21A 19 Jan 2001
-----Original Message-----
Report 21A. This is a digest of recent Sci-Fi- and genre-related news as of 19 January 2001.
News & Notes
Group News:
NATPE Comes Around Again
As those of you who have been with us for several years will know, every year at this time one of our members is dispatched to the NATPE conference to listen out for the first suggestions on new shows for next year.
I was supposed to be going this year, but as a result of recent events, Mike Sanderson will be going in my place. Mike will be feeding us all sorts of items over the next couple of weeks and we will make sure that you are kept up to date.
As always, only about 30% of everything that is proposed will ever make it to a pilot, and of that, maybe half will make it to the screen, but it’s always interesting to know what ideas people are coming up with.
TV News:
The Return of 'Babylon 5'?
What are the chances of there being new Babylon 5 material on television? It sounds like something is in the works on that front. While talking to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sci-Fi cable channel general manager Bonnie Hammer revealed that something new may be happening with the franchise, saying, "We're talking about a lot of things, and the thing we're focusing on most ... is an exclusive Babylon 5 movie - for Sci-Fi - a new one. That's one of the things. Everything is open for conversation. We love that creative team. Take a look at how Babylon 5 is doing on Sci Fi in its gazillionth repeats -- it's doing amazingly well."
Hammer also revealed to the paper that the cable station is currently considering picking up the reruns of the short-lived B5 spin-off Crusade.
4-Part Lead-In To Mulder’s Return
The coming attractions segment at the end of this week’s X-Files episode suggests that the four episodes to be aired during February Sweeps will form a 4-part lead-in to the return of Mulder. The 4th of these episodes however, will be the first of a 3-part sequence, to be split by the airing of the first 6 episodes of The Lone Gunmen.
I wouldn’t put it past Fox to keep us waiting all through March and into April to find out Mulder’s fate.
More when we have it.
Buffy Staying At WB – Or She Quits!!!
Sarah Michelle Gellar wants the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series to stay on the WB TV network...or else. While talking to E! Gellar commented aggressively on recent talk that the series might move to another network, saying, "I will stay on Buffy if, and only if, Buffy stays on the WB. And you know what? Print that. My bosses are going to kill me, but print that. I want them to know."
She explains why she's resistant to moving from the network, saying, "The WB has been so supportive, such a great network over the past four years. It feels like home. I don't want the show to move, because I feel that we belong on the WB. It's where our fans are. If Buffy leaves the WB, I'm out."
New Genre Shows From SpaceWorks
Here is the relevant section of a recent press release from Danforth Studios, creators of Starhunter, a genre series we have yet to see:
SPACEWORKS MOTION PICTURE COMPANY INC.
PRESS RELEASE Jan 12, 2001
Danforth Studios' D'or and Jackson, Creators of STARHUNTER announce:
* Three new science fiction series for production in 2001.
* Creation of a science fiction dedicated production entity.
Toronto. Danforth Studios principals Daniel D'or and G. Philip Jackson, the Creator / Producers of Starhunter, (a sci-fi series starring Michael Pare, Tanya Allan, Claudette Roach, and produced in partnership with Canal + production arm LeSabre, Grosvenor Park Productions UK Limited, and Das Werk) are pleased to announce the following:
Now green-lit for production in 2001 are three new sci-fi series.
· Based on the H. G. Wells work The Sleeper Wakes a 22 episode Canada/UK Co-Production in co-production with Harry Towers, and starring Patrick Muldoon. The pilot episode will be directed by John Hough (The Prisoner, The Avengers, American Gothic),
· A 22 episode, special FX heavy, outer space adventure, Earthspell authored by Starhunter Co-Head Writer Peter I. Horton. Pilot episode director is major name who will be announced at NATPE.
· Season Two of Starhunter; 22 episodes of Starhunter 2300 with Michael Pare.
Formation of dedicated Science Fiction company.
Danforth Studios are pleased to announce that they are forming a science-fiction dedicated production brand, SPACEWORKS MOTION PICTURE COMPANY INC. signaling an aggressive growth strategy in the genre.
