HOME TRAILERS 2023 SCHEDULE 2024 SCHEDULE SHORT FILMS REVIEWS PODCAST INTERVIEWS NEWS FEEDS ABOUT US

LATEST NEWS

'Dark Knight' Producer Behind 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Reboot

by Ethan Anderton
November 22, 2010
Source: Hero Complex

Previously we'd heard about the potential of a new take on Buffy the Vampire Slayer without Joss Whedon being involved at all. Though the series creator wasn't bitter about the project, he just said he wouldn't be a part of it. Since then we haven't heard any new details. But today Atlas Entertainment, the company run by The Dark Knight producer Charles Roven, announced they are behind the project along with Warner Bros. They also revealed relatively inexperienced screenwriter Whit Anderson is behind the screenplay. No details on the story whatsoever have been revealed but having Roven behind the project certainly doesn't hurt. Read on!

Here's what the producer had to say on the project:

“Whit approached us with an exciting idea about how to update Buffy. There is an active fan base eagerly awaiting this character’s return to the big screen. We’re thrilled to team up with Doug and Roy on a re-imagining of Buffy and the world she inhabits. Details of the film are being kept under wraps, but I can say while this is not your high school Buffy, she’ll be just as witty, tough, and sexy as we all remember her to be.”

Hero Complex also spoke to Anderson about the project where she revealed she's "fighting through" the script right now. Since there's many Buffy fans out there who are undoubtedly worried about their beloved characters and universe Whedon so carefully constructed, here's her trying to tell us how much she loves the series:

”I didn’t really watch much television at all, but I always watched 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer,' that was the one show I would watch when I got home. I just loved this character. I was the same age as Buffy and it was so rare to have a female lead character on TV in those days who was strong and capable and smart but also allowed to be feminine.”

It's always somewhat worrisome when the only thing a writer, producer, actor or director can say is how big of a fan they are without offering any real evidence outside of the usual praise of the character, series, etc. I want to hear specifics about what you loved, why you loved it, and how you're going to try and bring that to your own take on the property in question. I might be a big fan of something, but I'm not the one giving it a complete overhaul for a major motion picture. For now, I guess we can take solace in the fact that a producer like Roven who gathered Christopher Nolan and his entire creative team to bring Batman back to life, but somehow, I don't think it'll be enough for some fans to have faith (especially for those who loved Sarah Michelle Gellar and the rest of the series' cast). How about you?

Find more posts: Movie News, Opinions

24 Comments

I'm in! (Didn't read the article, I just stared at the pic)

Quaked2023 on Nov 22, 2010

hmm

A5J4DX on Nov 22, 2010

This will end badly. This is not like BSG where decades had passed and a re-imagining makes some sense. The last Buffy episode was less than a decade ago. And to exclude Whedon from this is just insane. Let this Whit Anderson person create her own characters and movie rather than trying to muck up something that for TV was pretty damn good.

Bill on Nov 22, 2010

#1 That's what I'm saying...

Cruzer on Nov 22, 2010

You forgot a "d" at the end of inexperience. Slow down while you're typing. Who cares about what experience he has, just because he doesn't meet your list of qualifications doesn't mean that he doesn't deserve a shot. It's individuals such as yourself that make it difficult for the viewing public to enjoy anything due to your lopsided and narrow minded views on stories that are in the works when you've never attempted anything creative on your own besides bashing someone who wanted it a hell of alot more than you ever could.

Writer's Block on Nov 22, 2010

This will be horrible. Joss Whedon is the genius behind Buffy, and without him, there is nothing. In fact, without Sarah Michelle Gellar or the other fine members of the ensemble, there is nothing, because these writers and actors and directors defined what made the show great--just look at the shitty movie done before the show. No creative control for Whedon and some seriously bad casting, and it was horrible. When done right, it was one of the best shows ever. This will be bad.

DinoChow on Nov 22, 2010

@ #5, Writer's Block, First of all, Whit Anderson is a female screenwriter, so maybe you should slow down, read the article, and then start typing. Second of all. Experience is rather important when taking on a loved franchise like this. Personally, I'm not a die-hard Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan, so I don't have much of an opinion on the franchise itself. But it's a bit disappointing that an unknown writer can't muster anything more to say than the usual "I'm a big fan of the series" talk that we hear about every single adaptation of a comic book, TV series, etc. These are opinions. Everyone has them. I highly doubt they make it difficult for the viewing public to enjoy anything since they also have their own opinion and will watch whatever they wish no matter what I have to say. If you need any further evidence, read the comments above and likely below as well.

Ethan Anderton on Nov 22, 2010

I really hope that this does not happen, We had seven great years of Buffy on TV and also the continuation of the series in comic form. If there was to be a new movie it really should be with the original people who crafted such a great series.

Jimmy Love on Nov 22, 2010

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is in my opinion the greatest television show of all time. I would go as far as it may be my favorite piece of entertainment ever and yes I'm a dude and yes my buddies have always given me hell for it. It didn't belong to one particular genre it was a mixture of just about everything and it all came to life because of the brilliant mind of Joss Whedon and without him it just doesn't feel right. Nothing can touch the television show whatever they do with this reboot will suck in comparison. Sarah Michelle Gellar is Buffy she was and is perfect for that role and I don't know if most of us diehards could accept anyone else. I won't hate or protest this new Buffy film I just don't think it'll do much for me because it won't be the Buffy I know and love.

