Whedon Watch: 2005

[nerd4hire]

INDEX Whedon Watch 2005
Rumours, Hoaxes and Facts

Page 1

~ IDW Angel Comics
~ Joss for movie of novel Shadowmancer
~ Serenity Comics, Companion book, and Giant X Men
~ X Men 3
~ Joss to do Wonder Woman
~ Spike telemovie. Tim Minear interested.
~ Serenity Premiere
~ Joss writes script to Goner. Interested in revival of Buffyverse

Page 2 (http://buffy-boards.com/showthread.php?t=26844&page=2)
Starts at 09-24-2005

~ Tim Minear on Spike project.
~ Buffy/Angelverse related telemovies.
~ Joss on Buffy Season 8 comic, Serenity trilogy comic, and Spike movie.
~ Serenity Sequel


* * *

SilverBulletComicBooks reports IDW comics will now be taking over Angel comics from Dark Horse for an upcoming miniseries. Supposedly Joss will have involvement as an "advisor". They claim it may resolve some of the issues left hanging in Not Fade Away. They also claim there may be a Faith series.

http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/rage/110471098361504.htm

[Wesley's Sylyna]

If there is a Faith series, it will only be as a comic book.
Eliza Dushku turned down a spin-off for Faith to do 'Tru Calling.'

[nerd4hire]

Yeah, the article is vague about that one, but I believe he is talking about IDW comics also considering a Faith Series. No word yet on what Joss's connection if any would be with that one. Just a rumour right now, I think.

[nerd4hire]

The newest rumour concerns a novel called Shadowmancer which Universal has reportedly bought the rights to.

The story says Universal wants Joss, although they are not clear as to in what exact capacity.

Universal Wants Joss (http://www.whitbytoday.co.uk/viewarticle2.aspx?ArticleID=918160&SectionID=983&Search=whedon&Searchtype=any&SearchSection=983&DateFrom=011995&DateTo=012005&Page=1&ReturnPage=Results.aspx)

Some stuff to consider here:

* It's supposed to be a fantasy with religious under-tones. Would atheist Joss be interested in something like that?

* Joss has said in the past he's no longer interested in projects he doesn't have full control over.

* There's a trilogy clause in the actor's of Serenity's contracts.

* At the Carey fundraiser Joss said he's working on something original.

* Universal has commented on their satisfaction working with Joss on Serenity, however this could be nothing more than a WB style disinformation attempt to work up buzz among Whedon Fans.

My personal prophesy: It'll never happen.

This story is being discussed in Latest News and Announcements here:

Board Discussion of Story (http://www.buffy-boards.com/showthread.php?t=20158)

[nerd4hire]

There's more on the upcoming Serenity Comic book:

Dark Horse Comics confirmed for Newsarama that they will be publishing the three-issue prequel, written by Whedon and Brett Matthews (a Firefly writer and former comics collaborator with Whedon), with art by Will Conrad. Issue #1 is due in July...

In a quick word in this week’s issue of Newsweek, (online here) the announcement was made that Joss Whedon will return to his own properties in comics this summer with a prequel to Serenity, Whedon’s upcoming feature film based on his cancelled TV series Firefly, set 500 years in the future.

http://newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27841

Plus there's a Giant-Size X-Men coming with input from Joss:

GIANT-SIZE X-MEN #3
Written by JOSS WHEDON
Pencils by DAVE COCKRUM
New Cover by DAVE COCKRUM
Featuring Classic Reprints by STAN LEE, JACK KIRBY & WERNER ROTH

In celebration of the 30th anniversary of 1975’s GIANT-SIZE X-MEN #1 and #2 comes a colossal collection of the X-Men’s greatest team-ups – plus a brand-new untold tale of the All-New, All-Different X-Men by JOSS WHEDON and DAVE COCKRUM! The X-Men tangle with the FF in FANTASTIC FOUR #28 (July 1964), the Might Avengers guest-star in X-MEN #9 (January 1964) and along comes a Spider-Man in X-MEN #35 (August 1967)!
80 Pgs/ Marvel PSR… 4.99

And the New X-Men get their first spinoff…

http://newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27841

[Xander]

The Firefly comic book thing is cool, hope I can find a way to get it here though. The initial art work looks nice, but Zoe looks odd to me, its the face. And actually Mal's head looks tiny!

