For real?

[Arashmaharr]

Okay, I just read this. I don't know whether or not this is completely legit, but I thought I'd post in case it is.

It looks like there actually is going to be a Ripper spin-off. Not a TV series, but a movie for the BBC. I hope this isn't fake and will actually happen, and apparently it's due out 2008, but I don't know where someone heard that.

I do remember there being lots of this about this before and it was all brushed off, which does made me have doubt but still gotta hope.

But if it is true then: :2party:

HERE (http://www.whedon.info/Joss-Whedon-announces-Ripper-Tv.html)

[vampmogs]

Wow.

I don't want to get my hopes up or anything.. but wow. That is very recent, I was expecting this to be an old link before opening it up but instead it came up with this. If this happened... well I dunno what I would think. The pesimistic in me says this is just another rumour and this will never happen.. but the optimistic in me says that this actually looks really promising. If Joss did actually state this at comic con this year then holy crap!

And good news is this site is usually pretty reliable from my experience. That's kinda blown me away a little :)

Ok my mind is blowing right now! I've been searching around and a legit reporter from Comic Con has just reported the same thing, Whedon was quoted as saying it hasn't been finalized yet but looks set to definitly happen- as well as the Ats s6 comic which will be titled Angel s6: After The Fall, a new horror movie he has written and a ballet movie with Summer Glau which he has done the score for. Not only this but he has promised that Oz will return but I'm not sure in which comic series.

This is freakin mind blowing! I actually think this is all legit! :2party:

[Valyssia]

Gotta love the great big sloppy, sod off that sends to the American television networks. It's almost beautiful. Whedon says repeatedly, 'no more TV...didn't leave me with a warm and fuzzy' then he agrees to do TV abroad. With any luck the Brits will treat him well and open the doorway to him really stretching his legs again.

Very good news, indeed. Thank you.

Valyssia

[vampmogs]

Yeah it is quite funny that this will be a spin-off movie of a american television series but will be produced in England by an english broadcaster and will be broadcasted in England first before America. Joss is really sticking it to them isn't he :roll:

The American networks have screwed him over though, I'm hoping the BBC will do a lot better with him.

[Veverka]

That would be so very cool! Am I the only one to wonder though, how this will work with Anthony Stewart Head? I mean, he's not getting any younger, and if it's set pre-Buffy days...? :confused: I know make up is good... but how good, really?

Other than that, woo and hoo!

[vampmogs]

I was thinking about this same thing earlier today. Anthony looks considerably different to when he first started Btvs back in 1997 and this is supposed to pre-date even that. I don't think some hair dye is really going to solve the problem either :)

I would rather the story take place sometime after Chosen and to run alongside season eight. It has been reported the original plot may change.

Apparently it is going to be a scary story, I'm picturing dreary england with hauntings and ghosts.. sounds perfect :)

[Wolfie Gilmore]

I was kinda hoping they'd do a story about young Ripper, with another actor (Cilian Murphy please!), but perhaps in flashback, so they could use ASH as well? Less bothered with having ASH than having a good story though.

I'd like to see a story about him helping set up the new slayer world order mind you...but that wouldn't really be a "Ripper" story...unless they explore how his Ripper self is still alive (eg killling Ben). The realpolitik side of Giles.

But, if it's a ghost story...perhaps they could do some aspect of his past haunting him? Something with Ethan perhaps, since Ethan's snuffed it...

EDIT: Oh god though...no wacky ghost sidekick!

[vampmogs]

I was kinda hoping they'd do a story about young Ripper, with another actor (Cilian Murphy please!), but perhaps in flashback, so they could use ASH as well? Less bothered with having ASH than having a good story though.

I'd like to see a story about him helping set up the new slayer world order mind you...but that wouldn't really be a "Ripper" story...unless they explore how his Ripper self is still alive (eg killling Ben). The realpolitik side of Giles.

