Sci-Fi Storm

A new book entitled The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film is sure to refresh memories – and perhaps repair a few faulty ones belonging to the people involved. The book recounts interviews given by the principals involved in the making of Star Wars – A New Hope, including the studio budget cuts, casting, and location filming. Also things like Han Solo as a green, gilled monster. No mention on the fabled “9 films”.

MGM has released a list of SF titles coming straight to DVD. Mentioned are the two Stargate SG-1 releases “Continuum” and “Ark of Truth”, but no release dates. In addition, another Species sequel called Species: The Awakening, The WarGames sequel we’ve mentioned before almost 2 years ago called Wargames: The Dead Code (no idea if the plot survives), and a film based on the Showtime series Dead Like Me.

There are two remakes on the horizon. First, the SCI FI Channel is bringing back Flash Gordon to series TV, starring Eric Johnson (Smallville) in the title role. More surprising, and more daring, is a remake of the classic The Day The Earth Stood Still, and is is reported that Scott Derrickson (The Exorcism of Emily Rose) will direct for Fox.

Author Kurt Vonnegut, who wrote some famous works such as Slaughterhouse-Five and Cat?s Cradle, passed away yesterday at the age of 84. He had suffered serious brain injuries in a fall a few weeks ago.

TheThunderChild writes “John Kenneth Muir is the author of over a dozen film and TV reference books, including a couple on Space: 1999, as well as Battlestar Galactica, Doctor Who and One Step Beyond. He has moved into the realm of writer, producer and director of his own online SF/Horror TV series, The House Between (inspired by Jean-Paul Sartre’s No Exit). John graciously agreed to an interview with The Thunder Child, and you can read all about his creation of The House Between at http://thethunderchild.com/Interviews/People/JohnM uir/Photos/MuirInterview.html. And there’s a link there to The House Between website, where you can watch the episodes. It’s a fascinating interview and a fun project, so please check it out.”

A few updates to the Sci-Fi TV Store: The Dead Zone: Season 5 (Released June 5); MacGyver: The Complete Series (Released April 10); and The Lost Room, which comes out this Tuesday (and a review coming soon). And don’t forget, that also on June 5th is the release of the Doctor Who episodes that transition from Tom Baker to Peter Davison: The Keeper of Traken, Logopolis and Castrovalva, which will also be release as a New Beginnings three-pack.

You may have heard that the USPS was deploying a number of mailboxes dressed up as R2-D2 in major cities – and now here is the reason. A stamp set featuring Luke, Yoda, Darth Vader and others from all six movies is being released by the USPS. These don’t appear to be the “forever” stamps recently announced, but standard 41 cent stamps.

The Official Highlander Message Board is reporting that producer Bill Panzer, one half of the producing team that did the Highlander films and movies, has passed away. The news and a tribute also appear on Adrian Paul’s website.

Scott Laming writes ” I just wanted to let you know that AbeBooks just launched a contest where we are going to give a pair of SF&F fans a weekend at the Nebula Awards in New York. A pair of banquet tickets and two nights in the event hotel will go to the winner. The contest is free and open to everyone, I thought your readers might want a shot at going. All the details about the event and the contest are at the link below. Thanks and good luck =).

http://www.abebooks.com/docs/ScienceFiction/nebula -contest.shtml“

TheThunderChild writes “Radio drama in the United States ended in 1962, but has been going strong in England for decades. Including science fiction drama. The Thunder Child has just interviewed Simon Bovey, author of the 5-part serials “Voice of God” (a sonic weapon falls into the wrong hands) and “Cold Blood” (a scientist in Antarctica experiments on himself), and the short sf film, “The UnGone,” about the side-effects of matter transportation. Bovey is a great interview, with lots of insight into writing and sf. Enjoy! http://thethunderchild.com/RadioDrama/BBC7/SimonBo vey/SimonBovey.html“