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News for: April 23, 2001 - May 15, 2001
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Damnation Game adaption |
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The Master, Tuesday, May 15, 2001 |
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Writer John Heffernan will adapt Clive Barker's supernatural novel Damnation Game for Phoenix Pictures, according to Variety. Damnation Game is about a jailed gambler and thief who gains early release at the behest of a wealthy industrialist. In return, the felon agrees to serve as bodyguard and security specialist to the capitalist. He soon discovers that the devil is coming to collect the soul of his employer. |
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source: Variety |
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WB fall schedule |
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The Master, Monday, May 14, 2001 |
The big news about The WB's fall schedule: Roswell is gone, but Angel survives.
Roswell's 2nd season finale airs May 14th, and may be its last on The WB. The show does not appear on their fall schedule, and UPN is reportedly considering picking it up.
Angel is moving to Monday nights at 9pm, taking over Roswell's timeslot, and following 7th Heaven. One can't help but question the scheduling of dark and gritty Angel after squeeky clean, "family friendly" 7th Heaven instead of one of The WB's other genre shows such as Charmed, which was also renewed.
The WB is expected to pick up Charmed through the 2003-2004 season, but star Shannen Doherty won't be returning. Doherty is leaving the Aaron-Spelling-produced show after three seasons, according to The Hollywood Reporter. No reason was given for the departure, but indications are there have recently been some tension on the set involving Doherty.
Other genre shows on The WB's schedule: Taking over Angel's 9pm Tueday timeslot is the new series Smallville. Smallville is about Superman's teen-age years. Sabrina, the Teenage Witch was also renewed. |
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source: Variety |
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Mummy Returns tops 100 million |
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The Master, Monday, May 14, 2001 |
The Mummy Returns continues its blockbuster run, adding another $32.2 million to its take over the weekend. The sequel has already earned $116.5 million after only 10 days in release.
Meanwhile, A Knight's Tale took the number two spot with approximately $17 million. While it pales in comparision to Mummy's take, this exceeded estimates of the movies first-weekend earnings. |
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source: Scifi.com |
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Douglas Adams dies at 49 |
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The Master, Saturday, May 12, 2001 |
Douglas Adams died suddenly of a heart attack in Santa Barbara, California, on Friday.
"It was a very sudden and unexpected death," according to
his London spokeswoman, Sophie Astin.
Adams is known and loved by millions of fans as the author of the "Hitchhiker's" series of satirical novels.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was first broadcast as a BBC radio series in 1978. It was a bizarre adventure story about a group of intergalactic travelers that opened with the Earth being destroyed to make way for an intergalactic highway.
A book version, an expansion of the first four radio episodes, was published in 1979 under the same title and met with huge success on the British bestseller lists. Later published in the US, the novel eventually sold more than 14 million copies. Several sequels were published, including The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, which was a reworking of several radio episodes, Life, the Universe and Everything, which was not based on the radio program and even contradicted it, and So Long, and Thanks For All the Fish, which Adams called the "fourth book of the trilogy".
A brief television series followed, as well as a record album, computer game and stage adaption. Adams also penned a movie script that didn't get picked up, but a movie adaption is once again under consideration.
At the time of his death, Adams was working on a new novel and an online guide to the series called h2g2. "He was pretty unique in being innovative in media after media -- from radio to the web," said Ashley Highfield, BBC's head of new media, who was working with Adams on h2g2. "He was still coming up with more new ideas than almost anyone I've met."
Adams was born in Cambridge in March 1952, educated at Brentwood School in Essex and St. John's College Cambridge, where he earned an MA in English Literature. He began his career as a writer and script editor for the BBC. His credits include the Doctor Who series, where he was working when the Hitchhiker's phenomenon began.
In addition to the Hitchhiker's book, Adams wrote several novels about "holistic detective" Dirk Gently and, with John Lloyd, the hilarious alternative dictionary The Meaning of Liff. He was also an advocate for the protection of endangered species, which he wrote about in his book Last Chance to See.