SPACEWORKS will take on Danforth's sci-fi slate this year, including Danforth's interest Season Two of Starhunter, as well as the H.G. Wells' series The Sleeper Wakes and the Earthspell series.
As yet, we have no real details of any of these but as soon as we do, you will be the first to know.
Jarod And Miss Parker To Hook Up?
Will Jarod and Miss Parker get busy in the upcoming TNT television movies spun off of the canceled NBC series The Pretender? Don't count on it, TV Guide reported. The first film, The Pretender 2001, aired on TNT Jan. 22.
"I think it's only natural that [viewers] want the hero and the villain/heroine to get together," Andrea Parker (Miss Parker) told TV Guide Online. "The theme for Miss Parker is loyalty, or lack thereof. Her relationship with her father, her relationship with The Center, her relationship with Jarod--all of those relationships are intensely addressed and, in a sense, transitioned and resolved."
The pair may share a kiss, but not until the second telefilm airs later this year, TV Guide reported. Parker praised Pretender fans for bringing the franchise back to life after NBC canceled the show with a frustrating cliffhanger finale. "It's the loyalty of the fans who have given us our success, no doubt," Parker said. "We're actually going to answer some questions that we have inspired over the last few seasons. And even more so in the second film."
Moore: New Trek On Hold?
Ronald D. Moore--a longtime Star Trek writer and now co-executive producer of The WB's Roswell—has said that he believes the proposed new Trek series is on hold in light of uncertainty over the future of UPN and the impending writers' and actors' strikes. Moore has no formal affiliation with the Trek franchise, but remains friendly with Trek writers and producers.
In an interview, Moore said, "All I know is that, at the moment, the new Trek series is on hold, because there are questions about UPN, questions about the strikes. At the moment, they're not casting or building sets. It's kind of in a holding pattern."
Star Trek: Voyager executive producers Rick Berman and Brannon Braga are developing the as-yet top-secret new series, which is intended to replace Voyager when it ends its seven-year run at the conclusion of the current season. Berman has said he thinks it's possible to get the new Trek series on the air by fall, but has also said the strikes could affect the timing.
As for the theme of the new series, Moore said he's heard the same rumors as everyone else: that the show will be set during the birth of the Federation. "That's what I hear," he said. "The series is set before ... the original series." Moore added that he has not read any scripts for the new show.
B'Elanna Becoming A Mom
Roxann Dawson--who plays B'Elanna Torres on Star Trek: Voyager--told the official Trek Web site that her character is going through major changes. "I think it was necessary [to marry Tom Paris] in order for me to get pregnant!" Dawson told the site. "I actually like the way they're going with the storylines this year. Pregnancy is an interesting choice, considering that I was pregnant two years ago on the show, and we spent an entire year covering it up. Now, they're making me pregnant. It's an interesting choice, but it offers a lot of dramatic possibilities. And I don't have to watch what I eat!"
As to what kind of mother her character will be, Dawson said, "I don't know. That's all up to the writers, isn't it? I think that she will be a good mother. In the upcoming episode "Lineage", we see her take a lot of steps towards growth in that direction."
Movie News:
Morgan, Wong Prep “The One”
Jet Li, Delroy Lindo and Jason Statham will star in The One, a $48 million SF thriller movie from genre specialists James Wong and Glen Morgan (Final Destination), Variety reported. The movie is slated to begin shooting Jan. 29 in Los Angeles.
Wong will direct from a screenplay he co-wrote with Morgan. The pair are well known for writing and producing episodes of The X-Files and Millennium and for creating the short-lived Space: Above and Beyond for television.
The One, from Revolution Studios, is based on the premise that there are multiple universes with people similar to us in each of them, the trade paper reported. Lindo plays an agent whose responsibility is to ensure that people don't traverse these universes. Statham will play Lindo's partner. Both patrol the universes to prevent the renegade Jet Li from attempting to kill all of the other people like himself.
