Fans rally to buy Firefly rights for Nathan Fillion
Here's the rub. Firefly was an hourlong sci-fi series created by The Avengers director Joss Whedon. It ran for eleven episodes (fourteen were produced in all) between September of 2002 and the summer of 2003 on Fox before being canceled. In that time, it had amassed a huge cult following, the individuals of which call themselves the Browncoats. They're basically Trekkies or Trekkers (I'm not sure which), and their efforts to save the show back in the day were unprecedented. They raised money to place an ad in Variety and organized a postcard writing campaign hoping UPN would pick-up and continue the series. Their continued efforts to revive the already cremated show were enough to convince Universal Pictures to make and release the theatrical feature Serenity, which was a continuation of Joss Whedon's imposed storyline. It turned out to be strictly for the fans, alienating most moviegoers who didn't know any better. Basically, these fans and their tactics are persuasive and honorable. We need to have them doing something better with their time.
But nope. Now they are rallying to earn $300 million dollars so that Nathan Fillion can own the rights to this franchise. This March, the Science Channel will begin running all fourteen episodes of Firefly's first and only season. After this was announced, Nathan Fillion made the following off-the-cuff statement.
"If I got $300 million from the California Lottery, the first thing I would do is buy the rights to Firefly, make it on my own, and distribute it on the Internet."
This immediately sent the Browncoats into epileptic shock. They quickly gathered there strong forces on Twitter and Facebook, organizing a donation drive to get Nathan Fillion that $300 million. And there is even a website already established: helpnathanbuyfirefly.com
Their army is 70,000 strong counting. They have established a no-cash pledge run, while also trying to raise the funding for real, not with just pledges. They are reaching out to managers, agents, and publicists for direct feedback. Here is what the organizers had to say.
"Here's the thing - we expect Nathan was joking. We're sure interviews will cover that he was. When we put a dollar value on all your support for the idea, what may have been a joke could take on a more serious tone. Either Joss might be willing to revisit fan-funded projects or we'll get the attention of a network who is willing to take a serious evaluation of the series (say, perhaps you Science Channel?). It would be wonderful to setup a not-for-profit to purchase the rights from 20th Century Fox, but the chances of that are pretty unlikely without at least having Joss involved.
They understand their plight is a tough road to hoe, yet they press on. Former Firefly writers Jose Molina and Jane Espenson have responded to the campaign, claiming they will return to pen new episodes if Nathan Fillion get funding to make this proposed Firefly webseries. Nathan Fillion has yet to respond. (A State of the Firefly Union address is immanent, I'm sure.)
What makes this a lofty proposition from the get-go is that 20th Century Fox, who owns the rights, is not looking to sell them any time soon, nor are they obligated to ever sell them. Even if they did, Nathan Fillion is committed to the very popular ABC series Castle, Joss Whedon is extremely busy bringing The Avengers to life on the big screen, and the rest of the cast, which included Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, and Summer Glau, have gone onto be quite successful and have series commitments of their own. It will be a long, long time before Firefly returns in any form. (And, hey, aren't a lot of the main characters dead?)
But for shuds-and-guffaws, lets say the organizers of this pledge drive actually got new episodes of Firefly into production? Would they be obligated to "like" it even if it sucked? We need look no further than Tron: Legacy or Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace to see that the wished-for return of any cult franchise never lives up to the momentum pushed behind it. How can it? It's like Arrested Development, another series Fox cancelled too early. People have been clamoring for a big screen movie for years now. What they don't realize is that it all ended perfectly with Jason Bateman and Michael Cera sailing away on that boat. The movie won't, can't live up to that. So why work your guts out for $300 million just to say, at the end of the day, "That kind of sucked." The Browncoats were lucky enough to get Serenity. If they are to be honest, they should admit now that the movie just wasn't very good. And leave it at that.
In fairness, the organizers, who are choosing to remain nameless until the money starts pouring in, will donate a percentage of the pledged funds to three different charities of the pledger's choosing. Here is what they had to say on that.
"What if Nathan was joking and Joss isn't interested? We expect this outcome, to be frank. But, here's what we plan to do as part of this whole project: When people pledge funding towards the idea, we're going to be asking what % you'd be willing to donate towards these charities:
Bringing back Firefly is still a longshot, but we're going to keep trying until we get shot down hard by the folks that matter. If that happens, we'll still help a lot of people.
- Nathan co-founded Kids Need to Read (helping disadvantaged children with literacy and reading)
- Joss supports Can't Stop the Serenity (which supports Equality Now, protecting human rights)
- Near and dear to our hearts is Child's Play (helping improving the lives of children in hospitals)
Bringing back Firefly is still a longshot, but we're going to keep trying until we get shot down hard by the folks that matter. If that happens, we'll still help a lot of people.
Will the fans eventually earn enough money to buy Nathan Fillion the rights to Firefly? Maybe. But these folks really ought to be doing something more worthwhile with their time. Don't you think?
