20 Years Later, A Genre-Defining Sci-Fi Masterpiece is Officially Surging on U.S Streaming Charts

3 weeks ago 9

Published Mar 9, 2026, 1:21 PM EDT

Denis is a news writer for Collider with close to five years of experience in the industry. He has analyzed shows across different genres, formats and styles. His favorite types of articles to write are exciting news updates and episodic deep-dives. He might say he doesn't have a favorite show, but he has watched The Wire, Shameless, The Big Bang Theory, and The Blacklist more than once. Denis is increasingly becoming focused on the global streaming arena and how media connects with audiences in various markets. Find him on X tweeting about something random that occurred to him about a TV show or the industry in general.

Some shows truly never get the appreciation they deserve until it's too late. This was the case with the 2002 sci-fi western Firefly, the Joss Whedon series that never made it past Season 1 but remains popular. The series aired on Fox, but an irregular schedule that hurt its ratings led to a cancellation, which still pains fans to this day. The show has gained cult status, with its popularity surging in the two decades since it aired. With a 96% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, Firefly is a fan favorite that viewers keep revisiting every few months.

What is the Cast of 'Firefly' Up to Now?

Many of the main cast members have secured other roles in popular shows, with some taking on executive producing duties. Nathan Fillion has left Mal behind and taken up John Nolan, the central character in the popular ABC series, The Rookie. Meanwhile, Baccarin juggles film and television, currently starring in the CBS series Sheriff Country. Gina Torres just wrapped up her four-season run on 9-1-1: Lone Star and currently appears on Memory of a Killer. Additionally, she will reunite with Lone Star co-star Rob Lowe in My New Friend Jim, an upcoming comedy film.

Alan Tudyk recently starred in the fan-favorite sci-fi drama Resident Alien, which was also cancelled despite positive reception. He reunited with Jewel Staite, who guest-starred on the show for four episodes. Summer Glau and Adam Baldwin have racked up extensive credits over the past two decades. Ron Glass passed away in 2016, making his return impossible. Another major hurdle is Whedon's cancellation by Hollywood after accusations of abusive on-set behavior came out, and he remains a persona non grata even on projects like the Buffy reboot.

Firefly is available to purchase on iTunes. Stay with Collider for more updates.