Buffy movie news!!!

zap2it.c#m/movies/news/story/0,1259,---23188,00.html

Man, this news doesn't make me too happy. I've been wanting a Buffy movie since the 4th season. I hope they send SMG a script she likes so they can do this ASAP. Just say yes Sarah!

On a side note, I agree with her that the fanalie should have been 2 hours. It felt too short. After all, the premiere was 2 hours, so the fanalie should have been also. Stupid UPN.

I agree.I was terribly dissapointed at the finale, because it was less than an hour, excluding commercials.The series finale should have been at least two hours.The last fight scenes in the hellmouth were awesome.Unfortunatley we only get to witness few of the fights, due to short air time.It would have been great, if it was more than an hour long.

Actually what Sarah said was, if someone sent her a script, and if she liked it she might consent to play the role again.

It's not the first time she's said this, and it's probably just double-talk to avoid criticism for behaving as if she's above the role.

Think about it. In order for things to happen the way she suggests someone would have to write a script on spec, in the hope that Sarah might like it. Joss has said he won't do Buffy without her. The idea of Joss writing a script on spec awaiting Queen Sarah's approval is ludicrous.

On the other hand if Joss should write a Buffy script, it would mean he's changed his mind on the whole "No-one but Sarah can be Buffy" question.

Now that would be interesting. It would mean Joss would be saying "if Sarah won't do it, Oh well, maybe someone like Scarlet Johansen will".

If his head were ever there, he might not even show the script to Sarah, in which case I personally would say, "serves here right."

Here's the actual article from Zap2it BTW:

Movie News


Gellar Hesitates Over 'Buffy' Movie
Mon, Oct 11, 2004, 10:10 AM PT
By Kelly Glover, Special to Zap2it.com




LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) -- Although she has some hesitation about
bringing her vampire slaying Buffy character to the big screen, Sarah Michelle Gellar says she hasn't completely ruled out the idea.

After playing "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" on the cult hit TV series for seven years, she tells Zap2it.com that making a movie of the series may disappoint fans.

"Clearly, you're going to disappoint people. I mean, I was very happy with the finale, but I still believe that it should have been two hours," Gellar says. "I believe there wasn't enough Xander. I believe that certain things get left out, and when you make a film you're setting yourself up to disappoint people."

Gellar, who is in the upcoming horror film "The Grudge," adds, "Part of the reason I believe that the show worked was because the story had arcs and you felt for this character and you experienced things [with her], and it wasn't a beginning, middle and end."

There already was a "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" movie released in 1992 starring Luke Perry (TV's "Beverly Hills, 90210") and Kristy Swanson ("Dude Where's My Car?") That pre-dated the series and it's part of the reason Gellar is wary of making a follow-up film.

"I spent the first year of the show constantly explaining to people, 'No no, it's not like the movie; it's not like the movie,' because there was such a bias to the movie, because it didn't work as a film," she says.

Yet, the 27-year-old actress says she's not giving a definite no at this stage. "I say that now, and a year someone could send me the script and I could think it's great and we could be at the junket a-year-and-a-half from now. But I will say that I have a lot of hesitations about it and it is not something I particularly want to do at this time."

zap2it.com/movies/news/story/0,1259,---23188,00.html

I don't get what you are saying. Should she just agree to do a movie before reading the script? What kind of actor would do that?

You know what? I don't know exactly what I'm saying either. I just know she does stuff sometimes that bugs me.

If she were just to come out and say, "I don't want to do a Buffy movie. I want to do other stuff", it wouldn't bother me.

What bugs me is when people think they can BS the slow-witted Buffy fans, because they're too dozy to figure it out.

Joss isn't going to write a script on spec awaiting her thumbs up, or down. He's got lots of other stuff he can do. She's got to know this. So what's she really saying?

She knows Joss. She knows what he's capable of, but I don't hear her saying I'll talk to Joss, and see what he's got planned. She's saying she wants to see an actual script. She's not going to.

Joss won't commit to a Buffy movie, unless he knows she's interested. He's said that enough that she's got to know it. So at this point in his career would she expect him to commit a big chunk of his life to a script she might turn down? Why would he? If she expects him to she's either a Hell of a prima donna, or she know's he won't and she's just saying what she's saying to bamboozle the fans.

I completely see why she is hesitating to do a Buffy movie, its two words:

type cast

Sarah Michelle Gellar isn't even referred to by her real name, its always Buffy. "Hey Buffy, can you sign my autograph," or on the cover of magazines, "Buffy's Back with a Bite", never (well, sometimes) does it say "Sarah Michelle Gellar has a new movie..."

