Firefly is getting rebooted as an animated series

"Firefly," the beloved sci-fi Western series, concluded its original run after a mere single season on Fox in 2002. Despite its brief initial airing, the show's popularity has soared over the past two decades, cultivating a dedicated fanbase. Now, after years of anticipation, actor Nathan Fillion has announced that an animated "Firefly" series is moving forward in advanced stages of development.

Fillion shared this exciting news during AwesomeCon at a live recording of his podcast, "Once We Were Spacemen." He was joined by several of his original "Firefly" co-stars, including Gina Torres, Morena Baccarin, Summer Glau, Sean Maher, Jewel Staite, and Alan Tudyk, who also co-hosts the podcast. It is expected that these actors will reprise their roles by lending their voices to their animated characters.

This isn't merely a speculative announcement; significant progress has already been made on the project. The animated reboot is being overseen by experienced showrunners Tara Butters (known for "Agent Carter," "Reaper") and Marc Guggenheim ("DC's Legends of Tomorrow," "Arrow"). While original creator Joss Whedon is not directly involved, he has reportedly given his blessing to the project. Oscar and Emmy-winning animation studio ShadowMachine is already developing early concept art. Nathan Fillion's production company, Collision33, is producing the series in collaboration with 20th Television Animation, and a script for the new show is already complete.

According to Fillion, the primary remaining step is to secure a network or streaming platform to serve as a home for the series. He and his co-stars have utilized the "Once We Were Spacemen" Instagram account to provide further details and encourage "Firefly" fans to actively demonstrate demand for the upcoming reboot.

Set in the year 2517, centuries after a universal civil war, "Firefly" chronicled the adventures of a motley crew aboard their transport ship, Serenity, as they navigated the outer reaches of the galaxy. The series later received a cinematic sequel, "Serenity," released in 2005.