The Origin

Joss Whedon is one of the most notorious names in fandom with his collection of unforgettable characters, witty dialogue, and extreme character development. His Buffy The Vampire Slayer television series put a footprint in television history and defined a generation of geekdom. Whedon has always been known for writing strong woman characters, in fact, Buffy could be considered one of the most empowering female characters in popular media. It would seem only logical to have him direct the feature film of one of the most iconic woman characters in the DC Universe (if not the entire comics universe), Wonder Woman.

Beginnings and Endings

As Whedon was finishing up Serenity, the follow up film to his space western television series Firefly, it was announced by Warner Brothers that he would be writing and directing a film based on Wonder Woman. For two years Whedon was hard at work writing the script for the film and he wasn’t getting the best of feedback. When he would bring his script to the studio they would claim that really wasn’t what they were looking for and he would go rewrite it. He and the studio also seemed to see two very different films. In February of 2007 Whedon announced  that he was no longer involved with the project.

Later in an interview with Maxim, Joss argued that DC Characters with the exception of Batman, seemed very removed from humanity, and when they were created, they were creating gods. Could this somehow be related to his Wonder Woman project? This comment could really be taken in a couple of ways. The first could be that he might have been trying to ground Wonder Woman and not have the film feel overly fantastical. Another reason for this comment could be the frustration that resulted in trying to actually create a movie out of this god-like character that would resonate with an audience.

What We Know

Unlike Kevin Smith’s script for Tim Burton’s Superman Lives, none of the writing was ever leaked for the film. The little bit we know is that Whedon stated that his Wonder Woman was somewhat reminiscent of Angelina Jolie claiming “She spends a lot of time flying around. She works in a lot of different countries. She’s very global. And she’s appalled by the way people treat each other.” He has also claimed that the bracelets would be in the film and the Steve Trevor relationship would be explored.

In 2010, concept artwork from the film was leaked on what Wonder Woman might have looked like. The costume remained more or less reminiscent to the original design of the character with a few changes here and there. For one, they ditched the swimsuit bottoms and traded it in for pants and a skirt. The addition of pants is an idea which DC Comics recently implemented into the Wonder Woman books. In one of the concepts our lasso wielding heroine seems to be sporting a black trench coat. While this is just concept art without a script we still have no idea whether Wonder Woman would’ve appeared in one of these costumes or multiple of them.

How This Could Have Changed the Game

This Wonder Woman film not getting made was a huge turning point in DC films. When the movie was announced by Warner Brothers it was on the eve of their revival of Batman in Batman Begins. Before their Batman blockbusters DC really didn’t have much as far as movies go. The fan resented Halle Berry Catwoman had been released a year prior in 2004, and before that in 1997 Batman and Robin and Steel came out. Having a quality name that is so beloved by fanboys couldn’t have been a better move for DC movies.

What would a Wonder Woman movie mean for the entire DC Universe films. If the Wonder Woman movie was a success could we have gotten a Justice League movie sooner? It’s entirely possible. It seemed Warner Bros. was trying to reboot the big three characters of DC, Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman.

George Miller’s cancelled Justice League: Mortal in 2007 was slated to come out, but with an entirely fresh cast not involved in any previous films. With Joss’ Wonder Woman could we have gotten a JLA film with Christian Bale, Brandon Routh, and the uncast Wonder Woman? Would Chris Nolan have been open to the idea?

A Wonder Woman movie this early could have possibly unlocked the doors for DC Comics ushering in a Flash and Green Lantern movie even earlier. It seems though that Whedon has moved onto another universe where he’ll be directing…well…everyone!

Would you have liked to see this? What did you think of the costume? What would you have liked from the story? Discuss!

-Reid Ackerman

Variety is reporting that actress Cobie Smulders, best known as Robin Scherbatsky on How I Met Your Mother, has been cast as Maria Hill in The Avengers. A few years back, Avengers writer/director Joss Whedon had stated that the actress was his top choice for the role of Diana Prince in his Wonder Woman film that was ultimately never produced.

In the comics, Maria Hill became the new Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. when Nick Fury went MIA after the events of Secret War.

In Joss Whedon’s film, Cobie Smulders’ Maria Hill will be an assistant of sorts to Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury.

The Avengers will assemble in theaters May 4, 2012.

