Firefly was a short lived sci-fi/western series created by Joss Whedon that first appeared on TV in 2002. It's awesome and I loves it. Even though it lasted less than a season on TV, the powers that be made a gamble and made a movie out of the series in 2005 called Serenity. It's also awesome and I loves it. It did not do well at the box office. Both have done great on DVD and the show has reached ginormous cult status. The fans of the show, or Browncoats, are some of the most passionate ones in fandom. And I count several really close friends as some of those fans. I was involved in the NYC group for about a year in 2005 but never was as crazy passionate as many others in the group. I met many more from around the world and again, count many as good friends. Heck, I even dated a couple of Browncoat girls. That being said, I've always felt this fandom often walks that precarious line of coming across as those "weirdo sci-fi" types that are stereotypically made fun of constantly. Not all of them, of course. But many of the vocal ones can come across that way.
When the movie came out and didn't do as expected, fans were distraught. Would there be any more? If they had something to say there would! Pretty soon after, something called "Operation Sequel" was started. A campaign to bring awareness to the series and film and hoping that someone(s) in Hollywood would pick it up. Nothing happened. The actors all had moved on to other jobs as did it's creator, Joss Whedon. I've even seen some fans wish failure for the other shows that the cast are on (i.e. Castle, V, The Cape, etc) just so they'd be free to do more Firefly. That's pretty crappy.
I never saw this as possible. I'm not a cynic at all. Just realistic. And maybe because as a former actor with lots of working actor friends in both TV & film (ooh, look...I didn't name drop!), I may have a better idea of how the system works. I certainly don't know a lot, but probably a little more than the common fan.
There's always one delusional hopeful fan who thinks it will come back. Of course, EVERYONE involved in the show would love that. They've all said it and continue to any time it comes up. Though I suspect a few have moved on from it and only say they'd do it again to please the public. Why would they disappoint fans and say, "Nah, I don't want to do it". Easier to be kind about it. But that just gives those certain fans more false hope. As is evident in the past week.
Nathan Fillion, the series star, recently JOKED in an article with Entertainment Weekly that if he won $300 million in the California lottery that he'd buy the rights to it. People read way too much into that and the shit storm started. Within less than a day, some fans started a website dedicated to "helping Nathan buy Firefly". Which is just fucking ridiculous. I'm sorry, but it is. First, Nathan was JOKING. And $300 million dollars was just a number he pulled out of the air. As a JOKE. The site is a bit shady as it is since the people running it aren't identifying themselves. Mostly out of embarrassment, I'm sure. They claim they will start taking pledges soon. Beware people. I advise against it. All I see is lost money and broken hearts. Not suggesting the people running it are out to intentionally cheat people, but just don't see this ending well.
I was happy to see that a lot of the hardcore Browncoats on various sites were against this idea. They didn't see it as realistic. Other fans used examples of some of the original actors and writers supporting the idea. Again, why would they not? Why would they purposely and openly go against fandom? Of course they'll support it. But to be clear, they weren't supporting the idea of raising the money for Nathan. They were supporting the idea of IF the show came back for whatever reason, that they'd be on board to be a part of it. That's completely different! But even when some of the most hardcore fans expressed that they were against it, others said they will have "hope" and don't see why that's wrong. Sure, it's not wrong. It's just not realistic.
Is it possible that the show could come back intact with the original cast? Sure. But it's HIGHLY improbable and I do not think it will ever happen. I'm not saying this to be hateful to those fans who believe. (Though I'm sure some will take it that way and bring the hate my way). I just think that it's done. Awhile back, Whedon himself has expressed that he thinks it's done as well. Some fans brought up examples of how Star Trek was made into movies because of fandom. Sure. But it's a different structure in Hollywood now. And Firefly had it's Star Trek moment when Serenity was made. Lightning striking twice is just near impossible.
I love Firefly, Serenity, Joss, Nathan, Summer, Morena and the rest. But I think it's time we put a rest to any ideas that there will ever be any new episodes or another movie.
Believe it or not, this comes from a place of love for the property. So, if you disagree and are full of hate, save it. Prove me wrong and give a bunch of money to an unknown source. Or just go watch the series and movie again and be content with an amazing piece of science fiction. Like most of us.
Amen Bruther!
Posted by: Jesse Jackson | February 23, 2011 at 03:11 PM