George Lucas is planning to tinker with “Star Wars” again.   This time he’s going to upgrade the movies and make them 3-D.

“Oh yeah,” Lucas told ComingSoon.net when asked about the potential for 3-D versions of the films.  “The technology is very difficult. It exists – it’s just extremely expensive, and so what we’re trying to do is figure out a more practical way of pulling it off.”

Lucas also said he’s mulling a fifth Indy movie but can’t quite find the object that is worthy of Indy’s pursuit.  He also said that should the story call for it, we’ll see more of Mutt and Marion. 

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The next Tarzan movie will find the Lord of the Jungle ditching his traditional loincloth for a pair of khakis.

Entertainment Weekly reports that director Sommers and screenwriter Stuart Beattie are ditching the boy-raised-by-apes origin story for a 1930’s-set romp with a hefty helping of romance. Apparently they want to make it more like “Pirate of the Caribbean” with attractive, buff actors flying swinging through the jungle.

Which brings up the question–is Tarzan in khakis really Tarzan?

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If you’re like me, you were probably left scratching your head after Monday night’s installment of “Heroes.”  Warning: SPOILER ahead if you’ve not seen this week’s episode!

No, it wasn’t about the plot hole the size of Nebraska with certain characters not knowing that an eclipse cancels out powers.  It was a bigger question–did Elle really die?

Since this is “Heroes” and no one ever really dies, it’s a legitimate question.   Unfortunately, it does seem that Elle has shuffled off this mortal coil.  According to Entertainment Weekly’s Michael Ausiello, actress Kristen Bell’s run on the show has concluded. 

So, one character gone and only a few dozen more left to trim. (Seriously, they can kill Peter any time now….)

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Ausiello also reports that former politician Fred Thompson has signed on for guest-stint on “Life on Mars.”  Thompson, who is also an actor, will play the NYPD’s chief of detectives in an episode set to air in February. 

In other “Mars” news, the producers have issued a casting call for an actress to play Harvey Keitel’s character’s daughter.

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The CW announced yesterday that “Smallville” and “Supernatural” will return from hiatus on January 15.  Until then, it’s repeats. 

Speaking of “Smallville” this season may be the last one, after all.  Despite have a nice rebound in the ratings, the casting situation may keep it from coming back next year.   Executive producer Darren Swimmer told TV Guide On-Line that actor Tom Welling may be ready to hang up the mantle of Clark Kent at the end of the season.   While nothing has been confirmed, it is possible Welling could decide to leave the show after eight seasons to pursure other projects.

Swimmer said that he and the rest of the writing staff are working as if this is the final season for the series and says fans may be disappointed if they expect to see Clark don the Superman outfit in the series finale. Swimmer says that due to a potential conflict with the big screen franchise, the scene may not happen.

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The “Doctor Who” Restoration Team has confirmed that “The E-Space Trilogy” will make its DVD debut in the UK next year.   The trilogy from Tom Baker’s final season on the show will feature the DVD release of “Full Circle,” “State of Decay” and “Warriors’ Gate.”   A plethora of extras is planned for the set, including full commentaries on each story.

The trilogy is a monumental one from classic “Who” featuring the introduction of Adric and the departure of Romana.  

No word yet on when the set will jump the pond to the United States, though this being a Tom Baker set, you can expect it will be out here sooner rather than later.

On a related note, the upgraded edition of “The Key to Time” will hit U.S. stores in March.  “Key to Time” was released as a U.S. only box-set with minimal extras and minimal restoration a few years ago.  The set has been pulled from shelves in preparation for this new box set that includes the six stories from season sixteen and a seventh disc full of extras.  I’ve not seen it, but I’ve heard the picture quality alone is worth the double-dip.