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Meet all the dolls in Eliza Dushku’s “Dollhouse”Eliza Dushku finally has all her new playmates for her Dollhouse. The principals and recurring roles have been cast for Joss Whedon's ambitious return to television. They include a familiar face from the Buffyverse, as well as lots of new additions. As if that wasn't enough, critics have gotten their first look at the pilot script for the identity implanting/erasing sci-fi series, and the reviews are pretty much the definition of glowing.
The series follows the burgeoning awareness of Eliza's character Echo, one of a house full of living dolls who are imprinted with personality packages — from memories to physical abilities and more — for assignments. While we imaged a dream cast when the roles were first revealed back in March, the actual cast looks pretty impressive. First, returning under Whedon's wing is Amy Acker, aka Fred from Angel. Amy will play the recurring role of Dr. Claire Saunders, the woman who looks after the physical well-being of the dolls.
Dr. Saunders is described as having an acid wit and physical scars from a razor attack in her past. Well, we know Amy can play smart, since Fred was the big brainiac of Angel's gang. At 31, she falls on the low end of the casting call's description of a woman who is "30-60, attractive, smart and a little sad." But if Amy can pull off blue skin and tight leather as the demon goddess Illyria, I think sad with a couple scars should be no problem.
British actress Olivia Williams has been cast as Adelle DeWitt. The 39-year-old actress has worked primarily in England for the last decade, but in the late 1990s she starred in a string of Hollywood films as Bruce Willis' wife in The Sixth Sense, Jason Schwartzman's inappropriate teacher crush in Rushmore, and Kevin Costner's baby mama in The Postman.
Adelle is the "beautiful, sophisticated, cold as an alp" woman who runs the Dollhouse "with an efficiency that is both ruthless and protective." I've always been impressed by Olivia and had wondered what had happened to her after her first flirtation with Hollywood stardom. I'm glad to see she is back and in a nice meaty role where she doesn't have to be just the love interest anymore.
Joining Eliza as Dolls are newcomers Dichen Lachman (left) as Sierra and Miracle Laurie (right) as November. Australian/Tibetan actress Dichen has been on the long-running Aussie soap Neighbours since 2005. Sierra is described as a Doll who is "not as self-aware as Echo, but is instinctively drawn to her as a friend." Miracle has one episode of a show I've never heard of called Medical Investigation under her belt. November is a "hopeful child in the house" who is a comforting, radiant presence."
Battlestar Galactica veteran Tahmoh Penikett (left) plays FBI field agent Paul Ballard who is obsessed with tracking down the urban legend of the Dollhouse and becomes a twisted romantic foil for Echo. Welcome to the Captain alum Fran Kranz (right) plays Topher Brink, the Dollhouse's resident computer genius who imprints and erases the Dolls and is "fun to be around, but might not be remotely trustworthy."
Rounding out the cast are 24 alum Harry J. Lennix (left) as Boyd Langton, an ex-cop who is Echo's "handler"/bodyguard who is conflicted about his role in exploiting the Dolls, and newcomer Enver Gjokaj (right), another Doll and Echo's closest friend.
With the cast set, the sneak peeks that a couple of critics have gotten at the pilot script is even more intriguing. E! Watch With Kristin TV columnist Kristin Dos Santos says: "Dollhouse is like The Bourne Identity meets Stepford Wives meets boarding school meets Los Angeles neo-noir meets the Whedonverse. In short, it's rad, man." Over at Televisionary, the review is even more breathless when describing the brilliantly a twisted take on human trafficking:
Wow. I, officially, can't wait. How about you, are you ready to see Joss, Eliza and company play house?
Submitted by on April 21, 2008 - 4:00pm. |
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Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This was totally my
This was totally my reaction too! I am so excited to see another Joss show! AND with my huge, HUGE crush Eliza! Oh be still my heart!
I miss having a great show with strongly written and complicated female characters. With the end of Buffy and ALIAS i've been without--I hope Dollhouse is able to fill the void!
Joss Whedon...
Joss Whedon can do no wrong in my book, so I'll definitely be tuning in to see what he makes of this show, just as I tuned in and was a huge fan of Buffy, Angel and Firefly!
(Self Appointed) "#1 Bridget McManus Fan"
OH MY GOD!!!
I can't wait for this to start! Joss Whedon can't do wrong! And I'm really happy to see Amy Wacker as one of the cast members!
I can't wait for this show
can't wait!
I want this on my TV now!
Whedon's Grrls
Yes!!!
