Marti Noxon, executive producer of UPN’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer in its last seasons, told SCI FI Wire that the popular series’ characters may live on in direct-to-DVD movies. "There are serious discussions going on about bringing some of the characters back and making a few movies that will go straight to DVD, but they will certainly be the quality they have always been," Noxon said in an interview. Continued fan interest in a big-budget Buffy film has led creator Joss Whedon to consider a series of movies that would focus on some of the secondary characters, she added.
"Joss is the king of jumping mediums, so it is an obvious step for him to do this," Noxon said. She said that a few of the show’s past writers, such as Drew Goddard, have been contacted about turning in script ideas that would center on the minor characters. But Noxon said that she doubts that star Sarah Michelle Gellar would reprise her role as Buffy and added that she thought it might be tough to persuade Alyson Hannigan to return as Willow. Both Gellar and Hannigan have moved on to film roles, and Hannigan is now a regular on the hit CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother.
But Noxon said that a film centered on James Marsters’ Spike or David Boreanaz’s Angel could do very well. (Marsters currently has a recurring role on The WB’s Smallville, while Boreanaz is a regular on Fox’s Bones.)
At the moment, Noxon said she isn’t involved in writing any of the DVD movie scripts, but that she could be in the future. (Noxon is currently a consulting producer on Fox’s Prison Break.) "If I get involved it would be for the Buffy-related films, not Angel, because I’m far more plugged into Buffy," she said.
I don’t know how "tough" it would be to get Alyson Hannigan back. She has expressed a great deal of interest in reprising Willow numerous times, so I think if they just work the film around her new series schedule, I think she would do it. There are quite a number of Buffy actors working in tv shows right now (Alyson Hannigan, Nicholas Brendon, David Boreanaz, James Marsters, Christian Kane), so I don’t think it’s just Alyson they would have the problem with working around a tv schedule. The only actors I don’t think they’ll ever get to return is Sarah Michelle Gellar and, probably, Michelle Trachtenberg (because she said in a recent interview that she’s not interested in reprising former characters and wants to move forward into more mature roles).
I don’t think David Boreanaz would do it either, from what he’s said he’s probably as unlikely to do it as SMG. I recall him saying after Angel got cancelled (although when there was still hope of bringing it back) that he wasn’t devastated it was over, as it was hard to carry a whole show by himself, and that he’d only come back if it was a new challenge like a big screen movie (so wouldn’t have even come back for a 6th season) which this won’t be. However, my first choice of a buffverse project would be a show starring: James Marsters, Amy Acker, Tom Lenk, Eliza Dushku, Seth Green, and Alyson Hannigan.
As all of those (except Eliza Dushku and Seth Green) seem to be eager to continue thei roles, and as Tru Callings cancelled now I reckon they could convince Eliza. Although any straight to DVD movie would be fine with me!
I have yet to see any interview from this year that asked Alyson Hannigan if shed like to do Willow again. Everyone just assumes she will. No one has asked Nick Brendon recently either. We all know how DB and MT feel. Heck the only one from BTVS we KNOW is excited to do something is James and even he has conditions. So no, Id not point only at SMG. I have nothing but love for BTVS but I am not in denial either.
I doubt David would do it either. That still leaves plenty of room to work w/Ally, James and Amy (if she doesn’t get too popular on Alias). Now if they could somehow get Eliza and keep Marti away from the writing/direction. Well, I can always dream. :)
Well we all know for sure that there is never going to be any sight of Sarah Michelle Gellar ever picking up her role as Buffy ever again. As for Hannigan, well I can see her possibly not being able to shoot a DVD movie since she is so busy with her new show. But then again, lots of former Buffy stars have been able to make movies and be on the show at the same time. So maybe she will be. Plus I don’t think we’re ever going to see David back as Angel ever again aswell. Just like Sarah, I don’t think he is ever going to pick up Angel’s part again. Even if you are not a James Marsters fan, you still have to give the guy some props because so far he is the ONLY cast member from Buffy/Angel who is still 100% willing to take back his former role. Even if he is busy in the making. So, I respect James for having enough compassion towards his fans from his role as Spike, to go and work again on a new movie based around that character. Thanks Mr. Marsters.
Well we all know for sure that there is never going to be any sight of Sarah Michelle Gellar ever picking up her role as Buffy ever again. As for Hannigan, well I can see her possibly not being able to shoot a DVD movie since she is so busy with her new show. But then again, lots of former Buffy stars have been able to make movies and be on the show at the same time. So maybe she will be. Plus I don’t think we’re ever going to see David back as Angel ever again aswell. Just like Sarah, I don’t think he is ever going to pick up Angel’s part again. Even if you are not a James Marsters fan, you still have to give the guy some props because so far he is the ONLY cast member from Buffy/Angel who is still 100% willing to take back his former role. Even if he is busy in the making. So, I respect James for having enough compassion towards his fans from his role as Spike, to go and work again on a new movie based around that character. Thanks Mr. Marsters.
DB, SMG, MT and EC are all not interested. JM is, but with conditions. I think he has a problem with a Spike/Illyria movie as Illyria would take away or endanger his lead role. I do remember that NB was interested as well, but I am not so sure anymore. Aly is interested as well as far as I know.
