23 years of this site still chugging along...
Kevin Smith developing a space comedy
by Doc on Oct.17, 2008, under Movies
It is scant on details, but writer/director Kevin Smith (Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back) is developing a space comedy, his first SF film, which will revolve around a father-son relationship and pay homage to other SF films. Update 10/21: Smith is downplaying the report, saying that he frequently mentions wanting to do it…
New Red Dwarf on the way
by Doc on Oct.17, 2008, under Television
This is actually old news, but I got curious to find out the latest on what is happening with Red Dwarf since it has been so long. I did find this: although funding for the hoped-for movie as not materialized, they will be producing 4 TV episodes – two “proper” episodes, and two related programs. One will be a behind the scenes special, and the other, according to Robert Llewellyn (Kryten), “…is so exciting I’ve been asked not to say anything about that because other people will steal the idea – and it is a great idea, quite challenging for us as performers.”
Beginning of the end for Galactica starts Jan 16th
by Doc on Oct.16, 2008, under Television
Michael Ausiello appears to have broken the news first, but SCI FI Channel has officially confirmed that the final episodes of Battlestar Galactica will air over 10 weeks starting January 16th
Images of new Trek released to the Net
by Doc on Oct.16, 2008, under Movies
Various images relating to the new J.J. Abrams Star Trek movie are appearing around the web. Two notable ones are attached to an interview in Entertainment Weekly (including the cover photo), along with collections of photos over at TrekMovie.com. From the looks of it, this is going to be a re-imagining (like with Battlestar Galactica), with some elements severely updated (like the bridge), and stretching if not breaking existing canon.
MileHiCon 40 – Oct. 24-26, 2008
by Doc on Oct.15, 2008, under General News
Emily Epstein writes “MileHiCon, the Rocky Mountain Region’s largest literary science fiction convention will be celebrating its 40th anniversary October 24-26 at the Hyatt Regency Tech Center-Denver. Run entirely by volunteers, MileHiCon will feature more than 80 authors and speakers, programming on every aspect of the science fiction and fantasy genres, the largest science fiction/fantasy art show
in the region, round-the-clock gaming, 19 dealers of science fiction-, fantasy-, and horror-related materials, and a masquerade (costume contest). The convention will also feature video and anime rooms, plus a special programming track especially for children (but grownups are welcome too). The Critter Crunch, the first robotic combat competition from which all others came, will be held on Sunday, and its younger aquatic sibling, the Critter Flotilla, will be held Friday night.” Read More for more details.
Cheadle to take over Rhodes/War Machine in Iron Man 2
by Doc on Oct.14, 2008, under Movies
Don Cheadle (Ocean’s Eleven and sequels) will take over the role of Jim Rhodes in the upcoming Iron Man 2. Played by Terrence Howard in the first movie, the character within the comic mythos becomes War Machine, using another suit of armor created by Stark, although there is no indication that will happen in the sequel. Howard and Marvel apparently disagreed on financial arrangements, and Marvel had interest in working with Cheadle. I’ve been impressed with Cheadle and his various roles, so this may be a move in the right direction.
Ridley Scott acquires rights to The Forever War
by Doc on Oct.13, 2008, under Movies
Sir Ridley Scott, who has not directed an SF film since 1982’s Blade Runner (and prior to that 1979’s Alien) has acquired the rights to Joe Haldeman’s 1974 novel, The Forever War. Scott originally wanted to make the movie after Blade Runner, but the rights had already been acquired by Richard Edlund (visual effects guy for the original Star Wars trilogy and won an Oscar for Raiders Of The Lost Ark), who still held them until selling them to Scott. Scott still has a busy queue in front of him, so it remains to be seen if this makes it off the shelf.
Rama is dead, according to Fincher
by Doc on Oct.13, 2008, under Movies
Rendezvous With Rama, which Morgan Freeman has been trying to get off the shelf for years, may have fallen into the trashbin, according to David Fincher, who was attached to direct. Apparently a script never materialized, although it sounded hopeful last December. Rama, Ringworld, even Halo…seems we may never get to see a good vision of a megastructure epic…
V miniseries remake on the boards at ABC
by Doc on Oct.10, 2008, under Television
[sfs=49]V[/sfs], the 1983 miniseries which acted as a thinly-veiled allegory to Nazi Germany (and spawned a [sfs=203]second mini-series[/sfs] and short lived [sfs=424]TV series[/sfs]), is planned for reimagining by Warner Brothers and ABC. Scott Peters (The 4400) is writing and exec producing the update, which will not use the original allegory concept, but focus on the results when people blindly follow their leaders. Kenneth Johnson, who created the original and has been trying to get a new version off the ground, is not involved in this project.
Iron Man sets records with DVD and Blu-Ray releases
by Doc on Oct.09, 2008, under General News
Iron Man, which was released on DVD and Blu-Ray last week, is breaking sales records, selling 7.2 million DVDs and 500,000 BDs to set this year’s best first week tallies, along with the best Blu-Ray Day 1 sales at 250k units.