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News for: August 21, 2001 - September 10, 2001
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Diesel up for Daredevil? |
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The Master, Monday, September 10, 2001 |
Rumors of Vin Diesel's next movie continue to fly. The Pitch Black star is now reportedly being eyed by Mark Steven Johnson to star in the upcoming live-action Daredevil. Diesel has reportedly been offered the lead in the Regency Enterprises film, which is based on the Marvel Comics series of the same name.
Recent rumors have linked Diesel to a number of genre films including Terminator 3 and Hellboy. So far, the only confirmed role is a reprise of the one that made him famous: Riddick in the Pitch Black sequel, The Chronicles of Riddick. |
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source: Hollywood Reporter |
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Genre winners for Technical Emmys |
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The Master, Monday, September 10, 2001 |
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The 2001 Creative Arts Awards were presented on September 8, which were broadcast by E! on September 9. These Emmy Awards, commonly referred to as the technical awards, are given out in advance of the main primetime awards show, which focuses on the major categories such as actor and best series awards. Star Trek: Voyager managed to pick up two Emmys for its series finale "End Game", garnering statues for music and for special effects in a series. Scott Bakula (Enterprise) had the honor of presenting the music award to his sister Trek series. Jeri Ryan (Star Trek: Voyager) was also a presenter at the ceremony. The Sci-Fi Channel's original production Frank Herbert's Dune also won two awards, one for special effects and one for cinematography (both in the miniseries/movie category). Oddly enough, different installments of the miniseries were nominated in each category. List of Genre winners:Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore)
•Star Trek: Voyager, "End Game," Jay Chattaway, composer Cinematography for a Miniseries or a Movie
•Frank Herbert's Dune, Part 2, Vittorio Storaro, cinematographer Art Direction for a Variety or Music Program
•Peter Pan Starring Cathy Rigby, John Iacovelli, production designer; Aaron King, set decorator Individual Achievement in Animation
•Futurama, "Parasites Lost," Rodney Clouden, storyboard artist
•Invader Zim, "The Nightmare Begins," Kyle Menke, storyboard artist Special Visual Effects for a Series
•Star Trek: Voyager, "End Game," Dan Curry, visual effects producer; Mitch Suskin, Ronald B. Moore, visual effects supervisors; Art Codron, visual effects coordinator; Steve Fong, visual effects compositor; Eric Chauvin, matte artist; Robert Bonchune, CGI supervisor; John Teska, CGI artist; Greg Rainoff, visual effects animator Special Visual Effects for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
•Frank Herbert's Dune, Part 1, Ernest Farino, Tim McHugh, Laurel Klick, Frank H. Isaacs, visual effects supervisors; Elaine Essex Thompson, visual effects coordinator; James Healy, Gregory Nicotero, lead special effects supervisors; Anthony Alderson, CGI supervisor; Chris Zapara, lead CGI animator The Primetime Awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, September 16. |
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source: Emmys.org |
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Farscape season ender to be big, full of surprises |
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The Master, Friday, September 7, 2001 |
Ben Browder (John Crichton) told Sci Fi Wire that the third season's final episodes will be "really big." "I actually think that perhaps the best episode of the season is in the final four," Browder said in an interview at the recent Farscape convention in Burbank, Calif. "It's huge in scale, from a practical standpoint of shooting it, and effects, and emotionally. It's big. It's really big."
Browder added that he couldn't reveal the secrets of the upcoming episodes, but added, "There's a super-secret scene, which only three people know about. ... There's actually three storylines [from the season], which all come together in the end."
Executive David Kemper was equally circumspect, saying only, "Everything that [fans] expect is wrong, and I'll be disappointed if people aren't upset, exhilarated, angry and completely befuddled. We have to get them to expect one thing, and then give them something else. So everything they think is going to happen doesn't, but yet it will happen. ... Lots of things will happen, but they'll happen so differently, that they'll feel different. ... Let's just say, themes that have been developed in the year will come together and pay off by the end of the year. All the clues are there."
A key question will be how the surviving John Crichton deals with Aeryn Sun (Claudia Black), who developed a romantic relationship with Crichton's doomed doppelganger during the season. "I think you'll see a lot of that in the last four" episodes, Kemper said in an interview. "They have to talk to each other. They have to deal with it. They have to find out what their relationship is, and what it's going to be."
