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Lindley
Vice Admiral
Joined: 18 Sep 2001
Posts: 6194
Location: Fairfax, VA
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 Thu Sep 04, 2003 7:52 pm Firefly movie is a GO! |
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Firefly, the series that has won critical approval and an extremely loyal and still-growing fanbase despite being cancelled after a mere 15 episodes (aired out of order, no less), is set to make a return!
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'Firefly' lands in film afterlife
By Zorianna Kit and Chris Gardner
The short-lived TV series "Firefly" is moving to the big screen. After taking his "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" feature film and turning it into a successful TV series, Joss Whedon is about to do the reverse with another one of his creations. Whedon has teamed with Universal Pictures to turn "Firefly," a TV cult favorite, into a feature film.
In addition to having adapted it for the big screen, Whedon will also make his feature directorial debut with the project. Plans are to see "Firefly" go into production in first-quarter 2004.
Universal recently acquired the rights to "Firefly" from 20th Century Fox Television, where Whedon's Mutant Enemy Inc. production company has a television deal.
The action-adventure series was set 500 years in the future and centered on a crew aboard a spaceship. The feature version will incorporate the mythology from the show but will take on a more epic feel. Whedon hopes to enlist the entire cast to come back for the feature, depending on their previous commitments, with new characters added as well.
Whedon is producing the film through his Mutant Enemy Inc. along with studio-based producer Barry Mendell. Mendell, a former agent at UTA, used to represent Whedon. Mutant Enemy president Christopher Buchanan is executive producing. Universal production president Mary Parent is shepherding the project.
"Ever since the show went off the air, our fan base has grown even more," Buchanan said. "We've had tremendous outpouring from the U.S. and Canada as well as the U.K., which just finished a run of 'Firefly' over there. Every comic book and sci-fi convention has had a 'Firefly' presence since the show first aired."
For the series, which ran this past season, Whedon produced 15 hours of television, including a two-hour episode. Three shows never aired on Fox but will likely be featured on the series' DVD release, due out in December. Buchanan said fans created such a demand that DVD presales on Amazon.com sold out within 24 hours.
Whedon, repped by CAA, continues to be executive producer of "Angel," which he created. His feature film screenplay credits include "Titan A.E.," "Alien: Resurrection" and "Toy Story."
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http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1969026
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Morphy
Forum Ogre
Joined: 15 Jun 2001
Posts: 3858
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| Tue Sep 09, 2003 11:51 pm |
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Wow. The pilot was pretty good. I would have continued to watch it, however it was always on a friday night.
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Captain Skyline
Vice Admiral
Joined: 09 Aug 2001
Posts: 6646
Location: UK
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| Wed Sep 10, 2003 3:09 am |
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Firefly didnt even make it to UK, so whats it about? what time period is it in? what type of sci-fi is it, etc
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Lindley
Vice Admiral
Joined: 18 Sep 2001
Posts: 6194
Location: Fairfax, VA
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| Wed Sep 10, 2003 5:17 am |
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| Captain Skyline wrote: | | Firefly didnt even make it to UK, so whats it about? what time period is it in? what type of sci-fi is it, etc |
Actually it did make it to the UK, it was on Scifi UK every week up until a couple of months ago. Just yesterday it started airing in Canada on the Space channel.
Its set 500 years in the future, after Earth has been used up and mankind has moved out to the stars. Exactly how far we've moved out isn't clear; if the series had one flaw, it was that it didn't explain the FTL propulsion method very well. Personally, I'm thinking its probably similar to B5's hyperspace, just without the cloudy FX. But I digress.
The premise is that the Core Worlds, which make up the heart of the Alliance, have just won a war against the Independents, who supported self-rule on the outer colonies. Malcolm Reynolds, captain of Serenity, was on the losing Independent side.
The Core Worlds have access to all the latest technology and are generally very affluent; they're a traditional, Trek-like setting. Out on the Rim, however, newly terraformed worlds will get settlers dumped on them with little more than some supplies and perhaps a herd of cattle. The result is that those worlds bear a similarity to the Old West. Some worlds are a mixture; Persephone, seen in the pilot, has high-tech shuttle lanes and horse paths all mixed together.
Its a space western, complete with violin music. I was skeptical when I first heard about it; I'm not a big fan of westerns. However, it works. Don't ask me how----six-shooters should not be seen side-by-side with laser pistols. But somehow, it works wonderfully, to create a very unique and engaging feel.
