Weekly Entertainment & Movie News

[FH]

THX 1138 Director's Cut Coming to Theaters & DVD
Source: COMING SOON!
In 1971, a visionary filmmaker named George Lucas created a chillingly prescient look at a disturbing future world as his feature film debut. Years ahead of its time, THX 1138 has since attracted a strong following, with its cutting edge visual and sound experience, and provocative and resounding messages.

"We wanted to make a different kind of film, and I hope when audiences see it today, they will find it to be as intriguing as we envisioned," says Lucas. The film stars Robert Duvall, and is produced by Francis Ford Coppola and his revolutionary American Zoetrope studios.

This fall, this debut film will return as THX 1138: The George Lucas Director's Cut. It will come to theaters as a special limited engagement, and then to DVD.

On September 14, Warner Home Video and American Zoetrope will make available "The George Lucas Director's Cut" DVD release. The Two-Disc Collector's Set features the film meticulously restored and a second disc filled with new and classic bonus material. For "Star Wars" fans, it's the perfect prelude to the Star Wars Trilogy DVD set due out on September 21.

Preceding the DVD release, on September 10, a 20-city theatrical release of the film is planned, including Ann Arbor, MI; Austin, TX; Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA; Minneapolis, MN; New York, NY; Philadelphia, PA; San Francisco, CA: Seattle, WA; Portland, OR, and others.

The DVD includes the hour-long documentary, "A Legacy of Filmmakers: The Early Years of American Zoetrope". It examines the independent film movement of the 1970s -- the world in which THX 1138 was born. It features new interviews with Lucas, Murch, Coppola, Duvall, Martin Scorsese, John Milius, Matthew Robbins, Caleb Deschanel and others who helped build American Zoetrope. The new 30-minute documentary "Artifact of the Future" goes behind the scenes on the making of THX 1138.

Classic material includes the original production featurette, "Bald," George Lucas' award-winning USC student film "Electronic Labyrinth THX 1138 4EB," and the original theatrical trailer for the feature film.

The DVD set includes an audio commentary track by George Lucas and Co-Writer and Sound Designer Walter Murch. There is also the "Theater of Noise," an audio-only track, which explores the incredibly rich sound world provided by Murch, with branching video showing the development of the sound design.

THX 1138: The George Lucas Director's Cut is presented in widescreen format, with Dolby Digital 5.1 Sound.

[FH]

Van Helsing TV Spin-Off Not Coming to NBC
Source: COMING SOON!
Variety reports that Transylvania, the spin-off of Hugh Jackman-starrer Van Helsing, won't be coming to NBC. Nine months ago, the network pacted with Universal Network Television for the drama to be executive produced by the film's writer/director Stephen Sommers. Hopes were high that a pilot would be in this month's upfront lineup and that the series could benefit from a summer's worth of movie promos.

NBC has quietly cooled on Transylvania, however, just a few months after the project was announced, says the trade. Even before the merger with Universal, or a single dollar was tallied at the box office for Van Helsing, executives decided the show was simply too expensive.

The script has technically remained "in development" and there was an outside chance that NBC would have raised the dead if the movie had opened to big box office numbers. The network says that the box office has "no bearing whatsoever on our plans to move forward or not." While it won't likely be seen on NBC, other networks are still said to be interested in the show.

[FH]

Shrek 2 was very, very green this weekend
Source: E!

The animated ogre sequel tallied several records on its way to a whopping $104.3 million over the weekend, according to studio estimates released Sunday, drawing 66 percent of all moviegoers.


"This is rarified air," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations. "You have to remember also that a lot of this is made up of children's price tickets, which makes it particularly impressive." (Children's tickets usually cost about a third less than adults, and it's estimated that parents with kids made up about 60 percent of the audience.)

Shrek 2, in which the green ogre (Mike Myers), his princess bride (Cameron Diaz) and their donkey chum (Eddie Murphy) meet up with the in-laws (John Cleese and Julie Andrews), a gallant Puss-in-Boots (Antonio Banderas) and a less than charming Prince (Rupert Everett), opened in a record number of theaters: 4,163. But, as Dergarabedian noted, "demand matched supply" as the animated DreamWorks fantasy averaged a monster $25,054 per screen.

Its $11.8 million Wednesday opening did not hurt business, as can sometimes happen, but actually built audience fervor, peaking in an all-time single-day record of $44.8 million on Saturday, just better than Spider-Man's $43.6 million on its first Saturday in May 2002. Combined with its take on Thursday ($9.1 million), Friday ($28.4 million) and Sunday (an estimated $31 million), Shrek 2's five-day gross will be a record $125.3 million if estimates hold. That's a smidgen ahead of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, which grabbed $124.1 million last December. (Final figures will be released Monday afternoon.)

