THE ZOCALO TODAY – September 22, 2007

WHAT'S NEW

Over the past few weeks, there have been a great number of new
subscribers to The Zocalo Today. Welcome to all and please feel free
to participate in the discussion topics and send along any new
information you see about Babylon 5. Many of the actors have been
turning up in new series on TV or in movies on the big screen. It is
always wonderful to see them in whatever they are working in. This
week, be sure to listen to the Babylon 5 Podcast
(www.babylonpodcast.com). One of my favorite people, Peter Woodward,
is the guest interview. The information posted by Summer, Tim and
Jeffrey is below.

I am off to South Africa on Tuesday, so I won't be updating the web
page as often as I do when at home (unless the hotel has a great
internet connection). I return in early October. If something really
important comes out, I'll let you know via e-mail.

BABYLON 5 SCRIPT BOOKS

In case you missed the announcement, BABYLON 5 Scriptbook #12 is now
available. It includes:

THE SCRIPTS IN VOLUME 12 ARE:
• A View from the Gallery
• Learning Curve
• Strange Relations
• Secrets of the Soul
• In the Kingdom of the Blind
• A Tragedy of Telepaths
• Phoenix Rising

When a fan asked JMS about getting the script books in hardcover, JMS
response was:

It's an interesting idea, and I'll pass it along. I know that the CP
folks are working hard to improve the quality of the covers in the
interim.

(BTW, the stop-the-presses edition (#12) turned out to have some cool
stuff, about 20 pages worth of graphics -- first attempts at rank
insignia, a breakdown on all the signs we see in the show, logos,
props, the command structure, our first attempts at the minbari, narn
and centauri alphabets, and the final Christmas memo I wrote to the
cast and crew in year five -- so much so that we had to do two or
three per page to make it all fit.)

Everybody think good thoughts starting today through Wednesday. Big
(non-B5) things are moving....

For more information on how to order the Script books, go to
http://www.babylon5scripts.com.

BABYLON PODCAST #82
Summer, Jeffrey, and Tim are joined by Brad and Tim A, and the sock
puppets just plain take over the joint. Tim throws out a theory for
JMS' sock puppet escapade, that maybe there was a method behind the
faux madness.

And just how can we convince WB that more B5 product from them would
be just as well received, if not better, with just a little bit of
well-placed advertising? How can it make sense to not advertise a
project because you're worried about the financial risk, when running
an ad in a space targeted to Babylon 5 fans will ensure maximum
saturation in the group most likely and most interested in buying said
project?

Summer's confused and upset about the lack of support and promotion
for "The Lost Tales" DVDs, and Brad wonders if WB does it on purpose.
Which opens up ten other cans of worms, but we want to do more, and in
return, receive more B5 for it.

Interview: Peter Woodward joins an excited B5 crew to talk about his
Babylon 5 experience, which all began with his being late for an
audition for "A Call to Arms", and how Galen's enigmatic nature just *is*.

We hear how yet another cast member would gladly rent out body parts
to continue to do more B5 projects, and gives us as much insight into
Galen as he can without activating the remote zapper feature in JMS's
secret B5 cast & crew implant.

Peter's also been a cog in other genre shows, with appearances in
"Brimstone" and "Stargate", and portraying the Source of All Evil in
"Charmed", and he tells us about growing up watching Doctor Who, and
enjoying science fiction and it's characters, and more.
The Galen-focused show titles get a little silly.

Fan Cast: The Three-Edged Sword Episode 12: "The Aftermath" (TS:
41:04-46:29) We promise to get to the Deep Geeking on "Over There"
next week. Oh, and put down the sock puppets, and slowly back away.
Bonus: Stay tuned after the closing credits… there's an extra treat.
Trust us.

To catch up on all the previous podcasts, go to www.babylonpodcast.com
and here at the Zocalo Today at Babylon Podcasts.

DISCUSSION TOPIC:
It's time to get back to Babylon 5 with topics. As we look back over
the years at the many, many characters and situations related to the
Babylon 5 universe (including Legend of the Rangers), which events
surprised you the most? Was it the fact that Sinclair was Valen? Was
it when Delenn became part Minbari/part human? Was it when …….?????

Send in your comments to sgbruckner@... and I'll share them with
all the readers of The Zocalo Today on the Discussion Page.

NEW BOOKS COMING

HEROES: SAVING CHARLIE
Del Rey, an imprint of Ballantine Books at the Random House Publishing
Group, announced plans to publish a novel based on NBC's Emmy® and
Golden Globe® nominated HEROES. HEROES: SAVING CHARLIE (Del Rey
Hardcover; $23.95; on sale December 26, 2007) by Aury Wallington will
be an original novel based on the characters Hiro Nakamura (Emmy and
Golden Globe Award-nominated Masi Oka) and Charlie (Jayma Mays),
created by executive producer/creator Tim Kring. It is developed
through a licensing agreement with Universal Studios Consumer Products
Group.

"One of the more memorable relationships in Season One was Hiro's
first love, the waitress Charlie. We were as smitten as Hiro by that
story and seized the chance to tell the full adventure of Hiro's six
months in the past. Aury Wallington was hand picked by the writers of
the show for her brilliant voice for these characters. The novel is a
welcome addition to the Heroes family," said Tim Kring,
creator-executive producer, "Heroes."