Columbia Fast-Tracks New Spawn Movie
Columbia Pictures has bought the feature-film rights to Todd McFarlane's Spawn series of Image Comics and will develop a new movie, according to The Hollywood Reporter. McFarlane held the rights, which reverted back to him from New Line Cinema.
Columbia has put the new Spawn movie on a fast track, with McFarlane working on a script with Steve Niles, the trade paper reported. Sources told the Reporter that the new movie will be more horror-based than New Line's 1997 Spawn film and will not involve others in the original creative team. McFarlane also will produce the project with his company's head of production, Terry Fitzgerald.
Evolution FX Dazzle
Director Ivan Reitman told Eon magazine that the special effects he's using in his upcoming SF comedy movie Evolution are light years ahead of the ones he relied on in 1984's Ghostbusters. "There's been an amazing amount that has changed in terms of what you can do," Reitman told the site. "The evolution of CGI [computer-generated imagery] is all new since I did even the second Ghostbusters. The opportunities are fabulous."
Reitman is directing David Duchovny in the movie about a meteorite that crashes to Earth with microbes that evolve at an accelerated rate. "We don't only have a creature here," Reitman said. "We have a whole ecosystem full of creatures, so there was an enormous amount of design work done. Phil Tippett, who's the effects supervisor on this, was extremely helpful. I think he's one of the best in the world at doing this kind of stuff--creating creatures that really feel like they're there. They have weight, personality and a texture that you can feel on the screen."
Next Godzilla Goes Into Production
According to Monster Zero, Toho has officially announced the start of production on the next Godzilla film. The site reports the great news that the studio has hired Shusuke Kaneko to head the production. Kaneko is the man who produced the recent Gamera trilogy of films that lifted that series out of complete absurdity while creating a new mythos.
Even as the studio announced the hiring, they also started announced the start of 24th Japanese Godzilla production, though one would imagine that they mean pre-production. Previously, Toho had said that plans were to take their time with the next film, and Kaneko's hiring would seem to further support a push for a quality product.
Beyond that info, though, there are no further details yet regarding the coming film's title or potential other familiar monsters.
Lucas To Shoot More Episode II
George Lucas will go behind the cameras at least three more times to shoot additional footage for his upcoming Star Wars: Episode II, producer Rick McCallum told the official Star Wars Web site. "George really crafts the film in the editing room, so we always put several weeks of additional shooting into the post-production schedule," McCallum told the site. "That way George can add scenes as he edits the film."
McCallum added, "There are three additional shoots in the current schedule. We have a few days in front of blue screen in March, which will most likely take place in England, since most of our Australian crew is currently working on other productions. Later in the year, we plan to return to Australia for the final round of shooting."
Marsden Sounds Negative On 'X-Men 2'
Actor James Marsden doesn't sound all that thrilled about reprising the role of Cyclops for a second X-Men feature. While talking to the Calgary Sun, the man behind the visor gave his take on the sequel, saying, "X-Men made a dump-load of money so of course there will be a sequel, but I'm a pretty low priority...These first couple of movies belong to Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), so things will be worked around him."
Marsden also levels some criticism at the Fox franchise, saying, "Of course I'm glad I was part of X-Men, but it wasn't a great acting experience. It's all about special-effects."
He adds that his two-picture contract "benefits the studio, not me. If there's a third one and they want me, then I'll be able to negotiate."
'Dr. Who' Movie?
Once again, there's talk of a Doctor Who movie... and this one is sounding more reasonable than most rumors of a big screen version of the timelord than others of late. According to the UK's Telegraph newspaper, David Thompson, head of BBC Films, has confirmed that something is up with the franchise. The paper quotes Thompson as saying, "We are talking to a famous American director and hope to announce his name in the next few months. A British actor will definitely play the Doctor but we have not decided who yet."
The paper also reports that the planned budget for the production will be in the £40M range.
Odds and Ends: Short items not worthy of an article in their own right.
· Fox is in the process of canceling its low-rated paranormal drama Freakylinks. The show was pulled or most of the November sweeps period, but returned to the air this month only to see its ratings continue to fall. No surprises there then.
