Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog

Created while most TV series were shut down during the Hollywood apocalypse known as the 2007-2008 Writers’ Strike, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog has turned into a true cult sensation. Directed by Joss Whedon, the webseries, starring Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion and Felicia Day, has seen its fandom grow in the years since its debut, complete with t-shirts, soundtracks and comic books - And now there is even a book to commemorate it. The just-released Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog Book takes a loving, comprehensive look back at the making of the webseries, including a round-table discussion between the writers, the complete script, the sheet music, a ton of photos and much more.

One of those writers is Maurissa Tancharoen, who co-wrote Dr. Horrible with her husband, Jed Whedon, and his brothers, Joss Whedon and Zack Whedon. Dr. Horrible fans will also remember Tancharoen as one of the Captain Hammer groupies in the series. With the release of the book, I asked Tancharoen — who currently writes for Spartacus, alongside Jed — a few questions about Dr. Horrible, via email. I also asked a couple of questions about Mortal Kombat: Legacy, the new webseries her brother, Kevin Tancharoen, has directed, and which Maurissa is acting in.

IGN: Dr. Horrible was such a small project by Hollywood standards. Is having a book of this sort come out stand out to you as a symbol of just how successful it’s become?

Maurissa Tancharoen: When flipping through the book, we’re definitely reminded of how small this project was and how incredible it is that a book even exists for us to flip through.

IGN: There are a lot of photos included from the production. Were you guys documenting mainly for fun at the time, or did you know that no matter what happened, you wanted to chronicle the making of this project?

Tancharoen: A little of both. Making Dr. H was such a ride we all wanted to capture the experience. We also knew we should have a professional photographer on set to document everything. Just in case it went big and we wanted to share our experience in, oh I don’t know, a book for instance.

IGN: What’s your favorite inclusion in the book? Anything you were particularly happy is a part of it?

Tancharoen: The sheet music. Dr. Horrible fans have been asking for that for a while. Many have transcribed it on their own over the years. It fills us with joy that people love the music that much.

IGN: You were part of a pretty large group of writers for just one project. Even though you guys are really close (especially that Jed dude and you!), were there any disagreements to get through or was it pretty smooth sailing?

Tancharoen: We had nothing but a good time making Dr. Horrible! We were creatively in sync during the whole process! These are not lies I’m telling you!

Day, Joss Whedon and Tancharoen IGN: For a while we were hearing some tidbits about a sequel, but obviously the participants, yourself included, are all very busy now. Do you think it will eventually happen?

Tancharoen: We desperately want it to happen. But yes, we’ve all been pretty busy. We have a few songs already written (one that is demoed) and an overall outline for the sequel. So it’s getting there...

IGN: I have to ask you about Mortal Kombat! Anything you can say about what you play?

Tancharoen: I play Kana, Scorpion’s wife. And I had to learn how to speak a little Japanese which was a bonus.

IGN: What was it like working on that project, knowing your brother had been able to make this unofficial short and get so much excitement behind it that it had turned into an official Warner Bros. production?

Tancharoen: Everything Kevin does makes me proud. Probably to the point of annoying him. That short was just too amazing to not turn into an official production. The director/actor dynamic was a new thing for us. I could tell he was a little hesitant to tell me, his older sister, what to do at first. He got over that after take two.