Monthly Archive: October 2008

Variety reports that director Ridley Scott will helm The Forever War, based on Joe Haldeman’s 1974 novel of the same name. The film will be Scott’s first foray into science fiction since Alien and Blade Runner.

Scott admits that he intended to film The Forever War nearly, well, forever ago.

"I first pursued Forever War 25 years ago, and the book has only grown more timely and relevant since," said Scott.

"It’s a science-fiction epic," he continued, "a bit of The Odyssey by way of Blade Runner, built upon a brilliant, disorienting premise."

The novel’s plot centers on "a soldier who battles an enemy in deep space for only a few months, only to return home to a planet he doesn’t recognize some 20 years later." Forever Free and Forever Peace were two other novels set in the the same reality in addition to the novella A Separate War. The novel has also been adapted into a three-volume graphic novel by the Belgian comics creator Marvano which saw an English edition years ago.

The Forever War has been in development for, you guessed it, forever. Shortly after the novel’s publication, Richard Edlund picked up the rights to the film with the intention of making it his directorial debut. When the film never entered production, the Sci Fi Channel attempted a miniseries that also hit a stalemate. Scott eventually secured the rights, and the film will now be produced by Scott Free with executive producers Vince Gerardis and Ralph Vicinanza, whose company Created By represents Haldeman.

Ridley Scott himself has a project slate that extends from now until, that’s right, forever. The director is set to helm Nottingham starring Russell Crowe as both Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham. He also was recently attached to an adaptation of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, which would have marked his first science fiction film in over three decades had The Forever War fallen through. Scott is also circling Child 44 and Gucci. His latest film, Body of Lies, debuted last Friday to unexpectedly poor box office numbers.

On a side note, check out the cover to The Forever War. Doesn’t that look exactly like Benicio Del Toro? While it’s too early to talk about casting, who wouldn’t want to see good ol’ BDT in a space odyssey?

Note: Click here for last week’s victim!

The Crime Scene: "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"
From Showtime: "While grocery shopping with Rita and the kids, Dexter comes across a fellow predator. But this one is a pedophile. After the pedophile is seen talking with Astor, Dexter must decide if he fits The Code. Meanwhile, Debra has a new homicide to solve, a mysteriously skinned Jane Doe that they like Freebo for. But Dexter knows that Freebo is not the culprit, so he must find a way to help Debra identify their murder victim, thus proving that Freebo didn’t do the crime. While doing this, Dexter learns that Miguel Prado wants Dexter to be his friend. But just how smart is it for Dexter, a serial killer, to befriend an Assistant District Attorney?"

Blood Spatter Analysis
In the season’s third installment, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," Dexter continues to explore his impending role as a father while dealing with the ramifications of murdering Freebo, the man Miguel Prado believes to have killed his younger brother. Miguel, who doesn’t know that Dexter is the true culprit, witnessed the aftermath of our hero’s killing of Freebo in the previous episode, and was shockingly happy about Dexter’s actions. Complications continue as Miguel pushes his way deeper into Dexter’s life, swearing that the killing of Freebo is a favor that will "never be forgotten." (more…)

We mentioned a rumor that the annual BBC charity special for Children in Need this year might feature a reunion of previous doctors along with the current Doctor, David Tennant.  Now London’s Telegraph is report that the seven surviving actors who have played the Doctor will be reunited for the special, to air November 14.

An insider at the BBC told the paper, "It’s a pretty ambitious idea and it’s still being finalized. Everything is being kept under wraps but Doctor Who fans are in for a big treat."

The Doctor has been seen on the special for the last several years and the producers have carefully woven his short escapade into the current dramatic series continuity.  Last year, for example, saw Peter Davison meet Tennant.

Reportedly joining those two will be Tom Baker, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann and Tennant’s predecessor in the current revival, Christopher Eccleston.

The first trio of performers to essay the role — William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, and Jon Pertwee – have all passed away.

Davison’s daughter, Georgia Moffett, has been seen on the current series and is currently dating Tennant.

In related news, Tennant and his most recent companion, played by Donna Tate, have been nominated for the National Television Awards’ Outstanding Drama Performance. Tennant has won twice before and will go head-to-head with Tate who played Donna Nobel.  There’ll be no Doctor Donna winner in this, the first time male and female stars will compete in the same category. The Doctor Who stars face competition from Ashes to Ashes’ Philip Glenister and The Bill’s Alex Walkinshaw.
 

An exclusive clip has premiered over at the newly launched official Web site for Punisher: War Zone. The video, which launches automatically on the site’s homepage, begins with an introduction from the film’s director, Lexi Alexander.

Shot at the editing bay for War Zone, Alexander states in the video that she’s "very excited about [the film], and I wanted to personally thank you for your positive reinforcement and your commitment to Frank Castle and his mythology."

"I’m happy to report that we have a great movie coming December 5th," she concludes.

This marks Alexander’s first appearance affiliated with Punisher: War Zone since the reportedly ugly departure between the director and Lionsgate, the studio behind the film. It’s unclear from the video whether Alexander and the studio have put aside their differences or if this introduction was filmed prior to the rift announced in July.

The clip itself does a good job of showing why War Zone earned an R rating, though there are no heads exploding like so much watermelon in this exclusive footage. In the clip, Frank Castle surgically removes several armed threats in an unspecified building, dispatching his enemies as only the Punisher can.

Punisher: War Zone focuses on vigilante Frank Castle’s one-man war on crime and his eventual showdown with the immeasurably maniacal Jigsaw. The film stars Ray Stevenson, Dominic West, Julie Benz and Wayne Knight. Lexi Alexander directs the feature.

One film Guillermo del Toro will not be directing for Universal is the adaptation of Hater, the film he will produce with Mark Johnson. Instead, Variety reports that Juan Antonio Bayona has been signed to direct the movie based on David Moody’s thriller and adapted to the screen b Glen Mazzara (The Shield).

Bayona is best known for The Orphanage, which del Toro also produced, and this will be his English-language debut.

"I like the idea of a movie that talks about the state of fear we live in nowadays," Bayona told  Variety.

The novel and screenplay tells of people suddenly committing random acts of violence with no provocation. “What I loved about Hater is it recognizes the reality that we live in, where it is incredibly easy to polarize, to hate for gender, race, age,” del Toro told the trade over the summer.

Pink Panther & Pals will be a new 26-episode animated series for the Cartoon Network, airing in fall 2009.  The deal between Turner Broadcasting and MGM Worldwide Television sees production in Los Angeles and Amman, Jordan, jointly produced by MGM and Jordan-based Rubicon according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The new half-hour series will depict a teenage Pink Panther as he and his peers get into all sorts of trouble. Ant and Aardvark will be back in addition to new characters. The Henry Mancini musical score and comedy themes will be reprised since after all, that’s what we all love best about the property.

"The character is drawn a little younger to depict the Pink Panther as a teenager, although he will be instantly recognizable with his signature walk and devil-may-care attitude," executive producer David Corbett told the paper.

Meantime, TV on DVD is reporting that The Pink Panther and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection will be out January 27, 2009. All nine volumes of Pink Panther shorts, totaling 190, will be collected for the first time for a retail price of $69.98.  For live action fans, MGM will be releasing The Pink Panther Ultimate Collection on November 25. The box set will contain the live action Inspector Clouseau films (including 2006’s Steve Martin rendition), in addition to the nine volumes animated theatrical shorts.

The animated volumes not only include The Pink Panther series of shorts, but also The Ant and the Aardvark, The Inspector, and Roland and Ratfink. The collection also includes Jerry Beck’s Pink Panther, The Ultimate Guide to the Coolest Cat in Town! The collection will retail for $199.98.