Nathan Fillion surprised fans today with the announcement that he and 20th Television Animation are in advanced stages of development on a new animated series based on the beloved cult sci-fi franchise “Firefly.” The reveal came during a panel and live taping of his podcast “Once We Were Spacemen” at Awesome Con in Washington, D.C., where the news was met by a packed, standing-room-only crowd with thunderous applause and enthusiastic cheers.
Fillion made the announcement alongside his former “Firefly” co-star and podcast co-host Alan Tudyk, joined by fellow original cast members Gina Torres, Jewel Staite, Morena Baccarin, Sean Maher, and Summer Glau that amplified speculation already building online.
The reveal followed a viral social media campaign featuring a series of cryptic videos starring Fillion and several of his “Firefly” co-stars. In the first clip, Fillion knocks on what appears to be a production trailer door as Torres asks, “Does this mean it’s time?” Fillion responds simply, “It’s time.” Subsequent videos featured Baccarin, Maher, Staite, Glau, Baldwin and Tudyk, which ignited intense fan speculation and generated tens of millions of views across platforms.
Since the videos have surfaced online, they have garnered over 28 million views on various social platforms. The original “Firefly” series has surged to the top of the streaming charts.
The animated reboot is being developed through Fillion’s production banner Collision33 in partnership with 20th Television Animation, which controls the underlying rights to the franchise. The proposed series is set in the timeline between the original 2002 television run and its 2005 feature film continuation, “Serenity,” expanding the universe while preserving continuity with the established lore.
A script has been completed, and early concept art has been developed in collaboration with the Oscar and Emmy award-winning animation studio ShadowMachine. The fully assembled package is expected to be taken out to buyers shortly.
Married writing-producing team Marc Guggenheim (“DC’s Legends of Tomorrow,” “Arrow”) and Tara Butters (“Agent Carter,” “Reaper,” “Law & Order: SVU”) are attached to serve as showrunners, marking their first formal professional collaboration as a duo.
Originally produced by 20th Century Fox Television and created by Joss Whedon, “Firefly” aired for a single season before developing a long afterlife through DVD sales, streaming platforms, and its theatrical continuation in Serenity. The animated format provides an opportunity to revisit the franchise’s original ensemble dynamics while allowing for expanded storytelling within the established timeline.
Fillion and Tudyk launched “Once We Were Spacemen” in November 2025 to great success. It consistently tops the Comedy and Comedy Interview podcast charts in the USA, as well as several other countries. With eighteen released episodes, Once We Were Spacemen features Fillion and Tudyk catching up with former cast members, other notable creatives and each other.
Fillion launched Collision33 in 2024 with manager and producing partner Michelle Chapman, securing a first-look deal at Lionsgate. Development Executive Josh Levy later joined the company and has since overseen its expanding slate. Among the company’s current projects, Fillion and Chapman serve as executive producers on “The Rookie,” in which Fillion also stars, as well as its upcoming spinoff “The Rookie: North,” now in production. Fillion recently appeared as Guy Gardner/Green Lantern in Warner Bros.’ “Superman” and will reprise the role in HBO’s upcoming series “Lanterns.” Through Collision33, he has also partnered with Dark Horse Comics to develop a new original comic series titled “Witness Point.” In addition to “Firefly,” Fillion remains widely recognized for his starring role in the long-running hit series “Castle.”