Report 14A. This is a digest of recent Sci-Fi- and genre-related news as of 5 December 2000.

News & Notes

Group News:

A Reminder About Monitoring Non-Genre Shows

Anyone taking non-genre shows is reminded that it is your responsibility to monitor your chosen shows for special events, etc.  None of the four clients who are taking Will & Grace warned us that last week’s episode was an hour-long special.  As a result, we only got half of it, and decided to miss it out altogether.

This also applies to letting us know when these shows go in and out of reruns, especially sitcoms.  It is unlikely that we would tape a rerun by mistake, but it is possible, as we are not familiar with old seasons of shows that have been on for several seasons, such as Drew Carey, Friends and ER.

Sorry, but as much as we are willing to help as best we can, we can’t do your thinking for you.

Tape Deliveries

This is probably a late symptom of our recent crash, but we have a lot of acknowledgments outstanding.  At the moment, we have listed about 150 tapes sent out for which we have received no notification of delivery.

If you have had tapes from us in the past few weeks and have not e-mailed to tell us, please do so, as our system is currently bogged down with reminders.

TV News:

Dune

The last episode of this mini-series airs tonight.  While I rarely comment on TV shows, I thought I had to say a few words on this one.  It is a much truer rendering of Frank Herbert’s Sci-Fi classic than the movie was, and is very entertaining.  However, there is one aspect of the show that has me frowning a little. The costumes are outrageous.  It’s more of a clown-parade than a sci-fi show.

Once we have sent out the 20 or so copies that we have been asked for, I would be grateful for your comments, especially in comparison to the movie.

If anyone is considering ordering this item, be aware that it will run about 4 hours 45, so it will take two tapes, with room for maybe one odd episode of something else as a filler.  It’s a pity SFC didn’t do a “making of Dune” to fill the tape.

+ News on the Proposed Sequel

John Harrison, who wrote and directed the miniseries, will adapt the SF author's second and third books for a sequel, Entertainment Weekly reported. Harrison will turn to Herbert's Dune Messiah and Children of Dune for a follow-up to the six-hour Dune.

It was previously reported that Sci-Fi had struck a deal with Harrison for a sequel, but Harrison had said he wasn't sure which books would provide the source material for the next miniseries.

As for the first miniseries, Harrison told Entertainment Weekly that he hopes viewers will avoid comparisons with David Lynch's 1984 feature-film version of Herbert's book. "I didn't set out to correct or remake Lynch's movie," Harrison said. "It's impossible to do justice to the book in a two-hour [feature]. I had the advantage of six, and I just tried to create a faithful adaptation of Frank Herbert's book."

The plans for a sequel gained another boost with the news that the Dec. 3 airing of part one of Dune drew the largest audience in Sci-Fi history, Variety reported. With an average Nielsen rating of 4.6 for the 9 p.m. broadcast, Dune reached 3.06 million households. That is almost double the number of households chalked up by Sci-Fi’s previous ratings record holder, the June premiere of The Invisible Man.

Alexander Develops SF Series

Star Trek guest star Jason Alexander (Seinfeld) has teamed with Deep Space Nine executive producer Ira Steven Behr to executive produce E.S.P.ers, a one-hour SF adventure project for CBS, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Twentieth Century Fox Television will produce the proposed series, which has received a script commitment from the network.

Behr, Eugene Tobin and Noreen O'Neill are writing the script, which centers on a detective who investigates paranormal activities with the help of psychics. Alexander has a production deal with Fox, the trade paper reported.

Mutant X Due In Fall

Tribune Entertainment has ordered Mutant X, a television series based on the Marvel Comics series of the same name, to air on Tribune broadcast stations in fall 2001, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Mutant X follows the adventures of a group of human mutants with extraordinary genetically engineered powers, the trade paper reported.

Mutant X is produced by Canada's Fireworks Entertainment in association with Marvel Media and Tribune Entertainment, which also is handling domestic syndication.

Paul To Star In New SF Show

Highlander star Adrian Paul will play an intergalactic bounty hunter in a proposed television series to be produced by Lions Gate, Variety reported. Paul will also star in a proposed feature film.

Writer/producer Gil Grant (Relic Hunter) will produce the as-yet-unnamed series, which will be developed for syndication. Paul will play an alien bounty hunter sent to Earth after a jailbreak he inadvertently prompted sends a swarm of bad guys to the planet, Variety reported. Paul and the fugitives assume human form. Dave Fleming, Paul's manager, will also produce.

Paul--who is best known as Duncan MacLeod in Highlander: The Series--is currently shooting the SF film A Breed Apart in Budapest with co-stars Bai Ling and Bokeem Woodbine; Michael Oblowitz is directing. Paul, who directed several Highlander episodes, is also preparing to direct Hirokin, a full-length SF film for the HiDef Company, Variety reported.

