Editing Joss Whedon (section)

====''Serenity''====
After Universal Pictures acquired the [[Film rights|film]] and [[Film distributor|distribution rights]] from Fox, Whedon began writing the screenplay for ''Serenity''.<ref name="film rights">{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/nathan-fillion-buy-firefly-mcrid-102683/|title=Fans Unite To Help Nathan Fillion Buy 'Firefly'|first=Michael|last=Crider|date=February 23, 2011|website=Screen Rant|access-date=May 11, 2015|archive-date=August 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140805025848/http://screenrant.com/nathan-fillion-buy-firefly-mcrid-102683/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="IGN; Serenity">{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/03/04/whedons-serenity-flies-at-uni|title=Whedon's Serenity Flies at Uni|first=Brian|last=Linder|date=March 4, 2004|website=IGN|access-date=May 11, 2013|archive-date=February 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223230643/http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/03/04/whedons-serenity-flies-at-uni|url-status=live}}</ref> Transforming the series into a film, he says, "... was the hardest piece of writing I've ever done ... It had to be self-contained and work as a movie, which meant I had to cope with problems like introducing nine main characters who'd already met!"<ref name="FILM; Serenity">{{cite web|url=http://www.film4.com/special-features/interviews/joss-whedon-on-serenity|title=Joss Whedon on Serenity|publisher=film4.com|access-date=May 11, 2013|archive-date=February 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222081230/http://www.film4.com/special-features/interviews/joss-whedon-on-serenity|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="SFFWORLD.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.sffworld.com/mul/130p0.html|title=Interview with Joss Whedon about Serenity|date=October 2, 2005|publisher=sffworld.com|access-date=May 11, 2013|archive-date=December 7, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051207022432/http://www.sffworld.com/mul/130p0.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The script was based on unused story ideas for ''Firefly''{{'}}s unfilmed second season.<ref name="THE UNIVERSITY OBSERVER; fs" /> On writing the dialogue, Whedon felt that part of it came from "getting to invent the language", which "once I had... reads like a kind of poetry".<ref name="Response; Serenity">{{cite web|url=http://www.spu.edu/depts/uc/response/summer2k5/bookfilm/serenity.asp|title='Serenity' Rewards Faithful Fans, Thrills a New Audience|first=Jeffrey|last=Overstreet|year=2005|publisher=spu.edu|access-date=May 13, 2013|archive-date=May 9, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060509050714/http://www.spu.edu/depts/uc/response/summer2k5/bookfilm/serenity.asp|url-status=live}}</ref> The narrative centered on Captain [[Malcolm Reynolds]] as the hero accompanied by [[River Tam]] acting as the catalyst for what he does.<ref name="ARCHIVE; Serenity">{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/ChucktheMovieguyJossWhedonMorenaBaccarininterviewforthemovieSerenity|title=Joss Whedon, Morena Baccarin interview for the movie Serenity|access-date=May 13, 2013}}</ref>