The novel--written with the full cooperation and consultation of the
show's creators-- will tell the story of Japanese office worker Hiro,
who, through the use of his ability to pierce the space-time continuum
and manipulate time, bravely catapults himself into the past to save
Charlie, a small-town Texas waitress with an extraordinary memory,
from being brutally murdered by super-powered serial killer Sylar
(Zachary Quinto). Fans of the television series were given only a
brief glimpse into Hiro and Charlie's relationship as it grew into
love over six time-changing months, but their history is told here
with the depth and insight that only a novel will allow.

STARGATE ATLANTIS: Casualties of War
It's the first solo novel by author Elizabeth Christensen. Previously
she has collaborated with Sonny Whitelaw on two novels: STARGATE
ATLANTIS: The Chosen and STARGATE ATLANTIS: Exogenesis and they've got
another one coming up called STARGATE ATLANTIS: Blood Ties.
From the back cover of Casualties of War:
Burden of command...

It's a dark time for Atlantis. Following the first Asuran clashes,
Colonel Sheppard is buckling under the strain of command. When his
team discovers Ancient technology which can defeat the Asuran menace,
he is determined that Atlantis must possess it — at all costs.
But the involvement of Atlantis heightens local suspicions and brings
two peoples to the point of war. Elizabeth Weir believes only her
negotiating skills can hope to prevent the carnage, but when her
diplomatic mission is attacked — and two of Sheppard's team are lost —
both Weir and Sheppard must question their decisions. And their
abilities to command.

As the first shots are fired, the Atlantis team must find a way to end
the conflict — or live with the blood of innocents on their hands...
The book is available now at www.stargatenovels.com and soon from
leading book stores in North America, the UK, Australia, New Zealand
and so on.

NEW SCIENCE FICTION PUBLICATIONS:

Starburst Special Issue #83: HEROES: Season One Reviewed! An
episode-by-episode reviews of the entire season. Sci-Fi Gallery - A
must-have photo collection from the Heroes cast's World Tour! Greg
Grunberg chats about the unexpected importance of cop-turned-mind
reader Matt Parkman; Hayden Panettiere - the actress who plays
regenerative heroine Claire Bennet discusses the show's first year and
its future… Masi Oka - the actor talks about the past, present and
future of his Time-bending alter ego, Hiro; Tim Sale - discusses his
job of re-creating the comic-book paintings of clairvoyant hero Isaac
Mendez… and Tim Kring - the series creator chats about Season Two and
the spin-off series Heroes: Origins!

TV ZONE #220: STARGATE ATLANTIS: As Colonel Carter makes a
controversial transfer from SG-1 to Atlantis, actress Amanda Tapping
tells us how she's handling her character's new command role. "The
challenge for me is to temper her being in charge with not abusing
that responsibility and being power-hungry." Sarah Jane Adventures -
Actress Elisabeth Sladen tells us about becoming the lead in her own
series for the second time, and how Sarah Jane is finding becoming a
`mother' is far more daunting than spaceflight…

NEW COMIC BOOKS:

CIVIL WAR CHRONICLES #6
Written by Mark Millar, J. Michael Straczynski and Dwayne McDuffie,
penciled by Steve McNiven and Mike McKone, cover by Michael Turner.
Experience Civil War and its major tie-ins in chronological order! In
Civil War #4, our heroes experience a death! A funeral! A betrayal!
And a team is reborn as the war takes a deadly turn! And in Fantastic
Four, things get worse for Marvel's First Family. The team as we know
it is finished, torn apart by the strife of Civil War! What will
happen to the fragmented family and will some other foursome rise to
take their place? Collecting Civil War #4 and Fantastic Four #541-542.
72 pages, $4.99.

THOR #6
Written by J. Michael Straczynski, pencils and cover by Olivier
Coipel, variant cover by Art Adams.
Asgard stands once more. Thor has reclaimed his role as the God of
Thunder, and key members of his Norse pantheon stand by his side. The
first arc comes to an end. What will be the new status quo for the
Odinson?
32 pages, $2.99.

CONVENTION CALENDAR

September 29-30, 2007
ASSIMILATION, Florida's Newest Science Fiction Experience
Place: The Radisson Worldgate Resort
City: Kissimmee, Florida
B5 Guest: Tracy Scoggins ("Capt. Elizabeth Lochley" from Babylon 5)
Other Guests: ETHAN PHILLIPS ("Neelix" from Star Trek: Voyager);
RICHARD HORVITZ ("Invader Zim" from Invader Zim); MICHAEL A. STACKPOLE
(New York Times Bestselling Author); GLENDA C. FINKELSTEIN (Acclaimed
Local Science Fiction Author) and ROOSTER TEETH PRODUCTIONS (Creators
of "Red vs Blue")
Further information regarding the event can be found at
www.assimilationcon.com.

October 5-8, 2007
Gaylaxicon
Place: Sheraton Atlanta Hotel
City: Atlanta, GA
Guests include: Jim Grimsley, Georges Jeanty, Selina Rosen, Melissa
Carter, Steve Berman, Rob Caves, James Cawley, David B. Coe, David
Gerrold, Joe Haldeman, Shaun Lyon, Paul Stevens, Laura J. Underwood, &
Toni Weisskopf
For More information, go to http://www.gaylaxicon2007.org/home.htm

October 12 ~ 15, 2007
Daranacon
Place: Kansas City, Missouri
Babylon 5 Guest: Mira Furlan
For more information, go to http://www.daranacon.org/

November 2-4, 2007
United Fan Con
Place: Springfield, MA
B5 Guest: Tracy Scoggins
Other Guests: Stargate Atlantis' Dr. Elizabeth Weir: Torri Higginson,
Classic Star Trek`s Janice Rand: Grace Lee Whitney, TV Icon: Henry
Winkler, Battlestar Galactica's Crewman Cally: Nicki Clyne
For more information, go to http://www.unitedfancon.com.