• Steven Moffat will be writing the Doctor Who Christmas special as well as five episodes next season
• Russell T Davies says “the series is going very dark places” much like Children of Earth and that is working with an American style writing room
• Stargate Universe season 2 starts September 28th
• The Walking Dead – Second season and B&W version on DVD releases confirmed

• JJ Abrams and Bad Robots to produce “Boilerplate”, a graphical novel adaptation
• Del Toro’s next project “At the Mountains of Madness”? James Cameron’s involvement to get the studio moving?
• Robert Rodriguez in negotiations for the Deadpool movie? Next movie is Spy Kids 4. Deadpool will break the fourth wall
• Matt Reeves says Let Me In will be a “closer tonal match to the book” than the Swedish version of the movie was; may direct Wolverine 2
• Joss Whedon wanted Mark Ruffalo because he reminds him of a personal quality not seen in Bruce Banner since Bill Bixby
• Liam Neeson no longer attached to Spielberg’s Lincoln biopic.
• Disney sells Miramax for $660 Million
• Edgar Wright says one of the reasons Ant Man isn’t in The Avengers is because he is writing an origin story, which doesn’t fit in chronologically with The Avengers
• In addition to scoring Tron Legacy, Daft Punk will appear in the movie. Several of their tracks have leaked
• Damon Lindelof rewriting Alien prequel for Ridley Scott
• Mad Men star Jon Hamm being “seriously considered” for the Superman role
• Zack Snyder is working on his adaptation of Frank Miller’s 300 follow-Up “Xerxes” as fast as Miller can write it
• Green Lantern character posters gives first look at Sinestro

• Josh Hutcherson made his own Spider-Man audition tape
• Microsoft develops software algorithm to remove motion blur from photographs taken with shaky hands using accelerometers and gyroscopes

Geek Jerk Reaction: The Other Guys, Step Up 3D, Flipped, Middle Men

• Darkseid, Blue Beetle, Booster Gold, Tights, Flight, and “Superman” coming to Smallville
• Young Justice looks amazing
• Chuck’s mom will be Sarah Connor, aka Linda Hamilton
• Brian Michael Bendis becomes writer/producer of Ultimate Spider-Man animated series.
• Caprica returns to the air in Janurary
• G4 brings anime versions of Blade, Wolverine, Iron Man, and X-Men to America in 2011

• Mark Ruffalo is The Hulk, Joss Whedon is officially directing The Avengers
• Infinity Gauntlet is the last prop reveal at the Marvel Studios booth. What does it mean?
• Guillermo del Toro to direct new Haunted Mansion movie
• Karl Urban will be the new Judge Dredd
• Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides gets a release date: May 20, 2011
• Marvel Studios regains Punisher film rights from Lionsgate

• Star Wars: The Old Republic will have space gameplay
• Scott Pilgrim vs The World hits PSN on 8/10, XBLA on 8/25 for $15
• DCU Online cinematic trailer is insane

• Comic-Con evokes a pen stab to the eye over a seat
• San Diego Comic-Con coming to an end? Anaheim or Las Vegas Comic-Con possible replacements

Geek Jerk Reaction: Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, Charlie St. Cloud, Dinner for Schmucks

By Joss Whedon and John Cassaday

This deluxe hardcover collects ASTONISHING X-MEN VOL. 3: TORN and ASTONISHING X-MEN VOL. 4: UNSTOPPABLE by the chart-topping super-team of Joss Whedon and John Cassaday, plus extras. In TORN, things go from peculiar to just plain bizarre! Emma Frost’s erratic behavior has the X-Men spinning in a non-stop downward spiral. Will an unlikely union be the final straw? After secretly lying in wait for months, the new Hellfire Club makes its move! Plus: The X-Man destined to destroy the Breakworld stands revealed! Who is it, and what will be their fate? And in UNSTOPPABLE, the X-Men are off to protect the Earth from its destruction at the hands of the Breakworld. And when it’s all over, nothing will ever be the same! No, really, we mean it! Whedon and Cassaday prove they are more than Astonishing: They are unstoppable! Collecting ASTONISHING X-MEN #13-24 and GIANT-SIZE ASTONISHING X-MEN #1.

From In Stock Trades:

SRP: $34.99
IST price: $22.04
Discount: 37%

• New Star Wars animated series to take place post-RoTJ?
• Ultimate Spider-Man: The Animated Series

• Runaways to be directed by Nick and Norah directer
• Joss Whedon rewriting/directing The Avengers, rewriting Captain America, becoming Marvel Movie Mastermind

• Upcoming XBLA games leaked. Sonic Adventure, Crazy Taxi, Quake Arena
• Ubisoft is eliminating printed game manuals in favor of in-game manuals on PC/PS3/360
• Infinity Ward continues to bleed employees. Over a dozen of the under 100 person studio has left.
• A french site got to demo the Natal. This demo included 2 player Ricochet as well as a white version of the device

• New iPhone model found
• Marvel drops Diamond Book Distributors

Geek Jerk Reaction: The Back-up Plan, The Losers, Oceans

Box Office Report:

1. Kick-Ass
2. How to Train Your Dragon
3. Date Night
4. Death at a Funeral
5. Clash of the Titans

UPDATE: It was just reported that Marvel Studios is in final negotiations with Joss Whedon to helm The Avengers. Which means he’s essentially seconds from signing on.