Overall, however, Shrek 2 fell short of the biggest three-day opening weekend record of $114.8 million netted by Spider-Man.

But, backed by a stellar marketing campaign, product tie-ins, good reviews, a solid fan base from the original hit, the DreamWorks 'toon will go down in the books as the biggest ever animated opener, topping archrival Disney's swimmingly successful Finding Nemo, which hooked $70.2 million on its opening weekend last May, when it averated $20,821 at 3,374 sites.

The studio's tracking data indicates 70 percent of the ticket buyers want to see Shrek 2 again, so now the race is on to see if this PG-rated CGI fairy tale can best the overall gross of the G-rated CGI fishy tale, which now stands at $339.7 million.

Shrek 2 also scored as the biggest opener of this year--easily surpassing Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ, which had nailed $83.9 million.

Needless to say, Shrek 2 stabbed Brad Pitt in his Achilles heel and brought about the fall of Troy. The sword-and-sandal saga only attracted 15 percent of the weekend ticket buyers on its way to $23.8 million, a drop of nearly 50 percent from last week, in second place. The Warner Bros. epic averaged $6,777 per site at 3,411 theaters and, with $85.8 million in the bank after two weeks, has a long way to go to make back its reported $170 million-plus budget.

Hugh Jackman's monster-slaying tale Van Helsing finished in third place with $10.1 million, which pushed its gross to $100.1 million in three weeks. The rest of the movies in the top 10 battled for the crumbs.

With other studios avoiding launching any major films against Shrek 2, the only other new release in theaters this week was on the art-house circuit. Stateside, a psychological romance starring Jonathan Tucker and Rachael Leigh Cook, landed in 156 sites, where it averaged just $750 for a total of $117,000.

Overall, the top 12 films grossed an estimated $158 million, up 54 percent from last weekend, and 2 percent higher than the weekend before Memorial Day last year, when The Matrix Reloaded was successfully downloaded.

Here's a rundown of the top 10 films based on estimates compiled by Exhibitor Relations:

1. Shrek 2, $104.3 million
2. Troy, $23.8 million
3. Van Helsing, $10.1 million
4. Mean Girls, $6.9 million
5. Man on Fire, $3.5 million
6. Breakin' All the Rules, $2.8 million
7. 13 Going on 30, $2.5 million
8. New York Minute, $1.1 million
9. Kill Bill: Volume 2, $1 million
10. Super Size Me, $953,400

[FH]

Jessica Simpson may play Daisy Duke
Source: ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

She's just a sweet Southern gal who just happens to wear really tight, revealing outfits. That's Daisy Duke of ''The Dukes of Hazzard,'' a movie role once rumored to be locked up by Britney Spears. Now, however, the role belongs to Jessica Simpson. Or so says her father/manager Joe, who says his little girl will be making her screen debut in the movie this summer, filling out the short shorts made famous on TV by Catherine Bach. ''She is really excited,'' papa told Star magazine. ''Daisy Duke is right down her alley.''

No confirmation yet from Warner Bros., which has been trying to get a big screen version of the '70s TV show out of the garage for some time. Last summer, word was that Spears would join Ashton Kutcher and hotrod veteran Paul Walker (of ''The Fast and the Furious'' franchise) as the Duke family, with Anthony Anderson (''Barbershop'') as the villainous Boss Hogg, but Kutcher denied the rumors in an interview with ''Entertainment Tonight.'' More recent rumors had Jessica Biel or Mandy Moore in the running to play Daisy.

If Simpson does play Daisy Duke, the role will fill a hole in her schedule created this week when ABC passed on her sitcom pilot, in which she would have played a pop icon-turned-TV star named Jessica Sampson. Maybe hubby Nick Lachey can get a part in the movie as well, as aw-shucks, Daisy-worshipping cop Enos.

(Posted:05/21/04)

[FH]

Ginnifer Goodwin Will Walk the Line in Johnny Cash Biopic
Source: COMING SOON!
Ginnifer Goodwin has been cast opposite Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix in Fox 2000's Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line for director James Mangold, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Phoenix stars as the country music legend and Witherspoon is his wife and bandmate June Carter. The film is described as a nontraditional biopic centering on a snapshot of Cash's life with a focus on his younger years shifting to Memphis when country started to heat up. The project details his life as he gets older with a look at Cash's drug addiction problem.

