THE ZOCALO TODAY – August 13, 2005

WHAT'S NEW
The dog days of summer are here – and it is HOT and HUMID here in
Washington, DC. I hope that everyone is enjoying their summer (or
winter for those of you in the southern hemisphere).

JMS NEWS:
I picked up a copy of DREAM POLICE on Wednesday. For more
information on this JMS project, go to
http://comics.ign.com/articles/599/599444p1.html

KEEPING UP WITH CAST AND CREW
DANIEL DAE KIM:
Ranger Penny reports that a new movie coming out on 8/26/05 called
THE CAVE stars Daniel Dae Kim. He plays Alex Kim. The movie's plot
line says: Bloodthirsty creatures await a pack of divers who become
trapped in an underwater cave network. The movie trailer:
http://imdb.com/title/tt0402901/trailers says: "When 7 men discover
the entrance to the world's largest cave system, they were never
seen again. Now a team of expert cave explorers has been assembled
to find out why. There are places man was never meant to go ...
beneath heaven lies hell, beneath hell lies .... THE CAVE"

JEFFREY WILLERTH:
Jeffrey Willerth, Ambassador Kosh, has been produced a number of
special programs that will air on the History Channel soon. Here is
information so that you can mark your calendars:
"UFOs and the White House"
Airs on Monday, August 22 at 8:00pm ET
Did you know that the office of President of the United States has
had a direct involvement with UFOs for over 50 years? Since WWII,
every Chief Executive has publicly discussed, issued, or received
documents from the White House pertaining to "Unidentified Flying
Objects". Many of these documents have never been seen on television
before and some of the stories surrounding these UFO-presidential
encounters are broadcast for the first time. Find out which
administrations had to defend our country from unidentified
objects...who was sitting in the Oval Office during the biggest UFO
sightings... and how the government's UFO files are handled,
depending on political affiliations. We'll gather the facts and
glean information from presidential libraries that reveal startling
insight on UFOs and the White House. TVPG

PAT TALLMAN:
Pat has a few items up on e-bay! Right now she has some kid stuff
and some sci fi mags...She will be adding more each week. Her seller
name is SCIFIMOGUL. Check it out.

DISCUSSION TOPIC:
What do you really miss about BABYLON 5 the most? Is it the
characters? The special effects? The quality of the show overall?

Drop your opinions over to sgbruckner@... and I'll post them for
other readers to share on the Discussion Page
(http://www.isnnews.net/zocalo/discuss.shtml). If you have other
issues you'd like to talk about, send them along. Not a discussion
topic – then send it to for the Mail Bag. Here you can place items
for sale, things that you want to pass along – like good prices for
DVDs, etc.

NEW SERIES FROM WARNER BROS.
SUPERNATURAL - COMING SEPTEMBER 13
Tuesday, September 13, 2005 The WB Television Network is proud to
announce the premier of "Supernatural" starring Jared Padalecki
("Gilmore Girls", "House of Wax", "Flight of the Phoenix") and
Jensen Ackles ("Smallville, "Dark Angel", "Blonde" and "Dawson's
Creek"); in association with Warner Bro. Television Production Inc.
For more information, including clips from this upcoming series, go
to http://www.isnnews.net/zocalo/supernatural.shtml here at The
Zocalo Today.

INVASION - COMING SEPTEMBER 21
Wednesday, September 21, 2005, ABC Television Network is pleased to
announce the premiere of "Invasion"; from Shaun Cassidy Productions
in association with Warner Bros. Television Production.
For centuries, humans have searched the skies for signs of
intelligent life...to no avail. But what if the explanation lies in
the fact that aliens were already here...already among us? And what
if all of the natural disasters we have been experiencing of late
were smokescreens designed to mask something far more ominous? From
Shaun Cassidy Productions in association with Warner Bros.
Television Production Inc. comes "Invasion," starring William
Fichtner ("The Longest Yard," "Black Hawk Down," "Pearl
Harbor," "The Perfect Storm"), Eddie Cibrian ("Third Watch," "Sunset
Beach"), Lisa Sheridan ("FreakyLinks"), Kari Matchett ("Angel
Eyes," "A Nero Wolfe Mystery"), Tyler Labine ("That Was Then," "My
Boss's Daughter"), Evan Peters ("The Days"), Ariel Gade ("Envy"),
Alexis Dziena ("Strangers with Candy" movie, "Wonderland" movie) and
Aisha Hinds ("Assault on Precinct 13" [2005], "The
Shield"). "Invasion" airs Wednesdays (10:00 - 11:00 p.m. ET/PT) on
the ABC Television Network.