Wow. I honestly didn’t think this was going to happen. I’m much more excited than I thought I’d be. What do you guys think?

Original Post:

Originally reported by IESB and then later confirmed by LA Times, Joss Whedon is Marvel Studios’ favorite pick for the director of The Avengers. Is this a geek dream come true? The only thing better (for me) would be a Whedon directed X-Men First Class, or if he got the reins of Marvel’s Runaways adaptation (which I guess he could even still do after The Avengers wrapped).

But it is important to note that the film will not be WRITTEN by Whedon, he would strictly be calling the shots behind the camera and nothing more. He’s only done this three times before to my recollection (two episodes of The Office and his upcoming episode of Glee), and never for a film. This would be an interesting experiment at the very least.

What do you think of the possibility of The Avengers being helmed by Joss Whedon? Let us know in the comments section below!

Neil Patrick Harris was recently interviewed by MTV and dropped some info on the sequel to 2008’s internet sensation Doctor Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. According to the star of the Joss Whedon masterminded webseries, the sequel (which was announced last year) could be a full length feature film to be released in theaters, rather than online.

Because it will be released to a wider audience, its been said that the film will somehow not rely on the original webseries. But what does that mean exactly? While you would just assume that the film would continue with Doctor Horrible’s recent induction into the Evil League of Evil, without making much of a reference to Penny or the story of the original; its been widely speculated that they may actually remake the webseries as either the first act of the film (via Evil Dead 2) or bulletpoints within flashback sequences (which I would prefer).

The question of budget is also raised. NPH stated that giving Doctor Horrible a studio backed $80 million budget would kind of defeat the purpose of the whole thing, so would it be independently financed by Whedon? I think a self-financed theatrical sequel could be a perfect fit with Paramount’s new microbudget program.

What do you guys think? Let me know in the comments section below!

Hey Geeks, Scott here.

Just wanted to let you all know that I had the pleasure of recording another co-hosting stint on Couch Surfing for John Pavlich’s Sofa Dogs a while back, and the first part of that episode has been posted. So what are you waiting for? Go check it out HERE!

Sofa Dogs Podcast #167 – Couch Surfing Ep. 33a: Critical Mass (Part 1 of 2)

Part one of this two-part episode finds John and Scott ranting and raving about everything from geek culture, to obsessive behavior, to the joys of Netflix Streaming.

00:03:35 – John feels that Whedonesque is not being realized to its fullest potential, and worries that he’s missing out on several news items, at the discretion of some questionable moderation. (UPDATE: The concerns of this issue have since died down considerably, making much of this rant more obsolete than before.)

00:24:11 – Yes, the rant was that long. This leads to another rant, one that’s been discussed before. The Cult of Whedon, and how in some cases, the more overzealous contributors can ruin it for other fans. There is also more talk about the ups and downs of Dollhouse.

00:37:24 – Scott and John share their thoughts on Seasons 1 and 2 of Felicia Day’s award-winning web series, The Guild. Spoilers abound, so beware. The idea of online gaming and the fantasy genre are also discussed.

00:50:57 – When writing creepy, stalker humor, how far is too far?

01:00:52 – Felicia Day has a Celebrity Music Playlist on Canadian iTunes, proving once again that Canada rocks!

01:04:24 – Scott checked out Big Fan through Netflix Watch Instantly. The Wrestler and Patton Oswalt’s star power are also mentioned.

01:15:32 – Scott also watched the off-the-wall “comedy”, Good Dick.

01:23:02 – Finally, Scott closes out the show by discussing the film, World’s Greatest Dad.

The following artists can be heard in this episode:

Kevin Smith, Vampire Weekend, The Submarines, L7, Black Sabbath, Air, Cassettes Won’t Listen, Stereophonics, Headlights, Joshua Radin, Paul Minor, David Guetta & Akon, Metric, The Smiths, Why?, FC Kahuna, Stars, U2, The Weepies, Hem, Belle & Sebastian, Grandaddy and Regina Spektor.

