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February 03 2007

SATIN TIGHTS NO LONGER. Joss will not be fighting for our rights after all.

You (hopefully) heard it here first: I'm no longer slated to make Wonder Woman. What? But how? My chest... so tight! Okay, stay calm and I'll explain as best I can. It's pretty complicated, so bear with me. I had a take on the film that, well, nobody liked. Hey, not that complicated.

Let me stress first that everybody at the studio and Silver Pictures were cool and professional. We just saw different movies, and at the price range this kind of movie hangs in, that's never gonna work. Non-sympatico. It happens all the time. I don't think any of us expected it to this time, but it did. Everybody knows how long I was taking, what a struggle that script was, and though I felt good about what I was coming up with, it was never gonna be a simple slam-dunk. I like to think it rolled around the rim a little bit, but others may have differing views.

The worst thing that can happen in this scenario is that the studio just keeps hammering out changes and the writer falls into a horrible limbo of development. These guys had the clarity and grace to skip that part. So I'm a free man.

Well, sorta. There is that "Goners" movie I can finally finish polishing, and plenty of other things in the hopper I've wanted to pursue. I'm as relieved as I am disappointed, and both of those things lead to drink, so that's a plus. Truly, you may be hearing some interesting things brewing in the coming months. But all potential jets therein will be visible.

But most importantly, I never have to answer THAT question again!!!! And you don't have to link to every rumor site! Finally and forever: I never had an actress picked out, or even a consistant front-runner. I didn't have time to waste on casting when I was so busy air-balling on the script. (No! Rim! There was rim!) That's the greatest relief of all. I can do interviews again!

Thanks for your time. You are the people who make the world go 'round. Or, no, science does that.

-j.

ps All right, it was Cobie Smulders. Sorry, Cobes.

[ edited by joss on 2007-02-03 00:56 ]

joss | 02:55 CET | 424 comments total | tags: ,


Um *reads post* *cries now...*

[ edited by kurya on 2007-02-03 00:58 ]

kurya | February 03, 02:58 CET



Sorry to hear that. Good luck with Goners Boss Man.

Craig Oxbrow | February 03, 02:59 CET



=(

Good luck with Goners and whatever else is next. I'll be first in line (well, tied for first with everyone else on this site).

jam2 | February 03, 02:59 CET



Oh Joss, thanks for telling us. I think they lost out. I'm sure looking forward to whatever you do next!

Spike's Glory | February 03, 02:59 CET



I'm sorry to hear this. Good luck with Goners.

moley75 | February 03, 03:00 CET



I'm sorry to hear that :(. *hugs* Thanks for posting.

Simon | February 03, 03:02 CET



Also wanted to say, that at least Joss can work on Goners now, so many people are anxious about that, and that is one script Universal seemed to like, right??? And I would look forward to what those interesting things brewing in the upcoming months.

kurya | February 03, 03:02 CET



Be free to free your own creativity. Yea for Joss' continued presence on the big and small screens. We'll be here whenever you are.

napua | February 03, 03:05 CET



Joss, you rock for telling us first. There is no limit to the magic of you. I'm sorry so much work and creativity has led to this, but I wait with bated (not baited because - eeuw, fish ) breath to see what you come up with next. And at least I don't have to go see WW, who has never been a favourite of mine.

Gill | February 03, 03:10 CET



Sorry to hear about the disappointment, Joss, but I'm sure you'll find a way to turn it into an opportunity. Looking forward to whatever is coming next from you.

sari | February 03, 03:12 CET



Ah well, at least it frees up your time to work on Goners.

Andy

rileysaplank | February 03, 03:15 CET



Wow, the words, I have none. There's some surprise, and a little bit of sadness. Most of all though - thank you for letting us know Joss. I'm sure I'm not alone in the appreciation for keeping us in the loop. Congratulations on your freedom (yay!), and ours from the constant rumor-mongering about casting (By the way who is going to break the news to Nathan or Morgan Freeman or , eh forget it). While I admit I was looking forward to your take on WW, no big - in the end I think I'd much prefer to see one of your original creations. They have a certain shine to them that I think will far exceed any adaptation-y thing like WW. Plus the invisible jet totally sucks. And I have always hated the star spangled panties- seriously who would choose that as a super-hero-ass-kicking costume. Let the clamoring for "Goners" related news begin. :)

onthedrift | February 03, 03:15 CET



I'm sorry to hear this.I was really interested in seeing what you were going to do with this project.

Buffyfantic | February 03, 03:16 CET



That's really unfortunate, as I was looking forward to seeing this character get a great treatment on screen and felt confident you would do that, Joss. However it's pretty clear you are a creative fount that can not be stopped so I look forward now to your next projects. It was also very classy to post here and put the confusion to rest, thank you.

yourlibrarian | February 03, 03:19 CET



Definitely disapointing news... means that my plea for work experience on WW in Edinburgh was all for nothing! Noooo! Seriously, Joss, looking forward to whatever it is you come up with that graces our screens next! :) (And Robin Sparkles as Wonder Woman? Genius!!)

[ edited by robsthell on 2007-02-03 02:28 ]

robsthell | February 03, 03:20 CET



Really disappointing news, but not completely surprising. Gutted for everyone, especially Joss. At least there are other things to look forward to.
My chest did feel tight reading those first few lines.

NotaViking | February 03, 03:20 CET



That is too bad. Thank you for sharing this with us rather than just letting it out into the media feeding frenzy. I hope that this will allow you to move on and devote your energy to other projects.

And by too bad, I mean that I feel that you'd have brought a different take to the Wonder Woman movie. I just hope that the next crew brought in doesn't make something Razzie worthy out of it.

Kyrax | February 03, 03:21 CET



I'm so sorry to here that, Joss. It sort of feels like someone died, but I guess this stuff happens. We do appriciate you telling us in person more than you know, and just know that we'll be behind you 100% in anything you do, whether it works or not. Silver lining? We KNOW Goners will be amazing. So keep up the good work and don't lose hope, in yourself at least. I'm glad the seperation from the project ended peacefully, but between you and me the studio can kiss my booty. Just saying is all.

MySerenity | February 03, 03:21 CET



Sorry to hear the news but you're the best for letting us know what's happening. *hugs*

Aurey09 | February 03, 03:21 CET



Joss we love ya, with or without jets.
*Is very excited about Goners being pushed up more near the front of the work pile*

mifeng | February 03, 03:21 CET



So Joss, who you gonna cast in Gonners?


Sorry, had to. Bad luck with WW, good luck with Gonners and everything else.

zz9 | February 03, 03:23 CET



I'm really sorry to hear that, boss. WW won't be the same without you. I've always said you were the perfect person to make that movie, and it's a crying shame that others didn't have the same faith. I hope at least this is a burden off your shoulders!

lexigeek | February 03, 03:23 CET



Big Purple Dude, you will always fight for our rights. And I would rather read your script for Wonder Woman than see anyone else's movie of the same. (Hey, I waited until the second sentence to hint at what I wanted. That's not growth, not really.) (Still true, though, so that counts.)

Thank you for not watering down your vision (or mixing it with foul adulterates) just to get a big budget blockbuster under your belt. You follow your heart. We'll follow your heart, too.

Edited because I wrote "Bib" for "Big." That's dumb.

*(snort)*

[ edited by Pointy on 2007-02-14 05:50 ]

Pointy | February 03, 03:23 CET



Joss: "I'm as relieved as I am disappointed, and both of those things lead to drink, so that's a plus."

