Joss Wedon's "Firefly" greenlit for motion picture

[Granite]

Since the older thread got bogged down a bit, I thought I restart it with this article:

Source: www.fireflyfans.net

The following is from Variety.
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Whedon's 'Serenity' greenlit
U moves forward on sci-fi spinoff

By GABRIEL SNYDER
Universal Pictures has greenlit "Serenity,'' the feature film based on Joss Whedon's Fox TV series "Firefly,'' which was canceled in late 2002 after just 11 episodes.

Deals are in place for Whedon to direct and for the original cast of the TV show to reprise their roles. The pic, budgeted in the mid-eight figures, is scheduled for a June start and should be ready for a 2005 release.

After Fox pulled the plug on "Firefly," Whedon struggled to continue the project, speaking with other nets and cablers about the series, then finally turning to studios about a feature version. Universal acquired the feature rights from Fox last fall.

Whedon said the pic will be released under the title "Serenity" to give it some distance from the TV version. "It was important that people understand that the movie isn't the series," he said. "The movie is bigger, more epic than anything you can do in a series."

To that end, he said he went out of his way while penning the "Serenity" script to make sure that it is accessible to audiences who never tuned into "Firefly."

"You're not going to bring people into a movie if you're explaining all the time what happened before," Whedon said.

Series was a space oater set 500 years in the future, tracking the journeys of the crew aboard the Serenity.

Forthcoming pic is set about six months after the TV show left off, and centers on two passengers on board the ship who attract trouble to the crew.

The studio has closed a deal with Nathan Fillion to return as Capt. Malcolm Reynolds. Other original cast members Gina Torres, Morena Baccarin, Jewel Staite, Adam Baldwin, Sean Maher and Summer Glau are also in place.

Barry Mendel is producing the pic. Chris Buchanan of Mutant Enemy, Whedon's shingle, and Mendel exec Alissa Tager are exec producing. Overseeing the project for U is vice chair Mary Parent.

Date in print: Wed., Mar. 3, 2004, Los Angeles

:big grin:

[Jean-Pierre Bazinet]

YES! This is fantastic news!

Anyone who hasn't watched the series is really missing out.
If the show had been given half a chance, it would have been a classic!

[Kn'thrak]

well well well... here some GREAT news on the show

Scifi.com

All in all, a good little article and ends with the show being released on ...

...Serenity is tentatively set for release on April 22, 2005...

.

I can't wait for a teaser or trailer!

[Granite]

Serenity Trailer to be released soon

Serenity Production Pictures

Serenity Production Notes - Spoilers possible!!!
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Source: www.fireflyfans.net/newslist.asp

Joss Whedon (Creator of Firefly) -

Well, sports fans, it's official. The movie is shot. Done. And I couldn't be happier to be through with it. No more of that exciting, vibrant set, that warm camaraderie, that creative stimulus, free donuts... Excuse me. I have something in my eye... free donuts...

Oh, there's things I'll miss. But there's definitely things I WON'T miss.
In no particular order:

1) Fillion. People who are prettier than me are not supposed to be funnier than me. I think it's a guild thing. And that whole 'gracious and professional' thing got old on day ONE, you know what I mean?

2) Cinematographer Jack Green. This guy lights stuff ALL THE TIME. Seriously, like eighty-three percent of the shots had light in them. He totally didn't get my "Just Like Radio" concept for the film.

3) The incessant meddling of the studio: where was it? We waited and waited, what, are they all too busy and important to take the time to ruin my little film? This is Hollywood, people. Learn our ways and customs while you're here. Sheesh.

Just a taste of the Hell I've been through. And being surrounded by beautiful women, and, let's face it, beautiful men, all of whom get along, work hard and play their characters with such ease and nuance it's clear they were born for the roles -- who needs that?

But no matter how much I suffer for my art, it's worth it. 'Cause come April 22nd I think we'll be bringing you an exciting film that's a powerful statement about the right to be free. Which is not as cool as my original statement about the right to tasty garlic mussels in a cilantro broth, but the freedom thing's okay too. The editing started this week, and after just a first cut I can safely say this will be the greatest film since whatever film comes out right before it. And I'm not backing down from that.

Thanks for your support. And I mean that more literally than people usually do -- Coming back from the Chicago Con and telling people there was a Serenity booth put up and run entirely by fans... you should have seen their faces. Hell, you should have seen mine. But not too close. And not before, like, 10:00 -- maybe 11:00 a.m. And maybe sort of from the side. The back-ish part of the side. You should have seen my hair.

Be well. Good things are coming.

Cilantro!

-joss.

Nathan Fillion (Captain Malcom Reynolds)

...The movie is finished. Friday was my last day, Saturday the wrap party, and now, my days are my own. I have promised myself to get on top of some appointments, a carpentry project, and travel arrangements for a well deserved vacation. Yet so far, I haven't been able to pry myself away from the Universal lot.

