"Spike" movie pitched to the WB! Options

[Berengaria]

from today's Ask Ausiello at tv guide.com :

Question: I'm pleased to hear you plan to ask the WB folks about Angel movies, but please, what we need are Spike movies starring James Marsters. So, if those WBers try to brush you off with a generic "David Boreanaz is busy," you'll help us out and ask specifically about Spike, won't you please? — Grace

Ausiello: As you predicted, WB president David Janollari immediately played the "[Boreanaz] has a lot of other things going on" card when I asked him for an update on the Angel movies. But I was ready with my Spike follow-up. "I've never thought of that," he said of doing a Marsters-centric telepic. "I had not thought about it. We always thought Angel would be the character the audience would want to come back to see. We may give some thought to the Spike movie. That's interesting." I can't be sure, but I think I just pitched a show to the WB.


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[Berengaria]

I e-mailed amytvgal@zap2it.com and told her this. I asked her to help spread the word that there are a lot of fans who would still like to see Whedon-verse movies even without SMG or David Boreanaz. She answered me:


You know I'd love to see a Spike movie. Thanks Kate!

[Berengaria]

Matt Roush from tvguide answers a fan question:

Question:

Do you believe that WB ever had any interest in the idea of telemovies
for Angel or are they frantically dissembling? I, for one, would be
very interested in a telemovie showcasing the prodigious talents of
Mr. James Marsters, reprising the role of Spike. I'm very surprised
that WB claims never to have considered this idea as likely to be
popular. What are your thoughts on this matter? — Carrie

Matt:

When WB let Angel get away — a mistake if you look at the network's
current impoverished landscape — the suggestion of possible movies
revisiting the Angel or Buffy worlds was no doubt lip service intended
to assuage the grief of Joss Whedon fans everywhere. (Didn't work.)
And since Joss has for the moment suspended his TV operations, it's
pretty clear that this was a pipe dream at best, but more likely just
hollow PR from WB with no basis in reality. Of course I'd like to see
a Spike movie, or series, or even just have him show up in an episode
of something random. But I'm not counting on it. (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/bawl.gif)

[Berengaria]

from Ask Ausiello at tv guide today:

Question: Tell me honestly: What do you think the chances are of WB doing a Spike TV movie? — Renee

Ausiello: While I have her on the phone, let me ask Ms. Hannigan*: "That's a great idea. I just talked to somebody today who was saying, 'Why don't they do a Spike movie?' That's who they should do — forget Angel or Buffy! Do the James Marsters movie. That would be huge. He's bigger than anybody!" No argument here.




*He was interviewing Alyson Hannigan.

[Berengaria]

from the Sentinel:

Q: Big Spike fan of Monona - So glad to see the question about James Marsters; but it leads to another: with their Sunday and Thursday nights ratings virtually at zero, why in the world didn't The WB go ahead with one or more Spike movies? It would have gained them a lot of press and critical attention and the ratings would have to be better than the blip that is Jack & Bobby or Steve Harvey's show.

A: Joanne Weintraub - These days the WB is doing better with family shows like 7th Heaven and Everwood than with more offbeat shows like Buffy (which, you remember, had moved on to UPN before it ended) or Angel. And as one of the smaller networks, they've been very cautious about made-for-TV movies. Creator Joss Whedon's future does seem to be in feature films, though, so it's just possible that Marsters will turn up in one of those.

[jolynnco]

I'd love to see a Spike movie. Heck I'd watch James Marsters in a toilet paper commercial....LOL

It would be interesting maybe they could add "Andrew and the slayers" into it too. That was so cool when they did an apperance in Angel....I thought.

[Berengaria]

Oh,I LOVED Andrew's appearances on "Angel"...his over-the-top affection for Spike and how he was growing into such responsibility with the Council. I especially loved him in Italy...leaving Angel and Spike behind as he walked off into the night with 2 beautiful ladies on his tuxedo-clad arm! So funny! (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/lol.gif)

[Berengaria]

From tvguide(Ask Ausiello) today:

Question: I think a Spike TV-movie would be great! — Teri

Ausiello: So, apparently, does James Marsters. In his first interview since I pitched WB president David Janollari the idea of doing a Spike telepic, the 42-year-old actor told my colleague, Ben Katner, that he's game for resurrecting his soulful Buffyverse counterpart "as long as I could do it within, say, the next four or five years; past that, I'm too old. Spike's a vampire, man, and I've got high standards — you have to believe that the guy has not aged since we met him. There's a little poetic license, but I don't want to get into a situation where the script says, 'Well, he was drinking pig blood and he aged,' you know? [Whatever Joss Whedon wrote] would be funnier than that — it would be delightful — but it would be taking away the coolest thing about a vampire, which is that he's iconic... he does not change." OK, Mr. Janollari — the ball is in your court.



