How Now BrownCoat?

The 2nd weekend of Serenity has come and gone and the film took in 47% less than it did it's opening weekend and has a 10 day total of about $18 million, which to me is not bad considering that it's a mostly unknown franchise outside of most fandom. On the local and national Browncoat boards there are been reassurances and panic (mostly panic) about the future of the 'verse.

At this point here's what I think - while the film hasn't been exactly tearing it up at the local multiplex, there is all kinds of potential to keep things going. There might not be another "Major Motion Picture", but with the film making it to #1 in the UK (despite having an awful poster) and the fact that the DVD will be huge, I believe that the movie in the end will be successful enough to show that there is enough support for TV-movies or even another shot at a series.

If not, there are always other media. If case no one reading this is as old as I am, the popularity of Star Trek was kept alive for more than 10 years thanks to reruns, books, comics and even a well written (if not well drawn) animated series.

Granted that Trek had 6 times the number of episodes, but look at Battlestar Galactica as well - it's one of the most popular shows on basic cable and it's based on a series that lasted one season. Serenity could easily become a series again, hopefully also on basic cable. Joss Whedon would probably not have his hand all the way into the series as he has 2 feature films already on his plate, but with quality folks like Tim Minear and Jane Espenson chomping at the bit to a part of the 'verse again, any new series or series of TV or straight to DVD films would be in good hands.

And if for some reason that doesn't come to fruition, there are more than a few writers and artists that can keep the 'verse alive in print just as authors like A.C. Crispin and Diane Duane wrote Trek novels years before the first movie in 1979.

Of course anything can happen, you just gotta have faith.