...urban legend?

nathanieletc | February 13, 12:20 CET

A pretty fairy tale told to journalists before Serenity was released in the cinema.

Simon | February 13, 12:51 CET

Well, journalists and fans, Simon.

Lioness | February 13, 19:59 CET

Wait, so what really happened?

jkalderash | February 13, 21:39 CET

Serenity was well on it's way before the Firefly DVD set even went on sale. What happened was a bunch of people at Universal wanted to work with Joss Whedon - chiefly, Mary Parent, a self proclaimed "Whedon stalker" (her words, not mine). At the time Mary (who's partner is, I think, Marc Blucas, who played Riley on BTVS) held the position of Vice Chairman, Worldwide Production for Universal Pictures with Scott Stuber. Their positions meant they were responsible for the worldwide acquisition, creative development and production of all Universal Pictures feature films. If she wanted to make a movie, it would get made.

Joss gave Mary Firefly on DVD (his own copy), I seem to recall - Mary loved it, said 'There's a movie here', and the rest is history.

gossi | February 13, 22:03 CET

Well, gosh. I'd never heard that version of the story. Interesting.

jkalderash | February 14, 00:55 CET

That one isn't a "version", jkalderash. It is the actual truth.

TamaraC | February 14, 02:02 CET

Nathan Fillion posted confirming the movie in June 2003 - a full 6 months or so before the DVD came out. Here's the post.

gossi | February 14, 02:12 CET

Wow. I'm kinda amazed that with all the articles and things about Serenity I've read, this is the first time I've heard this. Though I guess if it was what journalists were told, it makes sense all those articles would contain the misinformation. Thanks for telling the real story!

EmmBee | February 14, 04:12 CET

I'm kinda amazed that with all the articles and things about Serenity I've read, this is the first time I've heard this.

I learned only recently, too. From comments in another thread here, I think. Thanks for the synopsis, gossi.

Sunfire | February 14, 04:54 CET

Never doubted it. Sorry if in my surprise I came off sounding skeptical.

jkalderash | February 14, 05:05 CET

Wow, also amazed by this, I am. Why would that spread so easily if it wasn't true and was easy enough to disprove?

Also, wow, 2003 was a long time ago...

Speaking of movies, I really wish they'd go ahead and greenlight Serenity 2 instead of dancing around on the rumor train. Rumor train? Hmm... need to work on my homemade metaphors...

nathanieletc | February 14, 09:42 CET

If there can be a soul train, surely there can be a rumor train.

The One True b!X | February 14, 10:04 CET

And it's a one way express to IMDBville.

Why would that spread so easily if it wasn't true and was easy enough to disprove?

The same reason it arose in the first place nathanieletc - people wanted to believe it. "Plucky Underdogs Beat the Odds" was the one they thought of just after "Boy Meets Girl", it put a nice neat bow on 'The Ballad of [how] Serenity [got made]" ;).

Saje | February 14, 11:23 CET

I've known the truth for a good long while now.

Not as heartwarming or as tellable a story, but, y'know...truthier. ;-)

UnpluggedCrazy | February 14, 11:48 CET

Gossi - Thanks for the link to Nathans old post... that was before I found Firefly so it's nice to read some of those old comments... too bad that he didn't realize his dream of a Serenity movie every 3 years... I'd still be up for that...

refuge5 | February 14, 20:57 CET