24 September 2001

Lost in Space may have been remade into a movie not so long ago, but there could be plans afoot to make a mini-series, and a whole new series based on the cult TV show. According to Test Pattern, US TV Network the NBC has apparently expressed interest in a Lost in Space mini-series which would feature members of original cast "passing the torch" to a whole new crew. There's little doubt that if the mini-series proves successful the new crew could end up with their own series spin-off. While there's no script at present, NBC is apparently negotiating with key people to get the project of the ground.

Steven Spielberg may well have turned down the role of director for the first of the Harry Potter movies, but he could well be taking on the third. Talking to the UK's Telegraph, Spielberg revealed the reason he passed on the first movie, saying, "That first story didn't touch me creatively." The third books a different story, however: Now the third Harry Potter book...It's pure genius! Much darker, more esoteric and interesting to me personally. If they'd offered me that, I'd have said yes." When pressed on if he might still be up for doing so, Spielberg said, "You never know."

Thought that Highlander 4 was the last of the series? Well, according to the producers, possibly not. Executive producer Bill Panzer announced at the recent Highlander Reunion convention that he and partner Peter Davis are developing a yet another movie in the popular series, tentatively tilted The Source. Stars Christopher Lambert and Adrian Paul have apparently both signed on for the fifth movie, while whilst Timothy Dalton and Roger Daltry are being sought after for cameos. Word from The Irish Examiner also has producers negotiating with Sean Connery to reprise his role as Ramirez.

The latest rumour on 20th Century Fox's proposed AI movie, I, Robot, has Will Smith considering signing on for the role of the male lead detective. The movie, whilst not a direct adaptation of Isaac Asimov's book of the same name, is believed to have incorporated certain concepts of Asimov's story, such as the Three Robotic Laws. The film also looks like being the first in a Robot series, which would begin to adapt the Asimov stories in the first sequel. I, Robot is set to start shooting in Australia next spring.

17 September 2001

Changes and delays have been announced on a number of sci fi movies currently in production in the wake of the tragedy in the US:

• Pendragon Pictures have confirmed that they have halted production on the movie remake of War of the Worlds in a press release stating "Pendragon Pictures announces that, due to many story similarities of their production of War of the Worlds to the tragic and horrific events surrounding the World Trade Center attack, production is forced to go on hiatus. For at least one to two weeks the principles at Pendragon Pictures will assess the project's potential effects on the spirit of the world."
  
  
• Sony has shut down production on Men in Black 2, announcing they will change the ending of the film, due for release mid next year, because the World Trade Center was to be involved in the climax. A report by Countingdown indicating the opening and final scenes of the film both featured the World Trade Center including a scene where one of the towers opened up and spaceships flew out of it.
  
  
• A Sony spokesperson told SCI FI Wire that computer technology will be used to remove any images of the World Trade Center from its upcoming Spider-Man movie, shot partly in New York earlier this year. Sony has also recalled its teaser trailer for the film, which featured a sequence in which the Spider-Man traps a helicopter full of thieves in a massive web strung between the two towers, as well as movie posters featuring the towers.

The creator and executive producr of Dark Angel, James Cameron, has spoken to Cinescape Online about the possibility of a big screen version of the hit sci fi TV show. "I think if we have continued success with the series, there is a good possibility that we might want to make a film from it. I think we’ve got to see where the series goes. If we grow our fan base and we stay at least where we are and/or grow from where we are, I think that’s a very good possibility," said Cameron. He also added, “I think it’s a fun world and there’s a lot of things that we can do in a feature environment that we don’t have the budget for in a TV environment.”

The Ain't It Cool website has reported spoiler rumours for the upcoming X Files season involving Xena star Lucy Lawless's new character. The rumours suggest the mysterious character will be "a new Krychek" - an emmisary of the Cancer Man. Her first appearance in the second episode is believed to herald the reappearance of Cancer Man, who was thought to have been killed off in season 7.

