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The series Firefly and the movie Serenity share similar concepts and similar characters. Are they a part of the same story? Are they linked? If not can someone explain why two very similar programs were created? If they are linked can someone explain the link to me?

I realize they both have the same plot line, a girl is used by the government for some secret experiment. I just want to know the connection.

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    Also Serenity is the name of the ship.
    – Sinan
    May 4, 2011 at 17:00
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    To be fair, they don't share "similar" concepts and characters, they have exactly the same characters portrayed by exactly the same actors using exactly the same concepts.
    – Nerrolken
    Apr 22, 2015 at 16:44
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    you need to watch series2 to understand the link
    – Naib
    Sep 14, 2017 at 19:19
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    @Naib series 2?
    – Vishwa
    Feb 7, 2018 at 9:09
  • 1
    @Naib - Now, that's a cruel joke.
    – RDFozz
    Aug 18, 2018 at 18:18

2 Answers 2

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They go hand in hand. The movie takes place some time after the series.

After the series was canceled, it continued to garner a large following and Joss Whedon was able to secure the funds to do a movie.

I see the movie as a chance to wrap up the series on his terms. And as a goodbye from the cast and crew.

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    Now if only they would make several sequels to Serenity....
    – BBlake
    May 4, 2011 at 19:19
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    Budget $40M; worldwide gross $38.8M. In the end, with rentals and purchases, I imagine it still made money, but probably not enough money to risk a sequel, unfortunately.
    – Kyralessa
    May 4, 2011 at 23:27
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    It's a pity really. Serenity/Firefly's popularity is only growing with time...
    – PearsonArtPhoto
    May 5, 2011 at 0:33
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    Why not? It worked for Star Trek. Give it a few more years and I bet there will be another movie, whether prequel or sequel. And as for killing off characters, Joss does that all the time. Not surprising at all. And they keep right on going.
    – BBlake
    May 5, 2011 at 11:32
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    @Kyralessa Typically, cult-classic stuff with a small but very keen fanbase (Browncoats are the prime example of such a group, I think) sells much better on DVD than in cinema release. Wouldn't surprise me if the DVD sales totalled much higher than box office take, though I can't find any definite figures online.
    – MGOwen
    May 9, 2011 at 4:04
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  • The TV series Firefly is first in consumption order, and is the basic location in the timeline for comparisons.

  • The comics Those Left Behind and Better Days are set between the TV series and the film. These answer some questions left open in both the TV series and movie, so could be read either between the two (chronological order) or after the movie (publication order).

  • The comic The Shepard's Tale covers a time period that extends from well before the start of Firefly to immediately before the movie. It contains a moderate spoiler for the movie, so is best read afterwards.

  • The movie Serenity is set some time after the TV series and those comics.

  • The comic Float Out is set shortly after the movie. It contains a significant spoiler from the movie, so should be read after it.

Creator Joss Whedon switched studios because Fox wasn't willing to let him do the movie. He created the comics to bridge the missing characters out. The comics are an important, although not vital, bridge.

Originally, the plot line was supposed to resolve over several seasons; when Fox canceled, Joss felt he needed to complete the primary enigma arcs (Reavers, River). The movie gave him the chance to do so.

The comics are also part of 'verse canon. They are primarily written by Joss' brother, with Joss' approval, exploring other areas of the story of Mal and associates.

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