August 24 2007
James Marsters talks upcoming projects with EW.
James talks about current projects and what he would like to do in the future.
This thread has been closed for new comments.
You need to log in to be able to post comments.
About membership.
*twitch, twitch, drool* ;)
Grey's Anatomy would be pretty cool too.
ETA: And poor Nick. But hey, at least one of them got the role. :)
[ edited by deepgirl187 on 2007-08-24 14:14 ]
deepgirl187 | August 24, 08:13 CET
aapac | August 24, 08:30 CET
hmbscully | August 24, 08:34 CET
Since several of the Buffy alums have appeared on House, it doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility for JM to show up there sometime.
But poor Nick. Maybe HE can get a role on House.
palehorse | August 24, 08:36 CET
zeitgeist | August 24, 08:48 CET
Not suprised at all.
I'm glad to hear that he saw Nick, and I'm sure something will happen for him soon. After all he got a series right out of the gate so there's probably lots of options for him.
Xane | August 24, 08:51 CET
Nice interview with James... thanks for the link!
Kirochka | August 24, 08:52 CET
sueworld2003 | August 24, 09:21 CET
It's actually the exact opposite situation for me, so I can see where Joss is coming from but from the other side of the fence. At school and college I was always part of the cool crowd. Very popular (probably too popular for the good of my grades) and never short of a girl on my arm. The character of Spike was actually the first one that I was really able to identify with because we have a lot of similarities in attitude, style and personality (although I try to ruthlessly murder less people than he did, honest). The sarcastic rocker with the pain-in-the-ass attitude has always been my role in any group I've been a part of and so when Spike arrived as a regular in season four it was fantastic to finally see somebody on the show I could really get. I'd loved the series from the first episode but now I had a character who had a perspective that I really got. No doubt the reason why Spike, to this day, is my favourite character on the box (with Lost's Sawyer coming up a close second nowadays).
D-Monik | August 24, 09:32 CET
Spike was a dangerous character because he could have overwhelmed the rest of the characters, and for many viewers, did. IMO that is why he was kept to such small scenes in most episodes. That is also why a spin-off or movie with him as the main character would have made so much sense.
newcj | August 24, 09:39 CET
Yes.
That is all. ;)
D-Monik | August 24, 09:44 CET
Nothing I haven't seen James say before - and he's right. Spike and Angel did, as characters, disrupt the themes of BtVS and they certainly weren't Joss's primary focus of interest.
I think it's great that in spite of that, Joss gave us Spike's character arc, which I love, and Angel's whole show, which I also love, and I'm sure James thinks so too. He's always said that Spike was a better fit on AtS (though the character had to go through what he went through on BtVS first).
deborahmm | August 24, 10:08 CET
However, he also says this:
which Joss has actually said isn't exactly the case so I guess, as with any other second hand comment (especially one related by a third party) we have to take what he says with a pinch of salt.
And he'd be worth watching on 'House'. All the guest stars on there seem to raise their game and JM's is pretty high to start with, could be good.
Saje | August 24, 10:22 CET
What Joss has said is that he's done with television.
which Joss has actually said isn't exactly the case so I guess, as with any other second hand comment (especially one related by a third party) we have to take what he says with a pinch of salt."
Besides everything someone says being their own interpretation, one thing we have to remember is that people who know Joss are not always basing their judgments on what he has said in the press, nor are they necessarily watching Whedonesque for his latest quote. Joss could have given JM that idea at some point when they spoke...like right after Angel had been cancelled...and without following the nuanced quotes afterward that may be the impression he will be left with until Joss unveils his next TV project. (See how I slip that positive thinking thing in there?)
JM has said that he does not really socialize with people from BtVS or Ats because he is too busy concentrating on his career (and I would guess, family.) He has also said he does not go on the internet at all. IMO that means his info is almost certainly going to be personal interaction specific and not necessarily up to date.
newcj | August 24, 10:52 CET
As for whether Joss was "really" into Spike or not, I don't recall Joss ever saying that. But Marsters feels that, and he may very well be right. However, if that were the case, it wouldn't make sense that Joss would pour so much energy post-Angel with his other writers into trying to create a Spike-centered TV movie. If Joss isn't really into non-heroic characters, then why was he "really" into Faith, an, ahem, antihero and all-around not shiny-good character? It just doesn't add up, at least to me. But Marsters has his opinion and of course in the end he may be right.
