The Zocalo Today - August 12, 2007

I'm back from Sofia, Bulgaria. I had a marvelous time and will be
getting back into the swing of updating the website soon. There has
been a lot of new "news" from the world of science fiction so there is a lot to
catch up on.

BABYLON 5: THE LOST TALES
Now that we have all had a chance to watch the latest DVD -- a few
times, what do you think? Is it what you had been hoping for? Is it
an extension of the Babylon 5 universe we have all known and loved?
Send in your comments, reviews, observations and I'll post them for
others to read.

THE NEW DVD CAN BE YOURS!
I've got a couple of copies of the BABYLON 5: THE LOST TALES DVD to
give away. I've been thinking what would be the best way to do this.
How about sending in "What Babylon 5 has meant to me -- and why the
story needs to continue." I'll post the responses and we can vote on
the two best. That makes this a community project. So send in your
comments and let's get started!

Send in your reviews, comments and observations, sgbruckner@....
Use the same address to send in your "What Babylon 5 has meant to me"
material. I'll start posting it as soon as items begin to arrive.

NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD OF SCIENCE FICTION

THOR
Matthew Vaughn, director of "Stardust", has been tapepd by Marvel
Studios to helm "Thor," based on the comic book character of the same
name, reports Variety. In the comic books, Stan Lee created Thor --
loosely based on the Norse god -- as a blond-haired, hammer-wielding
god sent to Earth to help mankind. Vaughn will direct from Mark
Prostevich's ("I Am Legend") adaptation of the comic book. Production
is scheduled for this winter to get ahead of the possible strike.
Vaughn was once attached to direct another superhero film, "X-Men 3,"
but had to step down for a personal scheduling conflict. He made his
directing debut with the stylish crime drama "Layer Cake," starring
Daniel Craig and his film "Stardust," an adaptation of Neil Gaiman's
novel starring Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert DeNiro and Claire Danes, is
currently in theaters.

TRUE BLOOD
It's official. HBO has picked up the vampire series TRUE BLOOD from
Six Feet Under's Alan Ball, based on Charlaine Harris' Southern
Vampire novel series, Variety reported. Ball will executive-produce
and act as show runner for TRUE BLOOD, which is expected to go into
production this fall. HBO is still ironing out an episodic order and
airdate. Ball wrote and directed the pilot and has already penned
several more episodes. The pilot stars Anna Paquin, Ryan Kwanten, Sam
Trammell, Stephen Moyer and Brook Kerr. It is set in small-town
Louisiana and follows the world of vampires, who are able to co-exist
with humans by drinking a Japanese-manufactured synthetic blood. The
show contains a dose of humor alongside the horror. Paquin plays
Sookie Stackhouse, a waitress who winds up falling for vampire Bill
Compton (played by Moyer) and who has powers of her own. Carrie
Preston and Michael Raymond-James round out the cast.

STARGATE ATLANTIS
Although his character, Dr. Carson Beckett, was killed last season,
Paul McGillion will be returning to STARGATE ATLANTIS and the role
for a two-episode arc during the upcoming fourth season. In a recent
interview, McGillion said that it feels great to be back on the show
after nearly a year away. "Honestly, it feels like coming home,"
McGillion said. "And everyone's been so terrific to me. The crew gave
me a little round of applause when I came back on the set. And that
was really sweet. That felt really nice. And everyone's been really
gracious towards me, and it's just been really nice. I love the
character, and the chance to reprise Beckett is my pleasure."
McGillion's character perished in an explosion near the end of the
third season, causing an outcry among fans, who began a Save Carson
Beckett campaign in an attempt to bring him back. McGillion said he's
been encouraged by the all fan support, but was still somewhat
surprised when he got the call to come back. "When the fellas told me
that they were going to be making some changes with the cast and
stuff, they said, 'No one ever dies in sci-fi,'" McGillion said. "I
was kind of surprised, but having heard a lot of the fan reaction and
stuff, I think it was a big thing when my character died, and I think
that has a lot to do with the writing they gave the character and the
opportunity to play such a fun character and a well-loved character.
A lot of people have called him the heart of Atlantis. And I think
the fans really stood behind that and rallied behind the character a
lot. So I was flattered and obviously thrilled to come back." The
details of the episodes are being kept under wraps, but McGillion
assured fans that they would be satisfied with his role in the
story. "They gave me a really great storyline," he said. "I think the
fans will appreciate it. Beckett has a lot to do in the storyline
that they've given the character. So I'm really happy with it. I
think it's a really great way to bring Beckett back. Without going
into any details, because I really can't, he's heavily, heavily based
in the episodes. They'll see a lot of Beckett." The future of the
character beyond the two episodes remains unclear, but McGillion is
open to the possibility of coming back on a more permanent
basis. "We'll see what happens," he said." I don't know what their
plans are for the character or where I'm going to be, but it's always
a pleasure to come back and work on the show, that's for sure. So I'm
not ruling anything out." In addition to McGillion's return, Atlantis
viewers can also look forward to guest appearances by Torri Higginson
(Dr. Elizabeth Weir) and Stargate SG-1's Christopher Judge (Teal'c)
in the upcoming fourth season. Stargate: Atlantis will return on
Sept. 28 in a new timeslot on Fridays at 10 p.m. PT/ET.

