Sci-Fi Storm

Don Cheadle (Ocean’s Eleven and sequels) will take over the role of Jim Rhodes in the upcoming Iron Man 2. Played by Terrence Howard in the first movie, the character within the comic mythos becomes War Machine, using another suit of armor created by Stark, although there is no indication that will happen in the sequel. Howard and Marvel apparently disagreed on financial arrangements, and Marvel had interest in working with Cheadle. I’ve been impressed with Cheadle and his various roles, so this may be a move in the right direction.

Sir Ridley Scott, who has not directed an SF film since 1982’s Blade Runner (and prior to that 1979’s Alien) has acquired the rights to Joe Haldeman’s 1974 novel, The Forever War. Scott originally wanted to make the movie after Blade Runner, but the rights had already been acquired by Richard Edlund (visual effects guy for the original Star Wars trilogy and won an Oscar for Raiders Of The Lost Ark), who still held them until selling them to Scott. Scott still has a busy queue in front of him, so it remains to be seen if this makes it off the shelf.

Rendezvous With Rama, which Morgan Freeman has been trying to get off the shelf for years, may have fallen into the trashbin, according to David Fincher, who was attached to direct. Apparently a script never materialized, although it sounded hopeful last December. Rama, Ringworld, even Halo…seems we may never get to see a good vision of a megastructure epic…

[sfs=49]V[/sfs], the 1983 miniseries which acted as a thinly-veiled allegory to Nazi Germany (and spawned a [sfs=203]second mini-series[/sfs] and short lived [sfs=424]TV series[/sfs]), is planned for reimagining by Warner Brothers and ABC. Scott Peters (The 4400) is writing and exec producing the update, which will not use the original allegory concept, but focus on the results when people blindly follow their leaders. Kenneth Johnson, who created the original and has been trying to get a new version off the ground, is not involved in this project.

Iron Man, which was released on DVD and Blu-Ray last week, is breaking sales records, selling 7.2 million DVDs and 500,000 BDs to set this year’s best first week tallies, along with the best Blu-Ray Day 1 sales at 250k units.

Sci-Fi Storm will be on vacation for a few days, returning later next week…Update: I’m back, I’m tired, and I’m trying to get caught up…no one submitted anything, so it’s all on me…

I know its not science fiction, but science fact is what helps drive the fiction. Recently the Discovery Channel aired a 6 hour series called When We Left The Earth – The NASA Missions, and now it is available on both DVD and Blu-Ray, and I’ve managed to take a look at the DVD version. Read More for a review, and you can even watch a clip here (Quicktime only).

(continue reading…)

Stories of Kim Stanley Robinson’s Red Mars getting some sort of screen treatment have been around as long as this web site, but they’ve been quiet for a while, last rumored to be a SFC miniseries. Now, AMC is developing a series based on the novel, with Jonathan Hensleigh (Armageddon) as writer/executive producer. No mention on if or how the other novels (Green Mars and Blue Mars) might be incorporated.

Kate Zuparko writes “Atom be airing a special STAR WARS FAN MOVIE CHALLENGE episode of Atom TV, their weekly TV show on COMEDY CENTRAL, this upcoming MONDAY, OCT. 6 at 2 am! Fans of Star Wars will get the chance to see all their favorite fan films on the airwaves, including George Lucas himself introducing the 2008 Selects winner, the Juno spoof PADME. Other favorites include this year’s Best Comedy Winner TARKIN N FRIENDS, the ever-popular CHAD VADER, and a montage of the best SW clips Atom has to offer, including favorite PINK FIVE.

The episode will premiere Monday night/Tuesday AM (depending on your sleep patterns!) on Comedy Central, so make sure to set your DVR (or stock up on caffeine-laced drinks!), but if you can?t watch it the first time, Comedy Central will be replaying the episode throughout the week:

– Wednesday, 10/8 at 12:30pm
– Thursday, 10/9 at 2am
– Sunday, 10/12 at 10am (yes, daylight hours!)

So there are plenty of chances to catch it if you can?t make it up that late this Monday!”

Fox has picked up the option for a full season of J.J. Abrams Fringe. The show improved its ratings from its premiere (probably helped by airing alongside House), and is currently the top rated new show among the coveted adult demographic.