Nathan Fillion and Alan Tudyk said at MCM Comic-Con that the Firefly animated sequel series is still in development, but it still has not found a home on a TV network or streaming service. The update is the clearest sign yet that the long-discussed revival is moving, just not quickly.
That matters because Firefly has been a fan fixation since the show, created by Joss Whedon, debuted in 2002 and ended after one season with 14 episodes. Serenity followed in theaters on September 30, 2005, but the property never stopped drawing attention, and Fillion’s name remains tied to every new revival rumor.
The actor has helped keep that hope alive in public, too. In late February through mid-March, he posted Instagram videos visiting Firefly cast members and telling them it was time, then joined other Firefly actors to announce on March 15 at Awesome Con that the animated sequel was in development. This version was framed as an alternative to a live-action revival after scheduling made that path difficult for the actors.
Even so, the project is not at the point where fans can expect a release plan. Fillion said development is difficult work, and the missing piece is still the biggest one: no network or streaming service has signed on. Marc Guggenheim and Tara Butters are set to serve as showrunners, and Whedon will not return, though he has given the project his blessing.
For now, the update is simple. The sequel exists, the creative team is attached, and Fillion and Tudyk are still committed to it. What it does not yet have is the place it needs to go from idea to screen.
