Popwatch interviews Joss Whedon - Dollhouse

Everything looks good from here...

Can I service Summer?

The amount of enthusiasm Joss has is just staggering. You can feel it come off the page. Dollhouse S2 is looking up more and more. Hearing a creator be so excited about their project is refreshing.

The Xan Man | June 12, 03:35 CET

I'd like to be serviced by Joss and friends.

Arsenal | June 12, 03:42 CET

What I find interesting is after the news came out about the Buffy reboot that Kuzui approached Joss' agent. I guess they paid enough attention to the fan backlash that they tried to get Joss on board.

And I'm actually happy that Joss turned them down because if the Buffy movie isn't with the cast and characters from the tv show, then I rather see something new and original from Joss.

Matt_Fabb | June 12, 03:49 CET

Happy happy happy.

It was either that or the gleemoticon.

Pointy | June 12, 03:49 CET

It's nice to see it basically stated outright that they don't have to spend their time thinking "how do we be a smash bang massively huge numbers ratings hit" and instead can just sit in the writers room going "what awesome shit can we do".

The One True b!X | June 12, 03:58 CET

I'm glad they're letting the stories determine the guest cast, rather than vice versa. I would love to see Summer in Dollhouse but I would really hate to see her shoehorned in just because she's available. Luckily Joss would never do that so I needn't worry about my hate rising like beautiful bird. *avoids eye contact with b!X* ;-)

Btw, missing a period.

cabri | June 12, 04:00 CET

I ain't gonna touch that.

Just in case anyone was worried.

QuoterGal | June 12, 04:04 CET

I still don't believe that this Buffy movie will really happen. At least I hope not.

jnr616 | June 12, 04:06 CET

I'm stoked. And I can't believe the fall is almost here! How lucky are we!

korkster | June 12, 04:11 CET

:O No it's not! Don't you say that!! We barely got summer started and now you want fall? You SoCal people think seasons are only for TV. :P *hugs 75 degrees tight before korkster steals it away*

cabri | June 12, 04:23 CET

Don't be a wuss, cabri. If you want, move to San Diego. It's 75 degrees here YEAR ROUND. Quite frankly, it's darn-right boring. Like today, we *almost* had a thunderstorm. But what happens? Blue skies by the afternoon. You people with your *actual* seasons don't know how lucky you have it. And Fall is the BEST time of the year, both for the weather & television. So snuggle up, get a hot cup of coca, and tune in for Dollhouse. (All of this has been said with love. And a grain of salt. Sea salt, toasted by a marvelous ocean with beautiful skies surrounding it.)

korkster | June 12, 04:40 CET

>( You're evil. Evil, I say! Just for that, I'm going to the noodle house this weekend and you can't stop me! :P

To wrestle this back on topic (it's all korkster's fault!), I'm glad Joss wishes to not have anything to do with that movie. Though I'd also be glad if he did it. So there.

cabri | June 12, 04:50 CET

it'll be really interesting stuff. Looks like Season 2 is a definite watch!

I just wish that they'll make point to say yes or no that Summer will be on there cos there are mad obsessive Summer fans around and if they hear an answer like that they go completely beserk over than wait to read the full answer

McPhee | June 12, 05:16 CET

it's all korkster's fault!

QFT, cabri ;).

zeitgeist | June 12, 05:21 CET

I just wish that they'll make point to say yes or no that Summer will be on there

Yes, well, their reason for not doing that is the best and most proper possible answer, however.

The One True b!X | June 12, 05:32 CET

If there's no guest spot for Summer then she'll be free to shoot "River Tam Beats Up Everyone".

zz9 | June 12, 05:42 CET

McPhee, when exactly was Dollhouse season 2 not a "definite watch"? And I'm confused. There are SG fans that are not Whedon fans? Really? Inconceivable.

IrrationaliTV | June 12, 05:54 CET

It's all those TSCC fans who are mad at the Whedonverse for even thinking about stealing her away. *rolls eyes*

cabri | June 12, 05:56 CET

I like this interview. Lots and lots of hope for Season 2 being utterly awesome. And being British, I don't use the term lightly.

curlymynci | June 12, 08:01 CET

Joss sounding excited makes me excited. I'm officially jazzed about season 2. Buffy movie? notsomuch.

ShanshuBugaboo | June 12, 08:07 CET

His comments about the movie seem to be getting picked up elsewhere so I've added them to the entry. Helps avoid the news getting reposted again and again.