Adams leaves behind his wife, Jane Belson, his six year old daughter Polly, and a legion of devoted fans.
Speculative Vision says: "Don't Panic!" ...and never ever forget your towel! |
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source: ABC News |
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B5 Rangers casting |
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The Master, Friday, May 11, 2001 |
Sci Fi Channel has announced casting for its upcoming Babylon 5: The Legend of the Rangers movie:
Dylan Neal, Alex Zahara (Dark Angel), Myriam Sirois (Babylon 5), Dean Marshall, Warren T. Takeuchi, Jennie Rebecca Hogan, David Storch, Enid-Raye Adams and Gus Lynch, Mackenzie Gray, and Andreas Katsulas (G'Kar).
The movie begins production May 14 in Vancouver and Toronto. Rangers is a pilot movie for a possible Sci Fi Channel series. |
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source: Scifi.com |
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Troi and Romulans in Trek X |
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The Master, Friday, May 11, 2001 |
In an interview with Star Trek: The Magazine, John Logan, screenwriter for the 10th Star Trek movie, said the film will focus, in part, on the character of Deanna Troi. A transcript of the magazine's interview is available on Voyager's Delights' fan site.
"The movie will focus on Picard and Data, [and] I think the other characters--particularly Deanna--have more to do than they have in the other movies," Logan said.
Logan added that he's looking forward to an adventure with the Romulans. "I was delighted with the chance to get to play with the Romulans, and I don't think they've quite been explored enough," he said. "In the original [Gene] Roddenberry universe, the Klingons represented Soviet Russia, and the Romulans represented the Communist Chinese. For me the Communist Chinese is a really interesting world that was never fully explored, certainly in the movies, and not even as much as I would have liked in the series, except for individual episodes. I've always found that sort of Byzantine structure of Chinese Communism very interesting and very provocative and lethal in a way I never found the Klingons. There is so much duplicity and mendacity and cleverness in the way the Romulans move through their world with very strategic chess moves. And also they are an old and ancient race, like the Vulcans, so they have gravitas to them, which I find very interesting." |
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source: VoyagersDelights.com |
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Bakula confirmed by Paramount |
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The Master, Friday, May 11, 2001 |
Scifi.com reports that Paramount has confirmed the casting of Scott Bakula as Capt. Jonathan Archer in its upcoming fifth Star Trek series, now officially called Enterprise. This is the first official confirmation of the highly anticipated show's name and casting, or of anything related to the series.
The announcement described Bakula's character as "a physical and intensely curious captain with a bold personality" who has a strong sense of duty but is also a bit of a renegade.
"Obviously, I love the genre and am a long-time fan of Star Trek," Bakula said in a statement. "I am also thrilled to be working on a TV series again with Kerry McCluggage and Garry Hart, a relationship that dates back to 1988 with Quantum Leap." Bakula is best known for his five seasons as Sam Beckett on Quantum Leap, which earned the actor a Golden Globe and four Emmy nominations.
"We couldn't be happier," Enterprise co-creator and executive producer Rick Berman said in a statement. "Scott personifies the charm and intelligence that the role calls for."
Other reported Enterprise cast members include Jolene Blalock, John Billingsley, Linda Park, Anthony Montgomery, Dominic Keating and Connor Trinneer.
UPN is expected to add Enterprise to its fall schedule, but there has not yet been an official announcement. |
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source: Scifi.com |
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Ramses movie moving ahead |
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The Master, Thursday, May 10, 2001 |
Jame's Cameron's Lightstorm Entertainment and 20th Century Fox will produce a movie version of Anne Rice's novel The Mummy or Ramses the Damned, according to a report by Variety.
Karen Essex will write the film adaptation. Rice's book tells the story of the pharaoh Ramses who is revived in the modern world. Production is tentatively planned for 2002.
Essex' own novel, Kleopatra is a two-volume feminist retelling of the life of Cleopatra that will be published by Warner Brothers this August and in August 2002. |
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source: Variety |
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Bakula role in next Trek disputed |
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The Master, Wednesday, May 9, 2001 |
Aint-It-Cool-News reported that Lolita Fatjo "confirmed" the casting of Scott Bakula in the upcoming 5th Star Trek series during an appearance at a UK convention. However, TrekWeb reports that Lolita has contacted them and stated that her comments were misquoted.
