HOLLYWOOD - The producers of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" have said that they had considered a spinoff - a successor series - when that show retired in May after seven seasons. But they’ve never confirmed the widespread reports that it would center on Faith the Vampire Slayer, the character played on both "Buffy" and "Angel" off and on for five years. But Faith herself, Eliza Dushku, was considerably less coy. She made it clear that she had been offered such a series - which she turned down in favor of "Tru Calling," a new Fox show that debuts in the fall.

"I started the character of Faith five years ago, and the character kind of traveled with me as I grew up in a lot of ways," Dushku said. "I love that show, and that character’s been good to me and that show’s been good to me. I love the people involved and there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that we could have made an interesting show. "But I think that you kind of go down the road less traveled sometimes and you take a risk. And I have confidence in (’Tru Calling’)." Which doesn’t mean that there won’t be another show set within the "Buffy"/"Angel" universe at some point - perhaps as soon as the 2004-2005 season. Joss Whedon, the creator/executive producer of those shows, is still cooking up an idea for another show even while he’s concentrating on reworking "Angel" for this season. "Everybody, I think, is really grateful to have some time off. One show is time off where I come from," said Whedon, who, a year ago, had "Buffy," "Angel" and "Firefly" all on the air. "But (a spinoff’s) still very much in the works. "These are the works, by the way," he said, pointing to his head. "There’s not anything official happening." Which is not to say that there isn’t interest out there. Jordan Levin, the WB’s top programmer, said he’s definitely interested in the show that’s still bouncing around inside Whedon’s head. "Oh, absolutely," Levin said. "Given our relationship, I would expect that unless there’s something contractual that we would have a conversation about it. I think the WB is where a show like that belongs. And, given what’s happened elsewhere, I think Joss would like to have it here." "I have no argument with that," Whedon said. (The "elsewheres" Levin was talking about would be Fox, which quickly canceled "Firefly," and UPN, which never did work out really well as a home for "Buffy" in its final two seasons.) And, frankly, while there’s certainly nothing official or even unofficial about this, the question nobody asked Dushku was - would you consider a "Faith the Vampire Slayer" series after "Tru Calling" gets canceled? Not that "Tru" is such a bad show, but it’s not such a great one. And it’s scheduled on Thursday nights opposite "Friends" and "Survivor." She should be available for the fall of 2004.

"FIREFLY" REDUX? Speaking of "Firefly," it’s at least possible that there could be more to come with that sci-fi series, which many - including yours truly - believe Fox canceled too quickly. A cancellation that Whedon took hard. "Well, it’s not an open wound, but neither is it a closed book," he said. And not just because of the forthcoming DVD release, which will include "full commentaries and full interviews and extras." "The moment they told me it was canceled, I said, ’I want to continue. I will find a way.’ So I’m still trying to do that," Whedon said. "The first question out of my mouth was, ’Can I bring this somewhere else?’ And they said, ’Yes.’ So right now I’m trying to get a (theatrical) movie made with the same cast. And I will know in a month or two if that’s actually going to happen."