The screenplay is by Mangold and writing partner Gil Dennis.

[FH]

DreamWorks Confirms Shrek 3 & 4
Source: COMING SOON!
DreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg talked last week at the Cannes Film Festival about what a third and fourth "Shrek" would entail, now the studio has confirmed that they will indeed go through with two more films.

Reuters reports that with Shrek 2 earning a record $128.9 million in its first five days, the studio is moving ahead on the films, one by one. Head of DreamWorks animation, Ann Daly, said that "It wasn't really advisable to start working on three and four until we knew that we actually had something in two, and certainly this weekend confirmed that we do."

Daly said DreamWorks was in final talks with the principal voice actors to return, including Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz as the newlywed green ogres, Eddie Murphy as Donkey, and Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots.

[FH]

HBO Pulls Plug on Sex and the City Film
Source: COMING SOON!
Variety reports that on Monday, HBO pulled the plug on the Sex and the City feature development after Kim Cattrall, who played Samantha Jones in the hit series, made it clear she wouldn't commit to the project. The film was to be written and directed by Michael Patrick King.

"She would have loved to have done the movie and made a deal to do the movie, but waited as long as possible with no script or start date and felt she had to take other offers that were presented to her after the hold period had passed," Cattrall spokeswoman Marvet Britto told the trade. "Kim would of course love to do the film and would be happy to revisit the project in the future."

Variety adds that other reasons could have come into play, such as Cattrall wanting script approval and to earn the same amount as Sarah Jessica Parker.

HBO was unwilling to consider replacing Cattrall, or to go through the time and effort of developing a script without her firm commitment.

[FH]

New Dvd Releases For May 25, 2004

• Battle Hymn (1957)

• Blue's Clues: Blue Talks

• The Brady Bunch in the White House (2002)

• Bubba Ho-Tep (2002)

• Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Six (6-disc set)

• Cheers: Season Three (4-disc set)

• Club Dread (2004)

• Crash Dive (1943)

• Cruel Intentions 3 (2004)

• Custer of the West (1968)

• Dances with Wolves (theatrical edition) (pan-and-scan) (1990)

• Duel in the Sun (1946)

• The Enemy Below (1957)

• Fraiser: Season Three (4-disc set)

• Game of Death II (1979)

• Gene Autry: Cow Town (1950)

• Gene Autry: Sons of New Mexico (1950)

• Gray Lady Down (1978)

• Growing Up Brady (2000)

• Guns of the Magnificent Seven (1969)

• Hell in the Pacific (1968)

• Hickey & Boggs (1972)

• The Hunters (1958)

• Iggy Pop: Kiss My Blood: Live from Paris

• Junior Bonner (1972)

• Larry the Cable Guy: Git-R-Done (2003)

• The Last Valley (1971)

• The Leopard: The Criterion Collection (3-disc set) (1963)

• The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King: Special Edition (widescreen) (2-disc set) (2003)

• The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King: Special Edition (pan-and-scan) (2-disc set) (2003)

• The Lost Treasure of Sawtooth Island (1999)

• The Magnificent Seven Ride (1972)

• A Minute to Pray, a Second to Die (1968)

• Morituri (1965)

• No Man is an Island (1962)

• Nora's Hair Salon (2004)

• Northern Exposure: Season One (2-disc set) (1990)

• Operation Scorpio (Jie zi zhan shi) (1991)

• Price for Peace (2002)

• The Prodigal Son (Bai ga jai) (1983)

• Royal Warriors (Wong ga jin si) (1986)

• Saving Private Ryan: 60th Anniversary Commemorative Edition (2-disc set) (1998)

• Shade (2003)

• Shalako (1968)

• Shooting War (2000)

• Slaughterhouse-Five (1972)

• Smiles of a Summer Night: The Criterion Collection (1955)

• Stray Dog: The Criterion Collection (1949)

• Too Late for Tears (1949)

• Too Late the Hero (1970)

• To Hell and Back (1955)

• Underworld: Unrated Extended Cut (2003)

• Wake Island (1942)

• Welcome to Mooseport (widescreen) (2004)

• Welcome to Mooseport (pan-and-scan) (2004)

• What Price Glory (1952)

• Who's The Woman, Who's The Man (1996)

• The Winds of War: Special Edition (6-disc set) (1983)

• Wizards (1977)

• The World War II Collection (DreamWorks) (4-disc set)

