Filming for the third season of the BBC's Doctor Who spinoff Torchwood (aired in the U.S. on BBC America), has begun in Cardiff, Wales, BBC Worldwide announced. The series, created and produced by Russell T. Davies, is scheduled to return in 2009, with a five-part miniseries titled Torchwood: Children of Earth.
The new season sees the Torchwood team embarking on a single action-packed adventure as they battle for the future of the human race against the fiercest force they have yet encountered. The highly motivated team includes John Barrowman as Capt. Jack Harkness, Eve Myles as Gwen Cooper and Gareth David-Lloyd as Ianto Jones. Also reprising their recurring roles are Kai Owen as Gwen's husband, Rhys, and Tom Price as PC Andy. Special guests in the five-part series include Peter Capaldi, who plays the role of Mr. Frobisher, a civil servant who is hiding a terrible secret; Paul Copely as Clem, a survivor still haunted by his past; and Liz May Brice as Johnson, a cynical covert government agent determined to expose Torchwood. "The new series of Torchwood is hugely bold and promises to be bigger and better than ever," Davies said in a statement.
"The audience is in for an amazing ride. This series is one big serial and the most ambitious story we've ever made, and we've got plenty of surprises in store." In a separate statement, Julie Gardner, Head of Drama, BBC Wales, said, "We hope to make Torchwood a gripping and surprising TV event with storylines that push our team into greater danger and sacrifice. Joining our main cast are some fantastic guest artists who will only add to making this unmissable TV." The second season of Torchwood will be released on DVD in the U.S. on Sept. 16.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
"Preacher" Defrocked
No Show on HBO
Mark Steven Johnson, the writer of the Preacher TV series for HBO (see “HBO To Do Preacher Series”), told Comics Continuum that the project is dead due to content issues. Johnson told the site “the new head of HBO felt it was just too dark and too violent and too controversial.”
This is the second stillborn attempt to develop Garth Ennis’ Vertigo series Preacher for the screen (large or small). A movie that was in development earlier this decade (see “Preacher to Start Shooting in June”) has also gone nowhere.
Mark Steven Johnson, the writer of the Preacher TV series for HBO (see “HBO To Do Preacher Series”), told Comics Continuum that the project is dead due to content issues. Johnson told the site “the new head of HBO felt it was just too dark and too violent and too controversial.”
This is the second stillborn attempt to develop Garth Ennis’ Vertigo series Preacher for the screen (large or small). A movie that was in development earlier this decade (see “Preacher to Start Shooting in June”) has also gone nowhere.
Friday, August 22, 2008
The Banana Splits Return to TV
The Banana Splits are returning to the world of pop culture for kids in a big way, beginning on September 2nd when up to 130 1.5-2.5 minute shorts will begin airing on the Cartoon Network and Boomerang. The look of the group has been updated, but the characters remain the same. The property is designed to appeal to kids aged 4 to 7.
The re-launch includes a CD and DVD that will feature 13 new songs, and music videos; a new Website where the shorts can be viewed and the songs can be heard; Banana Splitsville, a live show and play-land at Hard Rock Park; a concert tour and other live appearances; plus a wide range of licensed merchandise including toys, games, books, and apparel.
The original property dates to 1968, when the Banana Splits Adventure Hour, a Hanna-Barbera show on NBC that featured comedy and music videos. The theme song, The Tra La La Song, was one of the most covered songs in the history of contemporary music.
The cross-over between music, TV, and licensing has been the domain of Disney in recent years, with the Cheetah Girls, Hannah Montana, High School Musical, and the Jonas Brothers cranking out success after success. The Banana Splits are aimed younger, however, perhaps in a play to go after territory that Disney doesn’t already dominate.
The re-launch includes a CD and DVD that will feature 13 new songs, and music videos; a new Website where the shorts can be viewed and the songs can be heard; Banana Splitsville, a live show and play-land at Hard Rock Park; a concert tour and other live appearances; plus a wide range of licensed merchandise including toys, games, books, and apparel.
The original property dates to 1968, when the Banana Splits Adventure Hour, a Hanna-Barbera show on NBC that featured comedy and music videos. The theme song, The Tra La La Song, was one of the most covered songs in the history of contemporary music.
The cross-over between music, TV, and licensing has been the domain of Disney in recent years, with the Cheetah Girls, Hannah Montana, High School Musical, and the Jonas Brothers cranking out success after success. The Banana Splits are aimed younger, however, perhaps in a play to go after territory that Disney doesn’t already dominate.
'Ponyo' Box Office Tops 10 Billion
The newest film by Hayao Miyazaki, Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, has topped ¥10 billion in box office receipts in Japan, roughly $93 million. This is the first Japanese film to pass that mark since Miyazaki’s Howl’s Moving Castle, in 2004. Ponyo reached ¥10 billion two days faster than Howl’s.
The film will be shown at the Venice Film Festival next week, and will be released in the U.S. at a time to be announced.
