When cult television favourite "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" went off the air a few years back, and was promptly followed, a year later, by spin-of "Angel", there was much gnashing of teeth and rending of garbs among the close knit fan community. But spirits were somewhat lifted by the vague hints that the so called Buffyverse would live on through made for TV movies featuring some of the characters from the shows.

Well, years went by, and hopes faded as actors and writers found new projects and employment. The Buffyverse seemed well and truly staked on the screen. Fans would just have to make do with the Buffy "Season 8" comic book series currently being released.

But now there is cause for celebration among the fans. One of those made for TV films seems to be on course for actually being made. And it's the one that perhaps was most devoutly wished for by the community - "Ripper".

At the Comic-Con convention in San Diego, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" creator Joss Whedon talked about some of his future projects, among them the long awaited "Ripper", based around the character Giles from Buffy, played by Anthony Stewart Head.

Rupert Giles was the so called Watcher, tasked with training and supervising the Slayer. There were also hints that the outwardly very proper British academic had a darker past, a reminder of which was his nickname Ripper.

Whedon said that he had talked to the people involved, among them Tony Head, and everybody was in the same frame of mind that the 90 minute BCC production should happen and will happen soon, probably some time next year.

Whedon also talked about some of his other projects, on of which is "the horror film to end all horror films -- literally", "Cabin in the Woods", which he's written in collaboration with Drew Goddard, a Buffy alumnus who penned some of the very best episodes of that show. He also said that he's not done with Future Vampire Slayer Malaka Fray, most probably signalling a new comic book series.