Fans of the short-lived space western Firefly have been eager to see more of their favorite characters since the show was canceled back in 2002. They got their wish with Joss Whedon’s feature film Serenity and again with a series of comic books from Dark Horse. But with the recent news that the lone season of Firefly will once again be airing on cable television, the fever has re-ignited. Fans are now petitioning for Firefly’s star Nathan Fillion to purchase the rights to the series so that it may go back into production. And they’re willing to foot the bill.
According to Entertainment Weekly, fans have created a website and a Facebook page dedicated to the cause. “Help Nathan Buy Firefly” may sound like a ridiculous venture but crazier things have happened. I mean, we did see a feature film made out of this extremely short-live television series after all.
When the news of Firefly coming back to cable was announced, Fillion told EW, “If I got $300 million from the California Lottery, the first thing I would do is buy the rights to Firefly, make it on my own, and distribute it on the Internet.”
Well, that’s all he needed to say. The movement went into immediate action with Fillion’s colleagues even getting in on the fun. From EW:
Jose Molina, a producer on Syfy’s Haven, former Castle producer and author of two Firefly episodes tweeted Friday regarding Fillion’s comment: “For what it’s worth, I’ve told him I’d drop what I was doing and follow.”
Then Jane Espenson, writer of a Firefly episode, a producer on Battlestar Galactica and co-creator of Warehouse 13, replied to Molina: “I’m there, if needed.”
EW also points out, Fillion wouldn’t need nearly the amount of money he mentioned to purchase the rights seeing as how the Terminator franchise recently went for only $30 million and that had a far more successful past.
Now of course, none of this means the people who own the rights currently, 20th Century Fox, have any intention of selling them. And the fans aren’t asking anyone to put up money just yet (so be wary if someone does ask you). But you can’t take the sky from a Firefly fan.
February 22nd, 2011 at 12:13 am
That would be awesome – but can we pretend the movie didnt happen so Wash isnt dead….
February 22nd, 2011 at 3:23 am
I thought Universal owned the rights since the movie.
No matter. This is pie in the sky. And kind of silly.
February 22nd, 2011 at 10:31 am
Not really silly. Star Trek fans from the early 70′s are directly responsible for the revival of that franchise, which had all the appeal of a dead bird, as far as Paramount was concerned.
February 22nd, 2011 at 11:24 am
There are better shows that could have used a revival.
Though, I think it’s cool that Fillion wants to do something like this for the fans. It’s not like he needs the show.
August 1st, 2011 at 10:16 am
Silly is running around with a lamp shade on your head… and this is not a silly idea. How about for the first time in history, the very VERY dedicated fans of a great series and dictate what happens? I think that is a great idea. First we get a tv series.. and then.. we start on our goverment… maybe? Crazier things have happened.
What is silly, is sitting idly by, while the few (very few) decent shows on tv get cancelled by people who haven’t a clue what real thinking people enjoy veiwing.
There are no better shows worth reserection.. possibly 1 or 2? but you can count them on one hand.
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