The film will be shown at the Venice Film Festival next week, and will be released in the U.S. at a time to be announced.
'Stargate: Universe' in 2009
After 'Atlantis' Wraps, DTV Movie
August 22, 2008
Sci Fi Channel has pulled the trigger on Stargate: Universe, the third series in the successful franchise, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The new series, which has been in development for some time (see “Third Stargate Series in Development”), will kick off with a two hour movie early next year, with the regular series premiering in the summer.
The producers of the first two Stargate series, Brad Wright and Robert Cooper, are also producing Universe. The storyline follows a team of explorers who end up on an ancient unmanned spaceship which takes them on a preprogrammed mission through space, and as such, will have more space-based action than the other two series. The producers are planning to look for a cast with a younger appeal, to introduce Stargate to a new audience.
Sci Fi Channel has announced that the current season of Stargate Atlantis, its fifth (see “Stargate Atlantis Renewed”) will be the last, and will be followed by a two hour movie in January 2009. The film will be shown on the Sci Fi Channel before being released on DVD.
Sci Fi has released two Stargate DTV movies, Ark of Truth and Continuum. Stargate Continuum, just released on DVD, was the third best selling DVD in America its first week of release (ssee “Stargate Continuum Solid on DVD”).
Stargate SG-1, the first series, ran 10 seasons on Showtime and Sci Fi; Stargate Atlantis will have run five years on Sci Fi Channel.
August 22, 2008
Sci Fi Channel has pulled the trigger on Stargate: Universe, the third series in the successful franchise, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The new series, which has been in development for some time (see “Third Stargate Series in Development”), will kick off with a two hour movie early next year, with the regular series premiering in the summer.
The producers of the first two Stargate series, Brad Wright and Robert Cooper, are also producing Universe. The storyline follows a team of explorers who end up on an ancient unmanned spaceship which takes them on a preprogrammed mission through space, and as such, will have more space-based action than the other two series. The producers are planning to look for a cast with a younger appeal, to introduce Stargate to a new audience.
Sci Fi Channel has announced that the current season of Stargate Atlantis, its fifth (see “Stargate Atlantis Renewed”) will be the last, and will be followed by a two hour movie in January 2009. The film will be shown on the Sci Fi Channel before being released on DVD.
Sci Fi has released two Stargate DTV movies, Ark of Truth and Continuum. Stargate Continuum, just released on DVD, was the third best selling DVD in America its first week of release (ssee “Stargate Continuum Solid on DVD”).
Stargate SG-1, the first series, ran 10 seasons on Showtime and Sci Fi; Stargate Atlantis will have run five years on Sci Fi Channel.
Hugo Award for Graphic Novels
August 22, 2008
The World Science Fiction Society, which sponsors the Hugo Awards (and the annual World Science Fiction Convention), has added a category for Best Graphic Story to the awards. “Any science fiction or fantasy story told in graphic form appearing for the first time in the previous calendar year” will be eligible. The new award will have to be ratified in 2009 to take effect.
In the meantime, the organizer of the 2009 convention in Montreal has added the category to the Hugo Awards for next year (under an authority given to the local organizer, so there will be a Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story in 2009.
The World Science Fiction Society, which sponsors the Hugo Awards (and the annual World Science Fiction Convention), has added a category for Best Graphic Story to the awards. “Any science fiction or fantasy story told in graphic form appearing for the first time in the previous calendar year” will be eligible. The new award will have to be ratified in 2009 to take effect.
In the meantime, the organizer of the 2009 convention in Montreal has added the category to the Hugo Awards for next year (under an authority given to the local organizer, so there will be a Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story in 2009.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
ADV, Geneon Worth $7-$10 Million to FUNimation Sales
ADV, Geneon Worth $7-$10 Million
To FUNimation Sales
Navarre expects FUNimation’s sales from the ADV and Geneon titles it recently acquired (see “FUNimation Snags Sojitz Titles” and “FUNimation to Distribute Select Geneon Titles”) to account for around $7 to $10 million in annual sales. Accounting for the wholesale discounts at which it sells, retail sales of the titles in the two sets of acquisitions are expected to total $15 to $20 million per year. The company expects those acquisitions to help drive FUNimation’s sales upward by double digit percentages in the coming year.
FUNimation’s sales of Afro Samurai last year accounted for about $4.5 million at wholesale, or about $9 million retail, according to numbers revealed in the call.
To FUNimation Sales
Navarre expects FUNimation’s sales from the ADV and Geneon titles it recently acquired (see “FUNimation Snags Sojitz Titles” and “FUNimation to Distribute Select Geneon Titles”) to account for around $7 to $10 million in annual sales. Accounting for the wholesale discounts at which it sells, retail sales of the titles in the two sets of acquisitions are expected to total $15 to $20 million per year. The company expects those acquisitions to help drive FUNimation’s sales upward by double digit percentages in the coming year.
FUNimation’s sales of Afro Samurai last year accounted for about $4.5 million at wholesale, or about $9 million retail, according to numbers revealed in the call.
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