23/07/08 - Writer has a nightmare on his hands

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Brothers has hired veteran writer Wesley Strick to pen a relaunch of the A Nightmare on Elm Street series.

The original A Nightmare on Elm Street movie was written and directed by Wes Craven and released in 1984. It created one of the most popular villains in screen history, Freddy Krueger, played by Robert Englund.

The basic story centred on Krueger, a serial child killer who was murdered and who returned with a burned face and razor glove to terrorize teens in their dreams.

The new project will keep the high-school setting and delve deeper into the psychology of nightmares and Krueger himself. The plan is to have a dark tone.

 

22/07/08 - See which director tackles Witchblade

Michael Rymer [pictured], best known for being a director and producer on the new Battlestar Galactica, is to direct and co-produce the Witchblade movie.

Rymer has also just completed work on Revolution, a two-hour pilot for NBC Universal and the Sci Fi Channel.

The story of the Witchblade involves a jewel-covered gauntlet that gives superhuman power to its chosen wearer - one woman in each generation.

The movie is based on the comic from Top Cow Productions which was written by Marc Silvestri. Witchblade has also been adapted to a live-action TV series that ran for two seasons, as well as an animated series in Japan. The movie will be released in 2009.

 

21/07/08 - More Who toys to invade UK

Character Options is to release 5-inch and 12-inch radio controlled Davros and Supreme Dalek toys on to the market later this year.

The Doctor's ultimate enemy in the last episode of the series, the 12-inch radio controlled Davros has full movement control and utters phrases such as the chilling "Welcome to my new empire, Doctor".

The 12-inch radio controlled Supreme Dalek has automated head and eye movement, a poseable gun arm, as well as intoning a number of well-known Dalek phrases.

Both figures are also being released as 5-inch figures.

Also being launched is a Stolen Earth Gift Set [pictured below], which features 5-inch action figures from the series four finale, including Davros, a Supreme Dalek, a Crucible Dalek and the Doctor.

 

18/07/08 - New Terminator chosen

Former Austrian bodybuilder Roland Kickinger has been chosen to play the T-800 cyborg (the model made famous by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the first three Terminator movies) in Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins.

"There's a very strong scene in the film where John Connor for the first time meets the Terminator, and he doesn't know if he's a good guy or a bad guy," said Kickinger. "It's Arnold's character in the first Terminator. That's basically my role, but 20 years before, so it establishes how the Terminator [came] about."

Kickinger previously portrayed Schwarzenegger in the 2005 movie, See Arnold Run.

Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins is currently in production and is set to open in US cinemas on 22 May 2009.

 

17/07/08 - Freakin' sweet news for Family Guy

Interviewed by TV Week Seth MacFarlane, creator of Family Guy, talked about The Cleveland Show spin-off series as well as confirming that Family Guy: The Movie is to go into production within the next year.

"We want to do it and it is time," said MacFarlane . "In the past six months we have seriously started talking about it. And my hope is that we will get it going within the next year.

"Doing the show is a seven-day-a-week process, so I don't know how we will squeeze in a movie. But we will figure it out. I have an idea about what it will be. It is definitely something you wouldn't be able to do on the show. That's the only reason to do a movie."

MacFarlane also revealed what fans of the TV show can expect to see in future episodes: "Brian will date a fifty year old woman, Stewie and Brian go to Russia with Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase, and Lois discovers that her heritage isn't what she thought it was."

 

16/07/08 - Megan Fox talks about Transformers 2

In a recent interview with Sci-Fi Wire, Megan Fox [pictured] who reprises the role of Mikaela Banes in Michael Bay's upcoming sequel Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, revealed that she's having a blast filming.

"I'm doing good," said Fox. "I've had like four injuries so far. So I'm accumulating the injuries and just going on with it. It's fun. It's what it is. It's a Michael Bay movie.

"There's a different Bumblebee, the yellow one that you see in the movie, that we drive. I don't drive it, but it drives at like 120 miles an hour, and we're in it with no seat belts or harnesses or anything. It's, if we die, we die, all in the name of Transformers (laughs)."

The sequel continues the story of Mikaela and Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) and takes place two years after the first film.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is due for release in US cinemas on 26 June 2009.

 

15/07/08 - Harrelson to star in futuristic movie

In a recent interview with MTV Movies, Woody Harrelson [pictured] revealed that he is the latest actor to sign on to Roland Emmerich's futuristic movie 2012.

