'Firefly' revival hopes still alive as Fox is open to see 'if there’s a way to reinvent it for today'
There are many devoted fanbases to shows canceled too soon, but perhaps none so dedicated as fans of 'Firefly.' Fans were roused by a picture tweeted out by the show's executive producer Tim Minear of the last day of shooting, and the response to that has prompted many fans to ask what it would take to bring the classic space western back. Fox's president of entertainment is open to the idea - if they can find a way to do it right.
In an interview with TheWrap at the Television Critics Association press tour, Fox’s president of entertainment, Michael Thorn, spoke about what would be needed to bring the series back. “The macro answer is, any time we look at one of our classic titles, if there’s a way to reinvent it for today so it’s as resonant now as the original was, and is, to the fans, we’re wide open,” he said. “I loved ‘Firefly,’ personally, and I watched every episode. I didn’t work on it, but I loved the show."
'Firefly' was a space western that followed the adventures of a group of smugglers on board the Firefly-class ship named Serenity. The show starred Nathan Fillion as Captain Mal Reynolds, a veteran from the losing side of a recent war. The show also starred Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin, Jewel Staite, Sean Maher, Summer Glau and Ron Glass. Despite its passionate fanbase, the show was canceled after only one season. Fans clamored for its return, even collecting funds and paying for a full-page ad in 'Variety' magazine asking for the show's return
“In this crowded marketplace, if you can start with some kind of brand awareness and IP that has a vocal support and, in this case, a crazy, passionate love for it, you’re ahead of the game,” Thorn said.
The show got to wrap up some of its major storylines in the movie 'Serenity,' but the demand for a series revival is still out there.Tim Minear said that he and the show's creator, and director, Joss Whedon, have discussed ways to bring the show back.
“Joss did sort of revive it by making ‘Serenity,'” Minear said, “But we have talked about different permutations and how that might work. Do you take two of the characters and put them in a different place and sort of retell a new story with two old characters, with new characters?”
“You’re not gonna get everybody back — unless you did something like a limited series like they did for ‘The X-Files,’" he continued. "Then maybe you could get these people to come back. ‘Cause Nathan is a little busy doing ‘The Rookie.’ But I also know, ’cause I just texted a little bit with Nathan [Fillion] over the weekend, when I posted those pictures from ‘Firefly’ and he got very sentimental. Everyone who worked on that show dearly loves it and they all still talk to each other. I still see Alan [Tudyk] occasionally.”
Minear's tweet evoked a response from Tudyk, who wrote, "Wait, we're cancelled?" The response was retweeted by Whedon, which was enough to bring talk of a 'Firefly' revival back to the fore.
With all the revivals, sequels and remakes abound, there's never been a better time to bring the series back. Until more news develops, however, the revival remains a distant hope. In the meanwhile, fans eager for more 'Firefly' stories can read the comics being published by Boom! Comics.