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Before Joss Whedon created the thrilling supernatural seriesBuffy the Vampire Slayer, he wrote the script for his planned film version of the story. In 1992,Buffywas released as a comedy vampire film, much different from what the series turned out to be. Interestingly, Whedon intended theBuffyfilm to be just like the series, but he revealed that the director’s vision and one particular actor destroyed the film.
While he was kind to director Fran Rubel Kuzui, he absolutely bashed actor Donald Sutherland and revealed that he was difficult to work with.The Avengersdirector shared that Sutherland did not respect his director and changed lines according to his will.
Also Read:“That was my dream”: Joss Whedon Revealed Why He Discarded Studio’s ‘Begging’ to Change Buffy the Vampire Slayer Name
Joss Whedon Couldn’t Stand Donald Sutherland On TheBuffyMovie Set
In the aftermath of his successful series remake of the 1992 filmBuffy the Vampire Slayer,Joss Whedonwas asked by IGN what went wrong in the film. Whedon shared that it was not the movie he intended and didn’t like the way it was going. However, he refrained from saying anything, as it was a cardinal rule on movie sets to respect the director. TheAngelcreator toldIGN:
“I didn’t agree with the way the movie was going, but I also kept my mouth shut because you respect the director. You do that. You respect the person above you, and you make suggestions and you do your best. You know? But you don’t ever disrupt the chain of command. You have to have faith in the person who’s running it or things will fall apart.”
However, Whedon revealed one actor who, according to him, caused problems on the set and did not follow this ‘rule’. Whedon was initially hesitant to name the actor and mentioned him only as“the big, fat, wannabe movie star”and“the old guy”. However, when the IGN interviewer asked if the initials of the actor were“D.S.”, Whedon revealed that it wasDonald Sutherlandwho was overriding the director’s creative decisions.
TheJustice Leaguestep-in director revealed that Sutherland would randomly change his lines, giving a tough time to his director. Whedon told IGN:
“I believe that part of the problem was that the director was unable to control the big, fat, wannabe movie star who came – you know, the old guy. […] Donald. They were changing their lines and running roughshod over her and everybody else, and I’m sorry. you may’t have that.”
In another interview withAV Club, Whedon went on a rant aboutThe Hunger Gamesactor calling him a “prick”. He claimed that Sutherland’s“little rewrites”and his“little ideas”about what his character should do destroyed the movie. Interestingly, theBuffyfilm has gained newfound respect in recent times.
Also Read:Gal Gadot Forced Joss Whedon to Use a Body Double After she Refused to do 1 Scene in His Justice League
The Irony In Joss Whedon Blaming Donald Sutherland
Donald Sutherland has been known for his mean on-set attitude, with various stories about it surfacing over the years. However, Joss Whedon’s blaming of Sutherland may be seen as the pot calling the kettle burnt. In 2020,Justice LeaguestarRay Fisheraccused Whedon of workplace harassment (via Variety).Gal Gadotalso toldN12that theFireflycreator“kind of threatened”her career.
In 2021,Buffyactress Charisma Carpenter alleged that Whedon used to“abuse his power”and call her“fat”. In hertweet, she further added that he had asked her“if [she] was going to keep it”when he learned that she was pregnant. Following Carpenter’s allegations,Buffyco-stars Amber Benson and Michelle Trachtenberg, also corroborated her remarks.Sarah Michelle Gellaralso came forward in support of“all survivors of abuse.”(via Deadline)
Also Read:“We weren’t trying to make an Avengers movie”: Zack Snyder Still Hasn’t Watched Josh Whedon’s Justice League After His DCU Exit
It appears that the allegations forced Whedon to largely distance himself from the industry.Buffy the Vampire Slayerseries is now available for streaming on Hulu, while the film is available on Max.
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3020
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
