COULD NETFLIX BRING FIREFLY BACK FROM THE DEAD?

[Spooky]

 (Pipe dream... I know.)

H/T Nathan via Twitter
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http://bernardin.tumblr.com/post/14182869809/could-netflix-bring-firefly-back-from-the-dead

Ever since Joss Whedon's space western was canceled back in 2003, its fans — at first, a relatively small contingent, but as time and DVD sales grew, so did the ranks swell — have wondered what could possibly rescue it from the tightly clenched jaws of death. And until now, nothing could. But with Netflix resuscitating other long-canceled shows, and greenlighting original programming, what had been a firm NO is now a wobbly MAYBE.

There were lots of reasons why Firefly never got a second shot at life (not counting the 2005 feature, Serenity), not the least of which is that ship-based science fiction shows are expensive. The rights can be a bit of a tangle: Fox owns the rights so if anyone wanted to make more episodes, they'd need to buy the opportunity — and networks who might be right for Firefly, like Syfy, have already crunched the numbers and found them not entirely attractive. Especially for a show that already failed once. And the cast could be hard to lock down—okay, Nathan Fillion will be hard to lock down. Since Firefly ended, he's become a full-on TV star, and his time won't come cheap if, contractually, it could come at all.

All of that makes total sense. Or, rather, it did...before Netflix made the deal to make new episodes of the late, lamented Arrested Development.

Suddenly, all of that logic goes out the window. Because, presumably, Netflix will rebuild all of those sets, has negotiated the rights, and got the cast to sign on. They're trading on Arrested Development's cult status to bring new subscribers to their service, in the same way that HBO counts on critical acclaim to enlarge their viewership. Add that to the fact that Netflix is producing original series left and right — from people like David Fincher and Eli Roth — and it's a whole new ballgame.

Would shooting new episodes of Firefly be expensive? Yes, but I don't think any more than your average episode of a TV drama: Special effects are getting cheaper all the time and sets are sets, whether they're emergency rooms, police precincts, or starship bridges. Fox already does business with Netflix — the whole Whedonverse is streaming — so the rights issue shouldn't be all that headache-y. (Plus, I'm sure Fox wouldn't mind being able to eventually sell a whole new season of Firefly on DVD and Blu-Ray.)

And most of that cast, I'm sorry to say, isn't all that gainfully employed — at least the surviving members of Serenity's crew. I'm sure they'd drop everything to do more of a show they loved (and get paid for it). And Fillion has said, time and again, that Firefly was the best job he ever had and that all Joss had to do was call. I'm sure he could work something out with the Castle brass.

So, the question isn't really "could Netflix bring back Firefly?" — it's "what are they waiting for?"

[Eric]

Nice dream, but I dunno ... Star Trek generally worked out well, with a few good movies mixed in, but AfterM*A*S*H didn't.

Have to figure out how to get Nathan fired from Castle first.

[AdmiralDigby]

Lightning tends to resist being trapped in the same bottle twice .

[TinkTanker]

Maybe we could start a Facebook page and help Nathan buy Firefly... But what to call it?

[Saxon]

Now, if only Netflix would make them as, say, 'multi-part' mini-series type things...meaning, gathering/shooting for a shorter time, as in during a regular TV show's hiatus? If Ryan Reynolds can cross Comic-verses, then Nathan can be on a regular network tv show AND a super duper cool Netflix show...a show that is set IN BETWEEN the ending of FF and the sadness that was Serenity!

*I wan't my FIREFLY back, not a continuation of the movie!!!!*

[AdmiralDigby]

Maybe we could start a Facebook page and help Nathan buy Firefly... But what to call it?

Fools and their money ?

[Rosie]

Now, if only Netflix would make them as, say, 'multi-part' mini-series type things...meaning, gathering/shooting for a shorter time, as in during a regular TV show's hiatus? If Ryan Reynolds can cross Comic-verses, then Nathan can be on a regular network tv show AND a super duper cool Netflix show...a show that is set IN BETWEEN the ending of FF and the sadness that was Serenity!

*I wan't my FIREFLY back, not a continuation of the movie!!!!*

Ditto. As much as I love Castle I don't really see it going ten years. 5 years is a good run if they can wrap it up in time.

I say that if someone with money wanted Joss to make more, more would be made. Nathan would figure it out. Folks would come in to do what they could. We just need a Suit with money to ask Fox for permission and ask Joss to make more.

I agree we just sidestep around the Serenity issue. Serenity is alternate universe belongs to Universal anyway.

Firefly is not Serenity

"If wishes were horse..."

[Phyll33]

Now, if only Netflix would make them as, say, 'multi-part' mini-series type things...meaning, gathering/shooting for a shorter time, as in during a regular TV show's hiatus? If Ryan Reynolds can cross Comic-verses, then Nathan can be on a regular network tv show AND a super duper cool Netflix show...a show that is set IN BETWEEN the ending of FF and the sadness that was Serenity!

*I wan't my FIREFLY back, not a continuation of the movie!!!!*

Ditto. As much as I love Castle I don't really see it going ten years. 5 years is a good run if they can wrap it up in time.

I say that if someone with money wanted Joss to make more, more would be made. Nathan would figure it out. Folks would come in to do what they could. We just need a Suit with money to ask Fox for permission and ask Joss to make more.

I agree we just sidestep around the Serenity issue. Serenity is alternate universe belongs to Universal anyway.

Firefly is not Serenity

"If wishes were horse..."

  I agree this could be done with them reuniting in the future. It would explain the aging process and most
everyone looks good still.  Even Alan could be brought back with a cloning process or long lost identical twin.
Nathan would work as a Captain in his 40's since that seems a logical age for him to be one, all of the girls
are still gorgeous, Sean and Alan look good and Adam is going to be one of those  actors that ages well
physically into his 60's. Firefly could definitely rise again if someone was really interested.

[Eric]

Last night, we watched the first episode of Lilyhammer -- which is Netflix's first production series.  It's a "dramedy" about a mob member going into witness protection, but on the condition of being sent to Lillehammer, Norway, because it looked so beautiful and peaceful during the '94 Winter Olympics.

It seemed decent and well-made.  I got a little tired of the half-English/half-Norwegian(subtitled) schtick, but Pearl thinks I may have just been tired (watched it right before bedtime).  I think she's intrigued by the show.

I'd say Netflix could make a Firefly series.  But, getting the original crew together and making it work seems a bit unlikely to me.

[Spooky]

But, getting the original crew together and making it work seems a bit unlikely to me.

That would be a miracle.