Sci-Fi Storm

There are news reports all over the Net about Gillian Anderson and the X-Files. It is well known that her current contract ends with the 9th season. Early reports were that she wouldn’t renew, and it would probably be the end of the X-Files altogether, since Chris Carter has also said he won’t return. Now her manager is doing a 180, and saying she is at least open to the idea of more, if is gets renewed…can the series survive without either of its major stars?

dugh writes “there is a story on scifi.com about a new dune miniseries being written. it is an interview with the script writer and can be found here.” I was about to post on this, but he beat me to it. we knew about the sequel series, but now there is an interview to go with it, and the fact that it will be a combo of Children of Dune and Dune Messiah…

The Hollywood Reporter says that Dennis Hopper (Apocalypse Now) will star as Mr. Smith, the mysterious controller of fourth-dimension world of Flatland, a proposed SF action series. It will also star Bumper Robinson (Behind Enemy Lines, Enemy Mine), Phillip Rhys (Zenon: The Zequel), Francoise Yip (Romeo Must Die), Katherine Kendall (Dark Tides) and Liam Waite (Ghosts of Mars). I haven’t read the book Flatland but it doesn’t appear related…

JMS just posted to rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated an update of all the things he’s been working on. Rather than post the whole thing, here’s the highlights: His second TV project, which he still can’t name, has had the schedule moved up – and now he regrets not being able to make the San Diego ComicCon, which he traditionally goes to; the producer’s cut of Rangers is in hand and being sent to the network; Talks have resumed on the 3rd TV project; Delicate Creatures from Top Cow will be out in September in bookstores; Summoning Light, book two of the Techno-Mage trilogy by Jeanne Cavelos is due in a couple of days ([asin=034542722X]order now from Amazon.com[/asin]); and releases of Rising Stars and Midnight Nation may be delayed a bit…

Sci-Fi Wire has a report from Dan Angel and Billy Brown, who will be running the new Galactica show, that we will be reviving some familiar characters – but are not saying who just yet, since things are still in development. As for the show itself? According to Brown, “It does take place in a not-so-distant future from the end of the old show…It’s going to be a sprawling, family saga that is set amongst the travails and adventures of the human colony.”

Update 6/29: Fox has confirmed ordering a two-hour movie as a pilot for the series, which would be planned for the 2002-2003 TV season…

In the strange world of television as it now exists, keeping track of when television shows start their seasons is getting harder and harder. Witness Stargate SG-1 – Season 5 starts this Friday (6/29) at 10:00pm EDT with “Enemies”.

Update 6/29: Sci-Fi Wire has a piece about the 5th season from producer Brad Wright. Things to look forward to – a 100th episode that is in a sense a self-parody of the series, and a two parter where all the Goa’uld System Lords get together against SG-1…