What to Expect from Disney’s Upcoming ‘Firefly’ Reboot Show

Joss Whedon’s  Firefly first premiered in 2002. The cult classic space Western stars Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, and Alan Tudyk as they traveled on the spaceship Serenity in search of adventures in the year 2517. The series drew up to 4.7 million viewers every episode, and was an undeniably popular series. So it was surprising when Firefly was canceled before the first season was completed with only 11 of the 14 planned episodes released, disappointing the show’s devoted followers.

Petitions, fundraisers, and online forums were set up in an attempt to preserve the show from cancellation, however all of these efforts were in vain but did result in the latter three episodes being later broadcast on SciFi. Despite its brief run, the series was beloved and in 2003 it was nominated for an Emmy Award for “Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Series.” Joss Whedon wrote and directed the sequel “Serenity,” which was released in 2005 and included much of the same cast and crew.

Now Disney plans to reboot the series as an exclusive for its streaming platform Disney+. Disney acquired the rights to the franchise after their 2018 acquisition of Fox. No doubt they see Firefly as perfect option for their rapidly diversifying line-up. When it was first announced, many worried if Joss Whedon would return for this remake because Firefly was his vision. Whedon is no stranger to producing television shows — Buffy the Vampire Slayer is still a fan favorite — but the allegations of workplace harassment against him, his lack of regret, and his general disposition, are likely the reason he won’t be returning. Since leaving HBOMax’s The Nevers, he hasn’t directed any television episodes or films.

The Firefly remake has been mostly kept under wraps by Disney. A release date, cast, and exact details have yet to be verified due to a lack of official information. While it’s unlikely that the original cast would return, certain actors could make cameo appearances. Firefly’s devoted fanbase will be upset if Disney modifies the tone and plot too much in a bid to appeal to a different audience. However, with Whedon no longer involved in the decision-making process, it appears exceedingly doubtful that the original story will be continued.

So how badly will Disney screw this up? How woke can they make Firefly?