-----Original Message-----
Report 21A. This is a digest of recent Sci-Fi- and genre-related news as of 19 January 2001.
News & Notes
Group News:
NATPE Comes Around Again
As those of you who have been with us for several years will know, every year at this time one of our members is dispatched to the NATPE conference to listen out for the first suggestions on new shows for next year.
I was supposed to be going this year, but as a result of recent events, Mike Sanderson will be going in my place. Mike will be feeding us all sorts of items over the next couple of weeks and we will make sure that you are kept up to date.
As always, only about 30% of everything that is proposed will ever make it to a pilot, and of that, maybe half will make it to the screen, but it’s always interesting to know what ideas people are coming up with.
TV News:
The Return of 'Babylon 5'?
What are the chances of there being new Babylon 5 material on television? It sounds like something is in the works on that front. While talking to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sci-Fi cable channel general manager Bonnie Hammer revealed that something new may be happening with the franchise, saying, "We're talking about a lot of things, and the thing we're focusing on most ... is an exclusive Babylon 5 movie - for Sci-Fi - a new one. That's one of the things. Everything is open for conversation. We love that creative team. Take a look at how Babylon 5 is doing on Sci Fi in its gazillionth repeats -- it's doing amazingly well."
Hammer also revealed to the paper that the cable station is currently considering picking up the reruns of the short-lived B5 spin-off Crusade.
4-Part Lead-In To Mulder’s Return
The coming attractions segment at the end of this week’s X-Files episode suggests that the four episodes to be aired during February Sweeps will form a 4-part lead-in to the return of Mulder. The 4th of these episodes however, will be the first of a 3-part sequence, to be split by the airing of the first 6 episodes of The Lone Gunmen.
I wouldn’t put it past Fox to keep us waiting all through March and into April to find out Mulder’s fate.
More when we have it.
Buffy Staying At WB – Or She Quits!!!
Sarah Michelle Gellar wants the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series to stay on the WB TV network...or else. While talking to E! Gellar commented aggressively on recent talk that the series might move to another network, saying, "I will stay on Buffy if, and only if, Buffy stays on the WB. And you know what? Print that. My bosses are going to kill me, but print that. I want them to know."
She explains why she's resistant to moving from the network, saying, "The WB has been so supportive, such a great network over the past four years. It feels like home. I don't want the show to move, because I feel that we belong on the WB. It's where our fans are. If Buffy leaves the WB, I'm out."
New Genre Shows From SpaceWorks
Here is the relevant section of a recent press release from Danforth Studios, creators of Starhunter, a genre series we have yet to see:
SPACEWORKS MOTION PICTURE COMPANY INC.
PRESS RELEASE Jan 12, 2001
Danforth Studios' D'or and Jackson, Creators of STARHUNTER announce:
* Three new science fiction series for production in 2001.
* Creation of a science fiction dedicated production entity.
Toronto. Danforth Studios principals Daniel D'or and G. Philip Jackson, the Creator / Producers of Starhunter, (a sci-fi series starring Michael Pare, Tanya Allan, Claudette Roach, and produced in partnership with Canal + production arm LeSabre, Grosvenor Park Productions UK Limited, and Das Werk) are pleased to announce the following:
Now green-lit for production in 2001 are three new sci-fi series.
· Based on the H. G. Wells work The Sleeper Wakes a 22 episode Canada/UK Co-Production in co-production with Harry Towers, and starring Patrick Muldoon. The pilot episode will be directed by John Hough (The Prisoner, The Avengers, American Gothic),
· A 22 episode, special FX heavy, outer space adventure, Earthspell authored by Starhunter Co-Head Writer Peter I. Horton. Pilot episode director is major name who will be announced at NATPE.
· Season Two of Starhunter; 22 episodes of Starhunter 2300 with Michael Pare.
Formation of dedicated Science Fiction company.
Danforth Studios are pleased to announce that they are forming a science-fiction dedicated production brand, SPACEWORKS MOTION PICTURE COMPANY INC. signaling an aggressive growth strategy in the genre.