[nerd4hire]

There's a new Joss collection-book thing -

Joss Whedon, the creator of Buffy and Angel, is finally coming to the big screen with his directorial debut, the blockbuster sci-fi adventure Serenity.

Titan’s official companion contains a preface from Joss, his in-depth account of the making of the film, and his full screenplay, illustrated throughout with stills, storyboards and production art.

Serenity from Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1845760824/qid=1109394849/sr=1-6/ref=sr_1_6/002-2823621-3913649?v=glance&s=books)

[nerd4hire]

The "Joss to do X-Men 3" rumour looks to be more or less officially dead now.

LET THE X-MEN EAT LAYER CAKE
03.13.05
By Devin Faraci
Contributing sources: Aint It Cool News

The question of just who would be directing X-Men 3 has been nagging at fans since Bryan Singer left the franchise to relaunch Superman. Now the question has been answered, and while Whedon fans across the globe weep, a pretty good name has been pulled from this hat: Matthew Vaughn.

Unless you’re one of our dead sexy British readers you probably haven’t seen the man’s prior directing gig, Layer Cake, a completely crackerjack British gangster film starring the excellent Daniel Craig.

It's interesting, because I've heard many people suggest the only thing that might keep Joss from signing for Wonder Woman would be the possibility of getting X 3. We'll see how true that is now.

[nerd4hire]

Everyone seems to be reporting it as official today. Joss will do Wonder Woman.

From Warner Bros:

"We are excited about working with Joss," Warner Bros. Pictures president Jeff Robinov said. "He brings great energy and creativity to the process. His work on 'Buffy' makes him uniquely qualified to handle the Wonder Woman character."

From producer Joel Silver:

"There's no one better than Joss to adapt the legendary Wonder Woman comic book character created in the 1940s into a dynamic feature film for 21st century audiences," Silver said.

From Joss:

"Wonder Woman is the most iconic female heroine of our time, but in a way, no one has met her yet," Whedon said. "What I love most about icons is finding out what's behind them, exploring the price of their power. When Joel and I began discussing the character, I realized there is a woman behind the legend who is very fascinating, very uncompromising and in her own way almost vulnerable. She's someone who doesn't belong in this world, and since everyone I know feels that way about themselves, the character clicked for me."

http://comingsoon.net/news/topnews.php?id=8802

[nerd4hire]

The buzz appears to be picking up on a Spike telemovie. At the Wizard world LA convention Joss said he liked the idea, and would probably do it if he got the chance. WB bigwig David Janolarri has been saying he's starting to like the idea (OK WB comments means nothing, but still...).

In a recent TV Guide telephone interview Joss said -

"[Spike] is not necessarily something that I would write and direct myself," he suggested. "I have a lot of brilliant friends who worked with me for many years who might be able to take the helm — somebody who both James [Marsters] and I would trust."

http://www.tvguide.com/news/askausiello/050323.asp

So it sounds like Joss is saying he'd do it, but the production would be delegated out, thus not conflicting with his work on Wonder Woman or Serenity post production.

[Faithy]

Has there been anymore news about the Joss/Wonder Woman thing?

[nerd4hire]

Has there been anymore news about the Joss/Wonder Woman thing?


Nothing much more than the continuous casting rumours as far as I know.

Apparently there's some kind of interview in last month's Wizard magazine where Joss goes into why he decided to do Wonder Woman and such. I think this is a little bit from it -

What you do with the Wonder Woman costume is very similar to what they're currently doing at DC" says Whedon. "You put a little more Greek in it, a little more leather. You take out the stars and stripes. She ain't wearing the American flag. You keep the color and the basic elements of it. I'm not putting her in a parka but at the same time, she has to be her own person and this has to be worn by someone. She's not walking around in panties, that's not something an Amazon does.