My Jossir, dude, my scribe. I know I would have enjoyed and loved your vision for this character, and I'm so sorry - if you are - that this didn't work out. I'm glad to hear the relieved part, and I am sending you a virtual drink as we speak. It's a dark beer, and it's waiting in a pub in London, and it's measured in pints. Go.

On the other hand, as a deeply devoted Gonerian/Goner/Gonerses/Gonerama/Gonad, I am so happy you mentioned it as next on the list (after relaxing, recovering, and giving yourself a big treat of some kind.)

Then come on over to http://fans.gonersmovie.com/ and read our "plans" for your movie. They'll crack you up good.

And thanks for sticking to your own vision. We expect no less of you, but not everybody can do it.

"Out of the thousand writers huffing and puffing through movieland there are scarcely fifty men and women of wit or talent. The rest of the fraternity is deadwood. Yet, in a curious way, there is not much difference between the product of a good writer and a bad one. They both have to toe the same mark." - Ben Hecht, “Money Is the Root,” bk. 5, A Child of the Century

QuoterGal | February 03, 03:24 CET



*cries* and *cries* and *cries*

k, got that out of the system. Well, for five minutes at least.

Thank you Joss for being so wonderful and telling us first- definitly looking towards this little thing called "Goners" and other future projects.

Hmm, still got two minutes before the meltdown returns. :S

[ edited by Trek_Girl42 on 2007-02-03 01:25 ]

Trek_Girl42 | February 03, 03:24 CET



Well I am really sorry to hear about this Joss, but as a devout Goner, putting my *fav* project on the front burner makes me really happy. I am sad, however, Wondy will not get the Whedonization she richly deserves.

What is really ironic, is I am watching "The Body" as I read this bad, bad news.

Charmuse | February 03, 03:25 CET



I have to say I am not surprised. I've never seen you as a Hollywood Blockbuster (90% action 10% story) kind of guy. Why don't you give the CW or the SciFi Channel a call and go back to producing some great character driven TV shows (while you work on Goners).

Zoic_Fan | February 03, 03:25 CET



Ah jeez, my stomach feels like it just dropped out of my body. I was so looking forward to this, as a die-hard Silver Age DC lover, and it just hurts to know that it is not going to happen. Though, it does explain why they snapped up that other WW spec script, huh?

Well, Joss, all I can say is I am eagerly waiting for Buffy S8 comics (coughtaracough, what the heck! :-)), am boning up on Runaways, loving Astonishing X-Men, and will look forward to Goners. You keep on keeping on, and we'll keep on you keeping on, or something like that. :-)

Dana5140 | February 03, 03:27 CET



Their loss. Thank you for the post, Joss. I'll be anxiously awaiting Goners and everything else you've got lined up.

einral | February 03, 03:27 CET



Sorry to hear it Joss. Thank you for telling us about it. You're a talented guy, so I'm sure things will work out for you. ;)

maje | February 03, 03:28 CET



I'm sorry to hear that. But the other, egotistical, Buffy-obsessed part of me can't help but rejoice: now you'll have more time for Buffy and Spike... oops, I mean - Buffy, Xander, Willow, Giles, Dawn and, hopefully, Tara too.

Moscow Watcher | February 03, 03:28 CET



Well, I would have liked your take... Anyway, out with the bad and in with the good. We get to have you on television again in a couple of weeks with "The Office"!

Pliny | February 03, 03:28 CET



Wow, that sucks! Not only for you I'm sure but the potential WW audience! We (your fans) can't know exactly what happened, and there's even a chance you don't know exactly what happened.

On the selfish front, it's not a happy day because I was really looking forward to your version of WW. As as WW virgin, your movie was going to be the first story I read/saw about the character. That is probably true for a lot of people (IE those who managed to dodge the 70s show) which makes this movie more important for the character than, say, another spider-man movie is for spider-man. First impressions and all that.

Bah!

At least we still have Runaways and Goners to look forward to.

Edited to remove the second "Bah!" from this space since it looked like I was bah'ing runaways and goners, which wasn't the intent.

[ edited by Caleb on 2007-02-03 05:00 ]

Caleb | February 03, 03:28 CET



Hmm, still got two minutes before the meltdown returns


Yeah traffic directed towards this site is going to be overwhelming. So if you are having diffs getting access, please bear with us.

Simon | February 03, 03:29 CET



Not going to cry, as I was reading between the lines with the script purchase the other day. There's no way a studio would really purchase an unauthorised spec when they hold the copyright to the property. Seriously. But I wasn't going to say that, in case WB really were THAT stupid. Which they ain't.

Also: being honest again, I'm kinda glad. WW struck me as a gamble. People, in my world, think WW and think cheese TV series. Tights. Rights. Fighting for our rights. Cheese can sometimes damage careers. "Cheese movies" also has "see also: Ben Affleck" in the movie dictionary.

Also, Goners! This means Universal can stop treating me like I'm nuts for having that website! And people can stop using it to make t-shirts with Llamas on...

gossi | February 03, 03:30 CET



Sorry to hear, was looking forward to it.

However, I was only interested in the project because of Joss' involvement, and that that's pretty much a guarantee of quality, so now it's doubtful I'll give any eventual Wonder Woman movie any attention. And at least this way we shouldn't have to wait so long until we get something that he created himself, the characters, the words and the worlds.

Any chance of the script ever seeing the light of day, perhaps as a comic book or something, the studio surely must realise that thing would really sell. But I suppose there's the danger that people would like it and question what the hell the studio was thinking.

With us never having to see casting stories posted here again, we should fondly remember all that we saw, from Charisma Carpenter and Morena Baccarin to Ben Affleck and Samuel L. Jackson.

Ghost Spike | February 03, 03:30 CET



If you can't do it how you want it to be done, then it's probably better not to do it at all. I still was looking forward to your take on the female icon, since you seem to do those so well.

We'll be waiting for more of what you bring us!

dakoulkid | February 03, 03:32 CET



Cobie Smulders! Something to add to our Joss Whedon-directed fantasies ... er ... more than I meant to say, really.

It goes without saying that if we were producing the movie, not only would you (as almost everyone seems to be addressing Joss here) still have the job, the film would already have its release date set.

zoinkers | February 03, 03:34 CET



Thanks for telling us, Joss.

Of course, if the movie does get made by another director/writer, I'm going to be hearing this from all of my friends for months:

"I thought you said it was going to rock?!"

'Cause there's no way that it's going to rock socks as thoroughly as it would have if it were in your hands, Joss.

I eagerly await your next project.

Hoban Washburne | February 03, 03:34 CET



< kidding > Joss, now I have to redesign josswhedon.net. How could you be so inconsiderate? (I'll just find a picture from Buffy Season 8 to put in WW's place.) < /kidding >

I am sad in my little Linda Carter wannabe heart (I was holding out hope for midgety round WW played by me, you know - oops, maybe I closed the kidding tag too soon). But you gotta do what's right, be you studio or Joss, and I'm glad to hear that relief is a part of this.

(I'm gonna go catch up on Astonishing now. Yeah, I'm behind. I know. I know.)

Kiba | February 03, 03:35 CET



*sniffles* *bits lip while trying to be strong* OH hell!! NOOOOOOOO!!!!

Ahem. I mean no. I'm bummed to hear this but at the same time good call on sticking to your vision. Cause your vision is what we all love and now you don't have to deal with the insanity of people trying to figure out who will play Wonder Woman. My head hurts from the constant rumor mill spinning with ideas.

