The first photo from geek maestro Joss Whedon's highly anticipated Dollhouse reveals the killer cast behind the upcoming sci-fi drama. The seven-episode series, which follows a group of highly skilled men- and women-for-hire known as "dolls," launches in January on Fox in the US. The show is tentatively scheduled to air Mondays at 8, before 24.

The dolls have had their memories and personalities wiped clean -- think Bourne Identity -- and are rented out to perform tasks by a mysterious agency.   

Remember ass-kicking babe Eliza Dushku from Buffy and Tru Calling? She stars as Echo, who becomes self-aware and begins to investigate her surroundings, including the futuristic, lab-like dorm (pictured above) she lives in.

Whedon tapped Battlestar Galactica stud Tahmoh Penikett to stand in as Echo's twisted love interest and an FBI agent obsessed with the urban myth of a such a "Dollhouse."

Fran Kranz stars as Dollhouse's nerdy programmer Topher Brink, who imprints the dolls with their task-specific personas. 24-alum Harry Lennix serves as a bodyguard for Echo, and Buffy Angel alum Amy Acker is doll-handler Dr. Claire Sanders. X-Men's Olivia Williams plays the ruthless Adelle DeWit, who governs over the dollhouse.

Dushku's own experiences as an actress inspired Whedon, according to an interview with the Los Angeles Times. "When we really discussed the whole thing, she said, 'You're talking about my life. In my life, everybody tells me who they want me to be while I try and figure out who I am.' And that spoke to me. I agreed that I'll write and maybe oversee the pilot," said Whedon, who created and penned hit shows Firefly and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

A remake of the 1951 classic sci-fi film about an alien visitor and his giant robot counterpart who visit Earth is set to be released on December 12 2008.

In the original movie, a flying saucer orbits Earth, and lands in Washington, DC, on the Mall. Klaatu (Michael Rennie) steps out and is shot by a jumpy soldier. Gort (Lock Martin), an indestructible robot steps out of the spacecraft and proceeds to melt all the weapons, including tanks, without harming a single human being. Later, the Earth comes to realize that Gort has used very little of his power to make this happen.

While lying on the ground, Klaatu orders Gort to stop, and is then taken by the military to a hospital from which he later escapes in order to learn more about this planet called Earth and its human inhabitants. He meets Helen Benson (Patricia Neal) and her son. Billy Benson (Billy Gray) takes Klaatu on a tour of Washington DC finally stopping in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Klaatu reads the words uttered by Lincoln many years ago and realizes that there might be hope for Earth.

When they begin to suspect him, he reveals himself, along with the news that Gort is a member of a race of super-robot enforcers invented to keep the peace of the galaxy and will destroy the Earth if provoked. Klaatu is pursued and shot and killed by the military. Before Klaatu dies, he tells Helen to go to Gort, and say these words Klaatu Barata Nikto. If she does not, Klaatu tells her Gort will destroy the Earth. Helen makes her way to the ship and finds Gort. As Gort moves towards her, she repeats the phrase over and over. Gort picks her up and takes her into the ship. Gort then retrieves Klaatus body and through their alien science, resurrects Klaatu.

The 2008 remake about an alien and his indestructible robot will star (Keanu Reeves) as Klaatu, Jennifer Connelly as Helen Benson, (Jaden Smith) as Jacob, and (Kathy Bates). Gort has not been cast at this time and will most likely be created using FX.

The remake of (The Day the Earth Stood Still) will supposedly remain true to the original movie, however there is a chance the remake will more likely remain true to the short story upon which the 1951 movie is based.

Watch the trailer here:
http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox/thedaytheearthstoodstill

Sources: IMDB / dtessmovie.com