FAITH SPINOFF? Comments from Eliza

February 20, 2003

Kristin at E! Online attended the Buffy Posting Board Party 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.

January 31, 2003

Kristin at E! Online visited the "Angel" set as they were filming Episode 15 with Eliza, and she talks about a Faith spinoff in her column:

Keeping the Faith: That's apparently what the producers of Buffy are hoping to do, as they have approached Eliza Dushku (aka baddie-turned-goodie Faith) about the possibility of doing a spinoff next fall. Mutant Enemy sources tell me Dushku met with Buffy producers on Wednesday to discuss a Faith show.

Word is that Sarah Michelle Gellar has pretty much decided not to sign on for another season, so Joss Whedon and Co. are heavily weighing spinoff possibilities--and Faith the Vampire Slayer appears to be the front-runner. There's just one issue, though: Does Eliza want to do it?

Last week, I had the pinch-me pleasure of visiting the Angel set, as they taped what looks to be a stunning upcoming episode. (Stay tuned for all the juicy goodness from that visit, including a sitdown with David Boreanaz and Charisma Carpenter.)

Both Alyson Hannigan and Eliza were on hand as guest stars, and though I wasn't able to ask specifically about a Faith spinoff, they did offer up a bit of insight.

When asked if she still plans on going back to school, Eliza replied: "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. When I'm not doing anything, that's when I'm freaking out. I get neurotic and analytical and like, 'I need a shrink!' I'm trying to figure it out. I'm definitely conflicted as to what happens from here."

I also asked Eliza if she wants to stay in TV or do more film. "It's been nice working on Angel, because it shoots here in Los Angeles," she said. "I can drive myself to work, then drive home and visit my friends or my brothers. But it's also kind of cool to shoot off and do a movie for three months. You're in, you're out, boom, you get the final product. I don't necessarily love one more than the other. TV can be a long commitment, but at the same time...you never know."

Ain't that the truth, sister! So, it looks like we'll just have to wait patiently (grrr, argh!) to find out whether the "conflicted" Eliza is here to slay.