10 September 2001

Indiana Jones fans are in for a major disappointment - there won't be a fourth movie for quite some time. At least another five years, in fact. In an interview with a French magazine, George Lucas said that commitments to the Star Wars prequels will hold his attention until at least 2006. "Up to 2005, my mind is focused on the Star Wars episodes. I don't know how I can manage to find time for Indy before 2006. Steven [Spielberg] and Harrison [Ford] agreed for a new adventure, but due to other projects, we are very busy. The most difficult thing will be to block on our schedule a whole year to focus only on Indy IV. Steven is not afraid of working on several projects at the same time, as writer, producer and director. I cannot do that."

The classic science fiction movie Forbidden Planet looks set to be remade. DreamWorks has acquired remake rights to the 1956 film which starred Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis and Leslie Nielsen. The original film was a futuristic adaptation of Shakespeare's The Tempest. The remake, which had previously been of interest to James Cameron and Frank Darabont, will be produced by Richard Saperstein and Lindsay Dunlap.

Empire Online has reported that the death of Aaliyah may save her last movie, Queen of the Damned, from a straight-to-video release. Warner Bros has denied what it calls a "vicious" rumor, saying that it had always planned to release the film in movie theaters. "The rumor that Aaliyah's tragic death has rescued it and put it back on course for theatrical release is vicious," a studio source told SCI FI Wire. Aaliyah played the lead role in the movie, which is the sequel to Interview With the Vampire. Queen of the Damned, based on Anne Rice's novel of the same name, is scheduled for release in early 2002.

The US Fox Network has picked up a new science fiction pilot show entitled Neverworld. It tells the story of a young man who lands in a parallel universe. The show is created by Robert Nathan (Law & Order), and Kelsey Grammer (Frasier) will be executive producer. The show is currently under development and is expected to air in the US in late 2002.

3 September 2001

Executive producer of Roswell, Jonathan Frakes, confirmed to the Zap2it website that there will be a Roswell-Enterprise crossover episode. The fourth episode of Roswell, will see teen alien Max visit Paramount Studio and audition for the role of an alien on the new Star Trek series, Enterprise. Jonathon Frakes will play himself in the episode, entitled "Secrets and Lies". "It's an audition scene," Frakes said. "Max is auditioning to play the role of an alien, only he
doesn't know how to play an alien, hence the wacky, ironic hijinks. It's a comedy scene in a serious episode." Apparently the idea for the crossover camemfrom talks between Frakes, Roswell executive producer Jason Katims, and former Star Trek: Deep Space Nine executive producer and current Roswell writer/producer Ronald D. Moore. Scott Bakula, who plays starship Capt. Jonathan Archer on Enterprise, will not be appearing in the episode, despite rumours to the contrary.

Star Trek X hasn't even started shooting yet, but already there's talk about Star Trek XI. Given that Star Trek X will be the last outing for the Next Generation crew, the natural assumption is the Star Trek XI will feature the Voyager cast. Not so, according to SyFy Portal
which has reported that the 11th Trek film will skip Voyager and move straight onto Enterprise, the latest Trek series. "If people are curious to who will replace the TNG crew, a person need not look any further than Scott Bakula's contract," the website said. "When he signed on to do Enterprise, there was some tweaking of an existing agreement he had with the studio, and now there are some film options." But why ditch Voyager? It seems that low ratings for the TV show do not bode well for a successful movie.

Rumours on who will replace Aaliyah in The Matrix sequels after her sudden death last week have well and truly begun. Actress Eva Mendes (Exit Wounds), who apparently was one of the 'finalists' for the role in the first place, is current favourite to take over the role of 'Zee'. Other actresses rumoured to be in line for the role include Stacey Dash (Clueless) and Brandy Norwood (Moesha). However, Matrix Reloaded producer Joel Silver and directors Larry and Andy Wachowski have issued a statement saying that no decision has been made on whether to recast Aaliyah's role.

In an interview with Empire magazine, Sigourney Weaver has revealed that she's apparently in talks about Alien 5. Of the project, she said, "I left my character not knowing even what species she was, so right now I'm a little unclear as to how things can progress." As for a second another Ghostbusters movie though, Sigourney says "its that's highly unlikely". "I think our bustin' days are long gone - we'd be a very sorry bunch of very old ghostbusters now," she added.

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