Hugo Winners Announced
ernor Vinge's A Deepness in the Sky won the 2000 Hugo Award for best science fiction novel during ceremonies at the World Science Fiction Convention in Chicago on Sept. 3.
The 2000 Hugos, recognizing work from 1999, were voted by the membership of Chicon 2000.
The Hugo Awards--named in honor of Hugo Gernsback, "the father of magazine science fiction"--are presented annually by the World Science Fiction Society. The Hugo Awards are also known by their more formal name, the Science Fiction Achievement Awards. A complete list of winners follows.
Best Novel
•A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge
Best Novella
•"The Winds of Marble Arch" by Connie Willis
Best Novelette
•"1016 to 1" by James Patrick Kelly
Best Short Story
•"Scherzo with Tyrannosaur" by Michael Swanwick
Best Related Book
•Science Fiction of the 20th Century by Frank M. Robinson
Best Dramatic Presentation
•Galaxy Quest, directed by Dean Parisot
Best Professional Editor
•Gardner Dozois
Best Professional Artist
•Michael Whelan
Best Semiprozine
•Locus, edited by Charles N. Brown
Best Fanzine
•File 770, edited by Mike Glyer
Best Fan Writer
•Dave Langford
Best Fan Artist
•Joe Mayhew
John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer
•Cory Doctorow
First Fandom Big Heart Award
•Robert Silverberg and Jack Williamson
Moss Psyched For Matrix 2
arrie-Anne Moss told Cinescape Online's Cindy Pearlman that she loved the script of The Matrix 2, the first of two sequels to Moss' 1999 hit The Matrix.
"I read the first sequel script a month ago, and I was blown away," said Moss, who will reprise her role of Trinity in the sequel.
Moss added, "I picked my time. I didn't want to read it flying. I wanted to give the new movies my complete energy. So I waited until I was done with shooting. I curled up in my bed
and read it." Moss also admitted that she didn't fully understand the first film's script. "This one I got right away," she said. "Of course, I have to go back and get all the little things. But I'm in no hurry to read it again. I want to let it simmer for a little while, which is my process. I
know how to save it a little bit. To let it happen."
Expect New Approach In Blair 2
rtisan Entertainment will abandon the grainy look and mystery of The Blair Witch Project in marketing its sequel, Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2, Artisan marketing head Amorette Jones told USA Today.
"We're going after an audience that saw the first movie, but didn't think it totally delivered," Jones said.
Jones added, "These people might go see the second film, but want to be exposed to what it looks like before they make their decision." Artisan will roll out a Shadows trailer Sept. 8 that plays up the sequel's more traditional 35mm camerawork, compared with the original film's handheld video, USA Today reported.
That's in keeping with the idea behind the sequel, which doesn't pretend to be a documentary. Rather, it tells the story of The Blair Witch Project as it happened in real life: a small, independent film that became a blockbuster with hordes of fans, the newspaper reported. The new movie follows the travails of a group of fans who travel to Burkittsville, Md., and get more than they bargain for.
Tomb Raider Gets A Butler?
he Coming Attractions Web site reported a rumor that Chris Barrie (Red Dwarf) has joined the cast of Tomb Raider, the upcoming feature film version of the popular Eidos video game series of the same name.
Barrie will reportedly play Hillary, personal butler to heroine Lara Croft, played by Angelina Jolie.
The Popcorn U.K. Web site, meanwhile, reported that British television actor Richard Blackwood turned down a role he described as Croft's assistant. "I would've had a big part--[the character] is a mad scientist--and you could just make it really funny," Blackwood told Popcorn. "I was thinking, 'That's the one,' and I couldn't do it because of my music commitments."
Elsewhere, the IMDB Web site reported that Croft will drive a top-secret car designed by Aston Martin, the V-12 Vanquish. Tomb Raider is currently shooting in London.
Krabbe Directs Heaven
ntermedia has picked up all international rights outside Benelux for Jeroen Krabbe's fantasy movie The Discovery of Heaven, starring Stephen Fry (Wilde), Variety reported.
Edwin de Vries based the screenplay on Harry Mulisch's novel of the same name.
Heaven tells the story of an astronomer (Fry) and a linguist who share a lover, which results in a child of uncertain paternity. The child receives a mission from God: Return the Ten Commandments to heaven, the trade paper reported. Heaven will be shot in Holland, Israel, Italy, Cuba and other locations.
McLeod Joins Rings Cast
arah McLeod (New Zealand's Get Real TV series) has joined the cast of Peter Jackson's epic film trilogy The Lord of the Rings, playing the wife of Sean Astin's Sam Gamgee, according to the E! Online Web site.
In other Rings news, the site reported that Liv Tyler (Arwen) flew back to New York late last month and will return to the New Zealand location for more work in October.
Miranda Otto (Eowyn), meanwhile, remains in New Zealand, training for upcoming battle scenes, E! reported. And Christopher Lee (Saruman) will return for post-production sound recording work between filming scenes for Star Wars: Episode II.
