Sci-Fi Saturday: Superman, Spider-man, Wonderland, Lost, V, Doctor Who, Sarah Connor + more

Is there other news in the world of sci-fi…well yes. In movies there’s Richard Donner weighing in on Superman’s future, Raimi talking more Spider-man, and more. Plus lots of TV news including Sarah Connor being saved, a ton of Doctor Whos, a Lost movie and more. And tons of images from Transformers to Torchwood and more.  

MOVIE NEWS

Donner Would Like To See Action Comics Writer Take Charge of Superman
"Superman: The Movie" director Richard Donner told the LA Times blog Hero Complex that he would like to see "Action Comics" writer Geoff Jones put in charge of the next "Superman" project:

I’d like to see Geoff Johns take a crack at Superman…I think he would be startling. Did you read his comics? There it is. It’s there on paper… The studio hasn’t gone to him and said, ‘Give us a screenplay.’ That would be the smart thing to do, but that’s show biz. Right? Show biz, that’s our life.

Raimi Expresses Interest in Spider-Man 4/5
Although he doesn’t seem to be too aware of the current decision making over at Sony in regards to "Spider-Man 4"–and by extension the possible sequel "Spider-Man 5"–Sam Raimi talked a bit about the movie(s) and even touched on whether Kirsten Dunst (Mary Jane) would appear:

“Kirsten, I’d love to work with her again,” Raimi explained to MTV Splash Page, making it sound as if current plans to include Dunst for “Spider-Man 4” and “Spider-Man 5” are still up in the air, despite recent statements that she wants to remain with the franchise. “I hope she’ll be written into it. I couldn’t imagine making one without her, and I think she’s an important part of the movies.”

Raimi also lent credence to the rumors behind filming back-to-back "Spider-Man" films:

“That had been talked about,” he said, deferring to the head of his studio. “It’s Amy Pascal’s decision. I don’t think it has been decided yet, and she’s the one that’s really going to make that decision; I’m really curious myself.”

And finally, Raimi teased about the possibility of a Dylan Baker storyline: “He’s a great actor, and I think one day The Lizard’s story will be told,” he teased, referring to Baker’s Curt Connors character. “I don’t know if it will be this one or not. I just don’t know. I’m definitely hoping to work with Dylan in the picture. I just don’t know who the villain is yet.”

Burton Talks Alice in Wonderland
In a phone interview with the LA Times, director Tim Burton spoke about his upcoming 3D adaptation of "Alice in Wonderland" (March 5, 2010):

"It’s a funny project. The story is obviously a classic with iconic images and ideas and thoughts. But with all the movie versions, well, I’ve just never seen one that really had any impact to me. It’s always just a series of weird events. Every character is strange and she’s just kind of wandering through all of the encounters as just a sort of observer. The goal is to try to make it an engaging movie where you get some of the psychology and kind of bring a freshness but also keep the classic nature of ‘Alice.’ And, you know, getting to do it in 3-D fits the material quite well. So I’m excited about making it a new version but also have the elements that people expect when they think of the material."

To read more, including Burton’s thoughts on other projects, click here.

NEW IMAGES

Alice in Wonderland (more here)

The Day the Earth Stood Still

Kick-Ass (more here)

Saw V (more here)

Street Fighter: The Movie

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (more here)

NEW VIDEOS

The Incredible Hulk (Deleted Scene)

Push [HD Version]

