“Star Trek” fans may want to add this one to their holiday list. Graphic Imaging Technology Corporation (GITCorp) will offer the first of three DVD-Rom collections, compiling four decades of “Star Trek” comics in a neat, concise package according to Trek Movie.

The first collection, due to hit stores on September 1 and retailing for $49.99, will collect forty years of “Trek” comics from three “Trek” series and multiple publishers. The comics will be easily searchable, include original cover art and advertising from the original issues and will operate on both Macs and PCs with DVD-Rom drives.

Among the treasures on the collection are the earliest adventures of the starship Enterprise from Key Comics, the comic books that accompanied the popular Power Record series in the late 70’s, the Marvel and DC runs of classic “Trek” and “Next Generation” and the popular Peter David “New Frontier” one-shot that is part of the on-going series (and has been a collector’s item for several years now). (Read more…)

The Vader Project, a “reimagining” of the iconic Darth Vader helmet by some of today’s hottest pop and underground artists”, was recently on display at Star Wars Celebration Japan. A lot of them are pretty cool.

{Thanks to Geekologie for the images}

With the fourth “Doom” game currently in development, software developer id would like a second chance to take the popular game franchise to the big-screen.

“Personally I’d like to do another “Doom” movie, I thought working with it was a blast,” id CEO Todd Hollenshead said. “There are some lessons we learned. The best way to do things better is to get the experience.”

“We’ll see what happens when we get further along in development of [Doom 4] and there’s more buzz and we share more about what the game will be about,” Hollenshead added.

The first “Doom” movie took some creative liberties with the backstory to the popular game franchise, irritated fans.  The movie was also lambasted by critics. 

The CEO further noted that the decision would fall to “Doom” distributor Universal, which owns the rights to the movie and any possible sequels. “As the buzz meter starts to go up that may kind of kick start the guys over at Universal.”

According to scribe David S. Goyer (”Batman Begins,” “Blade: The Series”), the next villain for Batman could well be someone never heard from before in the long history of the franchise.

Goyer was being interviewed at last months San Diego Comic Con when asked about who he and director Christopher Nolan had in mind for Batman’s next villain, if and when, there is a third film with Christian Bale as the Caped Crusader.

“There’s no reason why we necessarily have to use the same three or four that are still around,” Goyer said. “I mean, Batman’s got a wide variety, [an entire] rogue’s gallery. Certainly we used two in the first movie that hadn’t been in the films before.” (Ra’s Al Ghul and Scarecrow)

Of course the bigger question isn’t so much which villain, but who will play that villain, especially in light of the tremendous Oscar-worthy performance by the late Heath Ledger as The Joker in “The Dark Knight.” Whoever is chosen best have some real acting chops. The Net is already aflutter with rumors with mega-stars like Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Jason Statham, Oscar winner Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Clive Owen as possible candidates.

Goyer says that all the speculation at this point is moot because Christopher Nolan has yet to decide if there will even be a third film under his direction.

“It’s really up to Chris to decide, and he has not decided whether or not he wants to go back to the well again,” Goyer said. “And if he does, I, you know, would be honored to work with him.”

Goyer’s next big superhero productions are writing the script for “The Flash,” “X-Men Origins: Magneto” and “The Unborn” starring Gary Oldman.

After the phenomenal success of “Iron Man,” actor Robert Downey Jr. could have, and might possibly would have, slipped into some of his old self-destructive, ego-tripping ways which, in the past, led him down the primerose path of despair, drugs and alcohol.

He recently told E!Online that when “Iron Man” became a huge box office blockbuster he automatically found himself reverting to his old narcissism. Fortunately, after years (and we mean years) of therapy, the gifted performer was able to spot it almost immediately and slap himself back into reality.

“I also have to let go, because there’s an aspect, particularly after the success of things, I noticed my narcissism got dialed up. Suddenly, for a minute, I felt like everyone needed to take a knee and listen to what I had to say, because I f–kin’ made it, and my way works and all this stuff. Then I go home and I go, ‘Oh my God, what’s happening to me? I gotta get grounded here.’”

