Sandman Hits Best-Seller List
C Comics announced that the graphic novel The Sandman: Endless Nights, by Neil Gaiman, has debuted at number 20 for hardcover fiction on the New York Times best seller list, marking the first time an American comic-book publisher has earned a spot on the list.
"We are extremely proud to have this extraordinary graphic novel mark the growing importance of the category to book buyers across the country and congratulate Neil and join him in thanking his readers," said Paul Levitz, President of DC Comics in a statement.
The original graphic novel, which was released on Sept. 17, is a collection of seven short stories based on seven siblings known as the Endless: Death, Desire, Despair, Delirium, Destruction, Destiny and Dream. Top artists from around the world, such as Milo Manara and Miguelanxo Prado, contributed artwork to each of the stories. According to the publisher, The Sandman: Endless Nights has been recognized as a turning point for the graphic novel genre by sources from The New York Times and Entertainment Weekly to USA Today and Publishers Weekly.
Wilson Fancies Catwoman
ambert Wilson, who stars with Halle Berry and Sharon Stone in the upcoming comic-book adaptation Catwoman, told SCI FI Wire that Berry looks amazing in her costume.
"Halle Berry in that outfit looks so incredible," he said in an interview at a release party for the upcoming DVD of his previous film, The Matrix Reloaded. "When you see her moving around, she's it. She's so beautiful, feline, half-human, half-animal. She's extraordinary. I fell in love."
The French-born actor said he also looks forward to working closely with Stone when he begins filming next week. "I play Sharon Stone's husband," he said. "So that's another villain, if I may say. And I'm the husband to another beautiful lady. I've had [Matrix co-star] Monica Bellucci, and now Sharon. It's very nice, I must say. And I feel very lucky. It's a new moment in my career. I've been around in France for quite a while, but this is new." Catwoman is currently filming in Vancouver, B.C.
Reeves Touts Reloaded DVD
eanu Reeves, who stars as Neo in The Matrix trilogy, told SCI FI Wire that the upcoming DVD of The Matrix Reloaded features some impressive extras.
"I've seen some of the behind-the-scenes footage," he said in an interview at a release party celebrating the DVD. "It looks really incredible. They had a documentary crew during the course of making the film, and so I was interviewed a couple of times for that."
With the final installment in the trilogy, The Matrix Revolutions, opening in theaters in Nov. 5, Reeves said he will be both relieved and saddened to leave the franchise behind. "I had a great experience making these films, and it's been great to be a part of them," he said. "I feel very fortunate, very lucky. And when the cycle is complete, I'll miss that. I really enjoy the films, and there won't be any more." The Matrix Reloaded will be released on DVD and VHS Oct. 14.
Roswell Music Changed For DVD
he TVShowsonDVD Web site reports that some of the music originally appearing on the teen-alien series Roswell will be replaced for the upcoming DVD release due to prohibitive licensing fees.
Capitalizing on a previously untapped revenue stream, record companies have been steadily increasing licensing fees for DVDs and home videos in the last few years, forcing distributors to choose between eliminating expensive songs by well-known artists or setting higher retail prices. The site did not specify which songs had been dropped from Roswell, but the series featured music from such high-profile artists as Sarah McLachlan, Dave Matthews Band, Santana and Jewel. The first season of Roswell is due on DVD in February.
Lion King DVD Lukewarm
isney's animated classic The Lion King got off to a modest start in the home-video market, selling more than 2 million combined DVD and VHS units during its first day in release on Oct. 7, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
By comparison, about 4.5 million units were sold when the film originally debuted in VHS format in 1999, Disney executives said.
Disney currently holds the record for first-day sales with the Disney/Pixar animated film Monsters Inc., which sold more than 5 million combined VHS and DVD units, according to Disney chairman and CEO Michael Eisner and Pixar chief Steve Jobs. Industry observers expect sales of The Lion King to grow significantly throughout the fourth quarter. Video buyers also said they were more focused on long-term sales of the re-release, the trade paper reported. The original release sold about 32 million total VHS units.
Whedon Praises Firefly DVD
oss Whedon, who created the short-lived television series Firefly, told Cinescape magazine that he's thrilled with the quality of the upcoming DVD box set.
"They really went to town on the DVD," Whedon told the magazine. "There are interviews, extras, a gag reel and commentary on more than half the episodes. I was really impressed. When they said they wanted to do it, I was surprised. Then they just did it proper. It's a really nice package."
