bad news of the week

7/28/05:

Voltron Jumps On Movie Bandwagon
         Go-Bots can't be far behind now as a big-screen Voltron movie is being developed on the heels of recent announcements for other cartoon adaptations Transformers, Smurfs and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  My guess is that the movie will feature the giant robot formed from colorful lions rather than the vehicular version that I preferred.  Nowadays the lion type just looks like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.  And speaking of lions, how long do we have to wait for that Thundercats film?  (Hollywood Reporter)

Jessica Simpson is a Follower
          Jessica Simpson will star in a movie called Major Movie Star about a failed actress who enlists in the marine reserve.  Simpson says that she chose the role because it is what Goldie Hawn would do.  I doubt that, since Hawn already did it, pretty much, with Private Benjamin.  No need for a rip-off or a star without a mind of her own.  What is next, a film where she gets amnesia and is tricked into being a slavewoman?  (ComingSoon.net)

Other Remakes and Adaptations
          Lucy Liu as Charlie Chan?  How about his granddaughter?  Screenwriter Dan McDermott, who seems to enjoy 'updating' series (like The Omen 666), has been hired to deliver a new spin-off of the classic detective franchise popular in the '30s and '40s.  Jennifer Klein, formerly an associative producer for Michael Bay films, is running the project for 20th Century Fox. (Hollywood Reporter) 

         Universal, known for its classic monster movies, will be one day known for its horrible monster movie remakes.  Having recycled The Mummy and King Kong, their next step is The Creature From the Black Lagoon, starring Bill Paxton.  Anyone want to bet that they go for a completely new design on the creature, further distancing themselves from any respect possible?  (Bloody-Disgusting)

          Universal has also announced an adaptation of the video game God of War, which follows an ex-Spartan warrior on a quest against creatures such as Medusa and Cyclops.  Sounds like the studio could do for mythology what they did for monsters in Van Helsing, and I'd just like to remind Universal that Ray Harryhausen is still alive.  Oh, and computer effects suck Wolfman's nards.  (Variety)

remake:  Oliver Hirschbiegel's version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers gains momentum with the casting of Nicole Kidman. (Production Weekly)

comic book adaptation:  MTV Films is bringing the Dark Horse comic Damn Nation to the big screen because they don't think we've already seen too many vampire movies. 

video game adaptations:  Uwe Boll's film of Dungeon Siege loses bankability with the casting of Claire Forlani.  (Hollywood Reporter)

novel adaptation:  Russell Crowe and director Ridley Scott team up again for A Good Year, based on Peter Mayle's novel.  (Variety)

deaths:  Danny Simon (1919-2005), comedy writer and brother of Neil.  He is known as the inspiration for The Odd Couple, but did you know he was a producer on Mortal Kombat?
               William Simpson Kenly III (1919-2005), film historian and archivist for Paramount and The New York Film Festival.  He also managed one of the first art cinemas in the country.