DHep #216 - Facing Reality

Doctor Who turning 50, Green Lantern drops the ball, World of Warcraft gets a director, Star War re-release gets stop and reality television is here to stay and we discuss it the Hideout way. Enjoy.

Star Wars' 3D Death

Yeah, it's that dumb

There will be no more re-releases of star Wars movies in 3D as Lucasfilm has decided not to bring the remaining movies to theaters in order to concentrate on production of the next set of film.  This seems to be another positive effect of Disney taking over the property and hiring JJ Abrams to direct the first of the next set of trilogies.  Phantom Menace was released last year to not so great box office and Attack of the Clones was supposed to come this year.  The first film of the new trilogy is set to be released in 2015. It is a sure bet this will be in 3-D.

Directing WoW

WoW Director

Looks like Legendary Pictures has found its director for the upcoming World of Warcraft movie, the most popular MMORPG on the planet.  According to Hollywood Reporter Legendary has signed David Bowie's son, Duncan Jones, to direct the movie due out in 2015.  Jones directed Source Code in 2011 and the cult hit/box office flop Moon in 2009.  Jones is also reported to be directing a bio-pic based on the life of James Bond creator, Ian Fleming.  This teams Jones with writer Charles Levitt who was recently hired to adapt the game-to-movie.  If anyone remembers Sam Raimi was attached to direct since 2009 but left the production for unknown reasons.

Who Mad Who

The 1st Doctor

On November 23rd, 2013 Doctor Who is turning 50 years old, and they are going to make a movie about it.  No, not a movie about the adventures of The Doctor, but a documentary/bio-pic about the creation of first show, called "An Adventure in Space and Time.  David Bradley will star as the first Doctor, William Hartnell, and Brian Cox will pay Sydney Newman, then BBC's head of drama.  Jessica Raine will play Verity Lambert, the show's producer, and Sacha Dhawan will play Waris Hussein, the director of the very first episode.  Shooting will start February 2013 and they hope to have the movie ready coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the longest running Science Fiction television show ever.

Harbinger the Marvel Way

The Original

Paramount Pictures has stalled on the proposed "Harbinger" movies because they were afraid of that the same kind of lawsuits that plagued the movie Watchmen would be a problem for them.  Valiant Entertainment group has therefore taken back the movie rights and plan to go the Marvel way and develop the film in-house.  Paramount options the movie rights back in 2008 and because of advice from their lawyers did not move forward with the project.  Harbingers was originally created by Jim Shooter way back in the 1990's and the property has passed through more than a few hands since the comic company first went under a few years later.  According to Variety, Valiant is in talked with writer Stephen Susco, who wrote Texas Chainsaw Massacre, to write the adaptations and Brett Ratner to direct.

DHep #215 - Black Hollywood Solutions

Ranting about haters, JJ Abrams on Star Wars, Django Toys, Being Human, Banshee, Rise of the Third Army and a discussion on solutions Black Hollywood could use to solve the problems it faces. All this plus best in podcast on another exciting episode of the Hideout. Enjoy.

In A Abrams Far, Far Away

Best News EVER!!!

It's been confirmed.  LucasFilms has made an official announcement that the rumors all over the internet all week long that JJ Abrams is signing up to direct the next Star Wars movie are true.  Right now the LOST creator, Star Trek director and geek demi-god is in final talks but the stamp of Lucas Film announcement pretty much shuts down all doubts.  Back in December Abram said he'd rather be a fan in the seat watching the film, but according to reports Star Wars producer Kathleen Kennedy was persistent and eventually persuaded Abrams to take on the challenge of reinvigorating the Star Wars movie franchise.  Star Wars creator George Lucas gave his blessing to the selection of Abrams. “I’ve consistently been impressed with J.J. as a filmmaker and storyteller,” said Lucas. “He’s an ideal choice to direct the new Star Wars film and the legacy couldn’t be in better hands.”  It just doesn't get more official then that.

Robotech Direction

Giant Robots Rule

Warner Bros. has tapped Nick Mathieu to helm the big budget, big screen adaptation of the venerable Robotech anime/cartoon franchise.  Put together by the late Carl Macek from three different anime series, Robotech was instrumental in stimulating American interest in anime, and in particular in developing a taste here for mecha-heavy science fiction sagas that feature piloted transforming robots and planes.  Warner Bros. has been developing a big screen, live-action adaptation of Robotech since 2007.  A number of writers have had a hand in trying to fashion a Robotech screenplay including Lawrence Kasdan.

Django Untoyed

Seriously Offensive?

For some inexplicable reason, NECA decided to make Django Unchained toys?  WFT?  The toys were on the shelves for a hot minute before Al Sharpton protested the idea.  The protest gained enough steam for NECA to pull the toys off the market, which caused a Ebay frenzy of over inflated prices.  Some were going from $350 to $500, then it got even crazier when the Broomhilder toy got listed for $19,999.99.   Ebay put a halt to the toy sales under it's "offensive materials" policy - which state member cannot sell such items because they graphically portray violence or victims of violence, unless they have substantial social, artistic, or political value.  Makes you wonder why the Mayans had to be wrong when stupidity like this happens.

