Sci-Fi Saturday: Terminator, Transformers, Spider-man, Silver Surfer, Dead Zone, Fringe + more June 21, 2008
by Rosario T. Calabria , Filed under: Sci-Fi , trackback
This is kind of a slow week in sci-fi news, but there is some intriguing new info on a teaser for Terminator 4 and rewrites for Transformers 2. Plus Spider-man 4 takes another step towards reality while Silver Surfer takes a step back. We also have new previews and images and TV viral news from JJ Abrams Fringe and more.
MOVIES NEWS
Terminator teaser with The Dark Knight + description leaked
AICN has confirmed that the teaser trailer for "Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins" will be attached to "The Dark Knight" next month. Turns out it won’t be just a generic title sequence, but will show actual footage. Here’s a small bit of the teaser, click here to read the complete description:
Massive drums blare the beginning of the theme (again) but this time much louder, more pumped up, as we get a metallic silver T that morphs into a 4.
We then get the big money shot of the trailer. Its Bale on a motorcycle with some girl on the back.
They speed through a door of what looks like a warehouse toward us. As soon as they
pass the screen, a huge terminator on wheels, a lot like the one they battle in the
first one, smashes through the wall, chasing them. It looks awesome.
Meanwhile, rapper-turned-actor Common told SCI FI Wire that he’s about to begin shooting his role in the film: "I play Barnes, who’s part of the resistance. I’m a freedom fighter alongside John Connor [Christian Bale]. And I’m just about to start filming it soon." ‘Terminator Salvation’ hits theaters on May 22, 2009.
Orci and Kurtzman cramming during Transformers 2 shoot
Paramount was determined to get Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen into theaters July 2009 and a little thing like a writers strike wasn’t going to stop them. So even though Star Trek and Transformers scribes Bob Orci and Alex Kurtzman whipped out a script while in ‘Michael Bay Jail’ in the spring, apparently they are still making tweaks. Megan Fox tells MTV:
You know, we’ve been having script meetings, and we’ve been reworking the script, because they wrote it fast because of the writer’s strike. And, we’ve just been going through and trying to do some character stuff for Shia and myself in the middle of this crazy world that they’re in.
Fox also said they were shooting in "some really exotic places" and the film was going to be "badass." Fox also reveals the kind of deep character motivating direction she has received from director Michael Bay: "His main note to me is just to look hot."
Um, Mr. Bay, don’t think you need to worry about Megan looking hot
Spider-Man 4 scheduled for 2011
Spider-Man producer, Laura Ziskin told theater owners on Thursday (LATimes) that the fourth installment in the franchise has been tentatively scheduled for release in May 2011. She also confirmed that screenwriter James Vanderbilt has not yet turned in a final screenplay, but Sony is confident they’ll be ready for release by 2011.
JMS Talks Silver Surfer
J. Michael Straczynski spoke to AMC’s Sci-Fi Scanner about his "Silver Surfer" script:
"Silver Surfer would have taken place minutes after Fantastic Four 2 ended, and his surfboard raced back to his open arms. "You find out why Silver Surfer was there and what happened to him. We would have seen Galactus, his home world, what happened and him trying to get back there, because now that he’s betrayed Galactus, he’s concerned his home world might be in jeopardy."
JMS also revealed that the film’s future, unfortunately, is very much in doubt:
Whether or not it ever gets made, I don’t know, because they were kind of disappointed in how Fantastic Four 2 did. And given how this will be a subset of FF2 in terms of the marketing strategy, I think there is hesitation there about putting it forward. The script is pretty good, I like it, but whether or not it goes into production, I have no idea."
NEW IMAGES
Dragonball
Moon
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
The Spirit (click here to hear the ladies talk to you)
NEW VIDEOS
WALL•E
The Dark Knight
(Tease of Aaron Eckhart as Two-Face) [HD Version]
(TV Spot #5)
MOVIE BITES
- A brand new story written by J.K. Rowling featuring the characters of "Harry Potter" is being adapted into a mini-movie which will be shown at Universal Studio’s The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (expected to open in early 2010) in Orlando, Florida. All the regular cast, including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, will be involved. [Sunday Mirror]
- A sci-fi short film that is connected to WALL•E, titled BURN•E will accompany the upcoming DVD/Blu-ray release of the film. [UpcomingPixar]
- The Vatican has banned the crew of "Angels & Demons" from shooting in several Rome churches. [Variety]
- The first online review of "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" is quite positive. Read it here. [AICN]
- Spike Lee will co-write and direct a film adaptation of Ronald Mallett’s "Time Traveler: A Scientist’s Personal Mission to Make Time Travel a Reality". [Variety]
- Hulk as the bad guy in "The Avengers"? FirstShowing ponders the possibility.