FLASH GORDON PILOT
Genius Products presents "Flash Gordon: The Premiere Episode," a
limited-time only DVD release featuring the premiere of the highly
anticipated SCI FI Channel series, available on DVD August 14, 2007.
Starring Eric Johnson ("Smallville"), Gina Holden (Final Destination
3, Fantastic Four) and Karen Cliche ("Young Blades"), the DVD
features deleted scenes and a sneak peak at the rest of the season
of "Flash Gordon" which premiered August 10, 2007 @ 9pm ET/PT on SCI
FI. Also included is a sneak peak at "Tin Man," the miniseries event
starring Zooey Deschanel (Elf) and Richard Dreyfus (Mr. Holland's
Opus) and coming to the SCI FI Channel this December. Debuting on DVD
immediately following the August 10, 2007 broadcast debut, "Flash
Gordon: The Premiere Episode" will be available for an S.R.P. of
$19.95. From mythic comic strip conqueror to pulp-serial
superstar, "Flash Gordon" returns to television for the 21st century
in an action-packed new series about the greatest hero on Earthand
beyond. Join Flash, Dale Arden, and Dr. Hans Zarkov in a universal
adventure unlike anything ever experienced before. An adventure
series that rethinks and exceeds everything that has come before,
this "Flash Gordon" redefines the sci-fi genre with suspenseful
action and great special effects.

VOLTRON
According to Variety, 20th Century Fox-based production company New
Regency has partnered with the Mark Gordon Company to adapt Voltron:
Defender of the Universe into a possible franchise. Producer Mark
Gordon has been developing the film, based on the popular 1980s
Japanese animated TV series, comic books and toy line, for some time
with Justin Marks writing the script. But interest in the property
hit a high after Transformers turned into a box office juggernaut,
raking in nearly $300 million to date. Marks' take is described as a
post-apocalyptic tale of survival set in New York City and Mexico. In
the animated series, five Galaxy Alliance pilots control vehicles
shaped like lions that combine and form the massive sword-wielding
Voltron robot in order to battle an evil menace. Gordon is producing
with Lawrence Inglee and Jordan Wynn shepherding the project. Mark
Costa and Ford Oelman are executive producers. Marks is also adapting
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe for Joel Silver at Warner
Bros., as well as the Green Arrow pic Supermax, also at the studio.
Marks also has Street Fighter in the works at Hyde Park and Fox.

CONVENTION CALENDAR

August 31-September 3, 2007
Dragoncon
Place: Hyatt Regency, Atlanta Hilton, Marriott Marquis
City: Atlanta, GA
Babylon 5 Guests: Stephen Austin (Pak'Ma'Ra Ambassador), Claudia
Christian, Peter David (author), John Hudgens (B5 music video creator)
Guests: As usual, guests number too many to mention in one sitting,
can be looked up on the Dragopncon website
For more information, go to http://www.dragoncon.org

That's it for now.
Talk to you soon,
Sandy

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