“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” is getting a bigscreen reboot from Warner Bros. and Atlas Entertainment — but without franchise creator Joss Whedon.
Studio announced Monday that it’s set up the project with Atlas Entertainment’s Charles Roven and Steve Alexander producing along with Doug Davison and Roy Lee of Vertigo Entertainment.
Roven credited Whit Anderson, who’s scripting, with developing a new take on Buffy.
Warner optioned the feature rights from Fran and Kaz Kuzui and Sandollar Prods., Sandy Gallin and Dolly Parton’s shingle. Fran Kuzui directed the 1992 film that Whedon wrote for Fox. It starred Kristy Swanson and Luke Perry.
“Buffy” was then spun off into the TV series starring Sarah Michelle Gellar that ended its run in 2003 after seven seasons.It also yielded the spinoff “Angel.”
Whedon’s maintained both franchises by publishing ongoing serials through a partnership with Dark Horse Comics, but the new effort will not have the imprimatur of Whedon, who is revered by “Buffy” fans and has not been in favor of the project.
“I don’t love the idea of my creation in other hands, but I’m also well aware that many more hands than mine went into making that show what it was,” Whedon told E! following the Warner announcement. “And there is no legal grounds for doing anything other than sighing audibly. I can’t wish people who are passionate about my little myth ill.”
Davison and Lee began development of the project last year. Roven said Monday he’s not disclosing the logline for the new “Buffy.”
“There is an active fanbase eagerly awaiting this character’s return to the bigscreen,” Roven said. “Details of the film are being kept under wraps, but I can say while this is not your high school Buffy, she’ll be just as witty, tough and sexy as we all remember her to be.”
