Sci-Fi Storm

The first trailer for The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is available at Yahoo! Movies, along with some concept art for the movie. The movie is due out next May. Update 11/16: Sorry, I should have been more specific – this is the teaser trailer – no footage.

Next Tuesday, November 16th, Universal releases the Unrated Director’s Cut of the Vin Diesel vehicle The Chronicles of Riddick, the semi-sequel to Pitch Black (also available in Unrated Director’s Cut). This version includes 10 (or 15, depending on if you read the press release or the jacket) of footage, plus additional deleted scenes, Toombs’ Chase Log, and even the first level of the XBox game! Check out the DVD trailer (Windows Media: 128k 300k 700k), and the Escape from Cermatoria Flash game just released! I hope to have a review this weekend.

Robin Rowe writes “I saw this movie screened by IFP at the L.A. Film School last week and was impressed. It’s a great “heavy thinking” sci-fi film about a startup that unintentionally invents time travel. Well produced and shot with film despite small budget. http://primermovie.com/ In limited distribution through Landmark. http://www.landmarktheatres.com/Films/films_frames et.asp?id=39929“ Primer won the Dramatic Grand Jury prize at this years Sundance Film Festival.

According to this AP report (SPOILER WARNING – do not read last paragraph if you have not read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix!!), J.K. Rowling said in reponse to a question on her web site that another character will die in the next book, but of course is mum on the details.

Michael Eisner, while talking at an investment conference in Manhattan, said Disney is working on simultaneous production on two new Toy Story sequels, and Pixar apparently isn’t involved. Pixar had right of first refusal for any sequels to films produced under the Disney/Pixar partnership, so they must have passed on them. No further details were released.

Yahoo! Movies has the world premiere of the trailer for Robots, the new Fox CGI animated move starring Ewen McGregor (Star Wars), Halle Berry (Catwoman), Robin Williams (Bicentennial Man) and Mel Brooks (Spaceballs)

Mel Brooks has mentioned that he is working on a sequel to the cult-favorite spoof Spaceballs, mentioning that he’s writing himself in to reprise the role of Yoghurt, the master of the Schwartz. He’s aiming to have it out around the time Star Wars Episode III is released.

Seems Frank Darabont is no longer working on Mission: Impossible 3. Frank penned three versions of the script, but now that J.J. Abrams (Alias) has taken over, he will have his own team working on the script. Not to worry about his paycheck, though: he’s planning to write and direct The Mist, based on a short novel by Stephen King, as well as direct a remake of the Ray Bradbury classic Farenheit 451.

AtomFilms and Lucasfilm have joined again to do the 2005 Star Wars Fan Film Awards, so get you video cameras rolling. Check out the past winners, and also Star Wars Gangsta Rap: The Special Edition.

The official website for Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, the long awaited anime sequel, has been updated, including an interview with Writer/Director Mamoru Oshii, and a full list of where you can see it when it opens in Friday 9/17. GITS2 features a hybrid of traditional 2D anime with 3D CGI.

Updated 9/15: The first 8 minutes of the movie are now available at iFilm.