Franklyn

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

MOVIE BITES

• It looks like Brett Ratner will indeed be directing Lionsgates’ $100M "Conan" project.  One good thing to report though:  It won’t be a remake.  They’ll be starting over from the original stories. [AICN]
• Kevin Smith is developing a $45-50M futuristic outer space comedy.  The Weinstein Company, whom Smith has worked with in the past, has shown interest in the film after reading part of the script.  Untitled, the film will "reference other sci-fi movies and revolves around a father-son relationship…" [THR]
• The Jason Marks-scripted "Grayskull: The Masters of the Universe" project, which Latino Review found very impressive, has fallen on bad times and is likely dead. [Latino Review]
• The folks behind the "World of Warcraft" game say plans for a film project are still a go and that "the script is being written". [MovieHole]
• Warner Bros. has hired Brad Ingelsby to pen a script for their adaptation of the Wildstorm comic book "Sleeper".  Producer Sam Raimi is still attached and Tom Cruise is still being looked at to star. [Variety]
• Edgar Wright, best friends with "Star Trek" star Simon Pegg, seems to suggest that he’s seen the film: "I am a lucky bastard…," he writes on his My Space page.  Adding : "I can’t say much more than that, except that it delivers all the goods sorely lacking from a certain trio of prequels". [Edgar Wright]
• "Pirates of the Caribbean" screenwriter Terry Rossio addressed, and laughed off, recent rumors about the fourth ‘Pirates’ film, including the $50M+ payday for Depp and Tim Burton as director. [Wordplay]
• Marvel Studios has hired Don Cheadle to replace Terrence Howard—who played Jim Rhodes in "Iron Man"– in  "Iron Man 2". Marvel declined comment, but sources say negotiations with Howard fell through over financial differences, among other reasons. [THR]
• Fox 2000 has acquired the film rights to Joe Halldeman’s 1974 novel "The Forever War" and Ridley Scott is looking to direct.  Scott says he has pursued the property for 25 years and that "the book has only grown more timely and relevant since,” Scott said. “It’s a science-fiction epic, a bit of ‘The Odyssey’ by way of ‘Blade Runner,’ built upon a brilliant, disorienting premise.” [Variety]
• J.J. Abrams has purchased the rights to "Let the Right One In", a story about a bullied 12-year-old boy who finds a friend in a teen vampire girl. Director Tomas Alfredson is not involved in the project, which was a hit in his native Sweden. [SCI FI Wire]
• The folks at io9 have read and reviewed a June 9, 2008 dated script of "Green Lantern".  The script was written by "Eli Stone" creators Greg Berlanti, Michael Green and Marc Guggenheim.  The site gave it a grade of B-.  Read their thoughts here.
• "Watchmen" was previewed Thursday night in Portland, Oregon and you can read some reports from the screening over at IMDb.
• James Cameron spoke with the host of the Canadian TV show "The Hour" about his upcoming Sci-Fi movie "Avatar".  Watch the interview below.

TV NEWS

Fox Gives Full-Season Order to Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Despite low ratings, Fox has surprisingly picked up "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" for a full season.  The network ordered the back nine episodes of the freshman drama.  Earlier in the week, Fox had signaled their desire to continue on with the show by ordering two more scripts.  They are also likely hoping for stronger ratings next year when the show returns for its final half.  The order brings the show to 22 episodes for the season.

Battlestar Galactica Returns on January 16th
The SCI FI Channel has announced that "Battlestar Galactica" will return on January 16, 2009 at 10pm ET/PT.  The remaining 10 episodes of the fourth, and final, season will culminate with the series finale on March 20th.  Meanwhile, there’s still no update on the prequel "Caprica" which will air as a 2-hour TV movie on the network.  And finally, UGO has details for the show’s upcoming fourth season DVD set.  Read them here.

A Lost Movie?
"Lost" co-creator and executive producer J.J. Abrams tells MTV that while a movie is doubtful, he’s less against the idea now than he was in the past.  That mainly has to do with the fact that there is now a firm end-point for the show (May 2010):

“The one thing that makes you think maybe there could be [a movie],” stated Abrams, “is that ABC agreed to end the series after six years. Which is a gift, because you know you won’t have years seven and eight where you’re thinking ‘they should’ve ended at year six,’ and you know how to pace yourself so that you know how to end the series.”

“The only reason why I think maybe there would be a movie,” he explained, “is that by doing that — which is hopefully the right way to go and that’s it — you do have that sense of, well, it didn’t go on any longer and therefore is there something else that you could do? So there’s a chance, but my gut is it would never happen.”

Click here to watch the entire interview with Abrams.

Johnson Voices His Displeasure in ABC Announcement of New V Series
Kenneth Johnson, creator-writer-director of the original "V" series, is not happy about ABC going forward with a new series without his blessing.  Here is what he wrote–or more likely what his webmaster wrote on his behalf given the use of 3rd person–at his website:

When projects that bore Kenny’s original creative stamp and control have been taken on by other people, audiences have seen the results: earlier attempts at reviving V, as well as The Incredible Hulk movies and the recently reimagined Bionic Woman all proved to be serious misfires which unfortunately failed with the critics and with the public. Though ABC is again considering the possibility of developing a TV pilot project, it is a script development deal only and does not in any way affect Kenny’s ongoing efforts to remake his original classic as a major motion picture.

