Warner Bros. Buys Rights to BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER Reboot; Whit Anderson to Pen the Script
by Matt Goldberg Posted: November 22nd, 2010
In May 2009, we reported that Fran and Kaz Kuzui were going to re-launch Buffy the Vampire Slayer as a feature film but without the input of Joss Whedon (and after reading Buffy: Season Eight, that might be a good thing). In a press release, it was announced that Warner Bros. has now optioned the rights from the Kuzuis and that Atlas Entertainment and Vertigo Entertainment will produce. Whit Anderson has been brought on to write the script. Atlas’ Charles Roven said of the new take “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.” Hit the jump for the full press release.
Here’s the press release:
WARNER BROS. PICTURES SHOWS ITS FANGS WITH A
“BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER” REBOOT
LOS ANGELES, NOVEMBER 11, 2010 – Atlas Entertainment announced today it is rebooting the beloved franchise, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, with Warner Bros. Pictures. Atlas’ Charles Roven and Steve Alexander will produce the feature film alongside Doug Davison and Roy Lee of Vertigo Entertainment (The Ring, How to Train Your Dragon, The Departed). Whit Anderson is writing the script.
Warner Bros. Pictures optioned the rights from creators Fran and Kaz Kuzui, and from Sandollar Productions (Sandy Gallin and Dolly Parton), for Atlas and Vertigo to produce. Buffy the Vampire Slayer first appeared as a film in 1992, subsequently becoming a cult hit and spawning the wildly popular television series starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz, among many others.
“Whit approached us with an exciting idea about how to update Buffy,” said Roven. “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.”
Whit Anderson is represented by CAA, Wirehouse Entertainment and Julian Zajfen at Ziffren, Brittenham, Branca, Fischer, Gilbert-Lurie & Stifflemen.
Joss Whedon’s Statement About the Upcoming BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER Reboot
by Ramses Flores Posted: November 22nd, 2010
Earlier today, we reported that Warner Bros have bought the rights to Buffy the Vampire Slayer with Whit Anderson set to write the film. If you’re like me, you immediately think of Joss Whedon when you think of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Sadly though, the show runner of the original beloved series will not be involved with this upcoming film in anyway whatsoever. Judging by the comments left on a number of sites, this has frustrated and angered many Whedonites and fans of the original series.
Now, only a couple of hours later, Joss Whedon has made a statement regarding his thoughts on the upcoming Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot. You can read his clever and very Whedonesque comments after the jump.
EW sent an email over to Whedon asking about his thoughts on the upcoming film, and Whedon started off his response by saying:
“This is a sad, sad reflection on our times, when people must feed off the carcasses of beloved stories from their youths—just because they can’t think of an original idea of their own, like I did with my Avengers idea that I made up myself.”
Whedon, later on in his response, goes on to say:
“Obviously I have strong, mixed emotions about something like this. My first reaction upon hearing who was writing it was, “Whit Stillman AND Wes Anderson? This is gonna be the most sardonically adorable movie EVER.” Apparently I was misinformed. Then I thought, “I’ll make a mint! This is worth more than all my Toy Story residuals combined!” Apparently I am seldom informed of anything. And possibly a little slow. But seriously, are vampires even popular any more?
I always hoped that Buffy would live on even after my death. But, you know, AFTER. I don’t love the idea of my creation in other hands, but I’m also well aware that many more hands than mine went into making that show what it was. And there is no legal grounds for doing anything other than sighing audibly. I can’t wish people who are passionate about my little myth ill. I can, however, take this time to announce that I’m making a Batman movie. Because there’s a franchise that truly needs updating. So look for The Dark Knight Rises Way Earlier Than That Other One And Also More Cheaply And In Toronto, rebooting into a theater near you.
Leave me to my pain! Sincerely, Joss Whedon.”
For more information about the upcoming Whedon-less Buffy the Vampire Slayer film, you can read our post from earlier today and the article from when we first heard about the film back in May 2009.
http://www.collider.com/2010/11/22/joss-whedon-buffy-vampire-slayer-reboot/
I always hoped that Buffy would live on even after my death. But, you know, AFTER. I don’t love the idea of my creation in other hands, but I’m also well aware that many more hands than mine went into making that show what it was. And there is no legal grounds for doing anything other than sighing audibly. I can’t wish people who are passionate about my little myth ill. I can, however, take this time to announce that I’m making a Batman movie. Because there’s a franchise that truly needs updating. So look for The Dark Knight Rises Way Earlier Than That Other One And Also More Cheaply And In Toronto, rebooting into a theater near you.
Leave me to my pain! Sincerely, Joss Whedon.”