For more information, including clips from this upcoming series, go
to http://www.isnnews.net/zocalo/invasion.shtml here at The Zocalo
Today.

NEW DVDS COMING YOUR WAY:
STARGATE SG-1 SEASON EIGHT
Stargate SG-1
Release Date: October 4, 2005
Item can be pre-ordered through www.amazon.com

EARTH 2:
Ranger Graham reports that EARTH 2 is finally available on DVD.
Released on July 19, this DVD set is available in Region 1 coding
only. Starring: Debrah Farentino, Clancy Brown and Antonio Sabato
Jr., this three disc set is available at amazon.com. Here is a
description:
Embark on the quest to find a new home planet for humanity in the
year 2192 as the complete sci-fi epic Earth 2 lands on DVD for the
first time ever! From the producers of Miami Vice and ER comes the
thrilling story of Devon Adair (Debrah Farentino), who is struggling
to find a healthy environment for her deathly ill son, Ulysses.
Disregarding government orders, she puts together an expedition to
found a new civilization on an Earth-like planet 22 light years in
the future. But after their ship crash-lands on the wrong side of
planet G889, the "colonists" quickly discover that their new home
already has some very strange and hostile inhabitants. Catch DVD-
exclusive bonus features and join stellar guest stars including Tim
Curry, Virginia Madsen, Terry O'Quinn and more on all 21
groundbreaking episodes of the Emmy-winning series that critics
cheered "soars to new sci-fi heights."

Ranger Dave writes that the SciFi series SPACE: ABOVE AND BEYOND is
due for release on October 4th. Bestbuy.com is taking preorders for
it. Amazon.com, however doesn't list it yet.
The television series "Space: Above and Beyond", created and
produced by Glen Morgan and James Wong, chronicled the
interplanetary adventures of a Marine squadron battling hostile
aliens in the years 2063-2064. Part (anti-)war drama, part science
fiction, it examined such themes as courage, loyalty and faith.
Through the eyes of the Wild Cards, it explored what we, as humans,
live for... and what we would be willing to die for.
"Space" aired on Fox-TV in 1995 and 1996, but - despite critical
praise, decent ratings, viewer support, and four Emmy Award
nominations - was cancelled.

SPACE STATION:
WARNER HOME VIDEO BLASTS OFF WITH THE
MOST SUCCESSFUL IMAX® SPACE FILM OF ALL TIME
NARRATED BY TOM CRUISE
SPACE STATION
Launching onto DVD for the First Time June 7
Space Station follows two separate space shuttles that leave from
Florida's Kennedy Space Center and Russia's Baikonur Cosmodrome to
rendezvous with their new home in orbit 220 miles above Earth. Now
people of every age and language can work side by side with their
space-walking crewmates, building and inhabiting this unprecedented
structure in space.
For video clips from the DVD, go to
http://www.isnnews.net.zocalo/space-station.shtml page. Now that the
shuttle is back in space, this is a very timely video. Learn what
the astronauts are going through with weightlessness.
For a review of this and other DVDs, go to
http://www.isnnews.net/zocalo/dvd-reviews.shtml DVD Reviews.

NEW SCI-FI MAGAZINES:
MONTHLY MAGAZINES:

STARBURST SPECIAL #71: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA takes front and center
position in this issue. As season two begins, the magazine gives you
a behind the scenes look at cast and crew! Jamie Bamber talks about
playing headstrong Captain Lee `Apollo' Adama; Edward James Olmos
discusses his character of Commander Adama, and the repercussions of
the assassination attempt; Producer Ron Moore talks about the
changes and surprises in store for Year Two; Tricia Helfer who plays
Cyclon agent Number Six talks about playing a villainess and
production designer Richard Hudolin discusses creating new worlds
for Galactica, illustrated with concept drawings, set photos and
sketches.