Being a Buffy buff, I know anything Mr. Whedon does will be pure awesomeness. Of course, I will be watching. Eliza Dushku and Amy Acker is all ya need to get me to watch. The character of Sierra sounds quite interesting. Also, the actress playing her is gorgeous.
If I ever start to think straight, this heart will start a riot in me.
!
Absolutely cannot wait for this! It's the only television show I've been excited about for years.
If fox cancels this one too I will go bald from the ripping out of my own hair. Well, either that or I'll bomb someone. So worried they're going to screw this up. Yargh.
Will be there.
If fox cancels this one too I will go bald from the ripping out of my own hair. Well, either that or I'll bomb someone.
I'll be joining you. Complete with pointy sticks in case I can't figure out the bomb.
Is it fall yet?
*Boucing*
The show just keeps sounding better and better.
"Bad jokes are us, ur me."
I'd watch anything with Joss Whedon's name on it, but
That's my guy!
Holy crap! The Whedon show
Holy crap! The Whedon show with Eliza Dushku is now the Whedon show with Eliza Dushku and Amy Freaking Acker?
Too bad Fox will run it into the ground and cancel it half way through the first season...
I can't wait for this
I can't wait for this show either -
I'm just a little worried about the Australian girl Dichen Lachman - Being an Aussie, my sis and I used to watch her on Neighbours and joked about how terrible an actor she was BUT on the other hand I have complete faith in Joss and am thinking that she just didn't have much to work with - but yay, Aussie's represent! - Can't wait :).
Katya Kinski
salad fingers!
oh the best!
"hubert cumberdale, you taste like soot and poo."
rusty spoons
Yesssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!! <3<3<3<3<3
Cloverfield anyone? visit me Ender at 1-18-08-underground.com
Katya Kinski
God I am so glad somebody agrees.
I saw her picture and - having double-taken, my heart sank. I was all Arrested Development - "Her?"
I don't watch Neighbours but I'll admit to having seen at least one episode with Dichen in - and it was bad news. Basically everybody on Neighbours comes across looking bad, which is at least partially the *awful* writing, but she was especially painful.
I also basically couldn't care less about the success or failure of actors based purely on their Aussie-ness. (Okay so I love Cate Blanchett. But I'd love her if she was British or American too.)
If Dichen Lachman used an Aussie accent, that'd be kind of cool. But she won't.
On the other hand - she would not have been cast if she was as terrible as I am imagining. Positive thinking.
Swoon-worthy
I've been on pins and needles for this one ever since I first heard about it. I tried not to get too excited, since there are lots of things that can derail a project in Hollywood before it ever sees the light of day, and Whedon is such a principled perfectionist (not a bad thing)--he has been known to walk away from high-profile/highly anticipated projects before (remember WONDER WOMAN?).
But it's been clear from the beginning that he is committed to this one. Each time it passes a pre-production milestone, I breathe a little easier.
Can't wait!
So. freakin. excited.
Sierra
I know
I couldn't stand Dichen Lachman on Neighbours. Joss must've seen something special no-one else saw.
Still I'm SO looking forward to this!
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I have always been a fan of
I have always been a fan of Whedon's shows. I am definitly going to watch this one.
"So put me on a plane, and fly me to anywhere...with you"-Augustana
*grin*
In the past couple months, a friend of mine got me hooked on Buffy and angel. It's like my crack, and he's my dealer, pushing all these dvds on me. I'm so happy I get to watch a Joss Show from the begining. it just...makes me so glad.
Hmmmmm
Dolls
Eliza and Amy and Joss...Oh my!
I haven't been this excited since I heard Eliza Dushku and Joss Whedon were maybe gonna do a new television show together!!!
I don't watch Neighbours, but I know it's all bad, so I have to say I'm a little worried about this Dichen chick...so I went onto Youtube to get a feel for the actress, and the first vid I click on has this written in the info section...
Arrr, let's goooooo...
Hell yeah, it is on. I have
Oh Em Gee
excellent!
I love joss! He so amazing, hilarious, witty and genuine. His shows always have funky premises, that would never work in the hands of a lesser creator/writer. This one appears to continue the trend.
Joss likes to keep it in the family, so I'm guessing he'll try to pull in many of the Buffy, Angel and Firefly writer/directors/actors/crew as possible.
Now that we have a good list of actors and actresses (amazing!!) I can't wait to see how the set and music are going to turn out. I'm still in awe of the serenity set, and I'll never not love the music of joss's shows!
I can't wait!!!!
Let us hope this doesn't get firefly's bad luck. I loved that show and I'm sure I will love this one as well. Joss is a flipping genius and I am so glad to see him step back into the spotlight. Thank you Joss for your awesome ideas that lead to my favorite shows which without my life would not be the same.
http://www.youtube.com/sinfulhex
Joss returns!!
