Joss Whedon talks 'Dollhouse' future

Earlier today, we spent some time with Dollhouse creator Joss Whedon to get some info on the show's upcoming second season. Questions about the series were fired at the twisted mastermind from left, right and centre, and he gave us a few juicy teasers. What's next for Echo and Ballard? Is there a hidden message in Dollhouse? Can we expect a comic version of the series? Read on to find out!

How close did the show come to being cancelled?
"I'd say it came extraordinarily close to being cancelled. It came down to some very simple numbers and ultimately, the fact that we're DVR, and the fact that none of my shows are that big - they're marathon runners, not sprinters - and the fact that the studio is where I did those shows... they know that. It was really the hardcore fanbase that tipped the scale, and that scale was tippy."

What do you think you might be trying to say to fans through Dollhouse?
"I think with this show, I want to say to the people who have felt a connection to me 'maybe you want to back away and avoid eye contact - maybe there's something horribly wrong with you!' I think of this as a work that actually frightens me sometimes, in a way that my other shows seldom got to and at the same time, I have that jolly love of everything that's going on."

Echo was a big focus of the first season. Are we going to see her develop more?
"Yes - we're going to learn a lot more about her next season and she is a major factor in what happens to the Dollhouse in the coming years."

Ballard found the Dollhouse at the end of season one. Where does he go next?
"We had always intended for Paul to find the Dollhouse and for his interests to change. They've been working on him from the outside with November, and now his obsession with Echo is going to be tested because he's going to be in there with her - partially to protect her and also to find out what's really going on. You can gaze into the abyss, or you can live in it. We're gonna see that she is starting to grow, and everyone else is going to come apart a little bit."

There are a lot of ethical dilemmas in season one. Do you have a particular direction for season two?
"Ultimately, the thing that fascinates me is the politics of the person in the moment, yet I would say that in the second season, the abuse of power and the different forms it can take will become broader. You will see the Dollhouse in the world a little bit more."

Can we expect a Dollhouse comic?
"I don't see it happening. I don't care how good an artist is, they're not gonna make a Dollhouse one. She doesn't fly, she doesn't shoot fire balls... I think this belongs exactly where it is - in television and fanfics."

Are you excited about season two of Dollhouse? What would you like to see happen? Add your comments to this entry below!