Sean Bean, who plays Boromir, told E! that his character is tempted by the power of the Ring. "When he tries to use the Ring, his intentions aren't sinister. He sees the Ring as something that could be very beneficial. But he doesn't see the dangers of the Ring as Aragorn and Frodo do. He's more easily tempted because he's a man, and that ultimately is his downfall."
Tyro Director To Helm Animal
uke Greenfield will make his feature directing debut with Revolution Studios' fantasy comedy Animal, starring Rob Schneider, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The movie is slated to begin shooting Oct. 1 in Los Angeles.
Written by Schneider and Tom Brady, Animal tells the story of a man who receives organ transplants from various animals and then finds himself adopting the animals' diverse traits, the trade paper reported.
Romero To Launch Web Novel
ight of the Living Dead director George A. Romero has launched an official Web site on which he will be offering an e-novel, The Death of Death.
"The Death of Death will be an original novel with much wider scope [than the Dead films], detailing what happens, minute-by-minute, all around the planet, during the few days that it takes for society to collapse when faced with a plague spread by walking corpses," Romero wrote on the site.
Romero will offer the novel up in installments. Romero will also take part in monthly online chats and promises more content in the future. "My dream (we'll see how it goes) is to shoot another zombie flick and offer it exclusively on the Web," Romero added.
Malkovich Talking Green Goblin?
inescape Online confirmed a rumor previously reported by the Ain't It Cool News Web site that John Malkovich is in talks to play archvillain Norman Osborne, a.k.a. the Green Goblin, in the upcoming Spider-Man movie.
A Malkovich representative told Cinescape, "John is indeed in talks for the Spider-Man film. ... We have no information at this time."
Sam Raimi is slated to direct the feature-film version of Marvel Comics' series of the same name. Shooting is scheduled to start in November, with Tobey Maguire in the title role.
Baker Still In As R2-D2
he official Star Wars Web site is rebutting rumors that Kenny Baker, the man inside R2-D2 in all previous Star Wars movies, was being replaced as the spunky droid in Episode II.
Various news reports had suggested that either computer animation or advanced robotics would take the place of the diminutive actor. Baker had told the London-based World Entertainment News Network on Aug. 28 that he was not going to appear in Episode II "to the extent I was expecting, and no one has really explained to me why."
Not so, George Lucas told the site. "The character of R2-D2 continues to play an important role and requires much more movement in Episode II," Lucas said. "The robotics technology inside the Artoo models have advanced to the point where they can achieve most of the performance I need right alongside the other actors. Still, there's an element of humanity to Artoo that comes from having Kenny Baker inside. We've always had Kenny scheduled for a number of shots during the final week of shooting at Elstree Studios [in London]." The official Star Wars Web site has also added Baker's name to the list of credits for Episode II, correcting an oversight.
Episode II Script On The Loose?
spy has apparently pilfered what appears to be an authentic script of Star Wars: Episode II and attempted to sell it to TheForce.net fan Web site, according to Hollywood Confidential columnist Jeffrey Wells on the Reel.com Web site.
TheForce.net refused to buy the script, but has also refused to identify the "renegade agent" who's auctioning the script to the highest bidder, Wells reported.
TheForce.net apparently feels that it's too early to be discussing Episode II's plot or storyline in detail, since the movie's not due in theaters until 2002. But the site is also reluctant to give up identity of the proposed seller, saying it needs to protect the integrity of its journalistic sources, Wells reported. Lucasfilm lawyers have reportedly been pressing TheForce.net in an effort to find out who stole the script.
For its part, Lucasfilm told Wells in a statement, "It is the policy of Lucasfilm to decline comment on any possible investigations associated with unauthorized or unlawful use or possession of our copyrighted property. Lucasfilm aggressively pursues anyone involved with the unauthorized sale or purchase of copyrighted materials and will do whatever it takes to insure that they are prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Lucasfilm is dedicated to its legions of Star Wars fans and will go to any lengths to protect them from the unauthorized or unlawful distribution or publication of proprietary materials that would spoil their Star Wars experience."
Pi Guy Eyes Batman
arren Aronofsky (Pi) is in talks with Warner Brothers to take over direction of the next Batman movie, and recently met with Brad Pitt in Los Angeles, EW.com reported.
It's unclear whether the director is considering Pitt to play the caped crusader, but Aronofsky told EW.com, "I'd want to bring an independent guerrilla flavor to Batman."
Aronofsky is also writing a science fiction film, which he plans to direct, EW.com reported. "I'm just aggressively pushing everything forward," Aronofsky said. "The first thing that comes together, I'll do."
Rings Tries To Quash Photos
roducers of the Lord of the Rings film trilogy, now in production in New Zealand, are trying to prevent unauthorized images from the movies' production leaking to the local press, according to The Press newspaper.
The New Zealand newspaper ran photos from the production in its Aug. 23 editions.