The studios loss is Goners incredible gain. Ooo and when they hire some horrid actress to play WW we shall all sit and laugh. Muhahahaha!

*hugs* Best to ya!

LmR | February 03, 03:36 CET



So we won't be going to the mall with Robin Sparkles then, huh? As if 'No Wonder Jossman any more' wasn't bad news enough, he just had to tell us about what could have been...

Oh well, since it's always better to ride a bicycle that works than a jet-car that's out of gas, I'm glad there's other stuff to look forward to at least...

BunnyDee | February 03, 03:37 CET



Although it's a little disappointing (less stuff from Joss=sad me), being the big Marvel fan that I am, this is not a movie that'd I'd have the least bit of interest in without Joss' involvement.

Hopefully in it's place can be birthed something a bit more, how shall we say, Buffyish? :D

johnsmusicbox | February 03, 03:39 CET



I'm disappointed, to be sure, but what's best for Joss is important here.

*cries* Don't worry Diana, we'll find a good scribe.

thatweirdgirl | February 03, 03:40 CET



oh my goodness, Joss. I am just so sad to hear this. The studio doesn't know what it just gave up. You were the perfect man for the job. sigh. But if they aren't going to let you do it the way you want it to (and, I trust, the way it should be done) then it is not worth it at all. I am so proud of you for always keeping your integrity. That is one of the things I admire most in you. Seriously. And I almost love you more knowing that you aren't going to let the studios bully you around and change your vision for Wonder Woman.

Good luck in Goners and all your other projects. We love you and can't wait to see what you bring us next!! I'm at the edge of my seat with excitement.

And thanks for sharing it here first. The second thing I have always admired in you is your devotion to the fanbase. Ahh, you're like no other, Joss. Sending bundles of virtual chocolates and flowers and candy and Mudder's Milk (to aid you in the drinking in disappointment and relief) your way for being so awesome!

starbursting | February 03, 03:44 CET



So we aren´t going to see Nathan in tights? Damn. ;)
No, really, I´m sorry Joss. But after that long struggle it´s maybe for the best. I, as everyone else here, am really looking forward to Goners (even more than I was to WW, to be exact) and I also can´t wait for more projects.*silently chants "TV series TV Series" and tries to look innocent*
So lets watch out for what the future brings.

Kessie | February 03, 03:44 CET



Sad to hear this...and after (apparently) everyone else in the Whedonverse, too! Mostly because I fear that Wonder Woman will be, how shall I say it?--not good. But it would have been worse if Joss had written a fantastico script and had it butchered, so I'm cultivating a zen outlook.

AND thinking of all those other Potential projects makes me happy, even giddy with anticipation.

Maeve | February 03, 03:45 CET



Joss, I always thought that Wonder Woman was just too anachronistic, too difficult a character to bring, recognizably, into the late 20th century, [sic] especially to a mass audience. If anyone could have pulled it off, you could. I have no doubt that the best parts of whatever comes out in this movie will have their genesis in your work on the project, and that the final project will be more cringeworthy by your absence.

Thanks again for honoring us with your news first. Even reading the announcement, it's amazing how you can come across as chagrined, funny, and mature/professional, all at the same time.

jclemens | February 03, 03:46 CET



Thank you for your time. Know that you have many fans who want to support you and your art.


joss wrote:
I didn't have time to waste on casting when I was so busy air-balling on the script. (No! Rim! There was rim!)


My guess is that the production people were playing some kind of
granny-style, half-court ball. It's hard to get any rim when you are lobbing a ball from between your knees. Ok. So that went to a slighty strange place.

I appreciate you, joss, in your three-point, full-court press kind of women's basket--work.

shinygroovyj | February 03, 03:47 CET



Blarg. I hope someday we get to find out what your take on it was. Meanwhile, any chance that any of "some interesting things brewing in the coming months" happen in London?

theonetruebix | February 03, 03:50 CET



theonetruebix, you're obsessed with Nathan's London visit, you know. I am going to make you a t-shirt.

Some publisher should get the rights to Joss' WW script next year and publish it. They'd make a bit of mon-nay.

gossi | February 03, 03:53 CET



Very cool and gracious of you, Joss, to post this info here first.

While I'm disappointed for you, I've always thought that your best stuff dealt with worlds that you created yourself. That's one of the reasons why I was looking forward more to Goners than Wonder Woman.

I'm pretty excited and can't wait to see what you have up your sleeve after Goners...

Patrick13 | February 03, 03:55 CET



I'm sorry we won't get to see your Wonder Woman, Joss. But on the upside, more time for your original material, which I've always liked best anyway. Enjoy your drinks.

Eden | February 03, 03:56 CET



gossi, man, you'll throw us all overboard just to make a llama-crack? Dude!

You are one harsh mama jama, dude, after we've been the faithful, and Char made the groovy T-design. And I just adopted a virtual llama for you.

No pie for the mean gossi for a week. And you be nice to us - our presence has acquired increased significance, and, as you say, makes you look less crazy.

In the name of Cabbie: poke, poke, poke.

-- Your Loving But Irritated Goners
: >

QuoterGal | February 03, 03:57 CET



Man, this sucks. I was really looking forward to this.

I'm still looking forward to Goners, even though I have NO BLINKIN' CLUE what it's about.

Polter-Cow | February 03, 03:58 CET



Gossi, you should put a llama on Bix's shirt.

mifeng | February 03, 03:59 CET



frak

marmoset | February 03, 03:59 CET



Good luck Mr Whedon - so glad you are out of the Wonder Woman imbroglio.

I hope you get the oppotunity to do exactly what you want to next.

Personally, I look forward to being thrilled, astonished, moved and a little bit scared by Goners.

silvius | February 03, 04:00 CET



Dude, I love you Goners people. Except I don't know why there's llama's on the t-shirt. Anyway, when Universal sue us for having a t-shirt, we can say it's clearly not related to the movie anyway as we missed off the dobermans.

Also, yes, I forgot to say - thanks to Joss for dropping by to post this himself. This news would have got out on rumour mill soon enough, and I'm sure crazy news sites would have been putting crazy spins on it. So it's nice to read the real deal first.

Of course, I'm sure the crazy Joss hatin' websites will be writing their articles soon...

gossi | February 03, 04:02 CET



frak squared

ajay42 | February 03, 04:03 CET



Ugh, it always sucks when projects don't work out, but hopefully this means you'll be able to devote your time and energy to something that both you and the people with all the money see as a better fit. Less stress on all sides, right?

Lady Brick | February 03, 04:05 CET



gee, y'know, Hollywood's been kind of even stupider than it usually is, lately. giving creators with *more-than-proven track records* a hard time seems to be de rigueur. let's do a "24" clone, instead! or, eff that--let's just do another stupid reality show...and watch the rubes eat it up. no annoying creative overhead, either!

sigh. I have never been a Pollyanna. (just an Anna.) I wish I could say things will change, soon. working here in Hollywood as I do, I'm astounded by stupidity constantly, most of it in the upper echelons of the corporatocracy. all I know is that Joss' creations have been the only things that give me hope for a better future, sometimes. I'll keep hoping, and I'll probably find out about it right here on Big Black.

"yeah, Buffy...what are you gonna do now?"

annagranfors | February 03, 04:05 CET



I'm still looking forward to Goners, even though I have NO BLINKIN' CLUE what it's about.

Polter-Cow, just ask yourself: What is Mia made of?

(Meanwhile, does this news increase or decrease the chances of my WW casting suggestion of Andy Serkis in a motion-capture suit?)

