New 'Transformers" Cartoon Debuts in February

A new Transformers animated series, Transformers: Rescue Bots will debut with back-to-back episodes on Hasbro’s The Hub cable network on Saturday, February 18th starting at 11:30 am (ET, PT). The Rescue Bots series, which is produced by Hasbro Studios and Atomic Cartoons, supports a toy line from Hasbro and targets pre-tween viewers, occupying a niche in the lineup of Transformers cartoons akin to that of the Marvel Super Hero Squad. The debut of Transformers: Rescue Bots kicks of The Hub’s “Transformers Mega Saturday Event,” which will unfold on February 18th.

Later that day Hasbro will launch the second season of the its CG animated series Transformers Prime, which will debut with the first episode of a 3-episode storyline on The Hub at 8:30 pm (ET)

The final event of the “Transformers Mega Saturday Event” will be an airing of the 1986 Transformers: The Animated Movie.

Ultimate Spider-Man to Anchor Marvel Block

Marvel Entertainment has announced that the Disney XD cable channel will inaugurate a dedicated Marvel programming block on Sunday, April 1st anchored by the new Ultimate Spider-Man series. The Disney XD channel appeals to the tween and teen male demographic, while the new Ultimate Spider-Man animated series, which features some of the top creative talent in comics and animation including Paul Dini, Joe Quesada, Brian Michael Bendis, and the Man of Action group (Ben 10), is a serious state-of-the-art attempt to modernize the Peter Parker/Spider-Man saga for contemporary audiences.

In addition to various Marvel animated series including The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, and series featuring Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, and Thor, the Marvel block on Disney XD will also include new animated short-form series, live-action interstitials, and other forms of Marvel content.

Harrison Ford in 'Enders's Game'

Harrison Ford has joined the cast of Ender’s Game as Colonel Hyram Graff, who runs the training of boys at a military academy, according to Variety. Also added to the cast were Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) and Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit), along with Aramis Knight, Moises Arias, Jimmy Pinchak, Suraj Parthasarathy, Conor Carroll and Khylin Rhambo. Breslin will play Ender’s sister; Steinfeld will Ender’s ally.

Asa Butterfield of Hugo fame was cast in the title role. Production will begin in New Orleans in early 2012, for a March 15, 2013 release. Marvel Comics has released five graphic novels based on the Orson Scott Card novel.

Peter Weller in "Star Trek" Sequel

A couple bits of casting news for the Star Trek sequel came out on Monday. Actor/director Peter Weller of Robocop fame has been signed to join the cast of J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek sequel, according to Deadline. Alice Eve and Benicia del Toro have also been cast to join the actors playing the permanent cast from the first film in the reboot series.

And the rumor that came out last weekend that del Toro would be playing the iconic character Khan has been denied by both the studio and Abrams.

RIP Anne McCaffrey

'Pern' Creator Dead at 85

Groundbreaking fantasy author Anne McCaffrey has passed away of a stroke on Monday, November 21, 2011 at her home in Ireland. McCaffrey is best known for the Dragonriders of Pern universe. She authored or co-authored nearly 100 books, with a lot of firsts as a writer:

First woman to win a Hugo Award (1968, for “Weyr Search”)

First woman to win a Nebula Award (1969, for “Dragonrider”)

First with a science fiction title on the New York Times Bestseller List (1978, The White Dragon)

McCaffrey was recognized as one of the best ever for her impressive career:

Named Grand Master by the Science Fiction Writers of America (2005)

Joined Science Fiction Hall of Fame (June 2006)

The Pern universe was introduced in the award winning short story, “Weyr Search” in Analog Science Fiction and Fact, in 1967. “Weyr Search, the novella “Dragonrider,” and a third story were published as the first Pern novel, Dragonflight, in 1968. The initial Dragonrider trilogy was not completed until 1976. McCaffrey began collaborating with her son Todd McCaffrey since 2003.
Fantasy artist Michael Whelan was strongly associated with McCaffrey due to the numerous covers he did for her books. Eclipse published three graphic novels based on Dragonflight in 1991. Mayfair Games produced a Dragonriders of Pern boardgame in 1983.

Doctor Who Movie Gets Director

David Yates, who directed the last four Harry Potter films, is attached to direct a Doctor Who feature film, according to Variety. The film is being produced by BBC Worldwide Productions. Yates is currently looking for a writer, and says the process may take a while. He told Variety, “We’re going to spend two to three years to get it right.”

The plan for the story is to take off in a new direction that’s not tied too directly to the TV show; Yates said the property will need a “radical transformation” for the big screen treatment.
TV showrunner Stephen Moffat gave his blessing for a feature over three years ago ,giving some indication of the lengthy timeline this project may take.

Among licensees, IDW Publishing has the comics, Titan Publishing Group has the magazines and Cubicle 7 the roleplaying game.

Justice League : Doom -- New OAV

Warner Home Video will release Justice League: Doom, a new animated feature starring DC’s most popular superteam, in early 2012. The script was the last work by the late Dwayne McDuffie. It was inspired by Mark Waid’s “JLA: Tower of Babel” storyline, and finds the Justice League in peril when supervillains discover Batman’s contingency plans for stopping a rogue member.

Justice League: Doom will feature the voice talents of Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern and Tim Daly as Superman, along with the actors that starred in the Justice League animated series: Kevin Conroy as Batman, Michael Rosenbaum as Flash, Susan Eisenberg as Wonder Woman, and Carl Lumbly as J’onn J’onzz/martian Manhunter. Bumper Robinson will voice Cyborg; David Kaufman will voice Jimmy Olsen.

The Royal Flush Gang and six notable villains will appear in the film. Villainous voices will include Phil Morris as Vandal Savage, Olivia d’Abo as Star Sapphire, Alexis Denisof as Mirror Master, Carlos Alazraqui as Bane, Paul Blackthorne as Metallo, and Claudia Black as Cheetah.

The trailer for the film (along with the Catwoman short attached to Batman: Year One, will be shown during the Warner Home Video presentation at New York Comic Con.