There's a number of Firefly music videos that have been made; this one in particular, I think, gives a good impression of what the show is like. It has the TNG Opening credits music over FF visuals:
http://www.strangefinger.com/Firefly-Trek.mpg
If anyone is interested in seeing the pilot, I can give you a link to a site with a RealMedia version for download. Its not quite as good-quality as the DivX versions that can be found on p2p programs, but its a more reliable source. PM me if you're interested; the board rules don't allow me to post such a link publically.
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Captain Skyline
Vice Admiral
Joined: 09 Aug 2001
Posts: 6646
Location: UK
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| Wed Sep 10, 2003 9:18 am |
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well i didnt know, i dont have digital so i havent got access to SciFi UK.
It sounds great tho!
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The Delta Flyer
Commodore
Joined: 08 Apr 2002
Posts: 2163
Location: East Yorkshire
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| Wed Sep 10, 2003 12:29 pm |
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I've been looking for it to appear on terrestrial UK TV but so far there has been no sign of it as far as I'm aware. Is it an action show?
Eitherway I'll go and see it at the cinema either way. I've heard from reviews that it was a good if short-lived series...
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Lindley
Vice Admiral
Joined: 18 Sep 2001
Posts: 6194
Location: Fairfax, VA
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| Wed Sep 10, 2003 10:24 pm |
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There is action, but I'd hesitate to characterize it as an action show. I think calling it a drama set in the future would be more accurate.
PM me if you have a fast connection.
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Lindley
Vice Admiral
Joined: 18 Sep 2001
Posts: 6194
Location: Fairfax, VA
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| Thu Sep 25, 2003 12:20 am |
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The cover art for the Firefly: Complete Series DVD set is now available. Not great, but not half-bad either:
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Morphy
Forum Ogre
Joined: 15 Jun 2001
Posts: 3858
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| Thu Sep 25, 2003 1:25 pm |
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How many episodes are in the "complete series" DVD set?
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Lindley
Vice Admiral
Joined: 18 Sep 2001
Posts: 6194
Location: Fairfax, VA
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| Thu Sep 25, 2003 3:54 pm |
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14 episodes, including the 2-hour pilot (which was NOT aired first on Fox), for a total of 15 hours.
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The Delta Flyer
Commodore
Joined: 08 Apr 2002
Posts: 2163
Location: East Yorkshire
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| Fri Sep 26, 2003 11:14 am |
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| Lindley wrote: | There is action, but I'd hesitate to characterize it as an action show. I think calling it a drama set in the future would be more accurate.
PM me if you have a fast connection. |
Sorry I'm only a 56k-er 
Thanks anyway.
If I see the Region 2 DVDs I might see about getting them depending on the price.
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Lindley
Vice Admiral
Joined: 18 Sep 2001
Posts: 6194
Location: Fairfax, VA
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| Sat Sep 27, 2003 8:23 am |
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Actually, region 2 DVDs haven't been announced yet. They likely will be, though.
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The Delta Flyer
Commodore
Joined: 08 Apr 2002
Posts: 2163
Location: East Yorkshire
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| Sun Sep 28, 2003 6:59 am |
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Yeah I reckon that a month after they are released over there, they'll be released over here. I was just looking at the Region 1 DVDs; says you get 3 "unaired" episodes...I thought that was a really good extra to have on the DVD...alot of other shows would have just left those I bet.
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Lindley
Vice Admiral
Joined: 18 Sep 2001
Posts: 6194
Location: Fairfax, VA
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| Sun Sep 28, 2003 9:28 am |
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Well, as it happens, those three episodes were aired on Scifi UK and will be aired on Canada's Space, they just weren't aired on Fox.
Good to have them, though.
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Morphy
Forum Ogre
Joined: 15 Jun 2001
Posts: 3858
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| Wed Oct 22, 2003 3:44 pm |
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FireFly DVD
Expected Release Date: December 9, 2003
I'll pick up this DVD when it comes out.
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Lindley
Vice Admiral
Joined: 18 Sep 2001
Posts: 6194
Location: Fairfax, VA
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| Wed Oct 22, 2003 7:58 pm |
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I have to wonder why they list it as $50......every single online story is offering it for around $38 anyway.
I think Amazon's deal is slightly better, since they offer free shipping.
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Morphy
Forum Ogre
Joined: 15 Jun 2001
Posts: 3858
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| Fri Oct 24, 2003 12:46 am |
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I just watched the 2 hour pilot, "Serenity." Great show, great episode. Too bad it was cancelled. The special effects seem more realistic. The setting and characters are more appealing, or is at least refreshing than the ones on star trek.