The final episodes of season three, which have already been shot, will air in January. As for season four? Browder said he will be writing at least one episode. And, Kemper added, "There's a story here that's unfolding for us, almost against everyone's will. It's happening on its own. That story will continue. The end of this season is simply, in terms of storytelling, ... artificially imposed upon us by the network. The next story is the next story, no matter what happens." |
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source: Scifi Wire |
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Carrie-Anne Moss on The Matrix Reloaded |
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The Master, Friday, September 7, 2001 |
In an interview with USA Today, The Matrix Reloaded star Carrie-Ann Moss said the physical demands of the film and The Matrix 3 (both now shooting in Australia) are much greater than those of the original. "They want more intense fighting, more complicated moves," Moss said. "I'm exhausted."
Moss and her co-stars, Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne, will spend almost two months in martial-arts training to intensify the fight scenes. "I get up, train, eat dinner, go to bed and start over the next day," Moss said. "I've forgotten what a social life is like."
Moss also talked of the death of pop star/actress Aaliyah, who was slated to play a role in the sequel but had not yet filmed any scenes. "We were all devastated and shocked," Moss told the newspaper. "She had already become a part of the Matrix family. We still think about her." Aaliyah died in a plane crash August 25. |
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source: USA Today |
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Saberhagen's Berserker |
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The Master, Thursday, September 6, 2001 |
Fred Saberhagen told Sci Fi Wire that he's just sold a new Beserker novel to Tor Books. "I'm just starting the new Beserker, and, as with every book I do, I have the feeling I can't, mustn't, shouldn't talk about what's in it until it's 99 percent done," Saberhagen said. "I do look forward to providing a lot of action."
Saberhagen also revealed that New Line Cinema has optioned the Beserker series. "I've been consulting on screenplays," he said. "No, I don't mean to write one. [I] would much rather stay home and have Hollywood send me money."
The 30-plus-year-old Beserker series, for which the author is most well known, follows the ongoing battle between mankind and robot killing machines, called Beserkers, which were created by a race called the Builders and which are determined to wipe out all life they encounter.
Saberhagen reported that a "number of possible titles" are in the running for the new tome and suggested that "only a wizard" could predict at this point when it will reach bookstores. He was more forthcoming, however, when it came to explaining the three-year gap between Berserker novels; the last one, Shiva in Steel, was released in 1998. "The delay is partly due to the fact that I've been doing the Book of the Gods series for Tor and have also just finished another Dracula--A Coldness in the Blood, publication date probably next year," said the 71-year-old author. "[I] also had to spend some time and energy defending my registered trademark--yep, the big one, the R in a circle--on Beserker as a science fiction series. This required filing a federal lawsuit against Dark Horse Comics and Random House when I got a look at a paperback called Aliens: Beserker. [The] lawsuit [was] successfully settled before it got to trial."
Saberhagen's other popular book series include the Swords and Lost Swords fantasy novels. |
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source: Scifi Wire |
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Warner Bros squashes Queen of the Damned rumors--again |
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The Master, Thursday, September 6, 2001 |
Several websites have been spreading what Warner Brothers calls a "vicious rumor" that the tragic death of pop star Aaliyah is prompting the studio to reconsider a straight-to-video release of its upcoming vampire movie Queen of the Damned, which stars the actress in the titular role as the vampire Akasha.
Warner Brothers says it has always planned to release the film in movie theaters, and that it has never been slated for a straight-to-video release. Moreover, the studio said it has always intended to release the movie in 2002, not 2001. The release date always was and remains February 2002. "The rumor that Aaliyah's tragic death has rescued it and put it back on course for theatrical release is vicious," a studio source told Sci Fi Wire. "It must be very hurtful for her family."
This is not the first time Warner Bros. has dispelled rumors of a straight-to-video release. In July, Speculative Vision reported an almost identical story. At that time, Warner Bros. made it clear that Queen of the Damned would be a theatrical release in 2002, and called a rumor to the contrary "an absolute lie, no truth to it whatsoever."
