Angel

Imposed character addition causing creative headaches

Spike’s arrival on Angel is proving a creative challenge, with producers admitting the presence of Buffy’s blond vampire was demanded by the WB. Consulting producer Tim Minear has revealed Spike was originally planned as a recurring character in a fifth season, but fulfilling the WB’s desire to add actor James Marsters as a series regular was key to the show’s renewal.

However, co-creator Joss Whedon confesses, "I’m still trying to figure out how to bring him back to life," following the vampire’s noble death in Buffy’s grand finale. "That’s a conversation I’m going to be having with the Angel writers very soon," he reports. A seemingly fan-written opening to the new series has already circulated on the internet.

WB president Jordan Levin says, "We’re awaiting word from [Whedon] on [Spike’s return]. He’s obviously a very creative person, and he hasn’t let us down in the past. I’m sure he’ll figure out a way."

Whedon observes, "The trick is how to bring him back without losing the integrity of what he did...the sacrifice," noting, "Like Buffy returning from the dead, it’s going to be something that we’re going to have to earn and play the ramifications of, possibly without making it so depressing."

COMINGS AND GOINGS Marster’s (sic) arrival accompanies the departure of Vincent Kartheiser and new mother Charisma Carpenter. With the revamp Whedon says, "It just seemed like a good time for certain people to move on," but adds, "I’m hoping that we’ll get Charisma to do some episodes as Cordelia sometime during the year."

Kartheiser may also appear in some episodes as Connor, but Minear says his departure, "was a thing that we had discussed long before we had even cast the role."

Changes are also occurring behind the scenes, with Tim Minear and David Greenwalt now showrunners on respective series Wonderfalls and Jake 2.0. "I don’t think I’ll have the time to consult on Angel in any meaningful way," admits Minear, while Greenwalt will remain as consulting producer, but says, "I will continue to watch from afar and work from afar."

Jeffrey Bell will continue to serve as Angel showrunner while David Fury has been promoted to co-executive producer, amid reports of a budget cut on the show.

As Angel adjusts to his new role running Wolfram & Hart, Greenwalt reports that Stephanie Romanov’s dead lawyer Lilah Morgan is likely to return, "and hopefully some new femme fatale as well."

Guest starts from Buffy may also appear, including Sarah Michelle Gellar herself. "I be you’ll see her," says Greenwalt, while Whedon notes, "she has stated time and again that she’s perfectly willing to come on and make an appearance, assuming schedules work out. Nothing’s definite, but it’s as sure a shot as one could hope for."

Angel returns for a fifth season on the WB in its usual 9 pm Wednesday timeslot.