Arrow's Song

River flow to Arrow

Alex Kingston, who starred as River Song in the fourth series of the new Doctor Who in 2008, has taken the role of Dinah Lance, the mother of Laurel Lance and the ex-wife of Detective Quentin Lance, played by Paul Blackthorne, on the CW’s Arrow TV series.  The name of the character "Dinah Lance" is another reference by the TV show’s producers to the DC Comics universe where "Dinah Drake Lance" was the alter ego of the Golden Age Black Canary.  According to EW.com, Kingston’s role on Arrow will be that of a recurring guest star.  She is the second Doctor Who alum to join the cast. John Barrowman has a continuing role on Arrow as the sociopathic businessman Malcom Merlyn.

DHep #214 - Black Hollywood vs White Hollwood

Do geeks scars directors away from Star Wars, or is it the dumbest thing you've ever heard. Does FOX News make people that stupid? Does Sin City 2 really exist? Are a comic about X-chicks really about a bunch of men in drag? Did SyFy really cancel a great show? And is there really a "black" Hollywood and a "white" Hollywood? All these question get answer the Hideout way in this episode. Enjoy.

Sin City 2: That's Still Happening?

Coming real soon

The cast for Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller’s Sin City 2: A Dame to Kill For has been augmented with a trio of newcomers to the franchise that includes British starlet Juno Temple , veteran actor Ray Liotta, and Jeremy Piven.  The trio joins returning cast members Jessica Alba, Rosario Dawson, Jamie King, and Mickey Rourke.  Other actors joining the Sin City 2 cast include Joseph Gordon-Leavitt, Dennis Haysbert, Josh Brolin, and Jamie Chung. Given the speed with which Rodriguez works and the "green screen" technology employed in the Sin City films, the directors should have no trouble making their October release date.

X-Chicks

The ladies take over

An all-new Marvel NOW! X-Men series will launch in April with X-Men #1.  The ongoing series, written by Brian Wood and drawn by Oliver Coipel (Avengers VS. X-Men), features a mutant lineup comprised entirely of females:  April, Storm, Rogue, Jubilee, Kitty Pryde, Rachel Grey, Rogue, and Psylocke.  The all-woman group must formulate a plan of action when an old enemy appears at their doorstep, seeking refuge from an ancient foe. Complicating matters is Jubilee, who brings home "an orphaned baby who might hold the key to the Earth’s survival."

Alpha Finish

So long to a great show

Syfy is not moving forward with Alphas after two seasons. The cable network has canceled the one-hour drama created by Zak Penn and Michael Karnow, which centered on an unlikely team of ordinary people with superhuman physical and mental abilities that took on mysterious cases the CIA, FBI and Pentagon were unable to solve.  This comes months after Alphas wrapped its sophomore season in October with just a little more than 1 million viewers tuning in to the finale. Alphas, starring David Strathairn, began with more than double that viewership in July 2011 with 2.5 million viewers for its series launch.  For its part, Syfy is banking on projects from M. Night Shyamalan, Ronald D. Moore and Bryan Fuller in the works for series consideration to add to its slate, which includes scripted fare Being Human, Continuum and Lost Girl. Syfy will roll out Defiance in April.

DHep #213 - Oscar, Oscar, Oscar

This episode tried to but could not escape a discussion about the Oscar nomination - so it's a show about the Oscar nomination. Also, death of an internet hero, a look at New New Avengers, showing some love to a sexy Cosplayer and a rant about over posting on Facebook. No bad movies where hurt in the taping of this episode. Enjoy.

The President's S.H.I.E.L.D.

Yes, Colson is coming back

ABC TV President Paul Lee continues to rave about the potential of the Joss Whedon-penned S.H.I.E.L.D. TV series that appears destined for the fall 2013 network lineup.  Lee told reporters at the Television Critics Association winter tour that "We fast-tracked that pilot and we’ll see it a lot earlier than the others.  We’re very hopeful that it’s going to go to series…it’s a great script."  Deadline is reporting that Lee admitted that Whedon "is already working on (more) scripts for the series," though he was also careful to temper his praise by saying that he “didn’t want to jinx it."

Oscar, Oscar, Oscar

Oscar Award nominations are in and here's the Hideout short list:

Best Movie – Argo, Django Unchained, Zero Dark Thirty, Lincoln, Life of Pi, Les Miserables

Best Actor – Daniel Day Lewis (Lincoln), Denzil Washington (Flight), Hugh Jackman (Les Misérables)

Best Actress - Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty), Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook), aomi Watts (The Impossible)

Best Supporting Actor:  Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained), Philip Seymour Hoffman (The Master), Robert De Niro (Silver Linings Playbook), Alan Arkin (Argo)

Best Supporting Actress - Sally Field (Lincoln), Anne Hathaway (Les Miserables), Jacki Weaver, (Silver Linings Playbook), Helen Hunt (The Sessions), Amy Adams (The Master)

Best Director - David O. Russell (Silver Linings Playbook), Ang Lee (Life of Pi), Steven Spielberg (Lincoln), Michael Haneke (Amour), Benh Zeitlin (Beasts of the Southern Wild)

