February 21, 2003

Many thanks to Spider Kelly: Kirstin at E! Online attended the PBP, and 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.

Site news: the site won't go down for the weekend after all. My host is totally changing, like, everything and I've got no idea what's going on anymore. I'll be changing over to the new style sometime tomorrow, but the disruption should only last an hour or two.

February 20, 2003

Many thanks to Noémie: as expected, the 'Angel' episode airing this week on the Space network in Canada will be a repeat. The Canadian stations couldn't show the Faith eps early due to the scheduling changes of the WB.

Few Faith spinoff snippets... this is from a YM interview with David Boreanaz:

YM: Have you heard about the rumors of a spin-off with Faith?
DB: Yeah, I've heard of the rumors and I think it would be a fantastic thing. But you also have to remember it's a personal decision for the person who wants to do the show, because it's a lot of work.

Frank at the Spoiler Slayer has also posted his speculation on a possible Faith spinoff (who would be in the cast, etc.)

But in his latest 'Buffy' review, Hercules at Ain't It Cool News included a good reply about why he hasn't reported on the spinoff: (and why we should be cautious with the news)

How come you haven’t reported that news about Eliza Dushku starring in a new 'Buffy' spinoff?

For the same reason the New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and every other legit source hasn’t reported it. The initial report was unsourced and printed in something called the London Express. It seems to be based on an old, unsourced and perhaps bogus rumor that Dushku had been offered a 'Buffy' spinoff but had yet to decide if she wanted to accept. The Express report was picked up by BBC Online, which was picked up by the Internet Movie Database (IMDb). But we’ve heard no confirmation from studio 20th Century Fox, producer Mutant Enemy or network UPN that Sarah Michelle Gellar is officially leaving the series or that UPN has greenlit a replacement spinoff. (But we’ll learn soon enough.)

Many thanks to Mike for letting me repost his account of Eliza at the PBP:

Eliza Dushku - got absolutely mobbed at the PBP. I turned around and saw her there and dropped my camera thinking the strap was around my neck. Well, it crashed to the ground and the batteries scattered everywhere. I picked up the camera and saw someone had gathered the batteries up for me - and I looked up and IT WAS ELIZA. She was so awesome for doing that...a true Eliza moment. Unfortunately her handlers were "dragging" her and i didn't get a pic with her or an auto, but still it was a pretty awesome moment.

Site news: I am going to have to take all the sites down for a day or two this weekend. I'm also gonna be uploading the new design for the news site once I finish this update, then when I move over to my new account, I'm going to change the program I use to update this site. It should fit the look of the site more. Everything should be up and ready and easier to explain by Monday (at the latest.)

February 18, 2003

The WB promo for 'Salvage' that aired after Angel 4.12, can be found here. It's just a short clip of Faith jumping down from the rafters and walking through an abandoned warehouse.

TV Guide has posted their description for 4.13:

Eliza Dushku returns to the series as rogue vampire slayer Faith, who may prove to be the only match for Angelus (David Boreanaz).

Angel's evil alter ego, who's out of his cage and pursuing the Beast, hits a pool hall packed with vamps to see if he can determine the demon's hideout. Meanwhile, at the hotel, Wes (Alexis Denisof) goes about the grisly task of dispatching Lilah's corpse, as Lorne, Fred and Gunn gather ingredients for a protective sanctuary spell. But the gang is all too familiar with the unpredictability of magic, so Wes pays a visit to the incarcerated Faith to try to persuade her to join the team in the race to prevent Armageddon. [ site ]

Fraz also posted the WB description on the Fan Forum:

FAITH RETURNS! - When Angelus (David Boreanaz) meets up with The Beast (guest star Vladimir Kulich), he learns that the rain of fire, blacking out the sun and stealing Angel’s soul was all part of The Beast’s mysterious master plan to bring Angelus back. Meanwhile, Wesley (Alexis Denisof) releases vampire slayer Faith (guest star Eliza Dushku) from prison to help capture Angelus. Charisma Carpenter, J. August Richards, Amy Acker, Vincent Kartheiser and Andy Hallett also star. David Fury wrote the episode directed by Jefferson Kibbee. [ forum ]

Many thanks to Jasmine: Canadians could get lucky. 'Angel' 4.13 could be airing on February 20 in Toronto on Channel 55 (the SPACE network) at 9pm. However, this isn't really confirmed - the WB had originally planned to air 'Salvage' on February 19, but decided to push it back until March 5 (possibly because it came up against 'The Bachelorette' 2 hour finale on February 19 - according to TV Gal at Zap2It 'Angel' will be the only WB show not in repeats during the March 5 week.) But if you're in Canada, it might pay to check out 'Angel' at it's regular airing times for you, in case you catch Eliza's return a few weeks early.

