The cult classic television seriesFireflyjust might be revived at Fox according to the network’s president of entertainment. Previously, Fox gaveFireflythe boot after just one season, leaving fans of the show angry at the network ever since. Now, the folks at Fox are apparently open to making things right by finally bringing back the beloved TV series, so as long as enough of the right pieces are there to make it work.
Fox’s president of entertainment, Michael Thorn, recently spoke with TheWrap about the possibility of giving the fans what they want by giving themnew episodes of Firefly. “The macro answer is, any time we look at one of our classic titles, if there’s a way to reinvent it for today so it’s as resonant now as the original was, and is, to the fans, we’re wide open,” Thorn says, making it clear that aFireflysequel series is definitely a possibility. Though Thorn also acknowledges executive producer Tim Minear has his hands full these days showrunning9-1-1, Thorn thinks the concept of revivingFireflyis “a good idea.”
Additionally, Thorn suggested that the chances of a newFireflyentering development have become much greater following the network’s cancellation of theSeth MacFarlane comedy series The Orville. A satirical take on similar sci-fi shows likeStar Trek, Thorn says that it “didn’t make sense” for Fox to air two space-set franchises at the same time. WithThe Orvillesince trekking its way over to Hulu, there’s a spot open for a new sci-fi series to have a presence on the Fox network, and aFireflyrevival would certainly fit the bill.
For his part, Minear is also keeping an open mind when it comes to rebootingFirefly, but he notes that it would be impossible to bring back the entire original cast for a full-blown revival series. “You’re not gonna get everybody back,” Minear bluntly says, pointing to Nathan Fillion’s busy schedule filmingThe Rookieas an example of just how busy everyone is with their own projects. Still, Minear feels that a potential revival could work, but only with a short run. “I would love to see, like, an eight- or 10-episodelimited adventure in that universe,” he added.
Premiering on Fox in 2002,Fireflywas created by Joss Whedon and exec produced by Whedon and Thorn. The series starredNathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin, Jewel Staite, Sean Maher, Summer Glau, and Ron Glass. Set in the year 2517, the show follows the crew of a “Firefly-class” spaceship called theSerenity. Much to the chagrin of fans, the series was controversially cancelled after just eleven of its fourteen produced episodes were aired. These days, the show still often tops internet lists of series that were cancelled far too soon.
In 2005, Whedon teamed up with Universal Pictures to giveFireflya sequel in the form of the movieSerenity. As with the TV series, rumors of a sequel persisted for years afterward, but no other film or TV follow-ups have since come to fruition. Perhaps longtime fans might be happy to know that there still remains some hope for the show coming back, even if it’s just for a limited revival series. This news comes to us fromTheWrap.