Nathan Fillion, Adam Baldwin, and Alan Tudyk will all be lending their voices to Halo 3 in what appears to be a large portion of the game. you will play the main character of the game, a character called “The Rookie”, who has very little to say. However, the three whedonverse actors will make up the other members of your team. In the case of Nathan Fillion, you will not only hear the actor, but also see him. When the character removes his helmet, he has a striking resemblance to Nathan.

If you are looking for a sample of what the characters will sound like in the game, look no further than the recently released HALO ODST ViDoc. The “trailer” is narrated by Nathan Fillion’s character, and introduces each member of the team. It gives you a good opportunity to hear each of the other actors in turn. Check it out:

From IGN:

A new film version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer could be set to hit the big screen, in a reboot of the franchise for a new generation.

However, chances are that character creator Joss Whedon won’t be involved, with the new film having no connection to the 1992 film or 1997 TV show of the same name aside from the fact that it revolves around a young vampire slayer.

Check the article out.

The latest Supernatural episode, “On the Head of a Pin,” is arguably the best episode of the series. This episode did more to further the season and the characters than any episode that readily comes to mind. We learned just how Sam has become so strong, how Dean had to learn to survive in Hell, how the Apocolypse began, how it must end, and just how tough Castiel and Anna can be. That’s a hell of a lot to ask from one episode, and this one did it beautifully. Ben Edlund, the writer of such classic Whedon episodes like Angel’s “Sacrifice” and Firefly’s “Jaynestown,” wrote this penultimate episode. Even the stunt casting of Christopher Heyerdahl in the role of Alastair added such darkness and dimension to the show that the viewer is left cringing.  Kripke and Co. showed exactly how to come back from a hiatus, and how to do it with a bang, both literally and emotionally.

Speaking of Joss Whedon, this week’s episode of Dollhouse was advertised as the best yet – the one to make you grab hold and not let go. And as expected, he did not disappoint. The latest episode, “Man on the Street,” added more intrigue, suspense, and action to the show than the previous six episodes combined. Dushku continued to amaze with her versatility from frightened housewife to deadly assassin. And we learn that Alpha is not the only one after the Dollhouse. This episode cemented my devotion to the show, and I strongly urge anyone who had given up on the show to treat yourself to a mini-marathon. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

As for disappointed, I’ve heard many say that they felt the Battlestar Galactica series finale was amazing, but overall, disappointing, even lazy. While I can understand that some might feel that way, I thoroughly enjoyed the culmination of four seasons of Ron Moore’s amazing vision for BSG. The show has always been steeped in mysticism and mythology, and I would have been surprised if they had ignored that heritage in the finale, especially since they had not addressed it much this back half of the season. I liked the ambiguity of it all. It made me cheer, it made my cry, it broke my heart and it inspired me – everything this series has always done. And one thing’s for sure: I will never hear “All Along the Watchtower” in the same way.

Legend of the Seeker has continued to impress each week. Every episode draws a little more from the original books, but does so in a new and refreshing way. And they always do it in such a way as to never undermine the integrity of the characters. Bridget Regan continues to impress with her portrayal of Kahlan. I  have to say that of all the actors, she is the most perfectly cast. The latest episodes, “Conversion” and “Bloodline” have masterfully incorporated such elements from the book as Kahlan’s Blood Rage and Richard’s Pristinely Ungifted sister, Jensen. Even the incorporation of the Mord Sith, though done slightly differently from the novels, is thoroughly engaging and true to the core essence of the characters.

And most recently, Heroes. This episode, titled “Cold Snap,” marked the return of Bryan Fuller to the series. Fuller worked on what is probably the best of Season One episodes, “Company Man.” So, did his return make for amazing television? He definitely made some major changes. From the reveal of who Rebel is to Angela being saved by an unlikely source, Heroes was undeniably compelling. And tragic. While I understand the need for whittling down characters, I am not entirely happy with who they keep knocking off. But I will continue to watch to see if these payoffs continue. Heroes is definitely heading in the right direction for greatness again, and I am definitely glad to see Fuller’s touch return to the show. He adds a poignancy that has been lacking for far too long.

So there, my fellow TV addicts, some thoughts on what has been some amazing television over the past few days. We’ve said farewell to an epic favorite, found a new Friday night addiction, and are encouraged by what is possibly shaping up to be some great Monday night storytelling, again. One thing is for sure, I haven’t enjoyed television this much in a long time.

And here’s to its continued success.