Serenity was released September 30th, 2005 and stars Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin, Jewel Staite, Sean Maher, Summer Glau. The film is directed by Joss Whedon.
Comments (94)
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Lololee
I loved the series which to me, was very underrated. The show was one of a kind, very entertaining and so was Serenity. I'm a scifi fanatic, so maybe I'm a bit bias on the topic. A great show doesn't need to be debated or defended, and I think the brown coats love, and support of the show has proven as much.
10 months agoby @lololeeFlag
Craig Harborne
People need something thats can sometimes take their minds of the occationally awefull things that happen in this world, programs like firefly as well as the numerous thousands of show like star trek for example give people that, and that fact that after this long the fans want to keep firefly alive is a testement to the strength of the story. and that is something that i think should be nurtured not squandered. i am a browncoat and nathan fillion rocks
Craig Harborne
England
1 year agoby @Craig-HarborneFlag
skywise
i know i'm beating a dead horse but i just had to throw in my 2 cents
1 year agoby @skywiseFlag
skywise
I also want to point out that i had never heard of Firefly until i saw Serenity and watched the extra features. And while i understand how some could view it as "medicore at best" it led me to one of my favorite DVD-TV experiences with Firefly.
To each his own.
1 year agoby @skywiseFlag
skywise
having said that, i really do NOT have the money to be giving to famous "B-Actors" so that they can achieve...whatever it is.
1 year agoby @skywiseFlag
skywise
Ok I can see where Orange is coming from but comparing Firefly a show that has been off the air of TV to cult favs from childhood is misguided. Of course nothing could ever live up to your childhood memories of...well anything. I remeber thinking how HUGE my grammas kitchen was when i was a kid but you know what? I visted recently and...my how i have grown.
Tron and SW could never have lived up to ANYONES expectations who were alive at the time of those movies runs and those movies are what....20....30 years out? Whereas Firefly is only a few years off the air.
If they could make it work with a "cremated" Stargate i dont see why not with Firefly.
And yes there are thousands of charities that need our help and i myself have 2 sponsored children who i keep in touch with on a regular basis. But i shouldnt be expected to spend all my hard earned money on charity..sometimes i want to spend my money on the things i like.
1 year agoby @skywiseFlag
Angus Dowling
The relevancy of first-time commenting on a article that in its nature is for the public to read and/or comment on is somewhat lacking.
And, yes. We're quite entitled to waste our breath on old negative articles, as you are wasting your breath on people who waste their breath.
1 year agoby @Angus-DowlingFlag
CBF
@dan1 Sweet, thx Supes.
1 year agoby @comicbookfanFlag
Dan
@comicbookfan You don't count towards my last comment, since you've been away :)
1 year agoby @dan1Flag
CBF
Orange, come on. Stop being biased and just report the news. Not everyone feels unanimously positive or negative about something. Just inform us and move on. This is bad journalism at its finest.
1 year agoby @comicbookfanFlag
Dan
I bet this article will resurface like 6 months from now with more random people who've never commented on MW, even when it's huge, great news, but they're sure to waste their breath on an old, negative article that Orange prob doesn't check anymore :P
1 year agoby @dan1Flag
Angus Dowling
B. Alan Orange, do you have anything else to say other than hypocritical trash about excellence you can't even seem to fathom?
1 year agoby @Angus-DowlingFlag
Lester F Alkins Jr
And, by the way, 114,417 people like Help Nathan Buy Firefly on Facebook. What, only 15,608 like MovieWeb????? Does that tell you anything??
1 year agoby @Lester-F-Alkins-JrFlag
Lester F Alkins Jr
I think the author of this article needs to post an apology! Members of the Help Nathan Buy Firefly Facebook site have made tens of thousands of dollars in donations to charities since the site has been up. Donations have been made/through Browncoat:Redemption, Kids Need to Read, the Red Cross for both New Zealand AND Japan and are participating in the Free Rice campaign!! Why can't we do BOTH?? Firefly/Serenity fans are a pationate group that have been raising funds for charities for many years now AND YOU'RE making a joke out of our efforts!! I think you need to do a little more research before you make negative comments like you have!! And Nathan Fillion categorized by you as a "B" actor?? Castle has been renewed for a fourth season on a major network! Personally I think you are a "F" rated writer!
1 year agoby @Lester-F-Alkins-JrFlag
Dan
Lol this is still going? He's written other articles since this with as much carelessness. You people do realize you're talking to a wall, right?
1 year agoby @dan1Flag
SabrinaC
You're assuming that none of these people give money to charity and they spend money they don't have on reviving old TV series. That's a pretty big assumption. It doesn't take very much time to make a pledge, and compared to the other time sucks that people waste there time on, this is really not bad. Also, how does this affect you? I mean aside from the fact that you just actually took the time to write an article that probably just spread the word about this fundraiser.
