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Why the time is right for a Serenity sequel

Daniel Powell


Serenity 2 is the film that many of us want Joss Whedon to make. But he hasn't, for many reasons. Yet is now the time, wonders Daniel?

Published on Mar 19, 2009

There are a multitude of reasons why any sci-fi movie (or sci-fi show for that matter) is a good idea. In current times, with the economy being as unstable as Lindsay Lohan’s driver, sci-fi presents pure escapism. Sci-fi on TV has given fans so much to be thankful for lately, with Battlestar Galactica, Terminator: TSCC and Dollhouse mixing good business for the suits with drama and spectacle for the viewers. And yes, it is debatable whether TV execs actually care about their sci-fi programming, but the numbers don’t lie.

With this in mind, I decided to take a look at one of my all time favourite sci-fi universes: Firefly, and in particular, Serenity.

The movie, born from the wreckage of the cancelled TV show, was well received by critics and audiences alike, and did solid business on DVD to boot, then… nothing. The fan chatter continued, as did the rumours of a sequel, but nothing materialised. It was said to be on and off Universal’s production slate throughout 2006/2007, with many of the principal cast going on record as saying they would do it but alas, nothing came.

So, here are eight reasons (in no particular order) why I think 2009 would be a great year to reacquaint ourselves with Mal, Jayne, River, and the crew aboard the good ship Serenity.

The Economy

The current state of the world financially should, potentially put studio bosses off making more risky movies. But with The Dark Knight recording the second biggest gross of all time, reaching nearly a billion dollars in worldwide revenue, and even 'risky' pictures such as Watchmen hitting the $100 million mark, it is clear that the movie-going public will not be put off. In terms of Serenity, Universal have a crowd-pleasing, escapist fantasy that costs little and makes loads, which in the current climate, should be looked at as a blessing for movie bosses.

The Original’s Success

It is completely mystifying how, after the business drummed up by both its theatrical run (not amazing, but respectable) and business on DVD (beyond all expectation), Serenity wasn’t immediately green-lit for a sequel. Original sci-fi properties are all well and good for television, but for a movie outside of an established franchise to put up such numbers was phenomenal, so much so, in fact, that sales of Firefly on DVD were on the up after its success.

Dr Horrible’s Sing-a-long Blog

Joss Wheddon is a God. It is widely established that anything this man creates turns to gold. Nothing backs this up more than the bewildering success of this obscure, net-only comedy. That Dr Horrible managed to get the cast that it did (Nathan Fillion, Neil Patrick Harris) is just further proof of the immense respect Wheddon is afforded in the industry.

Firefly on the Sci-Fi Channel

Ridiculous network name changes aside (what was the point?), Serenity’s predecessor has been putting up good numbers for a show that was shit-canned by the Fox network. That it was cancelled in the first place is a travesty, but it's showing on Sci-Fi proves that, if a show is run as it was meant to be (I’m looking at you here, Fox), IT ACTUALLY MAKES SENSE!

Battlestar Galactica

With BSG coming to a close, leaving behind a rich history of unprecedented success, movie studios, if there were any sense and justice in the world, should be optioning sci-fi scripts left, right and centre. And with a Serenity sequel on a lot of fans' wish lists, They could look to Joss Wheddon for another instalment.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

With Serenity’s own River Tam at its heart, TSCC has taken the Terminator franchise in a new, exciting direction. But will it give Summer Glau any more clout with studio bosses?

Dollhouse

Joss Whedon’s current TV hit appears to be starting to get interesting, but with the Fox network’s itchy trigger finger with regards to sci-fi , he may suddenly find himself looking at other projects if the network gets impatient.

Nathan Fillion

After piloting Serenity through a muddled TV series (again, thanks, Fox) and movie counterpart, the man behind Mal Reynolds made the leap to leading man in horror-com Slither, and indie sleeper hit Waitress. Hopefully these solid turns might persuade Universal that he is capable of carrying a big studio movie, if his turn as Mal in the original wasn’t persuasion enough.

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Users Comments

Re: Why the time is right for a Serenity sequel
Posted By Grrr 1 March 20, 2009 10:54:53 AM

Personally I'm far from being a fan of this film. A sequel would be highly unlikely. It was far less well received by audiences than critics making less money than its (low) budget: http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=Serenity.htm

Re: Why the time is right for a Serenity sequel
Posted By renegadepro 1 March 20, 2009 11:14:24 AM

As a fan of the 'Firefly' series, I was less impressed with 'Serenity'. I think this was because I was aware that the movie was being made for audiences who had not experienced the Tv Show and therefore the movie felt like I was revisiting familiar ground. That said, I understand why they needed to do that and would welcome a sequel where all that backstory has been dealt with. For 'Firefly' fans this would in effect be the first step into new story territory and development of the characters beyond the series. I still think that a better idea for Joss Wheddon would be to do what he does best. Now that viewers have seen 'Serenity' and discovered 'Firefly' from that initial viewing of the film, I think the time would be right to make a new series of 'Firefly'. Joss Wheddon knows television and with a higher viewing audience the show could rightfully gain the acknowledgment that it missed first time out. Totally agree with you about Nathan Fillion. He made the role his own and could carry any future movie without a doubt.