Mulgrew Aims Barbs At Beltran

Kate Mulgrew--Capt. Janeway on Star Trek: Voyager--made veiled criticisms of co-star Robert Beltran (Chakotay) in an interview with New York's UPN affiliate. When an interviewer referred to Beltran's recent complaints that the show was plagued by bad writing, Mulgrew said, "I don't buy that for one minute."

Without mentioning Beltran by name, Mulgrew added, "That's a lazy actor's response. 'They didn't let me act.' Really? Go get a job in a cereal commercial. I just don't have any time for it."

Beltran has been vocal about his unhappiness with Voyager, complaining among other things that the show's writers have given him little to do as an actor. But, Mulgrew said, "Of course, you can find every opportunity to sit in this seat and say nothing. Do it! Be it! Lift it up! We're all trained here, and we're, you know, compensated very nicely."

'Dinotopia' TV Series

The coming Dinotopia mini-series doesn't look to be the end of the TV programs devoted to James Gurney's books. According to Variety columnist Army Archerd, the ABC TV network will follow up the mini-series with a regular Dinotopia TV series of 22 one-hour episodes.

Shooting on the mini-series will continue for the next three-four months followed by a year of post-production, which suggest that we may be waiting quite some time for the regular series to appear.

Meanwhile, the sets that are currently being used for the production that is shooting at Pinewood may be used again… but not necessarily for the regular TV series. Word has it that reps from EuroDisney have come to the set exploring the options of moving the set over to the Paris Disney park after shooting wraps. The sets would then be used for a part of a new Dinotopia attraction.

New UPN Shows Could be in Trouble

Just when we were just beginning to think that this was the season of dreams, with only one cancellation so far, rumors began to filter down that UPN are having second thoughts about their new Friday night line-up. Both Freedom and Level 9 have under performed, which is hardly surprising considering the phenomenal success of CBS’s Friday shows The Fugitive and CSI, and word has it that UPN have decided to allow their shows to finish their first runs but have not yet given the word to order any further episodes. This is surprising, as although not stellar, the Nielsens for both shows are reasonably good, and both shows are fairly entertaining.

Maybe it’s their jarring music tracks that will cause them to be canceled.  We shall see. More when we have it.

 

Movie News: 

Marvel Develops Deathlok Film

Marvel film executive Kevin Feige announced that the comic publisher is trying to develop a feature film based on its Deathlok series, about a futuristic cyborg. "We're just sort of finishing a deal with a major studio," Feige told the site. "We've got two writers, and they're going to start, hopefully, very soon." The writers are Stu Zicherman and Raven Metzner.

He also reported that Marvel is developing a movie based on its horror comic series Tales of the Zombie. "We have some writers," Feige said. "Hopefully we'll get in shape for Halloween next year." Chum Langhorn and Brent Askari are developing the screenplay.

MIB 2 To Shoot Next June

Sony plans to shoot Men in Black 2 in June 2001, now that a basic financial formula has been worked out for stars Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith and director Barry Sonnenfeld, Variety reported. Producers Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald brought on Galaxy Quest's Bob Gordon to write the script, the trade paper reported.

Separately, the trade paper reported that Sony is happy with Don Rhymer's latest draft of Jumanji 2, the proposed sequel to the 1996 hit movie, and wants to proceed. And writer Bruce Joel Rubin (Ghost) has turned in a draft of the proposed sequel to Stuart Little; director Rob Minkoff will be back on board to direct the follow-up.

Romulans Coming In Trek X

Star Trek executive producer Rick Berman revealed that the upcoming Trek X movie will feature the Romulans and a new villain who is the Federation's greatest nemesis since Khan from Star Trek II. Speaking in an interview with Los Angeles UPN affiliate KCOP-TV, Berman declined to reveal plot details, but said the movie will be "shocking and exciting and fun ... a rip-roaring humorous adventure."

Berman also confirmed that Brent Spiner has signed to reprise his Star Trek: The Next Generation role as Data in the movie and has contributed story points to the script. Patrick Stewart (Capt. Jean-Luc Picard) has already signed on to the film, which is being written by Berman and Gladiator screenwriter John Logan.

But Berman denied widespread rumors that Data will meet his demise in the movie, or that Trek X will mark the last voyage of the crew from The Next Generation. The Trek producer said that the movie won't come out until 2002.

Is Dungeons The First Of Three?

Courtney Solomon--the writer, director and producer of New Line's upcoming Dungeons & Dragons movie--told the Toronto Sun that he always envisioned the film as the first of three. But he added that he's in no rush to talk about a sequel to the movie, which doesn't open in North America until Dec. 8.

"It seems premature to me," Solomon told the newspaper. "I don't like to count my chickens before they hatch. I'm superstitious."

Solomon based the film on the Wizards of the Coast role-playing game of the same name. The movie stars Justin Whalin, Marlon Wayans, Zoe McLellan, Jeremy Irons, Bruce Payne and Thora Birch.

