Archive for the 'News' Category
Page 5 of 9
Published on
February 18, 2009 in
News.
- Tom Hanks, the actor and star of Forrest Gump, will turn on the Large Hadron Collider, designed to recreate the ‘Big Bang’, when it is finally repaired. Hanks was approached about the move while filming his latest film Angels & Demons in which he plays a Harvard University academic investigating a plot to annihilate the Vatican with 0.25 grams of antimatter stolen from Cern.
- Jerry Bruckheimer has confirmed in an interview that he is planning a 4th Pirates of the Caribbean film and that Johnny Depp is interested in that project as well as another project called “The Lone Ranger.”
- Ang Lee is in talks to bring Yann Martel’s Life of Pi to the big screen. The novel chronicles the travails of a shipwrecked teenage boy stuck on a life raft with only an orangutan, a zebra, a hyena and a tiger. M Night Shyamalan, and several others have all been attached to the project, but none have been able to extract it from development hell.
- Author Terry Pratchett has been knighted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace for services to literature. Sir Terry, who was named in the New Year Honours list, is best known for the Discworld series.
- It hasn’t even hit theaters yet but Zack Snyder has promised that the Directors Cut of Watchmen will contain almost an hour more of content including the Tales of the Black Freighter.
- Paramount has announced Blu-ray release dates for season one of the “Star Trek” original series, as well as for several of the original films. The series will be released April 28 and the movies May 12.
- Friday the 13th earned 19.1 million dollars opening night the biggest single-day gross so far in 2009. It went on to earn a total of $43 million, almost double the next highest, He’s Just Not That Into You.
Warrington Gillette, who played Jason Vorhees in 1981′s Friday the 13th Part 2, was attending an event honoring the remake. The actor arrived in full costume, wearing the famous ice hockey mask, and took to the stage wielding a real axe. But his performance ended in disaster when a woman tried to wrestle it away from him, slashing his hand. Lingerie-clad models were running and screaming, as a blood-soaked Jason ran off the runway to get to a hospital.”
- New Line and Platinum Dunes have tapped director Samuel Bayer to reimagine their prized “The Nightmare on Elm Street” property and could begin shooting as early as the spring. A first-time director, Bayer is a slightly unconventional choice to remake the classic. But the Bayer is renowned for his commercials and music videos, many of them iconic. Those videos include Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and Blind Melon’s “No Rain,”. He also has won best director at the MTV Video Music Awards and a host of CLIO awards.
- In the upcoming Johnny Quest movie Race Bannon will be played by Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson and the role of Johnny possibly going to High School Musical’s Zac Efron. Efron is also signed on for the 2010 remake of Footloose.
- Scarlett Johansson is reportedly set to join the cast of the upcoming superhero film Iron Man 2. Johansson is reportedly in talks to play Russian spy Natasha Romanoff, AKA The Black Widow, in the sequel to last summers blockbuster.
- A first-edition “Conan The Barbarian, No. 1″ comic book and five superhero-themed figurines are the latest losses to be sustained by Graham Crackers Comics in Naperville. The comic book was valued at $690 and the figurines had a collective value of $560, for a total estimated loss of $1,250, Hoffman said. A store manager was also scammed on Dec. 10, 2007. That was when a customer wrote a counterfeit check for $980.99 and stole a 1963 first-edition copy of “The Amazing Spider-man, No. 2.”
- Bruce Campbell’s mock-autobiographical film My Name Is Bruce is now available on DVD. He has also stated that he has no intention to return to the character of Ash saying “You are bound to disappoint. I would rather disappoint with a brand new original movie.”
- The latest incarnation of the Nintendo DS, the Nintendo DSi, will be released in the U.S. on April 5 and priced at US$169.99. It is launching in black and new color blue. Gamestop will take preorders starting tomorrow.
- Dustin Browder, lead developer for Blizzard’s Starcraft II, assured visitors to the official forums that the game was “in the final stretch.” But no firm dates on the 3 part release or the betas yet.
Published on
February 11, 2009 in
News.
- James Whitmore, President of the Assembly in the original Planet of the Apes, passed away Friday afternoon from lung cancer. He was 87.
- Pride and Prejudice and Zombies features the original text of Jane Austen’s beloved novel with all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie action. The parody of the English novel is due to be published in April with Hollywood studios already bidding to turn the new book into a blockbuster movie.