But Three Foot Six productions has asserted a copyright claim on the photos, publicist Claire Raskind told the newspaper. The production company has also objected to moves by the Wellington, New Zealand, Evening Post newspaper, which was planning to sell posters made up of images from the three films. The newspaper has withdrawn the posters from sale.
The Lord of the Rings films are based on J.R.R. Tolkien's trilogy of novels of the same name.
Hopkins To Narrate Grinch
scar-winning actor Anthony Hopkins will narrate Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the upcoming live-action fantasy film based on the children's book of the same name, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Hopkins takes on a job once performed by the late Boris Karloff, who narrated the 1966 animated television version of the story.
The Ron Howard-directed Grinch movie, which stars Jim Carrey, will premiere Nov. 17.
Music Movie Coming
he Dark Horizons Web site reported that Red Beat Pictures has bought the film rights to the German SF novel When the Music's Over by Myra Çakan.
Çakan will unveil production designer Martina Pilcerova's paintings for the proposed film next week at the Worldcon in Chicago, the site reported.
Set in the 21st century, Music tells the story of Skadi, a young girl trying to understand why the governments of Earth have sold out the planet to a group of aliens. The film will be an English-language international co-production, the site reported.
Ear To Feature Farscape Stars
laudia Black and Anthony Simcoe, stars of The SCI FI Channel's original series Farscape, will lend their talents to a different SF story to be produced for SCIFI.COM's Seeing Ear Theatre.
The two will voice characters in the original audio drama Black Canoes, premiering Sept. 1 at 3 p.m. ET.
Simcoe will play Edward and Black will play Carol in the story of two people who venture into the countryside and end up in a series of bizarre adventures involving a primitive village and things that are not what they seem. Hugo-nominated writer Tony Daniel wrote the script for Black Canoes.
On Farscape, Simcoe plays D'Argo and Black plays Aeryn Sun.
Fox Delays Night Visions
ox will delay the premiere of its paranormal anthology series Night Visions to January, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Fox will also push back its upcoming genre series Freakylinks from 8 p.m. Fridays to Night Vision's original 9 p.m. Friday time slot, the trade paper reported. Freakylinks will bow in the fall.
Fox Entertainment president Gail Berman told the trade paper that the network made the changes because it worried about supporting two new series on Friday nights. By holding back Night Visions to mid-season, Berman said she hopes to avoid the mistake Fox made last year when it loaded up Friday night with two new series: Chris Carter's Harsh Realm and Ryan Caulfield: Year One. Fox canceled both series after they drew weak ratings.
Aurora Goes Digital
he anime feature film Aurora of the Sea will be shown using digital projection technology in Japanese theaters starting Sept. 9.
Aurora is only the second anime feature to be screened using Digital Light Processing, following in the footsteps of the anime title A*LI*CE. But unlike A*LI*CE, Aurora was digitally produced via a process that does not use standard animation cels, which should make it sharper and clearer when shown on DLP.
Aurora features character designs by Katsuya Kondou (Kiki's Delivery Service) and follows Hiroshi Ibuki and his underwater digging team as they discover a colony of luminescent bacteria that is accidentally revived and begins attacking the crew.
Last year, Star Wars: Episode I received limited digital screenings in the United States, and George Lucas has said Episode II will push the "filmless filming" envelope even further.
Luke Cage Movie In Works?
he Comics2Film Web site reported that New Line Cinema still wants to develop a feature film version of Marvel Comics' Luke Cage series, but that a deal is still a ways off.
An unnamed source told the site that New Line is talking with Marvel.
The project is set up at Akiva Goldsman's Weed Road Pictures production company, Comics2Film reported. A spokesperson for Weed Road was reluctant to tell the site much about the project, which is still in the very early stages of development, but did say that a 2001 release was unlikely.
Rumors suggest that LL Cool J (Deep Blue Sea) would play the title character and Hype Williams (Belly) might direct. Luke Cage is the story of former gang member who is wrongly imprisoned and ends up the subject of a medical experiment that endows him with superhuman strength.
Sci-Fi Hurry Rushes To Japanese TV
ouji Iida's new SF TV series Sci-Fi Hurry will debut on Japanese
television this October.
The show marks the first foray into anime by Iida, who is best known for the live-action series Night Head and Another Heaven.
Sci-Fi Hurry is said to depart from the usual style of Japanese animation by using animated backgrounds and atypical character designs. The show revolves around Hurry McQueen, a faint-hearted American teen-age boy and "ESPer," whose lack of control over his power creates tragedy after tragedy and also makes him the focus of a hunt by a secret organization for ESPer research.
Dimension Antes Up For Ghost
imension Films will co-finance the $75 million movie version of Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider series, Variety reported.
The studio is seeking Johnny Depp to star in the film, about a motorcycle stuntman who becomes a superhero after making a pact with dark forces, the trade paper reported.
Dimension, which will distribute the film domestically, is eyeing a spring production start. Stephen Norrington (Blade) will direct the picture from David Goyer's script, and both will executive produce, Variety reported.
