Buffy headed back to the big screen

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" creator Joss Whedon says Hollywood's intended big-screen reboot of his franchise is "a sad reflection of our times."

Whedon penned the campy 1992 film comedy of the same name, then followed it up by producing and writing an iconic, much darker television series, which ran for seven seasons. The titular heroine has also been featured in comic books and an animated series.

Warner Bros. announced Monday that it plans to remake the movie version of "Buffy" without Whedon's involvement.

"This is a sad, sad reflection on our times, when people must feed off the carcasses of beloved stories from their youths -- just because they can't think of an original idea of their own, like I did with my 'Avengers' idea that I made up myself," Whedon told E! News in an e-mail.

"I always hoped that Buffy would live on even after my death. But, you know, AFTER. I don't love the idea of my creation in other hands, but I'm also well aware that many more hands than mine went into making that show what it was. And there is no legal grounds for doing anything other than sighing audibly. I can't wish people who are passionate about my little myth ill."