Universal Studios Hollywood is reaching out to movie fans, science fiction enthusiasts and fans of Universal Pictures new "sci-fi western" Serenity and its preceding TV series "Firefly" (also known as "Browncoats") with "Serenity Fan Fest" on September 24, 2005. Fans will have the chance to meet the film's stars, view clips and behind-the-scenes footage from the film, meet the special effects team behind the film's striking visual imagery as well as the film's writer/director, Joss Whedon.

The "Serenity Fan Fest" will take place inside the theme park and will feature a cast Q&A from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m., followed by an autograph session from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. with many of the film's stars including Summer Glau (River Tam), Adam Baldwin (Jayne Cobb), Morena Baccarin (Inara Serra) and Whedon, the Oscar- and Emmy-nominated writer/director responsible for the worldwide television phenomena of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Angel and Firefly.

Visual effects supervisor Loni Peristere of Zoic Studios (Serenity, Battlestar Galactica, Spider-man 2 and Van Helsing) will discuss the process of creating visuals for a world set 500 years in the future with a rare look at various stages of visual effects production.

Browncoat loyalists will also have the opportunity to view authentic movie props including the 14-foot MULE hovercraft and enjoy behind-the-scenes footage from the futuristic action-adventure film.

The "Serenity Fan Fest" is included with general admission to the movie-based theme park. Admission tickets are available at a $15 discount ($38.00) with an exclusive "Serenity Fan Fest" downloadable coupon at RIGHT HERE. Serenity fanfest tickets are limited and all events operate on a first come, first serve basis and are subject to change.

Serenity opens nationwide on September 30. Universal Studios Hollywood (www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com) is a world-class theme park and entertainment destination. Situated upon 415-acres, Universal Studios combines an authentic working movie and television studio with cutting-edge experience that employs the latest in state-of-the-art technologies.

Joss Whedon, the Oscar and Emmy-nominated writer/director responsible for the worldwide television phenomena of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel-now applies his trademark compassion and wit to a small band of galactic outcasts 500 years in the future in his feature film directorial debut, Serenity.

The film centers around Captain Malcolm Reynolds, a hardened veteran (on the losing side) of a galactic civil war, who now ekes out a living pulling off small crimes and transport-for-hire aboard his ship, Serenity. He leads a small, eclectic crew who are the closest thing he has left to family - squabbling, insubordinate and undyingly loyal.

When Mal takes on two new passengers-a young doctor and his unstable, telepathic sister-he gets much more than he bargained for. The pair are fugitives from the coalition dominating the universe, who will stop at nothing to reclaim the girl. The crew that was once used to skimming the outskirts of the galaxy unnoticed find themselves caught between the unstoppable military force of the Universal Alliance and the horrific, cannibalistic fury of the Reavers, savages who roam the very edge of space. Hunted by vastly different enemies, they begin to discover that the greatest danger to them may be on board Serenity herself.