UPDATE:
With Warner Bros. announcing Monday that it's remaking his 1992 film "Buffy the Vampire" slayer, Joss Whedon — who wasn't listed as attached to the new project — was probably asked by more than a few reporters how feels about it.
Responding in humorous tone to E! Online's Kristin Dos Santos, his reaction seems, well, mixed. Here's the email he sent to Dos Santos:
This is a sad, sad reflection on our times, when people must feed off the carcasses of beloved stories from their youths — just because they can't think of an original idea of their own, like I did with my Avengers idea that I made up myself.
Obviously I have strong, mixed emotions about something like this. My first reaction upon hearing who was writing it was, "Whit Stillman AND Wes Anderson? This is gonna be the most sardonically adorable movie EVER." Apparently I was misinformed. Then I thought, "I'll make a mint! This is worth more than all my Toy Story residuals combined!" Apparently I am seldom informed of anything. And possibly a little slow. But seriously, are vampires even popular any more?
I always hoped that Buffy would live on even after my death. But, you know, AFTER. 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. 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. I can, however, take this time to announce that I'm making a Batman movie. Because there's a franchise that truly needs updating. So look for The Dark Knight Rises Way Earlier Than That Other One And Also More Cheaply And In Toronto, rebooting into a theater near you.
Leave me to my pain! Sincerely, Joss Whedon.
PREVIOUS:
It didn't even make $17 million at the global box office, but Warner Bros. and Atlas Entertainment announced Monday that the 1992 cult movie "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" will get the remake treatment.
No release date or talent has been announced for the do-over.
Atlas' Charles Roven and Steve Alexander will produce the feature, alongside Vertigo Entertainment's Doug Davison and Roy Lee.
Warner Bros. Pictures optioned the rights to the film from Fran and Kaz Kuzui, and Sandollar Productions.
Written by a then-unknown Joss Whedon, and starring Kristy Swanson in the title role, supported by an all-star cast including Luke Perry, Donald Sutherland, Hilary Swank, Ben Affleck, Paul Reubens and Thomas Jane, the original "Buffy" grossed only $16.6 million at the domestic box office.
Of course, it then spawned the eponymous TV show that put the WB Network on the map.