Set almost 500 years in the future, Firefly follows the adventures of the ragtag crew aboard a transport spaceship named Serenity. The four-disk DVD set includes all 13 episodes of the series, eight of which feature commentary, deleted scenes from three episodes, three featurettes, a gag reel, Alan Tudyk's audition for the role of Wash and Whedon himself singing the theme song. A feature film based on the series is currently in development, with Whedon attached to direct. The DVD set will be released on Dec. 9.
Buffy Writers Find New Medium
oss Whedon is working with the former writing staff of Buffy the Vampire Slayer to provide stories for the Dark Horse Comics miniseries Tales of the Vampires, the Comics Continuum Web site reported.
"With Joss and the other writers from the show including Brett Matthews—who's gone on to write some high-profile stuff for Marvel—it's basically a show reunion just months after the TV show ended, which I think is the thing readers are responding to the most, so far," said editor Scott Allie.
The five-issue series will tell the stories of several vampires across time within the Buffy universe, including familiar characters such as Spike and Drusilla. Whedon has written the first two issues, which will be illustrated by newcomer Alex Sanchez and former Catwoman artist Cameron Stewart. The first issue goes on sale Dec. 10 and will have a retail price of $2.99.
Arnold Becomes Governator
rnold Schwarzenegger has been chosen by the people of California to replace incumbent governor Gray Davis, who was recalled in an historic election on Oct. 7, according to news sources.
California voters flocked to the polls in record numbers, approving the recall of Davis 54 percent to 46 percent. With 97 percent of the votes counted, the Terminator star led his closest opponent, Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, by more than 1 million votes.
Once the election results are certified on Nov. 15, Gov. Schwarzenegger has 10 days to assume office. The actor-turned-politician's new role calls into question the fate of his upcoming film projects, but he will be seen in a cameo in the upcoming Jackie Chan vehicle Around the World in 80 Days. In a concession speech, Bustamante voiced his criticism that Schwarzenegger would be a dedicated public servant. "Arnold, you are very famous for making movies all over the world, and I want you to feel free to continue doing that," Bustamante said.
Projects Endure Without Arnold
everal film projects in the works will have to cope without star Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has announced that he will not make any films in the near future so he can concentrate on his new role as governor of California.
According to syndicated columnists Marilyn Beck and Stacy Janel Smith, writer and director John Milius is planning on going forward with the upcoming sequel King Conan: Crown of Iron, with a new actor in the lead role. A source close to the project said that the film will benefit from the recasting, which will eliminate Schwarzenegger's customarily high salary from the budget and make it easier insure the production in exotic locales.
Similarly, Warner Brothers is considering a fourth installment in the Terminator franchise sans Schwarzenegger, according to the Dark Horizons Web site. A source told the site that the governor-elect has recommended wrestler-turned-action-star The Rock to replace him should there be a Terminator 4.
Arnold Returns To SCI FI
wo days after the historic California recall election, SCI FI Channel ended its moratorium on Arnold Schwarzenegger movies with an airing of Total Recall.
Although not obligated to give equal time to political candidates (FCC rules require local TV stations to provide equal airtime to all candidates running for office), SCI FI decided in August to reschedule all Schwarzenegger movies until after the California ballot on Oct. 7. The network replaced the originally scheduled block of Schwarzenegger movies on Sunday, Aug. 24, with California-themed movies including Volcano: Fire on the Mountain, Inferno and Ice. Regardless of the outcome of the election, Total Recall aired Thursday, Oct. 9, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on SCI FI.
Owen To Be 007?
cottish newspaper The Daily Record reported a rumor that Clive Owen (Gosford Park, The Bourne Identity) will succeed Pierce Brosnan as the next James Bond.
According to the paper, a press conference will be held in in January or February at London's Pinewood Studios in which Brosnan will announce that the 21st Bond film will be his last. Owen is rumored to be taking over the mantle in the 22nd film, which will begin production in 2006.
Owen is only the latest in a string of actors reportedly considered for the role, including Gerald Butler, Ewan McGregor, Dougray Scott and Ralph Fiennes. According to the paper, Brosnan recommended Owen to producer Linda Broccoli, widow of the late Cubby. "Clive's the one," a source told the paper. "There have been rumors about Clive, but these rumors are getting louder and louder now."
Good Dogs Impressed Aiken
iam Aiken, who stars alongside a mostly canine cast in Good Boy!, told SCI FI Wire that it was a challenge to concentrate on his acting with a herd of noisy trainers just offscreen.
