In what is starting to look like an internet firestorm, news of Eliza Dushku’s new pairing with Joss Whedon for his upcoming “Dollhouse” project is sweeping the nets. E Online’s “Watch With Kristin” blog broke the news yesterday that Eliza Dushku will be in the starring role and a producer of the show; Tim Minear will be involved; and that Fox has committed to seven episodes so far. Some of the writers for “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” are even migrating over.

“Dollhouse” follows Echo (Eliza Dushku), a woman who lives with a group of others in an illegal lab. Their minds can be imprinted with anything — knowledge, skills, memory, desires — and are used by the lab to complete different assignments. After each one, their memories are wiped, and they resume their simple lives in the lab. All except for Echo, who slowly begins to gain an independent awareness. Gradually, Echo’s own personality begins to intrude upon the imprinting of the lab, leaving her to wonder who she is and what has happened to her.

If this sounds a little bit like the Matrix to you, it does to Whedon, too. In an interview with Variety published today, Whedon said, “I do have that entire movie tattooed on my brain.” “Dollhouse,” says Variety, “will enable him and Dushku to explore some political and social issues.

“Whedon is being clear that “Dollhouse” will not be a “reunion” of previous cast members. While he is working with Dushku and Minear, he is also reaching out for new actors.

I’d write more, but Casey, Vince, and BriAnna are at this very moment hyperventilating. I should probably help them out. In the meantime, hop on over to Kristin’s blog and read the fabulous interviews she conducted with Joss Whedon and Eliza Dushku yesterday.