[ edited by theonetruebix on 2007-02-03 02:11 ]

theonetruebix | February 03, 04:06 CET



Hey Joss, I'm sorry but not surprised that this has happened. I was always looking forward to Goners more than Wonder Woman anyway. And now you can focus on an original thing - which gets me far more excited than trying to make a feature out of someone else's character. I'm glad you got out before you/the project were compromised.

Bring on Buffy: Season 8! Bring on Runaways! Bring on Goners!

Good luck!

crossoverman | February 03, 04:11 CET



Sorry to hear that, it must be disappointing to spend so much time on something and not have it pan out.

But you know what might be fun now that you have some free time?

A T.V. show!
Maybe about, I don't know, a vampire with a soul, who maybe fought for his soul for the love of a slayer? Just a thought.

Xane | February 03, 04:11 CET



It's too bad that Warner Bros just doesn't understand how to make good superhero movies. It's their loss.

I'm looking forward to Goners and whatever Joss has planned next.

FaithFan | February 03, 04:11 CET



Sad news!

Although I must say... it would be really neat if that Wonder Woman script somehow became available... *ahem* Man that would be a fun read!

I'm looking forward to the next project! Whatever it turns out to be. (What's Goners by the way?)

SenseiJJ | February 03, 04:12 CET



Frak multiplied many times more. :-D

Trek_Girl42 | February 03, 04:13 CET



Ahh, Bummer.

Now I can only prepare myself for the jump on to the bandwagon of the "well, if Joss was still involved it could have been so much better" brigade if it all goes down the pan.

So.... now to waiting with anticip......ation (damn Rocky Horror, I can't say that word properly any more!) for the wonders that the Mighty Joss will produce next for our delictation and deliberaion.

Jaynesgirl | February 03, 04:16 CET



Well, I was never especially fussed about the film being Wonder Woman, but it's a great pity that we've essentially lost a couple of years of Joss writing time. (And the opportunity to see Nathan Fillion as Wonder Woman, which I was particularly looking forward to.)

So all in all, it sucks, and Warners have probably made a bad decision in letting this one get away. (Unless the script stank the big one. I mean, it's not like he's ever worked on a successful screenplay befTOYSTORYSPEEDore?)

daylight | February 03, 04:17 CET



Another "frak!" followed by another "Go Goners!"

jcs | February 03, 04:18 CET



Disappointing, because I truly did think that Joss was going to make the first great female superhero film (sorry, Catwoman and Elektra), something of a similar calibre to X-Men 2 and the Spiderman films. I also know that WonderWoman was a very important icon to Joss and he obviously spent a lot of time writing the script, so that must hurt, but I suppose it's better that they see what else they can come up with so then we can lament how much better Joss' version would have been.

And of course onwards to more creative work, comics and films aplenty. Now I can't wait to hear that "Mischa Barton/Lindsay Lohan/Paris Hilton has finally been cast as WonderWoman!" so that we know Joss was better off not wasting his talents on that kind of film, if that is the direction the studio wants to go in. But thanks for keeping us informed and I suppose it was better for them to let us know now rather than drag it out.

The weird thing is, I was so used to talking about Joss' involvement in WonderWoman as fact, like when I was talking about Serenity before its release. Now it's more like talking about a sequel to Serenity, which looks increasingly unlikely.
:( I didn't expect or welcome this news, but now that it's arrived we can just look forward to all the other exciting projects on the horizon.

Razor | February 03, 04:20 CET



Well, disappointed but we'll be there for any Joss project.

lycoming | February 03, 04:20 CET



'Tis a sad day in Whedonville, I gotta say...though let's be honest: you didn't need another example of your soul-derived brilliance turned into a campy spoof-like thing like how the Kirsty Swanson "BtVS" film was back in 1992. Painful as this is...you are definitely now free from potential disgust, frustration and confusion over how your ideas can get perverted by Hollywood execs;D

Still...I gotta agree with the sentiment that if anyone could nail Wonder Woman for this generation, it would have been you, good sir! Maybe given enough time and a stinker at the box office, followed by some cool-off time, we can say your Amazonian opus up on the big screen:D

Oh yeah...also can't wait for Goners. Hell...I would be psyched for anything you made, even a PSA about tax season;)

BlueEyedBrigadier | February 03, 04:24 CET



Their loss. Seriously. I wonder how many people (like me) were planning to see this only because of the Whedon name attached.

I'm kind of dissappointed that it didn't work out, but honestly I'm more glad that other projects will be moved to the proverbial front burner. I was hoping Goners would come first anyway.

RaisedByMongrels | February 03, 04:26 CET



Polter-Cow, just ask yourself: What is Mia made of?
Boobs?

Polter-Cow | February 03, 04:27 CET



Well of course I'm sorry for Joss (if HE'S upset about it that is). But truth be told I was just never that psyched about WW anyways. Hopefully this is the next step in The Whedon returning to television.

Haunt | February 03, 04:28 CET



I would be psyched for anything you made, even a PSA about tax season

Now you've gone and spoiled his surprise about the coming months.

And Polter-Cow: C'mon now, you're not even trying.

theonetruebix | February 03, 04:33 CET



:( I'm so sorry to hear that. I was looking forward to seeing it. Now, not so much. I was always more psyched about Goners, but WW was supposed to tide me over on "good Jossian work" until then. Oh well. Thanks for posting!

non sequitur | February 03, 04:35 CET



Sorry to hear about this, Joss. We may still get a decent Wonder Woman, but having you at the helm was pretty much a guarantee of Quality.

Oh, well. At least this frees you up to do Serenity II.

What?

A man can dream!!!

IMForeman | February 03, 04:36 CET



i am speechless...shocked and speechless.

and heartbroken. and disappointed.

major UGH. Why does this man always get so screwed over?

yamsham | February 03, 04:39 CET



That's too bad. First time I'm able to get on the black in days, and this is the first news I see. The only reason I would have seen this film is because Joss was writing it. Don't have to bother now.

palehorse | February 03, 04:40 CET



As sad as I am to hear this fall through, I'm really glad we might be seeing some original work, and hey - won't it be fun when Wonder Woman comes out, the "Whedon script" finds it way to the internet, and we get to laugh at the silly movie? Eh heh heh.

Oh god, unless it's good. Nah, that won't happen. :P

Love when interesting things are brewing. Like the days of old. Exciting.

The First Weevil | February 03, 04:44 CET



And Polter-Cow: C'mon now, you're not even trying.
Well, I also have NO BLINKIN' CLUE who Mia is.

Polter-Cow | February 03, 04:50 CET



Sorry to hear that, Joss. I'll miss telling the people that think I'm a Buffy freak that you're working on the Wonder Woman movie. They all just give me the same look. You know the one, the 'that's great for you' look. I'll have to come up with something else, then, eh?

NaughtyBoozeHound | February 03, 04:52 CET



Oh, and, you know, if this means some wiggle room in the schedule, I'm sure that any of the dozens of charity screenings this June would be perfectly happy to have you come by.

*coughportlandwheretheideabegancough*

Polter-Cow: And where might one go if one is trying to find something out about about something?

[ edited by theonetruebix on 2007-02-03 02:54 ]

theonetruebix | February 03, 04:53 CET



Joss it's a real disappointment that's for sure.

It's a shame that so much of your life gets dedicated to something that falls through. Although, there must be some serious relief associated with putting WW down.

