Sci-Fi Storm

The long-languishing Dune remake that’s been simmering at Paramount for several years may get permanently shelved. Deadline reports the clock is ticking on the rights, with a production start date required to be set by next Spring. And part of the problem is that all the rights holders need to agree on various aspects of the production – like a director. First Peter Berg walked away after heading the initial development to make Battleship instead, and it is possible that Pierre Morel has also stepped down.

After just airing its second episode, AMC has already ordered a 13-episode second season of its smash hit The Walking Dead. “I wish all programming decisions were no brainers like this one,” said Sharon Tal Yguado, SVP Scripted Programming. “No other cable series has ever attracted as many Adults 18-49 as ‘The Walking Dead.’” according to Charlie Collier, President of AMC. “This reaffirms viewers’ hunger for premium television on basic cable. We are so proud to be bringing back ‘The Dead’ again, across the globe.”

AMC’s “The Walking Dead” is based on the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman and published by Image Comics. Shot on location in Atlanta, it is led by a cast that includes Lincoln (Teachers, Love Actually) as Rick Grimes, Jon Bernthal (The Pacific, The Ghost Writer) as Shane Walsh, Sarah Wayne Callies (Prison Break) as Lori Grimes, Laurie Holden (The Shield, Stephen King’s The Mist) as Andrea, Jeffrey DeMunn (Stephen King’s The Mist, The Green Mile) as Dale, Steven Yeun (The Big Bang Theory) as Glen, Emma Bell (The Bedford Diaries) as Amy and Chandler Riggs (Get Low) as Carl Grimes.

Kate has become the host of an abnormal who has given her super powers. An all new strength and identity makes her feel unstoppable and not too quick to re-join the team. Will she use it for good or will the team be able to restrain the chaos that the abnormal may cause through her? Watch the clip and be sure to tune in Friday, November 12th at 10/9c on Syfy to find out.
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What if there was one more Apollo mission, but it was kept so secret no one knew about it, until now? That is the premise behind Apollo 18, a “documentary” film being produced by The Weinstein Company based on a screenplay by Brian Miller, in which lost footage from Apollo 18’s undocumented and covert mission to the moon is unearthed, revealing disturbing new evidence of other life forms. Miller won the inaugural Astana International Action Film Festival screenplay competition in Kazakhstan this past summer, which was created by Wanted director Timur Bekmambetov. Trevor Cawood (The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions) will direct, with filming to start in December for a March release.
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Seems my Bothan-er, Warner Home Video/BBC spies have failed me – not only do I not seem to be getting my customary early X-Mas present of Doctor Who DVDs this year (Doctor Who: The Complete Fifth Series is out on [sfs=1039]DVD[/sfs] and [sfs=1038]Blu-ray[/sfs] this Tuesday), but I was unaware that Doctor Who writer Mark Gatiss and writer/producer Steven Moffat’s critically acclaimed series Sherlock also appears on [asin=B004132HZS]DVD[/asin] and [sfs=B004132I20]Blu-ray[/sfs] the same day. I have heard nothing but good things about this version, which stars Benedict Cumberbatch (The Last Enemy, Hawking) as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman (soon to be very well known as Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit) as Dr. John Watson, and have been waiting for it to come to the U.S. on television. What I didn’t realize is that it was being shown on PBS, and is under the “Masterpiece Mystery!” banner and not under its own name. Check your local PBS listings, but fortunately in Boston they are repeated all three episodes on November 14th…thanks to @dire_rampancy for the tweet about that, and @tnsears for also pointing out that it is available online on the PBS website under Masterpiece Theater.

Not one, but three separate preview clips for next week’s episodes of Stargate Universe, Ghost Hunters and Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files…
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Fancy a chance to experience a little time travel? The BBC is opening the Doctor Who Experience on February 16th, 2011 at London’s Olympia Two, where it will stay until sometime in 2012 when it will relocate to Cardiff for the longer term (and be near the current production offices). The exhibit will include costumes, the Tom Baker-era TARDIS exterior, and the TARDIS sets from both David Tennant and Peter Davison – along with newer items like the Pandorica and monsters and enemies from across time. And there will also be an interactive experience, where you can star in your own serial! “The Doctor Who Experience is a fan’s dream come true – a fully interactive adventure that will allow viewers of the show to get as close as possible to some of the scariest monsters from the series,” according to producer/writer Steven Moffat. “It will also be the first time that Doctor Who artefacts from all the show’s 47 year history – classic and new – will be on display together, many of them being seen for the first time. And never mind that, this is the day the Doctor teaches you how to fly the TARDIS through time and space, and takes you into battle with all his deadliest enemies in a brand new adventure. So steady your nerves and bring your own sofa – the Doctor needs you!”

Could Steven Spielberg’s Terra Nova series be in trouble? Insiders say no, but 20th Century Fox Television has apparently laid off the entire writing staff, although show runner Brannon Braga still remains. Fox has reportedly changed its mind about when to debut the series – originally planned as a mid-season January start, they have decided to postpone it until Fall 2011 and instead do a two-hour pilot movie to air in May. Letting the writers go is seen as a cost-cutting measure in the meantime, and the writers will be rehired if available when production picks up again – if it picks up. Welcome to Fox, Steven…have you met Joss?

One more of the rumored cast members has become true: James Nesbitt (Jekyll) has been cast has as Bofur, described as “a disarmingly forthright, funny and occasionally brave Dwarf.” “James’s charm, warmth and wit are legendary as is his range as an actor in both comedic and dramatic roles. We feel very lucky to be able to welcome him as one of our cast.” said director Peter Jackson. Also announced was newcomer Adam Brown, who will play Ori.

If you took your LEGOs, and made the original Star Wars trilogy from the point of view of a different character (what do you mean, Jar Jar wasn’t in it?!?), you might just get…”LEGO Star Wars: Bombad Bounty”…(thanks to Fellowship of Fools for pointing it out)