Be sure to visit the referenced sites to see if there have been
changes in dates/guests attending. Visit our Convention Calendar for a
full listing of upcoming conventions.

NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF SCIENCE FICTION

WEEK OF PREMIERES
The week ahead is full of premieres -- new shows/returning favorites.
As we wait for everything to begin, you can find a lot of previews out
on YouTube.com. There are clips from HEROES, SMALLVILLE. I love
YouTube.com. You can punch in just about any term -- any show that you
love -- and come up with video that is hard NOT to watch. There are
clips from STARGATE, BABYLON 5, shows old and new. It is totally
addictive.

RESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION
Milla Jovovich, star of the third and final installment in the popular
action-horror movie franchise RESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION, said in a
recent interview that she loved getting to play her character, Alice,
in a variety of modes this time around. In the movie, Alice is cloned
and used in various nefarious ways by the evil Umbrella Corporation.
"I tried to think about, like, 'Why does this one die, as opposed to
not?'" she said. "'Why does this one make it past this test, and this
one not make it?' In the beginning of the film, when a gurney
explodes, [the cloned] Alice acts really scared and really emotional.
It stresses her out, and she gets killed by the bomb exploding because
she wasn't in control. Where the original Alice never would have
reacted that big. The original Alice would have always had her head
really well placed on her shoulders. She would never lose control like
that. That's why she survives." The action in the Russell
Mulcahy-directed zombie movie picks up some years after 2004's
Resident Evil: Apocalypse. The Umbrella Corporation has unleashed a
biological catastrophe upon the world, turning Las Vegas, among other
places, into a wasteland. Jovovich will next appear in a cameo role in
the next Wim Wenders film, 8. RESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION is in theaters
everywhere this weekend.

PETS
Variety reports that James Gunn (Slither) will write and direct PETS,
an alien-themed comedy produced by New Regency and Ben Stiller's Red
Hour production company. The comedy follows a man abducted by aliens
who want to turn him into a household pet. PETS is the latest in a
series of Regency deals for projects geared to a young male
demographic. The film will be distributed by 20th Century Fox.

HALO
According to Variety, Microsoft is stepping up its promotion of its
upcoming video-game sequel HALO 3 in advance of next week's launch.
The company has been airing ads for the Xbox 360 game since December,
but it will become an inescapable presence on cable networks such as
Spike TV, Comedy Central and SCI FI Channel during the final weekend
before its release on Sept. 25. In addition to commercials, Microsoft
is co-producing original programming to get consumers interested the
Xbox 360 console as well as HALO 3. Tonight, Sept. 22, Comedy Central
will air Fully Loaded, a series of two-minute interstitials hosted by
Mad TV cast member Bobby Lee. They were taped at a star-studded HALO 3
party at the Venetian Hotel's Tao Beach nightclub in Las Vegas timed
around MTV's Video Music Awards and the unveiling of Halo's central
character, Master Chief, at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum. On the eve of
the game's release, Spike TV's Game Head show will host a live feed
from the Halo 3 launch event at Best Buy's flagship store in New York
City. It will air during the scheduled broadcast of the James Bond
film GoldenEye. After midnight, the network will air a half-hour
special titled HALO 3: LAUNCHED!, featuring a performance by Linkin
Park and interviews with Halo fans. Finally, on launch day, SCI FI
Channel will air HALO 3: SCI vs. FI, which examines the making of the
game. Co-produced with G-Net Media, the special will air twice on the
network. Programming on the three cable networks—which will feature
actors, musicians and athletes—will supplement the hours of launch
coverage that other channels have planned for Monday, including five
hours of live coverage from the New York launch event on G4. The big
TV push tops the marketing efforts surrounding the release of Halo 2,
which was featured in a single special on MTV. This time, MTV was not
included in the promotion of the game because it is rated M for Mature.

ABC SHOWS ON AOL
AOL has signed a deal with Disney's ABC Television Group which will
give viewers a chance to see ABC's shows on the Web immediately after
their premiere on the network. Variety reported the deal includes both
returning series, such as LOST, and new fall shows, like PUSHING
DAISIES and CAVEMAN. The shows will be screening via a co-branded
version of ABC's broadband player. Up to four episodes of each series
will be available at a time. According to Disney and AOL, this is the
first time ABC has placed its primetime fare on a major portal, and
also the first time any portal has featured a full version of a
broadcast network online video player. AOL will also launch an
embedded short-form player later this year that features original
programming vignettes and clips from ABC programming.

FRANKLYN
Ryan Phillippe, Eva Green and newcomer Sam Riley have been cast in
first-time director Gerald McMorrow's futuristic thriller FRANKLYN.
According to Variety, the film, which moves between contemporary
London and a future metropolis called Meanwhile City that's dominated
by faith, centers on four lost souls divided by two parallel worlds on
course for an explosive collision when a single bullet will decide
their collective fates. Riley has gained attention for his role as
troubled Joy Division front man Ian Curtis in the biopic Control, due
in theaters next month. The cast also includes Bernard Hill, Susannah
York and Art Malik. McMorrow previously directed the award-winning
short Thespian X. The feature's $12 million budget is being financed
by the U.K. Film Council's Premiere Fund, Film 4 and Aramid.