SERENITY: With the release of SERENITY on September 30, Titan
magazines will release a 100-page souvenir magazineso that fans can
continue the Firefly saga as the magazine takes you on board with
exclusive interviews with the entire crew, including Nathan Fillion
(Captain Malcolm Reynolds), Gina Torres (Zoe) and Adam Baldwin
(Jayne Cobb). Plus, creator Joss Whedon exposes Serenity's secrets
and we go behind the scenes of the filming and the extraordinary
special effects.
"Joss Whedon, the genius creator behind Buffy the Vampire Slayer and
Angel, applies his trademark wit and arresting characters to the big
screen with Serenity, continuing the adventures first began in the
television show, Firefly. Promising to be one of the years best
films, this special collectors' souvenir movie magazine will offer
the fans a look behind the scenes into the mind of Joss Whedon." -
Martin Eden, Editor, Official Serenity Movie Magazine

STARBURST #327: DOCTOR WHO: A new DOCTOR WHO is set to take on the
second season of the BBC's smash hit. In this issue, you will find a
world exclusive first interview with David Tennant - the Tenth
Doctor! You will also find an interview with Nick Briggs -- the man
who gave voice to the Daleks talks to us about the challenges of
recreating the monsters' original menace in three action-packed
episodes of the last series and The Mill-- The last part of an
extensive look behind the scenes at the special effects and CG magic
created by The Mill as they helped bring the series into the new
millennium. Natalie Portman (STAR WARS) speaks along with producer
Joel Silver and director James McTeigue about this dark screen
adaptation of V for Vendetta.

INSIDE SCI-FI THIS WEEK:
SUPERMAN RETURNS:
Over at the Superman Homepage you will find a rare photo of SUPERMAN
RETURNS' Brandon Routh, in his Superman costume, holding up a car
from the August 10th filming in Martin Place (Sydney). There are
also two video files: Bryan Singer doing his Superman impersonation
and showing Brandon how he wants him to position himself for this
scene. The second video is a quick shot of Routh (not in costume)
and Singer beneath the car as they discuss the scene. This is a
great website and a terrific way to keep up on this production.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN:
According to the New York Daily News and The Indy Experience, Steven
Spielberg will be directing Liam Neeson as Abraham Lincoln in a
Lincoln bio-pic next Spring. Though Spielberg first considered Tom
Hanks for the role, the plan seems to have the "Schindler's List"
actor in the role for filming. Neeson himself says "We're definitely
going to do it. We've been working on it since November." The story
of a nation rent by war "speaks to our time," says Neeson. How the
filming on this project will affect the schedule of "Indiana Jones
IV" is unsure.

TOP SF&F NETWORK SHOWS:
Medium 4.5
Desperate Housewives 3.9
Lost 3.1
Revelations 1.5
Smallville 1.4
Charmed 0.9
Source: Nielsen Galaxy Report, 7/18/05 - 7/24/05.

TIDELAND:
While out to promote his latest project, BROTHERS GRIMM, director
Terry Gilliam said that his next movie, TIDELAND, deals with the
resilience of children in the face of grief and loss. "It's about
what happens when you put a kid with an imagination in difficult
circumstances. It's really about [the] resilience of childhood, and
I'm so bored about hearing about these little children that are so
victimized and are so weak. Children are the toughest creatures on
the planet, and they're being protected. It's partly one reason why
I tried to keep Grimm as close to the original tales as possible."
In TIDELAND, starring Jennifer Tilly, Janet McTeer and Jeff Bridges,
a girl loses her mother to a heroin overdose, then begins to
communicate via her Barbie-doll heads. She befriends a neighborhood
woman who wears a beekeeper's veil and delves into her own fantasy
world. Gilliam said the girl is played by Jodelle Ferland, and he
enthusiastically introduced the young actress last year at the
Toronto International Film Festival just before he began
shooting. "She is a phenomenal little 9 1/2-year-old girl that plays
the lead, and she's in every scene," Gilliam said.

GARFIELD 2:
The Hollywood Reporter indicates that 20th Century Fox is in talks
with Bill Murray to once again provide the voice of Garfield in
GARFIELD 2. Breckin Meyer and Jennifer Love Hewitt have already
signed on to the sequel. Fox is also in talks with Lucy Davis and
Billy Connolly to join the cast. Davis would play animal lover Abby
Westminster, a fashionable professional who has been brought in to
try and trap Lord Dargis, to be played by Connelly, into revealing
his evil plans. Hewitt's role will be greatly reduced because she is
filming the new CBS series GHOST WHISPERER.

DREAM HOUSE:
Variety reports that Universal Pictures has made a preemptive deal
for $600,000 against $1 million for David Loucka's supernatural
thriller DREAM HOUSE. The story centers on a man who moves his
family into what appears to be the ideal residence in the country,
but ominous things are going on there. Daniel Bobker and THE
SKELETON KEY's Ehren Kruger will produce. Stokely Chaffin will be
executive produce.

