Firefly Makes Serene Jump from TV to Big Screen

files/pictures/picture-35.jpgBUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER creator Joss Whedon will bring his cult TV series FIREFLY to the big screen in his feature film directorial debut, SERENITY. The film will be set six months after the end of the TV series and continue the adventures of the crew of the spaceship Serenity. Barry Mendel (THE SIXTH SENSE, UNBREAKABLE) will produce with Chris Buchanan, president of Whedon's Mutant Enemy production company, and Alisa Tager of Barry Mendel Prods. serving as exec producers. The cast of the TV series will reprise their roles including Nathan Fillion as Captain Malcolm 'Mal' Reynolds, Gina Torres as Zoe Warren, Morena Baccarin as Inara Serra, Jewel Staite as Kaylee Frye, Adam Baldwin as Jayne Cobb, Sean Maher as Dr. Simon Tam and Summer Glau as River Tam.

"We have wanted to be in business with Joss Whedon for a long time and we're incredibly excited to be working with him on his feature film directorial debut," stated Mary Parent and Scott Stuber, vice chairmen, production, Universal Pictures. "Joss is a true creator, whose talent crosses all mediums. His mythic worlds are inhabited with rich, detailed and very human characters. SERENITY will provide him with a great opportunity to paint another larger-than-life canvas with very identifiable, real characters at the heart of the story."

The original television series had a devoted cult following, but only lasted one season. However, the series has taken on a second life following its December 9, 2003 DVD release. Whedon, who will also pen SERENITY, has previous feature writing credits on BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, the Oscar-nominated TOY STORY and ALIEN: RESURRECTION.