But, if it's a ghost story...perhaps they could do some aspect of his past haunting him? Something with Ethan perhaps, since Ethan's snuffed it...

EDIT: Oh god though...no wacky ghost sidekick!

Oh I would be so disapointed if ASH wasn't in it! :err: I'm dying to see the Buffy characters again, although I'd love the flashbacks as well. :)

I'd like it to be Post-Chosen but it is likely it will take place back in Giles' Ripper days or at least a story that coincides with one another.

[Rosamunde]

ASH is pretty versatile, but I agree that he couldn't pull off teenager. I wouldn't be that gutted if he wasn't in it, any backstory for Giles' character would be fantastic, whoever played him.

I really want to see more Ripper dealing with the effect of magic with an early punk soundtrack.

Um, but I'm cyncial, and don't believe this will happen yet...

EDIT: Oh god though...no wacky ghost sidekick!

I actually quite fancy the idea of Ethan the Wacky Ghost Sidekick :D

[vampmogs]

ASH is pretty versatile, but I agree that he couldn't pull off teenager. I wouldn't be that gutted if he wasn't in it, any backstory for Giles' character would be fantastic, whoever played him.

Really? I've been dying to see these actors back in their roles.

I really want to see more Ripper dealing with the effect of magic with an early punk soundtrack.

That would be very cool, the Clash and Sex Pistols are springing to mind.

Um, but I'm cyncial, and don't believe this will happen yet...

As was I until I started looking around. Whedon states that everything is in order. Both ASH and BBC have agreed to do it, all that needs to happen now is to finalise the paper work. This looks very promising, I'm guessing because of the success of Btvs s8. :)

I actually quite fancy the idea of Ethan the Wacky Ghost Sidekick :D

If it was set after Ethan's death I wouldn't mind seeing him come back as a ghost either, but I'd much prefer it to be in a creepy way than as a ghost sidekick :roll:

[Wolfie Gilmore]

Really? I've been dying to see these actors back in their roles.

I'm not too fussed about the actors. I mean, I'd be annoyed if they replaced an actor to play a character at the same age, but if they were using a younger version of the character, they'd have to replace em. It's the characters I want to see more of so...any actor who's up to the job is fine by me for young Ripper.



That would be very cool, the Clash and Sex Pistols are springing to mind.

And The Buzz****s plz! Oh, and X Ray Specs. Then some non-punk 70s stuff...a bit of psychadelia (Gong perhaps? Though maybe they were more 60s...) and then some Cream (cos we know Giles loves them, though obv 60s too...but going on the basis that he would've listened to them as a teenager in the 60s). When WAS Giles born? Wikipedia has him as being born in 1954, which means he would've been 20 in 1973 (worked that out cos I was thinking of doing a Life on Mars crossover ;)), so maybe they'd set it in the early 70s, which would've been when he dropped out of Oxford.



If it was set after Ethan's death I wouldn't mind seeing him come back as a ghost either, but I'd much prefer it to be in a creepy way than as a ghost sidekick :roll:

I want Ethan and Giles together in the flesh. Kicking the shit out of each other and getting drunk together and doing magic together. With the biggest fattest subtext in the universe :D

[vampmogs]

I'm not too fussed about the actors. I mean, I'd be annoyed if they replaced an actor to play a character at the same age, but if they were using a younger version of the character, they'd have to replace em. It's the characters I want to see more of so...any actor who's up to the job is fine by me for young Ripper.

I'm just craving to see them reprise their roles again so it just feels more real to me. I wouldn't mind having flashbacks with another character playing his younger self but as long as ASH was in it as well. Really it is all kinda moot anyway because Joss is only doing it if ASH would go sign up for it, he has so it is kinda finalsed anyway in that department :)

And The Buzz****s plz! Oh, and X Ray Specs. Then some non-punk 70s stuff...a bit of psychadelia (Gong perhaps? Though maybe they were more 60s...) and then some Cream (cos we know Giles loves them, though obv 60s too...but going on the basis that he would've listened to them as a teenager in the 60s). When WAS Giles born? Wikipedia has him as being born in 1954, which means he would've been 20 in 1973 (worked that out cos I was thinking of doing a Life on Mars crossover ;)), so maybe they'd set it in the early 70s, which would've been when he dropped out of Oxford.