WESTWORLD
According to Variety, Warner Bros. Pictures has signed THE CELL's
Tarsem to direct the remake of WESTWORLD. At one point Arnold
Schwarzenegger was looking to possibly star in the film but had to
give that up when he was elected governor of California. The
original film starred Yul Brynner as a robotic gunfighter who turns
an Old West vacation theme park into a nightmare for the park's
guests. No script has been written yet nor has a writer been
attached.

SPLINTER CELL
Variety reports that DreamWorks is close to acquiring the film
rights to Tom Clancy's videogame SPLINTER CELL, with Daniel Pyne
(The Manchurian Candidate) attached to write the script. The studio
would take the project over from Paramount, where it was originally
set up last winter. Michael Ovitz, Clancy's longtime manager, is
still producing. SPLINTER CELL, now in its third edition, follows
the adventures of government spy Sam Fisher as he's dispatched to
infiltrate an international terrorist syndicate and stop a high-tech
threat. Clancy and Yves Guillemot, chief of videgame publisher
Ubisoft, are executive producing.

MATT HELM:
DreamWorks' plans to revive spy MATT HELM and has signed Michael
Brandt and Derek Haas to write a new pic. Brand & Haas recently have
been at work on adaptations of the comic "Wanted" and Tom Clancy's
Jack Ryan novel "Red Rabbit". The duo will pen a contemporary pic
based on the subject of around two dozen novels by Donald Hamilton.
Helm is a former spy during WWII who, upon retiring from his top-
secret organization, unsuccessfully attempts to put his past behind
him. Columbia Pictures released four Matt Helm-inspired spy spoofs
starring Dean Martin starting in 1966. The first Helm book
was "Death of a Citizen," published in 1960. DreamWorks has dabbled
with the idea of a Helm franchise before but it never came to
fruition.

TOP 10 SF&F DVD SALES:
Star Wars: Episode III
The Muppet Show
Sin City
Lost season one
Kung Fu Hustle
Roswell season three
Stargate SG-1 season eight
Alias season four
Firefly complete series
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Source: Amazon.com, top-selling genre DVDs, 8/9/05

ALIAS:
The Insider Web site could not confirm reports that Jennifer Garner
may quit as the star of ABC's ALIAS next season. Citing an anonymous
source, the site reported that "Garner has made it clear that she
probably won't be returning to the show next year for a sixth
season." Recently married to boyfriend Ben Affleck, Garner is
pregnant with their child, a pregnancy that will be written into
ALIAS' upcoming fifth-season storylines. The site reported that
producers are betting on this season's new co-star, Rachel Nichols,
to replace Garner eventually. Nichols will play a new spy being
trained by Garner in the upcoming season.

THE FLASH:
Things are not moving ahead as quickly as some would like on the
upcoming FLASH movie. Charles Roven (BATMAN BEGINS), who is
producing the proposed movie, said that the film isn't on the fast
track just yet. "The script isn't complete. We don't even have the
basis of a story. So it's way too early to talk about casting."
David S. Goyer, who is writing the script and plans to direct the
film. He hopes to enlist his BLADE: TRINITY star Ryan Reynolds to
take on the title role. "Everyone knows that Ryan and David have a
great relationship," Roven said. "It's too early right now, because
David's doing The Invisible first later this year." Goyer is also
helping run CBS' upcoming new SF TV series THRESHOLD, which he is
executive-producing and for which he directed the pilot.

GENBOT:
Variety reports that New Line has hired HERBIE: FULLY LOADED
director Angela Robinson to write and direct the action comedy
GENBOT, which will be based on a pitch she did with co-writer Alex
Kondracke. The story centers on a young woman who finds herself
embroiled in a secret government operation that turns her into a
cyborg. Pink Thunder's Angela Robinson, Larry Kennar and Lisa
Stewart will produce.

PARANOIA:
According to Variety, New Line has hired Tony Kaye to direct the
thriller PARANOIA. The script, by Jon Land, centers on a top ad
agency exec who comes to work on a Friday only to learn it's
actually Sunday and she's a suspect in a murder case. She tries to
reconstruct the two lost days from clues found in her handbag, with
the storyline culminating in a "Sixth Sense"-like twist. Hand Picked
Films' Michel Shane and Anthony Romano will produce.

