Thanks to fan lobbying and DVD box set sales, Whedon launched a cinematic follow-up in 2005 called Serenity.

Fans also walk on water, and turned Firefly DVD sets into bread.

Although kudos to them for ending with a CSTS shout out.

I think, to be honest, the article misses the point. Firefly was a TV 'failure', in so much as it got canceled. Serenity didn't find that immediate audience for sequels, either. Did Firefly sell enough on DVD to warrant more exploration of that subject? Actually, yes. Firefly has always been a slow burner, which puts it outside of the mold of TV and movie companies right now.

gossi | April 16, 19:39 CET

Oh, and their belief that they're smarter than everyone else, based on the fact that they like Joss Whedon.

Drek.

RhaegarTargaryen | April 16, 19:51 CET

Interesting article.

The one point I can add to it would be this: it all depends on if people would be willing to see other adventures from characters nothing to do with Mal,Zoe,Inara et al.

With Star Trek you have a whole universe to play with (From Kirk,to Picard, to Janeway to whoever). Each Star Trek spin-off has taken place in that universe,but within the whole 'Starfleet' banner of captains etc. The point of it is 'to boldly go where no man has gone before' so the 'who goes boldly' doesnt so matter so much as the journey itself.

With Serenity it's *all* about the characters on that ship. They are the important ones. So if in 10 years time for example there was a Serenity spinoff starring a cast of people within that universe, with nothing to do with Mal etc (except one of them maybe fought with him in the war?), then would it still be Serenity - or something else altogether.Even though it takes place in the Serenityverse, it wouldnt have the same point to it. It wouldnt be about Mal and the gang and Serenity. Which is the point of the story.

Star Trek seems to have a much wider focus than Serenity, which is just the story of that particular crew on that particular ship.So,as much of a fan I am, I dont see how the same could happen with Serenity.

Also a disclaimer-I'm not a fan of Star Trek (couldnt get into it), but I dont think Serenity could make for a franchise.

angeliclestat | April 16, 19:56 CET

"Though Serenity has a very devoted fan base, the only thing that differentiates them from fans of Babylon 5 is the room they're in at Comic-Con. Oh, and their belief that they're smarter than everyone else, based on the fact that they like Joss Whedon."

Heh. Further reading of the articles leads me to believe the Author is a Trekkie in disguise, and at best a Fair-Weather Browncoat. Intertesting viewpoint, however. :)

TDBrown | April 16, 19:57 CET

"It's a little unclear whether Serenity fans are actually fans of the series and movie, or if they're just fans of Joss Whedon."

I was definitely a fan of Firefly before becoming a fan of Joss Whedon. I never even knew his name before I saw Serenity. And THEN I found Buffy and Angel. Such is life...

violyns | April 16, 20:02 CET

Apparently today is the day to rip on Whedon fans. I feel like a puppy dog that just got kicked...twice

I know where people are coming from though. I had a friend try to shove Gilmore Girls down my throat for YEARS. However I watched it and I respect it for its quality, its just not a show for me. I'm sure people feel the same way about Whedon's shows.

TOASTERslayer | April 16, 20:14 CET

Does Serenity have Longevity as a Franchise? Yes, please.

electricspacegirl | April 16, 20:32 CET

Although kudos to them for ending with a CSTS shout out.

And at least we finally seem to be at the point with CSTS that people outside the immediate confines of the fanbase tout it as a fundraiser, and not incorrectly as a campaign to get a sequel.

theonetruebix | April 16, 20:35 CET

Seriously with the Whedon-fan bash today...I don't think we're half as bad as some other fanbases.

bknick | April 16, 20:58 CET

'bix, CSTS? Never heard of it.

May I give another shout-out towards "Dollhouse"? Can't wait!

Madhatter | April 16, 21:04 CET

Well, we were receiving a lot of praise previously for Firefly, Angel, & Buffy... maybe this is just a way to balance out the gushing love... although I had hoped it wouldn't have been so violent.

korkster | April 16, 21:23 CET

"Whedon fans have a stalker-like intensity towards the man, and a vampiric need to suck more stories out of him."

