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The Two Towers trailer

The first trailer (4 whole minutes!) is coming... SOON! But, you're going to have to go see The Fellowship of the Rings again to see it on the big screen (no great problem for most of us!). The trailer is due to hit UK cinemas in March. Keep an eye on lordoftherings.net - it's a good bet that it will be up there soon!

Take a look at some preview pics from The Two Towers at The Daily Digest. Are you a Gollum fan? Then take a peek at The NYPost.com!

The Fellowship of the Ring cleans up at the BAFTAs

The Fellowship of the Ring won not one but FIVE BAFTAs (that's the UK version of the Oscars, more or less):

Best Film
Achievement in Direction
Special Visual Effects
Makeup/Hair
and (tellingly) the Orange Film of the Year

The Orange Film of the Year is voted for by members of the public.

Click here for the full list of award winners. (You can watch the BAFTAs on the ABC this Saturday (2nd March) at 9.30 PM).

More Lord of the Rings stuff

In more LotR news Jackson has told Empire Online that two DVD releases are planned: the initial theatrical release, followed by an extended cut (I'd say Director's Cut but Peter Jackson doesn't like that term!). So there is either a tough decision to be made or some penny saving to come! More at Sci Fi Wire

There is also a rather nice spoiler splash on the upcoming releases at DarkHorizons.

Queen of the Damned opens in the US

Queen of the Damned topped the US box office this past weekend - 6 months to the day after star Aaliyah's death. The movie grossed a little over $15 million US on its opening weekend. See VH1.com for more info.

What is the Matrix?

Looking for a very cool way to waste some time and bandwidth? Check out the official website for the Matrix sequels at whatisthematrix.warnerbros.com

The site features games, interviews, and the usual photo galleries and info.

Reminder - Angel airs tonight!

Quick reminder - the new season of Angel premieres tonight (Channel 7, 10.30 for Sydney folk - check your local guides!). The synopsis is:

As Angel mourns Buffy's death, he battles a lovelorn vampire seeking revenge for the death of his beloved, who was killed by Angel.

Worthwhile television viewing!

Buffy is back.... erm... soon! Not tonight though (or at least I hope not, else this will be one unhappy Web Goddess!) but soon. Seven has a slot down as "to be advised" for next Monday night (the 4th of March) at 10.30. So think positive Buffy thoughts and keep an eye on BuffyDownUnder.com!

XFiles is official

And it's FINALLY official! David Duchovny will reprise his role as FBI Agent Fox Mulder when he stars in the two-hour series finale of THE X-FILES. Read the press release at the official site.

We're just wild about Harry!

A first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone has recently sold at auction for a mind blowing £10,000! To put this in perspective, that's almost 4x the expected price and nearly double the value of a first edition of The Tale of Peter Rabbit (Beatrix Potter - privately published in 1901)!

Thanks to our very own Slytherin Web Goddess and Ananova for the headsup.

Also from Ananova is the news that poor Harry Potter (and George Orwell's Animal Farm plus 24 other texts) have been banned from schools in the UAE. The Al-Hayat newspaper reports that the books have been banned because they contain "written or illustrated material that contradicts Islamic and Arab values".

Fancy a flutter on Fellowship?

Also thanks to SWG (who has been very busy over at Ananova!), The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is at 6/4 odds on the film scooping between 6 and 8 Oscars. Personally I'd be putting my money on it receiving between 0 and 5 (odds are 2/1) but I sincerely hope I'm wrong : )

In more LotR news there's been a bit of a bungle over in New Zealand. Tourism New Zealand is promoting Matamata (that's Hobbiton to the non-Kiwis) in an international campaign selling New Zealand as the real Middle-Earth. Only problem is, there is a contract wrangle going on over the actual set of Hobbiton. As the contract stands now the Alexanders (who own the property the set was built on) are unable to profit from the film, so they can't turn the set into a tourist attraction. The film company own the set, the farmers own the... well... farm. In the meantime around 20 people a day detour to Matamata, the only site in the country where there are even remains of a set. Hmmm, let's hope the scenery of the surrounding area is worth it!

But the best news of all? I was informed on Wednesday that The Lord of the Rings has now grossed more than Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - just clear of $41 million!

Monica Bellucci in Matrix sequels

Italian actress Monica Bellucci (Brotherhood of the Wolf) told SCI FI Wire that she signed on for a role in the upcoming Matrix sequels because she was such a fan of the first film. But she refuses to give spoilers...

Superman stuff

I don't know what to call this one, so we'll stick with "the next Superman" until they give us a title! First, some history: back in 1998 Warner canned Superman Lives, which was in preproduction, due to budgeting concerns. The project has now been revised - but it looks very different! Nicholas Cage will no longer play Superman, the plot is completely different (Superman no longer dies for a start!), there's a new director (McG - Charlie's Angels) new screen-writer, new producer... Actually, the only thing that is the same is that it will be a Superman movie. Read on at Upcomingmovies.com.

Lord of the Rings nominated for 13 Oscars

Best Picture
Actor in a supporting role: Ian McKellen (Gandalf)
Art Direction
Cinematography
Costume Design
Directing
Film Editing
Makeup
Music (Score)
Music (Song)
Sound
Visual Effects
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

Click here for the complete list of nominees.

Let us hope that The Fellowship of the Ring is more successful at the Academy Awards than at the Golden Globes!

