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Check out these cool character posters for Star Wars: The Force Awakens!
by Doc on Nov.04, 2015, under Movies
Check out these cool character posters released today for Star Wars: The Force Awakens – five characters each holding their weapon (except Leia, whose weapon appears to be information/strategy)…pretty awesome!
You can see the crackle and sparks to Kylo Ren’s lightsaber – perhaps betraying a less refined origin…
Syfy will give a prelinear premiere for The Expanse across streaming and VOD services
by Doc on Nov.04, 2015, under Television
Three weeks prior to the premiere of Syfy’s new ambitious series The Expanse on the network, the first episode will be available on a variety of VOD, TV Everywhere and digital platforms on November 23rd. The series, from Alcon Television Group, premieres on Syfy itself with a two-night premiere Monday, December 14 and Tuesday, December 15 at 10/9c, and continues on Tuesdays at 10/9c for the remainder of the season.
Said Dave Howe, President, Syfy: “The Expanse is the most ambitious series ever for Syfy, and early screenings are drawing high praise from critics and fans alike. With its cinematic feel, compelling characters, intense action and universal themes, it’s important for Syfy to provide the opportunity for as many people as possible to watch and fall in love with this series.”
Starting November 23 and available through the series’ Syfy premiere on December 14, The Expanse’s first episode can be viewed via Syfy On Demand, Syfy.com, the Syfy Now App, Hulu, Amazon, Google Play, Vudu, iTunes, Playstation, Xbox, Facebook and YouTube.
Additionally, Syfy has partnered with Twitch, Wikia, IGN, IMDb, Good Reads, Crave Online and Roku to host the series premiere with original custom content.
Set 200 years in the future, The Expanse follows the case of a missing young woman that brings a hardened detective (Thomas Jane, Hung) and a rogue ship’s captain (Steven Strait, Magic City) together in a race across the solar system that will expose the greatest conspiracy in human history. The series is based on the New York Times bestselling book series collectively known as The Expanse, written by Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck (under the pen name James S. A. Corey).
Emmy® winner and Oscar nominee Shohreh Aghdashloo (House of Saddam, House of Sand and Fog) also stars as Chrisjen Avasarala. Rounding out the cast are Dominique Tipper (Vampire Academy), Cas Anvar (Olympus), Wes Chatham (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay) and Florence Faivre (The Following). Paulo Costanzo (Royal Pains), Chad Coleman (The Walking Dead) and Jay Hernandez (Suicide Squad) will appear as guest stars throughout the series’ first season.
Academy Award-nominated screenwriting duo Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby (Alfonso Cuaron’s Children of Men, Iron Man) wrote the pilot and serve as writers, as well as executive producers and showrunners. Executive producer Naren Shankar (CSI, Farscape) joins Fergus and Ostby as showrunners. Award-winning director Terry McDonough (Breaking Bad, Suits, Better Call Saul) directed the first two episodes of the series.
BBC One orders series based on Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials
by Doc on Nov.04, 2015, under Television
BBC One has given a green light to an ambitious series based on the rich universe of Philip Pullman’s [asin=0375847227]His Dark Materials trilogy[/asin].
The series follow the young orphan Lyra Belacqua, who exists in a parallel world to our own where each person’s inner self, called a daemon, has physical form outside their bodies in the form of a sentient animal. Their form can vary when the person is young but eventually take a single form as they grow older. Lyra and her daemon Pantalaimon (who has not yet fixed form) discover Dust, a strange particle that was being researched by her uncle, Lord Asriel, and may hold the key to travel around the multiverse.
The first book of the series, Northern Lights (a.k.a. The Golden Compass in the U.S.) was turned into a feature film in 2007 starring Daniel Craig and Nicole Kidman. However, the film suffered from starting in a world that needed a lot of exposition while trying to move the story forward at a rapid pace in limited time, as well as calls to boycott the film over the portrayal of parallel versions of the Catholic Church in the books (which was altered for the film to be less specific). It was a box office disappointment in the U.S. although internationally fared well, but it was decided not to press on with a sequel.
Production will take place in Wales for BBC One. Executive producers are Pullman, Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner for Bad Wolf; Toby Emmerich and Carolyn Blackwood for New Line; Bethan Jones for BBC One and Deborah Forte for Scholastic.