Good grief, that was harsh. Totally not feeling the inter-web love today.

kazzmere | April 16, 21:24 CET

"Whedon fans have a stalker-like intensity towards the man, and a vampiric need to suck more stories out of him."

I'm not feeling the love either, but it's fair. I prolong my unnatural existence by rising from my grave and watching Joss Whedon TV shows. Except Rosanne, which was funny but doesn't get me in the livin' longer mood.

RazorBlade | April 16, 22:29 CET

"Whedon fans have a stalker-like intensity towards the man, and a vampiric need to suck more stories out of him."

I am unclear on whether we are a broody and standoffish fandom who monitors his projects from the shadows of the internet OR an intensely devoted yet deeply critical fandom who enjoys both the crunchy pop culture references and a spot of dramatic violence.

I guess we're a hybrid of both. Do you think we have chips in our brains?

Sunfire | April 16, 22:29 CET

*Insert sarcasm* Criticism? Towards us Whedon fans??
Now there's something new and different.*/sarcasm*

I'm taking the high road on this one, by sticking my fingers in my ears and shouting "La la la la la la!"
And then I'll end with a nice, maturely rounded "I know you are, but what am I?"

Sunfire, we may not have chips in our brains, but we sure have yucky chips on them!

missb | April 17, 03:39 CET

The tone of the Article aside, it's actually a good question:
Does Serenity have longevity as a Franchise?

I think the answer is twofold, and depends on Us as Fans and Joss/TPTB as Providers. If we as Fans can grow the Fandom faster than we lose people, and IF Joss/TPTB can produce new products and (most important) Stories....

Yes, by all means.

TDBrown | April 17, 15:23 CET

I believe that the universe created in Firefly and Serenity is a much grittier and realistic view of what people would make of the future than Star Trek ever was. So I believe as TDBrown, that if the fandom continues to grow and IF new stories are forthcoming, then yes, absolutely there is longevity. Some purists would not accept new stories without the original characters but the 'verse - such a rich and fertile playing field for imagination.

sister | April 17, 15:47 CET

Unfortunately I think the series is doomed to never come back because of timing. Timing is everything. It was timing that allowed BtVS to make it on the air. As times change, perspectives and realities change too...as Nathan, Summer and Alan continue to conquer Hollywood, their paychecks get bigger and bigger. I'm sure they would all want to be together again but it might be hard this time around to get a commitment from someone to work "semi-low budget" when they can be working big budget. All the actors can already say they have worked with Joss and I'm sure their agents would say, you need to strike while the iron is hot.

Sadly, I think we got all we're gonna get.

Its similar to a mythical Star Wars episode 7, where Harrison Ford as Han Solo has a 20 million dollar payday and Mark Hamill is making $350,000. That movie just doesn't get made. Maybe a better example is the long anticipated Welcome Back Kotter reunion show--Think Mr. Travolta is gonna be there? Baabaabaa Baabaarbarino.

alexreager | April 17, 15:52 CET

That was a stupid article. It starts with the straw-man argument that the Star Trek model is the epitome model for franchises and then yaks on and on about Trek as if its model was relevant today. A better question would be, what makes franchises today possible? But then the author would have to do some research rather than just gush about Trek. Long live and frak you, Zalben.

willbueche | April 17, 18:08 CET

I wonder if Nathan got paid anything to work on Dr. Horrible.

The actors on The Guild were just able to be paid something...and that was after like 8 epiosdes or so.

I'm just saying don't underestimate the love the Joss and the actors have for Firefly/Serenity. They love it more than we do. Really.

Anonymous1 | April 18, 00:53 CET

Sister, I'm with you. "Grittier and realistic" was what made Firefly work for me in a way that none of the Treks ever did, and I think the Serenity universe had plenty of places to show us and ways to evolve. Whether or not we'll ever boldly go there is, alas, uncertain. Comics are great, but I wish for the actors back on board ship.

doghouse | April 18, 00:57 CET