Sci-Fi Storm

Actor/Martial Artist Ray Park, who is best known for playing Darth Maul in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace has signed for a story arc on Heroes, although little is known about the character yet. Ironically I was just at Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (more on that later), where Park often puts on demonstrations and talks with the fans.

The new Doctor now has his new companion. Karen Gillan, who appeared as the soothsayer in the Doctor Who episode “The Fires Of Pompeii”, will now become Matt Smith’s first companion. The BBC also has a bit more about the 21 year old actress.

Mike Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly reports that Joss Whedon is considering adding Summer Glau to Dollhouse, now that Glau’s series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles is canceled. Don’t expect her to be an active, though – Whedon wants to do something different with her, and Glau “would like to play a normal girl before I die of extreme old age.'”

Despite the big push Fox gave to Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles this season, the ratings didn’t go the way Fox wanted, and has canceled the expensive show. The article also explains why that happened, but Dollhouse was picked up.

Looks like bubble fortunes have been on the good side this season. NBC has renewed Chuck with a 13 episode order, despite its shrinking schedule room in the fall. AS typical this season, budget concessions were necessary, but hopefully we won’t see the effects (and will see perhaps a backend order after it returns).

This just in: Fox has renewed Dollhouse for a 13 episode second season. Reportedly Whedon managed to convince Fox that the show could still be done with quality on a smaller budget – which apparently the “13th episode” (which will be released on the DVD) was used as an example. Update 5/18: It will unfortunately return to Fridays, where it is always difficult to garner strong ratings, but according to Fox scripted shows on Fridays pleases advertisers.

Despite poor ratings for the finale, Dollhouse isn’t dead yet, with Joss Whedon pitching the second season to execs last week. Now they need to make it financially viable. What could boost things is DVD sales, but the DVD doesn’t get released until July 28th (Blu-ray available as well). The DVD will include two big extras – the previously mentioned “missing” episode called “Epitaph One”, and the unaired pilot, “Echo”. Update 5/15: Fox may be leaning towards renewal but it still comes down to money.

Heroes star Milo Ventmiglia’s Agility Studios is setting up to produce a web series called Ultradome, which (tongue-in-cheek) looks to settle some of the greatest (geeky) debates of the Internet generation, like “Who would win a fight: Gandalf or Darth Vader?” But what about the classic argument – “Enterprise or Star Destroyer?”

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Fox’s Fringe has survived its first season and will get a second, but the fates of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and Dollhouse are still unknown. Over at NBC, where their infront was delayed due to the death of VP of Drama Development Nora O’Brien, Heroes and Medium will be back, along with new apocalyptic series Day One, but a decision on Chuck has been delayed.

Joss Whedon recently discussed with reporters about Dollhouse and its likelihood of renewal, despite some noncommittal statements from Fox. Apparently its odds are better than its lead-in, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.