February 28, 2003

Buzz for Fox Pilot
According to FilmForce:

The rumors surrounding a possible new spin-off featuring Eliza Dushku as fellow Slayer Faith took a hit earlier this week when her involvement with another television series was announced. Dushku will be starring in Heroine, a potential series for FOX being produced by Rob Cohen (xXx) and Jon Feldman (American Dreams). Described as a cross between Run Lola Run and Groundhog Day, Dushku will play a woman who discovers that she has the ability to save lives by changing events that have already happened. FOX is very enthusiastic about the series, having already commissioned a number of scripts, not just a pilot. So don't count on Faith to have a huge part, if any part at all, in a Buffy spin-off, although she will play a large part in the final episodes of the series, starting with a highly promoted return to Angel next week.

E! Online also has a more in-depth description of the series in an article about the end of 'Buffy':

Ultimately, the Hellmouth could go unprotected since a rep for the actress just confirmed she's inked a pilot deal with Fox for an untitled project from writer John Feldman, which would see Dushku as a morgue employee who talks to the dead instead of staking them. The corpses tell Dushku's character how they were murdered and every morning she relives the same day, hoping to set things right.

Just a note - I've seen 'Heroine' mentioned a lot as the title of the series. However, a Variety article from January states that 'Heroine' was originally pitched as the title, but they've since dropped it.

Eliza in EW Article
The article from next week's issue of Entertainment Weekly (with Sarah Michelle Gellar on the cover, announcing the end of 'Buffy') has been scanned on the SMGfan Message Board. It's now online at the Entertainment Weekly website.

The article mentions Eliza's signing on for the Fox pilot, and Sarah Michelle praises her when she talks about the body-switch episode as being one of her favourites. Eliza was also interviewed for the 'Angel' article, where she talks about how it had to "find its own voice away from Buffy".

There's also a great pic of David and Eliza in the issue. I've temporarily upload a copy of the scan by Janna23 here, until I can scan my own copy. The issue sounds like a great buy for any Buffy fan.

E! Online Interview
Kirstin at E! Online put up an Eliza Q&A from the 'Angel' set visit she did a few weeks back. She also mentions that Eliza "turned down a Faith spinoff" on the front page of the column. Beware of spoilers.

More on the Fox Pilot
Many thanks to Faith_Fan: according to Fraz on the Fan Forum, the pilot will be shot in Vancouver. Also, Faith_Fan has been posting some summaries of the casting sides for the pilot on the message board.

Variety on Fox Pilot
Here's the news from Variety:

Dushku, known for her steady gigs on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel," has inked for the lead role in the 20th Century Fox TV/Original TV untitled project. The drama from Rob Cohen ("The Fast and the Furious") and Jon Feldman ("American Dreams"), revolves around a woman who graduates from college and discovers that she's able to save lives by changing the course of events. Cohen is set to direct.

Feldman said Dushku embodied all of the characteristics his lead character had.

"Eliza was always the prototype for the role," Feldman said. "To actually get the prototype is an amazing thing. She's incredibly smart, sexy and strong off-camera as well as on. She is in every sense of the word the lead," he said.

Dushku, who recently signed with CAA for representation, starred last year on the silver screen in "City by the Sea" and "The New Guy." She is managed by The Firm.

Fox Pilot Brings on Dushku
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Eliza has been cast as the lead in Fox's untitled John Feldman drama pilot for director Phillip Noyce.

Here's the full article:

Eliza Dushku has been cast as the lead in Fox's untitled John Feldman drama pilot for director Phillip Noyce, while the WB Network has tapped "Gilmore Girls" co-star Jared Padalecki for the title role in its drama pilot "MacGyver."

The untitled John Feldman project, from 20th Century Fox TV and Original TV, centers on a graduate student (Dushku) who goes back in time to relive a day in order to prevent tragedies. Noyce was recently tapped to direct the pilot, replacing Rob Cohen, who was originally attached as director/executive producer.

The pilot's writer/executive producer Feldman said Dushku was the prototype for the character. "Onscreen and off, she is smart, strong, beautiful and embodies all the characteristics that are imperative to the character," he said.

Dushku returned to "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" this season, spurring rumors about a possible spinoff of the UPN drama built around her character Faith. The untitled John Feldman project hails from the same studio, 20th TV, which produces "Buffy."

Dushku most recently appeared in the feature "City by the Sea." Her feature credits also include "Bring It On" and "Soul Survivors." She recently signed with CAA and is managed by the Firm.

Spoilers for Buffy 7.18 - 'Dirty Girls'
Bubonic Plague from the Fan Forum has posted spoilers for 'Buffy' episode 7.18, written by Drew Goddard and entitled "Dirty Girls." Bubonic Plague is regarded as an accurate spoiler source.

However, she also clearly states in her disclaimer that she doesn't like Faith, is a Spike/Buffy relationshipper, and her commentaries are biased in that regard. As such, I've posted a run-down from her spoilers of the scenes involving Faith. But if you would like the spoilers in context and her thoughts on the episode, then I'd read her posts on the Fan Forum instead.

- Shannon, a potential slayer, is running from a group of Bringers. She makes it on to the road, and flags down a truck driven by a priest, Caleb. Caleb starts lecturing her, and makes it clear that the Bringers are working for him. He says that the people in the car behind them are going to Sunnydale, and he wants her to give a message to the Slayer. He brands her with his ring, stabs her in the gut then pushes her out of his truck. Willow and Faith pull up. Willow says that they need to take the girl to hospital.