I don't believe it has ever been stated how old Giles is. Sometimes I wonder where Wikipedia gets its info from- do people just randomly make things up sometimes? As far as I know there has never been any date set in canon for when Giles was born, but I could be wrong. :s

I want Ethan and Giles together in the flesh. Kicking the shit out of each other and getting drunk together and doing magic together. With the biggest fattest subtext in the universe :D

My preferences are for this to co alongside with s8 or roughly around that area. For that to become a reality would mean either Ethan as a ghost, or possibly connecting with Giles like he did with Buffy in his dreamspace before being killed- or flashbacks. However, it is still open when and where this story will take place. Although I think it is fairly certain it'll be in england.

[Wolfie Gilmore]

I'm just craving to see them reprise their roles again so it just feels more real to me. I wouldn't mind having flashbacks with another character playing his younger self but as long as ASH was in it as well. Really it is all kinda moot anyway because Joss is only doing it if ASH would go sign up for it, he has so it is kinda finalsed anyway in that department :)

Yup, it's mootsville. I hope they do have at least some flashbacks, cos it's Ripper I want to see at least as much as Giles.



I don't believe it has ever been stated how old Giles is. Sometimes I wonder where Wikipedia gets its info from- do people just randomly make things up sometimes? As far as I know there has never been any date set in canon for when Giles was born, but I could be wrong. :s

I think they might've gone with ASH's birth-year? Ooh, one way we could try and date him is...he's listening to Cream when he's 16, right? Though he could have bought old Cream albums I guess...but let's say he was listening to Brave Ulysses as a newish single/song off the Disraeli Gears album, then that makes him 16 some time around 1967-70...so he could be born any time from 1951. Making him in his 40s in the first season of Buffy, which seemed about right to me. Does he make any other "contemporary" cultural refs in Band Candy?


My preferences are for this to co alongside with s8 or roughly around that area. For that to become a reality would mean either Ethan as a ghost, or possibly connecting with Giles like he did with Buffy in his dreamspace before being killed- or flashbacks. However, it is still open when and where this story will take place. Although I think it is fairly certain it'll be in england.

Not Scotland? I'd want it to be in London I think...and all a bit John Constantiney. Mystical underworld and seedy pubs. Though...definitely set before the smoking ban, for the atmosphere ;) Which it would be if it was contemp with s8.

[vampmogs]

Yup, it's mootsville. I hope they do have at least some flashbacks, cos it's Ripper I want to see at least as much as Giles.

Yeah well Joss must be calling it Ripper for a reason, unless it is just because it sounds cooler than Giles. There must be at least some flashbacks or call backs to his past.. here's hoping :)


I think they might've gone with ASH's birth-year? Ooh, one way we could try and date him is...he's listening to Cream when he's 16, right? Though he could have bought old Cream albums I guess...but let's say he was listening to Brave Ulysses as a newish single/song off the Disraeli Gears album, then that makes him 16 some time around 1967-70...so he could be born any time from 1951. Making him in his 40s in the first season of Buffy, which seemed about right to me. Does he make any other "contemporary" cultural refs in Band Candy?

Perhaps but if they did then I don't view it as really correct. We could have went with NB's birthday year before knowing Xander's age and that would have been very wrong :roll: The best bet is any hints during Band Candy as you've cleverly pointed out. However, I'm afraid my usefulness in that department ends here. I listen to music but know little of its backstory.

Not Scotland? I'd want it to be in London I think...and all a bit John Constantiney. Mystical underworld and seedy pubs. Though...definitely set before the smoking ban, for the atmosphere ;) Which it would be if it was contemp with s8.

