SoSF News Briefs

Producer and noted authority on comic book history Michael Uslan (Batman Begins), announced that the movie titled “Shazam,” featuring comic book hero Captain Marvel is moving forward and will be directed by Peter Segal (Anger Management, Nutty Professor II: The Klumps). Screenplay has been written by Bryan Goluboff (The Basketball Diaries) and William Goldman (The Princess Bride). Uslan will also be executive producer for the upcoming “Batman Begins” sequel “The Dark Knight.” Segal is directing Anne Hathaway and Steve Carell’s next project “Get Smart.”

The Serenity Special Edition DVD 2-disc set will be ready for release in July 2007. Creator and director Joss Whedon is promising all kinds of shiney stuff on this one.

J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5) is currently writing an adaptation of “World War Z” by author Max Brooks. Paramount Pictures will be turning this intriguing work into a big screen project. The story gives the accounts of several people who have played a central role in the spreading of a virus that has turned much of the world’s human population into zombies.

The long-standing fight between director Peter Jackson and New Line continues. Now Jackson is trying to force New Line to undergo a financial audit on the budgets of the $1.6 billion grossing movies, but the studio, to nobody’s surprise, is refusing to cooperate with the request. For those who haven’t been keeping up with this fiasco, Peter Jackson believes that he is owed more money from the LOTR films. A true accounting of New Line’s books would either confirm Jackson’s charge or prove New Line correct in their stance against paying him the additional funds. My question is, if New Line is telling the truth why not open the books so this battle royale can be put to rest once and for all? This whole thing is putting a damper on my enthusiasm over the production and release of “The Hobbit.”

“The Last Mimzy” is a film based on the acclaimed sci-fi short story by Lewis Padgett. It tells the story of two children who discover a mysterious box that contains some strange devices they think are toys. As the children play with these “toys,” they begin to display higher and higher intelligence levels. Their teacher tells their parents that they seem to have grown beyond genius. Their parents, too, realize something extraordinary is happening. Look for it in theaters on March 23rd and you can view the trailer HERE.

Yuri Gagarin was the first human to go into space on April 12th, 1961. The US Space Shuttle first launched on April 12th, 1981. Yuri’s Night is like the St Patricks Day or Cinco de Mayo for space. It is one day when all the world can come together and celebrate the power and beauty of space and what it means for each of us. To find out how to join the party CLICK HERE.

“Circling the Earth in my orbital spaceship I marveled at the beauty of our planet. People of the world, let us safeguard and enhance this beauty — not destroy it!” — Yuri Gagarin

Tim Kring said in a recent interview that the Season One storyline of the NBC mega-hit “Heroes” will come to a conclusion in the season finale. Season Two will be filled with a new direction, new stories and even some new heroes. Don’t worry, our old friends from Season One will not be forgotten and left out of the loop.