Joss Whedon is going to shoot a brand new pilot for Dollhouse, his upcoming FOX drama.  Dollhouse, which is set to premiere sometime after the first of the year, stars Eliza Dushku as an employee of an underground company whose memory is wiped clean and embarks on various tasks – whatever their clients choose.  Whedon, whose previous series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly cemented him as a cult favorite, has decided that the original pilot was not as good as it could have been, and that the first episode could use some more “pop.”  The original pilot will not be scrapped, but simply become Dollhouse's second episode.  This isn't an unprecedented move, but it makes one wonder how meddlesome the FOX executives are being with Whedon's new show. 

Joss Whedon, when announcing his decision to produce a brand-new pilot, made it clear that it was entirely his decision. "I think I can hit this nail on the head a little more solidly," said Whedon.  He continued, saying “There were a few clarity issues for some viewers. There were also some slight issues with tone — I was in a dark, noir kind of place...and didn't bring the visceral pop the network had expected from the script."

The problem with the original, it seems, is that it didn't achieve the needed gateway into the world of Dollhouse that a pilot needs.  He's proud of the the original, but also understands that he really has to cater to a new audience, especially knowing that it will their first exposure to Dollhouse.  You have to give credit to Whedon for recognizing whatever faults the pilot had, and making the bold decision to go back to the drawing board.

Dollhouse is one of the most highly anticipated new shows of the season, despite the fact that it won't premiere until mid-season.  Whedon hasn't made a mediocre TV show yet, and the concept of Dollhouse is complex and challenging, meaning that audiences could be in for a big treat come January. 


-Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer
Source: TVBarn, TVGuide