(last but not least the article states 2007 for release)


http://whedonesque.com/?comments=7003

[Doyle]

You know, there're two Serenity cast members who'd fit Joss's description of Wonder Woman: Morena Baccarin and Gina Torres. Picking just one would be the tough part.

[nerd4hire]

This list of Whedon projects is way behind. Better do a quick catchup.

Serenity comes out next Friday.

Joss is talking Spike project. Tim Minear claims he's interested too.

Joss is also making noises suggesting he might be interested in a general revival of the Buffyverse.

Joss has sold a script to Universal called Goner. It's described as dark.

Joss has estimated the completion of a Wonder Woman script for "about 3 months" away.

[THE BLUE]

Is this Spike project a movie, a tv series or a tv movie?

[nerd4hire]

The way Tim Minear described it as coming from Joss, it was "some blond vampire movie". I've heard it referenced as a movie elsewhere as well.

Joss doesn't sound like he's got anything firm in mind yet though from what I've read. There are threads on the subject here in Whedonverse with links to the outside. It's kind of a make your own interpretation thing right now.

[nerd4hire]

Actually there's rumour developing now, that suggests there may be a series of Buffy/Angelverse related telemovies.

Edit: Oct 27

Marti Noxon says these new movies based on B/A characters will be Direct-to-DVD movies.

[nerd4hire]

Joss posted to the Whedonesque blog and said

1. He will be writing a post-Chosen Buffy comic that can be taken as canon.

2. He will be co-writing a Serenity trilogy comic with Bret Matthews

3. The Spike movie idea is still being discussed.

Discussion on it here

http://buffy-boards.com/showthread.php?t=21972

[nerd4hire]

There's a new rumour of a Serenity Sequel.

Discussion here

http://www.buffy-boards.com/showthread.php?p=333255#post333255

[THE BLUE]

Joss posted to the Whedonesque blog and said

1. He will be writing a post-Chosen Buffy comic that can be taken as canon.



I don't think any comic can be considered as canon.

[nerd4hire]

I don't think any comic can be considered as canon.

Well that's an opinion I've heard others share. Unfortunately Joss Whedon isn't one of them. He specifically said the upcoming Buffy comic will be canon.

Speaking of Darkhorse Comics, they are starting a new Buffy comic, and as I understand it, it will take place after the end of Buffy and Angel and be canon in the Buffy world. And I understand it that way 'cause I'M WRITING IT. I'm kicking off the book with a four issue arc that finds Buffy -- you guessed it -- living in Italy with The Immortal.

http://whedonesque.com/comments/8735

[RockManic]

Well that's an opinion I've heard others share. Unfortunately Joss Whedon isn't one of them. He specifically said the upcoming Buffy comic will be canon.

And if Joss says so, that's good enough for me! It's his little universe, after all.

I do get where Blue is coming from though. It is hard to mix two mediums together. Accepting a comic book series as part of a television show storyline is a bit of a jolt but like i said before, this is Joss' creation and so as long as he considers the series to be canon then that is all i need to know.

[Soozy-18]

Id like to think that there will be either spin off series (ie, Ripper> would be good> as at the minute Anthony Head plays the PM in brit comedy Little Britain!!!)

Also i reckon that a TV movie or even another theatrical release would please the fans!

But thats just me... if you ask me, the more the merrier, we need to keep Joss in a job dont we?!

[Mr. Pointy]

Id like to think that there will be either spin off series (ie, Ripper> would be good> as at the minute Anthony Head plays the PM in brit comedy Little Britain!!!)

Also i reckon that a TV movie or even another theatrical release would please the fans!

But thats just me... if you ask me, the more the merrier, we need to keep Joss in a job dont we?!
Amen to that sister :)

I would dearly love to see Ripper being made. Everything seemed to be in place, then it kind of drifted and they all went off on to other projects...:(

[Randy Giles]

I'm hoping for "Faith the Vampire Slayer". And I noticed an early poster saying they hope there's no new "Dark Shadows"...are you crazy?! DS is awesome, although I wish ABC would do it, not The WB.

[nerd4hire]

* * * Complete. See first page for index * * *