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Science Fiction & Fantasy News & Gossip | ||
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HarperCollins Publishers have finalised a long-term, multi-million dollar agreement with The CS Lewis Company Limited, making HarperCollins the primary English-language publisher of CS Lewis around the world. HarperCollins currently has exclusive rights to publish The Chronicles of Narnia in English, and as a result of this agreement now has rights to develop new books based on existing CS Lewis titles. Quantum Leap actor, Scott Bakula, is the first name rumoured to be in contention for next the Star Trek captain, according to Trekweb. Bakula, who played time travelling scientist, Sam Beckett in five series of Quantum Leap, is reportedly in negotiations with the producers for the lead role of Captain Jackson Archer in the new Star Trek series. Rick Berman, one of the creators the fifth Star Trek series, has provided a few more details the next installment of the long running SF franchise. Berman told free-lance SF columnist Ian Spelling that the show will be more like the original Star Trek or The Next Generation than Voyager or Deep Space Nine. He also said "It takes place in a different time than any other Star Trek series to date. We'll have seven regular characters, five of them human, two of them not. We'll also have a kick-ass spaceship. I wish I could tell you more, but I can't." The Dark Horizons website has reported that a New Zealand radio station announced details of the final episodes of Xena: Warrior Princess, which are currently in production in NZ. According to the station Gabriel's fate will be unknown, while Xena is killed by a group of samurai warriors. In an interview with iF Magazine, Frank Spotnitz has renewed hope that The X Files may make it to a ninth season. Solid ratings this season has proven that the show can survive without Mulder. Spotnitz confirms Gillian Anderson and Robert Patrick will be back if there is another season, but probably not Duchovny: "All of us hope he would come back or come back in a limited way because we love the character of Mulder and like working him. The show is always better with Mulder in it, but I think it can work without him too". In regards to the season finale, Spotnitz says: "no matter what happens, whether this is the end of the series or whether the series goes on with some character and not others or there's a movie franchise after this - this will be the end of eight years of the TV show and we're writing it as such. Something is definitely coming to an end. We have a clear idea what to do". Medalon, the bestselling debut book by Aussie author Jennifer Fallon, is to be published by HarperCollins Publishers Australia as an E-book. The electronic book will contain a number of "extras" including character portaits and other illustrations by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, who did the cover artwork for the print book ("p-book"). The E-book is expected to be released in the next couple of months, and will join other titles such as The Riftwar Legacy trilogy by Raymond E Feist on the HarperCollins E-book imprint, PerfectBound. According to the SFX Network website Robin Williams will have a cameo role in the upcoming Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone movie. Director Chris Columbus, who has previously directed Williams in Mrs Doubtfire and Bicentenial Man, has given Williams an uncredited cameo in the film. Meanwhile, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling is apparently very happy with the film trailer. She says, "I'm excited about seeing the film, but then no film could ever ruin my favourite books for me." The third season of Farscape, which premiered last week in the US, will get down and dirty with some alien sex scenes, according to Ben Browder, who plays John Crichton in the series. "There's a major development that is one of the boldest strokes I've seen in television," Browder said. "We've got alien sex going on. It's hot, it's sexy. ... It's aliens!" The official website for Evolution, the sci-fi comedy starring the X Files' David Duchovny, has posted a full trailer for the film. The film is expected to be released in the US mid this year. The trailer can be downloaded here. The Aurealis Award results were announced last week. The winners are: Division A: Science Fiction
Best Novel Division B: Fantasy
Best Novel Division C: Horror
Best Novel Division D: Young Adult Convenors' Award Sara Douglass is set to visit Newcastle, Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns on a tour to promote Book 2 of The Crucible trilogy, The Wounded Hawk. The tour will take place in early May. Stay tuned for more details on tour venues and dates. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America have announced the final ballot for the Nebula Awards, to be given to the best novel, novella, novelette and short story published in 2000. Among the short listed are Voyager authors Greg Bear (nominated for Darwin's Radio) and Jack McDevitt (for Infinity Beach). Winners will be announced at the 2001 Nebula Awards weekend in Los Angeles on April 27-29. The list of nominees can be viewed at the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America website. Yet more news of a Dr Who movie. Fan site Outpost Gallifrey posted this tidbit: "Our best information suggests that the Doctor Who film may indeed be announced as early as this summer. A major Hollywood studio has indeed optioned a script in conjunction with BBC Films, as has been confirmed to us through our sources. While any casting or other information is jumping the gun at best, Outpost Gallifrey can indeed confirm that a film project is now closer than it has ever been to fruition". According to rumours on the web, the new Star Trek series will be simply titled Enterprise. An initial cast list, sent out by Paramount to talent agencies, has been published by Trek Today. The list confirms that shooting for the series is scheduled to begin on 8 May in Los Angeles. The series is scheduled to air in the US in late 2001. Voyager sci fi authors Sean Williams and Shane Dix have been contracted by LucasFilms to write three Star Wars novels. They attracted attention in the US after making the sci-fi bestseller lists with their Evergence trilogy. Williams will leave in a couple of weeks for Skywalker Ranch, the California estate of Star Wars creator George Lucas, to plan the books. Williams says the two have until the middle of next year to complete the books. Congratulations Sean & Shane, and all the best with the books! Christopher Lee will play the dark side's Count Dooku in the upcoming Star Wars: Episode II. According to Empire Online, George Lucas apparently let the cat out of the bag in the introduction to the book Christopher Lee: The Authorized Screen History by Jonathan Rigb. "When it was time to cast the role of Count Dooku in Star Wars: Episode II, my casting director suggested Christopher Lee, and I jumped at the opportunity to work with him," Lucas wrote. "I knew that I needed someone who could convey evil. But in addition, I needed someone to bring stature, strength and wisdom to the role. His villainous résumé speaks for itself." George Lucas has told USA Today that there will be no more Star Wars movies after he completes the current trilogy. "No way," Lucas told the newspaper. "I guarantee that. After the next one [Episode III], I'll move on." Original Conan director, John Milius, has begun work on the screenplay for the third Conan movie. The movie will be titled King Conan: Crown of Iron. While Milius is keen to have Schwarzenegger reprise his role as Conan, Arnie doesn't seem quite so keen to be involved. Rumours suggest that Ralph Moeller (Gladiator), who played the character in a short-lived TV version of Conan, may take over the role. An executive of Studios USA, who have picked up the proposed new Battlestar Galactica series, has told Sci Fi Wire that the show is set to pick up where the original series left off. While no scripts have yet been written for the series, its unlikely that the show will feature any of the original characters, although the Cylons will still be in it. "I think it's safe to say you can't do Battlestar Galactica without Cylons," he said. "But what our relationship to the Cylons will be, I can't say." The official Harry Potter website has posted a teaser trailer for the first movie. Check out the trailer that everyone's raving about!
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