Addressing the packed-to-bursting crowd at Comic-Con, which includes at least one young 'un who has dyed her hair green to become Whedon's comic book creation Melaka Fray, he delivers the following directive: "I'm tellin' ya now -- I'm not giving anything away!"

Aw, man! Well, what else can we expect from the man behind Buffy, the mastermind who is notorious for keeping plotlines safe, secret and sound. After all, TV's way better when it's a surprise.

Whedon will, however, say that there are folks he wouldn't mind having back on the show, such as former mainstays Seth Green (Oz), Eliza Dushku (Faith) and Marc Blucas (Riley), but that most of them are off making feature films. Hopefully, though, at least a couple of favorites will return: nefarious, plastic-handed lawyer Lindsey (Christian Kane) and witch-turned-ratgirl Amy (Elizabeth Anne Allen). "We like Lindsey a lot," says Whedon. "I think we'll definitely see Lindsey next year, but I have no idea when."

As for Amy, Whedon assures us she'll be back in the mix: "We're bringing Amy back," he says. "I'm not sure when, and I'm not sure how, but we're gonna do it!"

One thing we absolutely won't be seeing for a while: Buffy/Angel crossovers. "Not right away," says Whedon, when asked this burning question. "I believe Angel needs to prove once and for all what I've known all along: that it can stand on its own." Also, keep in mind that the two shows are now on different networks: Buffy migrates to UPN (in its same Tuesday at 8 timeslot) next fall, while Angel will go over to The WB's Monday night, directly after family staple 7th Heaven. "People like God and punchin'," quips Whedon. "Monday nights, they can have both!"

As for The Buffster, expect her show to look much the same. "It's gonna get more wrestley!" jokes Whedon. But seriously folks... "It's not going to change a bit."

Speaking of Buffy's sixth season, though he can't tell us how Buff is gonna come back from the dead, Whedon does mention that the writing staff is currently kicking around a few ideas involving her chirpy doppelganger, the Buffy-Bot, because she's so dang funny. And as for that burning question about another Slayer being called now that Buffy's out of commission, well.Whedon answers thusly: "I'm working on the assumption that the line now runs through Faith. However, if we come up with a really, really good idea, I never said that."

In the meantime, the cast is nervously prepping for the much-discussed all-musical episode: "It will be the hardest episode we've every filmed," says Whedon. "They're all terrified.and it makes me laugh."

Next season will also mark Whedon handing over some of the Buffy reins to superscribe Marti Noxon, who penned the two-hour UPN premiere with David Fury. This will open up a tiny bit of time for Whedon to concentrate on yet another project. "I am looking to make a feature [film] because it's something I've wanted to do for a long time," he says. "Since [Noxon] will be executive producing with me [next year], that gives me a little bit of time."

This in addition to both shows, Fray, co-writing the upcoming Angel comic, and of course, that Giles spin-off for BBC, which Whedon hopes to start shooting in early spring.

This doesn't mean, however, that Buffy is going to be any less of a priority for Whedon. In fact, he thinks the show could go on for quite some time. "The show might have to evolve some, but I believe it will go on as long as we can pick up pens," he says.

Final notes of interest: Joss flat out refuses to do Numfar's Dance of Joy for the crowd ("It would be a Dance of Shame"), and is amused when a certain someone shows up asking an endless stream of Host-related questions. "Can The Host be on all the covers [of the Angel] comic???" queries Andy Hallett, aka the man behind The Host's green, karaoke-singing visage.

Joss grins with delight. "I can't answer that question unless it's asked in the form of a song," he says.

Sent in by Mary Lou - Source unknown - July 23rd, 2001