And even though I doubt her judgement in choice of movies, there are better movies to be made.

Plus, even if there was a great script written, could they carry it out? I mean honestly I can't imagine a Buffy movie being like Buffy. It would be kinda neat if they played the credits with the theme song, but thats a different subject...

Even if, it would be so hard to convice studio execs to give them enough money because of the poor ratings and the buzz about the previous movie. They reasons studio execs would even think about doing the movie is because of the DVD sales and the cult following.

But I would say that the majority of people going to see a Buffy movie would be Buffy fans, not people who've never heard of the Buffyverse. Because it would be too confusing and they would probably be turned away by the campy name and plot.

Its kind of a big risk to take. As much as I would love to see a Buffy big screen adventure, there are too many problems. For instance, we would never get any substaintal character development from all the Scoobs then with the possibility of the whole Angel-Buffy-Spike love triangle. Then theres the budget.

And then you have to ask yourself, "Would Sarah or any other cast members want to do it?". Because after a while you really want to move on, and for some reason most fans don't understand that. Then you have conflicting schedules.

And in know way should Sarah be tied down to a Buffy movie.



I rambled... a lot.

I went insane when i found out the finale would be 1 hour. I wanted 2... can they just film an extra hour now and show it for the hell of it??

I can see where both sides are coming from but SMG is just like a lot of actresses when it comes to movies, sure she could always say "ok lets do a Buffy movie!" and it could suck and blow at the box office like the first one did and it wouldve been a waste. Looking at the script helps you see how the quality is and what you are in for, if you like it than you will go for it, if you dont than you wont. And SMG doesnt just want to do any movie even if its Buffy because their is always the possiablity of failure and you atleast want to get something out of working on a movie.

She could be doing worse things when it comes to Buffy like refusing talking about it or not wanting her name or image to be associated with it.

and Joss also cant just goto a company and say we're going to make a Buffy movie want to help budget it? He would have to show them a script anyway, and I dont think SMG would plan on Joss to make a special script jsut for her. But he could always set up a date with her where he would come over and tell her the basic run down and what he plans to make the movie be about and how its going to go and if SMG likes the idea than she would go with it.

Doesn't this thread belong in Buffy Anne Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) forum, or the Latest News And Announcements Forum?

Primal Slayer said:

and Joss also cant just goto a company and say we're going to make a Buffy movie want to help budget it? He would have to show them a script anyway, and I dont think SMG would plan on Joss to make a special script jsut for her. But he could always set up a date with her where he would come over and tell her the basic run down and what he plans to make the movie be about and how its going to go and if SMG likes the idea than she would go with it.

Click to expand...

That's the whole point though. She didn't say that. She didn't say "I need to talk to Joss, and see what he's got planned." She said "show me a script".

I didn't hear the Firefly guys demanding a script for Serenity. Joss said he'd only do it with the original cast, and they were thrilled. I didn't hear David Boreanaz demand a script before he'd consider an Angel movie. He just says if they want to make it as a theatrical release, he'll be there.

If Sarah doesn't want to do a Buffy Movie, good for her. She may be right. It may be a good career move for her, but when she implies that the great Joss Whedon has to jump through hoops for her I get pissed.

Who is she anyway? She's the actress who was in Buffy, and a couple of Scooby Doo movies.

Sure there are Sarah fans around, and anything she says or does is the right thing, no matter what. Well guess what? There are Joss Whedon fans around too, and no-one, not even Sarah is going to dis him, not even by implication, without hearing about it.

They could have found another actress to play Buffy. Never in a million years could they have found another Joss.

When Sarah demands a script, she's demanding it from Joss. We all know who's going to write it. She's saying Joss might not write a script that was good enough for her. Fine Sarah. Go make Scooby doo 3. I'll be in the next theatre watching Serenity 2, or Fray the movie, or Angel.

I'm not a huge SMG fan, but I think that might be a little harsh... I don't think she was trying to imply that Joss has to try and beg her to come back, or that she's demanding a script before she goes anywhere. What I assumed she meant is that she'd rather not go back to the role, and that for now she has no intentions to do so, but hey, never say never. I don't think there's anything wrong with an actress wanting to see the script, any script, before commiting herself - bear in mind that she's currently fighting to break out of Buffy Summers, and she needs to believe that the pros of signing up outweigh the cons. She's not saying the script "wouldn't be good enough", just that it would have to be really special to justify the risk.

