More than two decades after its short-lived television run, Firefly may be preparing for a new chapter — this time in animated form.
During a panel at Awesome Con, Nathan Fillion revealed that an animated series based on the beloved sci-fi franchise is currently in advanced development. According to details first reported by Deadline, several members of the original cast are expected to reprise their roles, including Gina Torres, Morena Baccarin, Sean Maher, Summer Glau, Jewel Staite, Alan Tudyk, and Adam Baldwin.
Fillion made the announcement during a live taping of his podcast Once We Were Spacemen, where he was joined by many of his former co-stars. The animated project is being developed through Fillion’s production banner Collision33 in partnership with 20th Television Animation, which controls the rights to the franchise.
The series would be set in the timeline between the original 2002 television series and the 2005 feature film Serenity, expanding the story while staying within the established universe.
Marc Guggenheim (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Arrow) and Tara Butters (Agent Carter, Reaper) are attached as showrunners, and a script for the first episode has already been completed.
Notably, Joss Whedon — who created the original series — is not involved in the new animated project.
Early concept art has been developed in collaboration with ShadowMachine, the Oscar and Emmy-winning animation studio known for projects such as Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio.
At the moment, the animated series does not yet have a network or streaming home, though the fully assembled project package is expected to be taken out to buyers soon.
Originally created by Whedon for Fox, Firefly aired for just one season in 2002 before developing a devoted following through DVD sales, streaming, and its 2005 continuation film Serenity. Set in the year 2517, the series followed the crew of the transport ship Serenity as they navigated life on the fringes of society in a frontier-style galaxy.
The original cast also included the late Ron Glass, who portrayed Shepherd Derrial Book.
Over the years, the Firefly universe has expanded through comics and novels, but a proper on-screen continuation has remained elusive — until now.
If the animated series finds a buyer, it would mark the first time the franchise returns to television since its original run more than 20 years ago.