A Pushing Daisies revival looks to be in the works, and we already have a few ideas about exactly how that could take place.
Pushing Daisies showrunner, Bryan Fuller, has revealed that he has been in talks for a possible Pushing Daisies film, as well as a stage musical.
But these are not the only options for a revival. Fuller has previously stated, “we’re working on something that is definitely a Pushing Daisies revival, and the idea would be to have as many cast as we can to participate in it.” Given Fuller’s openness to new ways of rediscovering Pushing Daisies, we decided to share a few of our own.
A Kickstarter-funded movie
Pushing Daisies has maintained a cult following despite its short life. In the age of Kickstarter, as Veronica Mars has demonstrated, an enthusiastic fan base can be instrumental in getting a film made. If Fuller managed to get the same cast on board, we have no doubt that Daisies fans would fight to get the movie made. A Kickstarter funded movie would also allow the fandom to feel more involved in the revival process, a fact that can not be underestimated, especially given Fuller’s record for interacting with his fans.
A Broadway musical
Of course, a Pushing Daisies musical could not, and should not happen without the return of Kristin Chenoweth, who won a Supporting Actress Emmy for her work on the show. Chenoweth is a Broadway powerhouse, but she is not the only cast member with acting experience. Star Lee Pace is a theatre veteran, as is Jim Dale (who narrated the show), and supporting cast members Ellen Greene and Swoosie Kurtz. The show is already fantastical in nature, and musical numbers could only enhance its heightened reality.
A studio-funded movie
This is the most straight forward option. Just like Firefly, Pushing Daisies ended before its time. And as with Firefly movie follow-up Serenity, a studio funded movie could mean a greater chance of bringing back the original cast members, as well as affording the high production value that Pushing Daisies viewers were accustomed to. This would be the most natural, although not necessarily the most creative way to revive our beloved show.
A new Netflix season
The success of Arrested Development on Netflix gives us hope for all of our favourite, yet sadly short-lived, television shows. A short and solid season 3 could be produced on Netflix, and released all at once for maximum publicity. In addition to Arrested Development, Netflix has earned acclaim through shows including House of Cards and Orange is the New Black, so there is no doubt that they could make it work. In a way, they would be the perfect home for this quirky, technicolor masterpiece.
A web series
Web series, like Husbands, have proved that clever, well produced web series can still prosper in a world of television. Unlike a Netflix series that would likely be released all at once, a web series could be released weekly just like a television show. The format lends itself to shorter episodes, which would cut down on production time and costs. And a Pushing Daisies web series with each episode focusing on a specific character would hopefully make it easier for the Daisies cast to fit the revival into their busy schedule.
What ‘Pushing Daisies’ revival would you like to see?
Pushing Daisies aired on ABC from 2007 to 2009. The two season show was prematurely cancelled by the network, having been affected by the 2008 Writers Guild of America strike. The series starred Lee Pace (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey), Anna Friel (Limitless) and Kristin Chenoweth (Glee). Pushing Daisies showrunner, Bryan Fuller, is now hard at work on NBC’s Hannibal.