- "Conan the Barbarian" writers Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer have just started a "contractually obligated" rewrite of the film’s script. [IGN]
- Len Wisemen has been tapped to direct the video game to film adaptation "Gears of War". [THR]
- Lexi Alexander, director of "Punisher: War Zone" gave her thoughts on the recently released trailer at her blog.
- Marvel & Paramount’s "Iron Man" became the first film of 2008 to reach the $300 million mark in domestic ticket sales. The film reached the mark on June 18th, its 48th day of release. "Spider-Man 3" was the first film in 2007 to hit $300 million, accomplishing the feat in just 24 days, en route to a 2007 best gross of $336.5 million.
- Lou Ferrigno chatted with USA Today about his role in the new "Incredible Hulk" movie and reflected on his role as the Hulk in the original TV series.
- MTV is asking its readers to submit questions for their interview with "The Hobbit" director Guillermo Del Toro. [MTV Movies Blog]
CASTING BITES
- Nicolas Cage, Bill Nighy, Nathan Lane and Eugene Levy have all been added to the cast of Imagi Studios and Summit Entertainment’s "Astro Boy". [Cinematical]
- Matt Davis and James Lafferty have signed onto the Donnie Darko sequel "S. Darko". [Variety]
- James McAvoy once again shot down rumors that he’s been approached to star as Bilbo Baggins in "The Hobbit". McAvoy did reveal who he’s like to see play the character though: Ian Holm. [MTV Movies Blog]
TV NEWS
About that Battlestar Galactica midseason finale
So how about that BSG cliffhanger huh? Overall I enjoyed the episode, but am slightly concerned about the season’s upcoming second half. I mean, where do they go from here? Part of me wishes the show would have closed out with that space shot of the fleet overlooking Earth (or maybe it’s not Earth, I suppose we don’t have a clear answer on that yet either). In terms of ratings, the episode drew a 1.4 coverage household rating, or 1.8 million viewers and 1.2 million A18-49. If you’re interested in an insiders take on the episode, writer Jane Espenson shared her personal thoughts on the episode with TV Squad. Read it here.
Anthony Michael Hall open to The Dead Zone Movie
Anthony Michael Hall, who played psychic Johnny Smith on USA Network’s "The Dead Zone", told SCI FI Wire that there is now talk about doing a movie, and though he’s not optimistic about its chances, is open to being in it:
"There’s talk about it. I don’t think we had the size of a cult following that, let’s say, ‘The X-Files’ did. You look at ‘Sex and the City’ or ‘The X-Files’, these movies were done long after the shows pumped out their last episodes."
Regardless if a film gets made, Hall said that he remains grateful for his chance to be on the show. "I would certainly be open to the potential for [a reunion feature]," he said. "I would never turn my back on what [the show's late producer] Michael Piller did for me. He gave me this incredible opportunity. When I look back at [my] career, I view him and John Hughes as almost guardian angels of my career."
"Fringe" viral marketing
Viral marketing for a J.J. Abrams project? Should we really be all that surprised? According to this report, if you perform a certain series of clicks on Fox’s "Fringe" website, you’ll be brought to a video of a twelve-fingered man (six on each hand–watch it below). The YouTube channel hosting the video is the website PortalToIndia. Here are the details:
- Alleged creator: Stuart Sims
- To access: Hover mouse over image until it turns into a six-fingered hand, then click
- Namaste: Frequently heard phrase on Lost
- Has denied any connection to Fringe
- Site registry via Concentric’s Private Domain Registration service
TV BITES
- One of the Pontiac Trans Am’s used in the original "Knight Rider" TV series sold on eBay for $53,000. [The Bad and Ugly]
- Sam Witwer and Cassidy Freeman have joined the cast as villains in the eighth season of The CW’s "Smallville". Click here to read what characters the two actors will play. [SCI FI Wire]
- Ever Carradine has joined the cast of "Eureka". Lexi will play the free-spirited sister of Sheriff Carter and appear in four to eight episodes in the upcoming third season, which debuts on the SCI FI Channel July 29th. [THR]
- Janel Moloney and Patrick Breen have been tapped to co-star alongside 13-year-old lead actress Jodelle Ferland in ABC’s fantasy pilot "Captain Cook’s Extraordinary Atlas". [THR]
- AMC is developing a drama about a mysterious magician titled "Carter Beats the Devil", as part of its new slate of drama projects. [Variety]
- Paul Campbell, who played presidential aide Billy on "Battlestar Galactica", is headed to NBC’s new "Knight Rider" series. Campbell will play the head research tech. [THR]
- DC Comics will be releasing a prequel comic to J.J. Abrams’s fall Fox series "Fringe". [USA Today]
- The NY Times has written up an extensive piece on "Doctor Who 2005" creator and writer Russell T. Davies. Check it out here.