Queen of the Damned is based on Anne Rice's novel of the same name, and is a sequel to the hugely successful Interview with the Vampire, which starred Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise, neither of whom appear in the new film. |
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source: Scifi Wire |
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Neverworld picked up by Fox |
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The Master, Thursday, September 6, 2001 |
Fox has picked up Neverworld, a new science fiction series pilot from Kelsey Grammer (Frasier), Robert Nathan and Paramount Network TV, according to Variety. Neverworld is about a young man who lands in a parallel universe, and is under development for a fall 2002 premiere.
Nathan (Law & Order) will create and executive produce the series, and Grammer will co-executive produce. |
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source: Variety |
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Interview with Joss Whedon |
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The Master, Wednesday, September 5, 2001 |
The Onion a.v. club has posted an interview with Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel producer Joss Whedon. Besides Buffy, Whedon talks about his writing efforts on the movies Speed, Waterworld, X-Men and Twister.
Read the extensive interview. |
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source: The Onion a.v. Club |
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Dreamworks and Forbidden Planet |
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The Master, Wednesday, September 5, 2001 |
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DreamWorks has acquired remake rights to Forbidden Planet, the 1956 Science Fiction classic movie considered by many to be the high point of mid 20th Century SF movies. Variety reports that James Cameron and Frank Darabont have both expressed an interest in being involved in a remake of the movie. The original film, starring Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis and Leslie Nielsen, was loosely based on Shakespeare's The Tempest. It told the story of a space mission in the year 2020 that lands on Altair-4 where there discover Dr. Morbius and his daughter are the only survivors of a colonizing mission. The infamous "Robby the Robot" is perhaps the most famous aspect of the movie. Variety reports that remake was pulled from the development trasheap at New Line by the studio's former production chief, Michael De Luca, who is steering production at DreamWorks. |
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source: Variety |
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Horror Guild Awards |
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The Master, Wednesday, September 5, 2001 |
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The International Horror Guild announced the winners of its annual awards for outstanding achievement in the field of Horror and Dark Fantasy at DragonCon on September 1.Andrew Hallett, the Host on Angel, which won for television series, was master of ceremonies. This year's winners: Novel
•Declare by Tim Powers First Novel
•Adams Fall by Sean Desmond Long Story
•"The Man on the Ceiling" by Melanie and Steve Rasnic Tem Short Story
•"The Rag-and-Bone Men" by Steve Duffy Illustrated Narrative
•I Feel Sick, Nos. 1 and 2, by Jhonen Vasquez Collection (Tie)
•City Fishing by Steve Rasnic Tem
•Ghost Music and Other Tales by Thomas Tessier Anthology
•October Dreams: A Celebration of Halloween, ed. by Richard Chizmar and Robert Morrish Nonfiction
•At the Foot of the Story Tree by William Sheehan Publication
•Horror Garage Art
•Joel-Peter Witkin Film
•American Psycho Television
•Angel Living Legend Award
•Alice Cooper |
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source: Scifi Wire |
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Spectrum Awards Announced |
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The Master, Wednesday, September 5, 2001 |
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The Gaylactic Network, an organization for gay and lesbian SFF fandom, announced the winners of its Spectrum Awards at last weekend's World Science Fiction in Philadephia (Philcon). The Spectrum Awards honor science fiction, fantasy and horror works that include positive explorations of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender characters, themes or issues. Congratulations to the winners: 2001 People's Choice Award
•Buffy the Vampire Slayer Best Novel
•Jumping Off the Planet by David Gerrold Best Other Work
•Buffy the Vampire Slayer 2001 Hall of Fame (Tie)
•Imperial Earth by Arthur C. Clarke
•The Sparrow/Children of God by Mary Doria Russell
•The Weetzie Bat books, collected as Dangerous Angels, by Francesca Lia Block |
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source: Scifi Wire |
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Hugo Award Winners |
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The Master, Tuesday, September 4, 2001 |
