Joss Whedon On Why He Isn’t Ready To Continue Firefly

By Rudie Obias | Updated

This article is more than 2 years old

The Serenity CrewWith fandom and the Internet being what it is today, it seems like beloved, canceled TV series can always make a comeback and return in a new form. Over this past weekend, the TV comedy Arrested Development returned to TV with a 15-episode season on Netflix, and next year, the TV drama 24 will return to Fox for a 12-episode run. So it stands to reason that Firefly might return at some point…after all, it already returned in 2005 with the film adaptation Serenity.

According to ComingSoon.net, while promoting his new film Much Ado About Nothing at the Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City, Joss Whedon talked about Firefly and its chances for an Arrested Development-like return. Whedon expressed his worry that, if Firefly did return, it might not be the same as the original. Here’s Joss:

Right now I’m happy to say everybody is working doing good jobs. There’s a real fear of ‘The Monkey’s Paw,’ you know? You bring it back to life and it isn’t the same. Even if it’s GREAT and it isn’t the same. I’m dying to get on a ship with those guys again, but I’m also doing yet another goddamn huge ensemble movie [The Avengers 2]. Why can’t I do a movie about just one guy? So right now I can’t even access that part of my brain. If all the planets align that would be great, but I’m not going to do what I did the first time and move heaven and earth to make it happen.

When most canceled TV series’ return, they’re generally not the same as they used to be. That really shouldn’t stop Joss Whedon from considering bringing Firefly back. While Firefly remains beloved by its fans, it seems very unlikely that it will ever return to TV. A sequel to the film Serenity, on the other hand, would be something very different.

As for The Avengers 2, Joss Whedon is really, really busy overseeing the Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase Two. Considering that The Avengers is the third highest-grossing movie of all-time, there is an expectation that its sequel film will perform better than the first one. Joss Whedon is also busy launching the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. TV series, which comes out this fall on ABC. While Whedon is immersed in the Marvel Universe, he’ll have very little time for anything else.

A few weeks ago, Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos said that Firefly is not the same thing as Arrested Development, in terms of pop culture standing and audience size. Sarandos further explained that Firefly wouldn’t likely have as successful a return as Arrested Development, if it were brought back on Netflix.

Sarandos’ statements won’t deter Browncoats; we keep the faith that Firefly will return in one shape or another. Just like Captain Malcolm Reynolds once said, “We’ve done the impossible and that makes us mighty.”