- Michael Bay claims that the Transformers sequel will be “darker and more epic” than the first and that the crew has been working hard to make the robots emote more.
- Original Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama says he said “Huh?” when he first read the new movie’s script but says good people are working on it.
- The most long-awaited movie in science fiction, James Cameron’s decade-in-the-making Avatar, is hitting France and Belgium on December 16. It only opens in the United States two days later, on the 18th. In the tradition of Psi Phi – French enmity this must not stand!
- Using just $350 of off-the-shelf technology, Pranav Mistry created a wearable computer for the Fluid Interfaces group at the MIT Media Lab. His device converts any surface – including the human body – into a touchpad that controls a mobile computer in your pocket.
- The team behind kickass Vikings vs. aliens flick Outlander, Dirk Blackman and Howard McCain, have been hired to write Zombies of Mass Destruction, a flick about an army of zombies in the Middle East. Based on a comic book by Underworld’s Kevin Grevioux it is being produced by the Benderspink company which is also working on Y the Last Man.
- Hayden Panettierre is denying rumors that she intends to leave Heroes before her contract is up. The rumor was that either she or Ali Larter wanted out. Larter has not responded to the rumor yet.
- NCsoft’s doomed MMO Tabula Rasa may only have weeks to live, but the developers are making those weeks count, with giant player-controlled mechs storming the title’s final moments. The game’s deathday is February 28th, but the team behind the title continue to show their dedication to the game’s dwindling fanbase by patching in the promised player-controlled mech robots at the last moment.
- Valve announced today that the recently unveiled Left 4 Dead Survival pack for the 360 and PC will be free. The pack, due this spring, introduces a new multiplayer game mode entitled, Survival, plus two complete campaigns for Versus Mode (Death Toll, Dead Air). A Critic’s Choice Edition of the game will be heading to retail stores this spring, and will include access to all the content introduced in the L4D: Survival Pack.
- Cartoon Network has picked up a second season of animated hit series “Star Wars.” The half-hour show debuted to the Network’s highest ratings ever and has since been the top-rated show in its Friday-evening time period in all of television for all boys demographics.
- Warner Brothers has purchased the right to “Inception” a science fiction script written by Batman’s Christopher Nolan. Nolan will produce with Emma Thomas, his longtime producing partner.
- Dougray Scott, Joely Richardson, Brian Cox, Eddie Izzard, Jason Priestley and Vanessa Redgrave have signed on to star in the BBC miniseries “Day of the Triffids”. Law and Order writer Patrick Harbinson penned the script based on John Wyndham’s bestselling 1951 novel. Triffids is set in the not-too-distant future, when scientists create and cultivate a plant called the triffid that provides an alternative fuel supply with devastating results.
Published on
February 4, 2009 in
News.
- A man wielding a “Star Trek Klingon-type sword” robbed two Colorado Springs convenience stores early this morning, police said. Officers searched the area but didn’t find the robber or the weapon. However upon geek review of footage it appears to be a knock-off smaller weapon.
- Michael J Nelson of Mystery Science Theater 3000 and Riff Trax infamy has vowed to eat nothing but bacon during February. “American bacon”. No “Canadian bacon”, which is really just lunchmeat. No pork chops. No turkey bacon. No “tofacon” or any such horror. Just bacon. And to drink: water, wine, beer, or martinis.
- Fanboys of Fanboys the Movie have brought Weinstein’s empire to its knees. Weinstein removed the cancer portion of the much delayed movie because it left him “cold,” however director Kyle Newman disagreed. The film has been reshot since then but efforts have brought back the original effort. Fanboys opens this weekend in select cities.
- John Stevenson, one of the directors of Dreamworks’ Kung Fu Panda, has been tapped to direct the new He-Man movie based upon the 1980s Mattel toyline, from a script written by Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li’s Justin Marks.
- A research team at Britain’s Durham University have adapted the Valve Source engine to create a fire drill simulator. Recreating the university campus, it’s aimed at familiarizing staff with the best way to escape the building in case of an emergency. However the gamers who played the simulation tended to try running through the fire instead of trying to find a safe exist.
- Actor Chris Pine is preparing to be named “Male Star of Tomorrow” by movie tradeshow expo ShoWest for his portrayal of Captain Kirk in the new Star Trek movie by J.J. Abrahms.
- The “Tiberius,” “Pon Farr” and “Red Shirt” fragrances will be available in finer stores starting the spring for an undisclosed price in a strange tie-in with the new Trek movie.