The film revolves around the ancient Mayan calendar that suggests the world will end on 21 December 2012. Harrelson will portray a prophetic character that no one believes.

"I play a guy who's been talking for a long time, the whole world thinks he's crazy," said Harrelson. "But he's been talking that there's gonna be hell to pay for what's been going on ecologically and everything."

The film, which is written and directed by Roland Emmerich, also stars John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Danny Glover, Thandie Newton, Oliver Platt, Thomas McCarthy and Chin Han.

 

14/07/08 - Buffy to be reborn on Nintendo DS

505 Games and Twentieth Century Fox Licensing & Merchandising are to release an official new game based on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer franchise, exclusively for the Nintendo DS.

Currently under development by Romanian studio Beast, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Sacrifice combines third-person and first-person gameplay. The stakes are high for players as they take on the role of Buffy to seal the re-opened Hellmouth in an original story penned by Rob Deshotel, a writer from the TV series.

This 3D survival horror game sees Buffy using a range of special weapons, powerful spells and martial arts to take out vicious vampires and demons.

In addition to these enemies, players also come across recognisable characters from the show, including Spike, Angel, the Master, the First Evil, Caleb and, of course, the Scooby Gang.

 

11/07/08 - Will Hulk director tackle Superman?

Director Louis Leterrier [pictured] has hinted that he may have been approached by Warner Brothers to take over the reigns for Superman: The Man of Steel.

According to Ain't It Cool News, in a recent Q&A Leterrier was asked whether or not he would be interested in directing a number of different movies. He was asked about Hulk 2, which he said he would be interested in directing.

But when asked about Superman: The Man of Steel, he said:. "Funny that you mentioned Superman... because, hum, maybe they asked me..."

 

10/07/08 - Studio locked into Prisoner remake

In a recent interview with Sci-Fi Wire AMC's general manager, Charlie Collier, revealed that the remake of the classic 1960s British SF series The Prisoner will be different, but will have some familiar elements.

Collier wouldn't be drawn too much on what viewers can expect, although he did confirm that it will have: "...the elements of the Village and the gadgetry."

He also confirmed that the giant white ball, Rover, will be part of the new series. "Rover was a big part of the TV series, it will be part of it, we can't talk about it extensively now, it will get me in trouble," Collier said.

The Prisoner will combine espionage, thriller and science fiction and will star Jim Caviezel [pictured] as Number Six, a part originated by Patrick McGoohan. Ian McKellen will play Number Two, Six's boss and the man who apparently controls the mysterious Village in which he is trapped.

 

09/07/08 - The Exterminators crawls to TV

According to The Hollywood Reporter, a TV series is to be made out of the Vertigo/DC Comics series The Exterminators.

Created by Simon Oliver and Tony Moore, the comic centres on an ex-con who joins an exterminator company, working with a freakish supporting cast of characters. A mystery surrounding his girlfriend and the manufacturer of an insect poison percolates on the periphery, and the insects are much more dangerous than they seem.

The TV series will revolve around the Bug-Be-Gone crew, an extended dysfunctional family of exterminators whose greatest enemies aren't the insects and rodents they meet and kill on a daily basis but rather their own self doubts, vices and inner demons.

 

08/07/08 - Buffy creator breathes life into projects

According to MTV Movies Blog, Joss Whedon [pictured left] (creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer / Angel / Firefly / Serenity) is moving ahead with two new projects.

He currently has a new TV show in production (Dollhouse), as well as a film entitled A Cabin in the Woods in the works.

Whedon's TV series, Dollhouse, will star several Buffyverse alumni in its cast and crew, most notably Eliza Dushku as the show’s star, Amy Acker (Fred on Angel) as a recurring character, and Steven DeKnight (as a writer). In the show Dushku plays a young woman named Echo, a member of a group of mind-altered agents known as "Actives" or "Dolls" that can be hired out for particular jobs, crimes, fantasies, and occasional good deeds. The story follows Echo, who starts to become self-aware.

Whedon has also co-wrote A Cabin in the Woods with Drew Goddard, who previously wrote for Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer and also penned Cloverfield.

"It's genius, it's funny," said Goddard about the film. "It's got a harder and darker edge, but it's also got classic Whedon qualities. It'll rip your heart out and be heartfelt at the same time. There's a reason the title is so straightforward. It's its own sub-genre, the cabin in the woods, and this is sort of our take on it. It's fresh and new."