*hugs*

nixygirl | February 03, 04:53 CET



First of all, Joss, I want to echo what everyone here has already said. I'm so sorry to hear about this and I'm truly gutted that this has been such a let down for you. They really have thrown away their best chance at making this movie a success.

That said, I REALLY do not like the character of Wonder Woman and I have to admit that Joss was the only reason that this movie held the slightest bit of interest for me. I've never really been into any of the DC characters (well, maybe Batman) and Wonder Woman was probably one of the heroes from that particular comic book company that I had the least interest in.

Had things stayed as they were then I have no doubt that it would have been a very good movie indeed and that I'd have gone to see it. Hell, Joss would have written it so I'm certain that I would have enjoyed it, regardless of the source material. But ultimately if Joss was the only reason for me seeing this movie then I'd much rather be paying out my hard earned cash to see an original Whedon project. Goners, maybe?

Wonder Woman, Shmonder Woman. Joss has better things to be doing with his time. And if he really wants another crack at a superhero flick then I'm sure there is a Marvel movie project just around the corner with his name on it. ;)

Serial Rocker | February 03, 04:53 CET



We just saw different movies, and at the price range this kind of movie hangs in, that's never gonna work.


Superman Returns price range or a lot less? Me curious as to whether Joss had a big budget bold vision for Wondy and Warner Bros didn't.

Simon | February 03, 04:54 CET



Woe, I've been shut out of Whedonesqueland for two days and then I find out that His Jossness has posted! And on such a subject!
I have to say that I am not surprised, it should never have taken a year to get a script done, and if there was a danger of Joss being nibbled to death by ducks then it is much better to part ways and move on to more exciting projects. I'm hoping to hear about Goners going into production soon (finally)!

embers | February 03, 04:55 CET



I hate that the corporate world does not understand good quality material.

I'm sure your version of Wonder Woman is amazing, Joss. I'm sorry you worked so long and so hard and it is not going to be produced.

nicola | February 03, 04:57 CET



I just read the news, and that's a shame. Well, as he said, he's got more stuff coming, from "Goners" to "The Office" to the comic series next month. He'll be back.

impalergeneral | February 03, 04:59 CET



That's the $50m question Simon. Or the $200m question. Take your pick.

Two schools of thoughts here: the studio wanted to make a small budget film, and Joss wanted to go bigger -- or the studio wanted to do a massive budget film, which sidelined Joss' vision of the movie.

Polter-Cow: Mia is a character in Goners. It's a supernatural thriller about the underworld (under body?) of society and cities. Or something. Joss can probably pitch it better. Uhm, I should edit out the probably.

gossi | February 03, 04:59 CET



Nibbled to death by ducks?

theonetruebix | February 03, 05:00 CET



Polter-Cow: And where might one go if one is trying to find something out about about something?
Well, now my clues are blinking.

Polter-Cow | February 03, 05:00 CET



Gossi is no fun, spelling it out for people. I thought the cool part was letting people stumble across it.

Hrmph.

theonetruebix | February 03, 05:01 CET



If it wasn't for Joss I'd have never even thought about going to see WW. So while I'm a bit sad to know I won't be seeing how Joss would subvert my expectations with WW like he did with Buffy, I'm also excited that he can move onto projects that are more interesting to me. Goners sounds right up my alley, although I am a tad concerned it'll just be a rehash of Buffy, so why not just try to get a full scale Buffy movie? Regardless of my concerns it sounds cool. I'm also still holding me breath for new live action Buffyverse stuff no matter how unlikely that may be.

With all said and done, I'm sorry Joss. But your future will be bright! Brighter than the sun itself! :)

mikejer | February 03, 05:01 CET



Sorry for everyone who was looking forward to the magic Joss would of bought to WW, but if Joss is Ok with not doing it then thats fine with me. I figure a brand new Joss created charactor is better anyway.. no one can do that quite like him.

I suppose the only thing is now someone is going to have to break it to dear Mr Fillion that he should hold off on shaving his legs and he can stop practising his twirls!!

genesgal | February 03, 05:02 CET



Mixed feelings--obviously a shame to see a Joss project go down, and without Joss (comic-geeky though I might be) I have no big interest in a Wonder Woman movie. But I was beginning to fear that WW was going to keep Joss in development hell for a long time in which he could be making other movies. (By which I mean, filming Goners with Summer in the lead role.)

All in all, I'd say Kitty Pryde said it best: Yeahbuhwhat?

Niels | February 03, 05:02 CET



That just sucks. Sorry Joss. Remember, things like this often turn out to be a blessing.

ohmen51 | February 03, 05:08 CET



Long time lurker first time poster.

Joss, have been desperate for great genius tales. Not just any tales but yours.
Have your comics on order at Amazon, marked my calendar on Feb. 15. for the Office, watching Firefly in HD weekly.
Was so looking forward to WW.
So very sorry to here that your story will not be told. For both of us a great loss.

Here's a toast to you buddy to Goners soon and
all those amazing stories bubbling to the surface waiting to be told.

Good Luck to you and will be standing by for those bubbles to turn into Gems.

renegade | February 03, 05:14 CET



Oh good, he's off of this thing. WW is just not real enough. Now he can get back to the more real world stories he has: like Goners, and Runaways, and Vampire Slayers.

LOUiE | February 03, 05:14 CET



Yow! Ow!

m'cookies actual | February 03, 05:16 CET



I'm sure you have mixed feelings about letting WW go, Joss, but it will probably prove to be for the best. WW is a difficult project, and my personal opinion is that it's a trap; A project that may never see the light of day, and will suck if it ever does. -Especially now that you're not part of it!

As your fans, we all have our own take on what you should pursue as your next Project. But you, who have taught us so well that "the Journey is the Worthier Part", have your own path set before you. Please know that we will follow you on your Journey wherever it should lead, be it Comics, Movies, TV, Shadow Puppets, Radio....

We're with you, Boss :)

TDBrown | February 03, 05:16 CET



Well I was looking forward to it (and I was pulling for Morena!) but wherever you go I will follow. So it doesn't make too much difference to me...as long as you're making something that I can watch/read I'm happy!

kballgetlost | February 03, 05:20 CET



Well, all I can say is that sucks.

kira29 | February 03, 05:21 CET



Wow. Well, I feel deflated. Somehow, I have trouble picturing someone else doing a great job on this.

Here's hoping you have great happiness in whatever you do next, Joss. We'll be waiting adoringly to see what happens next.

Meltha | February 03, 05:21 CET



WW is so....yesterday. Full speed towards Goners and damn the torpedoes!
I'm glad the studio and all the execs involved are being cool and professional and all that but I want to reach out and smack 'em good 'n hard.

Traevynn | February 03, 05:22 CET



Woo hoo! I was worried sick that Wonder Woman wasn't going to be a mindless action shoot-em-up movie with a ludicriously implausible plot starring an actress hired for her breast size, bankability, and willingness to pose for Playboy as a promotional tie-in. Whew, that was close...

C. A. Bridges | February 03, 05:23 CET



Ouch, sorry things didn't work out in your favor. Best of luck with Goners script however, and additionally I can't wait to see what you do with the Runaways crew. :)

megaloo | February 03, 05:25 CET



I hope to be in a cinema watching Goners in a few years, Joss. But until then I look forward to the Buffy comic and that episode of The Office you directed too.

I can now put Wondy on that list of movies I will see one day on TNT.

eddy | February 03, 05:25 CET



And hey, maybe it's finally time for a BUFFY MOVIE....

(I can dream!)