- William Katt, who played the lead role in the ’80s TV show "Greatest American Hero" will be making a guest appearance on NBC’s "Heroes". Katt, who filmed his spot last week, says he plays "a really, really wonderful, seedy, swarmy-mouthed reporter that goes after Ali Larter." [Newsarama]
- Wednesday night’s midseason finale of "Ghost Hunters" drew a 1.8 household rating and over 2.5 million viewers. It was the the #1 cable program for the day in Adults 25-54. The show is currently enjoying its best season to date in ratings, averaging a 1.8 HH rating, and 2.6 million total viewers.
-
Heroes (set photo–info here)
SCI-FI RATINGS
| Top 10 SF&F Broadcast Shows | HH Rating/Share |
| 1) Lost |
7.3/12 |
| 2) Lost (R) |
4.5/8 |
| 3) Ghost Whisperer (R) | 3.9/8 |
| 4) Smallville (R) | 1.2/2 |
| 5) Reaper (R) | 1.1/2 |
| 6) Supernatural (R) | 1.0/2 |
5/26/2008 to
6/01/2008 – Source: Nielsen Media Research
| Top 10 SF&F Syndicated Shows | Rating |
| 1) Stargate SG-1 |
0.9 |
| 2) Star Trek |
0.9 |
| 3) Dead Zone |
0.7 |
| 4) Stargate Atlantis |
0.6 |
5/26/2008 to
6/01/2008 – Source: Nielsen Galaxy Report via SCI FI Wire
| Top 10 SCI FI CHANNEL Shows | Rating |
| 1) Ghost Hunters |
1.9 |
| 2) Heatstroke | 1.5 |
| 3) Battlestar Galactica |
1.3 |
| 4) Infected |
1.1 |
| 5) Star Trek: First Contact |
1.0 |
| 6) Doctor Who |
1.0 |
| 7) ECW |
1.0 |
| 8) Alone in the Dark |
1.0 |
| 9) The Arrival |
1.0 |
| 10) Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy |
1.0 |
5/26/2008 to
6/01/2008 – Source: Nielsen Galaxy Report via SCI FI Wire
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Comments»
It’s a shame about Heath Ledger. He would’ve made a terrific long-term Joker.
Really looking forward to T4. Christian Bale will be great as John Connor.
Will Leonard Nimoy sing “Bilbo Baggins” again for the “The Hobbit”.
maybe we might get a remix!
:0 )
I highly recommend “Eureka” to my Trekker friends when it returns in July. It’s smart, funny, clever episodic science fiction with sympathetic characters, and manages to do all this while being family friendly.
Scott B. out.
haven’t seen a new film since… well… since that terrrrible Transformy film a year agoo… wanted ta’ slap tha’ writers fur essentially a teenie film… and… uh, oh… Uhhhhh….
Well, it did have it’s charms… heard Mega-Tronnie scream oot… but ’twas silly… mayhaps tha’ intent… made a ton o’ cash I hear…
OK… so I’m oot of place here not all aghast at tha’ comin’ films herein… I’m sure I will get all a’twitter when’s thars a sneak peek fur Buckaroo Banzai 2: Electric Boogaloo.
waitin’ wit’ bated breathe fur In Bruges… oh, sorry- not a sci-fi… uhhhh… have I mentioned Thar Will Be Blood?
I better go…
Arrrrrr….
3. SirMartman – June 21, 2008
Will Leonard Nimoy sing “Bilbo Baggins” again for the “The Hobbit”.
That’d be nice but you gotta hear him sing his version of “Sunny” . The backup arrangement alone is worth the price of the album.
Bummer about the Silver Surfer movie.
On another front….. It’s sad to hear about Bill Bixby’s last years. That’s tragically sad. I always loved Bixby.
And on still another front….. I’m really anxious about the new Conan movie. It could be great.
#4 … Great shout out. I completely agree. I watched a few episodes when it first came out, but recently got caught up on SciFi. Excellent series.
I’m probably not the first to say it, but from what the advertising seems to imply, “Fringe” seems to be “CSI” meets “X Files.” I wonder if David Duchovny will eventually guest star.
Also, I’ve been following the Mars Phoenix mission, and with the truly spectacular news of its discovery of water ice, perhaps now would be a good time for SciFi to break out Mars-related movie programming. I would suggest “Total Recall” and “Red Planet,” just by way of example.
When is a Harry Potter 6 trailer coming out? I had figured that The Dark Knight would have been the perfect time to do it.