I'd like London as well, but Scotland would do fine or even Bath seeing that is where Giles lives. I've been to Bath on two occasions and it could be a nice landscape for some eerie ghost story in the alleyways during the night. I like your idea of seedy and yes smokey pubs :roll: this is kind of the image I had in my mind as well. I think mostly because of A New Man.

[Rosamunde]

My preferences are for this to co alongside with s8 or roughly around that area. For that to become a reality would mean either Ethan as a ghost, or possibly connecting with Giles like he did with Buffy in his dreamspace before being killed- or flashbacks. However, it is still open when and where this story will take place. Although I think it is fairly certain it'll be in england.

Do they kill Ethan off in the comix then? :(

Yup, it's mootsville. I hope they do have at least some flashbacks, cos it's Ripper I want to see at least as much as Giles.

I want to see Ripper so much! I don't care about Giles quite so much, personally, because while he's a great character, he did get a lot of exploration on BtVS. I really want to see his past and how they would portray Ripper. There are so many different ways this could go! Giles as angry and volatile youth just seems like so much fun.

[vampmogs]

Do they kill Ethan off in the comix then? :(

Yup. After being help captive by the military from s4 a faction of the military with their own agenda seemed to get their hands on him. This is the same faction who wants Buffy and all the new slayers dead and who Amy and Warren are working for. When Warren and Amy capture Willow and being lobotomising her Buffy and another slayer, Satsu, go into the military base to rescue Willow and kick arse. After Ethan had appeared to Buffy in a dream she notices three X's on a door, symbols she saw in her dream. Buffy bursts through the door followed by Satsu and Willow, expecting to grab Ethan to find out info but instead Ethan has just been shot in the head by General Voll, the leader of the military faction, so that Ethan can't tell Buffy anything.

I want to see Ripper so much! I don't care about Giles quite so much, personally, because while he's a great character, he did get a lot of exploration on BtVS. I really want to see his past and how they would portray Ripper. There are so many different ways this could go! Giles as angry and volatile youth just seems like so much fun.

I just want some new Buffyverse to be honest. Giles or Ripper I don't care, I'm just so excited this looks so promising and we might get Buffyverse on our screens again :D

[tangent]

I think they might've gone with ASH's birth-year? Ooh, one way we could try and date him is...he's listening to Cream when he's 16, right? Though he could have bought old Cream albums I guess...but let's say he was listening to Brave Ulysses as a newish single/song off the Disraeli Gears album, then that makes him 16 some time around 1967-70...so he could be born any time from 1951. Making him in his 40s in the first season of Buffy, which seemed about right to me. Does he make any other "contemporary" cultural refs in Band Candy?

There's always his 'bay city rollers' comment in 'the dark age'. Not really the kind of image of ripper i get but then again angel and manilow.

As for the flash back thing i think a format of ASH sort of telliing stories of his past as he goes along might come into it somehow. Maye a 'ooh i remember when something similar happened to me as a lad' followed by a wibbly screen and young ripper.

[vampmogs]

There's always his 'bay city rollers' comment in 'the dark age'. Not really the kind of image of ripper i get but then again angel and manilow.

As for the flash back thing i think a format of ASH sort of telliing stories of his past as he goes along might come into it somehow. Maye a 'ooh i remember when something similar happened to me as a lad' followed by a wibbly screen and young ripper.

I suspect the same. It all sounds very Lost to me though.

I wonder what Whedon means when he says it will be very creepy. I wonder if the man has the chops to pull off something truly scary. In Btvs and Ats I was never scared because I knew our characters could kick arse- and well.. Giles can hold his own. But with his new horror movie being scripted perhaps Joss got a bite from the scary bug.

[Lady Manson]

I read the same thing yesterday and got all excited.

I would love to ASH in it through flashbacks too, but I assume it would be solely based on his youth, so younger actors...either way, I think it would be great!

