Buffy Reboot Cancelled

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Because it was not a reboot. It was a pilot episode and the focus of the action was intended to be on the new Slayer with Buffy becoming more of a mentor. Her role would increase as the series in following episodes, I’m sure.

Yeah, that was the big note from the studio: More Buffy in the pilot and earlier.

 

[Umbran]

I see a couple of reasons why it was cancelled that doesn't have anything to do with being a 'Buffy Hater', but with realities: A licensed beloved label is expensive, no matter how old and unused...

Not in this case. Disney currently owns the IP rights. Disney also owns Hulu, who were on deck to make it. So, it would have been Disney paying license fees to itself.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Those were pretty stupid and if Star Wars taught us anything it's that we can safely ignore that kind of extended universe.

The Star Wars comics put out since the Disney buy have been pretty well-received I thought.

 

[Artamo]

Those were pretty stupid and if Star Wars taught us anything it's that we can safely ignore that kind of extended universe.

Maybe it’s just me but I also compartmentalize this stuff pretty well and enjoy them on their own terms. I don’t take look for a constant drumbeat of canon in stuff like this, particularly when it’s across different media.

 

[Blue]

Why call it a Buffy the Vampire Slayer (reboot) when there's virtually no Buffy? We had an Angel spinoff, called Angel. It seems like another run at a TV series about modern monsters, that really didn't need the expensive 'Buffy' label.

Please look at the movies being made - the vast majority are sequels, spin-offs, established characters. This is because there's an expected floor of returns on them. Something Disney, the IP owner, is very aware of.

We see it in TV shows as well. And there's a lot of nostalgia dollars that they could capture as well as renewing the franchise by bringing in newer viewers to make their IP more valuable.

The "expensive" Buffy label isn't a vacuum, it's balanced against the advertising costs to create that level of hype and buy-in. And, since historically it's usually been a good minimum floor for what it will make, they can make sure they can cover production costs and not go into the red.

 

[Clint_L]

Well, this is a major bummer.

 

[MGibster]

Maybe it’s just me but I also compartmentalize this stuff pretty well and enjoy them on their own terms. I don’t take look for a constant drumbeat of canon in stuff like this, particularly when it’s across different media.

I just think the Buffy comics were pretty bad on their own.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I just think the Buffy comics were pretty bad on their own.

The later wave, which rebooted Buffy in their own universe, were pretty good. I suspect they were a trial run for a rebooted version of the show, with Willow's queerness being a given from the start, Xander's toxic "nice guy" entitlement called out, etc. I eventually lost interest in the comics, but the initial run at least were solid.