Fox commits to Greatest American Hero remake pilot
by Doc on Nov.02, 2015, under Television
Believe it or not…but Fox has given a pilot production commitment for the Greatest American Hero remake – again. Last summer Fox gave a put pilot commitment, but it appears it didn’t take off, much like the main character (sorry…), so they are trying again, this time with Dope‘s Rick Famuyiwa writing and directing. Phil Lord, Chris Miller and Tawnia McKiernan are still executive producing along with Seth Cohen, for 20th Century Fox TV.
The original show followed a teacher (William Katt) who stumbles upon an suit of alien origin that gives the wearer super powers, but he soon loses the instruction manual and struggles to be a superhero while also teaching, and working with his federal agent handler (Robert Culp). A casting director has been hired to find a new lead for the series.
Alex Kurtzman to bring Star Trek back to the small (and tiny) screens
by Doc on Nov.02, 2015, under Television
With Star Trek ready to celebrate its 50th year in 2016, CBS has finally pulled the trigger on a new Star Trek series. But it won’t be for a traditional TV network, or even syndication.
The untitled series will debut on the CBS broadcast network sometime in January 2017, that will only serve as a launching pad to CBS All Access, it’s recently launched streaming service.
Details of the show have not been released, but it is known that it will not feature the classic characters, who are still involved in the film franchise.
Alex Kurtzman, who has been shepherding the film franchise, will executive produce the new series for CBS Television Studios, with Heather Kadin from Kurtzman/Orci Paper Products, the shingle Kurtzman and long time producer partner Roberto Orci set up at CBS Studios. Orci is not expected to be involved.
According to David Stapf, CBS Television Studios President, “There is no better time to give Star Trek fans a new series than on the heels of the original show’s 50th anniversary celebration. Everyone here has great respect for this storied franchise, and we’re excited to launch its next television chapter in the creative mind and skilled hands of Alex Kurtzman, someone who knows this world and its audience intimately.”
Unfortunately this trend towards streaming services could leave the world of television fractured. Having to pay for streaming services piecemeal at $6-10 a pop is going to get complicated and confusing, and potentially more expensive than traditional cable.
Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War Of The Worlds
by Doc on Oct.30, 2015, under Fun Stuff, Video/DVD
In honor of the original radio broadcast of H.G. Wells’ The War Of The Worlds, here is the audio of my favorite rock opera, which is an impressive adaptation of the original story in music. And if you think the music is awesome, you need to see the concert…it is UNBELIEVABLE.
However, I do apologize in advance…some of these songs will stick in your head. But it’s a brave new world…
The Walking Dead gets seventh season renewal
by Doc on Oct.30, 2015, under Television
What took so long? They’re what, 3 episodes into the sixth season? 🙂
AMC, which typically doesn’t wait to renew shows, gave The Walking Dead a seventh season today, two days prior the Episode 4 of the sixth season where we were already handed a cliffhanger last Sunday. Episode 3 took in 18.2 million viewers.
The Talking Dead, the aftershow hosted by Chris Hardwick, also has been renewed.
Maisie Williams will appear in another Doctor Who episode
by Doc on Oct.27, 2015, under Television
[WARNING: Marked Spoiler below for the two recent Doctor Who episodes]
It’s really not surprising given the way they’ve set up her character, but Maisie Williams is not done yet with her appearances on Doctor Who.
The Game Of Thrones star just recently appeared in the double episodes “The Girl Who Died” and “The Woman Who Lived” as the Viking girl Ashildr who the Doctor [SPOILER ALERT]makes immortal to save her life, and later encounters her in 17th Century England, and sees what she has become.[END SPOILERS]
Williams will return in the 10th episode, “Face The Raven”, according to writer Sarah Dollard speaking at a panel at MCM London Comic Con, where showrunner Steven Moffat also insisted that Williams is not becoming the new companion with the upcoming departure of Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman). However, it seems apparent that she is set up as a recurring character, ala Captain Jack Harkness and River Song. In fact, in the Doctor even addressed the issue of Harkness, the other character that became immortal because of the Doctor, in “The Woman Who Lived”, informing Ashildr (now going by “Me”) that she may come across him in the future.
Fun fact – the Doctor even made a deeper reference to the Great Fire of London – which in the episode “The Visitation” during the Fifth Doctor’s reign was started by the Terileptils. “The Visitation” is currently available on Netflix.
