Sci-Fi Storm

Several major studios announced 2008 dates for their projects. Here is a look at the SF&F features being prepared: The mysterious Cloverfield from J.J. Abrams, January 18th, Paramount; The Spiderwick Chronicles, February 15th, Paramount; Roland Emmerich’s 10,000BC, March 7th, WB; Jon Favreau’s Iron Man, May 2nd, Paramount; Wachowski Brothers Speed Racer, May 9th, WB; Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, May 22nd, Paramount; The Incredible Hulk, June 13th, Universal; Get Smart with Steve Carell, June 20th, WB; The Dark Knight, July 18th, WB; The remake of Death Race by John Carpenter, September 26th, Universal; Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince, November 21st, WB; and J.J. Abram’s rendition of Star Trek, December 25th, Paramount.

Illusion, an on-demand only science fiction network in the U.S., will begin showing classic Doctor Who serials, starting in January with “Tomb of the Cybermen”. They will follow that with “Genesis of the Daleks”. More information should appear on the web site when available.

TheThunderChild writes “There are over 35 science fiction and fantasy conventions being held in the US during 2008, and quite a few in other areas of North America and the world as well. The Thunder Child has updated its 2008 science fiction calendar. Conventions are sorted into three categories – North America by date, North America by location, and The World. http://thethunderchild.com/Conventions/USCalendarB yDate.html is the URL to get you started. By the way, we need Convention Correspondents, so give us a shout if you attend a convention and would like to write it up for us.”

Peter Berg (The Kingdom) has has confirmed rumors that he is set to direct a new version of Frank Herbert’s Dune. He mentions the David Lynch version, but says that “that interpretation has left the door wide open for a remake.” Interestingly the Sci-Fi Channel miniseries isn’t mentioned at all.

For those of you who absolutely must have everything related to Battlestar Galactica – regardless of the quality – the DVD set for Galactica 1980 was released several days early today. Quite often panned and derided as one of the worst shows ever, it does have one redeeming quality – an episode called “The Return of Starbuck”, featuring Dirk Benedict and featuring a story that was more like the original show. Otherwise, it quickly devolves into a “superkids on Earth” show.

Stargate – The Ark of Truth, the first of two new direct-to-DVD movies for the crew of SG-1, comes out on March 11th. SG-1 heads into the Ori galaxy looking for a weapon to use against them.

USA Networks has officially cancelled its two SF shows, The Dead Zone, which ran for siz seasons, and The 4400, which ran for four. The Dead Zone helped USA’s push into original programming.

Catherine Tate, who is reprising her role as Donna Noble for the whole fourth series of Doctor Who, says that this next series could be David Tennant’s last in the title role, but Tennant himself laughed at it, and said she caused a “minor diplomatic incident”. He says that confirmed will be doing the 4 Doctor Who specials in 2009, but that no one has asked him yet about making a decision for 2010.

Apparently Orcrist has been buried. Pater Jackson and New Line have agreed to work together on The Hobbit, the prequel to The Lord Of The Rings, with Jackson assuming the role of executive producer. No director has been named yet. MGM will also be involved, splitting the production “50/50”, since they hold distribution rights. I’ll also note that the article says “prequel films“, with two planned films, and production scheduled to begin in 2009 with releases in 2010 and 2011. Update 12/20: Director Sam Raimi, who previously said he was in talks to direct The Hobbit (contingent on Jackson’s OK, who at the time was in a dispute with New Line), is expected to do so after his next project, Drag Me to Hell.

It’s been a long time coming, and we’ve been reporting on it for years, but Morgan Freeman says that Rendezvous With Rama closer than ever to going in to production. More formal production is hoped to start next year, although Freeman says they are still working on the script.