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Exclusive: Who's Who in Joss Whedon's Dollhouse
Ben Browder by Albert L. Ortega/WireImage.com, Michelle Forbes by Amy Graves/WireImage.com, Anthony Stewart Head by Richard Cartwright/UPN
With Buffyverse ringmaster Joss Whedon at its helm and Eliza Dushku as its star, Fox's sci-fried Bourne series, Dollhouse, is pretty much required to have a cast that redefines the term "top-notch." And since a top-secret list of the show's principal characters just landed on my desk, the dynamic duo have us to help them. Below you'll find our (read: me and TVGuide.com contributor Ben Katner) casting suggestions for all of the major roles. But feel free to add your own. You know you want to.
ADELLE DEWITT
The fortyish iceberg who runs the Dollhouse where the human Etch-a-Sketches reside
If the part is cast from within the Buffyverse: Juliet Landau, so creepily heartbreaking as ubervamp Drusilla. They don't come any cooler, or hotter, than her.
If the part is cast from outside the Buffyverse: Shohreh Aghdashloo. The onetime 24 Mommie Dearest is the scariest thing we've ever seen that didn't have fangs.
PAUL BALLARD
The thirtysomething G-man who is slated to become an offbeat love interest for Dushku's "impressionable" Echo
If the part is cast from within the Buffyverse: J. August Richards, whose long run as Angel's sidekick, Gunn, only hinted at the dark side we have zero doubt he would bring to this conflicted character.
If the part is cast from outside the Buffyverse: Hands down, Ben Browder. The Stargate SG-1 heartthrob has proven a million times over or at least in every single episode of Farscape that he was born to speak Whedon's zippy dialogue.
BOYD LANGTON
Echo's handler and father figure
If the part is cast from within the Buffyverse: Duh. With its Watcher overtones, Boyd is a character tailor-made for Anthony Stewart Head, aka Buffy's surrogate dad, Giles.
If the part is cast from outside the Buffyverse: Mitch Pileggi, who brought unexpected heart to what could have been the one-note role of The X-Files' gruff taskmaster, Skinner.
TOPHER BRINK
The technogeek who enjoys his job as a Doll programmer maybe a little too much
If the part is cast from within the Buffyverse: Tom Lenk, who made such an indelible impression as Andrew, the amoral, ambiguously gay member of the Trio, Buffy's dorky "archnemeses."
If the part is cast from outside the Buffyverse: Jason Yachanin, the adorkable Troma action hero who deserves so much better than Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead. (Hey, don't judge him based on his r้sum้!)
SIERRA
The knockout Doll who is as close to a friend as Echo has
If the part is cast from within the Buffyverse: Bianca Lawson, if only so we can finally see alterna-Slayer Kendra play a part without the Jar Jar Binks patois.
If the part is cast from outside the Buffyverse: Die Hard 4 butt-kicker Maggie Q. Too bad, what with her busy film career and all, she's probably gonna be a little too busy for the gig.
VICTOR
The distractingly handsome Doll who is called upon to play everyone from Errol Flynn to Robert DeNiro
If the part is cast from within the Buffyverse: Charlie Weber, who had the thankless role of bubbleheaded goddess Glory's male alter ego, Ben, during Season 5 of Buffy.
If the part is cast from outside the Buffyverse: Matthew Bomer. The Tru Calling/Traveler alum is as versatile as he is pretty.
NOVEMBER
The Tracy Turnblad of the Dolls
If the part is cast from within the Buffyverse: How about giving a second chance to Riff Regan, the plus-sized actress who played Willow in the Buffy pilot?
If the part is cast from outside the Buffyverse: Well, we did describe the character as the show's resident Tracy Turnblad, so who better than that Hairspray hoofer's portrayer, Nikki Blonsky?
DR. CLAIRE SANDERS
The beautiful older woman with whom Topher is smitten
If the part is cast from within the Buffyverse: Angel and Firefly's Gina Torres, who is as adept at throwing a punch as she is at landing a punch line.
If the part is cast from outside the Buffyverse: Try Battlestar Galactica's sublime Michelle Forbes. She seems so like Whedon's kind of actress, it's a wonder they haven't collaborated before. Additional reporting by Ben Katner
OK, your turn. Put on your casting-director hats and start throwing out some names.