"You've got five or six trainers over your shoulder squeaking toys and jingling bells and whistles," he said in an interview while promoting the film. "You're doing this scene and you're like, 'What do you think, Hubble?' And as soon as you finish your line that's their cue to continue, so they're like squeak, squeak, squeak! It's insane."
Aiken plays a boy who gets a new dog named Hubble (voiced by Matthew Broderick) that turns out to be from outer space. Dismayed by the submissiveness of the neighborhood dogs, Hubble tries to train them to be more dignified. Aiken said he was amazed at how well-trained the dogs were in real life. "I had less than two months to work with these dogs," he said. "And everything you see with the dogs was real, except for the flying, because Hubble had a bad experience and just wouldn't do it. But it's incredible to see them work."
Aiken said he was also impressed with the visual effects created by Rainmaker studios, which animated the mouths of the talking dogs. "The visual effects house is incredible," he said. "They did the perfect job. It was just subtle enough to make it look real. You got lost in it. You really forgot that it wasn't right for dogs to talk." Good Boy! opens Oct. 11.
Hoffman Sees Dogs As Aliens
ohn Hoffman, who wrote and directed the family comedy Good Boy!, told SCI FI Wire that his experiences with his own dog inspired the film's concept of outer-space canines.
"I fell so deeply when I saw this cute shivering little dog and brought her home," he said in an interview while promoting the film. "And all of a sudden there's this new creature in the corner looking at me as I'm going to bed. ... I remember consciously thinking, 'This is like having an alien here.'"
In the film, a boy (Liam Aiken) discovers his new dog (voiced by Matthew Broderick) is from another planet. With the help of alien techology, the boy gains the ability to communicate with dogs, a power Hoffman says he'd like to have. "The only conversation that I really want to have with my dog right now is about the movie," Hoffman said. "All I want is her approval. I pass billboards down the street and I hear the commercial on the TV or something like that, and then I look at my dog in the corner and I think, 'If not for you, none of this would be happening.'" Good Boy! opens Oct. 11.
Ferrell Gets Bewitched
aturday Night Live veteran Will Ferrell has signed on to star as Darrin in the upcoming film based on the 1960s television series Bewitched, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Ferrell will play the mortal husband of a witch named Samantha, a role secured by Nicole Kidman, the trade paper reported. Nora Ephron (When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle) is writing the screenplay and will also direct. Ferrell will next be seen on the big screen in the upcoming holiday film Elf, which opens Nov. 7.
Foundation Moves Ahead
eff Vintar, who recently wrote the big-screen adaptation of Isaac Asimov's I, Robot, has been brought on to complete the script for another Asimov work, Foundation, according to a report on the Cinescape Web site.
An inside source told the site that the epic SF trilogy will most likely be split into two films, tentatively entitled Foundation and Second Foundation.
It's unclear whether the script will be a rewrite of an earlier draft by John Rogers (The Core) or a wholly original adaptation. Vintar will begin writing the two Foundation scripts after he completes his current project, a film based on the Vertigo comic Y: The Last Man, for Blade: Trinity writer and director David Goyer.
WB Gets Lost
he WB Network has given a pilot order to a remake of the 1960s fantasy-adventure drama Lost in Space, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The WB pursued the project aggressively, beating out several networks interested in the series. The new version, set in the year 2097, will hew closely to the original by following the adventures of the Robinson family and their loyal robot sidekick, the trade paper reported.
Feature filmmaker John Woo (Mission: Impossible 2) is on board as an executive producer and may possibly direct the pilot, the trade paper reported. The pilot will be written by Buffy the Vampire Slayer scribe Doug Petrie, who will also executive produce. Jon Jashni and Kevin Burns of Synthesis Entertainment, which oversees the TV and film properties controlled by the estate of Lost in Space creator Irwin Allen, will executive produce as well.
Barker Developing TV Series
live Barker, the writer and director behind the Hellraiser series, is bringing his demons to the peacock network, Variety reported.
Barker is developing a pilot entitled Demonologist for NBC along with writer Ted Tannenbaum (USA Network's The Dead Zone) for the fall 2004 television season.
The show is loosely based on the book of the same name by Gerald Daniel Brittle about real-life supernatural investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. Like the book, the series will revolve around a married couple who fight demons, but are more afraid of their 15-year-old daughter, the trade paper reported.
Taken Team Reunites
teven Spielberg, Les Bohem and DreamWorks Television—the creative team behind the Emmy Award-winning miniseries Taken—have announced their next collaboration, a trilogy entitled Nine Lives, to air on SCI FI Channel.