STAR WARS
During an interview with the TV Guide, George Lucas talked about the
state of the various Star Wars television projects in development.
"There's Clone Wars, and we're in the middle of that," he said. "It's
basically like Star Wars [in that it] takes place between, obviously,
Episode II and Episode III, but it's the same kind of action.
Unfortunately, it doesn't fall into the realm of what animation
[typically] is, which is either adult, kind of off-color humor or
kiddie stuff. This is, like Star Wars, sort of in between those two
things. It's a lot of battle stuff, and it's obviously the Clone Wars,
so it's a war picture. ... It's very much like the features. We're
still trying to figure out how to put it on the air." Lucas said that
there are a hundred episodes planned for the series, half of which
should be completed before the first one airs. Lucas and his company
are aiming to premiere the series in the fall of 2008 but are still
considering where it would fit best on the broadcast schedule. "So
far, everybody's got the same conundrums," he said. "'How do we
program it? Where does it live? Where can we put something like this?'
You know, it has to go after 9 o'clock and it can't be on a kiddie
channel." Lucas is also working on a live-action series for television
and said that he expects to be writing it about a month from now. The
series will be set in the Star Wars universe between Episode III and
Episode IV and will feature minor characters from the films. "It's
like Episode IV in that the Emperor and Darth Vader are heard
about—people talk about them—but you never see them because it doesn't
take place where they actually are. There are stormtroopers and all
that, but there are no Jedis. It's different, but I think it's very
exciting because I get to explore a part of that universe that I
haven't been able to explore."

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER
Variety reports that Disney has had to push back the release date for
its upcoming sequel film THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: VOYAGE OF THE DAWN
TREADER to 2010 from its originally announced date a year earlier.
Instead, the May 1, 2009, date will go to G-FORCE, the CG-animated
comedy adventure about guinea pigs as secret agents from director Hoyt
Yeatman (visual-effects supervisor for Mission to Mars, Armageddon and
The Rock) and producer Jerry Bruckheimer. DAWN TREADER, the third film
in the franchise based on the books by C.S. Lewis, has been delayed
due to a move in the start of production from January to summer,
pushing the fantasy film's release to May 7, 2010. The production has
had to do some shuffling to work around the schedules of its young
actors and to avoid a potential conflict between shooting the third
film and promoting the second. Michael Apted will direct DAWN TREADER.
Mark Johnson produces with Andrew Adamson, who directed the first two
Narnia films. The story centers on the return of characters Lucy and
Edmund Pevensie to Narnia, where they join Prince Caspian for a voyage
aboard the royal ship The Dawn Treader. The new release schedule will
give Disney three animated films in 2009. Besides G-FORCE, Pixar's Up
is scheduled for June 12, 2009, while the company's own animation
studio is working on THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG for December of that year.

AVATAR
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Giovanni Ribisi will star in
James Cameron's highly-anticipated 3-D feature Avatar, playing a
passive-aggressive character named Selfridge in the Fox film about a
band of humans pitted against a distant planet's indigenous
inhabitants. He joins a cast that includes Sam Worthington, Zoe
Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez, Joel David Moore, CCH
Pounder, Peter Mensah, Laz Alonso, Wes Studi and Stephen Lang. The
$190 million Avatar is set for release May 22, 2009, and features a
blend of live-action photography and new virtual photorealistic
production techniques invented by Cameron's team. The film features
six computer-generated actors known as "synthespians" and is in
production in Los Angeles and next month starts production in New
Zealand at Weta Digital. Cameron is writing and directing as well as
producing with Jon Landau and Lightstorm Entertainment.

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
Variety is reporting that George Miller will be directing the JUSTICE
LEAGUE OF AMERICA live action feature film for Warner Bros. There are
numerous reports confirming this same bit of news over the last two
months. The trade also confirmed previous reports that Warner Bros is
fast tracking this film to the big screen in hopes of it being
released in summer 2009. JLA has already begun casting in New York,
Toronto and Vancouver at the beginning of September. SUPERMAN: MAN OF
STEEL will be taking a back seat according to the report because WB is
very confident of the JLA script by Kieran and Michele Mulroney. Both
Bale and Nolan have expressed reservations about this JLA movie being
started before they've completed their 3rd installment in the series.
Also confirmed is Bale and Routh will play no part in the JLA movie.
Beyond those two characters getting replaced by different actors,
"Justice League" will likely feature Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green
Lantern and Aquaman and WB is planning on using this film as a
launching pad for later seperate franchises, Wonder Woman & Flash.