Site News: I might need to take eliza-dushku.com (including the message board) and the News Channel down, for 24-48 hours over the weekend. I need to check with my host first to see if it's really necessary. Just an advance warning.

February 16, 2003

The Posting Board Party (run by the people at the Bronze) was held last night, and Eliza was in attendance. Many thanks to st1cky: WireImage has posted nine pics of her at the event. [ pics ]

Eliza was featured in the January 2003 issue of C@ntents magazine. The Alyson Hannigan Corner again has some really great scans of the article. [ website ]

C@ntents Magazine
ELIZA DUSHKU

There has been an interesting highbrow/lowbrow balance to Eliza Dushku's career. The Boston native made an auspicious debut opposite Juliette Lewis in the little indie 'That Night' (she was discovered through a lengthy talent search) and just seemed to go up from there, costarring with Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and Ellen Barkin in the child abuse drama 'This Boy's Life.' Then she popped up as Arnold Schwarzenegger's daughter-in-peril in the blockbuster 'True Lies,' in the yuppies-gone-mad comedy 'Bye Bye Love,' in the Halle Berry misfire 'Race the Sun,' on the beloved teen series 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer,' in the delightful cheerleading treat 'Bring It On' and in the college comedy 'The New Guy.' Then she changed her course yet again by taking a pivotal role opposite heavyweights Robert De Niro and Frances McDormand, and stunning newcomer James Franco, in the dark tale from director Michael Caton-Jones, 'City by the Sea.' Though the movie didn't break records, it gained her good reviews and certainly perked up her pedigree. This slalom course that has been her resume has been beneficial in keeping her from the horrors of Hollywood typecasting, meaning that at age 22, she can still do pretty much what she wants.

And I changed the site design for eliza-dushku.com yesterday - if you come across any problems, please let me know.

February 14, 2003

A huge thank-you to Spider Kelly for updating this site when my computer was down.

Both Fraz from the Fan Forum, and Comics Continuum, have posted higher quality versions of the pics from 'Angel' 4.13. I've put the Faith ones up on the multimedia site. [ pics ]

Nick at the Alyson Hannigan Corner has also posted some caps from the 'Return of Faith' promo that aired after this week's episode of 'Angel.' [ website ]

The UK Daily Express ran an 'exclusive' story today that confirms Eliza has agreed to star in a Buffy spinoff. (The BBC and a few other news sites have also picked up on the story.) However, there are some mistakes in their report - for instance, Eliza will be appearing in the final five episodes, not the final three - so I'd hold off on believing the news until it comes from the mouths of Mutant Enemy, Fox/UPN or Eliza herself.

Daily Express
MEET THE NEW BUFFY
EXCLUSIVE By Ruth Hilton Showbusiness Editor

BUFFY the Vampire Slayer will live on, with a new star.

She is sultry Eliza Dushku, who has already appeared in the hit TV series as moody Faith. As the Daily Express revealed in August, current star Sarah Michelle Gellar has quit to concentrate on her film career.

So the show's producers have persuaded Eliza, 22, to take over the lead role.

First, however, she will appear alongside Gellar in the final three episodes of the current series, shown on Thursdays on Sky One.

She will keep the role of Faith rather than play Buffy, to enable occasional cameo appearances by Gellar.

Although Faith has been something of a bad girl on the show, the character is popular and producers believe she's the best bet for holding on to fans. Other ideas considered but rejected included making Buffy's younger sister Dawn the main star.

Personal things... my computer is still broken and no one can figure out what's wrong with it, so I'm still not completely back online yet. I apologise for not replying to email - I won't be able to access an email program until I get my own computer back. Since my brother deleted my hard drive, I've also lost all my email, and I've fallen behind on replies since like November. If you've sent something to me that needs a reply, please do so again (I've also lost all fan submissions that people have made since November, and would like to hear from those people again.) I have been working on a new design for the main site at eliza-dushku.com, and I hope to put that up over the weekend. I want to roll-out the design on here and the message boards as well... hopefully, I'll get that done in the next two weeks.

February 11, 2003

More speculation about a possible Faith spin-off from E! Online News and the New York Post.

From E!Online News:

A Buffy-less "Buffy"? Have Faith

Sunnydale's gotta have Faith.

After all, someone needs to stand guard over the Hellmouth if the city's original slayer, Buffy Summers, decides to call it a day.

A possible Buffy the Vampire Slayer spinoff with the runner-up slayer was the gist of a recent Sci-Fi Wire interview with Christopher Buchanan, president of Mutant Enemy, which produces Buffy and Angel, published on Friday.

While nothing's been signed in blood, the production prez confirmed the company was in talks with former regular Eliza Dushku to reprise her role as rogue slayer Faith in the untitled spinoff, saying, "I believe that's something that's being bounced around, along with other things, too."