Simon | June 12, 08:28 CET

I'm glad we've finally heard some comments from Joss on the new Buffy movie, and I'm glad he's handling it very professionally.

I'm still not going to see it though.

Matt7325 | June 12, 08:33 CET

Season two sounds like it will be very awesome. Kinda great that Echo probably is going to keep skills she shouldn't have after Alpha made her Omega. That's all kind of awesome.

vampmogs | June 12, 08:37 CET

re: Buffy movie. Latest rumors are that the producers are bandying about Megan Fox's name for the reboot. Sigh.

dottikin | June 12, 09:29 CET

I don't see the movie happening. It very much sounds like they announced it to try and blackmail Whedon to come on board. But he emphatically said no.

Re: Dollhouse season 2, this sounds rather exciting: "But she does have this weird super power of becoming a different person all the time, so she might start using that more specifically to find out who Caroline was and what happened to her and why this place exists."

Sort of like in ASITHOL where Echo asks to be imprinted for a specific task, but more so?

flugufrelsarinn | June 12, 09:34 CET

Latest rumors are that the producers are bandying about Megan Fox's name for the reboot.

I think it was more along the lines of some website no one has ever heard of before said there was interest in Megan. This madeup news happens all the time.

Simon | June 12, 09:35 CET

I must be blind, I didn't see this post and I tried to post the same article above and it got deleted, now I know why. Doh!

Zoic_Fan | June 12, 10:03 CET

Sort of like in ASITHOL where Echo asks to be imprinted for a specific task, but more so?

Doesn't that sound kind of like what you'd give to a really bad alcoholic to get them to stop drinking?

...I'm confused. There are SG fans that are not Whedon fans? Really? Inconceivable.

It's true. Summer Glau's fan base has grown beyond the confines of the whedonverse, which is a good thing for her long-term career.

ETA: Question mark.

[ edited by brinderwalt on 2009-06-12 13:27 ]

brinderwalt | June 12, 13:26 CET

lt would be interesting to see Summer part of the Dollverse, hopefully, Joss can come up with a unique plot that would work on showcasing her talent. l for one hope the Kuzuis will work with Joss on the Buffy movie but l doubt that it will ever happen.

zee | June 12, 13:58 CET

...ASITHOL...
Doesn't that sound kind of like what you'd give to a really bad alcoholic to get them to stop drinking?

Actually, when spoken aloud, it sort of sounds like someone with a lisp saying a bad word.

Winther | June 12, 16:48 CET

...ASITHOL...
Doesn't that sound kind of like what you'd give to a really bad alcoholic to get them to stop drinking?

Actually, when spoken aloud, it sort of sounds like someone with a lisp saying a bad word.

That too. Or the latest medication for chronic IBS (I still haven't managed to get the Tony Award adverts out of my psyche).

brinderwalt | June 12, 17:18 CET

I always thought of "ASITHOL" as an even more alcoholic Absinthe. Imagine such a thing.

wiesengrund | June 12, 17:24 CET

I'm glad Joss wishes to not have anything to do with that movie. Though I'd also be glad if he did it. So there.

I'm glad to know where the fandom stands on this. It's as clear as mud. ;)

Actually, when spoken aloud, it sort of sounds like someone with a lisp saying a bad word.

LOL. And I thought it was only me.

Joss' enthusiasm for this show wakes me up in the morning with a smile on my face. The countdown has begun. We are on the path of awesomeness.

They should sell that enthusiasm in bottles; everyone's life would be better for it. :)

korkster | June 12, 17:32 CET

If the movie comes about, I will tell absolutely everyone I know all the reasons they should NOT see it.

WhoIsOmega? | June 12, 18:18 CET

If the movie does well, it could also be a GOOD thing for Whedon. Think about it.

1) "Crappy New Buffy Movie" sells well but ultimately isn't nearly as good as the TV show.

2) It attracts a new (probably younger) fanbase as well as possibly bringing some older fans back.

3) [Insert massive amounts of DVD Sales of "Crappy Old Buffy Movie" and the Buffy TV seasons].

4) Whedon makes some money while continuing to show just how good the Buffy TV show is.

See, doesn't necessarily have to be a BAD thing. The idea and general act, I mean. The movie itself will be TERRIBLE.