I can't wait to see this. I've been going through Joss-withdrawal since the end of Buffy (Angel just didn't have the same kick, and Firefly was gone before it's time...but it did give us Caleb on Buffy). And Eliza and Amy back on my screen......*sigh*....the hardship of having to watch that. Whhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Finally, something worthy of turning the TV on. Welcome back Joss.
Buffy hasn't ended you can
Buffy hasn't ended you can pick up season 8 at your local comicbook store or heck at regular book store.
-Nathiest
live for lust die for love
Dollhouse recap?
Is there anything we can do to get a recap (video or written) of this show on here? Please let some justification present itself in the preview press packets.
Amy Acker. I couldn't have been happier to read this casting notice. Especially, since we never got to her on Drive. Fox, seriously. Don't you dare touch this one.
I'm nervous to be so excited about this show. I just can't help myself. I agree with one of the above posters, this needs to be on my television NOW.
McManus in '08! Vote now. Vote often. www.curvemag.com
its 'Tru" I have 'Faith' in Eliza:)
All i needed to see was Joss and Eliza and i seriously cant wait...as a full on Buffy/angel nut i have missed joss's writing and lets hope this one is given the chance it deserves...we need some good TV coming back!!!!!!
Amy Acker!?!!!!!!!!!!
Amy Acker!?!!!!!!!!!! EEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!! This is going to be the best show ever, EVER!
-Nathiest
live for lust die for love
*THUD*
I'm so ready! The first show in a long time that I have been really anticipating. Definitely counting the minutes, Joss Whedon's characters are some of the most well-rounded and well-written in tv history. I'm really looking forward to this.
"We promised to bust a move, keep it funky and always be each other's pimps" ~
Amy Poehler as Britney (BITCH!)
ELIZA will u marry me?!!?!?!?
lol. wow i can't wait!!!!! i could see this becoming my number 2 show of all time and it hasn't even started yet :D i'm sorry but nothing can go before Xena, that'll always be number one. but then Joss always follows right behind there.
and off topic but i just have to add...since i've been gone for a couple weeks on here the change on here is amazing! i love the new pages! i'll have to take more time off from my new xenaverse soc obsession and come back here more!
okay back on topic, anyone know he air date? i'm sure it's already been posted but i honestly didn't read it
~*~"That's what we all dream about isn't it? Someone who looks so deeply into our soul that...they'd find something worth dying for."---Gabrielle~*~
I am so ready
For the brilliance that is Joss Whedon to return to my t.v. screen. Been jonesing for it ever since the end of Buffy. And so glad to see Amy Acker added to the cast I've always loved her acting, she was awesome in Alias and Angel, I'm sure she'll be no different in this new show.
And I'm really looking forward to seeing Eliza on t.v. again, I'm still not over FOX's crappy treatment of "Tru Calling". Here's hoping FOX doesn't make the same mistake with this one. I'm hoping since it's done by Joss FOX will give the show more of a chance, before screwing with it.
something good is coming to tv!
Olivia Williams...
WEEEEE!
In Joss I trust.
I've been waiting with baited breath to hear the cast list and I am so thrilled that he is bringing our beloved, Amy Acker, back for our viewing pleasure. The rest of the cast sounds pretty spot on too.
I squeal with the rest of you as I return to my Buffy marathon.
Amiebelle7
Whedonite
www.myspace.com/auntielavz
i. can't. breath. I am too
i. can't. breath. I am too excited...
being the uber huge Whedon fan that i am plus the
fact that the plot and characters seem AMAZING,
i can't wait... at all. i want the show on now.
the fact that it combines cast memebers from buffy and angel and battlestar galactica,
what geek wouldn't be fraking uberly excited!?
oh how i missed Whedon and all his awesomness.
ps it kinda sucks that its going to be on Fox...
Yikes!!
The only things I'm really worried about is Fox messing this one right up...and putting Joss off working on TV forever :(
Oh, also I hope there will be at least some lesbian type subtext involving Eliza, yunno...kinda like with Buffy but more so :p Hell, bring SMG on to the show, even for one ep. Joss? Anybody?
Ok, ok...wishful thinking. Still, I'm getting a ton of fanfic ideas and the show hasn't even started yet...lol
~#~
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Amy and Eliza
McManus in '08! Vote now. Vote often. www.curvemag.com
Oops...
I think I might have peed myself a LITTLE bit when I heard that this show was being developed...
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oh please