Sci-Fi Storm

Artist R. Dennis Antorini has produced a couple of Flash animations – one for Larry Niven’s Ringworld and one for his Known Space universe in general. Very cool stuff – and not just because they mention my Enyclopedia of Known Space…

They’re still out there. Part two of the Doctor Who episode “The Dalek Master Plan”, subtitled “Day of Armageddon”, has been found and said to be in “very good quality,” probably as a 16mm B/W print. The original episode was 12 parts (the longest, and described as “an all-round masterpiece” in the book A Voyage Through 25 Years of Doctor Who), and this is only the third to be found. A BBC engineer at the time they were throwing out the prints from their vault (policy back in the early 70s for old prints not expected to see light again, to make room) “borrowed” it from the trash. There are still 108 missing episodes, so check your attic…

The SCI FI Channel continues to purchase established shows. They announced that they are picking up Andromeda for a fifth season, along with rerun rights to all of them, from Tribune Entertainment. Also mentioned in the deal is all 66 episodes of Beastmaster, but it doesn’t say anything about new production (I believe the show was cancelled in 2002). Both shows were in the syndicated market.

According to SCI FI Wire (I couldn’t find the original), in an interview with BBCi Films Bill Nighy, previously rumored to be a front runner for the Doctor Who position, spilled the beans that he has been cast as Slartibartfast in the new Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy feature film, with fellow Love, Actually actor Martin Freeman as Arthur Dent.

I’ve finally taken the time to update the Sci-Fi TV, Stargate SG-1 and Babylon 5 stores with some upcoming (and belated) releases – check them out. Notable, Babylon 5 Season 5 (April 13th), Stargate SG-1 Season 6 (March 2nd), a couple new Doctor Who, Lexx and Farscape releases, Red Dwarf Series 3 and Series 4 (Feb. 3rd), Star Trek: Voyager Season 1 (Feb. 24th), and even the complete Star Blazers: The Bolar Wars collection (now). And don’t forget – both Stargate SG-1 Season 5 and Jeremiah Season 1 are out on January 20th. Update 1/13: MGM has released the TV spot for the Stargate SG-1 on the net, Windows Media: 300k, 100k, 56k. Update 1/14: And now for Jeremiah:
300k, 100k, 56k.

Richard deCosta writes “FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

At Long Last, a True “Space Opera.” Turing Opera Workshop releases teaser trailer for new 3d sci-fi opera, “K’ai, Death of Dreams.” Read More for the full release, and the web site link.

(continue reading…)

We’ve been following the slow progress of Morgan Freeman’s production of Rendezvous with Rama for a while, but there hasn’t been any new news until now. Revelations Entertainment announced at CES that they plan to release a movie in the future simultaneously in theaters as well as on the Internet – and this is apparently Rama. Note that I saw another report about this, and the movie name wasn’t given, but it is the likely candidate.

I’m not sure where they get off calling it “SCI FI” Thursday, but Bonnie Hammer announced the new two-hour block of original programming aimed at a younger set. Scare Tactics returns in a 10pm slot, preceded by the new hour-long reality show Mad Mad House, a 10-episode run in which 5 “alternative lifestylists” (let’s see – a Wiccan, a vampire, a voodoo priestess, and naturist, and a “primitive” – how about “weirdos”?) run a house in which 10 “normal” people live. Following up at 10:30pm will be the animated Tripping the Rift, mentioned here before.

tchansen writes “SciFiWire reports that Ursula K. Le Guin‘s Earthsea is approved to become a mini-series for the SciFi Channel and production begins this spring in New Zealand. The mini-series consists of the first two books in the trilogy, A Wizard of Earthsea and The Tombs of Atuan.” For those who don’t know the story, it deals with a reckless boy who is destined to become a great sorcerer. Perhaps capitalizing a little on Harry Potter? (SCI FI, not Le Guin…)

Bryan Singer (X-Men) is going to produce a 4-part, 8-hour miniseries involving the legendary Bermuda Triangle for the SCI FI Channel, with the idea to be to “make kids scared of [the Bermuda Triangle] again.” He will work with genre vet Dean Devlin (Stargate, Independence Day).