CLAW on Nov 22, 2010

If anything needed a reboot it's Buffy, the series went way off the deep end around season 5 and never recovered from it's nose dive. That's why Whedon is great at doing a one or two season run of a show but shouldn't be allowed to go on past that. I say just do a clean start, the fans will never be happy regardless, their all shutins that wouldn't actually go out long enough to pay for a ticket anyway.

Jack on Nov 22, 2010

No.No.No.No.NO.

Laura on Nov 22, 2010

hmmm sounds yummy but i'd rather see an Angel movie , that series was cool , and now they show back to back episodes at 6 am and 7 am eastern time on tnt i believe, nice way to start the work day with some dark entertainment:)

Chris5g on Nov 22, 2010

JUST SAY NO!

SumOtherGuy on Nov 22, 2010

Ethan, Glad to see you corrected that mistake. As far as i'm concerned, you shouldn't be able to write ANY more articles period. So just because they didn't give any specifics other than they are a big fan of the show, you speculate that they may not be fit to handle the project?? I seem to remember years ago that many comic fans felt that Nolan was going in the wrong direction with the Batman franchise until they actually "saw" something. My point is, in the future wait until the house is built before you knock on the door.

Writer's Block on Nov 22, 2010

No , no , no. Sarah Michelle Gellar , Joss Whedon ORRR Nothing

Fabri on Nov 22, 2010

@ Writer's Block, I never said she was unfit to handle the project. I said that it's worrisome that all she has to say is that she's a big fan of the franchise without offering anymore of a substantial interpretation or understanding of the material. It's the same generic fluff we get from anyone tackling an adaptation whether they experienced or not. I'm not tossing the project or the screenwriter to the wind, but I merely made a point of saying that Buffy fans won't be so inclined to bestow their faith upon her or the project just yet. I'm not even a Buffy fan and my words haven't been anywhere near as harsh or critical as the comments in this thread. And yet you're quite an indignant one, and I really don't understand why there's such hostility. By all means though, keep defending a female screenwriter as if she were your mother despite the fact that moments ago you thought she was a man. Oh, and frankly, I don't care if you don't want me to write articles anymore, because it doesn't sound like you actually read them anyway. Have a lovely day!

Ethan Anderton on Nov 22, 2010

Ethan, I think you're missing an important part of this guy's rant. It's in his name. I would hazard a guess that he/she is a failed/struggling/beginning writer that is projecting his frustrations into your writing. Just my two cents. At any rate, he's a troll that you (and now I) are egging on. Back on topic, I could write my opinion of this and it would be more or less exactly what CLAW wrote. What I don't get is their complete ignorance of the fan base. "There is an active fan base eagerly awaiting this character’s return to the big screen." We would LOVE to see a return of the character ONLY with the original cast and creative team. I would love nothing more than for them to make an amazing Buffy film that makes me eat my words but I don't see it happening. The characters are far too iconic. To this day, I sadly can't take Sarah Michelle Gellar seriously as a damsel in distress. Throughout The Grudge, I kept thinking, "Just kick the stupid ghost, already!"

Groov on Nov 22, 2010

"An active fan base" I think you'll find that the majority of that base are the Wheden devout.

Manda on Nov 22, 2010

Worst idea ever. Period. There is no need for a movie completely unrelated to what Joss and company created, and so soon after the series ended. Like everyone else has said, no fan is going to approve of this.

Traveler on Nov 22, 2010

So now its Buffy that they want to the dark knight thing to you know making it edgier and darker...Um that's what Buffy always was a dark edgy show, I for one am tired of the whole "we want it to be like the dark knight" riff

Jimmy Love on Nov 23, 2010

I go into this a bit more on my blog but I seem to be one of the only die hard Buffy and Joss supporters that doesn't mind this news. The Buffyverse is a great one with a ton of room to make it your own thing as well. Whit seems to understand the character and has a blank slate prove herself as a writer. With only her name attached and no director everyone seems to be attacking this movie simply because it's not Whedon and that's not fair. Remakes a part of movies. Always have been and always will be and we need to get over that.

SpeakingGeek on Nov 23, 2010

They should make buffy more like blade , i think that would work

Chris5g on Nov 23, 2010

Manda, there very much is "an active fan base" of Buffy alone. Without Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Joss wouldn't have any fans. As for the reboot, bad idea. The show has only been off the air for 7 years. No doubt the movie could have been way better, but I think it's just way too soon. Plus Buffy is alive and well in the comic book. It's not like Buffy is completely gone. And for Joss and the crew to not be involved is just stupid. The actors did a damn good job and to have someone else fill those roles; I just can't picture it.

Eve on Nov 23, 2010

I'm a huge Buffy fan and geeked-out when the series was continued as a comic book, but now I feel like Season 8 is spinning out of control. I'm truly excited to see a fresh approach to my favorite characters and can only pray that the movie does so well, the remake will be adapted for a new televisions series that eventually gets cancelled, continues as a comic book, then gets remade as another movie... over and over and over until I die.

Ryan on Jul 22, 2011

New comments are no longer allowed on this post.