Lolita, who no longer works for Paramount, clarified that she only mentioned that she had "heard" that Bakula might be cast but she does not know whether he has, in fact, been cast.
Despite the clarification, the rumor of Bakula's casting persists, and has been reported from other sources. Armin Shimerman, who played Quark on Deep Space 9, also reportedly made comments at the same convention indicating that Bakula would appear.
UPN is meeting with advertisers this week to discuss its upcoming fall season, and expectations are that they will announce that the new Trek series will appear on their schedule.
Meanwhile, Paramount continues its typical virtual silence about all-things-future-Trek, and has neither confirmed or denied any of the many rumors surrounding its popular franchise. |
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source: Trek Today |
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Anderson not thrilled about 9th season |
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The Master, Wednesday, May 9, 2001 |
Gillian Anderson told the New York Times that she's not excited about the possiblity of a ninth season of The X-Files.
Anderson indicated that she would most likely move on from the program if she could (her contract requires her to appear if the show continues for another year). She said, "for a lot of people, if you don't like your job, you can quit your job. I don't necessarily have that option," adding that "eight years is a long time."
Regarding the upcoming two-part season, and possibly series, finale airing May 13 and May 20, Anderson said, "there are a lot of twists and turns that the audience has been journeying through with us. And here, at the end, it's kind of interesting to see what happens with Scully and this full belly of hers." |
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source: NY Times |
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Hey Hey Hey now! |
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Crowe, Wednesday, May 9, 2001 |
Just wait one second. Virginia Hey has been cast in a new pilot for a show called Area 23. She will play a "perceptor" as part of a team with psychic powers. Now this sounds all fine and good, except Virginia is Zhaan from Farscape!
This could good news, bad news, or one seriously twisted plot by SciFi to toy with us. I hope it's the latter. I would be very impressed. |
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source: SciFi |
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Stargate SG1 Gets some more cash! |
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Crowe, Wednesday, May 9, 2001 |
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Richard Dean Anderson (who plays Col. Jack O'Neill) told SciFi wire that like previous seasons the show has recieved a boost in production money. For the show and fans this translates into more special effects and bigger stories. This is also year five which means syndication. I for one am very glad to hear this. I look forward to the new season. |
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source: SciFi |
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Dark Angel Stars take the plunge. |
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Crowe, Wednesday, May 9, 2001 |
Jessica Alba and her Dark Angel co-star put to rest rumors that there was any romantic involvement. Not that she ever denied it. In fact, I remember seeing several places her talking directly about it.
Jessica and Micheal Weatherly made it official by putting an engagement ring on her finger. They haven't set a date but are looking to do the deed soon. |
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source: SciFi |
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Roswell and UPN |
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The Master, Monday, May 7, 2001 |
E! Online's rumor column is reporting that Roswell, which has struggled for audiance and been retooled twice over the last year, may get picked up by UPN if The WB drops it.
Officially, The WB has said it hasn't made up its mind about renewal, but reruns of Roswell are not on the network's current summer schedule.
UPN picked up Buffy the Vampire Slayer for two years, following The WB's failure to negotiate a contract renewal. UPN also committed to Buffy spinoff Angel for two years if The WB doesn't renew it. |
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source: E! Online |
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Mummy 2 cleans up at box office |
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The Master, Monday, May 7, 2001 |
The Mummy Returns snapped up the number 1 spot at the box office in a big way. The sequel took in a staggering $70.1 million on its opening weekend, beginning on May 4. This makes the movie the biggest non-holiday debut in film history, handily surpassing 1999's juggernaut Star Wars: Episode I, which grossed $64.8 million.
The Mummy Returns also set new records for Friday, with $23.4 million, and Saturday $26.8 million. |
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source: Reuters |
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Whedon talks about Buffy move |
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The Master, Friday, April 27, 2001 |
Joss Whedon talked to TV Guide about Buffy's move to UPN, and the fate of Angel.