New Doctor in 2011 for Doctor Who? + All Seven Doctors To Appear in Special
Current Doctor David Tennant will remain with the show until 2011, however, when the sixth season of "Doctor Who" kicks off in 2011, Comic Book Resources is reporting that there will be a new actor cast in the role:

The sixth series of “Doctor Who” (2011) will star Paterson Joseph as The Doctor.

Previously playing Roderick in the “Doctor Who” episodes “Bad Wolf”/”Parting Of Ways,” Joseph is known for fine upstanding and terribly-well-spoken-dontcha-know roles as Johnson in “Peep Show,” the Marquis De Carabas in “Neverwhere,” Space Marshall Clarke in “Hyperdrive,” Lyndon in “Green Wing”…

…and more importantly Benjamin in “Jekyll.” Written and produced by upcoming “Doctor” Who showrunner, Steven Moffat.

In other "Doctor Who" news, it’s being reported by various sources that this year’s "Children in Need" special will feature all seven actors who have played the role of the doctor.  Also, Prince Charles may make an appearance.

New Fringe Interviews
J.J. Abrams took part in a webchat with readers of the British newspaper the Guardian and discussed various projects, including the Fox TV series "Fringe".  Here are the highlights of what he had to say:

We have a big picture which we are working to. We have a six chapter idea. That inevitably changes along the way. You make discoveries which you can’t anticipate… We are still finding our rhythm. If you look back at the early episodes of your favourite shows you will find they are a little bit to the left of what the show ultimately became. I feel we are still arriving. The fourth episode, "The Arrival," is closer to what the show will be… [E]pisode 4 begins it, the over-arcing mystery of the show. The goal is to do both – to tune in and enjoy without knowing anything that comes before it but also if you watch every week you will see things you understand and that are connected to the larger picture.

Check out the rest of what he had to say in the webchat here, where he talks about "Star Trek", "Lost" a possible "Cloverfield" sequel and more. You can also check out an interview conducted by io9 with Blair Brown, who plays Nina Sharp–face of the corporation Massive Dynamic–on the show at this link.

TV IMAGES

Chuck

Eleventh Hour (more here and here)

Sanctuary (more here)

Smallville (more here)

Stargate Atlantis (more here)

Torchwood (more here)

TV VIDEOS

Eleventh Hour (another here)

Heroes

Sanctuary

Smallville (more here)

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

TV BITES

• NBC has ordered four more scripts of its SF-ish series "Knight Rider".  That despite only a so-so performance–averaging 7.3 million viewers and a 2.4 rating among adults 18-49–it has fared strong with young men 18-49 (drawing a 2.7 rating in that demo). [Variety]
• Meanwhile ABC has picked up an additional four scripts of "Eli Stone". [Variety]
• The first episode of a new animated "Witchblade" series is now available to download on iTunes.  The episode will be available for free on the service until October 26th.  The new show goes into the future to tell the tale of a new bearer of the Witchblade and the conspiracy that surrounds her burden. [SCI FI Wire]
• NBC is developing a new take on "Jason and the Argonauts". The series, the network’s second stab at the property after a 2000 miniseries of the same name, would be produced as the first-ever green-screen drama developed for a primetime broadcast network. [Variety]
• Rob Tapert, former producer of the syndicated Sci-Fi drama "Xena: Warrior Princess", says that pretty much everyone involved in the show would love to see a reunion of some sort, even suggesting that he had an idea in mind, but that matters are out of his hands. [SCI FI Wire]

MISC IMAGES

Iron Man (statue from Sideshow Collectibles)

Ghostbusters (Comic Mini-Series–more images here)

Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe

Transformers (Concept Art)

MISC BITES

• After mysteriously being dropping by Activision/Blizzard a few months back, the "Ghostbusters" video game has found a new distributor in Atari.  The game isn’t expected to be released until sometime in 2009. [/Gamer]
• The first story from John Scalzi’s new audio book anthology "Metropolis" is now online and available to listen to for free.  The story is written by Jay Lake and read by Michael Hogan (Saul Tigh of "Battlestar Galatica"). [io9]

SCI-FI RATINGS

9/22/2008 to
9/28/2008 – Source: Nielsen Galaxy Report via SCI FI Wire

9/22/2008 to
9/28/2008 – Source: Nielsen Galaxy Report via SCI FI Wire

9/22/2008 to
9/28/2008 – Source: Nielsen Galaxy Report via SCI FI Wire