Sci-Fi Storm

Apparently I’ve been missing some news regarding Stargate Atlantis for some reason, so here is a rundown, with the full details available at GateWorld: Amanda Tapping will be leaving the show at the end of the current season (after having taken command this season), to work with her new show Sanctuary, which is going from web to TV on the SCI FI Channel; Robert Picardo (Richard Woolsey) is joining to replace her; Jewel Staite (Dr. Jennifer Keller) is now a full-time cast member; Paul McGillion, despite the fact that his character, Dr. Carson Beckett, is dead, will return for 5 episodes next season; Michael Shanks will make at least one guest appearance; Torri Higginson (Dr. Elizabeth Weir), despite previous reports, will not appear in Season 5; and Leela Savasta (who will appear in several episodes of Battlestar Galactica when it returns in April) will join as Captain Alicia Vega.

Macht Movie Productions writes “Define “Star Wars Fan”. Are they a certain age, race, gender, occupation? The film: “The Force Among Us” breaks all the stereotypes. It is a documentary created by a brother and sister team of fans who compiled this project with their own money. It lets the fans tell their stories in their own words. The production includes interviews with such people as Dan Madsen: first president of the Star Wars Fan Club, and who also had a small role in “The Phantom Menace”, John Tenuto: A teacher at the College of Lake County in Illinois who teaches a class called “The Sociology of Star Wars”, Dick Staub: Author of “Christian Wisdom of the Jedi Masters”, and many more! This film was inspired by all the different genres of fandom that celebrate the creation of the Star Wars saga. The people in costume, the collectors, the deep minded, the extremist, the organizers, the leaders, the old generation, the new generation, the angry and the content, and so on and so on. This project goes to prove that the Force will be with us…forever. So check it out and order your copy today! Be sure to also look for our ad in upcoming issues of “Star Wars Insider”.”

DJ writes “Hi from downunder,

In Australia George Miller and Megan Gale have spoken briefly about WONDER WOMAN in JLA.

Please feel free to link over to our site for the news story.

www.scificentral.tv“

Paramount is shuffling the slate of upcoming movie releases, and Star Trek may be the biggest move – pushing back to May 8th, 2009 instead of its original December release. Trekkies will have to wait a little longer to decide whether to rejoice or storm J.J. Abrams office with phasers on kill.

Chad Cloman writes “LucasFilm has announced that an animated Star Wars feature film, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, will be released in North American theaters on Friday, August 15, 2008. The theatrical release will be followed by a related television series on the Cartoon Network and TNT. Long live Star Wars! More Star Wars!” An interesting way to introduce the new series…make them pay for the premiere!

New line has already been sued over profits for the Lord of the Rings movies – now the Tolkein estate and publisher HarperCollins are after their piece of the pie, suing for their part of the gross profits. We know Hollywood has always had “creative” accounting practices – perhaps New Line was a little too creative?

Variety has a rundown of network shows and how they will be handled when production picks back up. Notably for NBC, “Shows not expected to resume production include “Bionic Woman” and “Journeyman”; both are currently considered canceled.” But Chuck and Heroes is likely to come back later this year. On ABC, details are being worked on regarding Lost, which had a 16 episode order for next year but may get extended if this year’s order can’t be completed.

Actor Roy Scheider, best known for his role as Chief Martin Brody in the first two Jaws films but also among genre fans as the star of 2010 and SeaQuest DSV, passed away Sunday at the age of 75, after having been treated for the past two years for multiple myeloma.

CBS’ Jericho, the series that fans helped bring back from cancellation, will pick up as a mid-season replacement starting Tuesday night at 10pm ET, picking up right where it left off with the townfolk about to get in a major firefight.

The leaders of the Writers Guild of America have recommended the latest contract offer to the rank and file, and although a final vote may not be over for a couple weeks, have cleared the workers to go back to work as soon as Wednesday. It includes provisions for compensation on digital streamed media, one of the major sticking points that resulted in the strike.