HISTORY OF VIOLENCE:
The first look at the new poster for director David Cronenberg's A
HISTORY OF VIOLENCE can be found at ComingSoon.net. The thriller,
starring Viggo Mortensen, Ed Harris, Maria Bello, William Hurt,
Ashton Holmes and Sumela Kay, opens on September 23. In the film,
Mortensen plays a pillar of a small town community who runs a diner
and lives a happy and quiet life with his wife (Bello) and two
children. But their lives are forever changed when Mortensen thwarts
an attempted robbery and is lauded as a hero by the media,
attracting the attention of some mobsters (Hurt and Harris) who
believe he is someone else.

AMERICAN GOTHIC:
AMERICAN GOTHIC is finally coming to DVD. Universal will release the
box-set on October 25th. It will include all 22 episodes of the
show, including 4 which didn't air during the initial run of the
series, plus a few choice extras including several Deleted and
Extended Scenes and a commentary track by director Shaun Cassidy and
the producer on the pilot episode. AMERICAN GOTHIC aired from
September 1995 to July 1996. Executive Prodced by Sam Raimi and
Robert G. Tapert and created by Shaun Cassidy, it told the story of
a charming small-town Sheriff who seems to be posses a hellish power
that's used on anyone who gets in the way of his plans. It was axed
after only one season, but developed quite a following in that short
amount of time. Last month Universal nixed plans to make a film
version of "American Gothic", which Producer Craig Marquardo has
been trying to pitch them for years. "As of last week, Jeffrey
Kirschenbaum, a production exec at NBC/Universal, said that the
creative team has little interest in developing 'Gothic' as a film",
he tells.

STARGATE SG-1 AND ATLANTIS:
The ninth and second seasons (respectively) of STARGATE SG-1 and
STARGATE ATLANTIS will wrap up their first half next month, leading
into what fans dread most: the fall rerun break. But the summer
season does promise to end on a high note when the two shows air
cliff-hanger episodes on September 23.
The SCI FI Channel has confirmed its broadcast schedule for
September, bringing a pair of marathons and three more brand new
episodes for each Stargate series.
SEPTEMBER 2
Stargate SG-1 marathon (8 p.m. to 2 a.m.)
SEPTEMBER 6
Stargate SG-1 Season Nine marathon (7 p.m. to 2 a.m.)
SEPTEMBER 9
Stargate SG-1: "Babylon"
Stargate Atlantis: "Conversion"
SEPTEMBER 16
Stargate SG-1: "Prototype"
Stargate Atlantis: "Aurora"
SEPTEMBER 23
Stargate SG-1: "The Fourth Horseman, Part 1"
Stargate Atlantis: "The Lost Boys"
SEPTEMBER 30
Stargate SG-1: "Avalon, Part 1" (Rerun)
Stargate Atlantis: "The Intruder" (Rerun)
Season One will continue in SCI FI's 4-hour "Stargate Monday" blocks
from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. The second half of Season Two and early
Season Three will air weeknights at 6 p.m.

TOP 10 SF&F SYNDICATED SHOWS:
Stargate SG-1 1.6
The X-Files 1.5
The Outer Limits 1.3
Andromeda 1.2
The Twilight Zone 1.2
Buffy 1.1
She Spies 1.1
Angel 1.0
Ripley's 0.9
Source: Nielsen Galaxy Report, 7/18/05 - 7/24/05

UNDERDOG:
Variety reports that Disney and Spyglass Entertainment are in
negotiations with helmer Frederik Du Chau to direct the live-action,
big-screen version of TV's animated Underdog, which will feature a
computer-generated title character. The film is scheduled to start
shooting early next year. Du Chau previously directed Warner Bros.'
Quest for Camelot and worked before that as an animator.

GET SMART:
According to producer Charles Roven, Steve Carell will play a less-
bumbling version of secret agent Maxwell Smart in the upcoming
remake of the 1960's GET SMART. Roven said that he signed The Daily
Show's Carell to play the role originated by Don Adams and
that, "Steve will take the part of Maxwell Smart to a whole new
level." Roven said in an interview, "He will not be as bumbling, and
it will be in a contemporary setting." Carell is making more inroads
into big screen roles with parts in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron
Burgundy, Bewitched, Bruce Almighty and the upcoming film The 40-
Year-Old Virgin. GET SMART was concocted by Mel Brooks and Buck
Henry and featured CONTROL Agents Smart and 99, played by Barbara
Feldon. The film version won't be set in the a specific period, but
will address issues today, Roven said. "We're getting the script
together, and there will be some of the usual characters: a Chief,
99, CONTROL and KAOS," Roven said. "The script has to be there
before we want to make it, but Steve will make it funny." Steve
Koren, who came up with the idea for Bruce Almighty, and Jon Zack,
who's co-writing Shrek 3, are co-writing the Get Smart script, which
has no director attached yet.