• The Young Master (Shi di chu ma) (1980)

• You Were Never Lovelier (1942)

[FH]

New Comic-Book Release for Wednesday May 26th

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

ABRAMS
Auschwitz HC, $16.95

ADHOUSE BOOKS
Monkey & Spoon GN, $9.95
Project Telstar Ltd Ed GN Sgn, $30.00

A. D. VISION
Blue Inferior Manga Vol 1 TPB, $9.99
Chrono Crusade Manga Vol 1 TPB, $9.99
Desert Coral Manga Vol 1 TPB, $9.99
Figure 17 Manga Vol 2 TPB, $9.99
Kagerou Nostalgia Manga Vol 1 TPB, $9.99
Pretear Manga Vol 1 TPB, $9.99
Ruler Of The Land Manga Vol 2 TPB, $9.99
Saint Marie Manga Vol 1 TPB, $9.99
Steel Angel Kurumi Manga Vol 4 TPB, $9.99
Those Who Hunt Elves Manga Vol 3 TPB, $9.99

AIRWAVE COMICS
Yets #3, $3.50

ANTARCTIC PRESS
I Hunt Monsters #3, $2.99
Pose File CD Rom Ed #2, $29.95
Quagmire Usa #3, $2.99

APC
APC Preview Book #1, $1.50
Darkham Vale #9 (Of 10), $3.50
Digital Graffiti TPB, $16.95

ARCANA STUDIO
Ant #1 (Curr Prtg)(AA), $2.95

ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS
Archie #548, $2.19
Archie Double Digest #152, $3.59
Veronica #152, $2.19

ASPEN
Soulfire #0, $2.50

ATOMIC BASEMENT ENTERTAINMENT
Gone South #1, $3.00

AVATAR PRESS
Alan Moores The Courtyard #1 & #2 Wrap Signed Set, $22.99
Brian Pulidos Belladonna Preview Amorium Cvr, $2.99
Brian Pulidos Belladonna Preview Siquiera Cvr, $2.99
Brian Pulidos Belladonna Preview, $1.99
Hellina Vs Pandora Connecting Adult Cvr #0, $6.00
Hellina Vs Pandora Connecting Adult Cvr #1, $6.00
Hellina Vs Pandora Connecting Adult Cvr #2, $6.00
Joe Lansdales By Bizarre Hands #2 (Of 6), $3.50
Joe Lansdales By Bizarre Hands Wrap Cvr #2 (Of 6), $3.50
Jungle Fantasy #1/2 Al Rio Jungle Green Foil, $5.99
Stargate SG1 Pow Ready For Action #3 (Of 3), $5.99
Stargate Sgi 2004 Convention Special Prism Foil, $12.99

BEYOND TIME COMICS
Black Tiger Legacy Of Fury #2 (Of 4), $2.99

BLUE KING STUDIOS
City Of Heroes #1, $2.95

BOB BURDEN STUDIOS
Bob Burdens Flaming Carrot Statue (AA), AR

BONGO COMICS
Futurama Comics #17, $2.99

BUD PLANT
Visions Of Spaceflight HC (AA), AR

COMIC CAVALCADE
Bone 1995 San Diego Convention Book, $5.99
Stargate SG1 2004 Convention Special Gold Foil Cvr, $5.99

COM.X
Classwar #4 (resolicited), $3.50

CROSSGEN ENTERTAINMENT
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang #5, $2.95
Route 666 #22, $2.95
Way Of The Rat #24, $2.95

DARK HORSE COMICS
Conan #4, $2.99
Star Wars Empire #20, $2.99
Steve Rude The Moth #2, $2.99
Trigun Maximum Vol 1 Hero Returns TPB, $9.95
Ultraman Tiga #9 (Of 10), $3.99

DC COMICS
Authority More Kev #1 (Of 4), $2.95
Batgirl #52, $2.50
Batman #628, $2.25
Batman Harley & Ivy #2 (Of 3), $2.50
Caper #8 (Of 12), $2.95
Cartoon Cartoons #30, $2.25
Catwoman #31, $2.50
Challengers Of The Unknown Archives Vol 2 HC, $39.95
DC Comics Pocket Super Heros Batman Box Set, AR
DC The New Frontier #4 (Of 6), $6.95
Empire TPB, $14.95
Flash #210, $2.25
Green Lantern #177, $2.25
Green Lantern Green Arrow Vol 1 TPB, $12.95
Hellblazer #196, $2.75
Horizon #16, AR
JLA #99, $2.25
JSA All Stars TPB, $14.95
Kinetic #3, $2.50
Legion #33, $2.50
Light Brigade #4 (Of 4), $5.95
Losers #12, $2.95
Midnight Mass Here There Be Monsters #5 (Of 6), $2.95
Promethea #30, $2.95
Richard Dragon #1, $2.50
Superman #205, $2.50
Superman Batman #8 Third Printing, $2.95
Teen Titans Go #7, $2.25