JOURNEYMAN
During a recent interview, JOURNEYMAN's executive producer Kevin
Falls, said that viewers will initially be as in the dark about what's
going on as the central character, Dan Vasser (Rome's Kevin McKidd).
JOURNEYMAN follows Vasser, a San Francisco newspaper reporter who
finds himself inexplicably thrown back into different time periods
within his own lifetime. He can't control where he goes, but he seems
to have a mission to change the future by affecting the lives of
strangers in the past. "We're going to be like Dan," Falls said. "And
I think that's the strength of the first few shows, is Dan trying to
figure out what's going on, coupled with the fact that he has no
control of it. So in order for him to get back to the present, he has
to finish a leg of his mission, or the procedural, as we call it. So
we want him grasping for answers." In the present, Vasser is married
to Katie (Gretchen Egolf), but in his past he was engaged to another
woman, Livia (Moon Bloodgood). Livia died in a plane crash before they
could wed and is now a time traveler with whom Vasser will interact in
the past. "Ultimately, as we get into the second part of the season,
we'll address more of the bigger mythology of the show and really,
actually, in the first 10 [episodes] tell you why Livia is a time
traveler and what her story is," Falls said. "But as far as what is
the power [that's sending Vasser into the past], that's something
we're not going to reveal, certainly, in the first part of the season.
And that's not to say our characters aren't going to be wondering what
the hell is going on. They have to be." JOURNEYMAN premieres Sept. 24
and will air Mondays at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

MONSTERS VS. ALIENS
DreamWorks Animation announced that MONSTERS VS. ALIENS, the company's
first-ever film produced in stereoscopic 3-D technology, will be
released in theaters on March 27, 2009. The film had been previously
slated for domestic release on May 15, 2009, which also happens to be
around the same time that James Cameron's AVATAR, from 20th Century
Fox, is scheduled to hit 3-D screens. "I believe that next-generation
3-D will make our CG films even more special and unique," DreamWorks
CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg said in a press release. "We are thrilled to
have MONSTERS VS. ALIENS as the first opportunity for audiences to
enjoy this exciting new movie experience. Moving to a March release
date, which has proven to be a great slot for family films, allows us
to roll out our first 3-D project on the maximum amount of screens as
the year's first big event film to hit the market in this new format."
MONSTERS VS. ALIENS reinvents the classic '50s monster movie into an
irreverent modern-day action comedy. It is being directed by Conrad
Vernon (Shrek 2) and Rob Letterman (Shark Tale), produced by Lisa
Stewart (I Think I Love My Wife) and co-produced by Jill Hopper and
Latifa Ouaou.

SUPERHERO
Variety reports that the team behind SCARY MOVIE 4 (Dimension Films,
producer David Zucker & director Craig Mazin) have picked their cast
for an upcoming spoof on the world of Superhero films titled simply
SUPERHERO. Leslie Nielsen, Brent Spiner, Christopher McDonald, Sara
Paxton, Drake Bell, Kevin Hart, Marion Ross, Ryan Hansen & Jeffrey
Tambor are preparing to poke as much fun as they can at the history of
films relating to this genre. David Zucker and Robert K. Weiss will be
producing while Craig Mazin is returning to the director's chair.
Production began on Monday. SUPERHERO hits theaters everywhere March
28, 2008.

GHOSTS OF GIRLFRIENDS PAST
Variety reports that Jennifer Garner is in negotiations to star
opposite Matthew McConaughey in New Line's GHOSTS OF GIRLFRIENDS PAST.
Mark Waters (Just Like Heaven) is directing the film from a Jon Lucas
and Scott Moore screenplay. The story centers on a charming womanizer
who is visited by the apparitions of girlfriends past, present and
future while attending the wedding of his younger brother. He
eventually realizes that he is in love with his childhood sweetheart.
Shooting is scheduled to begin in January.

THE BURROWERS
The Hollywood Reporter indicates that writer-director J.T. Petty is
setting the stage for his forthcoming horror film THE BURROWERS with a
webisode series set to premiere on the horror Web site/on-demand
service FearNet. The seven three- to five-minute episodes are based on
the film and tell the story of a family trying to survive in the
wilderness who unknowingly release an evil force when they ingest
infected deer meat. The series will debut in December on FearNet.com
and FearNet's VOD channel, along with a live blog hosted by Petty that
features his production and behind-the- scenes insights. BURROWERS,
written and directed by Petty, chronicles the tale of a rescue party
that becomes the prey of a band of underground creatures. Slated for
release in 2008 by Lionsgate, it stars Clancy Brown, William Mapother
and Sean Patrick Thomas.

AUTHOR ROBERT JORDAN DIES
On September 16, best-selling fantasy author Robert Jordan died of
amyloidosis, a rare blood disease. He was 58. Jordan was best known
for his WHEEL OF TIME series, which began in 1990 with THE EYE OF THE
WORLD. The series, which consists of 11 volumes (plus one prequel
novel), has sold millions of copies worldwide; the 12th and final
novel, A MEMORY OF LIGHT, remained incomplete at the time of Jordan's
death. In the early 1980s, Jordan published several other novels,
including seven CONAN THE BARBARIAN novels, beginning with CONAN THE
INVINCIBLE. Other work includes a historical fiction trilogy (written
under the pen name Reagan O'Neal), which is comprised of THE FALLON
BLOOD, THE FALLON PRICE and THE FALLON LEGACY. Jordan had been
undergoing treatment for amyloidosis since April of last year.
Amyloidosis is a rare blood disease which affects only 8 people out of
a million each year which causes an abnormal protein buildup in
various organs that can permanently damage them. Jordan's condition
was first reported in his March 23rd letter to Locus Magazine. Jordan,
whose real name was James Oliver Rigney, Jr., was born on Oct. 17,
1948 in Charleston, S.C. During the Vietnam War, he served two tours
with the U. S. Army and later attended and graduated from The Citadel
college, with a degree in physics. He is survived by his wife, Harriet
McDougal Rigney.