Witchblade Slays Competition
he Aug. 27 premiere of the original TNT television movie Witchblade scored impressive ratings, boding well for a potential series.
TNT reported that Witchblade drew a 4.5 rating and an audience of 3.1 million households in the 18-49 age group, making it the top-rated movie of the week.
Witchblade, based on the Top Cow comic series of the same name, was also the most-watched program among adults 25-54 and is the No. 1 most-watched original movie among adults for the year to date, TNT reported.
The film, starring Yancy Butler as NYPD detective Sara Pezzini, is the pilot for a possible series. Encores of Witchblade will air at 8 p.m. Aug. 31, 10 p.m. on Sept. 2 and 10 p.m. on Sept. 6.
Creative Upheaval At Freakylinks
avid S. Goyer and Gregg Hale have quit day-to-day running of the upcoming Fox paranormal television series Freakylinks, which they co-created, EW.com reported.
The pair will now serve only as consultants for the show, the site reported.
Goyer (writer of Blade) and Hale (producer of The Blair Witch Project) quit when Fox dismissed Goyer as head writer of the show, EW.com reported. EW.com also reported that Hale's Haxan Films colleagues Mike Monello, Robin Cowie and Blair Witch directors Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez will play a less important role in Freakylinks. They will stay on as consultants, but direct most of their energy to the show's elaborate Web site, EW.com reported.
At issue is the network's decision to make the series less edgy and more "popcorny," EW.com said. ''It's classic," Goyer told the site. "How many times have you heard about that happening in Hollywood? I've had four pilots made, and two of those have gone on to [become] series. In every situation, I was brought on board to give the show an edgier feel, and it was always too edgy. They always say they want edgy, but they really just want the same thing over and over again."
Freakylinks, which was originally called Fearsum, tells the story of a maverick Web journalist, played by Ethan Embry, who investigates paranormal phenomena. It debuts Oct. 6.
Moebius Movie Coming
rench graphic artist Jean "Moebius" Giraud (Tron, Alien, The Abyss) has signed to create Thru the Moebius Strip, a feature-length computer-animated 3-D SF film set for a 2003 release, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Frank Foster, a founding member of Sony Pictures Imageworks, will direct the movie.
Moebius Strip will tell the story of a physicist who disappears into a transportation portal and is pursued by his son to a planet inhabited by giants. James Cox (Beauty and the Beast) wrote the screenplay.
Hudson, Malkovich Up For Spidey?
he Ain't It Cool News Web site reported rumors that director Sam Raimi is eyeing Kate Hudson and John Malkovich for roles in his upcoming Spider-Man feature film.
Based on a report from an anonymous source, AICN said that Raimi was considering Hudson--Goldie Hawn's daughter--for the role of Peter Parker's girlfriend, Mary Jane Watson.
AICN further reported that Malkovich was under consideration for the role of archvillain Norman Osborne, otherwise known as the Green Goblin--a role that was linked to Nicolas Cage. Raimi is set to begin production soon on the movie, which is based on the Marvel Comics series of the same name and will star Tobey Maguire as Parker.
Pig Heads For Big Screen
ickelodeon and Paramount are developing a live-action SF movie based on William Sleator's SF novel Interstellar Pig, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Damon Santostefano (Three to Tango) is in talks to direct the movie.
The movie will tell the story of three aliens who rent a cottage next door to a young boy on a beach vacation and introduce him to a board game called "Interstellar Pig." Phil Morton adapted Sleator's book for the big screen.
Next Design Phase Begins On Episode II
tar Wars: Episode II design director Doug Chiang told the official Star Wars Web site that he has completed the first phase of designs for the prequel.
"We have basically completed phase one of the design process, which has been to design all the necessary sets and/or partial sets to be built by [production designer] Gavin Bocquet and his crew," Chiang said.
But, Chiang said, "the design process for us doesn't end until the film is released. ... Now that that is complete, our second phase begins, which is all the rest of the designs, sets and characters that will be created [digitally] and/or with miniatures." Episode II recently wrapped production in Australia and now moves to Italy, Tunisia and Spain for more photography.
Star Trek: Invasion Game Due
ctivision will release Star Trek: Invasion, a space combat game, for the PlayStation game console on Aug. 28.
The game will retail for $39.95.
Based in the Star Trek: The Next Generation universe, Invasion will place gamers in control of the Federation's prototype single-pilot ships. Players will be able to investigate space anomalies, defend the Federation against alien threats and uncover the mystery that has opened a rift in the Beta Quadrant.
Freeman Game For Star Wars
organ Freeman (Deep Impact) told the Empire Online Web site that he'd love to play the father of Star Wars character Lando Calrissian, whom Billy Dee Williams played in Return of the Jedi.
"Why not?" Freeman said in response to a fan question.