Dana5140 | February 03, 05:29 CET



Sorry you're not on WW anymore, but at least we'll get to see Goners sooner. Silver lining eh?

So whatever project you move onto next, I'll still support it obessessively. Good luck.

whosflyingthisthing? | February 03, 05:33 CET



I must admit I'm disappointed not to have Joss back on the big screen. I realize Goners is still in the works, and I'm looking forward to it like mad, but WW seemed to be the main focus of the two, and thus more likely to happen sooner.

Ahhhh well. On the plus side, I was looking forward to Goners more than Wondy anyway, and it's not as if he's completely gone. Comics, Office, and hopefully more cool things.

I guess I just repeated everyone here, so, sorry about that. But this is really a bummer.

[ edited by Jobo on 2007-02-03 04:52 ]

Jobo | February 03, 05:33 CET



(coughcough) Serenity 2! (coughcough)

C. A. Bridges | February 03, 05:35 CET



Wow, unexpected. But to be honest, I'm pleased. I'm a big Marvel supporter and it was bugging me that I'd have to see a DC movie just cause Joss was writing it. Not that I'm anti-DC, I just didn't want to have to spend more money on getting into a whole new universe. Plus, although my knowledge of WW is limited, I was finding it hard to see this movie doing well even with Joss on board. A Joss-flop would be a great disappointment. I'm sure a few people out there are sad about this, but I think it's for the best. Here's hoping that something better takes it's place.

ChromeShark | February 03, 05:36 CET



I think I'm just too brain dead to respond to this.

Like...I've totally shut down.

Worst. News. Ever.

Emma Frost | February 03, 05:40 CET



Cobie Smulders as Wonder Woman, not sure if that's a joke or not but she seems like she would have been a good choice. Especially intriguing as she appeared on Buffy.

[ edited by ChromeShark on 2007-02-03 05:26 ]

ChromeShark | February 03, 05:41 CET



Well, I tried to go back to work, but I can't.

My stomach feels just a little bit like it did when our non-profit Board let our wonderful Executive Director go. I get upset when the PTB demonstrate - in a way that matters to me - that they are incapable of understanding and appreciating those qualities that I value. Thus they prevent them from entering the world, being enjoyed, and raising the standard - as Buffy, Angel, and Serenifly and others have done.

Again, Joss wasn't heard. Again, quality loses to something else. I don't have to read Joss's script (although I would dearly love to) to know that what he created was more profound and interesting and multi-faceted than whatever the studio and J.S. could "see."

And I'd put money on the fact that Wonder Woman was written to be a full character in a way that few mainstream, big-money movie female characters are written - however flawed and limited she may have (necessarily) been. And I'd put even more money on that depiction as being one of the "problems."

Joss called it a take that nobody liked, but I doubt very much that's true. It was, I'm sure, a take that somewhat more black-and-white, blockbuster mainstream thinkers didn't like, and that's a very different thing...

I know Joss has to be nice about the studio and the differences in their visions, but I don't have to be.

Thanks, guys, for helping the level of Hollywood entertainment to be that much more crappy. I look forward to the production of the movie written by the assistant on Beer Blast and "Bob from Corporate" - hungry newcomers, happy to get their big break, who are probably more amenable to control than an old hand with artistic integrity like Joss.

Businesses do business like this all the time, and yet it still pisses me off. I really should learn...

"When you overpay small people you frighten them. They know that their merits or activities entitle them to no such sums as they are receiving. As a result their boss soars out of economic into magic significance. He becomes a source of blessings rather than wages. Criticism is sacrilege, doubt is heresy." - Ben Hecht, “The Captive Muse,” bk. 5, A Child of the Century

QuoterGal | February 03, 05:42 CET



Wow. huge surprise, but count me on the "pleased" side. There goes the only possibility of the movie being a great superhero movie and well, my desire to see it, because I just: I love you Joss, but Wonder Woman was never going to be an awesomely giant hit or your movie entirely.

I just don't think the time is right for a WW movie right now, or perhaps ever, and this was pretty much confirmed by the fact that whenever I told anyone in real life I was looking forward to the movie because of Joss, they'd look supremely uninterested. WW is not cool -- Joss, now he is totally cool for school.

dottikin | February 03, 05:43 CET



Oh, Joss ... Shoot. That's the clean version.

Good thing I didn't get that special Wonder Woman t-shirt made for Comic-Con 2007 (you and Quoter Gal and the Fanboy Radio interview were the inspiration ... and a little moi).

We've got your back and will follow where you lead.

Hugs.

Tonya J | February 03, 05:46 CET



Well that bites. Knowing the creative process, you probably spent many sleepless hours, and yanked out a quite a few follicles and now it's all for naught. I sure hope you were compensated for all that time you pounded away on this. Frakkers.

Truth be told, I wasn't really hot on WW, but was excited as hell for another celluloid Joss experience. Now my selfish brain is spinning wildly, fantasizing about more Buffster.

Joss, if you're down about this, then we are too. We're 'here' for you always - don't ever forget that. If you are glad, then hey, next round's on me! **HUGS**

Willowy | February 03, 05:49 CET



I'm sad you're disappointed, sir, happy you're relieved, and thrilled Goners was the next project mentioned.

Plus, this will give you more time to figure out how to fit a llama into the Gonersbackground scenery. Or PIE! Gotta have pie! Mmmm, pie...

Oh, and because drink comes into it: Sex on the Beach. Or a Screaming Orgasm. How can you lose?

cabri | February 03, 05:51 CET



Sad thing is that now this movie isn't happening.....the female superhero movie legacy will remain Catwomen.....Elektra.....Aeon Flux.....

*cries*

Trek_Girl42 | February 03, 05:59 CET



Wow.

...

Wow.

I was really looking forward to your take on the lady with the gold lasso. But, hey, last I checked you had no shortage of awesome projects on your plate. I can't wait for every single one of them! Thanks for telling us first Joss.

valgal | February 03, 05:59 CET



Cheers for letting us know. Good luck with the other projects. Sad times indeed.

Jona | February 03, 06:02 CET



As my only interest in this movie was because of Joss, I'm not that sad about it. Sure, had it made untold millions and therefore given Joss the power to make Serenity 2, well...okay, not going to think on that. 'Cause then comes the sad.

"Truly, you may be hearing some interesting things brewing in the coming months."
This tantalizing tidbit has me tingly!
(Had to go with the alliteration because I am a dork.)
Meanwhile, I'm thrilled (and tingly!) that Goners has moved up the priority list. Yea!

You know what wouldn't suck?
Joss. Directing Battlestar.
A girl can dream...

As others have said, wherever you lead, we'll follow, Joss.

Syren | February 03, 06:11 CET



They are Gorram idiots Boss, don't sweat it, I hope they know the wheel never stops turning.

I await your next great feat. Not that you have great feet, or maybe you do have great feet, or maybe you have bunny feet, which would scare the hell out of Anya.

What was I saying? oh yeah I am really looking forward to the brew of the coming months.

You don't shoot air balls Boss, only Dwayne Wade style Dunks, that bounce of other peoples heads.

Obsidian Mon | February 03, 06:11 CET



Sorry to hear about this, I was one of the many looking forward to seeing your vision of WW on the big screen, but I guess it happens and I'm glad to see that there are some interesting things brewing, I know we're all looking forward to whatever you do next.
And thanks for posting here, it's great that you think of us and want to get the word out before we get 8000 different half truths and rumors.