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The 2001 Hugo Awards, named in honor of Hugo Gernsback "the father of magazine science fiction", were presented on September 2 at Philcon, the World Science Fiction Convention in Philadelphia. Winners were voted on by the membership of Millennium Philcon for work from 2000. More properly known as the Science Fiction Achievement Awards, Hugos are presented annually by the World Science Fiction Society and mark a significant acheivement for the winners. This Year's Winners Best Novel •Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling Best Novella •"The Ultimate Earth" by Jack Williamson Best Novelette •"Millennium Babies" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch Best Short Story •"Different Kinds of Darkness" by David Langford Best Related Book •Greetings from Earth: The Art of Bob Eggleton by Bob Eggleton and Nigel Suckling Best Dramatic Presentation •Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, directed by Ang Lee Best Professional Editor •Gardner Dozois Best Professional Artist •Bob Eggleton Best Semiprozine •Locus, edited by Charles N. Brown Best Fanzine •File 770, edited by Mike Glyer Best Fan Writer •Dave Langford Best Fan Artist •Teddy Harvia John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer •Kristine Smith Several other awards were also given at Philcon, including the Big Heart Award honoring active fans who have demonstrated their "Big Hearts", won by Steve and Sue Francis. The First Fandom Hall of Fame Award for fans who have given a lifetime of service to science fiction went to Frank Robinson. The newly created Cordwainer Smith Rediscovery Award, for a science fiction or fantasy author whose work deserves renewed attention, went to Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon. The Japanese Seiun Award for non-Japanese-language works first published in Japanese translation in 2000 went to "Oceanic" by Greg Egan for Best Short Story, and Frameshift by Robert Sawyer for Best Novel. |
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source: Scifi Wire |
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Roswell - Enterprise crossover confirmed |
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The Master, Thursday, August 30, 2001 |
Jonathan Frakes, executive producer of Roswell, has confirmed that the fourth episode will be a crossover with Enterprise -- of sorts anyway.
"This was the brainstorm of Ron Moore and Jason Katims," Frakes told the site. "They said, 'Since you're directing, would you mind playing yourself in the episode? And while you're at it, would you mind playing yourself as if you're directing an episode of 'Enterprise'? And while you're directing the episode of 'Enterprise,' do you think we can get somebody from the cast of 'Enterprise'? And while you're at that, would you call (" Trek" executive producer) Rick Berman and Paramount and see if it's OK?'"
However, Frakes said that Rick Berman, who oversees the "Trek" franchise, wouldn't allow filming on the Enterprise sets. "It's an audition scene. Max is auditioning to play the role of an alien, only he doesn't know how to play an alien, hence the wacky, ironic hijinks," Frakes said. "It's a comedy scene in a serious episode."
Despite previous rumor reports, Enterprise star Scott Bakula, best know for his lead in Quantum Leap, will not appear in the scene with Behr. "He thought it was too early to break the fourth wall," sais Frakes. "Bakula is not going to do it."
Indeed, Frakes, who will play himself in the episode, doesn't yet know whether or not he'll an Enterprise cast member will be in it at all. "I don't know that you'd get any bang out of anybody but Bakula," he said, "because Bakula is at least a TV star. These other guys (in the cast) are about to become TV stars. So I think we can get as good a laugh out of me directing Jason as Max in the audition." |
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source: Zap2It |
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Weaver on Aliens 5, Ghostbusters 3 |
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The Master, Wednesday, August 29, 2001 |
In an interview with Empire magazine, Sigourney Weaver was asked about the possiblity of sequels to the Alien franchise or the Ghostbusters series.
As for another Alien movie, Weaver definitely leaves the door open, admitting that she's been talking to 'people' about the project. "I left my character not knowing even what species she was, so right now I'm a little unclear as to how things can progress," she said.
However, Ghostbusters looks like a no go as far as Weaver is concerned. "As for a Part 3, that's highly unlikely," told the magazine. "I think our bustin' days are long gone - we'd be a very sorry bunch of very old ghostbusters now."
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source: Empire Online |
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More Highlander? |
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The Master, Wednesday, August 29, 2001 |
In the "stop beating the dead horse already" column, Moviehole.net reports a rumor that a fifth Highlander film, called Highlander: The Source, is in the works. It would reportedly star TV series hunk Adrian Paul, and be directed by Russell Mulcahy, who directed the first Highlander film in 1986.
The last sequel, the universally reviled Highlander: Endgame, grossed less than $13 million at the box office. |
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source: Movie Hole |
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Enterprise - Roswell crossover? |
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The Master, Wednesday, August 29, 2001 |
Ain't It Cool News is reporting that UPN will do a cross over episode, of sorts, with its new Trek series Enterprise and the teen alien series Roswell. UPN picked up Roswell when it was cancelled by the WB.