Freeman added, "If you're asking whether I'd consider it, sure. I'm a Star Wars fan, so I'd probably quite enjoy it. With me, everything comes down to the script, but I'd certainly contemplate the idea if it was on offer. I didn't see [Star Wars: Episode I:] The Phantom Menace, though, so that might have some bearing on it." Freeman has not been approached about a role in any of the Star Wars prequels yet, and there is no indication Calrissian's father would figure as a character in any of the prequels.
Picard Weds Longtime Amour
atrick Stewart (Capt. Picard of Star Trek: The Next Generation) wed longtime girlfriend Wendy Neuss on Aug. 25 in Los Angeles, Stewart's spokewoman, Kelly Bush, told E! Online.
Stewart, 60, and Neuss, 39, have been dating for more than six years, the site reported.
Trek co-star Brent Spiner (Data) acted as best man, and other TNG actors attended, E! reported. Stewart met Neuss, a one-time TNG production assistant, on the set of the series. They became engaged in 1997. This is Stewart's second marriage and Neuss' first.
New Straczynski Series In Works?
abylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski told fans on a Usenet group that he's signed on to executive produce a new SF television series for an unnamed cable network.
Without discussing details of the series, Straczynski reportedly said on the rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5 newsgroup, "It's slated to start with a two-hour pilot, which I'll be writing, and is due no later than December."
Straczynski reportedly added, "What's nifty is that while there's a pilot required, as with any new series, in this case they're willing to go into production on the series based just on the script; we don't have to go out and shoot a full pilot first. ... There's a high-profile director attached to the project, and that involvement was one of the real inducements for me to sign on with this because I've always admired his work in TV and film."
Straczynski also said the show would likely shoot in Vancouver. "We'll probably begin shooting in February or March for a fall debut. On a personal level, it pays over double what I got on [Babylon 5] or Crusade, which is kind of nice."
Gilliam To Helm Good Omens
erry Gilliam (Brazil) is in line to co-write and direct Good Omens, an SF feature film based on the novel of the same name by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, the director told the IGN FilmForce Web site.
Gilliam will reportedly begin the movie after he wraps The Man Who Killed Don Quixote in Spain, IGN reported.
Gilliam told IGN that contracts for the project have been signed. "A British company, Renaissance Films, are handing over some money to us to write it and hopefully make it after this one," Gilliam said. "It's a good tale. The book is probably the 11th most-talked-about sci-fi book. I don't know that it's really sci-fi, but it involves the Antichrist. The angel from the Garden of Eden and the serpent from the Garden of Eden have now, thousands of years later, grown to like humanity kind of like a couple of diplomats to some banana republic, and they've been away from their home countries for a very long time, and they've gone a bit native."
Gilliam added, "Unfortunately, the Antichrist has been delivered, and the whole place is going to come to an end in a few days, and they really don't want it to happen." Good Omens was first published in 1990. Gaiman and Pratchett wrote a draft of a screenplay back in 1991.
Crowe Up For Superman?
andom's Entertainian Web site reported a rumor that Russell Crowe (Gladiator) has been approached about playing the lead role in the on-again, off-again Superman Lives movie project.
Citing unnamed sources, the site reported that Crowe would don the cape and tights for director Brad Silberling (City of Angels) and Warner Brothers.
The movie would be based on the previously abandoned script by Kevin Smith (Dogma). The site also reported a rumor that Kevin Spacey is being considered for the role of Superman's archenemy Lex Luthor.
Mythopoeic Winners Announced
he Mythopoeic Society, a group dedicated to fantasy literature, has announced its annual award winners.
The 2000 Mythopoeic Awards were presented Aug. 19 at the society's annual Mythcon in Volcano, Hawaii. A full list of winners follows.
Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature
•Tamsin by Peter S. Beagle
Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature
•The Folk Keeper by Franny Billingsley
Mythopoeic Scholarship Award in Inklings Studies
•Roverandom by J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond
Mythopoeic Scholarship Award in General Myth and Fantasy Studies
•Strange and Secret Peoples: Fairies and Victorian Consciousness by Carole G. Silv
Episode II Preview On New Videos
ox will re-release the three original Star Wars films on VHS on Nov. 21, with a sneak peak at the upcoming Star Wars: Episode II, according to the official Star Wars Web site.
The 10-minute preview of Episode II will describe how the prequel will fit into the overall saga and will feature interviews with George Lucas, as well as with new and returning cast and crew members.
The limited release will come in both pan-and-scan and widescreen versions. The trilogy will be priced at $39.98. The videos will contain the special edition of the three Star Wars films screened in 1997.
Dushku Keeps Faith With Buffy
liza Dushku, who plays the evil slayer, Faith, on The WB's hit series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, denied to TV Guide Online any rumors that she's being groomed to replace Buffy star Sarah Michelle Gellar.
"Sarah is one of the hardest-working women I know," said Dushku, who is currently on view in the cheerleader movie Bring It On.