I have to object, also, to the tendency we have to deify Joss Whedon. I am not saying the guy is not immensely brilliant, but it's unfair to build him into something he's not. He's only human. He's capable of missteps, mistakes, and very possibly (Though it's unlikely) a dodgy script. At the end of the day, he's just a writer/ director, even if he's one of, if not the best working today. To imply that he's incapable of error is to belittle the amazing things he's achieved.

You're right. It is a little harsh. I wish I hadn't wrote it. Actually I was coming back to edit it, but it's too late now.

That doesn't mean I don't believe everything I said. It just means some things are better off unsaid.

I'd like to make one thing clear though. I didn't say SMG meant to imply she was superior to Joss. I said the implication was there. You have to read between the lines to see it, but it's there.

And you can't just say "an actress wants to see the script first". These are special circumstances.

Joss has made it clear he won't to anything without the original cast. Everyone knows this. If you demand a script before saying you're interested, you're doing something the other members of the cast are not doing.

Oh, and Joss doesn't have do be infallible, he just has to have proven himself good enough that he deserves a certain trust. If he says to one of his cast, "this is what I've got planned. Would you be interested?" His ability has been proven enough it should inspire enough confidence for them to say "Yes I would be interested", I'm anxious to see a script, or "no I would not". All the other members of his casts think he deserves this. What makes SMG so special. He created her. If anyone should trust him, it's her.

And I'm going to say it again. She didn't say she had to talk to Joss first to see what he had planned, before she could bother him to write a script. She demanded a script before she'd express any interest.

So either she's expecting something no-one else does, or she's trying to ingratiate herself with Buffy fans, because she's got a new movie coming out, BSing us knowing damn well Joss isn't going to write a script that depends on her consent before he can proceed.

ohwell if there is ever a definate "Buffy" or Angel movie we will see what happens, who shows up for the movie and who doesnt. i am a fan of both Sarah and Joss so ofcourse I would stick up for the both of them and I dont see Sarah saying that she doesnt trust Joss but just wants to see if a movie of Buffy would actually stand up to the standards it was on for with the show. That was one of the reasons why she ended Buffy and why Joss wanted to end Buffy.

And its not she has said that she wouldnt talk to Joss or that she wouldnt do the movie without having a script first, Joss could always talk to her without a script and they agree. She said someone could send her the script and it would be great and they could get to making it, she didnt say that she NEEDED a script first.

And its like sure David would come back to Angel for a theatre movie but thats all, if Joss wanted to do a tv movie David has said that he wouldnt be intrested. Just like Charisma has said that she isnt intrested with anything Angel right now.

And sure Joss helped create the cast of Buffy, but they also helped create the show. Do you think that the charecters would come off as well without the cast that we had? It's not just Joss that made the show work, it was the cast a long with him. And its not like Sarah just won the role of Buffy so easily, she fought her way for that role and she helped give us 7 great years, so she isnt some big bad villan like some people like to make her come across as.

It worked both ways for the show, Joss helped create the show and charecters and helped in the success and the cast helped launch it all.

Seriously, I think you are full of **** saying these things. Sorry to be harsh, but you sound like an angry 5-year old who doesn't get what he wants and starts lashing out at someone who is not to blame. ANY actress or actor would like to see a script, at least if they got a career going. I am not saying that I like what SMG has done since Buffy - most of it seems like crap - but she is trying to make a name for herself. Just jumping on the bandwagon without knowing what she is getting herself into is something completely different.

Some of the other characters, who aren't as famous as SMG, would probably jump at the chance of doing something Buffy-related again. But Sarah is the most well-known of them all, and has a right to ask for certain things before getting involved. She isn't being a diva, or especially rude towards Joss. I think that Joss is very aware of the fact that he has to produce a script to get SMG, or a studio, to join the project.

Then again, here's to the fact that they never, ever, do a BtVS-movie. *cheers*

Bud, you've got to get off this whole, "only your opinion matters" stance.

My opinion is SMG plays games with the fans. It creates disinformation and false hopes of a Buffy movie. I don't believe SMG has any intention of considering a Buffy movie. I think she only throws the crumb of hope out, because she's got a new movie coming out, and she wants to get Buffy fans interested. If I'm correct it's a point worth making. If not, feel free to prove it wrong.

On top of that I stand by the opinion that suggesting Joss owes her a script, is arrogant. And no Joss does not know he has to write a script before getting word on whether or not she'd be interested. When Angel was cancelled there was a lot of the "Sarah's a Diva" talk going around.