DEVILS DUE PUBLISHING
GI Joe #30, $2.95
GI Joe Reloaded #3, $2.95
Micronauts #3, $2.95
Voltron Vol 2 #1 Signed Incentive Cvr, $14.95

DRAWN & QUARTERLY
Fall Of Homunculus TPB (AA), $9.95
Long Time Relationship HC (AA), $19.95

DYNAMIC FORCES
DF Action Comics Adams Sgn #814, $19.99
DF GI Joe Cobra Reborn Sgn #1, $29.99
DF JLA Claremont Sgn #94, $19.99
DF Superman Batman Lee Sgn #7, $29.99
Street Fighter Foil Cvr #7, $14.99

EL CAPITAN BOOKS
Stray Bullets #33 (resolicited), $3.50

EXHIBIT A PRESS
Supernatural Law #40, $2.95

FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS
Artbabe Presents La Perdida #2 (Of 5)(AA), $4.95
Artbabe Presents La Perdida #3 (Of 5) (AA), $4.95
Barry Windsor Smiths Adastra In Africa HC (AA), $15.00
Comics Journal #169 (AA), $3.00
Comics Journal #260, $6.95
Dildo #5 (adult), $3.95
Hot Moms #1 (AA)(adult), $3.95
Hot Moms #2 (AA)(adult), $4.95
Housewives At Play Original Recipe GN (adult), $9.95
Mangerotica GN 5 Super Taboo Vol 1 (AA)(adult), $19.95
Mangerotica GN 8 Super Taboo Bk 2 (AA)(adult), $19.95
Megamanga Vol 13 Best Of Original Bondage Fairies TPB (adult), $19.95
Megamanga Vol 14 Best Of Sexcapades TPB (adult), $14.95
Menage A Trois #1 & #3-4 Pack (adult), $8.50
Spunky Knight Extreme #1 (adult), $3.95
Stuff Of Dreams #1 (AA), $3.95

GEMSTONE PUBLISHING
Overstreets Comic Price Review #9, $6.25
Uncle Scrooge #330, $6.95
Walt Disneys Comics And Stories #645, $6.95

GOOD INTENTIONS PAVING CO
Candyappleblack #1 (Of 7), $3.50

GUTSOON! ENTERTAINMENT
Raijin Comics #46, $5.95

IDW PUBLISHING
Aleister Arcane #2, $3.99

IMAGE COMICS
Alternation Cvr A Barberi #3, $2.95
Alternation Cvr B Medina #3, $2.95
Bad Ideas #1 (Of 2), $5.95
Common Grounds #5 (Of 6), $2.99
Darkness Vol 2 #11, $2.99
Savage Dragon Vol 10 Endgame TPB, $15.95
Witchblade #41 Ewanted Holofoil Ed, $9.99
Witchblade #75, $4.99
Witchblade Metal Cvr Sgn #60, $29.99
Witchblade Wolverine One Shot, $2.99

MARVEL COMICS
Astonishing X-Men #1 1st Variant Cassaday Ed, $2.99
Astonishing X-Men #1 2nd Variant Dell Otto Ed, $2.99
Astonishing X-Men #1, $2.99
Avengers #83, $2.25
Fantastic Four Visionaries John Byrne Vol 2 TPB, $24.99
Hulk Gray HC, $21.99
Iron Man #83, $2.99
Marvel Previews #10 June 2004 Extras, AR
Marvel Universe Professor X Bust, $45.00
Mystique #15, $2.99
Nyx #4, $2.99
Secret War Book Two (Of Five), $3.99
Silver Surfer #9, $2.99
Supreme Power #10, $2.99
The Punisher #6, $2.99
Thor #79, $2.99
Ultimate X-Men #46, $2.25
Venom #15, $2.99
Weapon X #24, $2.99
Wolverine Punisher #3 (Of 5), $2.99
X-Statix #23, $2.99

