Info regarding the changes that are being made to Angel as it moves into it's fifth season are beginning to emerge.
For those not keeping up-to-date (shame on you!) we already know that Spike will become a regular in season 5 and that Angel and co. will move from the hotel into the offices of Wolfram & Hart from where they will now operate. Hoever details are emerging of new characters who will make an appearance in the next series.
There are also changes ahead for Charles Gunn (played by J. August Richards) which were hinted at in the season 4 finale where he had an encounter with a large cat at the Wolfram & Hart offices. "Yeah, he's going to go through some interesting changes," Whedon said. "And again, we'll find out early on what it is, but not exactly what it means. But, yeah, you know, Gunn is somebody that we felt was a little underutilized. J.'s an amazing actor. And we thought Wolfram & Hart would be the perfect venue to find a new side of him. So we're shaking it up."
Angel's fifth season started filming on 24th July
and will premier on American television in the autumn. Expect it to air in the UK on Sky One in January 2004.
Angel's Amy Acker has been talking about the possible appearences of some of the old Buffy regulars.
Speaking at the Saturn Awards, Amy Acker discussed the possibility of Alyson Hannigan making some more appearences on the show.
"We're all hoping that she'll come do a couple of episodes at least. We figure [her fiance] Alexis [Denisof] has a pretty strong pull. We're working that angle," she told the Sci-Fi Wire website.
"I'm pretty confident we will be picked up," Joss told the Sci-Fi Wire web site. "Let me put it this way. Angel will be around. I just don't know where."
If The WB, Angel's current network, doesn't pick up a fifth season, it is expected that Buffy's home, UPN, will be interested in picking up the series. The end of Buffy in May will leave a gap in their schedules that they could fill with Angel.
However, it might not come to that. The Ain't It Cool News website is claiming that The WB has finally decided to pick up a 5th season of the show. "The switchboard has been lighting up all Tuesday night with news from lesser sources that the WB finally decided to slide Angel off the bubble and into a fifth-season renewal," they announced.
Whatever happens to the show, it looks like it could be an exciting year for the show. Joss Whedon has confirmed that some of the Buffy cast might make it over to LA to appear in the series. "As far as I'm concerned, everybody should stop by... Next year, we have an entirely new thing planned, which I'm really excited about. And we'll also be seeing some Buffy characters on it."
It is also expected that seveal of the best writers from Buffy and Firefly will also migrate to work on Angel.
Mutant Enemy president Christopher Buchanan has confirmed that Buffy's producers are considering a Faith spinoff series starring Eliza Dushku.
"I believe that's something that's being bounced around, along with other things, too," Buchanan said in an interview. He did, however, say that no deals have been made and that no final decision has been made as to the future of Buffy yet. "We're kind of sitting on our hands until UPN and Fox figure out what they want to do."
THE NEKKID TRUTH
For one thing, James Marsters is joining the Regular Angel cast and we'll be seeing alot more of him-(Alot more bare skin too!), yes, there are now 2 vampires with souls, getting rough, and i don't think Angel will be pleased with Spikes arrival. E!Online's gossip guru Wanda swears a naked James Marsters will Grace our TV screens soon. We doubt a few female viewers, (or male) will object...
As for how exactly Spike will fit into Angel (he was last seen being turned to dust in Buffy's epic final episode), Whedon had this to say: "I can't really give you much of a hint [as to how Spike will be integrated into the show], except that badly would be the word," he said. "Because he sticks out like a sore thumb, which is exactly what we always hire him to do. I see him not fitting in. And that's exactly what they need right now. Because, although they all have their separate agendas, to an extent, they're a team. And when you're a team, you need somebody to come in and f--k up the team."
THE EVE IS COMING...
First up is Eve who, according to the FilmJerk.com website, will join the series as a recurring character. she is 'smart, beautiful, and vulnerable with a sweetness that makes her accessible.'
Actress Sarah Thompson has won the role of Eve, Angel's new liason with the dark powers at Wolfram&Hart, replacing Lilah, but only for a reported 6 episodes. Movie viewers might recognise her from her role in the prequel to Cruel Intentions (although she didn't portray the same character as Sarah Michelle Gellar). ''She seems like a well-adjusted young lady, she seems sort of too normal,'' says Angel executive producer Jeffrey Bell, ''She may or may not not be a love interest for Angel.'' Joining Eve as a recurring character will be Harmony played by Mercedes McNab. Harmony has appeared in various Buffy and Angel episodes in the past and used to be Spike's girlfriend.
IT NEEDS MORE HARMONY
Yep, she's back, with all the unicorns aswell. Mercedes McNab has joined the Angel cast and will be (as reported) in at least 17 episodes of season 5. McNab should be a great aspect to the show, but could never replace Charisma (Cordelia). you could remember her from when human Harmony was one of Cordy's friends, and became Spike's girlfriend when she was turned at the end of Buffy's third season."Well, Spike and Harmony do have a history," Joss Whedon said in a recent interview with the Sci-Fi Wire website. "But that doesn't mean they'll necessarily hook up. It just means we love Mercedes, and we want to see more of her."
