Apparently J.J. Abrams’ version of Starfleet Academy is very bright red and dull grey, and oh yeah, the girls still wear those fetching mini-skirts. Wow, the future is rad, man! Anyhoo. AICN recently got sent some spy pictures (talk about spy! it’s like espionage or something judging from the way these pictures were shot!) from the set of Star Trek 11 that shows off Starfleet Academy. You know, where Kirt, Spock, et al went through their Trekking education. I guess. Check them out.
Archive for March 19, 2008
Your First Look at Star Fleet Academy in Trek 11
Deputized and True Believer Headed to Sci Fi Channel
All hail the Sci Fi Channel! I don’t know what got into these guys, or maybe they’re just getting braver nowadays, but the cable network has a ton of new TV projects coming up, and most of them are just intriguing as hell. Another one of their new backdoor pilot is a TV show based on Rosario Dawson’s comic book “True Believer”, which I’ve never read, but is apparently about a down on his luck superhero, and Deputized, which has “Galaxy Quest” type fun written all over it.
Sci Fi Channel Greenlights BSG Prequel Caprica
The Sci Fi Channel has officially announced that it has greenlit a two-hour pilot for a possible Battlestar Galactica prequel TV series, to be called Caprica. (I’m just guessing, but they’ll probably back on the BSG name somewhere in the title later.) Caprica will be introduced to the public as a two-hour TV movie, that will also act as a backdoor pilot. If you don’t know what a “backdoor pilot” is, it’s pretty simple: if the movie does well, a series will be commissioned. If not, then they’ll cut their losses with a two-hour movie, without the expense of hiring cast/crew for a series.
Movie Trailer: The Andromeda Strain Mini-Series
That blasted Andromeda strain is back, and it’s deadlier than ever. Well, it’s probably just about as deadly as the one that showed up in the 1971 movie of the same name, but this just sounds a little better. The two-night mini-series will show up on the A&E, one of their first original mini-series, and is still based on the novel by Michael Crichton. This time around, Mikael Salomon directs from a script by Robert Schenkkan.
Sci-Fi Author Arthur C. Clarke Dead at 90
What science fiction fan doesn’t know the name Arthur C. Clarke? If you count yourself among that group, then it’s time to bash your head in with a rock, because you don’t deserve to call yourself a sci-fi fan. Unfortunately there is bad news from the world of sci-fi books, as Arthur C. Clarke, author of many classics including “Childhood’s End” in 1953, “The City and The Stars” in 1956, “The Nine Billion Names of God” in 1967, “Rendezvous with Rama” in 1973, “Imperial Earth” in 1975, and “The Songs of Distant Earth” in 1986. His genius wasn’t just limited to books; he also co-wrote the 1968 screenplay for “2001: A Space Odyssey” with director with Stanley Kubrick.
James Mangold to Direct Cyclops
I’ve never read Alexis Nolent’s graphic novel (i.e. comic book) called “Cyclops”, but after reading the premise, it sure sounds pretty bloody awesome. And apparently a lot of people thought so, because Warner Bros. has snapped up the movie rights to the comics with intentions of making it a directorial vehicle for James Mangold (“Walk the Line”, “3:10 to Yuma”). Cathy Konrad and Alexandra Milchan will produce the sci-fi actioner for the WB.
Variety Confirms Berg to Direct Dune Remake
I’m always amused when Internet movie sites get a movie news before the trades like Variety or The Hollywood Reporter, because, well, we always depend on THEM for the news, not the other way around. Such as this news about the upcoming “Dune” remake. We reported here, and others reported it over three months ago (from last year!) that Berg would be remaking the movie, and Variety has just now gotten around to confirming it.
Comic Book Stranded Coming to Sci Fi Channel
About two months ago, we reviewed a comic book called “Stranded”, about alien warriors who are put on Earth, and their memories wiped, in preparation for something or another. (You can read our review here.) The comic book was made by Virgin, who have been actively developing comic book properties with the sole intent of turning them into movies or TV series. And now the Sci Fi Channel has officially announced that they are making a TV version of “Stranded”.
Transformers Zippo Lighters!
How cool is this? Transformers Zippo lighters! Now my smoking days are well beyond me (thanks, will power!), but I gotta admit, these are pretty damn cool, and if I was a smoking man, I might send for my very own Transformers lighters today. But alas, I don’t smoke anymore, so all I can do is marvel at these very cool and totally geek-tastic lighters. Speaking of which, who is going to buy this, anyway? Fanboys don’t smoke, and adults wouldn’t be caught dead with a “kiddie” lighter. I guess it’s collector’s only.
Stargate: Continuum to be a Stand-Alone Movie
While “Stargate: The Ark of Truth” was intended to wrap up the Ori storyline that had taken up the final two seasons of Stargate: SG1 the TV series, “Stargate: Continuum”, the second of two direct-to-DVD Stargate movies, will be a standalone movie that, says star Ben Browder, will be more accessible to the casual fan. Meaning that you won’t have to be a Stargate nut to “get” the second movie, which is probably for the best, as “Truth” was waaaaaaaay inside baseball, and non-fans would be lost from the first scene in.
George Lucas Talks Star Wars: Clone Wars, Live-Action TV Series
The bearded one himself, George Lucas, was in Vegas over the week to premiere a 5-minute clip from the upcoming “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”, which according to Lucas, is set between the events of the second and third movie (i.e. the prequels, not the original ones). As for the animation style he’s using, he describes is as “stylized”, and “Gerry Anderson style”. Empire also got him to talk more about the upcoming live-action Star Wars series that he’s planning. Read on.
David Fincher, Others to do Heavy Metal Animated Movie
Geez, remember the first “Heavy Metal” movie in 1981? Or the sorta sequel in 2000 starring Julie Strain? Well forgot those, because they’re making another “Heavy Metal”, to be based on the ’70s sci-fi fantasy magazine of the same name. This latest “Metal” animated movie has some big guns behind it, too — namely director David Fincher, who along with 8 (or 9, they still haven’t settled on the total yet) other filmmakers, will be contributing individual segments to the movie, to be produced by Fincher, Kevin Eastman, and Tim Miller. Best news? They’re looking at an R-rated movie.
Wolfgang Petersen to Direct Uprising
I really love the premise of the new sci-fi movie “Uprising”. It has a powerful alien race occupying Earth, and a small human resistance group rising up to, as the title suggest, fight back. Cool stuff. And they’ve got a great director to take it on, too. German director Wolfgang Petersen knows a thing or two about doing good action movies (“Troy”, “Air Force One”, and many others), so this thing is in very good hands.
Marley Shelton and Rufus Sewell Investigate Mad Science in Eleventh Hour
If there was such a thing as the Midas Touch, then uber producer Jerry Bruckheimer certainly seems to have it. Every thing this guy touches turns to gold, including hit TV shows and movies (“Transformers”, “Bad Boys”, just to name a few). Bruckheimer’s latest venture is a U.S. version of the British show Eleventh Hour, and according to The Hollywood Reporter, actress Marley Shelton (below, “Grindhouse”) and actor Rufus Sewell (left, “Dark City”) have been tapped to star.
First Look at Dreamworks’ Monsters vs. Aliens
USA Today has got your first look at the upcoming Dreamworks sci-fi animated movie “Monsters vs. Aliens”, a spoof on the old ’50s sci-fi movies about invading aliens. The 3-D animated movie is scheduled for March 27, 2009, but first it’ll be shown to future distributors at ShoWest in Las Vegas later today. Jeffrey Katzenberg, Dreamworks’ animation chief, is calling the movie not 3-D, but rather “ultimate 3-D”, whatever that means.