NBM
Adv Of Lesbian College School Girl Vol 1 (adult)(New Ptg), $8.95
Parsifal Library Of Opera Vol 2 SC, $17.95
Rise Of The Graphic Novel SC, $9.95
Sizzle #22 (adult), $4.95
Tranceptor GN (AA)(adult), $11.95
What Do Women Really Want Vol 1 Chocolate, $12.95

NEW FLAME PUBLISHING
The Drowners #2 (Of 4), $2.95

OBION COMICS
Along The Canadian #2 (Of 6), $2.95

ONI PRESS
Scooter Girl TPB, $14.95

OVERCAST COMICS
The Gift #6, $2.95

PANTHEON BOOKS
Amy And Jordan, $21.00

PENNY FARTHING PRESS
Para #3, $2.95

PURE IMAGINATION PUBLISHING
Steve Ditko Reader Vol 2 TPB, $25.00

RADIO COMIX
Furrlough #136, $2.99
Space Race #2, $2.99

REBELLION
2000 AD #1387, $3.75
2000 AD #1388, $3.75
Judge Dredd Megazine #219, $10.99

RED EYE PRESS
Mortal Coils Vol 1 TPB Bodylines, $16.95

SILVER COMICS
Silver Comics #2, $2.95

TITAN
Transformers Breakdown Px HC, $24.95
Transformers GN Breakdown, $19.95

TOKYOPOP
Battle Royale Vol 7 GN (Of 11), $9.99
Dnangel Vol 2 GN (Of 8), $9.99
Gravitation Vol 6 GN (Of 12), $9.99
Happy Mania Vol 8 GN (Of 11), $9.99
Immortal Rain Vol 1 GN (Of 5), $9.99
Kindaichi Case Files Vol 7 GN The Santa Slayings (Of 10), $9.99
Rave Master Vol 8 GN (Of 18), $9.99
Samurai Deeper Kyo Vol 7 GN (Of 18), $9.99

TONY RAIOLA
Alex Raymonds Jungle Jim Color Sundays Pack #1 (Of 7), $47.50

TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS
From Hell TPB New Edition, $35.00
Mirror Of Love HC, $24.95
Troglodytes GN, $9.95

VAMPEROTICA
Vamperotica Pin-Up Illustrated #1 CD Rom Ed, AR
Vamperotica Pin-Up Illustrated #2 CD Rom Ed, $10.00

VARMINT PRESS
Death Takes A Holiday #1, $2.95

VIZ
Animerica Extra June 2004 Vol 7 #6, $4.99
Banana Fish Vol 2 2nd Ed, $9.95
Boys Over Flowers Vol 6 TPB, $9.95
Firefighter Daigo Of Fire Company M Vol 7, $9.95
Sensual Phrase Vol 2 GN, $9.95

WIZARD ENTERTAINMENT
Wizard Comics Magazine Avengers #500 Cvr #153, $4.99
Wizard Comics Magazine Spider-Man 2 Photo Cvr #153, $4.99
Wizard Comics Magazine Superman Batman Cvr #153, $4.99

magazines
Castle Of Frankenstein Presents Tome #10, $7.00
Club Aug04P (adult), $8.99
Club Specials 215 (adult), $8.99
Collected Jack Kirby Collector Vol #2, $17.95
Comic Shop News #884, AR
Comics Buyers Guide #1594, $3.99
Cult Times #104, $6.99
Dr Who Magazine #343, $6.80
Dreamwatch #117, $5.99
Dune Buggies And Hot Vw Jul 04, $3.99
Easyriders Jul04, $6.99
Fantasy Worlds Vol 4, $7.99
Fortean Times #184, $9.50
Game Informer Jun04, $4.99
Game Trade Magazine #52, $1.99
Hit Parader Jun04, $5.99
Hustler Auo447 (adult), $7.99
Kit Builders Magazine #48, $7.00
Maxim Jun04P, $4.99
Meltdown Magazine #17, $4.50
PC Gamer Magazine W/CD-Rom Jul 2004, $7.99
Previews Vol XIV #6, AR
Pse2 Jun 04, $3.99
Relix Jun04, $4.99
Sci Fi Entertainment Aug 04, $4.99
Stamp Collector Vol 28 #11, $2.25
Starlog #324, $7.99
Swank 88-04 (adult), $7.99
Thrasher Jul04, $3.99
Tips And Tricks Jun04, $4.99
Undefeated Magazine #6, $5.99
Velvet 88-04 (adult), $8.99
Xpose #85, $6.99