Discussion
2009 Academy Awards

News
Michel Gondry on Green Hornet
Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard’s Cabin in the Woods
Friday The 13th Sequel
Eddie Murphy to Play Richard Pryor
Ed Helms to Write and Star in Civil War Time Travel Comedy
The NeverEnding Story Gets a Remake
Sam Jackson Signs Up For NINE MORE Appearances as Nick Fury
Joss Whedon’s Theory On Why DC Comic Book Movies Usually Suck
Ghostbusters 3 To Begin Shooting Fall 2009?
1978 Battlestar Galactica Big Screen Movie?
Breckin Meyer Writing Superguys: “Ocean’s Eleven Set At Comic-Con”
Vanessa Hudgens Dead @ 17, Mike Dougherty Scripting Her Demise And Resurrection
Black Widow, Blunt out, Dushku wants in, Johansson probably in
Jackie Earl Hayley not Krueger and Lohan not Nancy
Steve Oedekirk to write Stretch-Arm-Strong movie
Diablo Kody producing Breathers: A Zombie’s Lament
Gore Verbinski directing Clue

Trailers
Black Freighter
People vs. George Lucas
I Love you Beth Cooper
Supercapers
Transformers 2
S. Darko

Reviews
Friday the 13th
Coraline 3-D
He’s Just Not That Into You

Discussion:

Heroes Volume IV: Fugitives

Chuck vs. The Third Dimension

Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse

News:

Ratner to direct Youngblood

Nolan to direct Inception

Samuel Bayer to direct Elm Street

Dev Patel to play Zuko

Martin Campbell to direct Green Lantern

Powers headed to FX

Kevin Williamson bringing Vampire Diaries to CW

Marvel Motion Comics

Wachowski Bros and Superman

Trailers:

Observe and Report

The Education of Charlie Banks

Land of the Lost

Inglorious Basterds

Email us or Comment:

What makes a Geek a Geek?

If you’re a Whedonite, you’ve been anticipating Friday the 13th, 2009 for some time now. And now it has finally come: Dollhouse and Joss Whedon’s return to television.

Let me preface by saying I have done everything I could to remain spoiler-free for the premiere. I refused to read reviews, stopped visiting Whedonesque.com, and did my best to skim over Tweets from those who got an advanced look at the episode. I wanted to go in with a clean slate. And as Echo says in the first few minutes of the episode, “You ever actually try to clean a slate? You always see what was on it before.”

That being said, I am not going to compare Dollhouse’s first episode, “Ghost” to any of Joss’ other works. It’s too early to do that, and I honestly don’t think it is fair. Echo is not Faith, The Dollhouse is not Wolfram & Hart, and Topher is definitely no Wash, regardless to their outward traits.

“Ghost” gives the viewer a lot of information in one hour of television (which is helped immensely by Fox’s “More Tv. Less Commercials.” push – Thank you Fox!). On the surface we see The Dollhouse, an illegal private organization that imprints personalities on their “actives” to suit their wealthy client’s needs. The actives are volunteers who have signed on to get a new start at life. They have a 5 year contract, which after they fulfill, they are supposedly free to go, we can assume, wiped clean of all memories of the Dollhouse. Which on the surface, is a relatively simple premise that could give the show a decent season or two of television. But of course, this is Joss Whedon: nothing is ever simple.

In the beginning we see Caroline (Eliza Dushku), who hardly seems  a volunteer. Rather, she seems coerced into signing her 5 year contract. She is transformed into Echo, an almost innocent and child-like soul. When she happens to witness a new active, Sierra (Dichen Lachman), being wiped clean of her former “self,” she almost confusingly looks to Topher (Fran Kranz), the chief mind-wiping tech of the Dollhouse, and says, “She hurts.” The way Topher responds to her is almost as he would a child.

We learn through Agent Paul Ballard (Tamoh Penikett), who has been assigned to the mysterious Dollhouse case for 14 months, that the clientele of the organization include princes and senators, and that the Dollhouse has ties to a Russian human trafficking ring.  His supervisors try to get him under control on a case they think is a “fairytale.” But we also learn that he doesn’t back down very easily.

There is also a rogue active, Alpha, who is threatening to bring down the Dollhouse and its incredibly questionable activities which include not only imprinting people with personalities from real people right for the mission, but the physical limitations that can inevitably come with “real people” (near-sightedness, asthma, etc.).

So there is definitely a great set up for much intrigue and drama amidst the weekly assignments Echo will be sent on.

My biggest concern going into the show was Eliza Dushku. I was never a huge fan of Faith, and the other movies I’ve seen her in, her characters have never seemed to have much depth. So I wondered, can she really pull off being that many different people?

After the first episode: I am hopeful. Dushku transitions from desperate Caroline, to a fun-loving party girl, to the kidnap expert with a troubled past Eleanor Penn, and to innocent Echo very believably. The most haunting scene of the episode is as Miss Penn carries the kidnapped child, Devina, away from her hostages telling her over and over, “You’re free.” The scene changes and fades to Echo peacefully walking away from the mind-wiping chair, once again innocent and free from the burdens she had just faced.