I'll give you a quote from Kirsten at Eonline to show you what I mean:

"From milesfrom730: Why isn't Sarah Michelle Gellar coming back?
Make sure you read the TV Guide Online article if you haven't. (Registration required, sorry.) Joss weighs in there. I'm told by a source, however, that it was somewhat of a "pissing match" between Whedon and Gellar. She apparently wanted the big guns, the finale (something I think we all wanted as well), and he wanted to keep her in the second-to-last episode so as to keep the spotlight on Angel. She no likey, so she no worky. We will get an update on Buffy...

http://www.eonline.com/Gossip/Kristin/Trans/Archive2004/040329.html"

At that time Sarah had to come up with an excuse for not doing Angel. I distinctly remember her saying not that she had to see a script, but that she "had to talk to Joss to see what he had planned".

nerd4hire said:

Bud, you've got to get off this whole, "only your opinion matters" stance.

My opinion is SMG plays games with the fans. It creates disinformation and false hopes of a Buffy movie. I don't believe SMG has any intention of considering a Buffy movie. I think she only throws the crumb of hope out, because she's got a new movie coming out, and she wants to get Buffy fans interested. If I'm correct it's a point worth making. If not, feel free to prove it wrong.

On top of that I stand by the opinion that suggesting Joss owes her a script, is arrogant.

Click to expand...

Talking about arrogant, so are those accusations.

Why would she "play games with fans"? Granted they could garner some box-office potential, but you have to think about something, there really aren't that many Buffy fans.

Not to mention she has a strong fan base by herself, without Buffy and she doesn't need to ride on the success of Buffy any more.

How did she suggest that Joss owed her a script? She said that if a good script appeared then she would most likely think about doing it.

No actor with any amount of common sense is going to jump aboard a movie without reading a script. A Buffy movie could more than likely bomb and it most likely would.

She made the show, drew in fans and created an iconic character. But shes been said to be one of the greatest new actresses, so I think she would have survived without Buffy. Plus Buffy stopped her from taking lots of movie roles.

And Joss is too busy doing his million other things anyways to bother with a Buffy movie. Not to mention that he should have been around more during the last two seasons.

I don't see why people think shes a ***** for not doing a movie as soon as she has the time. She doesn't owe us anything. She gave us 7 years of her life. And we should be lucky for that.

nerd4hire said:

Bud, you've got to get off this whole, "only your opinion matters" stance.

Click to expand...

Yeah, sorry. I do that a lot. It is not my intention to come out as snobby, but I do have a tendency to sound a bit too harsh at times. I'll try to be nicer from now on. I'm a lot nicer in person than I am on the Internet. 😉

nerd4hire said:

My opinion is SMG plays games with the fans. It creates disinformation and false hopes of a Buffy movie. I don't believe SMG has any intention of considering a Buffy movie. I think she only throws the crumb of hope out, because she's got a new movie coming out, and she wants to get Buffy fans interested. If I'm correct it's a point worth making. If not, feel free to prove it wrong.

Click to expand...

Well, that is kinda hard to prove, isn't it? I guess we will just have to wait and see. I don't think that SMG is out of line when she says she wants to see a script first, but if what you say is true then yeah - she should just tell us that she would never do a Buffy-movie, ever. But first, we need to know the truth about what she is really saying. It doesn't have to be double-speak.

I just need to make one thing clear. My arguement is predicated on the idea that things appear to be done differently in the Jossverse than they are in Hollywood in general.

In Hollywood, you have a script. You run around with it showing it to the people you want to be involved.

Here's James Marsters being interviewed describing the way it's done Joss style:

Rove: Now tell me, is there going to be, or I have heard there is going to be more Spike in the future. That there's possibly another project involving Spike. Tell us about this.

James: Yeah, I hope so. Joss. It's was interesting. Joss came to me at the end of Angel.

Rove: The creator of Buffy.

