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Breaking: Battlestar Stud Playing Dollhouse with Dushku

080326penikett_dushku.jpg
Tahmoh Penikett by Albert L. Ortega/WireImage.com, Eliza Dushku by Tiffany Rose/WireImage.com
Joss Whedon is letting his obsession with Battlestar Galactica get the best of him — and I couldn't be happier about it!

Whedon has tapped Galactica stud Tahmoh Penikett (aka Helo) to play Eliza Dushku's "twisted romantic foil" in Dollhouse, a spokesperson for Twentieth Television confirms. Also joining the Dollhouse ensemble are Fran Kranz (CBS' Welcome to the Captain), Aussie actress Dichen Lachman and relative newcomer Enver Gjokaj.

Penikett's character, Paul Smith (originally named Paul Ballard), is described as an FBI agent who becomes obsessed with both the urban myth that is Dollhouse and its most recognizable inhabitant, Echo (Dushku).

Kranz, meanwhile, has been cast as Dollhouse's nerdy programmer Topher Brink, the dude responsible for imprinting the dolls. Lachman, who starred in the Australian series Neighbours, will play Sierra, a Doll similar to Echo, only not as self-aware. And last but not least, Gjokaj will play Echo's buddy Victor, a handsome Doll who is childlike when inactive and everything from Errol Flynn to a young De Niro when he's active.

Now I know what you're wondering: Where are all the Buffyverse stars who were vying for a spot on Dollhouse? Well, all hope is not lost. Four major roles have yet to be cast, and they are as follows:

Adelle Dewitt: The fortyish iceberg who runs the Dollhouse where the human Etch-a-Sketches reside.

Boyd Langton: Echo's handler and father figure.

November: The Tracy Turnblad of the Dolls.

Dr. Claire Sanders: The beautiful older woman with whom Topher is smitten.

What do you think of Dollhouse's inhabitants so far? Got any casting suggestions for the four remaining roles? Post 'em below — there's still time!


Posted by Michael Ausiello
Mar 26, 2008 9:22 PM
Eliza Dushku
Tahmoh Penikett
Fran Kranz
Dichen Lachman
Enver Gjokaj

Galactica enthusiast or Scrabble nut? I mean, land just one of those names on a triple-word score and....
Posted by Matt Webb Mitovich
Mar 26, 2008 9:37 PM
Oh no! Does this mean "Welcome to the Captain" won't be back?!

And Dichan Lachman is stunning.
Posted by mikeonfilm
Mar 26, 2008 10:03 PM
Sweet! I heart heart Tahmoh, and can't wait to see him post-Galactica.

The smartest thing Moore did early on in Battlestar was to write Helo into '33.'
Posted by GregoryHarbin
Mar 26, 2008 10:04 PM
As someone who has had hit and miss enjoyment of Whedon's shows, this is really exciting for me. I love Tahmoh! I can't wait for this show now.
Posted by wldkt1
Mar 26, 2008 10:06 PM
Sweet! The Tahmoh Penikett casting news is awesome.

Thanks for the scoop, Mike!

For anyone unfamiliar with the other actors (myself included), here are the links to their imdb pages:
Dichen Lachman (kind of a hottie),
Fran Kranz, and
Enver Gjokaj (basically a blank slate)
Posted by Rod
Mar 26, 2008 11:23 PM
The only one I care about? TAHMOH!

YAY!

ahem.
Posted by Collette
Mar 27, 2008 12:05 AM
Hmmmm the casting of Dichen Lachman worries me. She was on the Aussie soap Neighbours for a while which we get here in the UK too and she was really not the best actress (and that's being polite!) I doubt she will be joining the 'Ausiello Hall of Fame' anytime soon! Although in Joss' hands we could be surprised by her! Then again i'm just glad we are getting Eliza back!!
Posted by calum
Mar 27, 2008 12:39 AM
Like the casting so far. Still holding out hope that Charisma will join...
Posted by Vampirate
Mar 27, 2008 1:08 AM
Dichen Lachman...seriously? I agree with calum, her performance on Neighbours was nothing to get excited about. At all.

I'm so excited about Dollhouse I just don't want her to ruin it. Now I don't usually say bad things about fellow Aussies and sure it sounds harsh but thats how average she was.
Posted by lipgloss_lauren
Mar 27, 2008 3:41 AM
Dichen Lachman??

Oh I am scared!!!!
I hope that as mentioned before, Joss's wise hands can bring something remarkable out of her, because she was far from remarkable in Neighbours! I love my Aussies too, but I am worried about this.......I know the Neighbours scripts were nothing to behold, so hopefully the team behind Dollhouse can make this work!
Posted by bethro
Mar 27, 2008 4:05 AM
I agree with the comments about Dichen Lachman. She was noticably one of the poorer actors on Neighbours and, I must admit, as much as I like the show that's really saying something.

However Helo being involved makes me so happy I can't really care too much.
Posted by 77amy77
Mar 27, 2008 6:08 AM
Excuse me while I have a fanboy moment: HELO!!!:^O

And I can totally see Fran as a nerdy programmer. Kudos, he was great in WttC!
Posted by P3freak90
Mar 27, 2008 6:42 AM
Fingers crossed for Charisma!!
Posted by Visionboy
Mar 27, 2008 7:18 AM
You had me at Tahmoh. :-x
Posted by Watchingit
Mar 27, 2008 7:56 AM
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