Heralded by the network as the "first true miniseries trilogy ever," Nine Lives will be conceived, written and produced over the course of three separate installments. The saga of love, death and beyond will be entirely written by Taken scribe Bohem, who will also executive produce with Spielberg and DreamWorks Television. The project is slated to launch in 2005.
"Steven joins us in welcoming this second opportunity to be associated with the SCI FI Channel in bringing innovative programming to the television audience," said Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey, co-heads of DreamWorks Television. "Taken was an incredible experience on every level, and with Les Bohem back at the helm, we have no doubt that Nine Lives will be equally exciting for all of us."
Following the success of miniseries events such as Taken, Frank Herbert's Dune and Frank Herbert's Children of Dune, SCI FI has made a number of deals with high-profile filmmakers including Martin Scorsese, Bryan Singer, Dean Devlin and Gale Anne Hurd. A highly anticipated four-hour re-imagining of the classic Battlestar Galactica is slated to premiere in December.
Hackers Delay Half-Life 2
ivendi Universal Games and Valve Software may push back the release of the highly anticipated PC game Half-Life 2 after the recent theft and online distribution of the game's source code, according to the Reuters news service.
The data theft, one of the worst to hit the video game industry, drew mixed responses from fans, some of whom pledged to help find the perpetrators, while others rushed to find screenshots or even playable fragments of the game, the news service reported.
A representative from Valve would not share details on the impact of the attack. Publisher Vivendi Universal's president of international operation, Christophe Ramboz, however, told a French newspaper that the theft "forces [them] to delay the launch of the game by at least four months." The game is now tentatively scheduled for April 2004. This is the second time the game has been pushed back from its original release date of Sept. 30.
Coelho Blesses Alchemist
aulo Coelho, who wrote the popular novella The Alchemist, told the Reuters news service he believes director and star Laurence Fishburne will do justice to the book in the upcoming film adaptation.
"I am confident he can make a good movie," Coelho told Reuters at the Frankfurt Book Fair, where he is publicizing his new novel, Eleven Minutes. "He is directing, he wrote the screenplay, and he is acting as the Alchemist."
The book tells the story of an Andalusian shepherd who takes to the desert on a mythical quest for treasure. Coelho met with Fishburne in London to discuss the film adaptation and was impressed with the Matrix star. "He is a nice guy and very sensitive," Coelho said. "He is a person that I really trust." The Warner Brothers production, which also stars Jeremy Irons and Madonna, is set to being filming in Jordan at the end of the year.
Episode 3 Title Revealed?
source told TheForce.net fan Web site that Lucasfilm Ltd. has registered the domain name www.revengeofthesith.net, a title which corresponds to an early draft of the script for the upcoming Star Wars: Episode III.
Ownership of the name does not necessarily mean that the title is confirmed, however. Lucasfilm registered several unused domains prior to the release of Star Wars: Episode II—Attack of the Clones. But the domain registration combined with reports that the title Star Wars: Episode II—Revenge of the Sith had appeared on at least one version of the script suggest that it is a working title, according to the site.
Imax Eyes Spidey And Harry
max is seeking to raise its profile among moviegoers by showing more mainstream Hollywood films such as Spider-Man 2 and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in its large-format theaters, according to The NY Daily News.
The litmus test will come on Nov. 5, when The Matrix Revolutions opens in Imax and conventional theaters simultaneously. "It's a watershed moment," said Leland Westerfield, media analyst at Jefferies & Co. "It's the first time we'll see whether audiences prefer the big-screen 70mm experience over 35mm."
The company has developed new technology that lets the company reformat conventional 35 mm film for the big screen and has begun making deals with the studios, the newspaper reported. Previous studio films released in Imax theaters include Apollo 13, Star Wars: Episode II—Attack of the Clones and The Matrix Reloaded. "I would like to have more visibility," said Imax co-CEO Brad Wechsler. "We want to show theater owners we have a continuous flow of product."
Signed Alien Posters For Grabs
o promote the upcoming theatrical release of Alien: The Director's Cut, 20th Century Fox is giving away posters autographed by director Ridley Scott to anyone who spots one in their local theater.
The studio will be distributing 20 signed posters to undisclosed theaters in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Boston, Dallas, Washington D.C., Houston, Seattle, Atlanta and Toronto. The first moviegoer to notice one on display and notify the theater manager will have the chance to take the collectible home. Alien: The Director's Cut opens in theaters on Oct. 29.