1 year agoby @SabrinaCFlag
Tom Drake
Hey, it's my money and I'll do what i want with it. Browncoats do more for charity than fans of pretty much any other tv show ever made. Oh so some people have suffered terrible things. I feel bad for them but i ain't gonna be guilt tripped into doing something by anyone. If i wanna give Nathan Fillion my money it's up to me and not up to some mook telling me I'm a bad person because i don't share his opinion.
1 year agoby @Tom-DrakeFlag
Mmmaps
Fantastic. Hey, why not just stop making movies and tv-series and donate everything to charity.
1 year agoby @mmmapsFlag
Magnetic-Eye
Well if every one of those 70,000 fans really want it why don't they each donate $4,285 to their cause? As for myself I couldn't care less. :-)
1 year agoby @magnetic-eyeFlag
ejk1
Bad spelling. More than likely, you're just Orange responding to the negativity you've received here. Have fun.
1 year agoby @ejk1Flag
SexualHarasmentPanda
Only a bunch of douche bags would like such a massive douche like Nathan Fillion. Look at his stupid face in that retarded picture up above....hes a rotten f**king actor whos a God damn beggar crying out to the losers...1 more time....LOSERS who love his stupid ass. Begging them to help him get the role of Drake, which he didnt get! HAHAA! He didnt get it cause he gargles balls as an "actor" ANd now this....Hey nathan, if you had any kind of talent in your body you wouldnt be hoping for the California lottery...
ANd for all the losers who follow their KING loser....daaamn I feel sorry for you....That asswipe Fillion should be happy he stood in the presence of a Goddess, and was able to f*cking...ugh....touch her....and just stfu and go work at douche bags R'us....
1 year agoby @sexualharasmentpandaFlag
Dan
27 thumbs down. Lmao.
1 year agoby @dan1Flag
Lane
"Most of the time", yes. ;)
1 year agoby @lane1Flag
Dan
@lane1 I like to think that @ejk1 and @narrator are the voice of reason for MovieWeb most of the time.
1 year agoby @dan1Flag
Lane
BTW, am I the only one who noticed Alan said SW Ep 1 and Tron: Legacy are a part of cult franchises that "never lives up to the momentum pushed behind it." Not saying one way or another whether he thought they were "good" or "bad" or were too hyped up as a result?
Maybe its just another way of putting it, and maybe its just me, but because I never got to watch the series as a whole I have no invested, emotional attachment to the show whatsoever. And I agree with @ejk1, you did do it in a civil way. But it wouldn't be the first time. :)
1 year agoby @lane1Flag
Lane
@dan1 - I just decided I should share. It seemed like a great story in my mind. ;)
For the record, my friend liked Baccarin as well. :P
1 year agoby @lane1Flag
Lane
PS: If I could "like" @Aaron-Pozdol's comment, I would.
1 year agoby @lane1Flag
Dan
@lane1 That would be great to know if I was gay, I could join you in your excitement, but I'm not lol. There were a number of attractive people on the show, though, don't think anyone can dispute that. Good looking crew, fun and funny, great plots, good action, sigh.... stupid Fux.
1 year agoby @dan1Flag
Lane
@dan1 - I was watching an episode with a friend for the first time, and when I saw the doctor (not familiar with all the names), that really young guy, I said "That guy's a total nerd but he's such a pretty boy." Somehow, my friend took that to mean that I was attracted to him and replied "How'd I know you'd like that guy?" I said "I don't like him, he's just a nerd, which I like, but he's too pretty." I then continued by saying "I actually prefer the Captain... there's something about the way he wears his pants that makes his ass look really good."
My friend then gave me an "OMG..." (lol) and immediately said "Here... I'll show you something" proceeding to jump right to the episode with the scene that actually showed his bare ass. To this day, I can say I do not regret speaking up and certainly not what I saw. :)
1 year agoby @lane1Flag
John2
Another pompous drivel article. Popular opinion? 323 Facebook "Likes" vs. current and growing 98,631 at "Help Nathan Buy Firefly." You should spank yourself & stand in the corner.
Hey B. Alan Orange, why didn't you just tell America to quit buying Ice Cream because you have a better idea of where people should spend their money? In fact, let's shut down Disneyland, too. Why invest in America or this economy because there was an earthquake in New Zealand and New Zealanders need support? News flash genius... people CAN donate to causes right here in the USA and still be money toting fans to purchase what they want & what they can afford. Why do all of you drivelers mention far off places when we have so many home grown causes right here in the USA? Is it because you, B. Alan Orange have never given anything to a local organization so you can't even think of their names? When was the last time B. Alan Orange gave blood? When did you last give food to a homeless shelter? How about blankets to a women's shelter? Or animal shelter? Or gifts to The Goodwill Or Salvation Army? Or Make A Wish? Or Toys For Tots? Or given money to The American Cancer Society? Or DRIVE food for Meals On Wheels? Or given to Kids Need To Read? Or Can't Stop The Serenity? Or Child's Play?
1 year agoby @john2Flag