-DED- | June 12, 18:36 CET

As much as I absolutely adore Summer, I kinda hope she doesn't come to Dollhouse. I think she needs to be in a series that exceeds the TSCC and Whedon fanbase. I would like to see her in a TV series that has a broader appeal, like Nathan's Castle. She's fabulous, and she's deserving of mainstream success.

Re: Buffy movie. I, too, am delighted the way Joss is handling this matter. But I hope the movie tanks big time. Perhaps the Kuzuis might be more open to having Joss-approved/supervised Buffyverse projects if their own efforts are a disaster. They still want the bucks, I'm sure.

palehorse | June 12, 19:12 CET

As much as I absolutely adore Summer, I kinda hope she doesn't come to Dollhouse. I think she needs to be in a series that exceeds the TSCC and Whedon fanbase. I would like to see her in a TV series that has a broader appeal, like Nathan's Castle. She's fabulous, and she's deserving of mainstream success.

Or in [a] movie(s). I couldn't agree more.

brinderwalt | June 12, 20:22 CET

The CNN main web site now links to this EW article, in the Entertainment category. Nice to see Dollhouse get some positive attention in the mainstream press.

SteveP | June 12, 20:26 CET

Ugh. If the Kuzuis are really going ahead with this, and they want the torch passed to them for future Buffy movies, they should make a deal with Joss that he has free run on this one. Then Joss can bring back everyone from BtVS, and continue with them all still being a team (albiet older) a la season 8, then introduce a whole slew of newbies that are defined as important to canon.

Then FROM THERE, the newbies can run with it for the next movie. No new Buffy Summers, though. It's gotta be SMG. No. New. Buffy.

Willowy | June 13, 00:05 CET

I'm both glad the Kuzuis reached out to Joss (it was the right thing to do) and that he turned them down. And I'm still hoping the movie won't get made. I'm totally ignoring the fact that the idea is out there. And if I ignore it hard and long enough, it'll just go away. Honest.

As for Dollhouse S2: these are the types of things I want to hear from Joss about a television show. It's going to be great (probably. No pressure.). Very much looking forward to it.

GVH | June 13, 00:40 CET

I don't get the impression from the article that Joss ever envisioned Summer as a full-time cast member. Recurring at most. So she could be on other, more main-stream, shows if she so chose, also.

Besides TSCC, Summer's done great work on The 4400 and The Unit, too, so it doesn't surprise me that she would have non-Whedonverse fans by now. I think a good indie movie or two, rather than a tv series, would be the way for her to truly break out, though.

shambleau | June 13, 01:15 CET

I would happily be part of the 3%.

Also, to say it would be terrible when you don't know who the director would be, don't know who the actors would be, don't know what the script would be...that's the the type of thoughtless fanatical comment that lends credence to the most extreme criticisms of Whedon fans.

lottalettuce | June 13, 04:49 CET

If the director isn't Joss, if Buffy isn't SMG, if the other actors aren't ASH, NB,AH,DB, etc...while it might not be "horrible" although that is exactly what I believe it would be, it sure as hell won't be "Buffy". People criticize us?

cheryl | June 13, 04:59 CET

If the director isn't Joss, if Buffy isn't SMG, if the other actors aren't ASH, NB,AH,DB, etc...while it might not be "horrible" although that is exactly what I believe it would be, it sure as hell won't be "Buffy". People criticize us?

Sure it would be "Buffy". Just a different "Buffy". Just like how the new Star Trek is a different Star Trek.

[ edited by brinderwalt on 2009-06-13 05:28 ]

brinderwalt | June 13, 05:28 CET

Star Trek is a horse of a different color all together and even then, they include one of the cast, portray the same characters. Buffy hasn't been off the air for decades and the verse isn't dried up and dead. We already have a living Buffy via Joss.
For *me* it would never be Buffy. Just a lame imposter.

cheryl | June 13, 06:00 CET

Star Trek is a horse of a different color all together and even then, they include one of the cast, portray the same characters. Buffy hasn't been off the air for decades and the verse isn't dried up and dead. We already have a living Buffy via Joss.
For *me* it would never be Buffy. Just a lame imposter.

Who's to say that a similar situation and mitigating factors wouldn't arise during the time it would take to develop this project (assuming, of course, that it gets developed at all)? I think that's the gist of lottalettuce's perfectly valid point: Making absolute condemnations of things that don't exist (at least not yet) is irrational.

brinderwalt | June 13, 08:07 CET

We all tend to care about Buffy a lot, here, hence the irrationality. So far all we know about the film is the Kuzui's, who already made a bad Buffy pic once are involved and a producer that is proud that he "just wants to make whatever the studio wants" (parafrasing here, but he really said that). Just contrast that with Whedon's "I'd rather make a series loved by a few people than liked by a lot of them" (also parafrasing) attitude that made the series great to see how terrible an attitude that is. So we do already know a few bits about the movie and this far everything we know spells disaster.