Whedon seems thrilled about the change, saying "I like being at a network that needs my show. UPN [execs] have made it very clear that they are going to make the same show that I am already making, and we have the budget to do it. And they will probably put a big push behind it, which in Year Six is not something you always expect. So, I am pretty sanguine that we will do well there."
Although UPN has yet to announce scheduling for the show, Whedon hints that "the talk is of trying to keep it in the same slot — Tuesday at 8. There is no assurance of that; they may have a different plan. But that's the expectation and the hope."
As for Angel, Whedon says, "The WB is going to look at their schedule and see how strong they think it is, and if it fits in and if it can help them. If they think [it will], then they'll keep it. People thought the decision would be made based on, 'It's just too weird' or 'It can't stand alone.' But it has a slightly different audience than Buffy, and I believe it can stand alone. They're going to make that decision not on the high emotions of the last week, but on just regular old network scheduling."
TV Guide notes that their recent poll revealed fans want Angel to move to UPN, keeping the shows as a block of programming. Whedon responds, "that is my hope as well. It's just simpler if they're together — if they're a block."
However, he futher notes that "the thing that doesn't come through in the midst of all this fuss is that I have a very good relationship with all the creative people at the WB, and if the show stays at the WB, I know it will be treated well and I will still make it exactly the way I hope to. We are really excited about it creatively, wherever it is. When we have conversations about it, we don't talk about networks, we talk about the characters and what we're going to do with them. And it is starting to shape up to be a really exciting year. It's simpler for me if they're a block, but Angel has been treated well on the WB, and I don't have any problem with it staying there."
Regarding cast reaction, Whedon indicates that he has yet to speak to star Sarah Michelle Geller, who is in Australia filming Scooby Doo. Geller previously said she would leave if the series changed networks. She later retracted the statement, apparently after a reprimand from 20th Century Fox. Nevertheless, Whedon says he doesn't think the cast will be affected. "I don't think that they mind a bit. You know, they were never really the focus of the [WB's] promotion of the show. My ensemble cast has sort of been in the shadows, so they don't feel like, 'Oh God, we were treated so well; we'll miss it so much.' The network doesn't really matter to them. They don't work for the network; they work for me. They come to these offices, they come to these stages, with the same writers. Nothing in their lives will have changed, unless UPN decides to promote them and to promote the show a little bit more as an ensemble, and that's an improvement." |
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source: TV Guide |
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Mars miniseries in works |
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The Master, Thursday, April 26, 2001 |
Sci Fi Channel is developing a four-hour miniseries adaption of Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Trilogy. The miniseries, called simply Red Mars, combines the three books (Red Mars, Blue Mars and Green Mars), and chronicles the lives of the first 100 Mars colonists and their epic struggle to create a new world.
Red Mars will be executive produced by the partners at Created By, and Robinson will consult on the project.