Rings Enters Home Stretch

Peter Jackson is on schedule to wrap principal photography on Dec. 22 for The Lord of the Rings, the film trilogy he's been directing in New Zealand for the last 14 months. First and second units returned from location shooting in Queenstown and Twizel in mid-November, and cast and crew have been busy with cleanup work, interiors and blue-screen shots at Wellington's Stone Street Studios.

Technicians at the WETA visual effects house are completing the Minas Tirith set in Upper Hutt, just outside Wellington, where filming begins in early December.

Meanwhile, executive producer Barrie Osborne confirmed that a Rings trailer was shown to potential distributors at this year's Cannes Film Festival. A teaser for the first film, The Fellowship of the Ring, is expected in theaters this Christmas with a release date for the movie of Christmas 2001.

Rhys-Davies Happy With Dwarf Role

John Rhys-Davies, who plays Gimli the dwarf in Peter Jackson's upcoming film trilogy, The Lord of the Rings, told E! that he's happy to be part of the historic project, even though he must endure heavy makeup. "My skin reacts to the makeup, so I have to go home and hide for two or three days afterward," the veteran character actor said. "It's ruined my social life."

About his character, Rhys-Davies said, "There is in Gimli a great simplicity. He's never envious. There's a goodness in him, and he recognizes it in others, especially the hobbits. His line is a simple one: We know it's evil, it's our job, let's go and do it. He understands it's his role to protect the hobbits."

One of the films' greatest challenges was depicting different species of different sizes interacting, Rhys-Davies said. "As a dwarf, I'm taller than the hobbits, but shorter than the elves and the humans. Most of my shots tend to be in close-up, looking up [at a human or an elf] or down [at a hobbit]." The actor had three scale doubles to fill in for group shots with the Fellowship of the Ring and long-distance battle scenes, but he performs his own close-up battle shots.

Dafoe Confirmed As Green Goblin

Columbia Pictures confirmed that Willem Dafoe will play Norman Osborn, aka the Green Goblin, opposite Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man. Sam Raimi will direct the feature-film version of Marvel Comics' series of the same name.

Columbia also announced details of the story, which will center on student Peter Parker, who is bitten by a mutant spider and gains superhuman strength and the spider-like ability to cling to any surface. Norman Osborn, Spider-Man's archenemy, assumes his ghoulish persona after an experimental formula blows up in his face. The formula increases his intelligence and strength, but also drives him insane.

Despite reports that the script is undergoing revisions, Columbia continues to attribute the screenplay to David Koepp (Jurassic Park). The film is slated to begin shooting in Los Angeles in January, then will move to New York, with an eye to a May 3, 2002, release, the studio announced.

Will the Real King Arthur Please Stand Up?

After wrapping up his epic Pearl Harbor project, director Michael Bay may well be tackling the classic story of King Arthur.

According to Variety columnist Michael Fleming, writer-producer David Franzoni, who concocted Gladiator, is working on bringing the story of King Arthur to the big screen again. An outline for the project was sold to Disney with word that the script is now being written by Franzoni. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer is already attached to handle it with word that the film may be Michael Bay's next after Pearl Harbor.

Disney is attempting to keep a veil of secrecy around the project with word that the coming film will approach the familiar material in a "much different" way. The columnist reports that this new version of the story will be entrenched in reality looking at the politics of the era in a world where the Roman Empire has fallen. This Braveheart-like approach will favor gritty realism over the expected mystical stuff.

Odds and Ends: Short items not worthy of an article in their own right.

·        David Duchovny will return as FBI Agent Fox Mulder in The X-Files during episodes slated to air in the February sweeps period, Fox Entertainment president Gail Berman told E!TV.

·        Fans at ConWest last week reported a rumor that Milla Jovovich (The Fifth Element) and Michelle Rodriguez (Girlfight) have been cast in the upcoming Resident Evil: Ground Zero movie, which is based on the Capcom video game series Resident Evil.

·        Production has started on the TBS cable network's original telefilm The Triangle, which is devoted to that hoary old urban legend of the Devil's Triangle. According to Variety columnist Army Archerd, the film will star Luke Perry who plays a millionaire seeking to learn the secrets of the area. The film will make use of what is being called "spectacular special effects." Lewis Teague is directing with a cast that also includes Dan Cortese, Olivia d'Abo and Dorian Harewood.

·        Writer and director Irving Belateche will adapt Alfred Bester's 1953 SF novel The Demolished Man for the screen, Variety reported. Paramount-based producer Robert Evans and producer Ray Wagner will develop the film. The Hugo-Award-winning novel tells the story of a powerful leader who commits a murder in a futuristic society in which there is supposed to be no crime.

·        We understand that Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddy Prinz Junior have split.  What this will do to their plans to appear as Fred and Daphne in the Scooby Doo movie, we don’t yet know.