- Faith and Willow talk in the hospital. Faith is angry that she wasn't told what was happening in Sunnydale, since she's in danger too. She goes off to find Buffy alone, reasoning to Willow that Buffy knew she was coming and they'll get along fine.

- Faith finds Spike in a graveyard, fighting with a girl. Faith and Spike fight.

- Buffy shows up, hits Faith, helps Spike up. She explains that Spike has a soul. The girl Spike was fighting turns out to be a vamp, Faith stakes her.

- The three of them go back to Buffy's house. Faith receives a "less than welcoming" reaction from Giles and Dawn. Spike explains what happened between Giles and Buffy in episode 17.

- In Act 2, we get previous footage of Faith. Andrew describes her to the SiTs (complete with fantasy shots of Faith fighting ninjas and Vulcans.)

- Faith goes down to the basement to smoke. Spike is there. They bond, discussing things like the body-swap incident from "Who Are You". Faith seems to pick up that Spike and Buffy slept together. Buffy walks in, throws off jealousy vibes. Dawn appears, says that Shannon has come out of her coma.

- The group assembles, Buffy forms a plan. Caleb is holed-up in a vineyard cellar, and Buffy, Faith, Spike, Xander and the more experienced slayers-in-training will attack him. Willow and Giles remain behind with the other SiTs.

- Faith and Buffy stake out the vineyard. They have a discussion, about the SiTs, Angel and Spike. Things get a little tense.

- They get interrupted by a Bringer entering the cellar. Buffy and Faith head back to the rest of the group. They overhear a speech that Xander is giving the SiTs about what Buffy has done for the world, and how Buffy has earned their trust. Buffy is touched, and Faith is impressed.

- They go in, fight the Bringers, causing them to retreat. Caleb appears. He overpowers them, kills two SiTs, plunges his thumb into Xander's eye. Buffy orders a retreat.

- Episode ends on scenes of the carnage that Caleb has caused.

WB Description for Angel 4.14
Fraz has posted the WB description for 'Angel' episode 4.14 at the Fan Forum.

Wednesday, Mar 12 - "Release"
FAITH BATTLES ANGELUS – Angelus (David Boreanaz)
continues his search for The Beast’s mysterious master, never suspecting that it could be someone close to him. Meanwhile, Faith (guest star Eliza Dushku) and Angelus do battle while Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) convinces Connor (Vincent Kartheiser) to keep their baby a secret.

Alexis Denisof, J. August Richards, Amy Acker and Andy Hallett also star. James A. Contner directed the episode written by Steven S. DeKnight & Elizabeth Craft & Sarah Fain

Casting Sides for Buffy 7.18
Showfax briefly put up sides for 4 new characters for 'Buffy' episode 7.18, and two scenes included involve Faith.

A young preacher Caleb, pushes a potential slayer out of his truck and into the path of the car behind him. It's being driven by Willow and Faith, coming back from LA. Later, the gang are all at the house, and Faith has met Spike. Check out Spoiled Rotten for the spoilers in context.

E! Online at the PBP
Many thanks to Spider Kelly: E! Online's Kristin was also at the PBP, and she asked Eliza about the possibility of a spinoff.

The End of the Buffyverse as We Know It? Not so, according to exec producer Joss Whedon, who addressed the crowd at Buffy the Vampire Slayer's annual Posting Board Party (which raised $30,000 for the Make-a-Wish Foundation) on Saturday.

Fans from around the world flew in for the event, which was attended by a handful of Buffy and Angel cast members, and the room went utterly ape-dookie when Joss took the stage and declared: "People are always saying, 'What does it feel like? Is it over?' It's not over! We'll be seeing you again very soon."

Maybe so, maybe not, at least when it comes to that Faith spinoff. Though it's clear that Sarah Michelle Gellar won't be on board next season, Eliza Dushku feels her show is still up in the air. "No, no! I can't say," Eliza said when I asked whether she'd signed on for the spinoff. "We don't know what's goin' on...I'm trying to figure out a lot of things in my own life. Do I want to go to college, do I want to do a show? It's been kind of a trip, but there's nothing definite for sure right now."

Meanwhile, a few things you should know about the party: Donna Summer's got nothin' on Andy Hallett (Angel's Lorne), as he went into full, campy diva mode, singing "Last Dance" onstage, complete with backup singers and booty shaking.

And Eliza and James Marsters (Spike) are just about the nicest prey in the world, as they graciously interacted with a mob of crazed fans, including, for Eliza, camera-ready ones in the ladies' room and, for James, a few girls who walked right up and tried to jam their tongues down his throat.

Whatever. If you'd been there, you would have done it, too.

Report from the PBP
More from another attendee of the Posting Board Party: "Just to clarify, the people helping Eliza move around were PBP volunteers, not "handlers" and that she was moved, not "dragged" when it was situationally appropriate. According to reports, Eliza had a case of bronchitis but she was definitely a trooper the entire night, and spent much time on the floor meeting fans."

Site News
Site news... I've changed the script I use to update from Greymatter to Coranto. Greymatter is essentially blogging software, whereas Coranto (NewsPro) was designed for news. Each item I post now will be a separate news item, rather than a day's worth of news. Longer news items will be accessible on a separate page. Hopefully, it'll make more sense once I get more news items up. Any comments or problems, please let me know.