Firefly

Firefly - the series:

Back in the fall of 2003, the Fox Network launched a science-fiction series called “Firefly,” the brain-child of Joss Whedon (“Buffy, the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel”). Set some 500 years in the future after a devastating civil war (this one involved an “alliance of planets), “Firefly” follows the adventures of a mixed bag of fugitives and renegades who manage to survive by plying their slightly illegal business on the fringes of a dozen galaxies. The series proved refreshingly original with a twangy sound track reminiscent of a Ry Corder’s guitar recording, a funky space ship (the “Serenity”), and an appealing cast of nine characters that runs the gamut from mercenaries and pirates to an exotic prostitute, a fetching female mechanic and a preacher (now called “ a shepherd”) with a dark past. Though the series developed an enthusiastic following, Fox axed it after 10 episodes.

Firefly - the DVD release:

Due to the popularity of “Firefly” (which actually increased after the series was cancelled), Joss Whedon arranged for the release of “Firefly” in a four-disc package. Some first-class editing gave the 15-hour series a marvelous continuity. Since Fox had actually aired the episodes out of sequence, (an error corrected by the new release), many of “Firefly’s alleged shortcomings vanished. Critics praised the “western frontier” atmosphere, the absence of the usual sci-fi furniture (weird aliens, special effects, etc.), and some of the sharpest dialogue to grace a space opera in years. Fan clubs sprang up on the Internet, and a host of critics and investors began to investigate “movie potential.”

Firefly - the movie:

According to the latest information, Joss Whedon has now launched a movie, with an impressive budget and all of the original cast. Filming begins in June. The name has been changed to “Serenity” in an attempt to sever ties with the old TV series. Will the movie have advantages over the original series? Definitely. In essence, it will be darker, bloodier and sexier. The cast is as follows: Captain Malcomb Reynolds (Nathan Fillon); Zoe (Gina Torres); Wash (Alan Tudyk); Inara (Morena Baccarin) Kaylee (Jewel Staite); Jayne (Adam Baldwin); Dr. Simon Tam (Sean Maher); River Tam (Summer Glau); Book (Ron Glass).

In the meantime, get “oriented” with the four-disc set of “Firefly” from Netflex.