Why? Because she's shopping it around, hoping Netflix (or someone) picks it up? I guess she can't just say that, so fans don't start putting pressure on those companies, which would poison the show to them.

She's right about pilots, and that part of the article is worth reading. A lot of pilots do air, and sometimes they're the first episode, and you wonder what was going on... they filmed it, they spent the money, they're gonna use it. Sometimes the pilot might even show up later!

Not a fan of Buffy to start with (I mean, I never watched it, it might be awesome but I don't know) so I won't read the pilot script, but I wouldn't condemn fans for wanting to know. I suspect even if the pilot is bad, the Buffy fans will still be there for the show if it does get picked up. I think she's selling Buffy fans short. They're a very vocal bunch, and reading an early manuscript of an unaired pilot is not going to scare them off.

[–] sneakypersimmon@lemmy.today 14 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago) (2 children)

I guess she can’t just say that, so fans don’t start putting pressure on those companies, which would poison the show to them.

She's shopping it around because 1 executive was against the reboot from the start. Even admitted he never watched the original and doesn't like it, so he killed the whole project. She talked openly about that this week, so no, she's not hiding it.

Edit: It's even in the article -

“We had an executive on our show who was not only not a fan of the original, but was proud to constantly remind us that he had never seen the entirety of the series and how it wasn’t for him,” she said. “That’s very hard when you’re taking a property that is as beloved as Buffy, not just to the world, but to me and Chloé. So that tells you the uphill battle that we had been fighting since day one, when your executive is literally proud to tell you that he didn’t watch it.”

[–] cerebralhawks@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

Yeah, I saw that. I did read the article. It sucks that Disney let someone who had a negative opinion of the original to make the decision. And now they're saying they respect her and the others... but they let that one guy ruin it for them. They're badly managed at best.

A good manager would say "hey you know the Buffy show isn't for me but I'm going to set my personal feelings aside and look at how this is going to help our brand." Which they did not do. Because I see some of myself in that executive. I never liked Buffy either. But if it were up to me whether the remake happens or not, I'm leaning toward yes because I know how the fans are for this. Of course, the show would have to win me over, but I'd judge it on its merits, not my feelings. I don't think that's that hard to do.

[–] hitmyspot@aussie.zone 5 points 7 hours ago

I think that's why she and fans are upset. If you don't like art objectively, that's fine. But executives are supposed to make opinions based on financial viability moreso than art. Usually to the detriment of artistic vision.

In this case, it seems there is a beloved franchise, with a baked in audience. There is a buzzy oscar award director attached and it's taken years to get it off the ground. Recent similar revivals for less loved franchises, like dexter and scrubs (which I love personally) have been successful. Even if the show is mildly successful, it's likely going to cause an increase in interest in the already made and paid for 7 series of Buffy and possible 5 series of angel.

So,.it seems to not make sense, financially and seems more personal. I'm surprised she's criticizing the producer as I assume that will burn bridges for her career in general, but I think it goes to show the passion of all those involved. The fans have faith as she's resisted being in reboots before due to the script and idea not being faithful.

[–] GammaGames@beehaw.org 1 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

Maybe cerebralhawks is that same exec!

[–] sneakypersimmon@lemmy.today 3 points 10 hours ago

They did say they never watched it but have a lot of opinions on it!

[–] Eeyore_Syndrome@sh.itjust.works 7 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago)

I think in true irony the Original Buffy pilot didn't air, nor was it episode 1.

I remember Willow was recast as Alyson Hannigan. If I remember correctly. 😅