Meanwhile, E! Online's TV maven Kristin confirmed this week that Dushku, who left the series to pursue a movie career (The New Guy anyone?), is currently shooting crossover guests spots for Angel and Buffy this season. Faith will appear in Hell-Ay opposite Angelus on the WB March 5, 12 and 19. She then makes the trek over to Sunnydale for a rumored five-episode run, though the UPN wouldn't spill the details.

However, a Web rumor that had Dushku signed to a two-year contract may be premature according to Buchanan. "Certainly, because she's around doing Buffy and Angel, I know there've been discussions," said the Mutant Enemy pres, adding, "We're kind of sitting on our hands until UPN and Fox figure out what they want to do."

Calls to 20th Century Fox were not returned.

Chosen One Sarah Michelle Gellar, who's put in seven seasons of blood, sweat and more bloodshedding, is not expected to return after her contract expires at the end of this season. She'll reportedly concentrate on her movie career (Scooby-Doo anyone?). Original reports had creator Joss Whedon handing the stake over to Buffy's little sis, Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg).

More recently, E! Online's Kristin reported news of a Faith-based spinoff after a visit to the set of Angel. When asked about her plans next year Dushku said, "Each year, I say I'm going to go to school next year. And it's inevitable that I'll end up getting my education. But I love working--I'm a worker bee at heart. I love coming here. It's such a stimulus."

Dushku joined Buffy and friends in the third season. Together, the double-the-trouble slayers staked their way through Sunnydale's finest bloodsuckers until Faith accidentally killed the town's mortal deputy-mayor and joined the dark side. Faith would later repent but never rejoin the series. [ article ]

From the New York Post:

IS SLAYER FAITH THE NEXT BUFFY?

PRODUCERS of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" are close to creating a spinoff starring the renegade Slayer Faith.

Fan Web sites have been abuzz in recent days with reports that Eliza Dushku, who plays Faith, had signed to star in a spinoff.

Then, over the weekend, Christopher Buchanan, president of Mutant Enemy, the production company behind "Buffy," told SCI FI Wire, the web site for the SCI FI channel, that the Faith spin-off is was a real possibility.

Though "Buffy" star Sarah Michelle Gellar has made no official announcements yet, it's expected that she will leave the series after her contract expires at the end of the current seventh season.

Speculation has swirled around what UPN will keep the series going without Gellar or seek a spinoff.

"We're kind of sitting on our hands until UPN and Fox [which produces the series] figure out what they want to do," Buchanan says.

Faith, a moody loner who seemed too enthusiastic about killing demons, made her first appearance in the show's third season. Once Buffy's friend, she was lured over to the dark side for one of the most-famous "Buffy" episodes of all time, Sunnydale High's graduation-day conflagration. [ article ]

Two more Wrong Turn screening reviews. This time from Fangoria and Creature Corner: [ review1 ] [ review2 ]

Thanks to Bends and Faith_Fan!

-Spider Kelly

February 8, 2003

Ain't It Cool News has two reviews from the Feb. 6th screening of Wrong Turn. Warning! Spoilers. [ review1 ] [ review2 ] Thanks Faith_Fan!

February 7, 2003

Sci Fi Wire has posted an article about a possible Faith spin-off:

Buffy Faith Spinoff Mulled

Christopher Buchanan—president of Mutant Enemy, the production company behind UPN's Buffy the Vampire Slayer—told SCI FI Wire that producers are considering a spinoff starring Eliza Dushku as the renegade Slayer Faith, but that no deals have been signed yet. "I believe that's something that's being bounced around, along with other things, too," Buchanan said in an interview.

Dushku is currently shooting guest spots on Buffy and its spinoff series, The WB's Angel. Fan Web sites have carried rumors recently that Dushku had signed to star in a spinoff, with some rumors suggesting the contract was for two years. Buchanan said that he was unaware of any such deal. "Certainly, because she's around doing Buffy and Angel, I know there've been discussions," Buchanan said. But, he added, "We're kind of sitting on our hands until UPN and Fox figure out what they want to do."

Though Buffy star Sarah Michelle Gellar has made no official announcements yet, it's expected that she won't sign up for more Buffy once her contract expires at the end of the current seventh season. Speculation has centered on whether UPN will renew the series without Gellar or seek a spinoff. [ article ]

Thanks to Agent G!

-Spider Kelly

February 4, 2003

During her weekly chat Kristin at E! Online spoke yet again about the possibility of a Faith spin-off: chat

Eleanor Rigby over at the Elemental Boards posted three pictures of Eliza from the upcoming Angel episode, Salvage: pic1 pic2 pic3. Many thanks to Faith_Fan.

-Spider Kelly