Re: Why the time is right for a Serenity sequel
Posted By gudge 1 March 20, 2009 11:18:55 AM

Dan, I think you missed a point - theres going to be "Sex and the City 2" - thats enough excuse to demand Serenity 2. Also, rather than "SCC", id just say "Summer Glau - cos shes well fit, innit blud". Also, Serenity was just plain great. Being honest i never saw Firefly (just never got round to it), but Serenity is v enjoyable! As for Slither, I like Fillion but Slither was just very forgetable.

Re: Why the time is right for a Serenity sequel
Posted By spago 1 March 20, 2009 11:36:40 AM

OK so the movie was around a million away from amking a profit theatrically, but DVD ensured a tidy profit for the studio. And Fillion is awesome, whatever he's in really. i have a lot of time for his films, regardless of genre. And Craig- get into firefly mate. Love it!

Re: Why the time is right for a Serenity sequel
Posted By kivel 1 March 20, 2009 12:07:03 PM

Firefly was the most unique show to hit TV. It takes place in the future with space ships, but NO faster than liight speeds, no aliens. Planets who have and planets who have not. And at the center 9 very different people who are abord Serenity for different reasons but pull together, out of comradship and necessity

Re: Why the time is right for a Serenity sequel
Posted By fizzyblogic 1 March 20, 2009 12:42:25 PM

What the fuck are you on about with the "hits" Battlestar Galactica, TSCC and Dollhouse? Because you are right the numbers don't lie and the latter two are the bottom of the barrel shows on network TV and the first is a niche cult hit with less than two million viewers that won't even get its own theatrical movie made.

Re: Why the time is right for a Serenity sequel
Posted By geekygirlUK 1 March 20, 2009 12:48:00 PM

For me the main reason is pretty much everything in the first film. The first couple of times I watched it, I didn't love it because (as with renegadpro) I felt they were going over old ground a bit, and pandering to a wider audience. But watching it a few more times (yes, I'm a massive Whedonite), the acting and writing and everything about the film just makes me love it. My favourite scene: The reavers emerging from the dust cloud, chasing Serenity. Awesome! I could go on for a very long time about why this should be done. We want more!

Re: Why the time is right for a Serenity sequel
Posted By stuxmusic 1 March 20, 2009 12:48:24 PM

I would love Serenity 2. Or even if that's up shit creek, Firefly Season 2. Although, it would have to start with one really depressing episode about Wash and Book. Sigh. Still, I whole-heartedly agree.

Re: Why the time is right for a Serenity sequel
Posted By tank 1 March 20, 2009 03:27:31 PM

On its own, Serenity is a decent enough space opera, but taken as a part of the Firefly canon, it's a complete dud. Mal and his crew holding innocent people at gunpoint, taking River with them to dangerous missions, and many other plot developments look like they've been written by someone who doesn't know these characters all that well, or just doesn't care enough about them to think twice before changing their personalities whenever a certain plot point requires it. Plus, the show is just far more entertaining than the needlessly dour movie. So yes, I'd like to see more of these movies made, but not at the price of seeing more Firefly characters ruined, or killed just for shock value.

Re: Why the time is right for a Serenity sequel
Posted By ccshoes 1 March 20, 2009 04:35:29 PM

Another reason the time is right because it would reach a wider audience (Nathan Fillion's new fans from the ABC TV show, Castle). It might even make up any shortfall from the first.

Re: Why the time is right for a Serenity sequel
Posted By Nass 1 March 20, 2009 09:15:08 PM

DUDE there are some more points: 1) Summer Glau! Due to Fox's massive ad campaign, and Virgin's here in the UK, everyone knows her face and good looks 2) Nathan Fillion's Castle. It's a drawing in around or over 10 million viewers so its a hit, and renwal prospcts looks good 3) Other cast members- Adam Baldwin will bring in the Chuck crowd, Jewel Staite the Stargate crowd, Summer Glau the TSCC crowd, and Joss' Dollhouse prospects are beginning to look hopeful too.

Why it won't happen
Posted By pianomanjm 1 March 20, 2009 10:27:42 PM

For those who think that Serenity turned a good profit - you have to look closer and understand the numbers. A theatrical gross doesn't all go to the studio - the theaters keep a portion of ticket sales. Then there are marketing costs. For a movie to break even, it needs to gross about double the production budget + marketing budget. Serenity? Nowhere near. Don't believe me? Look it up before you start arguing about it. Those are facts. Plain and simple. Not opinions. Now, with DVD sales, it is my understanding that Serenity did break even. Barely. I would LOVE a sequel. You will not find a bigger Joss Whedon fan than I am. But unless a studio decides they WANT to lose money (and stranger things have happened!), it's simply not likely.