 

07/07/08 - Be still and watch Keanu's new trailer

The new trailer for the remake of classic sci-fi movie The Day the Earth Stood Still is now available to view online.

The Day the Earth Stood Still is 20th Century Fox's contemporary reinvention of its 1951 classic.

Keanu Reeves portrays Klaatu, an alien whose arrival on Earth triggers a global upheaval. As governments and scientists race to unravel the mystery behind the visitor's appearance, a woman (Jennifer Connelly) and her young stepson get caught up in his mission - and come to understand the ramifications of his being a self-described "friend to the Earth."

The movie is due for release in cinemas on December 12.

 

04/07/08 - Smallville to feature more DC heroes

According to TV Guide, Season Eight of Smallville will continue to feature other DC Comics heroes heavily.

The season's first episode (Odyssey) will feature Green Arrow (Justin Hartley) along with returning guest heroes the Black Canary (Alaina Huffman) and Aquaman (Alan Ritchson) as they come to Clark's rescue after he was left for dead by Lex in last season's finale episode. In addition, the Martian Manhunter (Phil Morris) will return for the episode.

The recurring theme for Season Eight of Smallville will be 'double identities', according to new showrunner Kelly Souders. "It's about the Superman identity emerging as Clark Kent tries to maintain a normal life - or the appearance of a normal life," said Souders.

As a part of this theme, the Clark and Lois working relationship will begin as Clark takes a job at the Daily Planet. "The camaraderie as they work side-by-side that everyone loves from the DC Comics and all the Superman lore is going to come to fruition this year." Souders said.

 

03/07/08 - Season 5 of Atlantis won't feature Weir

In a recent interview with Sci-Fi Wire, Joseph Mallozzi, executive producer of Stargate: Atlantis, revealed that it is unlikely that Torri Higginson will return as Dr. Elizabeth Weir in the show's fifth season.

While her storyline was left hanging, Higginson turned down a script that brought back her character.

Asked if she'd be returning, Mallozzi said: "To be honest, I think it's highly unlikely. She did a couple of guest spots last season and was excited about finishing up the Replicator storyline and was very excited about coming back.

"Initially, she was a little reluctant, and perhaps she was thinking about her fans. She wanted to create closure for her character, but we wanted to keep the character alive... We sent the script for review, and ultimately she passed. We would have loved to have her come back... I think at this point she's moved beyond the show and is looking elsewhere, and we wish her the best of luck. She did a terrific job, but we will not see her in season five, and it was her choice, and we respect her decision."

 

02/07/08 - Stargate actor Don S. Davis dies

According to the Stargate website Gateworld, Don S. Davis, who played Maj. Gen. George Hammond on Stargate: SG-1 for seven seasons, died on 29 June after suffering a heart attack. He was 65.

Davis's wife, Ruby Fleming-Davis, has said that a family memorial will take place in a few weeks, during which Davis' ashes will be scattered in the ocean; fans were asked to make memorial donations to the American Heart Association.

Davis left the regular cast of SG-1 in 2003 because of a medical condition that restricted his workload, but he made several guest appearances on the show and its spin-off, Stargate: Atlantis.

A native of Missouri, Davis was a former captain in the US Army, stationed in Korea in the 1970s. He had a 26-year acting career that included many memorable TV roles, notably Captain William Scully, Dana Scully's father, on The X Files and Maj. Garland Briggs on Twin Peaks. He met SG-1 co-star Richard Dean Anderson on the set of MacGyver, on which he worked as a stunt double for actor Dana Elcar.

Davis's last Stargate appearance can be seen in Stargate: Continuum, the upcoming straight-to-DVD movie which is released in the UK on 18 August.

 

01/07/08 - Bond fans take solace in new trailer

The latest trailer for the new James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace has been released by MGM and Columbia Pictures.

The film stars Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Mathieu Amalric, Judi Dench, Gemma Arterton, Jeffrey Wright, Jesper Christensen and Joaquin Cosio.

Betrayed by Vesper, the woman he loved, 007 fights the urge to make his latest mission personal. Pursuing his determination to uncover the truth, Bond and M (Dench) interrogate Mr White (Christensen) who reveals the organisation which blackmailed Vesper is far more complex and dangerous than anyone had imagined.

The movie is released theatrically on 07 November.

 

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