With news that there will definitely be an “Iron Man 2″ Downey remains humble and grateful for the opportunity and is geared-up, pumped and excited to dive back into the suit.

“I’m stoked,” Downey said. “I’m into it. I’m excited to do another Iron Man right.”

All totals are U.S. box office only. SF and genre-related films in bold.

Title (Dist)….Reported Weekend Box Office….# of Engagements….Cumulative

1. The Dark Knight (Warner Bros.)….$42,664,219….4,266….$393,751,065

2. The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor (Universal)….$40,457,770….3,760….$40,457,770

3. Step Brothers (Sony)….$16,506,526….3,094….$63,172,026

4. Mamma Mia! (Universal)….$12,615,515….3,062….$87,470,125

5. Journey To The Center Of The Earth (Warner Bros.)….$6,662,406….2,285….$72,927,314

6. Swing Vote (Disney)….$6,230,669….2,213….$6,230,669

7. Hancock (Sony)….$5,087,756….2,782….$215,883,222

8. WALL-E (Disney)….$4,603,179….2,555….$204,078,076

9. The X-Files: I Want to Believe (20th Century Fox)….$3,385,878…3,185….$17,021,373

10. Space Chimps (20th Century Fox)….$2,720,177….2,134…$21,971,016

Data provided by Rentrak

Columbia Pictures is set to turn the story of an ancient Greek military expedition into an epic action film, according to Variety Asia. The script will be written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwrite Robert Schenkkan.

The film, called “Anabasis,” will be based on the memoirs of Xenophon, a Greek soldier who lived about 2600 years ago (400 B.C.E.) and was one of the 10,000 elite mercenaries who attacked the Persian Empire. He then took charge and led his men back from that hostile land after their own commander had been betrayed by one of their own and killed.

Jimmy Miller (”Step Brothers”), Robbie Stamp, (”The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”) and brother Jonathan Stamp will produce. The siblings served as historical consultants for the HBO series “Rome.”

“Crazy tribes, brutal terrain, vicious combat, hellacious weather — ‘Anabasis’ is full of astounding endurance and heroism,” said Jonathan Stamp.

“[The Stamps] are so knowledgeable in this world of big historical pieces, and I think they’re going to be formidable in the genre,” Miller said.

“Scooby-Doo” is returning to film for a third time, but this one will by-pass the theatrical circuit and go directly to DVD and also be shown on the Cartoon Network.

You may be asking yourself — “Why?” The answer is a simple one. The first two live-action Scooby-Doo films grossed $454 million worldwide.

Warner Premiere said that the film will be a live-action prequel called “Scooby-Doo: The Beginning.” It will pre-date the first two live-action films featuring the goofy canine, and concentrate on how the motley group of teens and Scooby became the famous mystery solvers fans have come to love. What brings them all together for the first time? Their high school is experiencing some kind of bizarre haunting.

Brian Levant (”Are We There Yet?,” “The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas”) will direct from a script written by Daniel and Steven Altiere (”The Legend of Spyro” due in 2009). Brian Gilbert will produce and principal photography for the project has already begun.

Cast is rumored to include Robbie Amell as Fred, Nick Palatas as Norville ‘Shaggy’ Rogers, C. Ernst Harth plays The Janitor and Kate Melton will be Daphne Blake. No word yet on who will voice Scooby.

“Scooby-Doo: The Beginning” will air on the Cartoon Network on the same day the film gets its DVD release.

Nikolaj Arcel (”King’s Game”), the Danish director of “De Fortabte sjæles ø,” will do a remake of his 2007 high-grossing, hit film in English. Translated, “De Fortabte sjæles ø” means “Island of Lost Souls.”

The film tells the story of a suburban teen who finds herself in the center of a centuries-old battle between good and evil after her younger brother gets possessed by the benevolent spirit of an 18th century magician.

If Arcel stays true to his orginal Danish film then “Lost Souls” will be loaded with some pretty astonishing visual effects and a script that is quite superior.

Jennifer O’Kieffe will write the screenplay for an English-speaking audience and Strike Entertainment (“Children of Men,” “Dawn of the Dead”) will produce along with Zentropa Entertainment, according to Variety.