James: Yes, Joss Whedon, who wrote and uh, along with David Greenwalt, developed both of Buffy and Angel, together. Umm, and it was weird because I was doing some, just basic work for the show, voice over stuff and filling in bits, and he came up to me and he's like "Man, I really like your work and I'm hoping you're still interested-"And he's kissing my butt! And I'm like, "What are you doing Joss?" And I told him, I said, "Joss, stop it. 3 lines, 50 lines, lead role, whatever you want man, call me. I'm there for you, cuz frankly, you're one of the best writers I've ever worked with". And uh, he said that he wanted to do a Spike move "“ TV movie. But it's also contingent upon other characters. He wants to do four TV movies, one of them is Spike. So, uh, I said "˜yes' immediately, "I'm your *****" (complete with hands surrendered "Dead Things"- style above head, may I add). Right, but I don't know if the others signed off on it. So it may or may not happen, not because I didn't sign off on it, but it may not really sell as a single project."

http://www.geos.tv/index.php/article/geos/1032

Here's a link to a site where a guy from Whedonesque claims you can get the full transcript of the interview (you need to register):

http://www.marsters-mobsters.com/fo...23987#post23987

Is there anything about the way the Firefly actors appear to have been signed for Serenity that contradradicts this?

That's not to say, you couldn't ask "well what exactly do you have planned?". Sarah was going to do that before she agreed to come to Angel. That's cool. Asking for a script before you express interest though, is an entirely different thing.

And I'd like to make that clear, I'm not saying anyone has to sign a contract before seeing a script. I'm saying in the Jossverse he wants to work with the original cast. You talk to Joss, then he decides if he wants to write the script based on the people interested.

Again I say Sarah knows this. So if she's saying to Joss "show me a script, then I'll tell you if I'm interested", she's asking for something contrary to the way she knows things run. Do you get it? She's sending Joss a coded message. Don't consider a Buffy movie, because I'm not interested.

At the same time she's saying to the Buffy fans come see The Grudge. I haven't forgotten my roots. I might do a Buffy movie.

nerd4hire said:

Again I say Sarah knows this. So if she's saying to Joss "show me a script, then I'll tell you if I'm interested", she's asking for something contrary to the way she knows things run. Do you get it? She's sending Joss a coded message. Don't consider a Buffy movie, because I'm not interested.

Click to expand...

Well, a few points.

1. You are basing this on ONE interview.

2. So what is things are generally done differently in "Jossverse"? She wants to see the script and then, based on that, say "sure, I am interested" or "no, I won't do this thing". It is quite simple. She is making demands. Only because Joss doesn't usually do it like that doesn't mean she is making the wrong choice to actually ask for things to be done in another way. She is just stating that she wants to know fully what she would get herself into BEFORE saying if she's interested or not.

3. Picture this: Joss Whedon asks SMG is she would be interested in doing a BtVS-movie. SMG says "yes". The buzz would start. This place would explode. All fanboys would run out on the Internet screaming their lounges out of happiness. I would get into huge fights on these very boards because of my reservations about a movie.

And then Joss writes the script and gives it to SMG. She thinks it's crap. She pulls out. Repeat what I just said above, but this time people are angry or sad. It would be hell.

For her sake, and for the Buffy-fanboy-community as a whole, I hope that Joss writes the script and THEN asks if she's interested. It would save her, and us, a ****load of trouble. It could hurt her carreer and the cult-following that has evolved around our favorite Slayer. As a gaming-journalist I see this happen all the time when various games get cancelled. Fans are a big, crazy bunch, with no understanding whatsoever for the people they are idolising.

Just my opinion.

On 3. So, I think what you're saying is it's better to be skeptical. Great. We agree. I'm skeptical. Not only for the reasons stated, but in the past Sarah has said one thing then later it turned out to be false.

Here's Joss on Sarah appearing in Angel:

"Sarah last year said that she would be interested in coming on the show," he said. "And then this year, she ... said that it felt too soon."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/news/buffy/2004/01/15/8891.shtml

Later she said she'd do the finale, knowing Joss didn't want her for the finale.

On 2. It isn't just that Joss does things differently, it's that Sarah knows he does. She didn't publicly ask for a script when she said she'd do Angel.

When Sarah says she expects a script, and she knows she won't get one, I get even more skeptical as to her motives.

On 1. Joss wants to work with the original cast, so he wants to know if they're interested before he begins. Otherwise there's no sense in beginning. As I remember it the Serenity cast were all looking forward to doing a movie, before they were raving about what a great script it was. If you're still counting, that's three things on which I'm basing the idea that Joss wants to see interest before he obligates himself to the script.

A script is no small thing to produce, you know. Do you remember how long it took him between Fray episodes? And that was just a comic.

And on this comment you made:

" As a gaming-journalist I see this happen all the time when various games get cancelled. Fans are a big, crazy bunch, with no understanding whatsoever for the people they are idolising.

Hey, if you have some new insight into the verse that will allow me to perfect my understanding of it, I'm a ready teddy. Produce it.