Weekly Entertainment & Movie News

[FH]

The Simpsons Cast Settles Salary Dispute
Source: COMING SOON!
A month after stalled contract renewal talks led the voices of The Simpsons to stop work, both the actors and Fox are getting more "D'oh!," reports the Associated Press. Terms of the 4-year deal were not announced.

"We couldn't be happier to have reached a multiyear deal with the enormously talented cast of 'The Simpsons,'" series producer 20th Century Fox Television said Friday.

Despite speculation the dispute would shorten the 2004-05 season, the studio said it was optimistic that all 22 planned episodes could be finished.

Each cast member was seeking about $360,000 an episode, or $8 million for the 22-episode, 2004-05 season. The actors were earning $125,000 an episode.

[FH]

Dave Chappelle to Tell His Family History
Source: COMING SOON!

Dave Chappelle, star of Comedy Central's hit Chappelle's Show, is in talks with New Line to develop the comedy Dave Chappelle's Family History of the World.

The project would see Chappelle play his family members at various points in history as he chronicles his family's fictitious involvement in momentous events, from biblical times to the present day, while also riffing on the black experience.

Chappelle also would write the script for the film.

[FH]

Director Perelman Leaves Spielberg's Talisman
Source: COMING SOON!
The Talisman, a fantasy film that Steven Spielberg has been developing for nearly 20 years, has lost its director, Vadim Perelman. He left the DreamWorks/Universal co-production by mutual consent after six months on the project, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The project centers on 12-year-old Jack Sawyer, who goes on a quest in the living world and a parallel world known as the Territories to acquire a talisman that will save the life of his dying mother and the queen of the Territories.

"Talisman" is based on the 1984 fantasy novel by Stephen King and Peter Straub, and spawned the sequel "Black House."

[FH]

The Thing 2 Still in the Works According to Ain't It Cool News

[FH]

Foursome Joins Reeves in A Scanner Darkly
Source: COMING SOON!

Winona Ryder, Robert Downey Jr., Woody Harrelson and Rory Cochran will join Keanu Reeves in A Scanner Darkly, the Warner Independent Pictures drama that Richard Linklater will direct from his scripted adaptation of the Philip K. Dick novel.

Variety says the actors will film the scenes as if this were a traditional live action undertaking, but then Linklater will turn the footage into animation, much as he did with Waking Life.

The story concerns an undercover drug officer (Reeves) in the future who becomes addicted and develops a split personality.

[FH]

Douglas Makes Directorial Debut on Amityville
Source: COMING SOON!
Music video and commercials helmer Andrew Douglas will make his feature directing debut on MGM and Dimension Films' remake of The Amityville Horror, reports Variety. The thriller is expected to begin production in July.

Based on the Jay Anson book, the original purported that the residents of a tree-lined home in a Long Island suburb were terrorized by a haunted house. The home had been inhabited previously by a disturbed young man who murdered his family.

Scott Kosar (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) wrote the script.

[FH]

Depp Wants Richards to Appear in Pirates Sequel
Johnny Depp reportedly wants Rolling Stones rocker Keith Richards to appear in the Pirates Of The Caribbean: Curse Of The Black Pearl sequel - as his father. The hunky star famously based his character Jack Sparrow on the aged rocker in the celebrated film, and wants to pay tribute to Richards by landing him a role in the follow-up. A source says, "Johnny was slightly embarrassed by all the praise for Pirates because he was really just being Keith. A good way of thanking Keith would be to get him to do a walk-on in the sequel."

[FH]

FX Picks Up The Shield for Season Four
Source: COMING SOON!
FX has picked The Shield for a fourth season, making the cop drama starring Michael Chiklis the first FX original series to go beyond three seasons, says The Hollywood Reporter.

The cable network has placed a 15-episode order for the Golden Globe-winning series, with the fourth season scheduled to launch in early 2005.

