It’s been less than a week since it was announced that Fillion, the star of the recently cancelled sci-fi series, Firefly, will soon be turning up on Buffy,one of TV’s top shows, for a five-episode arc capping its final season. Both series were created by Hollywood wunderkind Joss Whedon.

When Fillion called, he had just been given a physical by a nurse. For insurance purposes, you understand.

Question: So did you pass?

Fillion: "Yes, she says I have low blood pressure."

Joss Whedon is the reason you’re playing this evil character Caleb for five episodes starting in April. How did this come together?

"He calls me up and says, ’I want to ask a favour. I’ve got this character, it’s this guy who is really sweet, a charming, loveable, southern preacher, very suave. But he is also evil and super strong and we don’t know why and he doesn’t like girls ’cause they’re dirty."

What a guy. And we hear you’re also working on a pilot for NBC?

"It’s a comedy called the Untitled Robert Peacock project, he’s the writer. It’s set in Florida and it’s about a group of people who run an oyster bar. I play a former NASCAR driver who had an accident and lost his nerve. If he’s ever in a car, he’s in the backseat, strapped in real tight."

What happened in your life after Firefly was cancelled?

"I was heartbroken to say the least. I was having a really good time with a really good cast. On the soap (One Life to Live where Fillion played Joey Buchanan), there were times you got to work and said, ’I gotta say this? I said this last week.’ It’s the weakness of the genre, you’re left saying goofy things every once in a while. But going into work for Firefly was a pleasure every day. So when it was cancelled and under suspect circumstances, it was a real disappointment."

What do you mean by suspect circumstances?

"It wasn’t a bad show. It was a really good show. We felt a little cheated in being pre-empted so much and with a not-so-great time slot (Friday nights). With Fox not airing our pilot. When it was aired, people loved it so much, the Web site is still getting lots of hits. We felt like we’d been kicked around from the very beginning. (The press) labelled us as a problem show coming out of the gate."

Will there be another chance to work with Joss Whedon?

"I hope so. It’s so great to work with people who share your sensibilities and are so talented. Working with Joss is a real opportunity to shine."