MATT HELM:
DreamWorks has brought on board Michael Brandt and Derek Haas to
write a Matt Helm film based on the novels by Donald Hamilton. Helm
is a former spy during WWII who, upon retiring from his top-secret
organization, unsuccessfully attempts to put his past behind him.
The first Helm book, DEATH OF A CITIZEN, was published in 1960. The
character was brought to the big screen years ago with Dean Martin
playing the secret agent.

THE OMEN:
Variety reports that 20th Century Fox is in discussions with Liev
Schreiber and Julia Stiles to star in the remake of THE OMEN. John
Moore is directing from a script by Dan McDermott. Production will
begin in October. The film is currently scheduled to be released on
June 6, 2006 -- 6/6/06.

ERAGON:
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Sienna Guillory has been cast
as the warrior heroine in Fox 2000's ERAGON. The actress will play
Arya, a skilled fighter and powerful leader of a combative tribe.
Guillory joins a cast that already includes Ed Speleers, Djimon
Hounsou, Jeremy Irons and John Malkovich.

THE WICKER MAN:
Leelee Sobieski and Ellen Burstyn are joining Nicolas Cage in Neil
LaBute's independent THE WICKER MAN, produced by Millenium Films,
Equity Pictures and Emmett/Furla Films. The Hollywood Reporter says
the remake of the 1973 British horror film centers on a police
officer (Cage) who is investigating the disappearance of a girl in a
small cultlike community. Sobieski plays a barmaid who is Cage's
confidant. Burstyn plays the head of the cult. The film is shooting
in Vancouver.

ROSWELL MEETS CSI:MIAMI
Former "Roswell" star Brendan Fehr announced on his official site,
saying : "I have taken a recurring gig on CSI:Miami as the new A/V
Tech. Name. Dan Cooper. I've shot the first 2 episodes of the season
and am scheduled to do the 3rd. It's just a recurring gig, one or
two scenes a show, every couple or 3, 4 shows. It's been alot of fun
and just saw Adam today for the first time and we had a nice talk
since we haven't in awhile. I figured I would just keep all you up
to date really since well you like to be. It's an open contract
meaning they just call when they need me and I'll go when I can type
deal. It's actually a really sweet gig in terms of the show, the
quality and the amount of time required of me. I can still pursue
movies and films since it's just episode by episode contract".
Fehr's latest on-screen stint was in the film "The Long Weekend",
opposite Chris Klein, which was released in Spain last week.

TOP 10 BEST SELLING SF&F BOOKS:
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Eldest (Inheritance 2)
The Historian
Harry Potter paper box set
The Da Vinci Code
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Angels and Demons
The Time Traveler's Wife
Chronicles of Narnia box set
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Angels and Demons
Source: Amazon.com, 8/4/05

BATMAN:
Fans of the last Batman movie, BATMAN BEGINS, will be thrilled to
learn that producer Charles Roven and the cast have signed on for a
sequel. The script is in the works, new cast members are being
discussed and the only delay is an OK by director Christopher Nolan.
In an interview for the upcoming Terry Gilliam film THE BROTHERS
GRIMM, Roven said, "We all hope there is going to be another one.
We're waiting for Chris Nolan to declare himself. We will do it
after he does that." BATMAN BEGINS star Christian Bale has signed on
to reprise the role of the seething and dark Bruce Wayne/Batman, as
have Michael Caine as the butler Alfred, Katie Holmes as the love
interest Rachel Dawes and Gary Oldman as police detective Jim
Gordon, Roven confirmed.

LAND BEFORE TIME:
The Hollywood Reporter indicates that Universal Studios Home
Entertainment has begun production on 26 episodes of an animated
LAND BEFRE TIME TV series, based on the hit franchise that has sold
more than 60 million units on DVD and video. The series of direct-to-
video sequels to 1988's THE LAND BEFORE TIME, directed by Don Bluth
and executive produced by George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, has
sparked the development of the new series, which is slated to debut
on the Cartoon Network in the first half of 2007. After the series
airs, episodes will be released on DVD. THE LAND BEFORE TIME TV
series will feature many of the same characters that appeared in the
theatrical movie and its 10 direct-to-video sequels, including such
lovable animated dinosaurs as Littlefoot, Cera and Petrie. New
characters also will be introduced. The series will be created using
a combination of 2-D and 3-D backgrounds. Universal is also
preparing a 12th LAND BEFOE TIME feature film entitled THE LAND
BEFORE TIME: DAY OF THE FLYERS, which will be released in 2007.