Whether or not this actually happens,I think it is great the way James' fans are keeping his name in the media. It was certainly a fan letter that got Ausiello to talk to Janollari about a "Spike" movie in the first place. And all this buzz has just got to be a positive for James. Honestly,I'm tickled pink. (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/grin.gif)

[orton]

omg! You are kidding me- how freakin' cool would that be *swoons*

btw Berengaria love your sig (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/lol.gif)

[Berengaria]

Thanks,Orton...I actually was at Woodstock....didn't see "Spike" there,but then I'm not sure I would remember if I had! (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/lol.gif)

[orton]

Thanks,Orton...I actually was at Woodstock....didn't see \"Spike\" there,but then I'm not sure I would remember if I had! (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/lol.gif)

Haha! (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/lmao.gif) Well you would have but he wouldn't have - too high (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/wink.gif)

[Berengaria]

Not to mention....wet!!!...and covered in mud. (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/spineyes.gif)






I was so disappointed yesterday. Eonline's Watch with Kristin hasd said to look for her interview with James in Friday's column....and when I read it....zilch...nada....nothing! She shouldn't play with a Marsters fan heartstrings like that....we miss him too much! (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/bawl.gif)

[Berengaria]

Looks like we're getting closer...keep those postcards going in!

Question: Are we getting any closer to a Spike movie? Heather

Ausiello: Based on my conversations with both Whedon and WB entertainment president David Janollari last Thursday, it certainly sounds like we are. When I asked Janollari if he had given any further thought to the Spike telepic I pitched him at press tour in January, he said, "I have given it more thought since you brought it up. It's certainly something that I continue to get many fan
letters and e-mails about, and it's something that we discuss a lot around here. But no decision has been made." Well, literally 15 minutes after I hung up with Janollari, Whedon called to weigh in on a William the Bloody revival. "I'm really for it, but I have never really spoken to David Janollari," he said. "I occasionally would bring it up with [execs at 20th Century] Fox, and they'd
be like, 'Yeah, that would be cool.' And I'm like, 'Who do we need to talk to?' And then nothing has really happened. I've been really busy in post [-production] on Serenity and haven't been able to get the wheels turning, but I definitely intend to investigate it." When I relayed to him that Janollari had
just told me that he was open to the idea, Whedon responded, "Well, that's something that I hope to get a chance to pursue." And what about his Wonder Woman
commitment? Wouldn't that further delay things? "[Spike] is not necessarily something that I would write and direct myself," he suggested. "I have a lot of brilliant friends who worked with me for many years who might be able to take the helm somebody who both James [Marsters] and I would trust." Whedon also
revealed that the Spike pic would not be a prequel, thereby alleviating the age-related concerns Marsters recently expressed in Ask Ausiello. "For me, Spike is a very contemporary guy," he said. "It's sort of what distinguished him from Angel." So let me get this straight: Not only did I pitch this movie to Janollari, but I secured the participation of its star and creator. If that's not
enough to land me a producing credit, then something's wrong with the system.

[Berengaria]

Also being reported by Moviehole:

WB considering Blondie Bear return?
Posted on Thr, 24-Mar-2005

Looks like we might be seeing a familiar bloodsucker back on the frog soon.

Both Joss Whedon and James Marsters, creator and co-star of "Angel", respectively, have long expressed an interest in bringing bottle-blonde vampire Spike back to screens in a telemovie - and by the sounds of it, it's going to [finally] happen.

Whedon announced at Wizard World over the weekend that he's very keen to do an "Angel" spin-off - with the character of 'Spike' the chap he'll most likely be concentrating on - and it got a great reception from those in attendance.

Ausiello over at TV Guide talked to both WB entertainment president David Janollari, and Whedon, who sounded keener than a Olympian around water to dive straight into it.

"I have given it more thought since you brought it up. It's certainly something that I continue to get many fan letters and e-mails about, and it's something that we discuss a lot around here. But no decision has been made", the WB head-honcho tells the reporter.

Whedon seemed optimistic. "I'm really for it, but I have never really spoken to David Janollari," he said. "I occasionally would bring it up with [execs at 20th Century] Fox, and they'd be like, 'Yeah, that would be cool.' And I'm like, 'Who do we need to talk to?' And then nothing has really happened. I've been really busy in post [-production] on Serenity and haven't been able to get the wheels turning, but I definitely intend to investigate it."

Whedon says he doesn't necessarily need to write or direct the "Spike" telemovie, so the WB can pretty much getting go on it as soon as they want. "[Spike] is not necessarily something that I would write and direct myself," he suggested. "I have a lot of brilliant friends who worked with me for many years who might be able to take the helm — somebody who both James [Marsters] and I would trust."