I really hope James keeps getting great roles worthy of his talents. I'm not wild about Grey's, despite my admiration for Marti Noxon. But hey, more power to him if he gets on that show. He can make any character sing in my book.
phlebotinin | August 24, 11:01 CET
I'm glad that JM is joining WaT but it's nice to read about Nick B getting auditions too.
BTVS and AtS had such amazing casts and its always nice to read about their new projects.
debw | August 24, 11:02 CET
Joss has expressed regard for Spike, but it's also clear from stuff that he's said he's all about the feminist message and imo Joss thinks of Spike as less important than some of the other characters.
I love all of the characters but I definitely love Buffy and Spike much more than any of the others. However, I do accept Joss's love for Spike is nowhere near as deep as mine.
That doesn't mean Joss has no love for Spike. I'm sure he appreciates Spike greatly and is pleased about creating a character that so many fans adore and relate to.
Reddygirl | August 24, 11:58 CET
Support Spike sent Joss flowers and he shortly after at a convention mentioned receiving them and that if The WB was interested in a Spike movie,he was open to that?
So I was always under the impression that it was actually fandom that put the idea of a Spike movie in his head initially and he didn't come up with the idea of doing that himself.He then expanded the idea to include other character based T.V. or DVD movies on top of the Spike one.
Also,I seem to remember James saying at a convention or something that when he first spoke to Joss about the Spike movie,Joss told him that he didn't think there was much left to say about the character?
Farther down the line in a interview,Joss then said about the Spike movie that he sort of saw Spike as being used as a stepping stone for other characters.I think he was alluding to Illyria since what little was revealed seemed to indicate that the Spike movie was going to focus heavily on Illyria herself with Spike being used as a spring board.
It always also seemed to me that everybody else knew more about The Spike movie than James himself did.I got the impression that James had no idea that Amy was going to be involved or that Tim was going to write and direct it until fans told him at conventions.The other actors and people connected to the Buffyverse seemed to know more then James himself.
This is all my impression anyway.
I'm sure Joss likes all the characters but I'm not surprised that he probably has favorites.
Didn't more recently Joss say he saw more of himself in Giles now then Xander?
Buffyfantic | August 24, 12:19 CET
spikeylover | August 24, 13:02 CET
killinj | August 24, 14:22 CET
Let's face it. Both Spike and Faith changed quite a bit, but I don't think either of them have finished changing. They don't know where they fit in, and that's what makes the story interesting. They're misfits. They're both volatile, and they need to find their places in the world.
Who wouldn't relish the wonderful irony of a vampire slayer teaming up with a vampire in order to do good?
quantumac | August 24, 18:54 CET
It should have been poor James, and he should have had the chance to beat the person who gave the go ahead on the use of that photo. Who in their right mind would let that photo be used in a national magazine. Don't they have access to wireimage. Ok, yes, I know, what can I say, yes I go for the photo. Because a bad photo can distract as much as a good photo can enhance.
RavenU | August 24, 19:13 CET
Madhatter | August 24, 19:35 CET
helcat | August 24, 19:41 CET
The new Buffy season eight, no Spike at all.
It's pretty obvious to me that Joss just doesn't get the Spike love.
It's his perogative of course, but it's a damn shame for those of us who would like to see more of Spike's story.
Thank goodness for Brian Lynch, who does get it, and can really write.
Maybe someday Brian will end up running a Spike spin-off.
A girl can dream!
Edited to add that I appreciate Joss allowing Brian to continue the story, even though Joss himself isn't interested. It's a nice compromise.
[ edited by Xane on 2007-08-25 01:52 ]
Xane | August 24, 19:50 CET
I'll take substance over style any day.
JuliaL | August 24, 19:53 CET
I hope the interview is also printed in the actual paper edition of the EW magazine. That's a really great interview.
deanna b | August 24, 20:10 CET
luvspike | August 24, 20:29 CET
Reddygirl | August 24, 20:52 CET
dottikin | August 24, 21:00 CET
Hint to EW: If you want great pics of anyone from the 'verse, contact RavenU.