FANTASTIC FOUR:
While the movie is still in theaters, Fox Home Entertainment has
announced it will release FANTASTIC FOUR on DVD December 13th in
Widescreen and Full Screen versions. No further details have been
announced.

HARRY POTTER:
HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE:
Over at The Leaky Cauldron , you can view an early preview of HARRY
POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, hopefully scenes from the new
trailer, an early version of which was shown at Comic-Con
International last month. The footage gives a pretty good idea what
to expect from the Tri-Wizard Tournament, including lots of scenes
of Harry fighting the dragon, plus there are brief glimpses of
Hogwarts' new Professor of the Dark Arts, Mad-Eye Moody, as played
by Brendan Gleeson, and Harry's new love interest Cho Chang.

Ralph Fiennes, in New York to talk about the upcoming political
thriller THE CONSTANT GARDENER, an adaptation of the John le Carré
bestseller directed by Fernando Meirelles, talked a bit about his
upcoming role as the evil Lord Voldemort in HARRY POTTER AND THE
GOBLET OF FIRE, the fourth movie in the series based on J.K.
Rowling's bestselling books. Fiennes says that he's already
committed to appear in the fifth film HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF
THE PHOENIX, which starts shooting in January. He knows that he'll
have a big fight with Michael Gambon's Dumbledore in that. He hadn't
read the sixth book yet, but he didn't believe Voldemort was in it
very much, so he didn't know how large a part he would play in the
resulting film. Of course, the question is whether Fiennes will
stick around for the last movie, assuming that Voldemort will play
an even bigger role in the finale. Considering that J.K. Rowling
hasn't finished writing it yet and no one knows who might end up
directing it, would Fiennes be interested in returning as
Voldemort? "I guess it's always going to be like that," Fiennes
said. "I have to say that I never know who's going to direct me, but
I think they've chosen [well]. Certainly Alfonso Cuaron lifted the
whole filmmaking onto another level, and I think that Mike Newell is
going to make a really strong film. I think as long as the producers
are smart. I think probably the first two films were a little too
saccharine and glib, even for Harry Potter fans." Fiennes said that
some effects will be used to embellish Voldemort's dramatic first
appearance on the screen, and that he'll have his own action figure.
He's also already dubbed his voice for the related computer game
for "Goblet of Fire". HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, which was
just rated PG-13 for sequences of fantasy violence and frightening
images, comes out on November 18.

FLUSHED AWAY:
Animated features are HOT -- and DreamWorks is among the best at
making them. David Bowers, co-director of DreamWorks' upcoming
animated FLUSHED AWAY, says during an interview previewing
DreamWorks' upcoming features, the movie stars Hugh Jackman as the
voice of Roddy, a pampered rat in a London penthouse. "The wretched
humans are gone, and a rat named Roddy has the house to himself,"
Bowers said. "He makes himself at home, going on the Internet,
ordering food in and using the two pet hamsters as his servants."
Ultimately, Roddy finds himself ousted from his luxury digs and
forced to fend for himself in the sewers of London. In FLUSHED AWAY,
Jackman is reunited with his X-Men co-star Ian McKellen, who voices
Roddy's chief nemesis. The Lord of the Rings' Andy Serkis (Gollum),
meanwhile, gives voice to a rat named Spike, and others in the cast
include British comic Shane Richie, Simon Callow, Bill Nighy, Jean
Reno and Kate Winslet. Roddy ends up being flushed out of his house
while using the toilet as a Jacuzzi; this is the story as he tries
to get back home. The British soccer team figures prominently, as
did the Red Sox in the recent baseball movie Fever Pitch. Flushed
Away is scheduled for release on Nov. 3, 2006.