Enterprise premiere definitely next week (unless they cancel it/move it/do anything else with it!!!)

This from the i7 TvGuides website:

Wednesday 20th February:

Enterprise: Broken Arrow

TCN Channel Nine

10:30 pm - 11:30 pm

Rated:PG

Set in the 22nd Century, Enterprise takes place during the early pioneering days of deep space exploration, when interstellar travel is in its infancy and the United Federation of Planets is still decades away. Captain Jonathon Archer is bold, intensely curious and eager to venture where no man has gone before. And so, the Enterprise crew set out on a maiden voyage with a mission to return a wounded Klingon to his people.

Stars: Scott Bakula, Connor Trinneer and Jolene Blalock.

Premiere
Category: Sci-Fi

Enterprise to air in Aus?

About.com reports that Australia's Nine network will show the Star Trek: Enterprise pilot "Broken Bow" at 10:30 p.m. on February 20. Nothing up on the Nine website yet (nor is it on the TV Guides) but I'll be confirming that for you ASAP...

Enterprise reunites Bakula and Stockwell

According to SciFi Wire Scott Bakula and former Quantum Leap co-star Dean Stockwell will be reunited in an episode of the new Star Trek series, Enterprise. In the episode "Detained" Stockwell will play Grat, a Tandaran colonel who deals with Bakula (Capt. Archer) and Anthony Montgomery (Mayweather) after they enter Tandaran airspace. The episode will air in the US in April.

Keanu on The Matrix Reloaded

Keanu Reeves has given Entertainment Tonight a sneak peek at the next Matrix movie:

"The sequel carves a continuation of [my character] Neo's journey and his quest to find out the truth," Keanu reveals to ET. "It's more about the conflict with the machines and the humans."

Whedon casts Fillion

Joss Whedon (creator of Buffy) has cast Nathan Fillion (Two Guys and a Girl) in his new Sci-Fi series Firefly. Set almost 500 years in the future, Firefly (due to begin production next month) centers on the captain (Capt. Malcolm (Mal) Reynolds - played by Nathan Fillion) and owner of a small "Firefly"-class transport in the newly established Union of Planets. More info at Sci-Fi wire and Cinescape.

Parody

Ever wondered what would happen if they crossed South Park with Babylon 5? Star Trek, Star Wars and X-Files... no one is safe on the net. About.com brings together some of the best Sci-Fi related parody sites on the net.

Countdown to Buffy

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is set to return to Australian TVs on the 26th of February. So that's just 20 sleeps to go! For more Australian sensitive Buffy news keep an eye on buffydownunder.com

Philip K Dick Awards

We're not nominated (dang!) but this year's Philip K Dick Awards shortlist has been announced. Head over to the SFSite for full details.

Pullman to get Rings treatment?

InSciFi network reports that New Line, hot off the success of The Lord of the Rings, is now interested in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy for kids. Comprised of The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass, Pullman is "akin to the Harry Potter books but darker" [Variety].

Blade lives?

And while you're at InSciFi network check out the latest on Blade II: "It's basically The Dirty Dozen," said screenwriter David Goyer. Vampires in WWII? Perhaps not, but it will have all the classic elements of a war movie. And the violence? Yep, that will definitely be there! It's tipped to hit US screens under an R rating.

You could be CaptnKirk@StarTrek.net!

Jono has reported to the message board that Enterprise premieres this weekend on TV. I can't find it in the guides, but Trekkies should probably stay home and "channel surf" just in case... : )

While you're waiting why not sign up for StarTrek.net? Powered by EarthLink, StarTrek.net will be the universe's only Star Trek-themed Internet access service. Members get authentic Star Trek theming of their Internet access software and browser, a StarTrek.net email address (i.e., subscribername@startrek.net), desktop customization options, and exclusive access to StarTrek.net specially-created Star Trek content. Sounds... trekkish... Click here for more information.

Prequel to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

DarkHorizons reports that Hsu Li-Kong, producer of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, has confirmed that shooting of a prequel will start in May next year. Ang Lee will return to direct.

StarGate

Also on the message board (but this time thanks to Koori!) is the news that StarGate has been axed mid-season. No sign of that on the official website but, if Christopher Judge (who was at the Best of Both Worlds StarGate con this weekend) is to be believed, the actors
certainly aren't happy about the way the show is progressing.

*POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING*

I wasn't there but rumour has it that Christopher Judge broke down and cried when discussing the death of character, Dr. Daniel Jackson (played by Michael Shanks).

*/SPOILERS*

Judge (Teal'c) has confirmed that this season is his last - he won't be returning next year. So - has it been given the chop or is it that everyone is just walking away?

Owen and Obi-wan related? Uh uh, nope, no way!

Have you heard how Obi-Wan is actually Owen Lars' brother? No??? Well, good, actually! Because he's not! This is one of the more active Star Wars rumours to cross the galaxy of late and on the Official site Madame Jocasta Nu (Jedi Librarian no less!) has squashed it categorically: "Owen Lars is the son of Cliegg Lars. Obi-Wan's parents are unknown, and he has little to no connection to them having grown up in the Jedi Temple. He is aware of having a brother, but very little information about that sibling has ever been published." Ok... but who is Cliegg Lars?

Want some spoilers for the book of Episode II? R.A. Salvatore (who is writing the novelisation) gives a brief synopsis here.

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