I have heard overall mixed reviews of the show so far and of course everyone is entitled to their opinion. My biggest hope is that viewers will stay tuned to see where the show will lead, because one thing is for certain: Joss will never leave things on the surface. He’ll dig deep into the emotions of the characters and of the themes of the show and leave the viewers with more questions than answers – as good television should do. So long as we start getting answers before too long, this show has the potential for greatness. And that is what I always look for in the shows that I watch: not only what the episode itself said, but what the potential for the upcoming episodes could offer. Like Battlestar Galactica, the fun in watching is the speculation. This show could very well fill that looming gap.

Because in the Dollhouse, as its owner says in the very first line of the series, “Nothing is what it appears to be.”

Marvel announced at Comic Con that it would be releasing a ‘new’ medium – Motion Comics.

DC has already done this with Batman and Watchmen.

AppleInsider reports, “The series will launch with two titles from some of the art form’s biggest names. Astonishing X-Men will debut from Joss Whedon and John Cassaday, while Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev will weave readers into the new story of Spider-Woman.”

From the preview, the Marvel approach looks promising.

Dollhouse premieres February 13 on FOX.

Apparently the pilot for Dollhouse may not make television history, but there is still hope, I mean come on its Joss. Time Magazine posted a review online for the new show and had more than a few things to say about the pilot…

“If it weren’t for Whedon’s pedigree, I’m not sure I’d be dying to see a second episode. But for me, the main draw now is not seeing Dushku become a different person every week, but getting to see Joss Whedon become a different writer every week.”

(TIME via AiCN)

Originally sceduled to debut midseason on Monday Nights with hit show 24, Dollhouse has now been given a Friday night slot, which is notoriously bad for television shows. In fact, the last sci-fi series FOX has launched successfully in that time slot was 1993’s The X-Files.

Also moving to Fridays is FOX’s Terminator: The Sarah Conor Chronicles, whose ratings have plummeted since last season.

Terminator: The Sarah Conor Chronicles gets the 8pm slot, followed by Dollhouse at 9pm. Dollhouse premieres Friday, February 13th at 9pm.

Watch out at about the 23 minute mark, Scott and I were visited by some ghosts that brought along some white noise…

Here’s what he had to say:

I thought it was time to check in with you once again, gentle viewers. Or readers. Or pictures-looker-ats (that might be viewers). Also listeners, sniffers, haberdashers, Olympic hopefuls, the elderly, the youngerdly, and the mighty state of Oregon (go Oregon-based sports franchise!) Welcome all. Welcome… to me.

What’s me up to? I’m glad me asked. Me’ve (I’m not doing that any more) been working on a little show called Dollhouse. Yes, perhaps you’ve read about how it’s blazing an untrammeled path to surefire success, with nary a hitch or a hiccup, just pure blazing blazery, comet-like and meteoresque. What’s that, you say? You’ve read other things? Dark, Yog-Sothothy rumors about shutdowns and delays? Poppycock! They’re true. But I never pass up a chance to say “poppycock”. (”Balderdash” is so ‘07. Let it go.) I know there’s been a lot of concern, various fabulous hues of panic alert readiness. So here’s the skinny. Some of the names have been changed.

The show was ruined by Flim Flinear. Okay, that’s another lie, and you’re probably close to giving up on this blog, so here we go. Yes, we’ve had to make adjustments. Yes, it’s been hard and I’ve been depressing to be around for awhile. Basically, the Network and I had different ideas about what the tone of the show would be. They bought something somewhat different than what I was selling them, which is not that uncommon in this business. Their desires were not surprising: up the stakes, make the episodes more stand-alone, stop talking about relationships and cut to the chase. Oh, and add a chase. That you can cut to. Nothing I hadn’t heard before on my other shows (apparently my learning curve has no bendy part) but frustrating as hell given our circumstances – a pilot shot, scripts written, everybody marching together/gainfully employed… and then a shutdown. Glad I was for the breathing room, but it’s hardly auspicious. So back into the writer cave I went, wondering why I put up with this when I can make literally dozens of dollars making internet movies. Why I do put up with this is divided into three parts.

