Sci-Fi Storm

UPN continues to pick up the cast-offs of others. After paying an un-maker-ly sum per episode for Buffy after the WB said no, they appear set to pick up Roswell, another WB cancellation, according to Variety. Stock in Tabasco has probably risen as well…

X-Files looks set to return for a 9th season, but it appears that negotiations with creator and executive producer Chris Carter are still ongoing. Variety reports that they are ready to promote the two producers to execs if Carter elects not to return.

Menawhile, Reuters reports that David Duchovny (Fox Mulder) may make an occasional cameo, but that will be it. And I remember reading that Gillian Anderson (Dana Scully) wasn’t to thrilled with the idea of another season…

Update: Forgot to mention – the spin-off The Lone Gunmen will not be returning in the fall either…

Foundation Imaging, the original CGI effects house responsible for the first few seasons of Babylon 5, is teaming up with Tribune Entertainment, Microsoft and FASA to develop a MechWarrior series, with D.C. Fontana at the helm. Let’s hope its better than Hypernauts…

Update: shame on me…I forgot to mention that Foundation is currently doing the FX for Voyager and Roughnecks: Starship Trooper Chronicles

VH1 announced some of the guest stars that will appear on Strange Frequency, the upcoming anthology series. They include: Ally Sheedy (Short Circuit), Stuart Margolin (Beggars and Choosers, The Rockford Files), Peter Strauss (Murder on the Orient Express TV movie), Wendie Malick (Cahoots), Patsy Kensit (The Last Don II) and Roger Daltrey (founder of the legendary rock band The Who)

Richard Dean Anderson gave Science Fiction Weekly a few tidbits about the future of Stargate SG-1. Expect more – more effects and more charcter-driven stories. And apparently Sci Fi has picked up rerun rights at some point.

Sci-Fi has announced that Canada-based Gajdecki Visual Effects, the Emmy-nominated and Gemini-winning effects house that’s behind Stargate SG-1 and past efforts Total Recall 2070 and TekWar, will be producing the visual effects for Babylon 5: The Legend of the Rangers.

Variety (via Sci Fi Wire) is reporting that Scott Bakula will star in the CBS pilot Late Boomers, casting doubt about his role as the captain in the new Trek series – but negotiations are still ongoing.

Actor Richard Hatch, Apollo on the original Battlestar Galactica, talked to Sci-Fi Weekly about his feelings on the Singer/DeSanto Galactica revival…

Hollywood Reporter, via Coming Attractions’ Test Pattern, is reporting that UPN has struck a deal with Fox to air the 6th and 7th seasons (44 episodes in all), for a whopping $2.2-2.3 million an episode.

The Sci-Fi Channel released news that production on Babylon 5: The Legend of the Rangers, a two-hour TV movie and pilot for a series, begins production on May 14th. Douglas Netter is back with JMS as executive producers and B5 alum Michael Vejar will direct. Andreas Katsulas will reprise his role as G’Kar as well.