After a slow start in its season three premiere March 9, The Shield, from Fox TV Studios and Sony Pictures TV, has rebounded in the ratings. Season three of the show is scheduled to wrap June 15.

[FH]

Hellboy Special Edition DVD on July 27
Source: SUPERHERO HYPE!

Superhero Hype! has received word that Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment will release a two-disc Special Edition Hellboy DVD on July 27 for $27.95. No features have been announced yet, but stay tuned.

Also expect a three-disc Extended Edition later this year.

[FH]

Bana Hasn't Been Talked to About Hulk 2
Source: SUPERHERO HYPE!
Zap2it talked to Eric Bana, who denied rumors that he may be the next James Bond, and also said that he has yet to be contacted by Universal about The Hulk 2...

Bana, who says that he doesn't have definite plans on what he's doing next, although a few projects are in the works, also pleads ignorant to plans for a sequel to Ang Lee's "The Hulk," which made Universal approximately $242 million in world-wide box office receipts (not including DVD/VHS sales). In early April, producers Gale Anne Hurd and Avi Arad said they were working on a sequel to the film.

However, the project may be on the backburner given that Bana says they haven't talked to him to repirse the role, even though he is under contract to play Bruce Banner again if Universal does move forward with the project.

[FH]

Jackson Underwear Given to Investigators
Source: Launch

A man with a warehouse full of Michael Jackson memorabilia turned over a pair of underwear and other items to authorities investigating the pop star's child molestation case.

The briefs and several other items, including photos of Jackson posing with two boys, were seized several weeks ago by New Jersey prosecutors at the request of California authorities, the New York Post reported Sunday.

Henry V. Vaccaro Sr., who received the memorabilia in a bankruptcy settlement with the Jackson family, said he found white Calvin Klein briefs balled up in the bottom of a wardrobe containing several of the pop star's costumes.

Robert Honecker, a prosecutor in Monmouth County, confirmed that his office collected one pair of underwear and other evidence from Vaccaro's warehouse in Asbury Park on March 5 and returned to the warehouse later in the month with California investigators to collect more items. Honecker would not say why the items were sought.

A spokesman for the district attorney's office in Santa Barbara County, Calif., declined to comment, citing a gag order issued by the judge in the pop star's case.

Vaccaro said he was told that authorities plan to use the underwear for DNA comparison.

Vaccaro said officers who visited the warehouse found, among other things, two handwritten notes from Jackson and a lighthearted list of "rules," written by a youngster, for children staying at the singer's Neverland Ranch in Santa Maria, Calif.

Among the rules: Children had to watch two episodes of "The Three Stooges" a day, know the Peter Pan story by heart and to be "idiots and act crazy at all times."

Other items taken included a note in Jackson's handwriting urging his sister-in-law to read to her children a news article about child molestation. "It brings out how even your own relatives can be molesters of children," the note read, according to Vaccaro.

The memorabilia collection includes gold-trimmed costumes, financial documents, letters, awards and one of Jackson's first outfits worn with the Jackson 5.

[FH]

Just another reason to continue hating Courtney Love..

[FH]

New DVD Releases 5/4

Back to Bataan
Battleground
The Bernie Mac Show: Season One (4-disc set)
Bill T. Jones: Dancing to the Promised Land
Bloodhounds of Broadway
Calendar Girls
Chasing Liberty (widescreen)
Chasing Liberty (pan-and-scan)
A Day at the Races
Desk Set: Fox Studio Classics
Dirty Mind of Young Sally/Teenage Bride
Elephant
Fast Women: The Ladies of Auto Racing
Flying Leathernecks
Freshmen
Gilmore Girls: Season One (6-disc set)
Girl with a Pearl Earring
The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love
John Wayne: American Legend (2003)
The Last Samurai (widescreen)
The Last Samurai (pan-and-scan)
Law & Order: The Second Year (3-disc set)
Love! Valour! Compassion!
Loverboy
Ma Barker's Killer Brood/Gangbusters
The Marx Brothers Collection (5-disc set)
The Merchant of Venice
Miro: Constellations: The Color of Poetry
The Missing Gun (Xun qiang)
Monarch of the Glen: Series Two (2-disc set)
A Night at the Opera
A Night in Casablanca
The Osbournes: The 2 1/2 Season (2-disc set)
Party of Five: Season One (5-disc set)
Peter Pan (widescreen)
Peter Pan (pan-and-scan)
Samurai Jack: Season One
The Samurai Trilogy: The Criterion Collection (3-disc set)
Three of Hearts
Three's Company: Season Two
The Triplets of Belleville
Torch Song Trilogy