[Willow's Tara]

If this ends up being set in the future, I would love to all the actors (Or aleast main) return for one last scene, they could even have Anya as a ghost haunting Giles because she has unfinished business and Tara as a ghost guiding Giles in aleast one episode (Like maybe someone died or something and he needs to get back on his roots), that would be cool but probably never happen.

[Thomas]

I can't bring myself to be excited about Ripper, it's weird. It feels to good to be true, I mean, it's been talked about for years so it's kind of surreal. I hope it's true.

[Phoenix]

well this is one of the few things that made me smile today :) I really hope its true, it would be so awesome!

[vampmogs]

I'd love to see a cameo at the end with Buffy. SMG was willing to come onto the final episode of Ats so I don't think it is entirley hopeless that she'd be willing to do a very small part. :)

[ThePoet's<3]

Wonder if the "pre-Buffy" stuff will probably be portrayed by someon younger guy and then ASH can Flashback in the beginning and wrap it up in the end.

Hope it turns out well for him! Of course we won't get to see it for 2 years... grumble, grumble...

[Veverka]

I want Ethan and Giles together in the flesh. Kicking the shit out of each other and getting drunk together and doing magic together. With the biggest fattest subtext in the universe :D

Oh yeah... damn, wouldn't that be lovely!?

I can't bring myself to be excited about Ripper, it's weird. It feels to good to be true, I mean, it's been talked about for years so it's kind of surreal. I hope it's true.

I was thinking that and thinking that... til I peeked inside this thread again... big mistake!!! Now I want it... Buffy season 8 combined with the chance of more Buffyverse on screen... too good!

I'd love to see a cameo at the end with Buffy. SMG was willing to come onto the final episode of Ats so I don't think it is entirley hopeless that she'd be willing to do a very small part. :)

Now there's a thought! And okay, I'm getting crazy speculative and carried away, but smg fans, wouldn't it be nice to have something against the whole 'smg ended buffy' faction?

Glad to see i'm not the only one concerned about ASH's age. Don't get me wrong, he's incredible, but there's only so much that can be pulled off!

[vampmogs]

Now there's a thought! And okay, I'm getting crazy speculative and carried away, but smg fans, wouldn't it be nice to have something against the whole 'smg ended buffy' faction?

Glad to see i'm not the only one concerned about ASH's age. Don't get me wrong, he's incredible, but there's only so much that can be pulled off!

Oh most certainly :D Especially when Joss clearly showed he was over making Buffy at the time as well and clearly devoted to 'Firefly' and AH was more than happy to leave. I think the blame towards SMG doesn't make a great deal of sense when it was evident she wasn't the only one tired of Buffy. :)

[Julian]

I’ve just gone through several sites and everything seems to be speculating a Ripper spinoff by 2008. One of them: http://www.tv.com/ripper/show/4548/summary.html, is certainly hopeful. As I am. I’ll take whatever Joss throws – anything at all just as long as it related to the Buffyverse.

Despite the occasional pessimist, this only proves that the BTVS verse is still alive and kicking. Several planned spinoffs like Slayer school and the animated series seem to corroborate this, and now we have the possibility of Ripper!

I for one, am positive about the coming spinoff. Marti and Tim Minear have at some point expressed the possibility of spinoffs. Who knows? If Ripper does push through and the response is great just like the comics, perhaps Joss will give us another series.

I know it’s too much to hope for but with the comic success and the Ripper proposal, it’s now a possibility.

[Cinderela]

I'd love to see a cameo at the end with Buffy. SMG was willing to come onto the final episode of Ats so I don't think it is entirley hopeless that she'd be willing to do a very small part. :)

Or maybe a little bigger part? As I recall, it was Joss that decided that SMG's movie schedule in Japan was too inconvenient with his filming schedule to actually appear in the AtS final episodes, not SMG's unwillingness to play Buffy.

Wonder if the "pre-Buffy" stuff will probably be portrayed by someon younger guy and then ASH can Flashback in the beginning and wrap it up in the end.