In Roswell's fourth episode, "Secrets and Lies," teen alien Max Evans (Jason Behr) investigates the death of a man who shot at Michael (Brendan Fehr) in the UPN season premiere, the site reported.
Max reportedly ends up on the Paramount Pictures lot in Los Angeles, where both shows are filmed in real life. He auditions with Scott Bakula to play an alien on an episode of Enterprise. Star Trek: The Next Generation's Jonathan Frakes (Riker), who is also Roswell's executive producer, plays the director of the episode. Frakes will also direct the Roswell episode according to AICN.
Rowell's third season begins October 9. Enterprise makes its debut on September 26.
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source: Ain't It Cool News |
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King working on Dark Tower |
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The Master, Wednesday, August 29, 2001 |
Stephen King has announced that he is beginning work on the final three volumes of his Dark Tower series. "This time I'm hoping to press on to the very end and publish the remaining volumes all at the same time. That probably means three books, one of them fairly short and one of the other two quite long," King said. However, he does not reveal an estimated timeframe for publication. "All I know for sure is that DT5 will almost certainly not be called THE CRAWLING SHADOW, as previously reported," he said.
In order "to repay the readers of these stories, if only a little, for their patience", King has posted the prologue to DT5 on his website. |
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source: Stephen King Official |
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Witchblade renewed |
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The Master, Thursday, August 23, 2001 |
TNT has renewed its original series Witchblade for another 13 episodes. The series is based on the Top Cow comic book of the same name, and stars Yancy Butler as NYPD cop Sara Pezzini who comes in possession of an ancient, living weapon so powerful it can battle Earth's darkest forces.
"TNT's commitment to the WITCHBLADE series is prompted by the strong performance of the two-hour pilot and our initial series run," said Robert DeBitetto, president of original programming. "We are thrilled to be able to offer viewers additional hours of a drama franchise they clearly enjoy, while continuing our successful partnership with sister company Warner Bros. Television."
Witchblade ended its first season on August 21, and averaged a 2.3 rating, an improvement over its timeslot's previous programming.
TNT is rebroadcasting the entire first season (two hour pilot movie + 11 regular episodes) in an all day marathon Sunday August 26, starting at 10 a.m. ET/PT. |
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source: TNT |
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Benford's Eater on FX |
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The Master, Tuesday, August 21, 2001 |
Variety reports that director Jan De Bont is in final talks with Fox to produce Eater, a miniseries for FX that would be the network's first original long-form show. Eater is about an astrophysicist and his wife who discover a black hole hurtling toward Earth. The miniseries is based on the novel of the same name by author, physicist and astronomer Gregory Benford.
De Bont and Jessika Borsiczky, who heads De Bont's Blue Tulip production company, will executive produce the four-hour miniseries with Vince Gerardis and Ralph Vicinanza of Created By productions.
Blue Tulip also has a series project in the works at Viacom Productions based on Benford's six-book Galactic Center Series anthology. Galactic Center is described as The Odyssey set in the future. |
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source: Scifi Wire |
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Goyer to write and direct Blade 3 |
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The Master, Tuesday, August 21, 2001 |
David Goyer, who wrote the scripts for the first two Blade movies, will both write and direct Blade 3. Variety reports that New Line has struck a deal with Goyer to go ahead with the third installment of the vampire franchise even though Blade 2, which was directed by Guillermo del Toro, won't be released until March 2002. Goyer has previously written screenplays for the cult-favorite genre films Dark City and The Crow.
The Blade movies are based on the Marvel Comics series Blade the Vampire Hunter, and star Wesley Snipes and Kris Kristofferson.
In related news, Comics Continuum reports that Snipes told E! Online the sequel will have a stronger horror element. "We wanted to come with a new concept, some new ideas," Snipes said. "And [director] Guillermo del Toro is an excellent filmmaker, as well as an excellent horror filmmaker. We wanted to enhance the horror element of it."
Meanwhile, Kris Kristofferson explained how his character, killed in the original movie, was able to return for the sequel. "It turns out Wesley, Blade, searched the world for him and found out that the vampires were keeping him alive in a tankful of blood," Kristofferson said. |
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source: Variety |
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 I knew that would happen! |
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