Sci-Fi Storm

Just because we had a series recently, doesn’t mean we couldn’t have a movie too. Sony is moving fast with a new version of Flash Gordon, announcing that writers Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless have signed on. The two don’t have much under their belt yet, so it will remain to be seen where this goes.

Two PC first-person-shooter games – one classic, one more recent – are getting big screen treatments. First up is Wolfenstein, based on the classic id Software game that brought to FPS game to the forefront, although I presume it will be based on one of the more recent games instead of the now-simplistic boxy original. The other is the more recent Take Two title BioShock, which Gore Verbinski is adapting as part of a first-look deal with Universal. Best described as a “steampunk meets zombies” storyline, it deals with an alternate history of 1960 and a mysterious underwater city called Rapture where genetic alterations were all the rage – but mutations take over the city. Update: Thanks to a reader who pointed out that Max Payne is also being made, and is in fact scheduled for release October 17th.

Meant to get this out last night, but failed: The teaser trailer for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has been released and is available at various locations…Moviefone has it here in several Quicktime HD resolutions. It focuses on a flashback memory of Dumbledore meeting Tom Riddle for the first time…

Isaac Asimov’s venerable Foundation series may finally be getting a big-screen adaptation. Previously in development at Fox, Warner Brothers now has it and is giving it over to former New Line heads Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne. Having been considered in the past to be difficult to adapt because of its storyline that spans centuries and a cast of characters that changes with each book (and in some cases, each story within the book), their goal for now is to just adapt the first book, and if it works out, follow on much like they did with The Lord Of The Rings. Fox had previously tried to adapt the trilogy into a single movie.

The Thunder Child writes “Steve Vertlieb is a film writer who has contributed several articles to The Thunder Child, from the music of Miklos Rosza to his first meeting with The Blob, and now, he discusses the new movie, The Dark Knight.

If you’re a fan of Steve’s, or if you want to see a different view of this new entry in the Batman ethos, please check out: http://thethunderchild.com/Movies/VertliebViews/TheDarkKnight.html

Other articles from Steve are on the work of Boris Karloff:

http://thethunderchild.com/Movies/VertliebViews/BorisKarloff.html

the music of Bernard Herrmann: http://thethunderchild.com/Movies/VertliebViews/BernardHerrmann.html

Miklos Rosza: http://thethunderchild.com/Movies/VertliebViews/RoszaStory.html“

We thought it was coming, and then it vanished, and then there was renewed hope – but Tron 2 is very much real this time. Disney unveiled a teaser for the movie as a surprise to Comic-Con guests. And of course, I missed it…

It’s San Diego Comic-Con time again…and as usual, I’m not there, missing all the fun. Anyways, Comingsoon.net is reporting that George Lucas could create yet another Star Wars release – but this time, it will be in 3D. No idea if he’ll revise the content yet again…

In case you were deep in the rain forests or on duty in Antarctica, The Dark Knight broke records this weekend, including the biggest ever weekend opening at over $158 million (the previous holder was Spider-Man 3 at $151 million). And it continues to get rave reviews – the review over at Bureau 42 gave it a 41 out of 42. Update: The Dark Knight allegedly has a darker side…

Kate Zuparko writes “The 2008 finalists in the Atom Star Wars Fan Movie Challenge are up and ready for voting!

So head on over to http://www.atom.com/spotlights/starwars/challenge/ by JULY 10 to vote for your favorite Star Wars fan film. There’s not much time, so check out these awesome fan films now!”

Actor Don S. Davis, best known for his role as Major General George Hammond in command of the SGC on Stargate SG-1, as well as numerous appearances in other genre and mainstream shows and movies (he was the Racine coach in A League Of Their Own), passed away Sunday from a massive heart attack at the age of 65.