And I'm going to have to start searching for Mia, I didn't know Goners was that far along. I seem to remember something about her being River's sister in chocolate. Or I could be imaging things, that's always a possibility.

nole9 | February 03, 06:12 CET



Wow. That is so incredibly sad. I was really looking forward to it. NOW what am I gonna stalk the set of for six months???

Thanks for telling us, I was glad to hear it from you. Good luck with your one thousand other projects!

BrightShiner | February 03, 06:12 CET



Goners, yes. And looking forward to hearing about the rest. I'm with Haunt,in dreaming of a return to tv.

toast | February 03, 06:12 CET



Cobie Smulders, huh? Damn, I should have had her name in the Wonder Woman pool. Actually, Goners always sounded like a more exciting endeavor, anyway. And then maybe back to TV after that? (Hey, a boy can dream.)

rbt | February 03, 06:13 CET



I was just telling a friend (a major in feminism), who is both a fan of Buffy and has Wonder Woman memorabilia all about her apartment, that his Jossness was going to do a movie, which was pretty much a squealing "chocolate in my peanut butter" moment for her.

Now I'll have to take it back. And without even an unused screenplay to read over that we might imagine "what might have been." However, if the unpublished work does accidentally surface somewhere on the Internet, I'd cheerfully watch Joss' screenplay done by sock puppets and hosted on YouTube versus whatever shiny, hollow, CGI-laden version that will emerge from Hollywood and shamble directly towards the box office, crushing tradition and common sense in its way.

So, go go Goners!

Ocular | February 03, 06:16 CET



WHAT!?!?!

Ok first Jackson is removed from the Hobbit, and now Joss is taken off Wonder Woman?!?!

Well... theres now two less movies I need to shell out cash to see. Thank you Hollywood, the less great movies you produce the more cash I can save.

I was really really really looking forward to Joss interpretation of Wonder Woman. Everything he's said about it has excited me more (and I'm no fan of WW, but I know Joss would have made it really good). Now... I honestly don't care. I was interested because of Joss.

I suppose Goners, Buffy season 8, and other comics will keep him busy. And... maybe this clears the way for a grand return to TV? No wait, the net execs would need to remove their heads from their buttocks... I believe that's a dangerous surgical procedure where execs are concerned. How about direct to DVD? Babylon 5 is doing that!

AnotherFireflyfan | February 03, 06:17 CET



Hey Joss, since you aren't busy writing Wonder Woman anymore you could always stop by the New York Comic Con at the end of the month. I hear they're celebrating the ten year anniversary of some show called Buffy.

opoponax19 | February 03, 06:26 CET



Ugh. I feel like someone just took away my puppy. That really, really sucks, but you have my respect for not writing a movie you didn't want to write just to get it done. Here's to future projects.

Samantha | February 03, 06:28 CET



Well there goes my only interest in seeing a WW movie...

Still looking forward to Goners and whatever else you have planned in the coming months.

MichaelH | February 03, 06:30 CET



Today I was standing in line to get an author to sign my copy of her book. The woman in front of me said her name was Willow and the author said "OOH, like in Buffy? " but the signee stared blankly so I cheered "yeah Buffy!" and the author said "I have a shout out to Buffy in this book". I showed her my Serenity button and she beamed and said "I just got the DVD of Firefly last week. I can't believe I missed it!"
Jossir, I'm sorry that I won't be able to have that conversation about Wonder Woman but at least she is finally out of your house. And we really look forward to Goners.

Lioness | February 03, 06:32 CET



Now you have time for what you really wanted to do: "Kitty Pryde, the Movie."

C. A. Bridges | February 03, 06:34 CET



First of all, very cool of you to come here first, Joss. Second of all, that IS sort of a bummer, but I really like that you had a vision and that you didn't compromise it (not that I'm saying the studio was, necessarily, twirling its mustache and tempting you to sell out while you stood there draped in toga-like virtue refusing to sacrifice your artistic vision, exactly, but still, good for you).

So, at lest you don't have to answer THAT question. So, here's your next, least-favorite question: What ARE you working on? What's Goners about? When's it happening? What actresses are vaguely connected to the role of Mia?

(Sorry, that turned out to be more than one question.)

Septimus | February 03, 06:40 CET



Having had more time to digest the thread, an explanation for gossi:
Dude, I love you Goners people. Except I don't know why there's llama's on the t-shirt.

The t-shirt is for the serenitymovie.org Goners Crew (of which you are a member, by the way). Serenity = llama, as any decent browncoat knows. It was our way to link Goners and Serenity.

And sir, many Goners have offered to purchase you a llama shirt. Check out our Dear Joss thread for details. I think you'd like that thread. ;-D

(There's also a Dear Gossi thread but that one tends to have more swearing in it... :D)

cabri | February 03, 06:43 CET



Hey, maybe now Joss will have time to work on that long rumored volume 2 of Fray (winks...).

It's sad to see Joss not doing it anymore. Was really looking forward to a mainstream comic heroine done right on the screens.

But maybe was for the best.

Oh god, the internet is going to explode again, right? Hope our server can take it.

I know Joss has to be nice about the studio and the differences in their visions, but I don't have to be.


QG, you just reminded me of a certain moment from a certain show known by all of us:

WILLOW: (softly) Just so you know? I'm prepared to hate this woman any way you want. (shot of Riley and Sam talking closely)
BUFFY: Thanks, but no. I don't wanna seem all petty.
WILLOW: Well, that's the beauty! You can't, but I can. Please. Let me carry the hate for the both of us.

[ edited by Numfar PTB on 2007-02-03 04:57 ]

Numfar PTB | February 03, 06:43 CET



Cobie Smulders? Cobie Smulders? That would have been...inspired. If anything, my opinion of Joss has gone up even more!

stevekaw | February 03, 06:44 CET



That's a bit sad, but honestly. . .what's Wonder Woman compared to the characters you manage to come up with on your own? How can an amazon with a tacky bathing suit, a magic lasso and an invisible jet be given any depth or credibility in a hundred and seven minutes? I'm sure you would have made it work and I'm sure the movie that will eventually be released will be of mind-numbing inanity, but you've always been better with your own characters and you've always been better when you have the chance to show character development and to let them grow and I'm sure you'll do better work without the weight of forty years of lesser writer's mediocrity weighing the characters down.

I always look forward to your next project and frankly I'm a bit relieved that your next project will be yours and not theirs.

daikiki | February 03, 06:46 CET



Joss Whedon is Joel Schumacher? Ben is Glory? What is up with this crazy world we live in? Oh no. That's not true - Joss just got saved from totally turning himself into a hollywood schlochmonster. Joss I am sorry that you spent so much time on WW. But good for you for realizing that your vision just didn't match up with the studios'.

ruthless1 | February 03, 06:48 CET



Wow, I guess I have to take back all the WW swag I bought for giveaways at the June 23rd shindig.

Well, I just won't want to see it now. I was really looking forward to your take on it.

So sorry about the disappointment.

madmolly | February 03, 06:59 CET



Joss, I'm sorry Wonder Woman hasn't worked out for you, after all the time you have spent on it. For me, you were the only reason I would have gone to see the movie because I've never been a big WW fan.

As others have said already, I'm much more psyched about any of your original creative ideas, such as the Buffy comics (yeah!) and especially looking forward to Goners! In the meantime, I'm enjoying AXM and look forward to becoming a Runaways fan.

samatwitch | February 03, 07:02 CET



So sorry to hear it, Joss. But anything you do just kicks so much ass, that I'm sure whatever you do next will be stellar.

