www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071109/ENTERTAINMENT/711090310/1036Let's get back to the 'verse -- give us 'Serenity 2' now!
Like a lot of Pensacolians, I went to the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival last weekend. And I happened to wear a T-shirt bearing the logo from writer/director Joss Whedon's excellent 2005 sci-fi fim, "Serenity."
Nearly every time I wear this shirt, someone stops me to say how much they love the movie. The festival was no exception. I easily spoke to a half-dozen people who declared themselves fans of the film and the short-lived TV series, "Firefly," that spawned it.
The bottom line: I'm convinced that there are far more fans of Whedon's creation out there than "Serenity's" box office receipts which worldwide just about equaled the film's $39 million production budget, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com would indicate.
Certainly, the film and the TV series continue to be a draw on DVD. Universal recently reissued the film in a deluxe collector's edition owing to its continued excellent sales. A flim that doesn't continue to sell well isn't reissued, it just goes out of print. "Serenity" seems in no danger of that.
When "Serenity" was released in theaters, it had a small, built-in cult audience based on the show. That cult has only grown since, and becomes larger every day.
And it's a cult that doesn't hesitate to spend money on its obsession, too. "Serenity" comics, action figures, books, posters, T-shirts and other merchandise have all been strong sellers. Even if the film hadn't turned a profit through DVD alone (and by now, it obviously has), the merchandising rights are worth a mint.
Moreover, in interviews, Whedon and his cast Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Adam Baldwin, Summer Glau, Jewel Staite, Morena Baccarin, Ron Glass amd Sean Maher continue to express affection for each other and for the characters and universe they created together. I've no doubt that if "Serenity 2" were pitched, they'd all gladly sign up.
Because of all that, I have to believe that Whedon's vision of the future HAS a future of its own.
Sure, schedules would have to be juggled the current writers' and potential actors' strikes aside, Fillion's appearing on "Desperate Housewives," Baldwin's one of the stars of "Chuck," Glau has the upcoming "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," Staite has joined the cast of "Stargate: Atlantis" and Tudyk pops up regularly in movies from "Dodgeball" to "3:10 to Yuma"; the other actors all work regularly in guest roles; and Whedon just announced a highly anticipated new TV series called "Dollhouse," which will reunite him with "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel" star Eliza Dushku and "Firefly" writer/producer Tim Minnear. But it could be made to work, and I think Universal would be foolish not to try.
And if they don't have enough faith to send "Serenity" back to the big screen, perhaps they could consider going the direct to DVD route. After all, "Firefly" made visually stunning episodes for a small fraction of the theatrical feature's budget. Surely, a DVD original could be made for $15 million or less. That's an investment that would be guaranteed to pay off; the hardcore fans, who call themselves "Browncoats," would likely buy enough copies for a release to break even right out of the gate.
So "Serenity 2" just makes economic sense.
And besides, it'll make every person that stops me on the streets of Pensacola very happy. And given the current climate, Universal and all the big Hollywood studios can certainly use some good will.
