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.