At first, it looked like Nicole Kidman had signed on for the third big screen remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers - a tale about an epidemic of extraterrestrial origins invading the bodies of innocent people. Sounded like a remake to most. But now, Warner Bros is going all out to tell the press that this is an "original sci fi" idea. The trade papers have taken great pains to emphasize that while Warner’s initially commissioned David Kajganich's script, and that the project was intended as the latest in a long string of Body Snatchers remakes, somewhere along the line, it became something new and different. Now just simply called Invasion (with no relation to ABC’s new drama), it will be helmed by German director Oliver Hirschbiegel (Deadfall). Kidman will play a Washington DC based psychiatrist who uncovers a conspiracy when she discovers people are beginning to change, and some how she and her son hold the key to preventing an alien invasion. Jack Finney wrote the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers as a magazine serial and then turned it into a novel that legendary director Don Siegel made into the classic film in 1953. In that version, Siegel spun the story as an allegory of McCarthy-era fears of communism. The 1978 remake, directed by Phillip Kaufman, cooked up the tale as a commentary on pop psychology and New Age cults, while the mostly forgotten 1993 version (also produced by Warner Bros.) directed by Abel Ferrara worked in the themes of AIDS.
Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios appear to be trying to fix their schism after all. The two companies have had a contentious relationship of late -as Pixar was looking to make more money off their distribution deal with Disney. Their last film is currently scheduled to be the delayed Cars. The Mouse House surprised many when they announced they were going forward with a Toy Story 3 with or without Pixar. But insiders are now speculating that the two companies will come to some sort of deal to keep them both in the money. Pre-Production on the film has already began as Disney already has summer 2007 penciled in for its release. Here’s the story: After a major malfunction, Buzz Lightyear is recalled to a toy factory in Taiwan. Woody and the gang have to hightail it halfway around the world to save Buzz before he dissembled forever.
With the WB moving Smallville to a very competitive Thursday time slot, they seem to be aware of the uphill climb the show will have, so to help the ratings, the network will bring in guest stars sure to make long time fans happy. Already announced is former Buffy and Angel star James Marsters, who’ll have a recurring role as Brainac and Tom Wopat -John Schneider’s former co-star on The Dukes of Hazzard - will also guest star. Now, the WB will have Dean Cain guest star also. The former star of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, will appear sometime in November.
New Line Cinema has tapped up-and-coming British director Anand Tucker to helm the first installment of Philip Pullman’s fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials. Tucker is also the director of the upcoming fall film Shopgirl (though it was filmed in 2003), based on the novel by funny man Steve Martin. Chris Weitz, who adapted the book, was slated to direct but withdrew in December. For the past half year, more than four dozen filmmakers have been considered for the job with the studio finally locking in Tucker. With The Golden Compass, this will be New Lines boldest and biggest project since The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
The long shelved Westworld remake -which went into to turnaround when Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected governor of California - appears to be finally going forward. While the governator is not attached, Warner Bros. and producer Jerry Weintraub have signed The Cell director Tarsem Singh. No production date has been set, considering no screenplay or writer is yet attached.
New rumors coming out of Britain concerning the filming of Doctor Who’s second season indicate that Glasgow, Scotland born/Joliet, Illinois raised actor John Barrowman -who played the bisexual rogue Time Agent Captain Jack for the final 6 episodes of the first season, and who was scheduled to return later in series two - will not be returning at all, apparently. No word was given for this change, however, the openly gay actor has seen his stock go up since his appearance on the show and he is in demand -he’ll be seen in the musical remake of the Tony Award winning The Producers this Christmas. Also as mentioned last time, Anthony Stewart Head -Giles form Buffy the Vampire Slayer- had signed for a guest-star role in the upcoming season. Now it appears he may -just may -be the new Master, a rival Time Lord, who is the evil to the Doctor’s good.
Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios appear to be trying to fix their schism after all. The two companies have had a contentious relationship of late -as Pixar was looking to make more money off their distribution deal with Disney. Their last film is currently scheduled to be the delayed Cars. The Mouse House surprised many when they announced they were going forward with a Toy Story 3 with or without Pixar. But insiders are now speculating that the two companies will come to some sort of deal to keep them both in the money. Pre-Production on the film has already began as Disney already has summer 2007 penciled in for its release. Here’s the story: After a major malfunction, Buzz Lightyear is recalled to a toy factory in Taiwan. Woody and the gang have to hightail it halfway around the world to save Buzz before he dissembled forever.
With the WB moving Smallville to a very competitive Thursday time slot, they seem to be aware of the uphill climb the show will have, so to help the ratings, the network will bring in guest stars sure to make long time fans happy. Already announced is former Buffy and Angel star James Marsters, who’ll have a recurring role as Brainac and Tom Wopat -John Schneider’s former co-star on The Dukes of Hazzard - will also guest star. Now, the WB will have Dean Cain guest star also. The former star of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, will appear sometime in November.
New Line Cinema has tapped up-and-coming British director Anand Tucker to helm the first installment of Philip Pullman’s fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials. Tucker is also the director of the upcoming fall film Shopgirl (though it was filmed in 2003), based on the novel by funny man Steve Martin. Chris Weitz, who adapted the book, was slated to direct but withdrew in December. For the past half year, more than four dozen filmmakers have been considered for the job with the studio finally locking in Tucker. With The Golden Compass, this will be New Lines boldest and biggest project since The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
The long shelved Westworld remake -which went into to turnaround when Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected governor of California - appears to be finally going forward. While the governator is not attached, Warner Bros. and producer Jerry Weintraub have signed The Cell director Tarsem Singh. No production date has been set, considering no screenplay or writer is yet attached.
New rumors coming out of Britain concerning the filming of Doctor Who’s second season indicate that Glasgow, Scotland born/Joliet, Illinois raised actor John Barrowman -who played the bisexual rogue Time Agent Captain Jack for the final 6 episodes of the first season, and who was scheduled to return later in series two - will not be returning at all, apparently. No word was given for this change, however, the openly gay actor has seen his stock go up since his appearance on the show and he is in demand -he’ll be seen in the musical remake of the Tony Award winning The Producers this Christmas. Also as mentioned last time, Anthony Stewart Head -Giles form Buffy the Vampire Slayer- had signed for a guest-star role in the upcoming season. Now it appears he may -just may -be the new Master, a rival Time Lord, who is the evil to the Doctor’s good.
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