This isn't the first time Browncoats have banded together to bring back Firefly, and it probably won't be the last. Help Nathan Buy Firefly has officially shut down and put its support behind Nathan Fillion's favorite charity, Kids Need to Read.
On February 17th, Firefly star Nathan Fillion gave an interview with Entertainment Weekly in which he uttered the fateful words "If I got $300 million from the California Lottery, the first thing I would do is buy the rights to Firefly, make it on my own, and distribute it on the Internet." Browncoats took him at his word, and thus the website Help Nathan Buy Firefly was born. The idea was to raise enough monetary pledges from fans so that Fillion could buy the rights to Firefly and produce it independent of network interference. Read the story of Help Nathan Buy Firefly here.
The site rapidly went viral, gaining hundreds of thousands of followers on Facebook. With all the support from Browncoats and Whedonites, all that was needed was for someone in charge –Joss Whedon, Nathan Fillion, Gail Berman of FOX– to give the word and the money would start flowing in.
Instead, Fillion and members of the Whedon family gently put a stop to the plan, in a move that has been deemed both wise and unfair by members of the Help Nathan Buy Firefly camp.
Joss Whedon's sister-in-law, Maurissa Tancharoen tweeted, "Guys, no one in the Whedonverse is in support of www.helpnathanbuyfirefly.com. Please save your money!" According to ScreenRant.com, Tancharoen later amended her statement, adding "that there were no hard feelings from the Whedon clan, but Joss and Co. weren’t comfortable with fans trying to take direct control of the Firefly rights, and even less with them collecting real money to do so."
Instead, Fillion is encouraging Browncoats and his fans to donate to Kids Need to Read, a charitable organization which Fillion supports. On February 24th, the actor tweeted, "It's beautiful to dream of more Firefly, but PLEASE DON'T SEND ANY MONEY. Just keep being great Browncoats, which you are!" The message is clear: While Fillion appreciates the support of his fans, he believes their money is better spent on a good cause than on bringing back a television show.
Can't stop the signal: Help Nathan Buy Firefly has officially shut down its efforts to revive the show, and is putting its support behind Fillion's favorite charity. You can donate to Kids Need to Read by visiting their website.
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