(bright music)
- [Narrator] With a recent landslide
of Firefly reboot news articles flooding the internet,
it's no surprise that longtime fans
of Joss Whedon science fiction Western
have had their interest piqued.
And when we say piqued, it's because we can't say excited.
The truth is Firefly fans have a lot of opinions
and ideas about how, who, and whether the show
should even be made again today.
What everyone can agree on is that Firefly got the shaft
by Fox back in 2002, and following an incredible
fan campaign to bring it back, we were eventually rewarded
with the Serenity movie in 2005.
If you want to see the entire definitive history of Firefly,
check out the link at the end of this video.
Since Serenity hit theaters,
the buzz around bringing Firefly back to television had all
but disappeared, at least until this year.
Following Disney's purchase of Fox in 2018,
the rights to the show are now in the hands of the mouse.
And while some fans welcome any return
of the Firefly universe, other fans are hoping
the big Disney machine will leave one
of their favorite science fiction shows alone.
But more on that in a moment.
First, let's explore everything we know
about the possible reboot, what fans think,
and whether all of this new information is reliable or not.
Is Firefly really being rebooted or is this a lot
of wishful thinking?
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When MovieWeb dropped a story on what everyone
should expect from the Firefly Disney Plus reboot,
it came as a surprise.
We've long suspected Disney executives are discussing,
if not planning to reboot the show
now that they own the property.
Firefly is an untapped universe with millions
of fans around the world.
Many still carrying a torch for the show
almost 20 years later.
But while Firefly's future had once only been discussed
as rumors and insider whispering by sites like Screen Rant
and Looper, this week we received an upgrade from MovieWeb.
In an article published on their site
by Ashley Hajimirsadeghi, she confirms that Disney plans
to reboot the series as an exclusive
for its streaming platform on Disney Plus.
The article goes on to describe
that while Disney has not confirmed anything about the plot,
there is speculation that the show may delve into the past
of Malcolm Reynolds played by Nathan Fillion
in the original show.
MovieWeb also reports that the show will likely restart
the series on a more family-friendly note.
Would this mean no Inara or other courtesans
for that matter?
The article on MovieWeb also confirms that Joss Whedon,
who created Firefly will not be returning due to allegations
of workplace harassment against him.
The article does not provide a timeline
of when we might see the new series,
or even when production might begin.
It's important to note here that the article does not offer
any sources or evidence to back these claims.
We've reached out directly to the author, MovieWeb,
and Disney studios public relations with no responses
at the time this video was made.
There are elements within and surrounding this story
that make us question the validity
and truth behind this article.
The lack of any sources or even the mention
of a source is highly suspect.
Also, when you consider that the author
who wrote the article has only published
eight other submissions on MovieWeb that range
from Emilio Estevez's best eighties movies
to every Leonardo DiCaprio movie on Netflix ranked,
we call into question her connections as a movie insider.
But that doesn't mean there isn't a Firefly series
being planned by Disney for Disney Plus.
In fact, we strongly believe
that the Hollywood machine is moving with Firefly
behind the scenes.
The only question is to what degree,
and how soon could we actually see something?
But hold on to that thought for a moment
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(upbeat music)
At the end of 2020 and beginning of 2021,
a heavy current of stories were swelling
around the rumored return of Firefly.
Something had happened behind the scenes,
but nothing anyone was willing to go on the record about.
We are used to seeing unsubstantiated rumors being delivered
as facts by clickbait sites like We Got This Covered,
Giant Freakin Robot and self-proclaimed industry insider,
Daniel Richtman.
- You con man.
♪ Con man ♪
- He is a con man.
- He thinks you're a con man.
- [Narrator] But when it comes from a more respected site
like MovieWeb, there may be more to it.
MovieWeb has been around since the nineties
and is well-regarded for operating in facts
as well as substantiated rumors.
So unless something has changed at the site,
we tend to give their reporting a little more validity.
If the reporting we are hearing is true,
there are some interesting ideas around what may happen
on a new show.
If Disney wants to reboot the show, then it's unlikely
the original cast would reprise their roles.
But it wouldn't surprise us to have some
of the actors making guest appearances.
We also agree that a rebooted version
of the show would likely be more family-friendly.
Not that the original Firefly was overtly sexual
or mature in nature.
Discussion about nether regions
and legal prostitution would probably not make the new show.
- We're on a year now, I ain't had nothing
'twixt my nethers weren't run on batteries.
- Oh, God!
- [Narrator] Also the suggestion that Joss Whedon
wouldn't be attached makes a lot of sense.
Following a Warner Media investigation
into workplace harassment on the set of Justice League,
Whedon left the HBO Max series, The Nevers,
and has yet to continue directing on any other project.
And without Whedon, it would make more sense
to completely reboot the show and start from a fresh
and unexplored place in the Firefly universe.
If in fact this is the case and we get a Disney Plus show
like The Mandalorian, it should also have
a Firefly-class ship involved in some way.
If we aren't getting a Firefly reboot,
that is music to the ears of many fans.
In an age of jaded fandoms like Star Trek, Star Wars,
and Doctor Who.
- [Woman] You are dismissed.
- Right, but-
- This is the end of the conversation.
- Captain, if I could-
- You can't.
- Right, but I have the sense of-
- [Woman] The conversation is over.
- [Narrator] A lot of Browncoats are happy with living
in the past and would rather Disney not reboot the series.
In a poll submitted to more
than 200,000 science fiction fans, more than half
of the respondents voted to leave Firefly alone.
The poll which asked fans if they would want Disney
to reboot Firefly, or should they just leave it alone,
had some interesting results.
21% of poll answers said they would take a Firefly reboot
no matter who made it.
19% said, no, don't make Firefly
because Disney ruins everything it touches.
10% of respondents said yes, let them make it,
Disney makes great content, and a Disney Plus reboot
would be great.
And finally, 51% of pollers said, no, don't make it.
Firefly was great and should be left alone.
It doesn't need a reboot.
The responses are eyeopening.
Many fans seem to be overwhelmingly over the idea
of rebooting the franchise with or without Disney.
With 70% of respondents saying no to Disney
and just no in general.
What does that say about the confidence fans have
in new science fiction shows coming out as reboots today?
Whatever Disney's plan is, it's apparent
that no one is willing to go on the record
with what is happening to Firefly.
A lot will depend on how hands-on Susan Arnold,
the new Disney Board Chair will be when it comes
to new Disney Plus content.
She is the first new person to sit in the chair
since Bob Iger took the role in 1996.
And with Studio Head Alan Horn and Chief Creative Officer
of Disney branded television Gary Marsh,
among others leaving the board at the end of this year,
there are a lot of unanswered questions
for Disney's entertainment direction.
Arnold did say she intends to work closely
with CEO Bob Chapek.
So at the very least we know she'll be involved.
For fans who want a new Firefly series,
let's hope she's a fan.
At the very least, we wouldn't expect news
to officially come out about a new series
until after we have a response from the new Obi-Wan Kenobi
and Boba Fett shows.
If the science fiction love that started
with The Mandalorian continues for these shows,
Disney will be more likely to take Firefly from the board
and put it into production.
Do you want Disney to reboot Firefly?
How would you have answered the poll?
Let's talk about it in the comments below.
Also, check out this incredible Firefly Keep Flying
graphic design from the amazing artists at mixedtees.com.
Get 20% off your purchase by using coupon code The Popcast,
the link is in the description below.
- Do you like ships?
You don't seem to be looking at the destinations.
What you care about is the ships and mine's the nicest.
- [Narrator] Hungry for more current pop culture news?
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- Also.
I can kill you with my brain.
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