THE ELEVENTH HOUR
Variety reports that Warner Bros. has cut a massive, multimillion
dollar deal with CBS for the rights to a Jerry Bruckheimer-produced
adaptation of British thriller ELEVENTH HOUR. In addition to agreeing
to film a roughly $4 million pilot, the trade says that CBS has agreed
to produce 13 episodes of the "X-Files"-like project and has agreed in
advance to a pay-or-play license fee of roughly $1.75 million per
episode. All told, it's believed CBS could be on the hook for as much
as $25 million to $30 million. The project reunites the original "CSI"
team of producer Bruckheimer and director Danny Cannon, adding in hot
feature writer Mick Davis (The Invisible). Bruckheimer TV and Granada
International Media are producing via Warner Bros. Television, with
Jonathan Littman and Granada's Robert Green joining Bruckheimer,
Cannon and Jackson as executive producers. ELEVENTH HOUR aired as a
four-part miniseries in the U.K. last year, with Patrick Stewart
starring. The actor played Professor Alan Hood, who's called in by the
government to investigate mysterious cases that involve matters of
science -- from cloning to global warming. The U.S. adaptation is said
to have a tone similar to "The X-Files."

INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL
There has been a great deal of speculation related to the upcoming
Indiana Jones movie and whether or not Sean Connery would reprise his
role as Indy's father in the project. Executive producer George Lucas
shed some light on trying to get Sean Connery back for INDIANA JONES
AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL. The man behind Indy and Star
Wars has told Tv Guide about Sean's retirement playing an effect on
the decision and he's confirmed that there will be no replacement in
the role, opting to change the character completely.
It's just a completely different character, so you're not invested in
him in any way. The fact that that character, after the first part of
the movie, isn't needed doesn't become a problem. Whereas I think with
the scene we had, where [Indy] says goodbye to his dad, everybody was,
"Wait a minute! Isn't he coming back?" So in the end, I think it
turned out for the best. Sean just retired and he wants to stay
retired, and I understand that. [Laughs] I think he just said, "Look,
I've done it, I've done it." He was very tempted, you know, and we
talked for a long time. But in the end, he just said, "Eh, I'm playing
golf."

NEW UHURA NAMED
Variety reports that Zoe Saldana (Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of
the Black Pearl) has signed on to play Uhura in J.J. Abrams'
big-screen adaptation of Star Trek for Paramount Pictures. The casting
was rumored on the TrekMovie.com Web site. In the original Star Trek
TV series, Uhura—whose name means freedom in Swahili—was a member of
the bridge crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise who rose to the rank of
commander. Nichelle Nichols played the Starfleet Academy alumna in the
series. Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci wrote the screenplay and will
executive-produce alongside Bryan Burk and Damon Lindelof. The film is
set for a Christmas Day 2008 release. Saldana recently wrapped the
Sony thriller VANTAGE POINT and is now filming James Cameron's SF epic
film AVATAR.

SPEED RACER
Emile Hirsch, who plays the lead character in the Wachowski brothers'
upcoming SPEED RACER, has been a fan of the anime series since the age
of 6. Hirsch said in a recent interview with IGN.com that he watched
every single episode in preparation for the role. But he said that the
film's visual effects took some getting used to. "It's hard, because
there was real character work that he had to be doing, but it was
against this green screen, which is just tricky," Hirsch said. "It's
real tricky to shoot on. You really have to keep the jokes flowing and
have a good time. You've got to keep life in the room, because the
green screen will just suck it out of you. So making this movie with
the Wachowski brothers, the jokes kept coming and we all had fun."
Asked how his portrayal of the main character, Speed, differs from
that of the cartoon, he said that he's approaching the role seriously.
"A lot of the characters are sort of goofy," he said. "But Speed is
pretty serious. I mean, he's pretty serious in the cartoon, but in the
movie he's very serious." Speed Racer, which also stars Christina
Ricci, Susan Sarandon and Matthew Fox, and is set to open May 9, 2008.

CARTOON NETWORK AND DAVID DUCHOVNY
According to The Hollywood Reporter, David Duchovny ("The X-Files"),
Matt Dearborn ("Even Stevens") and Robert Mora ("Phil of the Future")
will produce a live-action project for the network, with Dearborn
scripting. Set in junior high, the series would focus on a student who
follows in his family's footsteps by becoming a pint- sized
journalist, turning the AV club into a TV news broadcast. Cartoon
Network has been branching into the live action world bit by bit. Last
December, the network premiered the telefilm "Re-Animated," which
spawned the live-action spin-off "Out of Jimmy's Head." Duchovny
currently serves as star and executive producer on Showtime's
"Californication," which was just renewed for a second season.

SOUTHLAND TALES
Variety reports that on the eve of the release of his apocalyptic SF
epic SOUTHLAND TALES, director Richard Kelly has joined producing
partner Sean McKittrick and financier Ted Hamm to form Darko
Entertainment. The entity, named for the writer-helmer's cult hit
Donnie Darko, will aim to back modestly budgeted, director-driven
films. First up is DIRTY GIRL, slated to start in November under the
direction of newcomer Abe Sylvia. Also under the Darko banner is THE
BOX, Kelly's next film, an SF thriller starring Cameron Diaz and based
on a story by Richard Matheson. That film is in preproduction.
SOUTHLAND TALES opens Nov. 9. It stars Justin Timberlake, Dwayne
Johnson and Sarah Michelle Gellar.