Isn’t it coming out at Thanksgiving?
schwing!!! SUPERhot!!!
star what? =P
They should still make the “Silver Surfer” movie(s)!!!
…hard for it not to get F’d up though… at Fox…
…the Fantastic Four movies had SOOO much potential…
This summer BELONGS to the Knight…7-18 can’t get here quick enuf.
Not worried about the Galactica midseason cliffhanger at all. my personal suspicion is that they might invert the whole Earth/Terra concept and, having reached Earth, might now have to look for Terra! Equally, as has been said before, Galactica often works as a critique on Star Trek: Voyager. And what did everyone complain about with Voyager? That they got home and we never saw a proper aftermath.
We’ve got 11 episodes to go along with Caprica and, perhaps, a couple of TV movies, so I’m psyched!
Terminator: Salvation is something I’ll give a chance, although I’m dubious! I saw the first Sarah Connor Chronicles, which I enjoyed and am looking forward to seeing more.
Don’t blame the Catholic Church for not allowing the Angels and Demons shoot. As it stands, an innocent offshoot of the church has been portrayed a sinister force for the expedience of the films. Even worse, people are actually daft enough to believe what they read in these silly, but fun books!
re. Michael Bay’s instructions to Megan Fox: it’s pretty much impossible for her not to be hot!!!
11
…the Fantastic Four movies had SOOO much potential…
Yes, they did.
“Fox also reveals the kind of deep character motivating direction she has received from director Michael Bay: “His main note to me is just to look hot.”
Certainly sounds like the kind of pep talk Michael Bay would give. To hell with motivation, screw the character — just look good! Basically what Bay is saying is, “I don’t care about your acting ability, just keep your mouth shut and show me that T&A! Annnd action!” Kind of disrespectful to the actor if you ask me… but then what do I know? I’m only an actor. :P
I hope Bob & Alex have given the characters some good development in the script, because we sure can’t count on Bay to help bring it out.
And once again not even a smidge of Trek movie news worth note- LAME!!!!
[Warner Bros. is denying][1] the Harry Potter ‘mini-movie’:
> J.K. Rowling continues to be very supportive and involved with the plans underway for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park at Universal’s Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida. Contrary to recent press reports, she has not written scripts for any films based on the Harry Potter ‘prequel’ (recently written and sold for charity) or otherwise, as part of the theme park or any other purpose.
[1]: http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2008/6/18/wb-denies-new-jkr-trio-movie-for-harry-potter-theme-park
Sorry, but I’ll have to agree with whatever suit is pulling the plug on future Fantastic Four movies…unless they fire the entire cast and start over, it just isn’t worth it. They were so bad they couldn’t even qualify for a decent MST3K episode.
Now The Dark Knight – THAT’S how you do it. I’ve seen some supposedly ‘leaked’ versions of Two-Face, and I suspect none of them will be as gruesome as the final product. Given the remarkable praise Ledger has received (especially from Michael Caine) I wonder if they’ll ever be able to replace him in future movies. At least the Rogues Gallery is full of plenty of interesting characters if they can’t.
T4 – eh, I’ve said it before but I won’t believe it ’till I see it. McG isn’t exactly James Cameron, is he? And choosing to retain the T3 continuity baffles me (given the universal disdain it seems to have received). I’ll see it, but take comfort in the fact that we have the SCC now.
Amazing that 700,000 more people watch Ghost Hunters than Battlestar Galactica.
I am looking foward to the time travel story of Ronald Mallet
I don’t know what people foound so bad about FF2. I loved it. I thought it was great. I was dissappointed when I heard there wouldn’t be another one. Am I alone on this?
I think the bSG mid season finale was great….exactly what should have happened with Voyager. They get “home” halfway through the last season and the last half is them dealing with coming back to society.
How does T4, which only began its shooting like yesterday, will already have a teaser trailer in a month?!
It’s simply not fair.
#23 subatoi — T4 has been filming since April
#19
“amaking that 700,000 more people watch Ghost Hunters than Battlestar Galactica”
I whole heartedly agree. It is amazing…and possibly quite disturbing!
#25
….I meant “amazing” of course…….
Lord Garth, the weekly scifi saturday article is about non-Trek news. Hence, the no Trek news
#24 I knew it was recently filmed. My point is that we will see “real” footage of T4 before Trek’s.
—> Not fair
:)
#13
“Even worse, people are actually daft enough to believe what they read in these silly, but fun books!”
You’re right about that! I mean, Jesus and Mary Magdelene…MARRIED? HELOOOOO! Talk about NOT!
I hear “Da Vinci’s” a great story, though.