OVER THE HEDGE:
In another DreamWorks animated feature, OVER THE HEDGE, was
discussed by director Tim Johnson at the DreamWorks preview. William
Shatner will spoof his Star Trek character of Capt. James T. Kirk by
voicing Ozzie the Possum in this feature. "Ozzie has to show that
when a possum is threatened, you pretend you are dead," Johnson
said. "He explains to his daughter [voiced by singer Avril Lavigne]
how you have to die, and of course, 'You die! DIE! DIE!' in the only
way William Shatner can say it." Ozzie the Possum will seem to
subtly channel the over-the-top dramatic delivery of Capt. Kirk in
the animated feature, which is being prepared for release in the
theaters next spring, Johnson said. (He co-directed Antz and Sinbad:
Legend of the Seven Seas.) OVER THE HEDGE is based on the popular
newspaper comic strip featuring talking woodland animals. Garry
Shandling voices Verne the turtle, and Bruce Willis voices the wise-
cracking raccoon R.J. Over the Hedge is envisioned as a prequel to
the comic strip, where the two main characters are already best
friends. In the movie, Verne is initially suspicious of R.J. and
doesn't particularly like him. They meet when Verne and the other
woodland creatures discover that a huge hedge sprang up at the
outskirts of their forest during their hibernation, and a suburban
neighborhood was built nearby. R.J. explains to the other critters
that the humans are friendly, and they offer their food to the
animals in giant silver serving dishes that they leave outside. When
Verne heads into suburbia to see if it's all true, he gets used as a
puck by kids playing street hockey. The movie also features The
Daily Show's Steve Carrell as the voice of Sammy the Squirrel and
The West Wing's Allison Janney as the voice of Gladys, the human
head of the homeowners' association. Best in Show's Catherine O'Hara
and Eugene Levy voice porcupine parents to three little ones who all
have Fargo-esque accents and attitudes. Wanda Sykes plays Stella the
Skunk, and Nick Nolte voices Vincent the Bear. "Nolte asked us with
his gravelly voice, 'What makes you think I can play a bear?'"
Johnson said. "And Bruce [Willis] is fantastic as this raccoon who
was practically raised by humans and is kind of a Harold Hill, Music
Man huckster." To accommodate their comic cast, Johnson and co-
director Karey Kirkpatrick threw in many more gags and funny lines
than the animators originally planned, especially with the latest
addition to the cast, Sideways's Thomas Haden Church as the
Verminator, who gets called in by Gladys to get the animals out of
the neighborhood. "Each character gets their moment in the sun with
R.J., until the Verminator gets called in, and he is a threat to
them all," Johnson said. Over the Hedge is expected out on May 19,
2006.

NEW TOONS:
Be sure to drop down to the comic section and see the two new toons
delivered for your viewing enjoyment by Tye Bourdony from The
Lighter Side of Sci-Fi.

MAIL BAG:
Got something you want to talk about here -- and it's not a
discussion topic? Just drop a note and I'll put it out on the MAIL
BAG page for everyone to share.

TOP SCIENCE FICTION NEWS STORIES:
To catch up on the latest news from this week -- and last month, go
to News Page. You'll find the everything from our front page -- but
over a longer period of time.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS:

August 19-21, 2005
OFFICIAL STARGATE SG-1 CONVENTION TOUR
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Guests: Christopher Judge, Michael Shanks, Don S. Davis, Teryl
Rothery, Peter Williams
For more information, go to: http://www.fansofstargate.com/

August 26-28, 2005
OFFICIAL STARGATE SG-1 CONVENTION TOUR
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Guests: Christopher Judge, Michael Shanks, Don S. Davis, Teryl
Rothery, Tony Amendola, Peter Williams
For more information, go to: http://www.fansofstargate.com/

September 10-11, 2005
THE BIG APPLE COMIC-CON: COMIC BOOK, ART & TOY SHOW
Location: New York, NY
War, Horror, Suspence, Swords, and Sorcery! Big Apple Comic-Con's
salute to Adventure Comics! Over 300 tables of Comic Books, Toys!
Contests, Giveaways, Anime, Gaming, Panels, Seminars & Surprises!
For more information, visit www.bigapple.con.com or call 201-865-3288
Admission: $10 per day. Children under 8 free.
Tickets available: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr

Well, I guess that's about it for now. Be sure to drop over to the
website (http://www.isnnews.net) to keep up on the latest
information around the world of science fiction. Tell your friends
about it! We can always use new readers – and new ideas.

If you know of any upcoming conventions that are not listed on the
convention calendar, drop the information along to me and I'll post
it. Conventions are a terrific way of getting together with friends
and lovers of science fiction. We should all do it as often as
possible.

Have a terrific weekend.
Be safe,
Sandy

Sandra Bruckner
Editor/Publisher
ISN News: The Zocalo Today
http://www.isnnews.net