Ever since Disney acquired Fox, the internet has been abuzz with rumors for various reboots and revivals of their old properties. Some sources and rumors say that a Firefly reboot is finally on the way, but the original creator of the show, Joss Whedon, will not be a part of the project. We love Joss Whedon’s work on The Avengers and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and it’s safe to say that he has created some of the biggest cult classics of our day. Firefly is one of them, and it wouldn’t exist without Whedon’s brilliant eye for story, as Firefly is filled with the witty dialogue, creative storylines, and lovable characters that Joss Whedon brings to most of his projects.
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However, behavioral allegations against him may keep Whedon off the reboot; some actors have even vowed to never work with Whedon again. Nonetheless, there remains a cult following for the single-season show. Firefly is a space western set in the year 2517, when a veteran on the losing side of an interplanetary civil war becomes a smuggler and seeks to keep himself and his crew off the government’s radar. It originally only ran one season, but thanks to crowdfunding and the internet, Serenity (the feature film sequel to the series) tied up the show’s loose ends. Since rumors are of a reboot and not a revival, we can expect a lot of changes in the new series. Here are some ways the show can still change for the better without Joss Whedon.
Family Friendly Firefly
20th Television
Most rumors of the Firefly reboot are paired with stipulations that Disney will make the show even more family-friendly. If the company maintains the same pattern and Firefly is released on Disney+, it would not be surprising for the show to become more PG. Of course, questions still remain.
Mature shows like Daredevil do exist on Disney+, though, and even Marvel movies like Eternals (featuring one of Marvel’s first sex scenes and its first gay kiss) and Doctor Strange (utilizing violent horror elements) are sliding in more mature content. Despite this subtle shift, for now, most of the Disney+ originals remain kid-friendly, so it stands to reason that Firefly would too.
All the fun within the original Firefly’s plot contains a serious and not exactly kid-friendly political conflict at its core. The shady government, violent reavers, and morally gray characters could send mixed messages to children. On one hand, Captain Remolds is a veteran, and on the other a dangerous smuggler. Inara brings much-needed compassion and empathy to the crew, but she is a professional concubine. The protagonists are mostly criminals, and the antagonists are mostly authority figures.
Even though we love the nuanced questions in the original, younger children may not be ready for them. Instead, a new group of creative artists behind the Firefly reboot could deliver something that wouldn’t be as invested in maintaining the original details, and may be more successful than Whedon at creating a Firefly that is on brand with Disney. Then again, maybe the real essence of Firefly is completely incompatible with DIsney. Only time will tell.
More Exploration of the Firefly Universe
Firefly has a whole galaxy of planets, characters, and lore that fans have hardly had the chance explore. We know virtually nothing about the new plot, but we can hope for further exploration onto new planets and into new characters in the universe we love. A new writer and director, unbound by preconceived expectations, could bring more creativity and new ideas into the story.
According to an article by Screen Rant, the reboot is likely to focus on the Civil War that occurred before the events in Firefly. This war took place when the alliance tried to unify all the planets under one government, and some brown coats on the outer rim rebelled. The brown coats ultimately lost the war, which would create a tragic ending for this show. However, a short jump back in time would allow us to meet new characters and get to know the stars of the original series, Captain Reynolds and Zoe, better.
Setting the reboot in a different time period could help mute the inevitable comparisons between the reboot and the original. Should the series actually choose to focus on a time of war, bringing in a team of creatives specialized in war movies could add realism and detail to the show. Even if the show doesn’t go for war, a director specialized in westerns rather than science fiction could also help create a more grounded story.
New Cast of Firefly Characters
A TV series is only as good as its cast. Part of the genius behind the original Firefly was not just the writing of Joss Whedon (who is actually only credited as writing five of the 14 episodes), but also the charismatic personalities of the actors. People like Nathan Fillion, Ginna Torres, and Alan Tudyk all have something unique about them that they bring to their characters. Firefly’s script included vastly different characters, but the actors embodying them were just as diversely talented. While it is unlikely and a little disappointing that we will get to see this cast together again, Disney has a deep reservoir of talent that we would love to see step into these roles.
Joss Whedon’s brilliance in storytelling is undebatable, but his personality behind the scenes seems to be a point of disagreement. According to Complex, Whedon has been involved with several allegations over the years. Regardless of how true these are or the public’s opinion of Whedon, controversy does seem to follow him onto the set. Even though the reboot is losing a big-name talent, bringing on new faces could unite a team and build the comradery we loved among the original cast.