One: They’re not wrong. Oh, we don’t see eye-to-eye on everything, but wanting the first episodes to be exciting and accessible is not exactly Satanic. Being Satan is, but that’s in their free time and hey, there’s no judging in the Dollhouse. This kind of back and forth has happened on every show I’ve done, so if you liked those, chances are that was a part of why. And the need to focus on the essentials of what makes this universe tick – and which wire to cut to make it stop – really does bring up our game. So we as a staff have gone from blinking like unhoused moles to delving in with the same relish we had when we started. The show is really coming together now, in a way that I believe excites us and satisfies the Network. Of course, I have no idea if anybody else will like it, but I have the same faith in the staff, the crew and the remarkable cast that I always did. More, in fact. And what’s more crucial:

Two: Nothing essential has changed about the universe. The ideas and relationships that intrigued me from the start are all there (though some have shifted, more on that), and the progression of the first thirteen eps has me massively excited. The episode we’re shooting now I wrote as fast as anything I have before, not because I had to (although, funny side-note: I had to) but because I couldn’t stop the words from coming. Because I can feel the show talking to me; delighting, scaring and occasionally even offending me. It’s alive. Alive! Which is a far cry from how I felt a month ago. It’s been hilarious trying to keep up with what’s in, what’s out, who’s met whom and when – we’ve shot all of the first seven episodes out of airing order – but it’s come together in a pretty thrilling way. My huge gratitude to our cast for their precision and patience. Which also includes…

Three: Eliza. Watching her on the monitors at two o’clock this morning I was reminded forcibly how much I wished I were in bed – but also how strong, radiant and unmistakable her presence is. She’s someone who could coast on talent and never ever does. I love to watch her work. In fact, I think I got myself into this mess for that very reason, and though I have this fall occasionally sworn never to eat lunch with an actor I like again, I’m pretty pleased and crazy proud.

So here’s me, slogging away on a show like days of old and not hating life. Again, you guys will be the judge, jury and execu… lawyer, but we do have something to show you. Something, I’m chuffed to say, still pretty damn strange.

As for what’s been changed, well, some things I obviously can’t tell you. Some I can, for the record: The original pilot was in fact thrown out. Again, at my behest. Once it became clear what paradigm the Network was shooting for, it just didn’t fit at all, even after I’d reshot more than half of it (see above re: despair). To get a sense of how completely turned around I was during this process, you should know there was a scene with Eliza and the astonishing Ashley Johnson that I wrote and shot completely differently three different times, with different characters in different places (actually I wrote it closer to eight times), and none of it will ever see air. Which is as it should be (though I’m determined to get Ms. Johnson back in the future). The scene just didn’t belong anymore. Similarly, the character of November has fallen out of the mix, because the show simply moves too fast now for me to do what I wanted with her. Season three, anyone…? Happily, Miracle Laurie is still with us in a new role, playing against (and pining for) Tahmoh’s character, Paul Ballard. Their chemistry is deeply nifty. The only other major cast shift is that the Dollhouse head of security, Laurence Dominic (played by Reed Diamond), who was written just for the now-defunct first ep, has stuck like fly-paper, and Reed is very much in the family for the present. (Most of my problems seem to involve my actors making themselves indispensable. This is the good problem kind.)

Apart from that, it’s all hush-hush: some things I’d intended to hold back are laid out much sooner, and some are rolling out more slowly. We’re still heading toward Tim’s intense two-part mind-blower – right before a thirteenth ep that may actually just be insane.

And finally, young Steve DeKnight, after writing and shooting an ep so cool it helped not only define the show but save its ass, is ending his consulting duties, the f#%&er. I will be crying on the shoulder of Jane Espenson come Monday, so congratudolences are in order. Excited for the Jane Flava.

And there you have it. I’ll be writing more bulletins about “Cabin” and a certain DVD in the very near future, but I wanted to get you all some actual information for a change. I can count on you guys not to tell anyone, right? What’s a blog?

Faithfully, -joss.

Dollhouse premieres January 5, 2009 on FOX

20th Century Fox and The Multiverse Network announced today that they are working on a Buffy the Vampire Slayer Massively Multiplayer Online game.

The game will be unique to the growing number of MMOs in the market by having two modes- a 2D flash, web-based version, and a fully 3D world with a dedicated client. The game will be hosted inside Multiverse’s “Multiverse Places”.

Very little was said about the gameplay or story,  the only tidbit of info came from the Executive Producer of Multiverse, Corey Bridges, who said “when the Buffy team finished the television series, they created the perfect launching point for an MMO, where everyone will feel like they’re an important character in the ongoing story.” This seems to imply a connection to the current Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 8 comic book series, featuring hundreds of activated Slayers acting as a paramilitary unit.

This announcement also lead to the very unfortunate news that Fox is delaying further development and release of the announced-in-2006 MMO, Firefly. Originally set to be released in 2008, the game has yet to have any major presence; no screenshots, trailers, or betas have hit the scene, and now it seems none will until the Buffy game is completed.