Dushku added, "It's such a hard job and I could never see myself having the patience to do that kind of a show. I mean, Sarah's there all the time working harder than anybody else. I kind of have ADD [attention deficit disorder]."
Dushku told TV Guide that she's looking forward to what series creator Joss Whedon has planned for her on Buffy this season, the series' fifth. "I always joke with Joss, 'I've jumped off a building, gone into a coma, been in jail. If you can find a really witty and great way to bring me back, then I'll come back.' So far, he's lived up to his end."
USA Confirms Nikita Is Back
s expected, USA Network officially announced the return of its canceled SF series La Femme Nikita under a new agreement with Warner Brothers and Fireworks Entertainment.
USA Cable President Stephen Chao announced that the series would return for eight new episodes, starting in "early 2001." USA had canceled the series in a contract dispute with Warner.
"The fans of La Femme Nikita have shown us the commitment they have for this show, and while we were determined to keep it on USA Network, their tenacity and obvious desire for the series to continue reinforced our decision to pursue negotiations aggressively for the series' return," Chao said in a statement.
Nikita executive consultant Bob Cochran said in his own statement, "We're thrilled to have the opportunity to continue telling the story of Nikita and Section One. We have every intention of making these eight episodes as provocative and unpredictable as any we've seen before on the series. It's going to be a wild ride."
Nygard Eyeing Trekkies 2
oger Nygard, the documentarian who filmed Trekkies, told The Movie Insider Web site that he's prepping a sequel to the popular 1999 movie about Trek fandom.
"I'm sure the question is not 'if' but 'when,'" Nygard said.
Nygard added, "I'd like to start the project moving forward in 2001. It would be fun to do updates on our original profilees, find some new ones, as well as focus on foreign fans." The original Trekkies is available on home video and DVD.
Barker Raises Hell About Sequel
ellraiser creator Clive Barker told the American Cinamateque Film Festival in Los Angeles that he's not happy with Hellraiser V, the latest installment in the popular horror movie franchise, according to a report on Fandom.
"The new Hellraiser movie is not something I would like to direct. I really don't like to say this about another's work, but I really hate this movie, and it seems to have violated a lot of the things that I like about [the first] Hellraiser."
Barker added, "I kept away from Hellraiser IV, [and] I kept away from Hellraiser V because in both cases, I tried to be involved in the process, and in both cases, they said, 'No, we can do this better than you; go away.' That wasn't from the director, by the way, who is really nice, but it was from some of the suits at [the studio,] Dimension [Films,] who had absolutely no intention of getting Clive Barker involved in a Hellraiser movie, and [who] said, 'Why would we want Clive Barker involved in a Hellraiser movie?'"
Barker said, "It's painful, because I loved making this movie; I loved making the second movie; I actually had a good time at the third one; and then it started to fall apart. The reason it falls apart is because of certain people who are not creative, who are pencil pushers, the people who went to business school, who went to law school, who have absolutely nothing to do with the creative process who think they know better than creators. And this town is full of them!"
Craig Took Risk For Raider
aniel Craig, who co-stars with Angelina Jolie in the upcoming Tomb Raider movie, told the Empire Online Web site that he took a risk signing onto the movie, which is based on the Eidos video game series of the same name.
"I have to do it, because it is an experience," Craig told the site. "I've never done something on this scale before. It will be nice to think if I do this film, I will have more of a choice as to what I do."
Craig described his character as "an old flame" of Jolie's adventurer heroine, Lara Croft. "And he's a tomb raider. We go on adventures together. Use your imagination. I'm going to be shooting guns. ... It's not the game. It's an action film, on a theme. I hope it's as exciting as it reads."
Craig added that he had to get in shape to win the role. "I've just finished Sword of Honour for [Great Britain's] Channel 4, and while I was doing that, I knew that Tomb Raider was going to happen, so I thought, 'OK, time to get fit.' Why not? It's good to be in shape. I don't want to get into that narcissistic thing of body beautiful; I'm never going to be body beautiful, neither am I going to be beautiful."
Planet Producer Denies Feud
ark Canton, producer of Warner Brothers' upcoming SF epic Mars movie, Red Planet, told Cinescape Online that rumors of on-set feuding were overblown.
The tabloids had reported that co-stars Val Kilmer and Tom Sizemore feuded openly on the set of the movie--reports both stars have denied.
"The only tension that was there was just purely from the difficulty of the location and the heat of the moment," Canton told Cinescape editor Steve Hockensmith about the shoot in Australia and Jordan. "Val and Tom know each other too well [for a feud to erupt]. And I was there. It was completely professional, and we didn't lose any time or energy over that. Sometimes stuff happens when you're in 115 degrees and you're in an astronaut suit." Red Planet opens Nov. 3.
Snipes Says Blade 2 Is Bananas
esley Snipes told EW.com that Blade 2, the sequel to his 1998 hit vampire movie, Blade, will go beyond the original.
"All I can say about Blade 2 is that it is bananas. Bananas!" Snipes told the site.