Willowy | August 24, 21:23 CET
If I was flipping through EW in a book store and saw the photo they have, I would either gone right past it or wonder if he had been filming a re-make of 'Dawn of the Dead'. Marsters has a wonderful face to shoot, because he is graced with the ability to animate it and express so much with it. So it's amazing they came up with that shot to use and once I saw the shot it did color my reading of the article. I kinda felt the woman didn't care about who she was interviewing or what she was asking. It was just a piece of copy she had to write, her research seem to be lacking a bit as well. Am I the only one who felt odd about her asking about a band that has been defunct for 3 years but not one mention of him doing the voice Lex Luthor in the upcoming Superman DVD.
Or maybe it's just me ... and the way that photo struck me. Like I said before ... perception. Dropping my 2 cents, well I guess 4 cents in the till now.
[ edited by RavenU on 2007-08-25 03:30 ]
RavenU | August 24, 21:28 CET
Re: Joss working in TV again. There's a petition asking TV stations to give him a show here. www.petitiononline.com/whedon/petition.html
Suzie | August 24, 21:35 CET
Shapenew | August 24, 21:53 CET
I do not see the purpose of the Joss/TV petition. I'm sure if Joss wanted to develop a concept for a television show, one of the networks would be interested but has not given any indication that's what he wants to do right now.
As for the photo, I'm blaming Froggy.
iowagirl | August 24, 22:29 CET
I must have been imagining the nurse's outfit, threesome in chains, trains entering tunnels panel then. :-)
purplehazel | August 24, 22:59 CET
Xane | August 25, 02:30 CET
Most of all I like JM doing a good interview with EW and I love how busy Mr Marsters is these days .
He deserves every success .
debw | August 25, 05:47 CET
Everyone knows that actors and writers/directors often have very different perspectives, which seems to me to be all that's going on here.
And I agree with everything sharpenew said, some of Spike's most memorable moments were written or re-written, shot or re-shot, by Joss himself.
As for personal feelings during the shooting of Buffy, is there anyone who hasn't seen the beautiful on-set photo of Joss and James in that (very manly) bear-hug in the recording studio during the OMWF shoot? If a picture is worth a thousand words, well that should be enough said.
Shey | August 25, 05:58 CET
''Heck yeah, I'd love to work with you anytime, call me — I'll come across the Earth for you.''
So I think it's important to keep JM's thoughts about his character seperate from his thoughts about working with Joss
debw | August 25, 08:39 CET
That is not what I would call a candid shot, candid shots are capturing a moment of time. Typically the person is not aware you are taking the shot, thus candid.
Dictionary definitions : Candid
1. Not posed or rehearsed: a candid snapshot.
2. Informal or natural; especially caught off guard or unprepared; "a candid photograph"
This was a staged shot, not a head shot more a photo op. James knew the photo was being taken and he was posing for it, the photographer should have used flash or at least suggest a different pose to use the lighting availible. James is very aware of having his photo taken and is completely open to photo direction, typically unless you are a tabloid photographer you want your subject to look good. To me this shot did not show James in his best light. Like I said in a previous post Otega's shot from Grand Slam is so much better than the photo they used.
But again my perception, just trying to clarify it ... and everyone's different.
RavenU | August 25, 10:52 CET
I can't agree with James' take on how Joss viewed Spike. It may jive with some passing comments by Joss, I don't know. But when I look at the story he ultimately wrote for Spike, I come to the conclusion that James has it all wrong.
Can't agree with the view of Spike as a "cool kid" with whom Joss could not identify. Maybe at first, though even in Season 2, Angel was the Big Man on Campus, Spike was the Second Best Condemned to Trying Harder.
Insecurity was Spike's middle name. We also learned fairly early on that Spike's cool was a cover for the rejected nerd (William "you're beneath me" The Bloody Awful Poet) within.
Agree that it's nice to see our Buffy alumns on TV. I do hope Nick ends up with something good. If any character "was Joss," it was surely Xander.
sari | August 25, 10:54 CET
Shapenew | August 25, 10:56 CET
With the excpetion of Jane E, the other writers tended to focus on one facet of Spike's personality.
Reddygirl | August 25, 12:12 CET