SPACEWORKS will take on Danforth's sci-fi slate this year, including Danforth's interest Season Two of Starhunter, as well as the H.G. Wells' series The Sleeper Wakes and the Earthspell series.
As yet, we have no real details of any of these but as soon as we do, you will be the first to know.
Jarod And Miss Parker To Hook Up?
Will Jarod and Miss Parker get busy in the upcoming TNT television movies spun off of the canceled NBC series The Pretender? Don't count on it, TV Guide reported. The first film, The Pretender 2001, aired on TNT Jan. 22.
"I think it's only natural that [viewers] want the hero and the villain/heroine to get together," Andrea Parker (Miss Parker) told TV Guide Online. "The theme for Miss Parker is loyalty, or lack thereof. Her relationship with her father, her relationship with The Center, her relationship with Jarod--all of those relationships are intensely addressed and, in a sense, transitioned and resolved."
The pair may share a kiss, but not until the second telefilm airs later this year, TV Guide reported. Parker praised Pretender fans for bringing the franchise back to life after NBC canceled the show with a frustrating cliffhanger finale. "It's the loyalty of the fans who have given us our success, no doubt," Parker said. "We're actually going to answer some questions that we have inspired over the last few seasons. And even more so in the second film."
Moore: New Trek On Hold?
Ronald D. Moore--a longtime Star Trek writer and now co-executive producer of The WB's Roswell—has said that he believes the proposed new Trek series is on hold in light of uncertainty over the future of UPN and the impending writers' and actors' strikes. Moore has no formal affiliation with the Trek franchise, but remains friendly with Trek writers and producers.
In an interview, Moore said, "All I know is that, at the moment, the new Trek series is on hold, because there are questions about UPN, questions about the strikes. At the moment, they're not casting or building sets. It's kind of in a holding pattern."
Star Trek: Voyager executive producers Rick Berman and Brannon Braga are developing the as-yet top-secret new series, which is intended to replace Voyager when it ends its seven-year run at the conclusion of the current season. Berman has said he thinks it's possible to get the new Trek series on the air by fall, but has also said the strikes could affect the timing.
As for the theme of the new series, Moore said he's heard the same rumors as everyone else: that the show will be set during the birth of the Federation. "That's what I hear," he said. "The series is set before ... the original series." Moore added that he has not read any scripts for the new show.
B'Elanna Becoming A Mom
Roxann Dawson--who plays B'Elanna Torres on Star Trek: Voyager--told the official Trek Web site that her character is going through major changes. "I think it was necessary [to marry Tom Paris] in order for me to get pregnant!" Dawson told the site. "I actually like the way they're going with the storylines this year. Pregnancy is an interesting choice, considering that I was pregnant two years ago on the show, and we spent an entire year covering it up. Now, they're making me pregnant. It's an interesting choice, but it offers a lot of dramatic possibilities. And I don't have to watch what I eat!"
As to what kind of mother her character will be, Dawson said, "I don't know. That's all up to the writers, isn't it? I think that she will be a good mother. In the upcoming episode "Lineage", we see her take a lot of steps towards growth in that direction."
Movie News:
Morgan, Wong Prep “The One”
Jet Li, Delroy Lindo and Jason Statham will star in The One, a $48 million SF thriller movie from genre specialists James Wong and Glen Morgan (Final Destination), Variety reported. The movie is slated to begin shooting Jan. 29 in Los Angeles.
Wong will direct from a screenplay he co-wrote with Morgan. The pair are well known for writing and producing episodes of The X-Files and Millennium and for creating the short-lived Space: Above and Beyond for television.
The One, from Revolution Studios, is based on the premise that there are multiple universes with people similar to us in each of them, the trade paper reported. Lindo plays an agent whose responsibility is to ensure that people don't traverse these universes. Statham will play Lindo's partner. Both patrol the universes to prevent the renegade Jet Li from attempting to kill all of the other people like himself.