[FH]

New Comic-Book Releases 5/5

PUBLISHER
TITLE, ISSUE NUMBER, PRICE IN U.S. DOLLARS

ABSTRACT STUDIOS
Strangers In Paradise Vol III #65, $2.95

ACTOR
Actor Marvel Millenium Milestone Moments Litho, $24.99

AIRWAVE COMICS
Mr Beats FBI Files 5 Comic Set, $9.00

AIT/PLANETLAR
Scurvy Dogs #4, $2.95

AMAZE INK (SLAVE LABOR GRAPHICS)
Bear Team Looshkin Babydoll T/S LG, AR
Bear Team Looshkin Babydoll T/S MED, AR
Bear Team Looshkin Babydoll T/S SM, AR
Bear Team Looshkin T/S LG, AR
Bear Team Looshkin T/S MED, AR
Bear Team Looshkin T/S XL, AR
Bear Team Looshkin T/S XXL, AR
Pirate Club #2, $2.95
Slave Labor Peepshow Vol 3 #5, AR

ANTARCTIC PRESS
Dragon Arms Chaos Blade #3 (Of 6), $2.99
Gold Digger #52, $2.99
Heaven Sent #3, $2.99
Ninja High School #116, $2.99
Shoujo Pkt Manga Vol 1 TPB, $9.99
Twilight X Storm #7, $2.99

ARCANA STUDIO
Ant #2, $2.95
Kade Pursuit #2, $2.95

ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS
Archie And Friends #82, $2.19
Archie Digest #207, $2.39
Sabrina Vol 2 #57, $2.19

ASPEN MTL INC
3 Poster Signed Set Featuring Aspen Kiani & Grace, $59.99

AVATAR PRESS
Stargate SG1 Pow #3 (Of 3), $3.50
Stargate SG1 Pow Photo Cvr #3 (Of 3), $3.50
Stargate SG1 Pow Platinum Foil Incentive #3, AR
Stargate SG1 Pow Wraparound Cvr #3 (Of 3), $3.50

BASEMENT COMICS / AMRYL ENTERTAINMENT
Cavewoman Vampire Meriem Print, AR

BUD PLANT
Bernard Of Hollywood Pin-Ups 3 Book Set (AA), AR
Cadillacs & Dinosaurs Time In Overdrive Vol 3 SC (AA), AR
Crow Dead Time Collection (AA), AR
Crow Flesh & Blood Collection (AA), AR
Illustration Art Auction Set 2, AR
Illustration Collector Set 2, AR
Legend Of Sleepy Hollow, AR
Mr Monster His Books Of Forbidden Knowledge Vol 1, AR
Profili Paul Murry, AR
Soft As Steel Art Of Julie Bell TPB (AA), AR

CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED JR. PUBLICATIONS
Classics Illus Jr #563 Wishing Well (resolicited), $3.99

CLAYPOOL COMICS
Soulsearchers #65, $2.50

COMICSONE.COM
Bride Of Deimos 7 Vol GN Set, $55.00
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon Vol 1-4 GN Set (AA), $49.00
Onegai Twins Vol 1 Novel, $7.95

COMMITTED COMICS
Neo Dawn #1 (Of 3), $2.95

CPM MANGA
Duck Prince Book 1 GN Transformation, $9.99
Geobreeders Book 1 GN New Ptg, $9.99