- Dan Fogler of Fanboys confirmed to the press that he would be joining up with Robert Zemeckis for the movie of Mars Needs Moms, the children’s book by Berkeley Breathed (of Opus’ Bloom County comic strip fame.) The story follows a brave little boy who goes to Mars to save his kidnapped Mommy.
- Doctor Who’s most faithful traveling companion K9, the robot dog is starring in a spin-off series, now filming. Because the BBC isn’t involved in making the spin-off, it can’t feature any characters or concepts from Doctor Who other than K9 himself. But there will be tons of easter eggs and clues aimed at longtime fans. This version of K9 is the first model of K9, before he ever met the Doctor.
- Black Hawk Down screenwriter Ken Nolan has been brought on to rework the script for Paramount’s untitled moon project, a sci-fi action movie about lunar colonization starring Jake Gyllenhaal.
- Collectible card game trade report Scrye Magazine’s final issue will be #131, the April 2009 edition, ending a 15 year run.
- The reboot of Friday the 13th doesn’t come out until Friday Feb. 13 but talk of a sequel is already in the air. The original 1980 movie spawned 10 sequels, a television show, novels, comic books, video games and merchandise. Several actors have sequel options in their contract and have gone on record saying they would love to reprise their roles.
Published on
January 28, 2009 in
News.
- LucasFilm and Del Rey Books will be publishing a Star Wars horror novel in October 2009 titled DeathTroopers. No Windows No Doors and Chasing the Dead author Joe Schreiber will be penning this, the first horror novel in the Star Wars expanded universe. No details yet but the cover art features a battered and bloody storm trooper helmet hanging from a hook through the eye.
- A Netherlands man named Theo Zijderveld, is currently doing postgraduate work on the intersection of faith and “World of Warcraft” at University of Colorado’s Center for Media, Religion and Culture. After taking a course on gaming, Zijderveld wrote his master’s thesis in theology on “World of Warcraft” while studying at Utrecht University in his home country.
- Dr Who actor Freema Agyeman says Martha Jones, will return for one of the 2009 specials. Noel Clarke who plays the much maligned Mickey also wants to return. With a Rising Star BAFTA nomination he may just get his chance.
- Stan Lee Media is suing… Stan Lee…for 750 million. The lawsuit claims profits from Lee’s comic creations belong to the company, which emerged from bankruptcy in 2006. The suit claims Lee, Marvel and others have violated Stan Lee Media’s copyright interests and that the firm is due profits from all properties, including blockbuster films that were made after 1998 and based on Lee’s creations.
- Kim Manners, veteran producer-director who directed dozens of episodes of The X-Files and Supernatural, died Sunday in Los Angeles from lung cancer. He was 59.
- Murdered Mexican wrestlers are lurching out of their graves for a feature movie. Dark Horse comic El Zombo Fantasma is getting a big-screen release. Kevin Munroe is writing and directing. The deadly wrestler comes back from hell to be the guardian angel for a little teenager, who is more than she seems.
- The BBC reported that the cult sci-fi comedy Red Dwarf will return to TV, 21 years after its initial launch, and will appear on the digital channel Dave in the United Kingdom for a two-part Easter-weekend special. It’s unclear when or where the special might air in America.
- Warner Brothers and producer Dan Lin are in early development on a reboot of Lara Croft. Rumors spread that Megan Fox from Transformers might don the tank top and shorts, but her camp denies it.
- A big budget zombie musical thriller is in the works… Thriller. The Nederlander Organization (large Chicagoan theater producers) have bought the musical rights to MJ’s Thriller. Jacko will be personally involved in the creation of the show.
- Kevin Munroe (TMNT) is directing War Monkeys, about two janitors who get stuck in an underground research facility and run into a bunch of military-trained war monkeys who have been released in the building. Sammo Hung is signed on to be one of the human actors.
- Best-selling author Neil Gaiman’s novel The Graveyard Book is the winner of this year’s Newberry Medal, the most prestigious award for children’s literature in the United States.
- ABC has given a pilot order to V, a re-imagining of the 1980s miniseries about an alien invasion. Written on spec by The The 4400: The Complete Series co-creator/executive producer Scott Peters, the new V will center on a female Homeland Security agent.
- He may have already died and come back once, but this summer the Man of Steel will crave BRAAAIIIIIINS. DC comics is undeadifying several heroes in “The Blackest Night” storyline.