Columbia Fast-Tracks New Spawn Movie
Columbia Pictures has bought the feature-film rights to Todd McFarlane's Spawn series of Image Comics and will develop a new movie, according to The Hollywood Reporter. McFarlane held the rights, which reverted back to him from New Line Cinema.
Columbia has put the new Spawn movie on a fast track, with McFarlane working on a script with Steve Niles, the trade paper reported. Sources told the Reporter that the new movie will be more horror-based than New Line's 1997 Spawn film and will not involve others in the original creative team. McFarlane also will produce the project with his company's head of production, Terry Fitzgerald.
Evolution FX Dazzle
Director Ivan Reitman told Eon magazine that the special effects he's using in his upcoming SF comedy movie Evolution are light years ahead of the ones he relied on in 1984's Ghostbusters. "There's been an amazing amount that has changed in terms of what you can do," Reitman told the site. "The evolution of CGI [computer-generated imagery] is all new since I did even the second Ghostbusters. The opportunities are fabulous."
Reitman is directing David Duchovny in the movie about a meteorite that crashes to Earth with microbes that evolve at an accelerated rate. "We don't only have a creature here," Reitman said. "We have a whole ecosystem full of creatures, so there was an enormous amount of design work done. Phil Tippett, who's the effects supervisor on this, was extremely helpful. I think he's one of the best in the world at doing this kind of stuff--creating creatures that really feel like they're there. They have weight, personality and a texture that you can feel on the screen."
Next Godzilla Goes Into Production
According to Monster Zero, Toho has officially announced the start of production on the next Godzilla film. The site reports the great news that the studio has hired Shusuke Kaneko to head the production. Kaneko is the man who produced the recent Gamera trilogy of films that lifted that series out of complete absurdity while creating a new mythos.
Even as the studio announced the hiring, they also started announced the start of 24th Japanese Godzilla production, though one would imagine that they mean pre-production. Previously, Toho had said that plans were to take their time with the next film, and Kaneko's hiring would seem to further support a push for a quality product.
Beyond that info, though, there are no further details yet regarding the coming film's title or potential other familiar monsters.
Lucas To Shoot More Episode II
George Lucas will go behind the cameras at least three more times to shoot additional footage for his upcoming Star Wars: Episode II, producer Rick McCallum told the official Star Wars Web site. "George really crafts the film in the editing room, so we always put several weeks of additional shooting into the post-production schedule," McCallum told the site. "That way George can add scenes as he edits the film."
McCallum added, "There are three additional shoots in the current schedule. We have a few days in front of blue screen in March, which will most likely take place in England, since most of our Australian crew is currently working on other productions. Later in the year, we plan to return to Australia for the final round of shooting."
Marsden Sounds Negative On 'X-Men 2'
Actor James Marsden doesn't sound all that thrilled about reprising the role of Cyclops for a second X-Men feature. While talking to the Calgary Sun, the man behind the visor gave his take on the sequel, saying, "X-Men made a dump-load of money so of course there will be a sequel, but I'm a pretty low priority...These first couple of movies belong to Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), so things will be worked around him."
Marsden also levels some criticism at the Fox franchise, saying, "Of course I'm glad I was part of X-Men, but it wasn't a great acting experience. It's all about special-effects."
He adds that his two-picture contract "benefits the studio, not me. If there's a third one and they want me, then I'll be able to negotiate."
'Dr. Who' Movie?
Once again, there's talk of a Doctor Who movie... and this one is sounding more reasonable than most rumors of a big screen version of the timelord than others of late. According to the UK's Telegraph newspaper, David Thompson, head of BBC Films, has confirmed that something is up with the franchise. The paper quotes Thompson as saying, "We are talking to a famous American director and hope to announce his name in the next few months. A British actor will definitely play the Doctor but we have not decided who yet."
The paper also reports that the planned budget for the production will be in the £40M range.
Odds and Ends: Short items not worthy of an article in their own right.
· Fox is in the process of canceling its low-rated paranormal drama Freakylinks. The show was pulled or most of the November sweeps period, but returned to the air this month only to see its ratings continue to fall. No surprises there then.
posted by Catherine Jemma at 4:15 AM
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