Buffy: End in Sight?

[uberkitty]

I'm wondering if anyone knows if Joss (or anyone else "in charge") has ever said anything about an end date for Buffy. What are the lengths of the current actors' contracts, and are we anticipating that the show will end when the current contracts are up?

I have mixed feelings about it, of course. On the one hand, I wish it would never end. But on the other, I would rather they stop the show than let its glory fade--and I definitely feel some glory fading. I'm sure many of you would disagree, but I felt a definite drop in quality this past season, and I think it has a lot to do with Joss's absence. The musical was the Best Buffy Ever, but apart from that ... I understand Joss wanting to pursue other projects, but I kind of feel like he should end Buffy if he's not going to be paying enough attention to it. His lieutenants are great, but they're better when they're working under him than shepherding the series alone. IMHO.

Thoughts?

 

[Crothian]

Well, I doubt Sarah will be extending her contract which ends after this season. She was against the move to the UPN from WB and tried to get out of her contract at that point (after season 5). So, I expect this to be the last season of Buffy as we know it.

 

[Umbran]

Well, there's been no substantial news on that recently. Ms. Gellar's contract is up at the end of this coming season, and some on the boards have said that she is on the record as wanting to stop (though I've seen no attributions for the quote). So, perhaps it will end.

Note that Gellar retracted her rather strong rejection of the move to UPN. It is likely that the reports we got of that were more a matter of a stong and ill-considered immediate reaction to a change than a well-thought-out position. Most of her movies have only been mediocre at the box office. If she knows what side her bread is buttered on, she'll stay on Buffy.

Joss has said, in effect that yes, the coming season will be the last, unless it's not. He will not confirm or deny an end-date. Marti Noxon recently (as in, earlier this month) told Sci-Fi Wire that she sees a season 8 as entirely possible.

So, believe what you will. We'll know when it happens.

 

[Jamdin]

I have read elsewhere that either this or next season may be the last. However, Joss plans a series of Buffy movies beyond the show.

 

[N Hammer]

The season coming up is the LAST season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

 

[Ashtal]

It's been said that Season 7 is the last, but at the same time, some of the folks making it (a few of the current writers, and I think NB/Xander said something about some of their contracts being longer) that it may go on after Season Seven, possibly without SMG.

No one can really say for sure yet, but it wouldn't be too surprising to see UPN push for it to stay in some sort of incarnation, after so recently getting the show.

 

[Ranger REG]

It will the the end of the road for Buffy. Joss Whedon is going to be so busy launching his new sci-fi series Firefly on FOX, that is now taking over the timeslot once occupied by James Cameron's Dark Angel (a very stupid move by FOX execs).

HOWEVER, I'm guessing that there will be a spin-off from Buffy on UPN, as that show spun off Angel on The WB.

 

[BadMojo]

I have read elsewhere that either this or next season may be the last. However, Joss plans a series of Buffy movies beyond the show.

I just read a quote from Sarah Michelle Gellar in the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly (it's my girlfriend's subscription, ok?) and it seems like Sarah is adamantly against any Buffy movies. Perhaps the quote was taken out of context, but it doesn't sound good for SMG in a Buffy movie.

Still, I think Joss & Crew will keep working with the Buffy franchise. Since "Firefly" will be taking Dark Angel's "Friday Time Slot of Death", I have a strange feeling that Joss might have a little more free time on his hands by this winter.

 

[LightPhoenix]

I just read a quote from Sarah Michelle Gellar in the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly (it's my girlfriend's subscription, ok?) and it seems like Sarah is adamantly against any Buffy movies. Perhaps the quote was taken out of context, but it doesn't sound good for SMG in a Buffy movie.

Which is all the more reason SMG is an airhead, because a Buffy movie would prolly make as much if not more than any of the POS ones she's done so far.

Still, I think Joss & Crew will keep working with the Buffy franchise. Since "Firefly" will be taking Dark Angel's "Friday Time Slot of Death", I have a strange feeling that Joss might have a little more free time on his hands by this winter.

I think it has nothing to do with the timeslot. I think that Firefly will be too sci-fi (even though Joss has said repeatedly it isn't really sci-fi, it's a western in space) for the mainstream audience to except. Of course, I'm more bitter for being burned by the loss of Crusade and Legend of the Rangers, the loss of Invisible Man, the direction Andromeda is taking, and on, and on, and on...

On Buffy:
I think a very interesting eighth season would be to see how the gang does without Buffy/SMG. Quite honestly I think she's the weakest link in the show, next to Dawn/MT. I don't really see it happening though.

 

[ToddSchumacher]

I've read that both Nicolas Brendon and Alyison Hannigan have another three more years to thier contracts. As was said already Sarah only has the next season. I've also read that she has said they were all going to sit down and take a look at this year and what Joss has planned beyond (He always has the next year planned before they start filming the current) if the stories are any good she may stay. She, from what I understand, was going to take a wait and see kind of mood. But from the impression I got the stories for the 8th season would have to be spectacular.

You just get the vibe she wants this season to be the last.

Now wether they would even continue a Buffy the Vampire show without Buffy...I doubt it.

A brand new show I can see. And I would be interested if Nicky and Aly's contracts are worded so they would be bound to the new season...probably not, though. But I can see enough loyalty in this family where they would want to work with Joss again.

*Now if this season is to be the last for Buffy, and Sarah doesn't want to make any movies or anything after. I can see the Big Bad for this, last season, to be Buffy, the Vampire..... Slayer.

Everyone's worst nightmare.

End the show with a bang!


*note: this is pure conjecture on my part with no inside spoiler news from any site or anything.