CROSSGEN ENTERTAINMENT
Brath #14, $2.95
Negation War #2, $2.95

CRUSADE ENTERTAINMENT
Shi Melancholia S/N Litho, $32.99

DARK HORSE COMICS
3X3 Eyes Vol 8 Descent Of The Mystic City TPB, $18.95
BPRD A Plague Of Frogs #3, $2.99
Chronicles Of Conan Vol 4 Red Nails & Other Stories TPB 2, $15.95
Dark Horse New Logo Coffee Mug, $9.99
Goon Vol 2 My Murderous Childhood TPB, $13.95
Grendel The Devil Inside TPB, $12.95
Iron Empires Vol 2 Shevas War TPB, $17.95
Michael Chabon Presents Adventures O/T Escapist Vol 1 TPB, $17.95
Oh My Goddess #108, $2.99
Olivia Bettie Page Coaster Set, $12.99
Ragnar Pulp Coaster Set, $12.99
Spyboy Final Exam #1 (Of 4), $2.99
Van Helsing One Shot, $2.99

DC COMICS
DC 100 Page Super Spectacular Worlds Greatest Super Heros, $6.95
Detective Comics #794, $2.95
Enginehead #2 (Of 8), $2.50
Filth TPB, $19.95
Firestorm #1, $2.50
Hard Time #4, $2.50
Jim Lee Batman #619 Heros Poster, $24.95
Jim Lee Batman #619 Villains Poster, $24.95
Justice League Adventures #31, $2.25
Looney Tunes #114, $2.25
Plastic Man #6, $2.95
Robotech Invasion #5 (Of 5), $2.95
Sandman Presents Thesaly Witch For Hire #4 (Of 4), $2.95
Superman Birthright #10 (Of 12), $2.95
Swamp Thing #3, $2.95
Teen Titans Starfire Maquette, $89.95
Thunder Agents Archives Vol 4 HC, $49.95
Tom Strong #26, $2.95
Y The Last Man #22, $2.95

DEL REY
Gundam Seed GN, $10.95
Negima Vol 1 GN, $10.95
Tsubasa GN, $10.95
Xxxholic Vol 1 GN, $10.95

DEVILS DUE PUBLISHING
GI Joe #29, $2.95
Lovebunny And Mr Hell Vol 1 TPB, $9.95

DREAMWAVE
Transformers Armada More Than Meets Eye #3 (Of 3), $4.95

DYNAMIC FORCES
DF Batgirl Sgn #50, $19.99
DF Midnight Nation #1/2 Ltd Ed, $12.99
DF Superman Batman CGC Graded 9.6 #8, $89.99
DF Superman Batman Turner Sgn #8, $29.99
DF Witchblade Magdalena Vampirella #1 Wa Red Foil Ed, $10.00
DFE Lady Death Wild Hunt Foil Cvr #1, $14.99

EDICIONES LA CUPULA S A
El Convento Infernal GN (adult), $12.99
El Vibora #287 (adult), $7.99
Kiss Comix #147 (adult), $7.99

EIGHT BALL GRAPHICS
Detached One Shot, $2.95

FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS
Complete Peanuts Vol 1 1950-1952 HC, $28.95
Self Loathing #1-2 Pack, $6.50
When We Were Very Maakies HC, $19.95

FELIX COMICS
Felixs Totally Wacky News #1, $2.50

HARRIS COMICS
Vampirella Comics Magazine #2 Kiss Photo Cvr Ed, $9.95

IDW PUBLISHING
CSI Demon House #3 (Of 5), $3.99
CSI Miami Thou Shalt Not, $6.99
Shield Spotlight #4, $3.99
Underworld Red In Tooth And Claw #3, $3.99

