Sci-Fi Storm

Gathered from recent headlines all over the Web: Viacom has confirmed development of a new Trek series; Witchblade begins filming today (Feb. 20th) for TNT; Bryan Singer is almost set to direct X-Men 2; Richard Harris isn’t happy with Potter, while the official site gets updated; 3rd Rock sees an end; and a Doctoral Thesis on Religion in Star Trek?

Viacom recently confirmed the development of a fifth Trek series to debut in the fall. They are still tight-lipped on the premise, and Berman is still denying reports that it is a “prequel” to the original series.

Witchblade, which debuted as a TV movie on TNT during summer and stars Yancy Butler as a an NYPD detective with a gauntlet giving her super powers (ala The Guyver) begins filming February 20th in Toronto. I remember Crusade being delayed because they wanted it to be paired with this show…

With production on Confessions of a Dangerous Mind halted, director Bryan Singer may be ready to take the reigns early for X-Men 2, and may have it ready for late in 2002.

Richard Harris told Empire Online that he isn’t happy with the production of Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone, but it seems to be more because he is secondary. In the meantime, Warner Bros. unveiled an updated web site for the upcoming movie, including an “olive branch” of sorts for fan-run sites link through it.

Reports abound that the 3rd Rock From the Sun cast have been told that the show will not return in the fall, although NBC is denying a decision. They have already filmed a finale, and French Stewart is already signed to a new series (Blind Men) but will appear in both if necessary.

Seems a couple of people at University of California Riverside have gotten the ok to do a religious-themed doctoral thesis – based on Star Trek. Apparently, Sabine Thuerwaechter and Bernhard Janzen are working for a doctorate in Comparative Literature and see enough religious themes in the various Trek forms to come up with three volumes.