The Martian: The Best Worst Day At Work Movie
by Doc on Oct.26, 2015, under Movies
I finally got to see The Martian this weekend thanks to several hours free in the middle of my non-stop schedule lately, with nothing to do while trapped in Boston.
I described Gravity as “the worst work day ever”. But it was relentless – a constant series of just bad things happening that just somehow impossibly not end up killing the protagonist. Great visuals, but TOO intense and non-stop.
The Martian is Gravity done a TON better. And more enjoyable.
In The Martian, as seen in the previews, a sudden massive storm forces the abort of the Ares III mission on the surface of Mars. While attempting to reach the ascent vehicle, astronaut Mark Watney is struck by a piece of debris, and his bio monitor indicates that his suit had been ruptured. The rest of the crew are unable to locate him before he would likely run out of air, and are forced to take off.
Miraculously, Watney survives and makes it back to the habitat, and realizes his situation. He’s trapped on another planet alone, communications are out, a rescue mission would take 4 years to reach him without nearly enough food and many things that if they broke would kill him.
The Martian dispenses with the intensity for realism. It isn’t a constant series of bad things happening, but there is the constant threat of it. But Watney is given the chance to think through his options, and not have to improvise every second. He works through the solutions and, for the benefit of the audience, talks through them via the video logs he makes in case anyone can retrieve them.
Matt Damon did a spectacular job as Watney. He managed to effectively bring the humor to a character in a dire situation. He appears defeated when things go south but never gives up. And everything he does is believable, and for the most part, accurate. As part of that, in some cases the technospeak might lose some portion of the audience – such as all the talk about intercept velocities. But it is something that they had to deal with, so the audience had to deal with it too.
Perhaps the weakest parts of the movie may have been with the supporting cast. Not that anything was horrible, but at times I just didn’t connect with the emotion or passion the characters should have been generating. I hate to say this, but I think Sean Bean’s portrayal of flight director Mitch Henderson, who I felt should have been making a more impassioned plea of NASA director Teddy Sanders (Jeff Daniels), but more often looked like someone who just wanted to go to bed. And I LOVE Sean Bean. But keep a watch out for the meeting where they discuss “Project Elrond”…
Visually, the movie is spectacular…the flat Mars landscapes punctuated by tall, wind-carved mountains, looked incredibly realistic. I was VERY impressed. They did a spectacular job of not making it look like he was just filmed in a greenscreen room and everything was just composted in.
I believe The Martian is probably the best movie I’ve seen in years.
Star Trek‘s Shatner launches comic imprint with LNL Partners
by Doc on Oct.20, 2015, under Comics
LNL Partners, whose proprietary Cinematic Graphic Novels™ was introduced this past summer with William Shatner’s Man O’ War, has launched a special William Shatner imprint entitled Shatner Singularity. In addition to publishing works authored by William Shatner in LNL’s Cinematic Graphic Novel™ format, Shatner Singularity will also offer the latest graphic novel from comic book legend Stan Lee and his company POW! Entertainment.
The specific individual titles from William Shatner and Stan Lee will be revealed during a much-anticipated panel presentation featuring the two pop culture giants to be held at Stan Lee’s Comikaze Expo on Sunday, November 1 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
“We are thrilled to unveil the Shatner Singularity imprint and its debut releases from William Shatner and Stan Lee at Stan Lee’s Comikaze Expo. The team at LNL Partners has enjoyed the privilege of working directly with these two legendary industry icons to deliver to fans worldwide Cinematic Graphic Novels, a new and innovative way to enjoy comic book entertainment. Publishing Stan Lee and his newest literary work under the imprint adds yet another level of tremendous excitement to the Shatner Singularity brand,” said Mariano Nicieza, LNL Partners Co-Owner.
“With its Cinematic Graphic Novels™ LNL Partners has created a unique new genre. After proving to be a powerful and compelling platform for Man O’ War, I am delighted to have the format serve to showcase other works under the Shatner Singularity imprint. It is a particular joy and honor for my imprint to host work from my friend Stan Lee. As Stan himself is fond of saying, ‘nuff said’!” said Shatner.
“I’m thrilled to be working with my friend William Shatner’s new imprint. I look forward to sharing details of my new project at Comikaze Expo!” said Lee.
Jointly developed by LNL and Panelfly, the Cinematic Graphic Novel format delivers a groundbreaking form of digital comics that combines moving panels, a new stylistic dimension in animation, in-story sound effects and a music soundtrack to usher in an enhanced reading experience.