Final Tennant Doctor Who's to America

BBC America will air the five Doctor Who specials that wrap up David Tennant’s tenure on the show, according to Variety. The Next Doctor (the Christmas special) will air on June 27th; and Planet of the Dead will air in July. The remaining three specials have not been scheduled.

Tennant’s star power is also being used on spinoff show The Sarah Jane Adventures, according to a BBC announcement. He’ll appear in two episodes of the new 12-part season.

The Sarah Jane Adventures tells stories starring investigative journalist Sarah Jane Smith, a former Doctor’s companion. Smith’s role is played by Elisabeth Sladen. Tennant’s appearance is promised as a significant role, and not a cameo.

13 Episodes of "V"

ABC announced today that it has ordered 13 episodes of the 80s reboot V, with plans for a four-season series with a beginning, middle and end. Seasons are expected to be 13 to 22 episodes each.

Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost) will star as an FBI agent whose son is involved with the aliens, with Joel Gretsch, Scott Wolf, Logan Huffman, Morris Chestnut, Morena Baccarin, and Lourdes Benedicto rounding out the cast.

Viz Confirms 'Shojo Beat' Cancellation

Viz Media has confirmed that the July 2009 issue of Shojo Beat, its monthly shojo anthology magazine, will be the last. The final issue hits newsstands June 16th.

Subscribers will receive a free copy of the August issue of Shonen Jump with information on their subscription or refund options.

“We are very proud of the past issues of Shojo Beat magazine and the efforts of the entire team,” a Viz spokesperson said. “The magazine developed quite a fan base but unfortunately in today’s difficult economic climate we felt the need to place our resources elsewhere at this time.”

The Shojo Beat graphic novel imprint and Website will remain active, and “all of our great shojo manga titles previously serialized in Shojo Beat magazine will still be published and available as graphic novels under the Shojo Beat imprint from Viz Media," according to the spokesperson.

The Shojo Beat magazine launched in 2005, but never achieved anything near the sales levels of Shonen Jump.

'Primeval' Movie Planned

Warner Bros. has picked up the movie rights to the British science fiction TV series Primeval, according to Variety. The show, which has aired in the U.S. on BBC America, tells stories of wormholes through which fierce futuristic and prehistoric creatures appear. The TV series is set in the UK; the movie will be set in the U.S.

Zits Motion Comics

Zits Motion Comics will be featured on Comics Kingdom, King Features’ online comic distribution platform for local newspapers. The roughly 30 second episodes will be displayed on the sites of the participating newspapers, and on YouTube. Each will feature voice talent, music, and the characters’ movement in and out of the panels. Zits is one of the most popular daily strips in history, and runs in over 1600 newspapers worldwide.

King Features has also expanded the newspapers participating in Comics Kingdom, adding New York Daily News, Denver Post, San Antonio Express-News, Toronto Star, Las Vegas Review Journal, Santa Fe New Mexican, Spokesman Review, Sarasota Herald-Tribune and Tulsa World.

The Comics Kingdom site is being updated, with enhanced landing page, promotions, and a favorites feature that allows visitors to view their selected comics four at a time.

Five Viz Anime on FUNimation Channel

Five Viz anime series will launch on the FUNimation Channel in the next few months, marking a significant expansion of Viz’ presence on the channel. The series are Buso Renkin, Hunter X Hunter, Monster, Honey and Clover and Nana.

The series are slated to launch in the “late spring and summer” months.

Transformers and G I Joe DVD Sets Coming

Shout! Factory will release the Transformers and GI Joe TV series from the 80s on DVD, along with the My Little Pony direct-to-video features, according to Hollywood Reporter. Shout Factory plans to release improved versions of the episodes that were previously released on DVD by Rhino, and to complete the GI Joe run, which was only partially completed by Rhino.

The first Shout Factory release will be a three disc set of The Transformers: The Complete First Season—25th Anniversary Edition, which will street June 16th (leading into the theatrical release of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen on the 24th). The episodes will have remastered video and a new stereo soundtrack created from the original audio. Extras will include a printable script, rare PSAs, toy commercials, concept art, a limited edition Autobot magnet, and the featurette “Triplechanger: From Toy to Comic to Screen: The Origins of the Transformers.”

Complete series sets of both Transformers and GI Joe are planned for later in the summer.