Buffy Movie Remake in the Works
A new outlook on Buffy the Vampire Slayer may be coming to a theater near you, but Joss Whedon-less.
According to an article on HollywoodReporter.com, "'Buffy' creator Joss Whedon isn't involved and it's not set up at a studio, but Roy Lee and Doug Davison of Vertigo Entertainment are working with original movie director Fran Rubel Kuzui and her husband, Kaz Kuzui, on what is being labeled a remake or relaunch, but not a sequel or prequel."
Even though Whedon is the name most people associate Buffy with, it is in fact Kuzui Enterprises who managed to hold onto the rights to Buffy when Fran Rubel Kuzui uncovered the Buffy script from a then-unknown Whedon. She was the one who developed the script for the 1992 motion picture, which starred Kristy Swanson, Luke Perry and pre-Oscar-winning actress Hilary Swank. Kuzui's husband, Kaz, rounded up the financing for the movie, which was released by Fox.
The HollywoodReporter.com goes on to say what happened following the film's success, "Kuzui later teamed with Gail Berman, then president of Sandollar Television, bringing back Whedon to make the TV series, which was produced by Fox TV and launched on the WB in 1997. Kuzui and Sandollar received executive producer credits on 'Buffy' and its spinoff, 'Angel.'"
In addition, this new "Buffy" film will not include popular supporting characters from the TV series like Spike, Xander, Willow and Angel. Both Vertigo and Kuzui's intention is to begin with a fresh story line in an effort not to traipse over the beloved characters that Whedon created.
At the moment, the writers are commiserating with the parties, sharing ideas and shopping for a home for the project. Whedon's involvement hasn't been ruled out, but producers have yet to get in touch with him.
The HollywoodReporter.com article also mentioned that the "Buffy" franchise isn't just a phenomenon in the U.S. and its appeal isn't limited to the small and silver screens, "Speaking from Tokyo, Fran Kuzui said the company is constantly approached not only about sequels but theater, video games and foreign remakes for 'Buffy.' When Vertigo's Lee contacted them, they were intrigued."
"It was Roy's interest in taking Buffy into a new place that grabbed us," she said, noting that original exec producer Sandy Gallin also was consulted.