- Cyanide Studio is adapting Game Workshop’s fantasy (and by fantasy we mean orcs and goblins and lizardmen) sports game Blood Bowl for several platforms and is set for release on Q2 2009.
- A new course being offered at UC Berkeley aims to teach students how to enjoy the “art of competitive Starcraft“. While the course isn’t listed on the UC Berkeley website, the university’s Haas School of Business verified that the course is real. The course is being taught by a student at the school as part of the Democratic Education in Cal initiative and students can receive college credit for taking it.
- Square Enix revealed a new trailer for Final Fantasy XIII this week which you can find online at the official square enix site.
- New expansion for Eve Online on March 10.
Published on
January 21, 2009 in
News.
- The superhero movie of 2008 was The Dark Knight right? Not if you’re a member of the Visual Effects Society who this weekend gave five nominations to Iron Man in their annual VES Awards Other movies to receive nominations include Hellboy II, Benjamin Button, Cloverfield, and of course Wall-E, with Doctor Who, and Battlestar Galactica recognized in the television categories.
- If you are looking to turn your Dungeons and Dragons to something a little darker the new manual Open Grave: Secrets of the Undead has been getting
grave rave reviews. If you have been missing van Richten or Libris Mortis this book is probably for you.
- Dr Who spin off series Torchwood will be more subtle in its third season because the show has been such a huge success here in the US but no major network can air it. No word if the changes will be made for BBC America’s sake or if one of the major American networks may pick it up
- The Eddie Murphy as the Riddler rumors surrounding the next installment of Batman have been put to rest by Eddie Murphy. No no no and no. Yay. Christopher Nolan does not even have the story yet, so casting is out of the question.
- Eartha Kitt widely considered one of the top two Catwomen in all of Batman’s film legacy passed away on Christmas Day. She was 81.
- Lost in Space actor Bob May died of congestive heart failure on Sunday, January 18th. He was 69.
- Patrick McGoohan, has passed away at age 80. He created and starred in The Prisoner which was a fresh look on the secret agent genre and has been an inspiration and reference to everything from Alias to the Simpsons.
- Ricardo Montalban of Fantasy Island, and perhaps better known to geeks as Star Trek’s KHAAAAAN also passed away on January 14th. He was 88.
- Majel Barrett Roddenberry, the most ubiquitous actor in Star Trek, died December 18th at age 76. The wife of Trek creator Gene Roddenberry she provided the computer voices on every version of Trek. And she also played three pivotal characters: Number One in the pilot, Nurse Chapel in the original series, and Lwaxana Troi in TNG and DS9. She was providing the computer voices for the new Trek movie and it’s not clear if she had finished recording them.
- David Gerrold, famous for writing the “Trouble with Tribbles” Star Trek episode, also wrote an episode for TNG that included gay characters but it was shot down by Paramount. Now you can watch it online as he has teamed up with fan crew Stargate Phase 2 to rework and film the episode called Blood and Fire.
- While some companies may disapprove of such things IBM has admitted that it prefers to higher gamers, especially World of Warcraft players as the company looks to integrate better with gaming products and states that such games teach leadership and bigger picture thinking.
- Wikipedia has met its 6 million dollar donation goal for the 2008 fiscal year. The money will go toward improving the software Wikipedia runs on as well as upgrading the servers and Internet bandwidth that accommodate the site’s traffic. The foundation operates the site without advertising as a matter of principle, making donations critical. [citation needed]
- iLOLed. During MacWorld 4Chan members hacked into MacRumors Livestream from the event to falsely announce that Steve Jobs had died, then flooded the stream with graphic images and comments.
- The Sci Fi channel had its most successful year of all time in 2008. A 7% increase in viewership, largely due to reality show Ghost Hunters which was renewed for a 6th season.
- Warner Bros. and Fox have resolved their dispute over Watchmen, with the studios scheduled to present a settlement to Judge Gary Feess this morning and request that the case be dismissed.Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but the deal is said to involve a sizable cash payment to Fox and a percentage of the film’s box office grosses; Fox will not be a co-distributor on the film, nor will it co-own the Watchmen property.
- 26 year-old Matt Smith will be the eleventh Doctor Who, starting in 2010′s fifth season along with new executive producers Steven Moffat and Piers Wenger. Smith has starred in television adaptations of Phillip Pullmans “The Ruby in the Smoke” and “The Shadow in the North” alongside Billie Piper.