Yesterday I darkened the doors of our editors in order to scam a copy of the gag reel for myself and some of my castmates (whom I later met for dinner). At the same time, I pestered Lisa Lassek to show me dailies from the final days shooting and together we fantasized about the finished product being a box office smash/little picture that could.

Now is the time to let this baby of ours go of to summer camp, put her in the capable hands of the counsellors at Zoic, have music and sound put to her, and let her grow up. It will be hard, letting go, but we have done all we can. Rest assured, Joss will be holding her hand the entire way. He'll be making sure she wears a life jacket on canoe outtings, and watching that she doesn't sneak across the lake to make out with the boys at Camp Flibbidee Joop.
As for spreading the Serenity word? So many people I see (my deli, sushi restaurant, and hardware store) say "Where have you been?" Filming the best movie of all time." I reply. "Serenity?" they ask. "Yes, Serenity indeed." I have also purchased 11 sets of the DVDs. I am driving them around to cast members homes to get them signed, and then I shall distribute them to the needy and loud spoken. One condition applies. The set shall be watched, then used to convert a least three people between now and Aprill 22. If among my friends someone already has a set, my autographed set shall replace theirs, and their old set shall be passed on for keeps, honoring the same condition.

What have you been doing to convert the unenlightened, hedonistic masses? How shall we wake the word from their Firefly-less slumber. Is there anything illegal about brainwashing or Firefly as a cult? Think of the tax breaks and the enormous amount of power I'll weild and abuse as a high priest, or just Captain. Ron can be high priest.

Be good to each other,

Nathan Fillion

Jewel Statie (Kaylee)

Serenity is officially over. I'm going to the wrap party tomorrow night. We've packed up our stuff in boxes. My dressing room is cleared out. Kinda crazy that it went by so fast, but I knew it would.

The last two weeks (specifically my last week, which was second to last for the rest of the crew) was very, very hectic. We saved the most difficult stuff to the end, which I guess was a good idea, considering we had so much time (and so much fun) doing the nice stuff for the first two months. But all of the action stuff was tagged on at the end of the schedule, which means lots of scrambling to get our "days"... and by that I mean, lots of overtime. Some of us-- and I won't say who because that would be saying too much-- had so much stunt/wire work to do, they basically worked all day and then went straight to rehearsal (which we call Fight Camp), and then got up in the morning to work again, and so on. Whew.

I'm glad that we were so busy, though, because none of us could see "the end" coming so much. And when it did happen, it was very surreal. It was late at night, and everyone was fired up on caffeine (having slept probably about six hours the night before, if that), and ready to keep filming... and suddenly it was announced that we were wrapped. And not just any wrap... "picture wrapped". But it was a really lovely moment. Everyone was so exhausted, we literally collapsed into each other's arms for a hug and vowed to celebrate at the wrap party (so we didn't really have to say good-bye right then)... and that was it.

To be a part of something so special is incredibly gratifying. I can't wait to see the finished cut with all the special effects included. I can't wait to see people's reactions. It's going to an interesting 2005.

As will DragonCon, which is next weekend... That snuck up on me, too. Adam and Nathan are going, (as the whole world knows by now at this point) which is nice for me. I have my big bro's there to help me spread the word. It'll be a nice cap to a wonderful experience.

What a place to be in right now. I feel great. Tired, but great.

I'll write when I'm home in beautiful Van-city.

Jewel

[Movieman]

http://www.joblo.com/index.php?id=5754

Here is a set visit by Joblo.

Oh god I can't wait for this movie!

[Movieman]

Here is a cast promotional image! Too bad Book and Anara are missing but it's still very shiny!



edit: direct-link doesn't work... added as attachment.

[Kn'thrak]

well, Serenity is set back 5 months to September release. Studio decision... most likely to get no real competition against other movies.

Look on the bright side, longer movie promotion

[Charismaslover]

I wonder when it'll come out in the UK

[braveheart_1296]

Its due for worldwide release on April 22nd, I was at a con recently, and Nathan Fillion, summer Glau and Morenna Baccarin were imforming us about, how they have all signed to do the trilogy, has anyone seen the trailer ?, I saw it at the con, and boy does it look good, it looks amazing, anyway, just thought id let those who didnt know, know

[Charismaslover]

Nathan Fillion gonna be the next Claire Kramer, and be at every con from now on, lol

[braveheart_1296]

No I found out that claire Kramer does the cons because she is supposedly best friends with Sean and has been for 10 years or so, and Nathan Fillion has been friends with sean since they met years ago, because sean used to do acting, and obviously didnt make itlol

[Charismaslover]

no wonder, Sean looks like a tit.

[braveheart_1296]

Did u know Sean was in several Porn films, I found that out at the White Room when people were getting him to sign his DVD

[Charismaslover]

pornos! now i've heard everything.

[braveheart_1296]

yeah they were gettin him to sogn his movies, now u know why he went to pornos, they dont have to act much, a few groans, 2 pumps and a suirt