Best Original Screenplay - Zero Dark Thirty, Django Unchained, Moonrise Kingdom, Amour, Flight

Best Animated Feature - Frankenweenie, The Pirates! Band of Misfits, Wreck-It Ralph, Paranorman, Brave
Best Visual Effects - Life of Pi, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Avengers, Prometheus, Snow White and the Huntsman

Best Cinematography - Skyfall, Anna Karenina, Django Unchained, Life of Pi, Lincoln

Best Costume Design - Anna Karenina, Les Miserables, Lincoln, Mirror Mirror, Snow White and the Huntsman

DHep #212 - Bottled Lightening

Facebook feedback, has 3D gone to far, Django gets heatedly unchained, family films with Popeye and Dinosaurs and a discussion on what exactly is consider an Icon as opposed to iconic, all this and some best in podcast to on the 1st episode of 2013. Enjoy.

Tablets vs Toys

Move Over Legos & Barbie

Tablets were a hot gift this holiday season, and may be diverting funds that otherwise would be spent on toys, according to the New York Post.  The toy biz is set to post a 3-4% decline in 2012, the worst year-over-year change in 30 years, according to a BMO Securities analyst interviewed by the Post.  This is believable given early reports that tracked fewer container-loads of toys coming into the country before the holidays. Tablets are being given as gifts to kids as young as three years old and toy executives are "terrified" of the trend, according to UPI.  An analyst from Needham & Company described the situation.  "The top two guys, Mattel and Hasbro, they are terrified," he said.  "They should be terrified, but the official party line is they’re not terrified.

Munsters Mashed

A Great Pilot

NBC has decided not to move forward with its Munsters reboot, 1313 Mockingbird Lane, creator Bryan Fuller tweeted.  The show was already in big trouble when the decision was made to air the $10 million pilot on Halloween, and the final decision has now been made.

Carter Out

Need New Flashback, We Guess

Hayley Atwell has revealed that she will not be back as Peggy Carter in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, according to Time Out.  A few cast members have been revealed: Frank Grillo as Red Skull henchman Crosssbones, Chris Evans in the title role, and Sebastian Stan as Bucky.  Captain America: The Winter Soldier will premiere April 4, 2014.

Who Views Who

The Doctor Who Christmas Special set a BBC America record in the 25-54 demo, according to Hollywood Reporter. It also tied the Season 7 premier for the best over-all BBC America ratings ever, with roughly 1.43 million viewers.  The Special was the first appearance of Jenna-Louise Coleman as the Doctor’s new companion.

Peter David Update

Get Well Soon, Sir!

Comic writer and novelist Peter David has suffered a stroke while on vacation in Florida, he announced on his Website.  "I cannot see properly and I cannot move my right arm or leg,” he reported.  "We are currently getting the extent of the damage sorted out and will report as further details become clarified."  His wife Kathleen reported on her blog that David was able to grasp using his right hand by Tuesday, although other effects were still being felt.  As of 1/4/2013 Peter David is headed to an in-patient rehabilitation facility when his hospitalization is complete, and will be released from the hospital when his condition allows. David is able to move more easily than immediately after the stroke and sat up in a chair for a time on Wednesday, his wife said.

Somebody Sue Me

There was a lawsuit?

Smallville production company Tollin/Robbins Productions has settled its suit against Warner Bros., according to Hollywood Reporter.  Terms were not disclosed.  The suit, for over $100 million, had alleged that Warners’ negotiations with its sister companies, the networks WB and CW, were not at arms length and had the effect of reducing the amount of profits in which the exec producers were to share.  The suit also alleged that Warners payment of royalties to sister company DC Comics amounted to paying itself for the rights and also unfairly reduced the profits on which shares were calculated.  Paying DC for Smallville rights reduced the production company’s share by over $13 million, the suit had alleged, implying a fairly hefty pay-out to DC.

Fahrenheit M.O.O.R.E.

It's Everything You Think

The Greenville County Library Executive Director Beverly James over-ruled the system’s challenge committee to remove Alan Moore and Jacen Burrows’ Neonomicon from the system’s shelves after a complaint by a parent whose child got access to the book from the library’s "adult" section, according to Greenville Online.  James told the site she removed the book after she read it and found it "disgusting."  The key source of her discomfort apparently came not from the content, but from the comics medium.  "She acknowledged the library has many books that deal in such detail with the very same subject matter--racism, rape, murder, sex--but for her, the pictures gave her pause," the report said.

R.I.P. Gerry Anderson

King of Supermarionation

Gerry Anderson passed away at the age of 83 on 12/26/2012, after suffering from Alzheimer's since 2010.  The disease had worsened in recent months according to his son.  He was the creator of such shows as Thunderbirds, the Mysterons, Captain Scarlet, UFO, Space: 1999, Supercar and Fireball XL5.

DHep #211 - 2012 Award Show Spectacular

This is out sixth annual award show spectacular where we pick the best of 2012, Dafixer's Hideout style, all leading up to the top 10 podcasts of 2012. Sit back, have a good time, and enjoy the hell out of it.