We told you last May that the director of the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer film, Fran Kuzui and her husband Kaz Kuzui were working with Roy Lee and Doug Davison of Vertigo Entertainment on a theatrical relaunch of Buffy. This relaunch would be created without writer/director Joss Whedon (The Avengers), who made the television series of the same name a cult classic.

Back in June of last year, Whedon responded to the announcement of the new film adaptation by saying,

“I believe [the producers] did ultimately reach out to my agent after the news broke, I think that’s something better left untouched by me. So, I wish them luck.”

Now, Warner Bros. Pictures has hopped on board the project and it’s become new news yet again. Doug Davison and Roy Lee of Vertigo Entertainment (The Ring, How to Train Your Dragon, The Departed) now, along side Atlas Entertainment‘s Charles Roven and Steven Alexander will produce the feature film, and Whit Anderson is writing the script.

E! reached out to Whedon via email for his [more updated] reaction to the news. Whedon responded only as he could:

“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.”

Joss is completely right but, I still say “There can be only one”

[Above: Sarah Michelle Gellar - Rolling Stone Magazine - April, 1998]

 

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is slated to hit theaters in 2012.