It took 24 years, but Firefly is finally coming back.
Per Deadline, Nathan Fillion revealed on Sunday at Awesome Con that an animated Firefly series is in advanced development. The animated reboot is being developed through Fillion’s production banner Collision33 in partnership with 20th Television Animation, which controls the underlying rights to the franchise. ShadowMachine developed the early concept art, which can be viewed above.
Marc Guggenheim and Tara Butters are attached to serve as showrunners. A script has been completed. Joss Whedon, who created the original series, has no involvement in the reboot, although Fillion confirmed that Whedon has given the project his blessing.
Set in the year 2517, after the arrival of humans in a new star system, Firefly focuses on the adventures of the renegade crew of Serenity, a “Firefly-class” spaceship. Fillion led the short-lived series as Malcolm Reynolds, the owner and captain of Serenity. He will reprise the role for the animated reboot.
Also returning for the animated Firefly are Alan Tudyk, Gina Torres, Jewel Staite, Morena Baccarin, Sean Maher, Summer Glau, and Adam Baldwin.
“The dedication of Firefly fans has kept this 25-year-old show relevant. Clearly, the return of Firefly is something the fans want. More importantly, it’s something they deserve,” Fillion told Deadline.
The reboot announcement culminates a week-long viral social media campaign from Fillion teasing that news was on the horizon. While some fans were hoping for a live-action sequel series, the animated Firefly will take place after the original series but before the events of the 2005 sequel film, Serenity.
We’ll keep you posted as more information about the animated reboot becomes available.
Are you happy to finally be getting more Firefly? Would you have preferred a live-action sequel series over an animated midquel? Tell us in the comments!