The score was composed by [[David Newman (composer)|David Newman]], and according to Whedon was intended to "deglorify space — to feel the intimacy of being on a ship as opposed to the grandeur".<ref name="The New York Times; Serenity">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/09/arts/music/09burl.html|title=Outer Country|first=Jon|last=Burlingame|date=October 9, 2005|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=May 13, 2013}}</ref> He used two [[Long take|long]] [[steadicam]] shots for several minutes of the film's opening sequence to establish "a sense of safety in space".<ref name="STEADIVISION">{{cite web|url=http://steadivision.com/acm/mtf/steadicam.html|title=STEADICAM|publisher=steadivision.com|access-date=May 13, 2013|archive-date=July 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714205429/http://steadivision.com/acm/mtf/steadicam.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="PAJIBA">{{cite web|url=http://www.pajiba.com/seriously_random_lists/mindhole-blowers-20-facts-about-serenity-that-might-make-you-crave-a-fruity-oaty-bar.php|title=Mindhole Blowers: 20 Facts About Serenity That Might Make You Crave a Fruity Oaty Bar|first=Cindy|last=Davis|date=June 4, 2012|publisher=pajiba.com|access-date=May 13, 2013|archive-date=June 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607051227/http://www.pajiba.com/seriously_random_lists/mindhole-blowers-20-facts-about-serenity-that-might-make-you-crave-a-fruity-oaty-bar.php|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2006, it won a Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form.<ref name="LOCUSonline; Serenity">{{cite web|url=http://www.locusmag.com/2006/News/08_HugoCampbellWinners.html|title=Hugo and Campbell Awards Winners|publisher=locusmag.com|access-date=May 13, 2013|archive-date=September 3, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060903090237/http://www.locusmag.com/2006/News/08_HugoCampbellWinners.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The elements of science fiction that Whedon wanted to convey were essentially different in kind, and held "a sort of grittiness" and "realism", which he said, together, "get the most exciting kind of film-making".<ref name="BBC; Serenity">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6517155.stm|title=Serenity named top sci-fi movie|publisher=BBC|access-date=May 13, 2013|archive-date=April 16, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070416101011/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6517155.stm|url-status=live|date=April 2, 2007}}</ref> Critic [[Roger Ebert]] observed, "Like ''[[Brave New World]]'' and ''[[Nineteen Eighty-Four|1984]]'', the movie plays like a critique of contemporary society, with the Alliance as Big Brother, enemy of discontent".<ref name="Roger Ebert.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/serenity-2005|title=Serenity|first=Roger|last=Ebert|date=September 29, 2005|publisher=rogerebert.com|access-date=May 13, 2013|archive-date=April 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130421032608/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/serenity-2005|url-status=live}}</ref> The film received the 2005 [[Nebula Award for Best Script]], the 2006 [[Prometheus Award|Prometheus Special Award]],<ref name="SFWA; Serenity">{{cite web|url=http://www.sfwa.org/nebula-awards/|title=Nebula Awards|date=November 25, 2009|publisher=sfwa.org|access-date=May 13, 2013|archive-date=April 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424181909/http://www.sfwa.org/nebula-awards/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Libertarian Futurist Society">{{cite web|url=http://lfs.org/releases/2006Winners.shtml|title=Prometheus 2006 Awards Winners Announced|website=lfs.org|access-date=May 13, 2013|archive-date=April 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130414031146/http://www.lfs.org/releases/2006Winners.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> and was voted the best sci-fi movie of all time in a poll set up by ''[[SFX (magazine)|SFX]]'' magazine.<ref name="BBC; Serenity" /> There have since been multiple rumors regarding sequel possibilities.<ref name="ZDNet News">{{cite web|url=http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1040_22-6085564.html|title=Fans of sci-fi 'Serenity' follow their bliss|first=Daniel|last=Terdiman|date=June 19, 2006|publisher=ZDNet|access-date=May 13, 2013|archive-date=June 21, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060621222119/http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1040_22-6085564.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="About.com; Serenity">{{cite web|url=http://movies.about.com/od/serenity/a/serentynf120604.htm|title=Nathan Fillion Talks About 'Serenity'|first=Rebecca|last=Murray|work=About.com Entertainment |publisher=about.com|access-date=May 13, 2013|archive-date=September 25, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050925163209/http://movies.about.com/od/serenity/a/serentynf120604.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

The limited three-issue comic book series called ''[[Serenity: Those Left Behind]]'', the story of which was written by Whedon,<ref name="Trove; comic books">{{cite web|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/27600051?selectedversion=NBD43097375|title=Serenity : those left behind / story by Joss Whedon & Brett Matthews; script by Brett Matthews; art by Will Conrad.|publisher=nla.gov.au|access-date=September 25, 2013|archive-date=December 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212070055/http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/27600051?selectedversion=NBD43097375|url-status=live}}</ref> was released in 2005 as a tie-in to ''Serenity''. Set between ''Firefly'' and the film, it was intended to connect the two storylines.<ref name="tie in">{{cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/old-friends-matthews-talks-serenity-better-days/|title=Old Friends: Matthews talks 'Serenity: Better Days'|first=Emmett|last=Furey|date=March 7, 2008|website=[[Comic Book Resources|CBR]]|access-date=June 10, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213113658/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=12825|archive-date=December 13, 2013}}</ref> ''[[Serenity: Better Days]]'' also spanned three issues<ref name="Dark Horse; comic books #3">{{cite web|url=http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/15-190/Serenity-Better-Days-1-of-3|title=Serenity: Better Days #1 (of 3)|publisher=darkhorse.com|access-date=September 25, 2013|archive-date=April 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421082939/http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/15-190/Serenity-Better-Days-1-of-3|url-status=live}}</ref> and was written by Whedon and [[Brett Matthews]].<ref name="CBR; comic books #2">{{cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/exclusive-serenity-better-days-2-preview/|title=Exclusive: 'Serenity: Better Days' #2 Preview|date=March 11, 2008|website=[[Comic Book Resources|CBR]]|access-date=June 10, 2020|archive-date=December 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213113406/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=12855|url-status=live}}</ref> Whedon later co-wrote ''[[Serenity (comics)#The Shepherd's Tale|The Shepherd's Tale]]'' with his half-brother [[Zack Whedon|Zack]].<ref name="COMICMIX; the shepherd's tale">{{cite web|url=http://www.comicmix.com/news/2008/06/13/interview-scott-allie-on-shepherd-books-serenity-spin-off-and-solomon-kane/|title=Interview: Scott Allie on Shepherd Book's 'Serenity' Spin-Off and 'Solomon Kane'|first=Chris|last=Ullrich|date=June 13, 2008|publisher=comicmix.com|access-date=December 6, 2013|archive-date=June 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080614122227/http://www.comicmix.com/news/2008/06/13/interview-scott-allie-on-shepherd-books-serenity-spin-off-and-solomon-kane/|url-status=live}}</ref>