The Buffy MMOs push into development includes a beta later this year.

In Chapter Four of the Bible, Cain kills Abel. It is the world’s most famous murder. But the Bible is silent about one key detail: the weapon Cain used to kill his brother. That weapon is still lost to history.

In 1932, Mitchell Siegel was killed by three gunshots to his chest. While mourning, his son dreamed of a bulletproof man and created the world’s greatest hero: Superman. And like Cain’s murder weapon, the gun used in this unsolved murder has never been found.

Until now.

Today in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Cal Harper comes face-to-face with his family’s greatest secret: his long-lost father, who’s been shot with a gun that traces back to Mitchell Siegel’s 1932 murder. But before Cal can ask a single question, he and his father are attacked by a ruthless killer tattooed with the anicent markings of Cain. And so begins the chase for the world’s first murder weapon.

What does Cain, history’s greatest villain, have to do with Superman, the world’s greatest hero? And what do two murders, committed thousands of years apart, have in common? This is the mystery at the heart of Brad Meltzer’s riveting and utterly intriguing new thriller.

The trailer itself seems like something from out of a conspiracy-theory documentary and features the likes of Joss Whedon, Brian K. Vaughan, and Damon Lindelof drawing a link between the murder of the biblical Abel and the murder of Jerry Siegel’s father.

Check it out:

If you missed the opportunity to stream the 3 parts of Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog, all is not lost. You have until July 29th (4 days as of this writing) to go to iTunes and purchase each act at $1.99 each or $3.99 for all of them (Season Pass). Go get it HERE now!

Once it is pulled from iTunes, there will be a DVD released, date still unknown, that will have special features along with comentary, woo hoo!  Don’t miss your chance to have the original, though. If you haven’t seen it yet, then it’s well worth $4.

*Edit* Joss has recently said at Comicon that there will be a part 4 to Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. Also, he goes on to talk about the DVD features. Those features include Commentary: The Musical, and the 10 best fan applications to the Evil League of Evil. Good stuff, and thanks to Paul for passing that bit along to us.

VAMPIRES BEWARE: BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER HIGH-KICKING HER WAY ONTO DS FOR THE FIRST TIME

Milton Keynes, July 11th – 505 Games today announced a deal with Twentieth Century Fox Licensing & Merchandising to unleash an official new game based on the world-famous Buffy the Vampire Slayer franchise, exclusively for the Nintendo DS.

Currently under development by Romanian studio Beast, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Sacrifice combines third-person and first-person gameplay to create an experience like nothing else on Nintendo DS. The stakes are high for players as they take on the role of Buffy to seal the re-opened Hellmouth in an original story penned by Rob Deshotel, a writer from the TV series.

This action-packed 3D survival horror game sees Buffy using a range of special weapons, powerful spells and martial arts to take out vicious vampires and demons. In addition to these enemies, players also come across recognisable characters from the show, including Spike, Angel, the Master, the First Evil, Caleb and, of course, the Scooby Gang.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for 505 Games and we’re working extremely closely with Fox to ensure this is the definitive Buffy the Vampire Slayer experience,” said Rowan Tafler, Global Brand Manager, 505 Games. “Buffy’s return to videogames is great for long-time fans of the franchise and we hope the huge market reach of the Nintendo DS will help to create new fans too.”

Elie Dekel, Executive Vice President Twentieth Century Fox Licensing & Merchandising added, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a franchise that continues to excite people around the world. Although there are no new productions of the series there is an enduring legacy that lives on through syndication, comic books and video games like these. We’re sure DS players are going to love this version.”

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Sacrifice will be available exclusively throughout Europe on Nintendo DS November 2008.

Key features:

• Play as Buffy the Vampire Slayer through 24 levels using a third person camera.
• Unlock and use more than 20 types of unique Slayer weapons.
• Fight more than 12 different level bosses and sub-bosses, including First Evil, the boss of all bosses.
• Play “Challenge Mode” in first-person for fast-paced action and an increased difficulty level.
• Solve puzzle missions to unlock new areas.
• Collect spells to increase Buffy’s supernatural and physical abilities.
• Explore 12 dynamic environments and search for up to four hidden ones.
• Use breakable objects located within in all environments to battle demons and vampires.
• Unique story set after the climactic seventh season of the TV series, written by Rob Deshotel, one of the original writers of the TV series.
• Explore locations from the TV show, including Sunnydale High, the Bronze and the Hellmouth.

Teaser from Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog on Vimeo.