books
2000 AD ABC Warriors #1 The Medusa War MMPB, $6.99
Agitator Cinema Of Takashi Miike TPB (AA), $24.99
Alias Infiltration MMPB, $5.99
Asimov Have Robot Will Travel HC, $21.95
Big Book Of Illustration Ideas HC, $45.00
Dilbert Dont Stand Where Comet Assumed To Strike Oil TPB, $10.95
Doctor Who The Eleventh Tiger MMPB, $6.95
Drawing Faeries TPB, $14.95
Judge Dredd #2 Bad Moon Rising MMPB, $6.99
Kids Draw Manga TPB, $10.95
Mobile Suit Gundam Novelization TPB, $14.95
Neil Gaiman Coraline MMPB, $5.99
Powers Ltd Ed HC (resolicited), $69.95
Punisher Novelization MMPB, $6.99
Shocking Cinema Of The Seventies TPB, $34.95
Skateboard Stickers TPB, $24.95
Straczynski Unplugged MMPB, $11.95
Twilight Zone #1 Pool Guy / Memphis MMPB, $7.99
Twilight Zone #2 Sensuous Cindy / Upgrade MMPB, $7.99
Wonder Woman Journey Begins Chapter Book, $4.99

[FH]

Marvel Enters Made-for-DVD Market Through Lions Gate
Source: SUPERHERO HYPE!
Marvel Enterprises and Lions Gate Entertainment announced today that they have entered into an agreement to develop, produce and distribute original animated DVD features based on certain characters within the Marvel Universe. Under the terms of the arrangement, Marvel and Lions Gate plan to commence production immediately on eight original animated projects in either 2-D or 3-D format with the first title expected to be released by Lions Gate in late 2005. The announcement was made by Lions Gate Chief Executive Officer Jon Feltheimer and Avi Arad, Chairman and CEO Marvel Studios.

"More than $2 billion in DVDs based on Marvel characters have been sold and Marvel's animated television projects have been very successful, so this is a natural evolution for the company," said Arad. "Lions Gate has been a great partner for us and this new venture will further solidify the Marvel name as one of the preeminent brands in entertainment."

Feltheimer added, "This deal reflects the next chapter in our ongoing relationship with Marvel. The Marvel Universe maintains an outstanding and loyal fan base that craves fresh material featuring Marvel's Super Heroes. We're confident that we can take Marvel's extensive library of popular characters with compelling storylines and create action-packed, appealing animated made-for-DVD movies."

Under terms of the agreement, Lions Gate will provide Marvel with licensing fees for character rights and fund all of the development, production, distribution and marketing for each title. Marvel will spearhead creative development and production. After each animated project's home video window expires, the companies may exploit the movies in other entertainment media domestically and internationally including television and Video On Demand (VOD). Both companies will share in the profits from the venture.

Marvel will choose from a roster of leading production partners, including Lions Gate's own animation production partner, CineGroupe. Each animated picture will have a minimum running time of 66 minutes and specific titles and characters chosen for animation will be announced at a later date.

The two companies noted that the agreement builds on the current theatrical relationship between Lions Gate and Marvel. As announced in February 2004, Lions Gate has been granted licenses to develop, produce and distribute theatrical film releases based upon two popular Marvel properties -- Iron Fist and Black Widow -- and Lions Gate and Marvel already plan to make a sequel to their April 2004 release The Punisher.

[FH]

Harrison Ford to Star in Godspeed
Source: COMING SOON!
Harrison Ford is set to star in Godspeed, an outer space-set thriller that is being put together by James Cameron's Lightstorm Entertainment, reports Variety. Cameron (Titanic) won't direct, but will produce. He is currently working on a full-length dramatic feature utilizing the 3-D technology he developed for the 2003 IMAX film Ghosts of the Abyss.

Written by Ryne Douglas Pearson, Godspeed takes place on an international space station, where a life-threatening situation develops that could kill all the inhabitants on the station.

The film will begin production in the fall with plans to secure a director and studio quickly so that Frod can start filming early next year. Ford has already committed to star this fall in the Warner Bros. drama The Wrong Element.

[FH]

Phillips Writing Altered States Remake

Source: COMING SOON!
Warner Bros. has set screenwriter Fernley Phillips to write a remake of Altered States, the 1980 Ken Russell-directed psychedelic sci-fi thriller.

The original film starred William Hurt as a psychophysiologist who uses a sensory deprivation tank to put his mind back into more primitive states of human evolution, with catastrophic results.

For the original, Paddy Chayefsky adapted the film from his own novel, but the three-time Oscar winning scribe so clashed with the director's vision that he removed his name and replaced it with the pseudonym Sidney Aaron (his first and middle names).

