Nathan Fillion Announces Firefly Animated Series

Nathan Fillion officially announced at Awesome Con in Washington, D.C. that an animated adaptation of the acclaimed sci-fi franchise Firefly is in advanced development. Fillion shared the news in a panel discussion event/live recording of his “Once We Were Spacemen” podcast. Co-stars Alan Tudyk, Gina Torres, Adam Baldwin, Jewel Staite, Morena Baccarin, Sean Maher, and Summer Glau are all onboard to voice their original roles as well. It is unknown if the character Shepherd Derrial Book, played by the late Ron Glass, will return in any capacity.

The animated reboot is being produced under Fillion’s Collision33 production banner, in collaboration with 20th Television Animation, which retains the franchise rights. Marc Guggenheim (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Arrow) and Tara Butters (Agent Carter, Dollhouse), a married writing-producing team who met through Firefly, are attached as showrunners. A completed script is in place, and the project will be animated by the Oscar and Emmy-winning studio ShadowMachine. Although Joss Whedon, creator of the original series, is not directly involved in the animated project, Fillion confirmed he has received Whedon’s “blessing”. The completed package is expected to be presented to potential buyers in the near future.

This announcement follows a week-long social media campaign hinting at forthcoming news. Originally created by Whedon and produced by 20th Century Fox Television, Firefly aired for one season before gaining lasting cult status via DVD sales, comics, and the theatrical release Serenity.

The original series followed an outlaw crew aboard the transport ship Serenity, navigating the outskirts of society in the year 2517. The upcoming animated series is set within the timeline bridging the original television series and the film, aiming to expand the established universe while maintaining continuity with existing lore.

Here is star Nathan Fillion confirming the good news on Instagram:

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