Well, this is kinda fucked up but kind of what happens. When you sell rights to things they don’t always come back. And sometimes that can bite you. It’s life and it isn’t pretty and I’m not saying this is just desserts or anything (though Whedon hated the film and I don’t like the show and love the film) it’s just … life in the food chain.

(via The Hollywood Reporter) A new incarnation of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” could be coming to the big screen.

“Buffy” creator Joss Whedon isn’t involved and it’s not set up at a studio, but Roy Lee and Doug Davison of Vertigo Entertainment are working with original movie director Fran Rubel Kuzui and her husband, Kaz Kuzui, on what is being labeled a remake or relaunch, but not a sequel or prequel.

While Whedon is the person most associated with “Buffy,” Kuzui and her Kuzui Enterprises have held onto the rights since the beginning, when she discovered the “Buffy” script from then-unknown Whedon. She developed the script while her husband put together the financing to make the 1992 movie, which was released by Fox.

Kuzui later teamed with Gail Berman, then president of Sandollar Television, bringing back Whedon to make the TV series, which was produced by Fox TV and launched on the WB in 1997. Kuzui and Sandollar received executive producer credits on “Buffy” and its spinoff, “Angel.”

The new “Buffy” film, however, would have no connection to the TV series, nor would it use popular supporting characters like Angel, Willow, Xander or Spike. Vertigo and Kuzui are looking to restart the story line without trampling on the beloved existing universe created by Whedon, putting the parties in a similar situation faced by Paramount, J.J. Abrams and his crew when relaunching “Star Trek.”

……

The parties are meeting with writers and hearing takes, and later will look for a home for the project. The producers do not rule out Whedon’s involvement but have not yet reached out to him.Speaking from Tokyo, Fran Kuzui said the company is constantly approached not only about sequels but theater, video games and foreign remakes for “Buffy.” When Vertigo’s Lee contacted them, they were intrigued.

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So a new slayer, keeping the property moving, making it, well: “The goal would be to make a darker, event-sized movie that would, of course, have franchise potential.” and what’s wrong with that? That Whedon isn’t involved? Well, all right but he might be, and if he isn’t these are folks who have had a hand in it since the start and want it to succeed. So who knows. But I wonder how many fans will disown it before they even see it just because of this ad refuse to give it a chance? I also wonder if maybe I’ll like this version.

But chances are high they will ask Whedon along to the party and this is a kerfluffle over nothing. Let’s be honest.