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Quantum Leap Movie?
Quantum Leap's creator Donald P Bellisario had been trying, according to TV Guide Online, to get a TV reunion movie going for quite some time but couldn't get any interest from Universal, who own the rights. Star Scott Bakula's rise in popularity from Enterprise just might be responsible for changing their minds, however... Full details at GEOS.

Harry Potter debuts as Ha-li Bo-te
Harry Potter (or Ha-li Bo-te as he is known in China) made his Shanghai debut on Saturday night. As the story is steeped in Western tales of magic and sorcery, the film's translators borrowed language from China's rich tradition of ghost stories and warrior epics. Full story at Zap2It.com.

No more Seth on BtVS
Sadly Seth Green, formerly Oz on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, has revealed that a reprisal of his role is unlikely. "...the truth is I haven’t ever gotten a phone call..." Read on at GEOS

Luke Perry is Jeremiah
The writer/creator of Babylon 5, Michael Straczynski, has been busy creating a new post-apocalyptic world in which a deadly virus wiped out the world's adult population. Now in his 20s Jeremiah (Luke Perry) and his bud Kurdy (Jamal Warmer) are amongst the oldest survivors. The show is set to debut soon in the US. Full details at MGM.com

Anne Rice approves of Queen of the Damned
and you can even hear her say so! Sci-fi Wire reports that Rice, in a pre-recorded message ( +1 (504) 522-8634), says Queen of the Damned is "energetic and innovative".

Aussie accents in Episode II
Ben Burtt, (Editor, Sound Designer over at LuscasFilm) has told fans at the official Star Wars site that the intention is the keep the "mild [Australian] accents" of several supporting characters in Attack of the Clones.

Indiana Jones and the [something]
George Lucas has told TheForce.net that the fourth Indian Jones movie might, maybe, possibly, be released in 2006. At this stage the only definite is that his involvement in the project will have to wait until he's finished Episode III.

FoxNews.com, however, reports that after Catch Me If You Can, IJ4 (which has a title... but they're not telling!) will be Spielberg's top priority. BUT Spielberg's publicist has tempered Steven's words by saying that although Lucas, Ford and Spielberg have a story that they are working toward, "They don't have a script" and that "It's not [Spielberg's] next picture". Read all about the publicist's spin on IJ4 at E!Online. E! thinks it could be ready as early as 2003, provided it gets "fast-tracked".

And if you're not yet thoroughly confused as to what's going on, or not going on, or whatever, take a look at the RealityCheck page at Indyfan.com. With so much rumour to sift through it is difficult to come away with anything more substantial than yes, it's probably coming. Sometime.

One definite is that Kate Capshaw (Spielberg's wife, and co-star with Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom) will be in the film.

Mulder to return for death of X-Files
Chris Carter has revealed that David Duchovny would like to return to the X-Files for the show's finale. It seems that Carter definitely has movie matters on his mind: "hopefully this season finale will lead us in a very clear way towards this next movie that we'd like to do..." More info at GEOS.

Arny's Terminator goes bad
During an interview for Access Hollywood Arnold Schwarzenegger has given some spoilers for Terminator 3. Not only will there be a female terminator, but his terminator will be "glitched", and so will play ping-pong as to which side he's on. More info at DarkHorizons. UpcomingMovies.com has some good general information on the project. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, is slated for release in July, 2003.

Renewals and cancellations
About.com's newsletter Hailing Frequencies has announced that Andromeda, Smallville and Stargate: SG1 have been renewed but that Roswell and Special Unit 2 have been axed.

The Golden Globe win list... or, why Hollywood hates sci-fi/fantasy
This web goddess has a dream. It's neither noble, nor complex. In fact, it's a very simple dream. A dream that could so easily come true... and yet probably won't.

I dream of a Hollywood that respects films from all genres and rewards brilliance appropriately. I dream of a Golden Globes ceremony that acknowledges the remarkable talent of Sarah Michelle Gellar for Buffy the Vampire Slayer in not only best television comedy/musical but also in best television drama!

I dream of a Golden Globes ceremony where The Lord of the Rings wins. Because, as I am sure you will all agree, it clearly deserved to win.

All four categories.

Well... maybe not best original song, 'cause Sting's song was pretty. In a romantic non-ethereal, non-Enya sort of way.

But the other categories! There should have been 3 Golden Globe logos gracing lordoftherings.net this morning. Sadly there are none.

I lied in my subject line. I'm too depressed by this grave injustice to continue writing.

You can find the win list over at the Golden Globes website (please note the distinct lack of pretty stars next to anything sci-fi/fantasy related).

And if you can explain to me why it is that Hollywood hates sci-fi/fantasy, then DON'T! I'd rather believe that next year when The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is nominated for four Golden Globes it has a chance of winning one. Any one. Maybe even best original song.

In the meantime I'll content myself with the knowledge that at least Jessica Alba (Dark Angel) and Harrison Ford (Star Wars etc etc etc) got to stand up there on stage and wave the sci-fi flag with pride.