Hope it turns out well for him! Of course we won't get to see it for 2 years... grumble, grumble...

That's exactly what I thought! Another actor for the really young flashbacks and ASH for the current and future.

I’ve just gone through several sites and everything seems to be speculating a Ripper spinoff by 2008. One of them: http://www.tv.com/ripper/show/4548/summary.html, is certainly hopeful. As I am. I’ll take whatever Joss throws – anything at all just as long as it related to the Buffyverse.

Despite the occasional pessimist, this only proves that the BTVS verse is still alive and kicking. Several planned spinoffs like Slayer school and the animated series seem to corroborate this, and now we have the possibility of Ripper!

I for one, am positive about the coming spinoff. Marti and Tim Minear have at some point expressed the possibility of spinoffs. Who knows? If Ripper does push through and the response is great just like the comics, perhaps Joss will give us another series.

I know it’s too much to hope for but with the comic success and the Ripper proposal, it’s now a possibility.

Oh, yes. I'll take anything at all. Possibly rip it to shreds with my arms around it, but I want anything from the Buffyverse. And, who knows, the years since both series ended could have given all the actors distance and perspective. It's possible that any or all of the actors could be persuaded to do cameo roles.

[vampcruella]

I for one have been going through unbelievable Joss vampireverse withdrawal for a very very long time. I hope this isn't just another cruel gibe by the Powers that Be------

More Joss vampires-------more------gasp! choke! I've worn out some of my Buffy and Angel DVD's and have started to watch Forever Knight, which isn't bad for a very early budget show. Just so you understand, though, there's no comparison!

[ciderdrinker]

Ok I didn't read everything so if this has been said before then I apologise, but I was cruising thru Whedonesque yesterday and I saw this news about Ripper being done by the BBC.

Now for all of you out there that think this may be a rumour, then get excited because the source of this information has come from Joss himself. He announced it at Comic-Con in San Diego, and according to him it will happen, although no dates have been given.*is actually surprised that everyone didn't know this already, usually the last to know about these things!*

Here is the link to the post, which is someone at the event updating what is being said as it's said (although there are comments in between updates)

http://whedonesque.com/comments/13859

There are some other very interesting projects in the process as well - another movie, a ballet, season 9 of BtVS.....

[vampmogs]

Ok I didn't read everything so if this has been said before then I apologise, but I was cruising thru Whedonesque yesterday and I saw this news about Ripper being done by the BBC.

Now for all of you out there that think this may be a rumour, then get excited because the source of this information has come from Joss himself. He announced it at Comic-Con in San Diego, and according to him it will happen, although no dates have been given.*is actually surprised that everyone didn't know this already, usually the last to know about these things!*

Here is the link to the post, which is someone at the event updating what is being said as it's said (although there are comments in between updates)

http://whedonesque.com/comments/13859

There are some other very interesting projects in the process as well - another movie, a ballet, season 9 of BtVS.....

Many of us did know this and have been onto these links, that's why the thread was created :roll: but I'm sure your not the last to know everything :)

It looks extremely promising as does all his other projects. I'm very excited about Btvs s9 and Ats s6 and his new horror movie, but am not a ballet fan so I don't think I'll be seeing that.

[ciderdrinker]

Many of us did know this and have been onto these links, that's why the thread was created :roll: but I'm sure your not the last to know everything :)

Having read the whole thread now I'm sorry for jumping the gun, but you know I get kinda excited about anything new from the Jossmeister.

Reading throught this thread and all the wonderful possibilities that people are putting forward, I have to say that although I would love to see some of the Buffy alum appear, I'm realistic about the BBC's budget, and seriously doubt that someone as big and famous as SMG or AH would do a "made for TV" (and British TV at that!) movie for peanuts. Maybe some of the others that haven't made quite as much success (NB for example) could make an appearance but again I doubt it somehow.

