<\/p>\n
\n Fans of cult sci-fi series \u201cFirefly\u201d are celebrating after star Nathan Fillion<\/a> revealed that the show may be returning \u2014 in an animated<\/a> format.\n <\/p>\n \n The series, created by Joss Whedon, of \u201cBuffy the Vampire Slayer<\/a>\u201d and \u201cAvengers Assemble\u201d fame, has a legion of fans despite the fact that it was canceled back in 2003 after running for just one season. It only ever featured 14 episodes, though a spin-off movie \u2014<\/strong> \u201cSerenity\u201d \u2014<\/strong> was released in 2005.\n <\/p>\n \n The show followed a renegade crew on a small, battered spacecraft called Serenity, as they roamed unknown parts of the galaxy while on the run from the authorities and trying to dodge warring factions.\n <\/p>\n \n Now Fillion, who played Captain Malcolm \u2018Mal\u2019 Reynolds in the show, has shared the good tidings with sci-fi lovers, breaking the news on Instagram<\/a> in a short video featuring many of the original \u201cFirefly\u201d cast.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cAs of this moment the word is out. We are going to try to bring back \u2018Firefly.\u2019 And this time we\u2019re going to animate it. Guys, bringing back \u2018Firefly\u2019 \u2014 crazy or not crazy?\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n Fellow cast members, including Jewel Staite who played Kaylee Frye and Gina Torres who played Zo\u00eb Washburne, then give their opinions as to whether the plan is crazy or not.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cNow, to do this we would need Joss\u2019 blessing \u2026 I got it,\u201d said Fillion, as fellow cast members went on to say that the rights would also need to be obtained from 20th Century Fox\/Disney.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cThey got excited. They said yes,\u201d said Fillion, adding that the team already has a script that animation firm ShadowMachine, which won an Oscar for Guillermo del Toro\u2019s \u201cPinocchio,\u201d is working on.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cThe last piece we need is a home, and for that we need you,\u201d said Fillion, urging Instagram users to engage with the post in order to create a buzz around the campaign to revive the show. \u201cI\u2019m asking you to do what you\u2019ve always done \u2014<\/strong> keep Firefly flying,\u201d he said.\n <\/p>\n \n Fillion\u2019s request definitely seemed to work as the post has been liked more than 900,000 times since it was published on Sunday.\n <\/p>\n \n Many of the cast appeared in a \u201cFirefly\u201d panel at Awesome Con<\/a> in Washington, DC on Sunday, where they teased the audience with their announcement, taking to the stage reading cue cards and pretending to be Nathan Fillion. Eventually, Alan Tudyk, who played Hoban \u2018Wash\u2019 Washburne<\/a>, said: \u201cBecause of our schedules and availability the only way to get it done is if we animated it.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n The announcement was met with huge applause, after which Fillion directed the crowd \u2014 and anyone watching online \u2014 to interact with the news on social media.\n <\/p>\n \n One excited user, rosalita 9899, responded beneath Fillion\u2019s Instagram post, saying: \u201cFinally, Thank you. We\u2019ve been waiting 24 years for more. Take our money, take our time, we\u2019ve got your back. Such incredible joy. An animated series is perfect!!!\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n Another, Hawkmancosplay, said: \u201cThank you for keeping this dream alive!\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n celebrity.land has reached out to Joss Whedon, 20th Century Studios and ShadowMachine for comment.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n