Sci-Fi Storm

J. Michael Straczynski, who’s The Changeling opens in wide release today, is currently working on a remake of the classic 1956 movie Forbidden Planet for Warner Brothers, which has long been in development – last I heard was in 2001 when New Line got the rights, and apparently Dreamworks has had it since until last year. I wonder if Robby the Robot will come out of retirement?

Kate Davids writes “Mesa – The Phoenix Comicon has added two more sci-fi guests. They are Richard LeParmentier (‘Admiral Motti’ from ‘Star Wars’) and Marjean Holden (‘Sheeva’ from ‘Mortal Kombat: Annihilation’). “Don’t mess with these people,” said Amy Black, Guest Liaison Director, “One is an Imperial Officer and the other a killing robot, so be on your best behavior!”” Read More for more details.

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The Thunder Child writes “Isaac Asimov wrote hundreds of essays, many of them for the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. These were collected into anthologies, and we have put together a 121-page, annoted index, in a free PDF, which you may download by going here. It lists every name Asimov ever mentioned, his description of them, and their birth and death dates.
Then, have a bit of fun with our “To Be Sure” contest. “To be sure” was one of Asimov’s favorite phrases, and if you’ve got a collection of his essay anthologies, and care to play the game, there’s prizes at the end of it. See more details here“

Shortly after Doctor Who won Best Drama and David Tennant won Outstanding Drama Performance at the National Television Awards, David announced that he is departing the show after the 4 specials are completed, which will air through 2009 to early 2010. “”I’d always thought the time to leave would be in conjunction with Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner who have been such a huge part of it all for me,” he said. “Steven Moffat is the most brilliant and exciting writer, the only possible successor to Russell and it was sorely tempting to be part of his amazing new plans for the show. I will be there, glued to my TV when his stories begin in 2010.” More rumors about his successor should be showing up any moment…

Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr. and director Jon Favreau, already confirmed on Iron Man 2, will be working on more in the franchise. Downey has agreed to a retroactive 4 picture deal with Marvel Studios, which now includes Iron Man 3 and The Avengers, and Favreau is confirmed to executive produce The Avengers. In addition, Don Cheadle, who takes over the role of Jim Rhodes, is also signed to appear in The Avengers.

Tim Burton’s upcoming Alice In Wonderland (planned for a 2010 release) is getting a wide ranging cast, which now includes Christopher Lee and Alan Rickman, with Rickman as the Caterpillar (Lee’s role was not announced). Some of the previously announced cast include Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, Anne Hathaway and Helena Bonham Carter as the Queens, and Australian Mia Wasikowska (Amelia) as Alice.

Joss Whedon is finally recent production hiatus on his upcoming Fox series Dollhouse. He gives a bit of insight into his production ideas, a bit about dealing with the studio, and even admitting when they studio isn’t necessarily wrong…

Traileraddict.com has made the international trailer for the upcoming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince available for viewing to everyone. Be sure to watch to the end.

The 3D version of Journey To The Center Of The Earth comes out on Blu-Ray and DVD this Tuesday (October 28th), with both 2D and 3D versions included in both editions (including red-green 3D glasses). Read More for a review of them…

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Rich Handley writes in to let us know about his new book being release for the 40th anniversary of the Planet Of The Apes film series, “Timeline of the Planet of the Apes: The Definitive Chronology”. Read More for the full press release.

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