Re: Why the time is right for a Serenity sequel
Posted By MarvMarble 1 March 22, 2009 05:14:13 AM

I think I would have preferred a new series to a new film. A new film would be acceptable though. I've quite enjoyed the comics, (particularly the first) although they weren't as good as the series. Thing is, should it (film or series, whatever the new project is) be a prequel to the film so that all the characters can be involved? The comics so far have been prequels, and the new series (I've yet to acquire) deals with Shepherd Book's backstory. Maybe the films should forge on ahead then. It would be a shame to leave those old characters though. And did Serenity wrap things up as far as future events are concerned? I'm sure there is more that could follow. There were other threads left dangling. The Russian. The bounty hunter to name a couple.

Re: Why the time is right for a Serenity sequel
Posted By whillice 1 March 23, 2009 04:37:06 PM

The best Serenity sequel ever would loosely follow the plot of The Blues Brothers. Mal gets picked up from jail by Zoe, who then informs him of a job left for them posthumously by Shepherd Book, then they have to "put the band back together" and pull off the job. Meanwhile, Saffron plays the Carrie Fisher role, following them around the galaxy trying to kill them. There you go, Hollywood. Take it or leave it.

Re: Why the time is right for a Serenity sequel
Posted By malr 1 March 24, 2009 08:03:35 AM

I think that maybe it was that Firefly lasted just the one season that made every single episode so memorable. There were some things left unexplored but I do think Serenity brought us some closure, though a final season two could have done the job so much better. Most tv shows experience a rise and fall curve, quality wise, that continually rises from season one to two and sometimes three, and from then on it's a freefall. At this point to restart the series I'd be afraid that we'd enter into freefall mode immediately. It would have a similar effect to ABC trying to revive the series SCRUBS where you see the main cast just not "there" anymore. I'd hate to see that happen to my beloved Firefly. Down the line, years even, when no one remembers how much money the studio lost and all our favorite stars are more famous than God himself, I'd like to see them all come together for just one final movie (Wash better be there though, even if it's just one dream sequence).

Re: Why the time is right for a Serenity sequel
Posted By prendever 1 March 25, 2009 03:46:45 PM

Most of 8 points are invalid I feel: Fillion and Glau, as cool and hot as they are respectively are not big money spinners (yet). Dollhouse started crap. TSCC completely lost the plot and its numbers are dwindling. Battlestar Gallactica is nothing to go by. Even though Serenity was excellent it scraped to break even (only after domestic revenue). The Firefly/Serenity world has undoubtedly a huge fanbase but it has failed, for some reason, to be a big money spinner for the suits. Though I do feel a well thought out sequel (or follow up mini-series) would do better than the original series or Serenity.

Re: Why the time is right for a Serenity sequel
Posted By Scepticide 1 March 25, 2009 07:28:54 PM

As a fan of the Serenity movie, I would love to see a sequel full stop. The fact is when Firefly was initally run, there was no advertising for it here in the UK. There was no information about it and when they did advertise it in the USA they showed it for something it was not instead of the amazing futuristic western comedy that it was. When I saw Serenity I was instantly wowwed and Mal quickly became my favourite character by far. After watching the movie, I thought to myself, "Hmm I wonder what this Firefly is then?" I also wondered if it would be as good as the movie in terms of effects and I was once again amazed when I bought the TV series. I recently bought it on Blu-Ray for all the little mini's included on it too. But seriously, leaving a huge time gap like this is going to make fans loose interest and its going to be tough to get them back without making it up to them big time. As a fan in England im personally upset that Serenity-Con doesn't come here and that I don't have the money to go to such an event so I can meet the cast and show them the kind of support the TV show has here in the UK. Infact the second a shop stocks up on any Firefly merchandise, its gone within days. 2009 is the time for a Serenity sequel, or even a second series of Firefly. Fox f*cked up by kicking it to the wolves and thats where Universal picked up the pieces. I hope they can once again help the series to shine as it once did. And on topic, I completely agree with all points and I can think of a dozen more off the top of my head why there should be a sequel.

Re: Why the time is right for a Serenity sequel
Posted By Thunderdome 1 March 27, 2009 02:03:24 AM

I'd be very interested in a sequel; just picked up Serenity on Blu a couple weeks back. But at the same time, Firefly and Serenity were awesome and I'd hate for a sequel not to live up to expectations and see the whole thing go out on a possibly bad note. I guess we'll see.

Re: Why the time is right for a Serenity sequel
Posted By srino 1 April 12, 2009 09:45:39 PM

i loved firefly, i loved serenity. solid entertainment. i just finished watching the firefly DVDs and i could watch serenity over and over. i don't understand how sequels to riddick and other lame franchises get greenlit, while firefly/serenity languishes...would whedon even make one if he had the chance?
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