Sci-Fi Storm

Felicia Day, the darling of geek culture since appearing a number of times on Buffy the Vampire Slayers and since then appearing in all sorts of genre media such as web series (Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog and the long-running comedy series The Guild, which she also created) and video games (her character is my current companion in Fallout: New Vegas), announced her next web series creation: Dragon Age: Redemption, a six part series set in the world of BioWare’s Dragon Age video game series. Day will star as Tallis, an elven assassin who goes on a quest to capture a renegade magician. Along the way, she gathers her own fellowship. “She can’t accomplish her mission alone, so finding allies is tricky,” Day says. “The success or failure of the mission will have a big impact on her future and her freedom.”

A gamer herself, she knows that game-to-movie adaptations haven’t gone well (has there really been a good one?) “I put every single effort into making this something that gamers will be proud of. Even though we were constrained a lot as a Web series, none of the people who were involved took that as a constraint. They took that as a challenge.”

Peter Winther (The Librarian: Quest for the Spear) directed.

Dragon Age II, the next installment in the game franchise, comes out March 8th for [asin=B0047TG2R0]XBox 360[/asin], [asin=B0047TLIBU]PS3[/asin] and [asin=B0047THYWC]PC/Mac[/asin].

Warner Premiere (a division of Warner Bros, which specializes in the development and production of both features and digital content for home entertainment platforms) is producing a live-action digital new media series “Mortal Kombat”, based on the iconic gaming franchise which has already spawned multiple arcade and console games, two movies, two TV series and an animated series, and yesterday they announced the initial cast which will include Jeri Ryan (Star Trek: Voyager) as Lieutenant Sonya Blade (reprising her role from the unofficial short film “Mortal Kombat: Rebirth”), Michael Jai White (The Dark Knight) as Major Jackson ‘Jax’ Briggs, and Darren Shahlavi (300) as Kano.

Kevin Tancharoen, who directed and produced the popular, unofficial “Mortal Kombat: Rebirth” fan short that garnered over 10 million views worldwide, is bringing the same immersive directing style to this live-action digital new media series. Fans will be able to delve deep into the history of the warriors they know and love including “Sub-Zero” and “Scorpion.” Shooting for “Mortal Kombat” is currently underway in Vancouver.

In addition to the digital series (details on distribution have not been released yet), a new game will be released on April 19th, 2011, on both the [asin=B003O6E1JS]Playstation 3[/asin] and [asin=B002I0J998]XBox 360[/asin], in Standard, Kollector’s and Tournament Editions. (link fixed for PS3 version)

The original Being Human is branching out on to the web, with a spinoff web series caleld Becoming Human which follows Adam, the teenage vampire that was introduced in the second episode of the current series. Adam becomes involved in a mystery involving a missing teenager. Eight episodes are planned to be released weekly each Sunday, with the first being released this past Sunday.

Alas, US viewers (and I’m guessing anyone outside the UK) are unable to watch the content.

Amanda Tapping, who’s current series Sanctuary started as a web series and she also narrated the recent web series Riese: Kingdom Falling, hopes to again help the success of a web series. She will join William Shatner as a voice on the animated web series The Zenoids, which will be featured on Shatner’s MyOuterSpace social networking site. As such she’ll also be the “Captain” of the Starship Orion, the section of MyOuterSpace who’s mission is to produce The Zenoids through social collaboration.

It’s easier now than ever for independent filmmakers to write and film their movies or TV series, and then place them online. Such a new series is Haywire, a horror/sf series. Here’s the description: “Monroe, New York. A burst of light. Area-wide power outages and the complete failure of all electronic devices. All within line of sight of the burst are affected. Their thought processes scramble and become a never-ending loop. Accomplish what you were doing when you saw the light. Then do it again. And again. And if something gets in your way?”
Their episodes are uploaded at Youtube, as well as being available on their website, and you can also watch them at today’s blog entry at The Thunder Child’s blog, Daily Space:
dailyspace.blogspot.com/2011/01/watch-haywire-indie-sci-fihorror-series.html

Ed Glaser writes “”Space Ninja,” a new 10 x 3-minute animated web series produced by Dark Maze Studios, will premiere next year on the studio’s website, www.darkmaze.com.

Described as equal parts Kurosawa and B-grade kung fu films (in space), the series follows a cybernetic ninja who is betrayed by his master and must protect a feudalistic society of spaceship dwellers from a sadistic demon lord.

The concept began as an online comic book by artist and series creator Alex Mitchell. Producer Ed Glaser explains, “the idea was incredible and the artwork was fantastic. I had never seen anything like it: a robotic ninja wreaking havoc in an enormous space temple! Before the first issue of the comic was even finished I was begging Alex to create an animated version.”

“Space Ninja” also features original music by film composer Chuck Cirino (“Deathstalker II,” “Komodo vs. Cobra”).

For more information about the series and to sign up for the newsletter, visit the official website at www.darkmaze.com/spaceninja.”

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Two hopeful announcements at least…the sequel to Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog appears to be moving along, with Nathan Fillion saying a title has been chosen and now co-writer Zack Whedon saying that they will be able to get seriously underway after production wrap for Dollhouse – and it looks like everyone is on board. On the other side of the Atlantic, Russell T. Davies says that despite the recession hitting British TV, he believes that more Torchwood would likely get under way in January.

Sarah J Giannantonio writes “New animation, new music and new rap influences (Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, Digital Underground, The Beastie Boys, Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock,Public Enemy) update the cult original with over 10 million plays Star War Gangsta Rap (and special edition) by Bent TV.

http://www.atom.com/funny_videos/sw_gangsta_rap_chronicles/“

To coincide with the upcoming release of Terminator Salvation in movie theaters, a new bridge between the computer/console game and the movie is taking the form of an online Machinima series. This 6 episode series follows the character of Blair Williams over the two-year gap between game and movie. Director McG was heavily involved with the production as well. Read More to catch the trailer (in HD) and the preview of the first episode. Update: Each episode will be available for download on iTunes.

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The free fan-made film The Hunt For Gollum had its release on May 3rd…getting nearly 250,000 views in the first 24 hours – and brought the servers down for a couple of hours. Reports are very positive though…now I just need to set the time to watch it myself…