Monday, August 27, 2007

Buffy Spin-Off Ripper Finally Happening

This weekend, Anthony Stewart Head has been attending the Collectormania Glasgow event. Several film ick eyes and ears were present, as well as some pushy film ick fingers and flapping film ick tongues. What was the best bit of news we found out?

That, according to Anthony Stewart Head, the Ripper series is finally going into production. He's expecting the shoot to take place next summer, if everything goes to plan. And, yes, Joss Whedon is behind the wheel.

Ripper was originally proposed some years ago as a BBC co-production while Buffy was still at The WB. It's to be set in the UK and Anthony Stewart Head is to lead a line-up of new characters, much the way Angel did when he went to LA.

Good to hear that the Buffyverse is coming back to TV, even if legal issues might keep even little cameos from some favourite characters well out of the frame.

12 comments:

Mark Kardwell said...

Good to see the ongoing cash tree that is DOCTOR WHO is awakening an ambition for decent genre TV at the Beeb.

It's hardly rocket science, though. Proven hit franchise, plus proven hit writer/producer equals many years of shortsighted BBC herberts sitting on the proposal. "I say, this isn't exactly Holby City, wot?"

Legally, I'd say, if it's a co-production with the dormant Mutant Enemy, they could use any Buffy character they wanted. Buffy has jumped networks in the U.S. before. The real problem would be getting any of the cast to reprise their roles for BBC pay scales.

Anonymous said...

YES YES YES YES.

Anonymous said...

WHOOO-HOOOO!!!!!

Great news! Can't wait to see it.

Anonymous said...

"The real problem would be getting any of the cast to reprise their roles for BBC pay scales."

BBC pay scales were already sufficient to rope James Marsters onto Torchwood, Id say hes the most likely bet.

Willow Buffy Angel and Faith are almost certain no-shows though. Cant see the point in Xander. As much as I like Illyria I think shes a bit over the top for what I assume will be a subtle, spooky detective show.

Anonymous said...

Considering the person who wrote this article spelled Anthony STEWART Head's name wrong, I would take this report with a BIG grain of salt. Yes, It has been said that "Ripper" has a chance of happening in the future, I am skeptical about it being greenlit right now.

Brendon said...

It's a typo. I was hurrying. I will edit it.

But that's what he said at Collectormania.

Anonymous said...

Not really an on-going series, though, is it? Thought they were talking a mini or made-for-tv flick.

Anonymous said...

SyFy Portal reports that Tony Head said that SMG and DB could cameo


http://www.syfyportal.com/news424086.html

"And if the prospect of Giles returning to solve paranormal mysteries isn’t enough to get fans excited, there is always the possibility that Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) or Angel (David Borenanz) may pop in for a small cameo, even though the latter is tied up with a new series on Fox called "Bones."

“If all things are equal we’ll do it next summer,” Head later told fans at the event. “It could involve her, it could involve him but it doesn’t hinge on that.”

Anonymous said...

SyFy Portal is reporting that Tony Head said SMG and DB could cameo.

http://www.syfyportal.com/news424086.html

"And if the prospect of Giles returning to solve paranormal mysteries isn’t enough to get fans excited, there is always the possibility that Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) or Angel (David Borenanz) may pop in for a small cameo, even though the latter is tied up with a new series on Fox called "Bones."

“If all things are equal we’ll do it next summer,” Head later told fans at the event. “It could involve her, it could involve him but it doesn’t hinge on that.”"

Anonymous said...

I've a certain "yeah, right" reaction to that rumour. SMG seems to want to distance herself from the role, god knows why - her career's been idling since.

Brendon said...

Because Buffy as a whole is far, far better than she is. And she doesn't like that. At all.

She'll never, ever have a role one thousandth as important or memorable ever again.

Scott said...

I read those reports. Head said "it's more likely now than it has been in some time" -- which is a far, far cry from "series going into production." Indeed, I don't think it's even intended as a backdoor pilot anymore. Just a TV movie.