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Another live-action Star Wars series following Rogue One‘s Cassian Andor
by Doc on Nov.08, 2018, under Television
Another live-action series for Star Wars? Yes! Bob Iger, Disney Chairman and CEO, announced today that Lucasfilm is developing a second live-action series (the first being The Mandalorian), which will air through Disney+, the upcoming streaming service.
The subject? Rogue One‘s resident rebel spy, Cassian Andor, who will be played once again by Diego Luna. The series will deal with the early era of the Rebellion and the events prior to Rogue One. “Going back to the Star Wars universe is very special for me,” said Luna. “I have so many memories of the great work we did together and the relationships I made throughout the journey. We have a fantastic adventure ahead of us, and this new exciting format will give us the chance to explore this character more deeply.”
According to StarWars.com, the rousing spy thriller will explore tales filled with espionage and daring missions to restore hope to a galaxy in the grip of a ruthless Empire. A release date for the series has not yet been announced. Stay tuned to StarWars.com for the latest updates.
A talk with Gary Morgenstein, author of A Mound Over Hell
by Doc on Nov.07, 2018, under Books
Gary Morgenstein’s A Mound Over Hell is possibly unique among science fiction novels that include a sport. In most cases, such as the movie Rollerball (itself based on a short story), the sport in question is often invented for the story, or otherwise altered to fit a futuristic setting – say, zero-G football. But in this story, baseball as we know it – or at least, knew it – is central to the plot, while also blending science fiction, history and political threads in to a cohesive whole. It’s not a book about baseball. It’s not a book about politics. But it IS a book about all of it. And it blends it all well, which isn’t an easy feat.
It is nearing the end of the 21st century, and America is devastated after having essentially lost World War 3 against the Muslim Caliphate, which now controls most of Europe. A new society has formed, based on the concept of the Family and led by Grandma, has arisen while any show of patriotism to the old country is now illegal. There is no welfare system – people who fail in society now live in Disappointment Villages, seeking to work their way back out.
Baseball, the “national pastime”, is one of the last vestiges of patriotism, and it is having its last season, played in the bombed-out remains of Amazon Stadium (formerly Yankee Stadium), with holographic baserunners and fielders, and a handful of indifferent “fans” in the seats. Puppy Nedick, the last baseball historian, is covering the final season and mulling his future. But then one night he finds a strange visitor in his apartment – a man purporting to be Mickey Mantle. Yes, THE Mickey Mantle. And a few days later, Ty Cobb shows up. And even Mooshie Lopez, the greatest player ever. But how could they all be here, for the last season of baseball, since all of them were dead?
I’ve known Gary for almost 10 years – we first met when he was the director of public relations at Syfy – so when we got to talk recently, we’d reminisce about press tours, scotch, and the Red Sox vs. Yankees – he grew up in the shadow of Yankee Stadium, while I’m a denizen of Fenway Park…but we did manage to talk about the book, and after talking about it I want to read it again!
Doc: So when we met, you were working as Syfy director of communications. But you were a writer, first and foremost before that, and had some novels.
Gary: This is my fifth novel. It’s my first science fiction novel. I wrote a science fiction musical off Broadway a few years ago called The Anthem, so yes, I always had a shadow life. I’d do the corporate world, and then I would come home and I’d write. Write on weekends or in the morning, or when other people went out for lunch and enjoy themselves, I close my office door and wrote.
No Doctor Who for Christmas this year…but will return for New Years
by Doc on Nov.03, 2018, under Television
It’s official – there will be no Doctor Who Christmas episode this year. A tradition since the show returned in 2005, it will not happen this year, and the reason is simply they seem to have run out of ideas.
After all, we’ve had alien invasions, a Spaceship Titanic, cybermen, evil snowmen, and more – and even said goodbye to the last two Doctors all on Christmas Day.
“I sort of think we might have mined, and possibly over mined, every single thing we could about Christmas in Doctor Who and the last time we more or less ignored it,” according to new showrunner Chris Chibnall.