LXG Tops Overseas B.O.
he League of Extraordinary Gentlemen managed to overtake Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl as the number-one film overseas for the Oct. 3 period, the Hollywood trade papers reported.
Backed by openings in Germany, France, Australia and Russia, the Sean Connery starrer earned about $14.6 million from 24 markets, making for an international total of $51.5 million. The film made a disappointing $66 million in North America.
Still, Pirates of the Caribbean remained a potent force in its eighth week, surpassing the $300 million mark with a take of $11.1 million from 45 markets, making its total tally $310.1 million. With a combined foreign and domestic gross of about $600 million, it now stands as the 17th top-grossing film in history.
Howard Adapting Da Vinci
on Howard is set to produce and direct the big-screen adaptation of the best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code, Variety reported.
Producer Brian Grazer and writer Akiva Goldsman, both of whom worked with Howard on the Oscar-winning film A Beautiful Mind, will also be involved in the project.
The novel, by Dan Brown, centers on a Harvard symbol expert who is called in to investigate the murder of a curator at the Louvre and discovers a mystery related to a secret society and the paintings of Leonardo Da Vinci. Columbia Pictures owns the film rights to the book, which has remained at the top of the New York Times best-seller list for 27 weeks. Production on the film will begin once Howard completes work on his latest feature, Cinderella Man.
Thompson Joins Potter Cast
mma Thompson has been added to the cast of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban as Divination instructor Professor Trelawney, according to Australian newspaper The Herald Sun.
Thompson's character plagues Harry and his classmates with mostly false predictions based on the dubious art of fortunetelling using tea leaves and crystal balls.
The film, directed by Alfonso Cuaron, will be the third installment in the franchise based on the popular children's books by J.K. Rowling. Thompson joins an already distinguished cast of British actors including fellow newcomers Gary Oldman and Julie Christie and Potter regulars Alan Rickman and Maggie Smith. Currently filming in the U.K., Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban will be released in June of 2004.
Vamp Fest Winners Announced
he International Press Academy has announced the winners of the first international Vampire Film Festival, according to the Zap2It.com Web site.
The festival, held at the Los Angeles Film School in Hollywood, ended with a gothic vampire costume ball for audience members. Attendees who donated blood to the Red Cross at the festival received a reduced admission.
A complete list of winners follows.
Outstanding Vampire Feature
•Demon Under Glass
Outstanding Vampire Short
•Midnight Sun
Best Vampire Portrayal
•Jason Carter, Demon Under Glass
Audience Award
•The Evil Basement of Count Warlock
Special Award for Outstanding Art Direction
•Mina Seward
Briefly Noted
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A Scottish murderer convicted of killing and drinking the blood of his victim told a court that his crime was inspired by the vampire film Queen of the Damned, according to Scotsman.com.
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James Bond star Roger Moore was knighted on Oct. 8 for his work as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nation Children's Fund (UNICEF). Moore said Queen Elizabeth II "also mentioned 007 too."
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Songwriter and performer Peter Gabriel will contribute a new original song to the upcoming video game Uru: Ages Beyond Myst, which will be released on Nov. 11.
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A trailer for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, the latest film from screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (Adaptation, Being John Malkovich), has gone up on the Web. The spot takes the form of a commercial for a fictional company called Lacuna, which offers a memory-erasing procedure in the film. Starring Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst and Elijah Wood, Eternal Sunshine opens Nov. 14 in limited release.
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Guillermo del Toro, director of the upcoming Hellboy, posted on a message board at the film's official Web site that a trailer will accompany Tom Cruise's upcoming film The Last Samurai when it opens in theaters on Dec. 5.
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Lions Gate has opened a new Web site for its upcoming supernatural horror film Godsend, starring Greg Kinnear, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos and Robert De Niro. The film is set to open in early 2004.
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Fans have been lining up to sponsor seats in a New Zealand theater which will host the world premiere of Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, according to the Associated Press. Donors worldwide have paid as much as $1,104 to have their names engraved on a plaque on specific seat in the theater, which is undergoing refurbishment in preparation for the premiere. Sponsorship does not, however, include a ticket to the event.
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Underworld slipped to sixth place in the box-office rankings in its third weekend of release, taking in about $4.8 million, the Hollywood trade papers reported. The vampires-vs.-werewolves movie has made about $44.5 million to date.
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William Steig, who wrote and illustrated the best-selling children's book Shrek, died Oct. 4, according to the Associated Press. The book was the basis for the Oscar-winning computer-animated feature of the same name. Steig died of natural causes at his home in Boston. He was 95.
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