Whedon says his idea for the "Spike" telemovie isn't a prequel. "For me, Spike is a very contemporary guy," he said. "It's sort of what distinguished him from Angel."

Fingers crossed - it could be the first smart move The WB has made since greenlighting "Angel" all those years back.

[Berengaria]

Well, seems our friend Mr. Ausiello of TV Guide has really been going to bat for us with Joss and David Janollari. If we are going to do some heavy promoting of the Spike movie, now would be the time.

Joss has mentioned at two conventions in the last month that he will gladly arrange a Spike movie if a studio expresses some interest. David Janollari from WB said at the press tour a short while ago that he hadn’t considered a Spike movie but recently told TV Guide that he is now seriously interested and that he gets tons of e-mails and postcards requesting it. What does this mean? It definitely doesn’t mean we can rest in the knowledge that the movie will be made for the next sweeps – it means we have to continue to make ourselves heard!

There are several things coming up in the near future and some projects we should be working on:

1) Houston Vulkon (http://www.vulkon.com) – I have about 300 postcards left to leave out at this event. If you are there, be sure to fill some out.

2) Whedonverse and Beyond (http://www.alternateuniversepresents.com) w/James Marsters and guests from Firefly/Serenity, Buffy, and Angel – This convention is taking place the weekend of July 8th through July 10th. I’ve received $90 in donations towards postcard and address lists for this event. I’ll also be assisting with the charity auction to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital so if anyone is interested in donating items for the auction, please see this link http://www.alternateuniversepresents.com/Charity.htm for how you can help. I have some great charity auction items so hope to see you there!

3) Booster Bash (http://www.boosterevents.com/) w/guests from Angel and Buffy – This convention is taking place the weekend of July 29th through 31st. If you are interested in donating towards the purchase of postcards to be handed out at the event, please PayPal teep_p12@yahoo.com (teep_p12 @yahoo.com). I will be running a charity auction to benefit The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. I also have another batch of great charity auction items for this event. There will be a Support Spike table and I will be participating in a Future of the Verses Symposium discussing ways in which the fans can continue to support Buffy, Angel, and Firefly. It’s going to be a good one!

4) Postcards – If anyone is interested in submitting some new Spike movie or Spike spin-off postcards for this event, please urgently let me know so I can arrange it with the printer. We could use a few fresh new ones to liven up the campaign.

5) Commercial/Trailer – It’s been suggested that another good way to drum up support for the movie is to create a “trailer” or commercial for the show. If we have any talented vidders out there that would be interested in submitting a few ideas, please e-mail me and let me know. It could be something we have up on the website and burn to CD to send to Joss and David J.

6) Targets – Most importantly, KEEP SENDING POSTCARDS! Probably the number one thing we can do is to continue to speak in large numbers and in a loud voice

Addresses:

David Janollari
President - Entertainment
WB Entertainment
4000 Warner Blvd., Bldg. 34R
Burbank, CA 91522

Garth Ancier
Chairman, The WB Network
4000 Warner Blvd. Bldg. 34R
Burbank, CA. 91522

Dana Walden or Gary Newman
Twentieth Century Fox Television
10201 West Pico Blvd
Building 88, Room 30
Los Angeles, CA 90035

If you are a member of SupportSpike, you can also find address files here:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Suppo...tv-networks.doc
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Suppo...ia-Contacts.doc

Or join SupportSpike here:

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/SupportSpike/join

[Berengaria]

From Tvguide.com - 2005-03-30th









Question: Did Joss Whedon say anything about reviving Angel as a movie-of-the-week? - Chris

Ausiello: Yeah, but it seems that ship has sailed. These days, he’s all about the Spikester. "The thing is, David Boreanaz has kind of gone to a new place," Whedon said. "He did the series for five years and the character for a couple of years before that [on Buffy], and the thing about a Spike movie that’s different is, well, it’s different. In the same way Angel was different than Buffy as a show because of the characters, Spike would be different as a subject and that’s what makes it fresh. I don’t want to try to recapture the essence of something that I’ve already done. I want to put a new spin on it."

[polia]

^^This sounds really good!!^^ (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/grin.gif)

I would absolutely without a doubt want to see a Spike movie!! I think I need to jump on the band wagan and start sending these post cards!! (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/grin.gif)

[Berengaria]

That would be great. I think the chances of something really getting started have never looked as good as they do right now. This is certainly the time to let them all know there are fans who will rush to see it! (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/smile.gif)

[polia]

Question: Where do I get the post cards from?

[Berengaria]

Try a site called www.supportspike.com