Snipes added, "The first movie was child's play, because this time we're trying things that have never been done before." The sequel, which starts filming in February, will begin in Las Vegas, where the hero battles a new breed of genetically engineered supervampires, EW.com reported. Blade will be forced to join with a desperate band of vampires who are also under attack.
Blade and Blade 2 writer David S. Goyer told EW that he's wary of sequels. "I wrote one of the worst sequels ever made, The Crow: City of Angels, so I know that things can go wrong," he said. But Goyer said the Blade series was always conceived as a trilogy. "I've always had two other stories I wanted to tell. We're building on the first one."
Chan Mulling A Stretch
ackie Chan is in talks to play an elastic superhero in Disney's upcoming Stretch Armstrong, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The movie would be based on the CAP Toys Inc. action figure of the same name.
Bill Collage and Adam Cooper will tailor the script to Chan's strength as a comedic martial artist, the trade paper reported. No director has been picked yet for the movie. Stretch will tell the story of an uptight Chinese spy and martial artist who stumbles upon a secret formula that gives him stretching powers.
Olin, Moreau Maybes For Damned
ena Olin and newcomer Marguerite Moreau are in talks to join the cast of Queen of the Damned, Warner Brothers' and Village Roadshow Productions' feature-film version of the Anne Rice novel of the same name, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Olin would play the vixen aunt of Moreau's vampire hunter, who falls in love with the vampire Lestat, played by Stuart Townshend, the trade paper reported.
Singer/actress Aaliyah will play the vampire queen, Akasha. Michael Rymer will direct.
Nikita Back For Season 5
roducers of USA Network's canceled series La Femme Nikita reported that USA and Warner Brothers have reached an agreement to bring the show back for a short fifth season, according to a message board post on the show's official Web site.
Production spokesman and writer Christopher Heyn said that Nikita will return for eight new episodes, debuting in January.
The new episodes will bring back regular cast members Peta Wilson (Nikita), Roy Dupuis (Michael), Eugene Robert Glazer (Operations), Alberta Watson (Madeleine), Don Francks (Walter) and Matthew Ferguson (Jason Crawford). "However, because of this season's revised budget, not all actors can be in every episode. [The powers that be] are making the best of this situation by creating a season-long arc where every character plays a role in the overall story. In addition to our regulars, Kate Quinn will return to Comm, and there are plans to bring back one or two notable guest characters from previous seasons as well," Heyn said. Executive consultant Robert Cochran will head the writing staff and will write season five's premiere episode.
USA canceled Nikita in May because of a contract dispute with Warner, but took up talks to revive the series when the broadcast of the season's last original episodes drew strong ratings. Season four's finale aired Aug. 27.
Heyn thanked the fans, particularly those at First Team and the Save LFN Web site for helping bring the show back. "Without your daily efforts in generating literally thousands of letters, e-mails and faxes (not to mention TV sets, remotes, VCRs and fliers handed out personally) to USA and WB, this deal probably would never have happened," Heyn said.
Genre Shows Nab Creative Emmys
he X-Files and Discovery's non-fiction Walking with Dinosaurs each took home three awards in the creative arts categories for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences 52nd annual prime-time Emmy Awards.
The creative Emmys were presented in Pasadena, Calif., on Aug. 26. A list of genre Emmys follows.
Main Title Design
•The 10th Kingdom, NBC
Makeup for a Series
•The X-Files, "Theef," Fox
Makeup for a Miniseries, Movie or Special
•Arabian Nights, Part 2, ABC
Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore)
•Xena: Warrior Princess, "Fallen Angel," syndicated
Animated Program (More Than One Hour)
•Walking with Dinosaurs, Discovery
Special Visual Effects for a Series
•The X-Files, "First Person Shooter," Fox
Sound Mixing for a Drama Series
•The X-Files, "First Person Shooter," Fox
Special Visual Effects for a Miniseries, Movie or Special
•Walking with Dinosaurs, Discovery
Achievement in Nonfiction Programming-Sound Editing
•Walking with Dinosaurs, Discovery
Individual Achievement in Animation
•Don Shank, The Powerpuff Girls, Cartoon Network
Individual Achievement in Animation
•Bari Kumar, Futurama, Fox
Episode II Wraps Oz Shoot
ustralian location shooting for Star Wars: Episode II has wrapped, according to the official Star Wars Web site.
The production now moves to Italy and Tunisia for more photography.
The last Australian shot took place on Aug. 25 at 4:45 p.m., the site reported. Episode II shot for nine weeks in Sydney and is scheduled for release in 2002.
The Dark Horizons Web site, meanwhile, reported a rumor that Hong Kong martial arts star Maggie Cheung (Police Story) will play "a warrior pupil of the villain" in the movie.
Scholastic Launches Potter Contest
cholastic Inc., U.S. publisher of the best-selling Harry Potter series of children's novels, is sponsoring an essay contest whose first prize is a trip to New York to dine with author J.K. Rowling, according to the Associated Press.
