Sci-Fi Storm

Here is a little mini-review from my first viewing of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 – I’d like to see it again before doing a full review.
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In a quick followup to our previous article about Daniel Radcliffe saying he did not want to see more Harry Potter, Radcliffe told MTV News at the NYC premiere for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 he received a text from J.K. Rowling that told him that she would not make any more Harry Potter films, “as a reward”. I’ll note that this does not say that she won’t write any more Harry Potter books, and certainly does not preclude more stories in the Wizarding World…

In the “I don’t think this movie is ever getting made” dept: THR’s Heat Vision blog just reported that Carl Rinsch is out as Logan’s Run helmer, now that Universal has given a go to 47 Ronin. Rinsch was attached earlier this year, following a long line over the last several years of development. Warner Bros. is currently looking for another director and say the script from Alex Garland is “strong”, so there is still a chance…

Oscar-winning producer Dino De Laurentiis, who produced over 150 movies including Dune and Flash Gordon, passed away yesterday. His daughter, producer Rafaella De Laurentiis, released a statement: “Dino De Laurentiis, patriarch of the De Laurentiis family, Academy Award-winning producer and film legend, died on Wednesday, November 10, 2010 at 10PM (PST) at his home in Beverly Hills, California surrounded by family. He was 91.”

It seems that Daniel Radcliffe may not have been pleased to hear that author J.K. Rowling could write more Harry Potter books (she mentioned the possibility on Oprah last month). “Oh God, she promised me categorically that there wouldn’t be another book involving Harry,” he said in an interview with Sky News. “I think 10 years is a long time to spend with one character.” I suppose it would depend on what stories she wanted to tell, though….obviously if its going back to a younger Harry, he probably wouldn’t be in the movie – if a movie were to even be made.

Interesting – Roland Emmerich’s latest project, a low budget sci-fi found-footage flick called The Zone, has been shut down, just a week before filming was to begin. And one factor may have been the Weinstein Company’s announcement Sunday of Apollo 18, which was targeted to open just before The Zone, and is based on the same “found footage” concept that has been popular lately.

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.

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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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)