IMAGE COMICS
Invincible #11, $2.95
Liberty Meadows #36, $2.95
NYC Mech #1, $2.95
Strykeforce #2 (Of 5), $2.99
Sword Of Dracula #4, $2.95
Wanted #1 Wizard World Texas Exclusive, $5.00
Witchblade Darkminds Return Of Paradox TPB, $9.99

JAY COMPANY
Street Fighter #3 Copper Foil Lau Variant Cvr Ed, AR
Street Fighter #4 Virgin Guile Variant Cvr Ed, $12.99

LINSNER.COM
Dawn Three Tiers #2 S&N Ltd Ed, $12.00

MAD YAK PRESS
Black Eyed Susan #1, $3.50

MARVEL COMICS
Alpha Flight #3, $2.99
Captain America & The Falcon #3, $2.99
Captain America On Tank Travis Charest Poster, $5.99
Exiles #46, $2.99
Marvel Age Fantastic Four #2, $2.25
Marvel Age Spider-Man #3, $2.25
Official Handbook Of The Marvel Universe X-Men 2004, $3.99
Punisher On Motorcycle Tim Bradstreet Poster, $5.99
Secret War Book One Commemorative Edition, $3.99
Spider-Girl #73, $2.99
Spider-Man Unlimited #3, $2.99
Thanos #10, $2.99
Thor #78, $2.99
Thor Vol 5 The Reigning TPB, $17.99
Ultimate Spider-Man #58, $2.25
Ultimate Spider-Man Vol 8 Cats & Kings TPB, $17.99
Uncanny X-Men #444, $2.25
Uncanny X-Men Vol 5 She Lies With Angels TPB, $11.99

MOONSTONE
Slamm Hardboiled Fiction Of Cj Henderson, $10.95

NBM
Grin And Bare It #12 Magazine (adult), $5.95
Luis Royo Visions SC (New Ptg), $19.95
Riviera Moon Goddess GN (adult), $10.95

NOW COMICS
Weird Melvin Comic Strips Vol 1 TPB, $14.95

ONI PRESS
Hopeless Savages Vol 2 Ground Zero TPB Digest Edition, $11.95

RADIO COMIX
Furrlough #135, $2.99
Liberty From Hell #4, $2.99
Mangaphile #23, $4.99
Milk #40 (adult), $3.50

SHANDA FANTASY ARTS
Katmandu #30 (resolicited), $4.99
SFA Atomic Mouse #3 (resolicited), $4.99
Shanda The Panda #40, $4.99
Women In Fur 2004 #1, $4.99

SIRIUS ENTERTAINMENT
Banzai Girl Vol 1 TPB, $14.95
Deadly Malevolent Teddy GN, $5.95

TOKYOPOP
Ai Yori Aoshi Vol 3 GN (Of 9), $9.99
Btx Vol 3 GN (Of 16), $9.99
Chronicles Of The Cursed Sword Vol 6 GN (Of 12), $9.99
Dragon Hunter Vol 6 GN (Of 12), $9.99
Faeries Landing Vol 3 GN (Of 13), $9.99
Fake Vol 7 GN (Of 7), $9.99
GTO Vol 18 GN (Of 25), $9.99
Kare Kano Vol 9 GN (Of 13), $9.99
Kill Me Kiss Me Vol 2 GN (Of 5), $9.99
Lupin III Vol 13 GN (Of 14), $9.99
Peach Girl Change Of Heart Vol 8 TPB (Of 10), $9.99
Pet Shop Of Horrors Vol 6 GN (Of 10), $9.99

VAMPEROTICA
Vamperotica Pin-Up Illustrated #2, $4.95
Vamperotica Tales From Bloodvault DVD, $19.95

VEROTIK
Satanika #4 Fan Club Cover Ed, $5.00

VIZ
Alice 19th Vol 4 GN Unrequited Love, $9.95
All New Tenchi Muyo Vol 4 TPB Girls Get Busy, $9.95
Animerica May 2004 Vol 12 #5, $4.99
Even A Monkey Can Draw Manga Vol 1 (AA), $15.95
Shonen Jump Vol 2 #6 June 2004, $4.99

WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT
Inquest Gamer Duel Masters Cvr #110, $4.99
Inquest Gamer Heroclix Magic Mage Knight Cvr #110, $4.99
Muppets Super Hero Scooter Toyfare Exclusive Figure, AR
Robotech Stealth Shadow Fighter Toyfare Ex Figure, AR
Spider-Man Wizard Ace Ed 3 Pk (AA), AR
Wizard Jim Lee Millennium Ed Ltd Dlx HC, $29.99

magazines
Asian Cult Cinema #43, $6.00
Beckett Hockey Card Monthly #163, $4.99
Cinefantastique 36 #3, $7.99
Club Jul04 (adult), $7.99
Club Specials 214 (adult), $8.99
Comic Shop News #881, AR
Comics Buyers Guide #1591, $3.99
Comics Revue #217, $6.95
Draw #8, $5.95
Famous Monsters Of Filmland #237, $5.95
Fly Rc Magazine Jul04, $4.99
Mopar Action Presents Aug04, $3.95
Penthouse Jun04 (adult), $8.99
PSM Magazine Jun 2004, $4.99
Rue Morgue Magazine May Jun 2004, $7.95
Scary Monsters Magazine #50, $7.95
Scrye #72, $5.99
Tattoo Jul04, $6.99
Thrasher Jun04, $3.99
Tomarts GI Joe American Hero Reference Guide Set, $26.95
Toy Cars And Models Magazine June 2004, $5.99
Toy Shop #332, $4.99
Velvet 87-04 (adult), $7.99
Video Watchdog #107, $7.95

books
Batman The Complete History TPB, $18.95
Beckett Baseball Card Price Guide TPB #26, $24.95
Catwoman The Ultimate Guide HC, $19.99
Emperors New Clothes HC W/ CD Rom, $12.99
Harry Potter 3 Sticker Book TPB, $6.99
Iron Chef TPB, $14.00
Manga Mania Shoujo TPB, $19.95
Many Faces Of Van Helsing TPB, $14.95
More Htdm Vol 2, $19.99
Peanuts Whos On First Charlie Brown TPB, $13.95
Shrek From Swamp To The Screen TPB, $29.95
Star Wars Boba Fett A New Threat Ya TPB, $5.99
Transformers Armada The Uprising Chapter Book HC, $12.99
Transformers Armada Unicron Battles Chapter Book HC, $12.99
Transformers The Ultimate Guide HC, $24.99
Wonder Woman The Complete History TPB, $18.95

[FH]

Courtney Love Negotiating Plea Deal
Source: Billboard

Courtney Love is negotiating a deal to resolve drug charges stemming from an October arrest in Los Angeles, prosecutors said yesterday (May 3). Under the deal, charges against the 39-year-old former lead singer of Hole would be dropped if Love completes a drug treatment program.

"It's a great idea for her because she can probably benefit from the program, and if she completes the program she won't have a conviction in the case," said Jerry Baik, an assistant supervising attorney with the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office. "But if she fails to complete ... this program then she will be required to do 90 days in jail."

Baik said that following her arrest, Love tested positive for several drugs, including cocaine. "One of the drugs that's important to us has been cocaine, and that came out positive," Baik said, adding that the city is prepared to prove its case should the plea deal fall through.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg ordered the parties back on May 25 to cement the deal or start trial. "No more delays," Schnegg warned. "This case has gone just way too long."

During a recent hearing, officers testified that they arrested Love after she broke windows at her boyfriend's house. They said she acted like she was stoned, and told officers she was on "Hillbilly Heroin," a euphemism for the prescription painkiller OxyContin.

Love, the widow of Nirvana's Kurt Cobain, also faces charges of illegal possession of prescription painkillers in a separate case in Beverly Hills. And in March, she was arrested in New York after throwing a microphone stand into a nightclub audience and hitting a man on the head.