*big squishsome hugs*

nyghtpet | February 03, 07:10 CET



hmmm... now I don't have to feal guilty about not getting Wonder Woman comix. and Ya! Goners will come faster now!

Noclaf | February 03, 07:14 CET



More info at ComicBookResources.com

http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=9546

which links back here.

CaptainB | February 03, 07:15 CET



Sounds like an amicable parting of the ways. After all, reasonable minds can differ, especially on aspects of creative projects.

Of course, it's also true that morons, idiots, and cretins can differ with those who happen to be right about aspects of creative projects.

Just me saying . . .

(Hey, Fearless Leader took the high road! I rather think that frees me from the burden of having to.) But it does free him up to work on some other things - I'm sure we could put together a list, if that would be helpful.

mockingbird | February 03, 07:18 CET



Bad news: No snappy dialog to the tune of gunshots and ringing golden bracelets.

Good news: FIREFLY COMEBACK! (Oh, please, please, pleasepleaseplease . . . )

ScrewtheAlliance | February 03, 07:26 CET



I, too, will miss what WW could have been in the capable hands of a man who truly understands how to write strong female characters, not caricatures.

But I have been looking forward to Goners a lot more, so... in the end, it just means I'll just get to see that sooner than expected. When one door closes another opens, they say.

But Joss, if you truly long to bring a female superhero to the big screen, I don't think anybody's optioned the rights to the Electra Woman and Dynagirl film yet.

What? * blinks innocently *

zengrrl | February 03, 07:36 CET



And I'm going to have to start searching for Mia, I didn't know Goners was that far along. I seem to remember something about her being River's sister in chocolate.

Muahahaha.

theonetruebix | February 03, 07:39 CET



Man. I take my eyes off this site for half a day, and the biggest news ever breaks. Arse.

I'm going to follow the approach of Numfar PTB and Quoter Gal on this one: deep abiding resentment towards the studio and Silver. And everyone who has ever worked for them. And their neighbours. And their hamsters. And their neighbours' hamsters.

Buffy: Will, it's okay. You don't have to make him the bad guy.
Willow: But that's the best friends job, vilifying and grousing.

Bah. May they all be penetrated by spidermonkeys.

Mythtaken | February 03, 07:43 CET



As much as I totally supported Joss' involvement with this project, I am relieved that Wonder Whedon is not happening. WW never felt like the Joss-verse to me. I am glad that Joss can now return to his own comfy playground.

Goners will be awesome. I am sure of that. And I would not utter one word of complaint were new actor-involved projects in the Buffyverse or Serenity Nebula now more likely to be unleashed upon us sooner.

Let's look at the bright side... in a way, we got our Joss back!

But I'd still love to read that Wonder Whedon script. How soon will that be leaking online do you think?

Anyone?

Hjermsted | February 03, 07:47 CET



Hmm.... an interesting thought just occurred to me. Joss directed an episode of The Office.

How about letting Joss write/direct an episode of Drive?

Seriously. It'd be just like the band getting back together again! ;-)

[ edited by AnotherFireflyfan on 2007-02-03 05:48 ]

AnotherFireflyfan | February 03, 07:48 CET



Well, Joss, sorry it had to be that way. I have never been able to figure out the suits in Hollywood....*shakes head*.(...I often wonder if they have blue hands....) Besides, if you are going to be part of something...it should always be something you feel like you can stand behind with your head held high. Too many times, studios just wanna churn something out...and they sacrifice quality. I just can't see you being okay with that. Thanks! I'll take quality over mediocrity any day!

I am really excited that you have a bunch of things lined up. Hope we hear about them first!

jenofthejungle | February 03, 07:49 CET



Aww. Well, nuts, Boss.

I honestly was leery about a Wonder Woman remake from the start. It had a lot of challenges to overcome because she's such an iconic character that doesn't really modernize well. As AOTS so aptly put it, the invisible jet is confusing. Joss could have totally done it, though. I was looking forward to seeing how he would approch the challenges, and it saddens me that he put all this effort into it for naught. However, if this means that Goners comes out sooner, then huzzah!

Small Frye | February 03, 07:51 CET



Wait. Did someone actually just mention the righteousness that was Electra Woman and Dynagirl?

theonetruebix | February 03, 07:58 CET



Argh.

-Jonestein

p.s. Grrr.

Jonestein | February 03, 08:00 CET



Haven't been able to get on this site for a few days now so just found out about this on Flickr. Ah, so sorry to hear about this. I was getting very excited to see your take on Wonder Woman Joss. Glad we still have Goners and the Buffy comics to look forward to!

Firefly Flanatic | February 03, 08:02 CET



As disappointing this is from a fanboy point of view, I can totally understand the feeling of relief. It's a shame that we won't get to see your (if you'll excuse the pun) spin on Wonder Woman, but I guess it just wasn't meant to be.

Best of luck with Goners, and all other future projects that I look forward to watching *cough, cough, Serenity 2, cough*.

At least now Nathan can stop twirling in your yard in a tiara.

(wow, Cobie Smulders SO looks perfect for the part)

Zeppo | February 03, 08:07 CET



Storm's getting worse, it seems. :( What can I say? Eeven the fact that you rushed over here, to tell us first, it shows all manner of love and care towards those in the 'Verse who so deeply respect you for precisely that: your genuine commitment to, well, genuinity.

I'm confident you'll pass through it soon enough, Joss. Don't make this any less of a sad day, though. :(

rb | February 03, 08:07 CET



I just can't believe this. Wow. WW, not in the hands of Joss. I had a feeling there may be trouble when it was taking a bit long for a final script. I was Wondy for Halloween. I just purchased the most brilliant Wondy t-shirt. sigh. Joss, I'm so sorry. Thanks for telling us here first. You are wonderful. How about you take a vacation for a week or two and DO NOTHING. Then, start to tackle Goners, Buffy comics, X-Men comics, etc. Might this be a time to think about coming back to TV? We all know the Office was a blast. You know you wanna. *hugs*

Harmalicious | February 03, 08:08 CET



Their loss. Seriously. I wonder how many people (like me) were planning to see this only because of the Whedon name attached.


Wonder Woman has been a pop-culture icon since 1941, or 23 years before Joss was born. The movie really wasn't relying on Joss Whedon to draw people into the theatres. *grin*

I'm just glad that the parting happened before casting and filming began...

krad | February 03, 08:11 CET



Word has spread to the Bronze Beta. Joss, I'm sorry if you're sorry. I'm not a big Wonder Woman fan but I'd have watched the movie. I am a fan of Melaka Fray and we need more Fray.

Texadan | February 03, 08:11 CET



Call me crazy but I am way more interested in Joss's own personal creative musings than anything anybody else ever wrote...or created.
I'm really glad Joss is going to have time to focus on the topics screaming in his brain to get out. So, on with Goners, Buffy and everything else Joss has in store for us.

cheryl | February 03, 08:15 CET



Frak. I was soooooo needing some more Joss art. Clearly, these people have no taste. Be gone, already.

Please throw us a little morsel of hope for future art. Sorry, there is only so many times we can watch those DVDs. And while you know I will grace a comic book store for season 8, I have to go into New York City to buy it because if any of my non-Browncoat friends knew I was reading comic books..... Hey, in my corporate circle of friends, I'd get more respect hanging out at a porn shop.

Mr. Whedon, keep flyin'. We'll keep buyin'.

Browncoats of New York City: So say we all.

Dietcoke | February 03, 08:18 CET



They should have known that from day one. Killing Wonder woman is certain to have an artistic appe