GHOST WHISPERER
CBS has announced that Jay Mohr will join the regular cast of GHOST
WHISPERER when it returns for a third season this fall, reprising the
role of Professor Payne. Payne offers an encyclopedic knowledge of the
spirit world, as well as genuine concern for Melinda's (Jennifer Love
Hewitt) safety, as she puts herself in ever greater danger to protect
those she cares about. GHOST WHISPERER returns Sept. 28 and will air
in its regular timeslot, Fridays at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

PSYCH
Variety reports that USA has ordered a third season of PSYCH. The
network has picked up 16 episodes of the show, which revolves around a
psychic cop (James Roday). Dule Hill, Corbin Bernsen and Maggie Lawson
also star. "The series has been a critical and ratings sensation since
it premiered last summer and continues to gain new viewers and grow
its fan-base," said USA executive VP of original programming Jeff
Wachtel.

REMASTERED STAR TREK
The digitally remastered version of the original Star Trek series
returns in syndication for the 2007-08 season the weekend of Sept. 15
with the premiere of an enhanced version of "The Galileo Seven." The
episode, which first aired in 1967, features Spock in command of the
tiny shuttlecraft Galileo, the first appearance of the small craft
that would become a staple of the franchise. The episode will feature
new computer visual effects of the Galileo in flight, as well as the
space storm Murasaki 312. The remastered episode also features a
digital transfer of the original Star Trek film elements and newly
recorded remasterings of the show's main title theme, CG renderings of
spaceships and other visual effects created by CBS Digital. A list of
U.S. stations carrying the digitally remastered Star Trek can be found
at StarTrek.com.

CBS SERIES - NEW ACTORS/CHARACTERS IN SOME OF OUR FAVORITE SERIES
Criminal Minds - Wednesdays, 9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT
Emmy Award nominee Joe Mantegna will join the cast of "Criminal Minds"
starring as FBI Special Agent David Rossi, an original member of the
Behavioral Analysis Unit who took early retirement to go on lecture
and book tours, and has volunteered to return to the unit. Mantegna is
scheduled to make his first appearance in the sixth episode of the
season. "We are all THRILLED to have Joe Mantegna joining our family.
He's an incredible actor, a genuinely nice person and, as a fellow
Chicagoan, I can tell you he makes fantastic Italian Beef sandwiches
and Chicago Style Hot Dogs," said Executive Producer Ed Bernero.

CSI: NY - Wednesdays, 10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT
A.J. Buckley will become a series regular after recurring for two
seasons as Adam Ross, a CSI Tech guru out of Seattle. Specializing in
Computer Forensics, Ross is the go-to scientist for the latest
technological applications needed to solve crimes in Manhattan. "He
was hired by Mac Taylor to stay 'one step ahead' of the criminals in
New York City, who often use more complicated technology than the
average crime lab in the country. Therefore, Ross is the X-factor in
crime solving and necessary 'ringer' to fight the most complex and
sophisticated crimes," said Anthony E. Zuiker, Creator and Executive
Producer of the CSI Franchise.

Ghost Whisperer - Fridays, 8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT
Jay Mohr will become a series regular, playing Professor Payne who
provides an encyclopedic knowledge of the spirit world, as well as
genuine concern for Melinda's (Jennifer Love Hewitt) safety as she
puts herself in ever greater danger to protect those she cares about -
even though he hides his concern behind an ever-present irreverent
sense of humor. "We're thrilled to have Jay as a series regular this
year. He's a terrific actor who is fun to work with for the same
reasons he's fun to watch: he brings humor, energy, creativity and
spontaneity to the set and to his role. He also brings sports
commentary and sometimes donuts," says Executive Producer P.K. Simonds.

Shark - Sundays, 10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT
Kevin Alejandro joins the cast as Sebastian's (James Woods) newest
team member Danny Reyes, an edgy and aggressive young deputy district
attorney who earned his stripes in the Organized Crime Unit. "Kevin
Alejandro is an incredibly dynamic and intelligent actor who brings
great energy and attitude to the legal team," says Executive Producer/
Creator Ian Biederman. "Danny plays by his own rules - which both
endears him to Sebastian and creates great conflict."
New Recurring Cast Members: Shark - Sundays, 10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT:
Kevin Pollack joins the series in the recurring role of brash and
cunning newly elected District Attorney Leo Cutler. "Kevin Pollak is a
superb actor who infuses the role of Leo Cutler with wit and a moral
ambiguity that is a perfect fit for the show. Leo's an outstanding
foil for Sebastian and the team," says Executive Producer/Creator Ian
Biederman.

Without a Trace - Thursdays, 10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT
Golden Globe nominee Henry Thomas (E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, Gangs
of New York) will join the series in a recurring role as Jack's
(Anthony LaPaglia) evil nemesis, and the leader of a human trafficking
group who the FBI team is pursuing.
Guest Stars:

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - Thursdays, 9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT:
Jessica Lucas (The Covenant, "The L Word") is set to guest star in
four episodes of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" beginning Thursday,
Oct. 11. She plays the role of Veronica Lake, aka "Ronnie," a young,
overzealous new CSI in training, who is extremely bright, albeit nave.
After graduating from one of the top criminalistics programs in the
country, she was offered positions at numerous crime labs, but chose
Vegas due to its increase in crime rates. Now that she's entered the
throws of solving real crimes, she's about to find out that in
searching for the perpetrator of a crime, she could easily become his
next victim.