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Feb 28, 2008 1:59 PM
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Topher Brink, the technogeek who enjoys his job as a Doll programmer maybe a little too much.
If the part is cast from within the Buffyverse: Tom Lenk, who made such an indelible impression as Andrew, the amoral, ambiguously gay member of the Trio, Buffy's dorky "archnemeses."
I love the idea of Andrew in this role, but would also love to see the Kevin Weissman (former Marshall Flenkman from Alias) in the role, he is also from the Whedonverse having played one of Glory's minions in Season 5
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Edited by LisaMBri at 02/28/2008 11:07 AM
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Feb 28, 2008 2:06 PM
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Maggie Q would be perfectly available, as she has nothing to do with "Quantum of Solace", aka Bond 22.
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Feb 28, 2008 2:29 PM
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Michelle Forbes would be perfect! I know Joss is a huge BSG fan so maybe this will actually happen.
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Feb 28, 2008 2:53 PM
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For Adele or Dr. Sanders,
From the Buffyverse: Stephanie Romanov, she is amazing!
Outside the Buffyverse: LORI SINGER, I would kill to see her in something again!
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Feb 28, 2008 3:03 PM
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Much as I love me some Giles, I don't think Anthony Stewart Head should be cast as essentially Giles, the Sequel.
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Feb 28, 2008 3:17 PM
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The best new shows are always shows with relative newcomers. And Joss excels at picking up new talent so I trust him totally.
Personally I would hate to see any of the old Buffy/Angel/Firefly cast in anything other than guest star roles. It would feel too contrived otherwise.
But I would like to see me some Ben Browder in there.....
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Feb 28, 2008 3:30 PM
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What about Kristen Bell as Sierra? *sigh* Kristen & Eliza together. Enough to make a straight woman think about turning. 
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Feb 28, 2008 3:49 PM
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I agree: No way should Tony Head play a part that sounds a lot like Giles, the next generation. I love him (in fact, Buffy lost a lot when he switched to a part-time player), but I don't want to see him in that role.
Also, as much as I admire Shohreh Aghdashloo as an actress, she's 55 years old. I don't think she's right for a part descibed as "fortyish."
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Feb 28, 2008 3:53 PM
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There are a number of Whedon Fans who would love to see Michael Muheny, Sheriff Lamb from Veronica Mars, in the Dollhouse.
He'd make a pretty good FBI agent.
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Edited by znachki at 02/28/2008 1:01 PM
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Feb 28, 2008 3:54 PM
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Andrew was "ambiguously gay?"
I must be good at ambiguous
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Feb 28, 2008 4:04 PM
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I trust Joss's judgement, he has good instincts. I'm not sure I want a Buffy and Firefly reunion on this show, but I wouldn't be upset if some familiar faces showed up.
Therefore there needs to be some room in this cast for James Marsters, I think he might be able to pull of the 30 something Paul Ballard.
As for Sierra I have 3 suggestions. Alexa Davalos would be fab, her role as Gwen Raiden was a standout in Angel's very strange 4th season. Somehow I imagine Summer Glau as a human chalkboard. I know this is impossible because of her commitment to Heroes, but I think Kristen Bell would fit right into Joss Whedon's universe and certainly would fit this characters bill.
Aus, kudos on choosing Matthew Bomer, he would be wonderful in the role of Victor and has great chemistry with Eliza Dushku.
Joss is naming a character November? Yeah wow that's kind of lame. Honestly, this actress isn't really plus sized but is not what you call skinny and her name is Tina Majorino. I think she'd be perfect!
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Feb 28, 2008 4:06 PM
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How freaking awesome has Michelle Forbes been in the 10 minutes she has appeared on "IN TREATMENT" on screen. Why do they not give her her own show?
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Feb 28, 2008 4:13 PM
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"VICTOR
The distractingly handsome Doll who is called upon to play everyone from Errol Flynn to Robert DeNiro
If the part is cast from outside the Buffyverse:Matthew Bomer. The Tru Calling/Traveler alum is as versatile as he is pretty. "
Or you could go with another hot Guiding Light alum, Tom Pelphrey! The Emmy winner is in LA now and he's pretty awesome!
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Feb 28, 2008 4:15 PM
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SIERRA - The knockout Doll who is as close to a friend as Echo has
CAROLINE DHAVERNAS.
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Feb 28, 2008 4:17 PM
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