[FH]

New Trailer for Oliver Stone's Alexander
Source: COMING SOON!
Click here for Quicktime links
Warner Bros. has released the new trailer for writer/director Oliver Stone's Alexander, starring Colin Farrell, Angelina Jolie, Anthony Hopkins, and Val Kilmer.

The epic film, opening November 5, is about the relentless conqueror who by the age of 32 had amassed the greatest empire the world had ever seen. Past and present collide to form the puzzle of the protagonist, a tapestry of triumphs and tragedies in which childhood memories and Alexander's rise to power unfold side by side with the later day expansion of his empire, and its ultimate downfall. From his youth, fueled by dreams of glory and adventure, to his lonely and mysterious death as a ruler of a vast state, from the tumultuous relationship with his parents-a powerful king and a queen determined to put her child on the throne at any cost-to the rousing brotherly bonds with his closest companions and vast army, as they fought from the sun-scorched battlefields of the Persian Empire across the snow-peaked mountains of India, the film chronicles Alexander's journey to become a living legend, a man who embraced the ideal that power has a destiny.

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Now they're remaking Revenge of the Nerds
Source: MOVIEHOLE
Ok we can live with the fact – that doesn’t mean we aren’t still steaming over it though – that they’re remaking “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”, “The Amityville Horror” and “Charlotte’s Web” (now there’s a triple play), but what we don’t understand is remaking one of the 80’s beloved T’n’A Classics!... “Revenge of the Nerds”.

Moviehole caught up with actor Curtis Armstrong – or the legend formerly known as ‘Booger’ this morning – who told us a new Booger, Gilbert, Lewis, Lamar and Poindexter could be headed to theatres. “I've heard that 20th Century Fox is considering a Nerds remake”, he tells. “I can't imagine any of us would be involved at all.”

The first “Revenge of the Nerds” was released in 1984; it starred Anthony Edwards and Robert Carradine as the headline losers with Timothy Busfield, Larry B.Scott and James Cromwell also in the mix. The sequel was released three years later.

Preceding “Revenge of the Nerds” sequels were released direct to video (just as well, they were as entertaining as watching a cousin pick his nose). As Armstrong says, it was merely a money thing for him that got him to come back for those.

So whilst Fox picks their new ‘Nerds’, where to now for the original Booger? “I'm starting a movie tomorrow, an independent thing called Inn Trouble. And I've got a cameo in the Ben Stiller Movie coming out in June called Dodgeball: The Underdogs”.

[FH]

Sounds like we might have our Superman
Source: MOVIEHOLE

I think it’s pretty safe to say that Henry Cavill [“The Count of Monte Christo”] is going to be playing “Superman”.

A scooper for DarkHorizons wrote in overnight, telling the site that the long-time favourite is almost a lock for the Man of Steel. Apparently he’s who the fans – i.e. us on the internet – are hankering for and like they did with Christian Bale and “Batman”, want to give folks the true embodiment of the character. In other words, Ashton Kutcher is out of the running.

Apparently Australia’s Rose Byrne [“Troy”] is head to head with Selma Blair [“Hellboy”] for the role of Lois Lane. “They are the two runner-ups. My bet is on Bryne, but we'll see how things pan out”, says the tipster.

“While Topher Grace auditioned for the role of Jimmy Olsen, apparently it may (the key word is may) go to THE OC co-star Adam Brody. He's a fav because of the aforementioned show, and it seems he is the "hottest" thing in his category. The WB wants hot, young stars for this movie while not still filling it with horrid choices (Ashton Kutcher, Beyonce Knowles).

“Now comes the main event. I can safely say that you can expect Johnny Depp to be the next Lex Luthor. That is, because he is the studio's favourite and McG wants to work with him. He's tied because he's not exactly sure if he wants to accept, and he also has CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY filming soon under the direction of Tim Burton. But WB and McG are really trying to nab Depp, since he turned out the most viable in his screen-test (I heard it was "f**king amazing"). If he can't do it or doesn't want to, then expect the role to go to an up and rising comedian or someone in that theory.

And that's about it. The film's rolling, though; I can surely tell you that. J.J. Abrams' script is getting tons of re-writes, and I hear for the better, and Warner Bros. wants this out by no latter than Summer 2006.”

Meanwhile, Superman-V has an interesting casting suggestion from writer J.J Abrams : Victor Garber [Sidney’s Dad from “Alias”] as Lex Luthor.