Without a Trace - Thursdays, 10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT:
James Marsters ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Angel") will guest star
in a five episode arc beginning with the season premiere on Thursday,
Sept. 27. He will play Grant Mars, a detective who helps Vivian
(Marianne Jean-Baptiste) with an unsolved case.

PADDINGTON BEAR
Variety reports that Warner Brothers is teaming with Harry Potter
producer David Heyman to bring the British kids classic book series
PADDINGTON BEAR to the big screen, with Hamish McColl (Mr. Bean's
Holiday) writing the screenplay. Heyman had this to say about the
project..
"Paddington Bear is a universally loved character, and I have wanted
to bring him to screen for some years. Michael Bond's 'Paddington'
books have such wit, wonder and charm. Essentially, Paddington's story
is that of an immigrant arriving in London and trying to find a home
and a family. Above all, I love Paddington's unique style of comedy."

THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Elias Koteas, Martin Donovan and
Kyle Gallner are joining Virginia Madsen in the horror film THE
HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT for Gold Circle Films and Lionsgate. Madsen
stars in the film, described as an Exorcist-like take on a family's
experience with supernatural forces after settling into a new home.
Gallner will play Madsen's cancer-ridden son, Matt, who becomes aware
of the paranormal activity present around him. Koteas will play a
priest and fellow cancer patient that Sara Campbell (Madsen) turns to
for help. Donovan will play Madsen's husband. The film, directed by
Peter Cornwell and written by Adam Simon and Tim Metcalfe, began
shooting this week in Winnipeg, Canada.

GONE BABY, GONE
Ben Affleck's directorial debut has been delayed indefinitely because
of the Madeleine McCann case in the UK. GONE BABY, GONE, tells of a
four-year old girl's kidnapping and the effect it has on two
detectives trying to find her. Affleck agrees with the move, saying "
It is only when someone said there was this case that was very similar
to my film that we looked it up. We don't want to release the movie if
it is going to touch a nerve or inflame anybody's sensitivities."
Buena Vista have pulled the film from its December 28th release date
indefinitely.

BIONIC WOMAN
Michelle Ryan, who plays Jaime Sommers in NBC's upcoming BIONIC WOMAN,
said during a recent interview that she chose not to do research about
people with artificial limbs or to speak with anyone who'd survived a
catostrophic accident before starting work on the show. Ryan plays a
young woman who has her legs, an arm, an ear and an eye replaced with
superpowered bionics after an accident. "I feel like, with Jaime, I
sort of feel like each stage Jaime learns something new, I do." "So I
specifically sort of have not done that [research], because I feel
like Jaime is ... trying to deal with her sister, [Lucy Hale, and]
she's trying to deal with a boyfriend [Chris Bowers] that wasn't
entirely honest with her. She's learning as she goes along. So I feel
like each new step, that's when I'll sort of sit down and work out
when Jaime deals with something new for the first time." Though Ryan
chose not to research her character's background, she added that she
is aware that science and technology are catching up with the show's
SF elements. "I'm hearing about a man who has a bionic hand and how it
moves as our hands do, and these two bionics guys talking about having
bionic hearing," she said. "We read in the media all the time [that]
something that seemed impossible 30 years ago is now actually not that
impossible. So as we go along, I'm learning more all the time." BIONIC
WOMAN premieres Sept. 26 and will air Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

SCORPION
The success of the Bourne franchise has everyone looking around for
new properties. CastleBright Studios has picked up a collection of spy
novels by acclaimed author Andrew Kaplan. "Scorpion," "Dragon Fire"
and "Hour of the Assassins" topped bookshelves in the '80s and '90s
with their surprise twists and brimming action. These spy thrillers
will be dusted off and spun into action. Toppers Jay Douglas and Nav
Gupta will produce with their vee pee, Justin Kaplan, who put them in
touch with the reclusive novelist through mutual friend Brian Garfield
– author of "Death Wish" and the Kevin Bacon starrer Death Sentence –
who hailed the novels as some of the top spy novels ever written. Set
apart from the others, Hour of the Assassins will see a stylized
makeover with a skewed reality in the same vein as Sin City, and tells
the story of a sympathetic assassin who becomes the hunted when the
world's most powerful regimes allow their top killers one synchronized
hour to settle any last scores. Douglas and Gupta will also script the
adaptation along with comic book scribe Heather Kenealy. Whereas
SCORPION, arguably the most popular of the Kaplan's books, will stay
truer to the novel, and centers on a loner agent of the same codename
whose cynical sense of humor is outshined only by his stealthy
talents. After being sent into the volatile Middle East to rescue a
congressmen's daughter sold into slavery, he discovers interweaving
mysteries, high-voltage adventure and nothing is what it seems. With
"Dragon Fire" serving as sequel material, a search is on for a writer
to adapt. CastleBright is currently developing the video game-based
adventure Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars and is in
preproduction on the sci-fi/actioner Level Seven.

DALI & I: THE SURREAL STORY
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Cillian Murphy has joined the
cast of the upcoming biopic DALI & I: THE SURREAL STORY. Al Pacino
will also be starring in this Room 9 Entertainment produced drama.
Andrew Niccol is directing the tale, which focuses on Dali's life from
the '60s to the '80s. Most of his great work was behind him, and
because of that, he became even more flamboyant in his lifestyle.
Pacino will be playing Dali, who develops a mentor-protege
relationship with the young artist Stan Lauryssens (Murphy).

I guess that is about it for now. I hope you all have an enjoyable
weekend.

Be safe,
Sandy

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