“The Dark Knight” may still be number one in the hearts of Western audiences, but moviegoers all across Asia and other countries have cast their vote, in the way of box office, and “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” conquered 28 overseas markets and captured top spot with nearly $60 million for the weekend.

“Emperor” took in more than the combined total the films trailing it — “The Dark Knight,” at $37 million in 51 markets and the CGI film of the year “Wall-E” bringing in almost $16 million in 24 markets.

As usual, the hot spot for “Tomb of the Emperor” in Asia was South Korea, but other nations such as Spain, Mexico, Brazil and Russia also led the way giving the Brendan Fraser-Jet Li fantasy-action film a huge boost.

Not lagging too far behind were Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Turkey, with Eastern Europe also on board giving the film their number one or two spot as well.

Not doing so well in an over-crowed SF theater market was Chris Carter’s “X-Files: I Want To Believe,” which did, as in the United States, only fair to moderate box office in most overseas markets. However, still going strong after a month in those same countries are “Indiana Jones: The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” and the CGI/animated film that just won’t slow down, “Kung Fu Panda.” Each of these two films are still showing impressive numbers in every market they are shown in.

Two Brendan Fraser film’s are in the top five box office ticket sellers this weekend. His newest movie, “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” is likely to take the number two spot while his other film released earlier in July, “Journey to the Center of the Earth” looks to place 5th.

However, the big story is “The Dark Knight,” which shows no signs of slowing down. It remains at number 1 for the 3rd week in a row and looks like it will add another $43.8 million to its growing tally which now sits at nearly $400 million. Look out “Titanic”!

Rounding out the top five will be the Will Ferrell/John C. Reilly bromance “Step Brothers” and the musical “Mamma Mia!”

We will have the full Top Ten weekend films for you by Tuesday of this week right here on Slice of SciFi.

Star Trek: Phase II has signed on Jon Povill as the director for one of its upcoming episodes titled “The Child”, slated to begin production in October 2008.

John is a notable Star Trek alum. He worked closely with Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry as his assistant and was the story editor for Paramount’s original “Phase II” series which was planned for the late 1970’s, but never came to pass. Povill co-wrote the series bible for “Phase II” with Gene Roddenberry, and penned the original script for “The Child” with Jaron Summers. The story was later adapted for “Star Trek: The Next Generation”, but Povill has recently restored his script for production by this Phase II cast. It will also feature the Enterprise’s first Deltan crew member.

Sam Raimi, the director of Sony’s “Spider-Man” films, is doing business with Disney, according to Reuters.

This will be the first pairing between the mega studio and the “Spider Man” director. What brings them together is a new action-adventure superhero film called “The Transplants.”

While Raimi can turn his films into a comedic bent from time to time, just look at some of his early work with actor Bruce Campbell and his satiric twists and turn with TV’s “Xena: Warrior Princess,” this will be his first foray into directing a full-bore comedy.

The script will come from Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson, the same scribes behind “Not Another Teen Movie.” The film is currently in its very early stages of development.

Raimi will remain busy over the next couple of years producing such films as “Grudge 3,” a remake of his highly popular “The Evil Dead” due out in 2009, and several other film projects. While nothing has been confirmed, it is likely that Raimi will direct “Spider Man 4″ slated for sometime in 2011.

Back in February 2008 we reported that there could possibly be a new Spider Man spin-off film centering on super villain Venom. Now Sony Pictures says the studio is ready to push forward with the big screen project, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Sony is looking to make some changes to the Jacob Estes script originally presented to studio execs.

There are a couple of other sticking points, however, to releasing this film. One is casting. Topher Grace played Venom in the last big Spider Man film, but it isn’t yet known if he is up for it again and the second is timing. “Spider Man 4″ will soon begin production and is eyeing a 2011 release. Venon, if Sony continues with it, will have to be released before or after the 4th web-flick and that could be tricky. If Sony waits until after Spider Man 4 and returns for that film are iffy then they could end up with two flops. If Venom goes first, then it could feel like production is being rushed. If the numbers end up bad then it could hurt Spider Man 4’s chances. So, Sony is left with a dilemna.

Stay tuned to Slice of SciFi for updates.