For me I quite relish the idea of it being pre-Buffy, and looking into how Giles became "Ripper" and then back into "Giles" in time to be a stuffy Librarian in 1996, although I too am concerned about ASH's age being a factor in this. A different person playing a younger version would be fine for me, but ASH will be in it (according to both him and Joss) so how will they do that in any way other than flashbacks, which have been done to death in every other TV show you can name? In a way I think it would be better to not have ASH at all, and have a really good actor playing YoungGiles so it would have more credibility. What I DONT want is a vanity project from Joss, just him doing what he does best - telling stories

So, from what we know of Giles background (which isn't much, I know) I can imagine:-

- A "tiresome speech about responsibility" to a small boy in the late Fifties
- A stuffy Oxford contrasting with a Swinging Sixties London (super cool!)
- The hard times of the Seventies and Giles trying to deal with the fall out of the Eyghonn debacle
- The Thatcher years of the Eighties with Giles in a Frankie Says T.Shirt (How funny?!?) deciding to put his life back on track
- Brit pop of the early nineties when Giles knuckles down to being a Watcher.

Still, as it is a standalone 90 min "event", I would imagine it's more likely that it will deal with Giles/Ripper in a single time period. Anyone wanna venture a whole plot?

As for Joss's other projects I'm very excited about the horror movie. Joss needs so much to have a reasonable success with a movie and I think that a horror movie is a good way to go. I hope they don't sell it on "from the creator of Buffy and Angel" though. They did it with Serenity and although that's great to get the Joss fandom to watch it, it's definately gonna be an off-putter for the critics or uninitiated of his shows (of which unfortunately is a rather large majority). Joss needs to be known for his skills as a writer of excellent stories and to be distanced from "cult" shows if he's really gonna get noticed for the genius he is.

The comics and ballet seem to me to smack a little bit of keeping the fans interested, so that they don't disappear to up and coming shows (Heroes etc). Not that there's anything wrong in that, inherently, but maybe there comes a time when you have to let the baby grow up and leave home.

Of course, I'm a fan of anything from him, so whatever he does, and for whatever reasons I don't care as long as we're getting new stuff!

[basakbangel]

Really?

I hope that's true.. We shouldn't be that "expecting". but if it's true that be good but I shouldn't worse than btvs or ats b/c It is going to be the continue so good luck if it's true.

[tangent]

Reading throught this thread and all the wonderful possibilities that people are putting forward, I have to say that although I would love to see some of the Buffy alum appear, I'm realistic about the BBC's budget, and seriously doubt that someone as big and famous as SMG or AH would do a "made for TV" (and British TV at that!) movie for peanuts. Maybe some of the others that haven't made quite as much success (NB for example) could make an appearance but again I doubt it somehow.

I'm not sure this is entirely true. It's unlikely sure but look at extras. This for those not familliar was a british sitcom that featured guest appearences from, amongst others Ben stiller and Samuel l jackson. Add in the fact that a lot of the alumni have declared publicly that they would love to work with joss again and i think you have a slim possiblilty.

[Wolfie Gilmore]

Anyone wanna venture a whole plot?

If it's a standalone...I'd expect (or at least want) it to be either an event that's pivotal to Ripper's evolution into Giles. Perhaps the post-eghyon (sp???) period, with him wanting to run away from his bad deeds and become someone else....or i'd like something when he's right in the middle of his london ripper days...perhaps starting with him leaving oxford, so you can have some fun brideshead stuff at the start. Maybe ending on them getting the plan for eghyon, so it ends on an ominous note.

They said it would be a ghost story didnt they? In which case, it could be Ripper getting the first taste of doing something to help someone (laying ghost to rest) rather than doing it for selfish reasons. Seeing it as something like the transition from soulless spike to ensouled spike...only with a more complex approach to guilt and responsibility. Though I dont think giles feels guilty for rippers doings really....its just a part of him.

Sorry for no apostrophes...still in france with dodgy keyboard.