“Hellboy II” villain Luke Goss and Jenna Dewan are attached to star in “Magdalena,” an adaptation of a comic book featuring a hot, holy warrior, according to Reuters. Dewan will play Patience, a woman who discovers that she’s a part of the lineage of female warriors descended from Mary Magdalene who fight supernatural evil. Goss will star as Kristof, an agent sent by the secret organization that has been the guardian of the lineage.
Japanese comicbook publishers Kadokawa, Kodansha, Shueisha and Shogakukan plus Tose Software have introduced Librica, a Web publications venture, according to Variety Asia. Librica will offer comicbooks to fans on the Web, starting with content aimed at users of the Nintendo Wii. The partners are planning a similar service for the Nintendo DS handheld.
We reported earlier in the week that the new Hayao Miyazaki animated film “Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea,” would likely win the weekend box office in Japan and perhaps pass previous winner “Spirited Away,” another Miyazaki creation from 2001. The numbers are in and “Ponyo” garnered nearly $15 million for its 3-day debut. Those numbers still left it about 4% shie of “Spirited’s” record, keeping the 2001 film still the record holder.
‘”Hancock” director Peter Berg will next tackle “Hercules: The Thracian Wars,” for Universal, Spyglass Entertainment and Berg’s Film 44 and Radical Pictures. Berg will helm the project adding his own take on the popular Hercules legend.
“X-Men” and “Superman Returns” director Bryan Singer will adapt “Capeshooters,” a comic book about two paparazzi who specialize in shooting covert videos of superheroes find themselves on the run after they stumble onto evidence that a revered superhero is actually a villain. Singer will not be helming the project because he is busy gearing up for “Superman: Man of Steel,” however, he will produce “Capeshooters.” J.P. Lavin (“The 59th Primetime Emmy Awards”) and Chad Damiani (“Anchorwoman”) will write the script.
Actress Estelle Getty, best known for her role as Bea Arthur’s mom in “The Golden Girls” has died. She was 83. Getty was a fixture on American television for over 30 years appearing in such shows as “Newhart,” “Hotel,” “MAd About You,” “Cagney & Lacey” and many more. She also made several big screen appearances in films like “Mask,” “Tootsie” and “Mannequin.”
Ben Lyons, reviewer on “Good Morning America” and Ben Mankiewicz, host of Turner Classics Movies, have been tapped to co-host a new iteration of the film review show “At the Movies,” which begins its 23rd season the weekend of September 6. They will replace longtime host Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper who left the show last week.
We reported a few months ago that Internet video firm Joost, the same people who created Skype, would be launching a new venture in China. Well, that takes place today, July 23, 2008.
Joost has teamed up with the Hong Kong-based TOM Group to introduce joost.tom.com with 16,000 hours of content.
“Joost has always been a global service, and our partnership with TOM is a perfect example of the regionalized offerings we are able to bring to the market,” Joost CEO Mike Volpi said in a statement.
More than 125,000 people are expected to attend the four-day event known as the San Diego Comic Con – the big daddy of all Cons, which opens July 24. This baby plays host to a veritable smorgasborg in the latest in comic books, SF and genre-related films, television, novels, toys, games and memorabilia. The big surprise this year? With less than a year before its big film debut, there will be no “Star Trek Panel,” but the movie will still be well represented with the attendance of several of its stars and lots of new and shiny posters hanging everywhere.
Netflix is shutting down its indie film financing and acquisition arm Red Envelope Entertainment. The move will cost the jobs of 50 employees of Red Envelope.
After the recent vote of two members of the FCC, the merger between Sirius and XM Satellite radio is still in limbo as each member’s vote canceled the other’s out. Now it’s down to Republican commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate and Democrat Jonathan Adelstein. They are still awaiting potential changes to the FCC’ Chair’s proposal before casting their deciding votes. If they cancel each other out, it’s back to the drawing board.
In the whole of the FCC, there were only TWO votes????
No. Most of the FCC members have voted and it has come down to these final 4. It was tied and two of the final 4 (sounds like Cylons) canceled each other's vote out keeping the tie. It's now down to the final two members to vote up or down on the merger. It still could end up in a tie, which means the whole process starts all over again.