Roman Polanski is backing out of “Pompeii,” the $100 million film about the last days of that infamous city. The movie has been rife with problems, getting bogged down over location and script problems, and now with Polanski’s departure, all but lies in shambles. However, the movie, starring Scarlett Johanssen and Orlando Bloom, is reportedly still going forward, with another director being sought, according to Variety.
The year of Martin Scorsese. One of the foremost leading and best directors to have ever come out of Hollywood, the creator of such mega hits as “Goodfellas,” “Taxi Driver” and “Raging Bull,” finally won a long over due Oscar last year with his riveting portrayal of the underground crime syndicate and police corruption with “The Departed.” Now Martin will be receiving another important recognition: The Kennedy Center Honor. He will share the stage this year with other honorees — actor/comedian Steve Martin, singer Diana Ross, songwriter Brian Wilson and renowned pianist Leon Fleisher. The celebration takes place on December 2, 2007.
“Paula Peril #3: Power of the Sewer Serpent” comic is now available for pre-order. It can be ordered through your retailer. The comic is 32-pages with two all-new adventures that will include the first-ever DVD release of “Trapped in the Flames”. Get the comic and the 7-minute film starring Valerie Perez in HD, plus lots of extras including never-before-seen production photos and a teaser trailer for the Paula Peril feature film “Midnight is the Darkest Hour”! Both of these products will be available for purchase directly from the Atlantis Studios website at the end of September. To see preview art for Paula Peril #3 and a trailer for “Trapped in the Flames”, visit the Paula Peril MySpace.
Like the energizer bunny, those Mars Rovers just keep going and going. Designed for a six month mission on the Red Planet, Spirit and Opportunity are still busy mapping out the planet and investigating rock structures, soil content and structural formations on Mars three and one-half years after landing on Martian soil. Two months after surviving a giant dust storm, Opportunity began a risky drive Tuesday into a crater blasted open by a meteor eons ago. Scientists want the rover to travel 40 feet down toward a bright band of rocks in the Victoria Crater. They believe the rocks represent the ancient surface of Mars and that studying them could shed clues on the planet’s early climate, according to a report from AP. On Tuesday morning, engineers sent commands to Opportunity to begin its journey, and the robot signaled a confirmation. It will be several hours before scientists know how well the drive is going, and the trek itself will take several days. Spirit remains in hibernation mode on the other side of the planet and will be reawakened soon to continue its exploration.
“Stargate: Atlantis,” is now the tentpole for SCI FI Fridays on the SCI FI Channel. As we have reported in past articles, the show is in for a major shift in its direction with the addition of Amanda Tapping, reprising her role of Samantha Carter, now promoted to Colonel and placed in charge of Atlantis Command. The good news for fans of the show is the return of Dr. Beckett (played by Paul McGillion). His character will the the center-piece of a 2 episode story-arc. Beckett, who was killed last season was one of the most popular characters on the show that was a spawn of “Stargate: SG1.” Beckett’s return is a special showing, and the position of chief physician, as we have reported earlier, has been filled by “Firefly”/”Serenity” actress Jewel Staite who plays Dr. Jennifer Keller. Also making a return this season will be the sister of character Rodney McKay, played by David Hewlett’s real-life sister Kate Hewlett. With Colonel Carter now in charge, Dr. Elizabeth Weir, while still on station, will have a lot less to do and less camera time – at least at the beginning of the season, but that may change by the close of season four. The final bit of Atlantis news has to do with who is in charge of the day-to-day production. According to actress Rachael Luttrell, who plays the very dynamic Teyla on the show, “Brad [Wright] and Rob [C. Cooper] are taking much more of a back seat, and they’ve passed it on to Paul Mullie and Joe Mallozzi, our show runners.” “Stargate: Atlantis” makes its Season Four premiere on September 28, 2007.
In our final bit of news, “Dragon Wars” aka “D-Wars,” makes its debut in theaters this Friday, September 14. Based on a 500-year old Korean legend, the tale lays its foundation in the past but quickly moves to 21st Century Los Angeles where the great Dragons of antiquity return and devastate the planet. “Dragon Wars,” directed and written by Hyung-rae Shim, stars Jason Behr, Amanda Brooks, Robert Forster, Aimee Garcia and Craig Robinson.
Pssst….the character played by Rachel Luttrell in SG: Atantis is called “Teyla” not “Leya”.
See your “Dragon Wars” trailer here:
http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/dragonwarsdwar/
Looks interesting.