Inkworks has released product details for its Serenity Premium Trading Cards based on Universal Pictures' upcoming movie, Serenity, written and directed by Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).  Serenity, a far-flung science fiction adventure set on the very fringes of known space, will debut on September 30th and Inkworks will release its 72-card series of Serenity Trading Cards at least 3 weeks before the film opens.  The Serenity feature film is based on the short-lived, but cult-favorite TV series, Firefly, which will start a second run on the Sci Fi Channel later this month (see 'Firefly on the Sci Fi Channel').

The six-card packs of Serenity cards will have an MSRP of $2.49 and are available to retailers in 36-pack display boxes.  Inkworks is also producing a special Serenity Collector's Album (MSRP $19.95).  Inkworks guarantees one autograph per box and has ten different signers, including Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Adam Baldwin, Alan Tudyk, Jewel Staite, Morena Baccarin, Summer Glau, Sean Maher, Ron Glass, and Chiwetel Ejiofor.  Other chase cards include a 9-card Renegades puzzle (1 card per every 11 packs), a 5-card Women of Serenity subset (1 card per 17 packs), 3 different box loaders and one case loader.  The Serenity Trading Card series will also include Pieceworks Cards featuring pieces of actual costumes worn on-screen during the filming -- but the actual costumes represented and the frequency of insertion is yet to be announced.

In addition to the Serenity Trading Cards pop culture retailers should have plenty of tie-in merchandise to exploit this potential 'cult hit,' including action figures from Diamond Select Toys (see 'DST to Make Serenity Action Figures'), a 3-issue comic 'prequel' from Dark Horse (see 'Dark Horse to Publish Serenity Comics'), the screenplay and magazines from Titan (see 'Titan Finds 'Serenity''), and a role-playing game from Margaret Weis Productions (see 'Margaret Weis to Produce Serenity RPG').