The "How the Harry Potter Books Have Changed My Life" essay contest will be open to persons 18 or younger.
Ten winners will fly to the Big Apple in October during Rowling's next U.S. media tour, the AP reported. Contest entries should be no longer than 300 words and must be postmarked by Sept. 11. Full details and rules are available on Scholastic's Web site.
The Cell Drops To No. 3
he Cell dropped to third place in the box-office rankings on the weekend of Aug. 25, taking in an estimated $9.6 million, the Hollywood trade papers reported.
That represented a disappointing 45 percent decline in the film's earnings in its second weekend of release. The Cell has earned $33.7 million so far.
Space Cowboys ranked fourth, taking in an estimated $6.6 million for the weekend, for a total of $63.8 million in its fourth weekend of release.
Briefly Noted
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Wanda De Jesus (The Insider) has joined the cast of John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars, Variety reported.
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The WB network will premiere Sabrina, the Teenage Witch on Friday, Sept. 22, at 8 p.m., the same time slot the show had when it appeared on the ABC network, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
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Fox Interactive has posted new screen captures from its upcoming video game based on The WB's hit television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
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Subscribers to the official Star Wars Web site will be able to take part in a chat with LucasArts president Simon Jeffery at 7 p.m. PST Sept. 5. Jeffery will answer questions and bring fans up to date on current and future games.
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Total Film magazine reported rumors that Matthew McConaughey is under consideration to play the title role in the proposed feature film version of Marvel Comics' Daredevil series. Other rumored actors for the movie include John Goodman (Kingpin) and Gwyneth Paltrow (Elektra).
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Warner Brothers will preview its upcoming Sept. 22 re-release of a restored and enhanced version of The Exorcist on America Online Aug. 31, with a clip of the "spider walk" scene that has been restored to the 1973 horror classic. The film's official Web site, meanwhile, features a new interview with makeup artist Dick Smith, who won an Oscar for his work on The Exorcist.
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The Disney Channel has ordered 20 episodes of What's Lizzie Thinking?, a live-action comedy series about a 13-year-old girl and her animated alter ego, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The series will star Hilary Duff as Lizzie McGuire and Jake Thomas (The Cell) as her brother.
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News reports say that Richard Harris is holding out for more money before signing on to play Dumbledore in the upcoming feature-film version of J.K. Rowling's best-selling children's novel Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Harris reportedly wants a 2 percent stake in profits from the sales of Potter-related merchandise, the same arrangement the late Sir Alec Guinness had with Star Wars.
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LucasArts has released new screen captures from its upcoming video game Star Wars: Episode I: Battle for Naboo, which is being developed for the Nintendo 64 platform, FGN reported.
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The Slipstreamweb site has posted a production sketch of the titular starship from the upcoming syndicated television series Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda.
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The Dark Horizons Web site reported that the upcoming DVD of Paul Verhoeven's Hollow Man movie will feature the unrated, uncut version of the film that is screening in parts of Europe. The added scenes will extend some of Hollow Man's more disturbing sequences, the site reported.
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Michael Jeter (The Green Mile) will join the cast of Jurassic Park 3, which starts shooting under director Joe Johnston next month, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
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Emmanuelle Chriqui (Detroit Rock City) and Kirk B.R. Woller have joined the cast of Steven Spielberg's upcoming SF thriller movie A.I., according to The Hollywood Reporter.
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TheOneRing.net reported a rumor that Michael Hughes, an actor with the New Zealand special-effects house WETA, will inhabit the armor of arch-villain Sauron in Peter Jackson's upcoming film trilogy, The Lord of the Rings. It was unclear whether Hughes would provide Sauron's voice or appear otherwise as the powerful wizard in the films, which are based on J.R.R. Tolkien's three novels of the same name.
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Ethan Phillips, who plays Neelix on UPN's Star Trek: Voyager, told fans at a German Trek convention that the starship would make its way home before the end of the series, according to the SF Radio.de Web site. Phillips said that producers wanted at least a few episodes to deal with the homecoming of the long-lost starship back on Earth.
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The threatened Screen Actors Guild and Writers Guild of America strikes likely will not affect production on the upcoming sequels to The Matrix, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Should the strikes occur during production of the second and third installments, which are scheduled to be shot back to back, cast and crew will take a voluntary hiatus and the production will focus on special effects.
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The New York Daily News reported that Nicolas Cage won't be able to play the villainous Green Goblin in Sony's upcoming Spider-Man film because of scheduling conflicts with his current production, Windtalkers. Cage had been reportedly interested in the Spider-Man movie, which is based on the Marvel Comics series of the same name.
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Universal Studios Hollywood will mount Halloween attractions themed to The WB's hit series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. Buffy & Angel: Hellmouth Haunt will be a live, multimedia attraction on one of Universal's sound stages, opening Oct. 13 and running Oct. 14, 20, 21, 27, 28, 29 and 31.