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source: Scifi.com |
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Hugo Nominees |
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The Master, Thursday, April 26, 2001 |
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The Millennium Philcon announced the nominees for the 2001 Hugo Awards, recognizing achievement in science fiction. The awards are named in honor of Hugo Gernsback, the magazine editor credited as "the father of science fiction." The awards will be presented at the 59th World Science Fiction Convention, or The Millennium Philcon, in Philadelphia, Aug. 30-Sept. 3. THE NOMINEES Novel - A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
- Calculating God by Robert J. Sawyer
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
- Midnight Robber by Nalo Hopkinson
- The Sky Road by Ken MacLeod
Novella - "A Roll of the Dice" by Catherine Asaro
- "Oracle" by Greg Egan
- "Radiant Green Star" by Lucius Shepard
- "Seventy-Two Letters" by Ted Chiang
- "The Retrieval Artist" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
- "The Ultimate Earth" by Jack Williamson
Novellette - "Agape Among the Robots" by Allen Steele
- "Generation Gap" by Stanley Schmidt
- "Millennium Babies" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
- "On the Orion Line" by Stephen Baxter
- "Redchapel" by Mike Resnick
Short Story - "Different Kinds of Darkness" by David Langford
- "Kaddish for the Last Survivor" by Michael A. Burstein
- "Moon Dogs" by Michael Swanwick
- "The Elephants on Neptune" by Mike Resnick
- "The Gravity Mine" by Stephen Baxter
Related Book - Concordance to Cordwainer Smith, Third Edition by Anthony R. Lewis
- Greetings from Earth: The Art of Bob Eggleton by Bob Eggleton and Nigel Suckling
- Putting It Together: Turning Sow's Ear Drafts Into Silk Purse Stories by Mike Resnick
- Robert A. Heinlein: A Reader's Companion by James Gifford
- Terry Pratchett: Guilty of Literature, ed. by Andrew M. Butler, Edward James and Farah Mendlesohn
Dramatic Presentation - Chicken Run
- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
- Frank Herbert's Dune
- Frequency
- X-Men
Professional Editor - Ellen Datlow
- Gardner Dozois
- David G. Hartwell
- Stanley Schmidt
- Gordon Van Gelder
Professional Artist - Jim Burns
- Bob Eggleton
- Frank Kelly Freas
- Donato Giancola
- Michael Whelan
Semiprozine - Interzone edited by David Pringle
- Locus edited by Charles N. Brown
- New York Review of Science Fiction edited by Kathryn Cramer, David G. Hartwell, and Kevin Maroney
- Science Fiction Chronicle edited by Andrew I. Porter
- Speculations edited by Denise Lee and Susan Fry; published by Kent Brewster
Fanzine - Challenger edited by Guy Lillian III
- File 770 edited by Mike Glyer
- Mimosa edited by Nicki and Richard Lynch
- Plokta edited by Alison Scott, Steve Davies and Mike Scott
- Stet edited by Dick Smith and Leah Zeldes Smith
Fan Writer - Bob Devney
- Mike Glyer
- Dave Langford
- Evelyn C. Leeper
- Steven H Silver
Fan Artist - Sheryl Birkhead
- Brad Foster
- Teddy Harvia
- Sue Mason
- Taral Wayne
John W. Campbell Award - James L. Cambias
- Thomas Harlan
- Douglas Smith
- Kristine Smith
- Jo Walton
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source: Millenium Philcon |
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New Apes trailer online |
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The Master, Tuesday, April 24, 2001 |
Fox has finally released a new Planet of the Apes trailer. The first trailer was very much a teaser, with no real hints about the story, and few good looks at the apes. The new trailer is far more narrative, giving a good idea of the overall plot (altered from the original movie), and with excellent coverage of the apes--truly amazing creations.
See for yourself at Apple's website (where the official site will redirect you) by picking your connection speed. The new trailer is the 2.0 one.
Planet of the Apes hits theaters July 27. |
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source: Planetoftheapes.com |
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JMS speaks about B5 Rangers |
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The Master, Monday, April 23, 2001 |
Cinescape has reprinted the following JMS postings from a Babylon 5 newsgroup:
"Sets are being built even as I write this. Designs have been worked out that take the B5 look to a new level, including a ship unlike anything we've ever done before, very ambitious, very different appearance.
"Most of the cast has been set, there are only two roles left to be cast and those should be locked down in a couple of days. It's starting to pick up considerable speed and momentum. SFC and WB are *extremely* pleased with the script.
"There are some comments here and there about the B5 actor who will appear in the TV movie, and the director, but I can't comment pending a press release from SFC, which should be out shortly.
"I think people are going to be pleased and surprised by the look and feel of the show...it has an energy that feels a lot like S3 of B5...by turns funny, intense, weird, with action and some very nice character stuff.
"It's gonna be very cool...."
Cinscape additionally confirms that production of the pilot will start in Vancouver on May 14. Moreover, B5 cast member Andreas Katsulas will definitely reprise his role of G'Kar in the pilot, which will be helmed by Michael Vejar. |
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source: Cinescape |
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 I knew that would happen! |
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