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The Delta Flyer
Commodore
Joined: 08 Apr 2002
Posts: 2163
Location: East Yorkshire
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| Fri Oct 24, 2003 10:26 am |
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According to a sci-fi merchandise catalogue I get, there are no plans for Firefly on Region 2 DVD...maybe they'll wait to see how well it does in the US before they release the set over here 
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Lindley
Vice Admiral
Joined: 18 Sep 2001
Posts: 6194
Location: Fairfax, VA
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| Fri Oct 24, 2003 8:43 pm |
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^You can always get a multiregion player if need be. I hear there are cheap ones for not much more than the set itself costs.
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Lindley
Vice Admiral
Joined: 18 Sep 2001
Posts: 6194
Location: Fairfax, VA
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| Fri Oct 24, 2003 8:47 pm |
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| Morphy wrote: | | I just watched the 2 hour pilot, "Serenity." Great show, great episode. Too bad it was cancelled. The special effects seem more realistic. The setting and characters are more appealing, or is at least refreshing than the ones on star trek. |
Its a great show. Don't trust the production order, though----its not the proper viewing order. The proper viewing order (which the DVD set will be arranged by) is:
Serenity (2-hr pilot. Aired last by Fox, #11.)
The Train Job (#1 Aired.)
Bushwacked (#2 Aired.)
Shindig (#6 Aired)
Safe (#7 Aired)
Our Miss Reynolds (#3 Aired)
Jaynestown (#4 Aired.)
Out of Gas (#5 Aired.)
Ariel (#8 Aired)
War Stories (#9 Aired)
Trash (Unaired by Fox)
The Message (Unaired by Fox)
Heart of Gold (Unaired by Fox)
Objects in Space (#10 Aired).
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The Delta Flyer
Commodore
Joined: 08 Apr 2002
Posts: 2163
Location: East Yorkshire
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| Sat Oct 25, 2003 6:07 am |
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| Lindley wrote: | | ^You can always get a multiregion player if need be. I hear there are cheap ones for not much more than the set itself costs. |
You're probably right, the thing is I only recently got my DVD player about a month or so ago...I don't think my Mum or Dad wouldn't be too pleased with me swapping it already lol.
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Morphy
Forum Ogre
Joined: 15 Jun 2001
Posts: 3858
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| Mon Oct 27, 2003 5:49 am |
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OK. I am addicted. I watched the pilot and eight episodes this weekend. It is not a stretch to say this is the most unique, fresh show I have seen. It is only a bonus that it is sci-fi.
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The Delta Flyer
Commodore
Joined: 08 Apr 2002
Posts: 2163
Location: East Yorkshire
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| Mon Oct 27, 2003 5:38 pm |
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Why did it get cancelled? Because of ratings?
Perhaps if the film is successful they'll revive the show...on the other hand, if the film flops, it could kill it off (which I'm sure it won't  )
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Morphy
Forum Ogre
Joined: 15 Jun 2001
Posts: 3858
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| Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:27 pm |
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I'm almost sad to admit there is a possiblity that Firefly > Star Trek.
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Lindley
Vice Admiral
Joined: 18 Sep 2001
Posts: 6194
Location: Fairfax, VA
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| Mon Oct 27, 2003 11:39 pm |
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| The Delta Flyer wrote: | Why did it get cancelled? Because of ratings?
Perhaps if the film is successful they'll revive the show...on the other hand, if the film flops, it could kill it off (which I'm sure it won't ) |
Primarily ratings, yes. But there are a number of reasons.
1) 8pm Fridays on Fox is the Timeslot Of Death.
2) Of all the Scifi shows on Fox, the only one to survive more than a season in a Friday slot was The X-Files. And Fox had lower ratings standards back then.
3) The pilot was aired last. "The Train Job" was the first episode aired, and while its a decent ep, its a lousy introduction.
4) The fact that the original pilot was pulled generated negative buzz.
5) The show was preempted multiple times, usually right after a particularly good episode. This prevented it from gaining any kind of momentum.
6) The episodes were not aired in the proper order.
7) There is some speculation that Fox just didn't like the idea of a show which could be interpreted as pro-Confederate, anti-Union.
| Quote: | | I'm almost sad to admit there is a possiblity that Firefly > Star Trek. |
Better than Enterprise? Easily. Better than TNG/DS9/VOY? Possibly, though not all the time. I've actually heard the opinion that Firefly is closer to the spirit of TOS than TNG was.
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