Aurealis Shortlist
In happier news congratulations to Sally Odgers and Michael Stephens who were shortlisted in this years children's division of the Aurealis Awards:

Candle Iron by Sally Odgers
Blat Magic by Michael Stephens

Honourable mention goes to:
Sailing to Atlantis by Janeen Webb

Spielberg, Cruise and Dick
Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise team up for the first time in the upcoming action-detective thriller (based on a story by Philip K. Dick), Minority Report. Set in 2054, police utilize a psychic technology to arrest and convict murderers before they commit their crime... Cruise stars as a detective in the Pre-Crime division who suddenly finds himself in a desperate race against time to solve his own case when the system targets him as the next suspect to commit murder.

Check out the trailer here. Minority Report is due for release in June, 2002.

Does anyone speak K-PAXian?
Know what a Balnok is? How about a Flor? Probably best you check out the website before seeing the movie in March. I don't know that it will change the way you look at the world, but you just might find something of interest. K-PAX stars Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges.

BTW, a Balnok is a large-leafed K-PAXian tree... I'll let you check out 'Flor' for yourself!

Big Bad(less) Buffy
Buffy the Vampire Slayer executive producer Marti Noxon discusses the home stretch of BTVS's sixth season with Sci-Fi Wire, and the implications of this year's big bad. Or lack thereof. Word of warning - there are some spoilers in the interview, but most is already well documented on the US Buffy websites. Still want to read it? Click here for full details. But don't say I didn't warn you!

Babylon 5: The Legend of the Rangers
A decade after Babylon 5 first aired on television, The Sci-Fi Channel is bringing fans an original tele-movie. Rangers is the story of Capt. David Martel and his crew on a mission that turns out to be more dangerous and difficult than anyone could possibly imagine. Check out Sci-Fi Weekly for interviews with the cast.

The end of the X-Files
After 9 years on television, the X-Files will be calling it quits this May on it's 201st episode. Full details on the official X-Files website. Some good news for fans is that the US release date for Season 5 DVD has been set as the 14th of May, 2002.

Trekkie giveaways
About.com's "Things That Give Trekkers Away in Normal Company" list has reached a very fortuitous 63. Looking for a laugh at the expensive of your trekkie mates? Or maybe you just need some pointers on what not to do? Check it out here. Oh, and if someone could please enlighten me as to why on earth anyone would snicker at the word "prosper", that would be grand, thanks. ; )

The Lord of the Rings up for Golden Globes
OK. The Golden Globes are due to start... well... actually, at any moment. So here's a quick overview of what The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings has been nominated for:

Picture - Drama
Director
Original Score
Original Song

Other Sci-Fi/Fantasy movies up for Globes are:

A.I.: Artificial Intelligence
Actor in a Supporting Role (Jude Law)
Director
Original Score

The Mists of Avalon
Actress In a Leading Role - Mini-Series or Television Movie (Julianna Margulies)

More about The Golden Globes.

The Time Machine
In other movie news, The Time Machine is set to hit cinemas in April, 2002. Based on the classic sci-fi novel by H.G. Wells, 'The Time Machine' stars Guy Pearce in the role of scientist and inventor, Alexander Hartdegen, who is determined to prove that time travel is possible. Also stars Jeremy Irons. The official website is still under construction, but you can view the trailer and find out more about the film at the teaser site.

Is Queen of the Damned a teen movie?
From Producer Jorge Saralegui:
"Our story is sexy, but not in a graphic way. Like INTERVIEW, it is not campy. It is much more dense and complicated than INTERVIEW. It features precisely one person who was an existing teen draw: Aaliyah. So while it contains the rock music and vampire violence of the novel, there is not a lot here that could be seen as aimed at a younger audience than INTERVIEW. "
Read on at the official website. Contains bulletin boards, trailer and in depth responses to FAQs from Jorge Saralegui.
Queen of the Damned is released in Australia in February.

Countdown to Attack of the Clones
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones is only weeks away which means that things are getting... busy... over at the Skywalker Ranch. Read the latest news on the post-production effort at the official site. Or take a look at a very brief interview with a very chatty Hayden Christensen (plays Anakin Skywalker in Episodes II and III) at About.com. The burning question of the moment for this film is: will N'Sync appear in Episode II? At the moment that's still unconfirmed from official sources but the New York Post says yes. They claim N'Sync will appear briefly as anonymous Jedi Knights who get blown up by battle droids (see Sci Fi Wire for more details). Prequel spoilers reports that the final decision, which can only be made by Lucas, won't be made until the final edit close to May. Personally I don't care... just so long as they die if they do make it in!

And on the subject of Star Wars
About.com has hailed Star Wars: Obi Wan Xbox Game as "the best Star Wars game, and quite possibly the best movie-based game ever." Praise indeed! Read the full report here.

Whedon to write and direct for Angel
According to Zap2It, for the first time since the series premiered in 1999, Joss Whedon (creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and co-creator of Angel) has returned to write and direct for Angel. The episode is entitled Waiting in the Wings and is due to air in the US on Feb. 4.

7 more Roswell eps
The executive produce of Roswell, Jason Katims, has told Sci Fi Wire that UPN has picked up another 7 episodes to take the current season to a full year's complement. Will there be another season? At the moment that's not clear...

Yeah, but who plays Lois?
Premiere magazine has reported in its January issue that Joseph McGinty Nichol has "signed" to direct the fifth Superman movie. Apparently Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jennifer Lopez and Cameron Diaz are all interested in playing Lois Lane. Full details at Sci Fi Wire

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