THR said it best when it said the Internet exploded in anger Thursday at news that Warner Bros., Atlas Entertainment and Vertigo Entertainment planning a new Buffy the Vampire Slayer film without Joss Whedon, the maestro of the 1992 film and 1997-2003 TV series.

Whedon himself even responded online advising fans to “leave me to my pain” in jest.

However, new inside sources reveal that Whedon did get offered the chance to be involved with the new Buffy… but passed.

Studio insiders and THR reports that Whedon was approached last year after Buffy rightsholder Fran Rubel Kuzui and husband Kaz Kuzui began developing a remake with Vertigo. It was then Whedon decided to take a pass to peruse other interests, namely the epic and most ambitious film of the century, marvel’s “The Avengers.”

It was only Whedon passed that the producers sought out actress-turned-scribe Whit Anderson to help write the new Buffy series.

Say it ain’t so Joss! Say it ain’t so… although with the truck load of money Marvel shipped to your door I can understand why. *sigh*

Source: THR