And I don't really care about the possible thoughts of Whedon-bashers who hang out on a Whedon blog, also not the high point of rationality, if you ask me.

[ edited by the Groosalugg on 2009-06-13 10:56 ]

the Groosalugg | June 13, 10:55 CET

There will be no Buffy movie without Joss, SMG and all the "real" characters and actors.
I know, because I can kill it with my mind.

Shey | June 13, 15:37 CET

We all tend to care about Buffy a lot, here, hence the irrationality. So far all we know about the film is the Kuzui's, who already made a bad Buffy pic once are involved and a producer that is proud that he "just wants to make whatever the studio wants" (parafrasing here, but he really said that). Just contrast that with Whedon's "I'd rather make a series loved by a few people than liked by a lot of them" (also parafrasing) attitude that made the series great to see how terrible an attitude that is. So we do already know a few bits about the movie and this far everything we know spells disaster.

It very well may spell disaster in the end (count me in the camp that thinks it will) but the fact remains that, to continue the analogy, the words haven't been written yet. That's the point.

And I don't really care about the possible thoughts of Whedon-bashers who hang out on a Whedon blog, also not the high point of rationality, if you ask me.

Call me crazy, but one of things that has drawn me to the Whedonite fold is how his works attract far more fans of the rational sort than most other fandoms.

Also, I'm not sure where you're seeing Whedon bashing in this discussion 'cause I certainly can't find it.

brinderwalt | June 13, 16:07 CET

I think fandom by definition contains a certain amount of irrationality at its heart. That said, there's not even a script for this movie yet. I won't condemn it based on what it's not (a Buffy movie with Joss at the helm), but I also think the odds are pretty heavily stacked against Hollywood doing the property justice.

In the meantime, we have actual Joss projects, hooray.

Sunfire | June 13, 16:55 CET

It's 75 degrees here YEAR ROUND

No, not really. It can get cold and rain, and in the summer at certain times be blistering hot (even in La Jolla, where I work), but I blame global warming for that.

Joss is a blessed and charmed man, to have work that he loves so much, particularly because we reap the benefit of that. And about the Buffy movie, he is a class act. The less said about it the better.

Tonya J | June 13, 23:11 CET

Hey, sunfire I know I haven't been around much lately, so maybe I am way behind the times, but congratulations aon getting all blue-y. When did that happen by the way?

I am just glad to hear Joss very specifically talk about the last half of the season as being what he is proud of. I so disliked the beginning of Dollhouse and was so glad when it changed course. It is good to hesr that Joss is keeping to the new course for S2.

I also think that Joss was right to stay away form the Buffy movie. He did not like what they did to his first script, he does not have to go through that again.

newcj | June 14, 01:28 CET

Like newcj I'm curious about Sunfire's blueishness. And I thought that the script would be another attempt to present a bastardized version of Joss' original script for the Buffy movie (not so?). I have to say that I don't think it is in any way extreme to assume that this movie (which I hope isn't made) would be bad when it is brought to us by the same people who made the first one, which I thought was really very bad. That original film had a very good cast, and a very good script, but the result was really lame, so I don't think I'm being fanatical or unreasonable in saying I would save my money and not go see another attempt.

embers | June 14, 01:56 CET

Also, I'm not sure where you're seeing Whedon bashing in this discussion 'cause I certainly can't find it.

My comment (And I don't really care about the possible thoughts of Whedon-bashers who hang out on a Whedon blog) was in response to this bit:

...that's the the type of thoughtless fanatical comment that lends credence to the most extreme criticisms of Whedon fans.

Should have been clearer about that.

Anyway, my original comment might have sounded a bit more harsh than I had intended: just meant to say that I think we tend to be a bit touchy about Buffy because we care a lot about it and that the signs for the new movie so far have seem pretty bad.

the Groosalugg | June 14, 14:52 CET

When did that happen by the way?

Just a few days ago, thanks.

I was also happy to read that comment about expanding on the last half of Season 1. There's so much fascinating stuff to expand on in those later episodes.

Sunfire | June 14, 15:16 CET

June 12 2009