Trek reboot had little or no involvement from previous Star Trek writers and producers, and it turned out very well and even the most hardcore Trekkers were impressed.

True, but J.J. Abrams also has a loyal fanbase. People love that guy and will follow every project he's involved with. This potential Buffy movie has nobody involved with it that will make people have to see it.

And this hardcore Trekker was most impressed with the new Star Trek movie.