Sci-Fi Storm

Although things were moving forward, director Jon Favreau’s John Carter of Mars project has been put on the back burner by the studio. Paramount is already putting out Favreau’s Iron Man adaptation, and is also pushing ahead with the J.J. Abrahms-led Star Trek XI, along with some other SF related properties, “and they don’t think the timing is right,” according for Favreau. “And, hopefully, by continuing my relationship with them, by doing this Iron Man film, I’ll leave the door wide open for Carter, which is a much more challenging property.”

Are they not listening? This time New Line is planning to repackage the classic Jules Verne story 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, based on a pitch from Craig Titley (Scooby-Doo, Cheaper by the Dozen) and produced under the Buckaroo banner of Sam Raimi (the Spider-Man movies) and Josh Donnen (The Quick and the Dead). It already has the classic 1954 version staring James Mason, Kirk Douglas and Peter Lorre, and had two competing TV versions in 1997.

Per Variety, Brendan Frasier (The Mummy) is set to star in a remake of Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth, this one being produced in 3D. There have been a few remakes before, but some were pretty darned poor, having little to do with the original story except in name…

J.J. Abrams, who created the hit series Lost and also took over the production of Mission: Impossible III, will apparently take over another franchise (original Variety article – requires subscription) – the on-an-off Star Trek XI movie. He’s set to co-write, produce and direct, with an aim at a 2008 release. It will reportedly be based on the often-rumored “Starfleet Academy” concept, following Kirk and Spock when they first meet and their first mission. UPDATE 4/24: Rick Berman he has nothing to do with this one – perhaps to the rejoicing of Trekkers everywhere…

According to MuggleNet, Warner Bros. has announced the release date for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will be July 13th, 2007. Also, from J.K. Rowling’s official site, the author has hit a different form of writer’s block: lack of paper. She ran out of standard lined writing paper, and it took 45 minutes (in Edinburgh, a major university and college city, no less) to find some place that would sell it.

I don’t exactly consider this confirmed yet, but it appears that Gary Oldman’s manager has notified a couple of web sites that a deal has finally been struck with Warner Brothers for Oldman to reprise the role of Sirius Black in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, finally ending all the speculation (and very real possibility) of him not returning.

Bryan Singer has teamed up with his partner from The Usual Suspects, Oscar winner Christopher McQuarrie, and they’re finishing the script. “I’m taking concepts in the book and the movie, the 1976 movie, and some of my own comcepts and merging them together for my interpretation.” I’m assuming Michael York won’t be one of the things borrowed from the old movie – he was actually over 30 when it was made, and since this is using the book’ original age of 21…Singer hopes to start production later this year, hopefully for a 2008 release.

Contrary to previous reports, Disney has announced that Toy Story 3 is still moving forward – but Pixar is taking over. Don’t know if this means that Pixar willingly took it over, or Disney is flexing a little muscle to push forward an established franchise.

We have our Luna Lovegood. 14 year old Evanna Lynch beat out 15,000 hopefuls to land the coveted role better known as “Loony”. She’s a major fan, too – her cats are named “Luna” (ironic!) and “Crookshanks”. Also announced: Imelda Staunton (Nanny McPhee, playing Dolores Umbridge), Helen McCrory (Casanova, playing Bellatrix Lestrange), Kathryn Hunter (All or Nothing, playing Mrs. Figg), and Natalia Tena (Mrs. Henderson Presents, as Nymphadora Tonks).

CBBC Newsround is reporting a couple of casting announcements for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The part of Auror and Order member Kingsley Shacklebolt will be played by George Harris – perhaps best known as Katanga, the cargo vessel captain in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Newcomer Robbie Jarvis will take up the part of the young James Potter. No word yet on the results of the Luna Lovegood casting, where an estimated 15,000 girls tried out, but they did cut it down to a mere 400…