"Mr Marsters" also wont come back if Spike is not the center of the movie. * his words* Its his right of course but this fact trumps any fan-centered concerns to me. I aggree with the post that asks if anyone knows for SURE if AH or ED are interested. I also have seen no proof of late. Truthfully I love em all: SMG, DB, AH, JM, ED etc. I wish they would wait a little and let all the actors spread their wings to do a new BTVS project. Then maybe theyd have *clout* to help make it truly successful financially and critically.
I would be SOOOO into this!!! At first I cringed - thinking it might be cheesy and low budget, but was relieved when Marti said they’d be of the quality we’re used to (and let’s face it - the shows did amazing work with their budgets). The only lo point of the article was that Alysson Hannigan might not retrun, as Willow is absolutely my favorite Buffyverse Character ever!!! Please Aly - we love you and I dare say Willow was a character far more people identified with than Buffy (and I don’t just mean gay people since she was a lesbian later, but the shy/nerdy/picked on/intelligent in a world of dumb jocks/getting into things that you shouldn’t maybe because of these past problems/ etc). So yes, I would LOVE Willow to be featured, but even if it was a cameo (maybe at the beginning of the adventure and at the end to welcome back our heroes and wrap everything up with a nice spell, maybe even hint at what a sequel might concern) then I’d at least be okay with that.
Spike, Faith, Illyria, Willow, and maybe Giles, Xander - that to me would be as much of a series-worthy cast as any season we actually had. Some of us - probably MOST of us - really don’t mind that SMG or DB might not reprise their roles. Tho I try not to take rumors as anything but, well, a rumor, then they are either happy and/oor busy enough wiith their current careers not to care or have time for any Buffy/Angel reprises, and more power to them. They did provide the initial "star power" to keep the shows going long enough to allow the secondary characters - the "real people" that the rest of are far more like and can identify with - to develop and become stars in their own right. Most shows don’t develop primary characters as well as these series developed secondary (heck, tertiary for that matter! Er...is that a classification?).
Anyway, yes, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!! (plenty more pleases and shameless begging where that came from! ) do a series of movies (NOT just one - I’d think a minimum of 3 DVD Movies to truly get an accurate gauge of the interest still out there, with the focus perhaps changing between movies to give each of the background characters a chance to shine. And by that, I don’t mean have a SPike or Willow movie and then a Faith one with no SPike or Willow - everyone can be in each one to varying degrees (heck, that could be part of the package, sign everyone on for a 3 movie deal and see where the develop[ment takes them).
In all honesty, I think today’s media is a better gauge of popularity than ratings ever were. It always amazes me when execs "are shocked by the sales of DVD’s of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, FireFly, Land of the Lost, whatever". So these average or even poorly rated shows obviously were pretty popular as evidenced by sales of the DVD’s. I’ve never bought the story that the Nielsens accurately represent the nation by only a very small % of homes actually being recorded...uh, until they atually monitored every home, how could they possibly have any idea how accurate a sampling would be??? (and yeah yeah, I know all about statistical inference and everything, but we’re not talking psych studies...not directly anyway, and I always hear people talking about a show that gets cancelled far more than the "hits".
Anyway, to sum up: Yes, we would LOVE continuing adventures in a Straight to DVD version!!! And I fully expect the market to be "surprised" at how many of the DVD’s sell the first week of being offered, etc (it will probably break records of some sort). :-) ANd yes, Willow should be in it - a cameo at the very least - or I will be very sad! :-) And do a contract that at least 3 have to be made - and then use those to introduce a whole new series or do something groundbreaking like a whole straight to DVD series!!! I bet that’d scare the heck out of the networks...people might actually be able to get shows they want to see (and commercial free at that!) without having to put up with all the annoyances (repeats, interruptions for presidential boredom speeches, jumping time slots and or nights, etc, scheduling the only 2 "genre" shows against each other then proclaiming nobody watches them when the audience gets split down the middle and then saying they both got low ratings, etc. In today’s world of DVR’s and TiVo, a DVD Series would be a welcome option, and probably a big money maker too! And the funding from the sales could be used to keep making more series - excellent writing, engaging, "real" characters, and great storylines that don’t have to fit some exec’s dumbed down format for "fit it in 45 minutes, make no references to other characters or past events as this might confuse newbies and we simply can’t have anyone thinking there may be more to this story or saga than this one episode" and yet complain when no one tunes in next week...Grr Argh, sorry, getting worked up at how ridiculous things are and how contradictory and limiting conditions can be. It’s a miracle that ANY quality TV ever happens, and usually thanks to "rebels" like Joss and Co. who do what they want and know is the best way to tell a story and write characters that appeal to people and chuck the rigidity. :-)
Sign me up for every DVD available for this. I’ll take it last week!!! :-)
Newton
Ok, just tell me where I will be able to buy this!! I will be quite happy with whoever is in it. Origional Buffy and Angel are just that. This new thing would not detract from that and would be something new to look forward to and enjoy!! Please I wish they would get on with it!!!
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