But don’t fret too long – there will still be an extra episode, it will just happen on New Years Day instead, with a storyline that will help ring in the 2019. So maybe a new tradition is born?
‘Desilu Studios’ sued by CBS
by Doc on Nov.01, 2018, under Movies, Television
Remember that story about the Desilu Studios name being revived when someone acquired the name rights and was going to reboot V?
Well, we now doubt it is going to happen.
Apparently Charles B. Hensley, who announced he had acquired the Desilu Studios name earlier this year, apparently has a shady past including a conviction for selling a bird flu vaccine that was never approved by the FDA. And now CBS has accused him in a lawsuit for using the Desilu name to dupe investors into his shell companies, and not actually using the name for legitimate purposes, as well as creating a false valuation letter claiming the company was worth $11.2 billion. His Desilu Studios and Desilu Corporation did not obtain the catalog of original Desilu productions, which are wholly owned by CBS through it’s acquisition of Paramount.
This might be interesting to see how it pans out.
Warner Bros shifts Wonder Woman 1984 to 2020, pulls Six Billion Dollar Man for now
by Doc on Oct.22, 2018, under Movies
Warner Bros has decided to push back the release of Wonder Woman 1984 back to June 5th, 2020, from its original release date of November 1st, 2019. This gives more clearance for its comic cousin movie, the Joachin Phoenix-starrer Joker, which opens October 4th, and also puts Wonder Woman back at the start of the summer movie season, where it had opened previously.
The slot had previously been occupied by the long-in-development Six Million Dollar Man, with Mark Wahlberg set to star, but it is currently pulled from the release schedule while they still seek a director.
Notes and News Roundup: Doctor Who; James Gunn and Suicide Squad 2
by Doc on Oct.10, 2018, under Movies, Television
Just wanted to give a bit of an update…I know there hasn’t been a lot of news from me lately, and I apologize. Life has been extremely busy, and as part of that I’ve started a new project – not really related to anything here, it’s actually a technical project involving turning a Raspberry Pi computer into a weather information system and hopefully a home “integration” system. I haven’t even posted anything about that yet because I’ve been too busy…but it has lights, a touch screen, and it even talks.
In the meantime Sci-Fi Storm turned 18 years old, and I’m at least hoping to make it old enough to drink 🙂
I do have an interview coming I did with an old friend, which I hope to have out this weekend – but transcribing is a slow process for me, and that whole busy thing…and I’ll be heading to Super Megafest in Framingham, MA Sunday to meet up with my childhood, personified by Lost In Space stars Mark Goddard, Marta Kristen, Angela Cartwright and Bill Mumy…I’ve met the former two before, but this will be the first time I’ve met the latter two.
In the meantime – hey, look, it’s the news!
Jodie Whittaker made her Doctor debut in Doctor Who on Sunday as did new showrunner Chris Chibnall, and by all measurements it was a rousing success. We found her portrayal wonderfully manic, and we accept her totally. I can see where her fast Yorkshire speech might be some trouble to understand for some viewers though. And we like the new ensemble of companions as well. Can’t wait to see where it goes…in the U.S., it scored 1.4 million viewers and a 0.5 rating in the 18-49 demo for BBC America, up 48% from the Series 12 premiere, Peter Capaldi’s last, 18 months previous. It also beats David Tennant’s and Matt Smith’s debuts.
And some interesting news – James Gunn, after being unceremoniously expelled from his Guardians of the Galaxy chair by Disney after revelations of some old controversial tweets, appears set to join the other comic universe – in this case the DC universe, and in particular write and perhaps direct Suicide Squad 2. Gavin O’Connor was set to direct but is now working with Ben Affleck on a non-DC film at Warner Bros. This would seem to mean any possible reconciliation between Gunn and Disnwy is over, although who will take over for Guardians is still up in the air.
Scott Wilson of The Walking Dead, 1942-2018
by Doc on Oct.07, 2018, under Obituaries
I woke up this morning to this sad news: actor Scott Wilson, who played Hershel Greene, the father and calming voice in the group in The Walking Dead for a few seasons, passed away last night at the age of 76.
