Then & Now: Whatever Happened to the Cast of Firefly 20 Years Later?
Whatever has become of the actors that portrayed the Serenity crew?
2002 can officially be dubbed the year of sci-fi, as Joss Whedon and Tim Minear released one of the most significant sci-fi shows in the history of the genre, Firefly. The show was an incredibly successful blend of space opera and Western elements, boasting well-crafted world-building and an ensemble cast memorable for their charisma and natural interpersonal chemistry.
Unfortunately, Fox canceled Firefly after only 11 of the 14 episodes had aired. Although a full season was later distributed on DVD, and a feature-length movie sequel was released in 2005, the show's cancellation is regarded as one of the biggest losses to the television industry, as Firefly remains an incredibly influential series. Meanwhile, the actors who played the members of the Serenity crew have since moved on.
Let's take a look at where they are now, 20 years later.
Nathan Fillion
Valuing personal freedom and independence, the Serenity captain Malcolm Reynolds is still viewed as one of the most popular characters, with people cosplaying him at almost every event.
For Nathan Fillion, who portrayed Reynolds, the role in Firefly was a major boost to his career as his appearance as the big bad's puppet Caleb in the last season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer had gone largely unnoticed. Though not the most high-profile actor in Hollywood, he has since had a string of memorable roles, including in such shows as Castle and The Rookie. He is also known for his collaborations with James Gunn, appearing in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and The Suicide Squad, and has been cast in the lead role in the upcoming Green Lantern live-action series. Fillion is also a successful voice actor, most notably in the famous Halo video game series.
Gina Torres
Zoë Washburne was one of the most beloved characters on Firefly, thanks to her bravery, combat skills, and loyalty to her longtime comrade-in-arms, Mal. Gina Torres, who portrayed her, first rose to fame with her role in the sci-fi series Cleopatra 2525, but like Fillion, it was Firefly that was her ticket to the big time.
From 2002 to 2018, the actress was married to Laurence Fishburne, with whom she starred in the second and third installments of The Matrix, as well as the TV series Hannibal. But perhaps her most defining role was as Jessica Pearson in the iconic legal drama Suits. She continues to be involved in sci-fi projects, having lent her voice to a character in Star Wars Rebels. Gina Torres has been starring in the procedural 9-1-1: Lone Star opposite Rob Lowe since season two after Lyv Tyler exited the show.
Alan Tudyk
Wash was the pilot of Serenity and the husband of Zoë, whose loyalty to Mal was always a source of conflict between the two men.
Alan Tudyk went on to star in the sitcom Arrested Development. He then appeared in another Joss Whedon project, Dollhouse, and continues to star in Resident Alien. Tudyk, like Fillion, became famous not only as an actor but also as a successful voice actor, voicing the role of the sentient robot Sonny in I, Robot, and the droid K-2SO in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, as well as Joker in the adult animated series Harley Quinn.
Morena Baccarin
Since appearing as the cunning and compassionate courtesan Inara on Firefly, Morena Baccarin's career has been going from strength to strength. In 2016, she starred in Deadpool as the title character's love interest. She then reprised the role in two subsequent installments of the franchise. She has also had starring roles in shows like Homeland, Gotham, and The Endgame. She is now set to appear in Fast Charlie, where the actress will be starring opposite Pierce Brosnan.
Adam Baldwin
Although the mercenary Jayne Cobb had a very flexible moral compass, he remained loyal to the Serenity crew at crucial moments. The actor who played him, Adam Baldwin, gained fame for his performance in Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket as well as in the post-apocalyptic drama The Last Ship.
Baldwin is notorious for his alt-right views, having supported Ted Cruz's campaign and having been involved in the infamous GamerGate movement, which doxed and threatened women in the video game industry.
Jewel Staite
The bright, talented ship mechanic Kaylee was one of the show's most endearing characters.
Jewel Staite played the equally talented Dr. Jennifer Keller on another sci-fi show, Stargate Atlantis, from 2007 to 2009, then had a recurring role in the crime drama The Killing, and today has a starring role in the Canadian legal drama Family Law, which has been running since 2021.
Sean Maher
On Firefly, Sean Maher played the brilliant trauma surgeon Simon Tam, who sacrificed his career to save his sister and constantly tried to court Kaylee. Since then, the actor has appeared in supporting roles on television, including an episode of The Rookie, while focusing primarily on voice acting in the DC Animated Movie Universe.
Summer Glau
Simon's sister, River, was by no means the most popular character, and the ship's crew was wary of her. However, the same cannot be said for the wonderful Summer Glau, who played the role. After Firefly, she starred in the sci-fi drama The 4400 and played the T-900 in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, as well as Ravager in Arrow. Her most recent television role is on Netflix's Wu Assassins.