Sci-Fi Storm

Caught the following on a rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated posting: On the B5 front, there has been something of rather substantial proportion
that’s finally gone from talk to money, such that I’m now working frantically
to meet some deadlines, but there’s nothing I can say about this until after
January 15th, probably closer to the end of that month. He also said to consider this an “eep”, which long-time fans from GEnie and UseNet will understand…that’s how the green light for B5 was announced. Plus, next year will have a DVD boxed set of all the movies, as well one for Crusade…

tchansen writes “Maybe, maybe not.

IGN FilmForce reported on November 11th that the release date for Matrix Revolutions would be early January. However, a later story at IGN reports Warner Home Video immediately issued a statement that the release date would be announced in January but that it wouldn’t be released in January. Reasons cited for a possible early release are the weak domestic release and the fact that the movie was widely shared over the internet.”

Evo Terra writes “While it’s not uncommon for a Hollywood-er to jump into the political frey, it’s not often we hear it coming from an icon of science fiction.

As published on The Onery American…

“We can’t afford to lose interest and go away. If we stop now, our campaigns so far will have been like poking a bear with a stick and then turning your back.”” I edited the original to avoid politicizing the site. Follw the link to see what Card says…

tchansen writes “According to the Rumor Mill at The Digital Bits, George Lucas is going to make some changes to the original Star Wars series before it is released on DVD.

First, at the end of Return of the Jedi Luke will remove Vader’s helmet to reveal a scarred and aged Hayden Christensen. Also, in Star Wars: A New Hope, it would show Han shooting first again in the Mos Eisley cantina.

No word on whether or not the changes will push out the rumored September 2004 release date for the Trilogy.”

The SCI FI Channel’s live-action spinoff of Stargate SG-1, Stargate: Atlantis will go into production early in the new year and debut with a two-hour crossover movie in next summer. The shows will apparently be paired on the schedule as well as SG-1 goes into it’s eighth seasion. Given that Don S. Davis (Gen. Hammond) is apparently not signed for SG-1, perhaps he could be heading to another galaxy? The spinoff involves the discovery of a base on Earth used by the Ancients, the creators of the stargate network, in the ruins of Atlantis. This base leads to another galaxy, where they find primitive humans threatened by a brand new enemy.

Several sites are reporting that actor Jonathan Brandis, best known as smart-alecky Wesley Crusher-clone Lucas Wolenczek on seaQuest DSV was found dead in his apartment.

Update: CNN has confirmed the report, saying that Jonathan died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center early on the 12th after a friend called from Brandis’ apartment shortly before midnight claiming Brandis attempted suicide, which is being investigated.

One of these days I intend on doing a MAJOR revamp of Sci-Fi Storm, and I’m talking from the ground up – starting first with dumping Slashcode (which is way too bulky for this) and writing my own software, with the eventual goal of a complete integrated site with both blog-style news and forums and other areas. It’s a way off (I have to steal my wife’s iBook and get it set up for programming), but I’m planning now.

So, speak up! What features should Storm 2.0 have? What should I toss? And how can I get you guys to submit more stories? 🙂

Update 11/20: just bringing back to the front for more comments.

Quite a while ago I remember talk about turning Arthur C. Clarke’s 3001: The Final Odyssey being turned in to a film. Well, there’s ben some movement on a movie called 3001 – but I’m pretty sure this ain’t it. Mike Judge, creator of Beavis and Butthead and King of the Hill, is working on a script with fellow King writer Etan Cohen which involves a man who wakes up 1000 years later (sounds like Clarke’s), to find everyone is so dumb he’s the smartest person on Earth (don’t remember that…)

Raetsel writes “According to Ain’t It Cool News, there are rumors flying that “4 to 6 new episodes” of Farscape are being produced! This excited buzz comes as a result of Wednesday’s Dark Horizons news update and a TV Guide Online announcement of a press conference that apparently didn’t happen. (The fact that it was posted to Fark doesn’t hurt the buzz factor either!) Should be interesting to see what develops.” This would be most cool.

Warner Bros. has released the teaser trailer for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban on the official web site. The kids are obviously growing up, but this has the looks of a much better movie in my opinion than Chamber of Secrets – which was the same opinion I had of the books (CoS was my least favorite).