We are deeply saddened to report that Scott Wilson, the incredible actor who played Hershel on #TheWalkingDead, has passed away at the age of 76. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. Rest in paradise, Scott. We love you! pic.twitter.com/guNI7zSqDZ
— The Walking Dead (@TheWalkingDead) October 7, 2018
Wilson played many other roles over the course of 50 years, most recently in the series Damien and The OA. The role I remember him most aside from The Walking Dead was a Pa, the patriarch of the Angel family, scavengers and cannibals in the Cursed Earth in 1995’s Judge Dredd.
He was at a convention in Rhode Island a few years back. I didn’t get to meet him because his line was so long, the convention staff had no idea how to handle it, as it was longer than most of their headlining guests, but he greeted everyone with a smile and will remembered as a very kind and friendly person.
Chris Evans bids farewell to Captain America
by Doc on Oct.04, 2018, under Movies
Captain America is hanging up his shield.
Actor Chris Evans said farewell in a tweet today:
“Officially wrapped on Avengers 4. It was an emotional day to say the least. Playing this role over the last 8 years has been an honor. To everyone in front of the camera, behind the camera, and in the audience, thank you for the memories! Eternally grateful.”
Officially wrapped on Avengers 4. It was an emotional day to say the least. Playing this role over the last 8 years has been an honor. To everyone in front of the camera, behind the camera, and in the audience, thank you for the memories! Eternally grateful.
— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) October 4, 2018
Details of live-action Star Wars series from Jon Favreau – The Mandalorian
by Doc on Oct.03, 2018, under Television
We finally have some details – and a title – on the upcoming Star Wars live-action series from Jon Favreau, thanks to the director himself.
The Mandalorian will be the title, and as you might guess it follows a Mandalorian – but not one of the few we’ve met so far. “After the stories of Jango and Boba Fett, another warrior emerges in the Star Wars universe. The Mandalorian is set after the fall of the Empire and before the emergence of the First Order. We follow the travails of a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy far from the authority of the New Republic,” according to Favreau’s Instagram post.
Still no idea when the series may premiere, but it will be on Disney’s new streaming service, which won’t kick off for about another year.
Netflix to revive The Chronicles of Narnia
by Doc on Oct.03, 2018, under Movies, Television
In a surprise announcement today, Netflix will produce a new films and series based on The Chronicles of Narnia stories by C.S. Lewis, with Mark Gordon of Entertainment One (eOne), Douglas Gresham (Lewis’ stepson) and Vincent Sieber representing the C.S. Lewis Company as executive producers for series and producers for films.
“C.S. Lewis’ beloved Chronicles of Narnia stories have resonated with generations of readers around the world,” said Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer, Netflix. “Families have fallen in love with characters like Aslan and the entire world of Narnia, and we’re thrilled to be their home for years to come.”
“It is wonderful to know that folks from all over are looking forward to seeing more of Narnia, and that the advances in production and distribution technology have made it possible for us to make Narnian adventures come to life all over the world,” said Douglas Gresham, stepson of C.S. Lewis. “Netflix seems to be the very best medium with which to achieve this aim, and I am looking forward to working with them towards this goal.”
“Narnia is one of those rare properties that spans multiple generations and geographies,” said Mark Gordon, eOne’s President and Chief Content Officer, Film & Television. “eOne and I are excited to be collaborating with The C.S. Lewis Company and Netflix who have the capacity to translate the Narnia universe into both stellar feature-length and episodic programming. We cannot wait to get started on the multiple productions we hope to undertake.”
Exactly how things will break down between series and films is not immediately known. How this affects the planned Silver Chair adaptation, which had Mark Gordon attached via his Mark Gordon Company and set up at Sony, is also unknown, but it would appear that any continuation from the previous films as produced by Walden Media is dead, and this would more than likely be a true reboot and logically restart with The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.