Vancouver Goes Beyond The "Fringe"

Sneak Peek the newest key art supporting the Vancouver-lensed TV series "Fringe".

Created by J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, the show follows a Boston-based FBI 'Fringe Division' investigative team, under the supervision of US Homeland Security, that uses unorthodox science to probe into 'The Pattern', a series of unexplained, ghastly occurrences happening regularly throughout the world.

Following a $10 million Toronto-lensed, Fox TV-pilot, "Fringe" moved production to New York City, producing 24 episodes for the first season, then re-located to Vancouver for the second season as a 'cost-cutting' measure.

The show has since been renewed for a third season.

"...Special agent 'Olivia Dunham', scientist 'Walter Bishop' and his son 'Peter Bishop' get involved in all aspects of 'fringe science' including chimeras, psychic abilities and teleportation..."

Co-creator Abrams took his 'inspiration' for the show from a range of sources, including director Ken Russell's "Altered States" and TV series "The X-Files".

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Fringe"...

C

Crom! Hither Came "Conan"

Sneak Peek actor Jason Momoa as the 'Cimmerian' barbarian 'Conan', surrounded by ale-house 'wenches', in a scene adapting author Robert E. Howard's "Conan", set during the 'Hyborian' age.

Directed by Marcus Nispel, the new "Conan" co-stars Rachel Nichols, Stephen Lang, Bob Sapp, Leo Howard, Ron Perlman, Said Taghmaoui and Rose McGowan.

"Hither came Conan, the Cimmerian, black-haired, sullen-eyed, sword in hand, with gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth, to tread the jeweled thrones of the Earth under his sandalled feet..."

"Conan" started shooting mid-March, based on a screenplay by Joshua"Sahara"Oppenheimer and Thomas Dean "Cowboys & Aliens" Donnelly, closely adhering to Howard's shadowy "Weird Tales" pulp magagzine stories from the 1930's.

Joe Gatta and Avi Lerner of Millennium Films are producing "Conan" along with Paradox Entertainment president/CEO Fredrik Malmberg, rights holder of the Robert E. Howard estate.

Millennium is eyeing a potential franchise for the R-rated $85 million sex/violence feature, lensing at Nu Image's Bulgarian Nu Boyana Studio and in South Africa.

"The story opens on the battlefield where Conan is born and tells the origin story that sets the stage for what will be the first of multiple films," said producer Lerner.

Created by Howard in 1932,

'Conan the Cimmerian',

associated with the fantasy subgenre 'sword 'n sorcery', has since appeared in licensed books, comics, films, television programs and video games.

'Conan the Barbarian' is also the name of a Gnome Press collection of stories published in 1954, comics/magazines published by Marvel, Lancer paperback novels, feature films and a TV series.

Swedish company Paradox, legal owners of the entire REH estate, li

censed Dark Horse Comics to revive the character for new "Conan" comic books in 2004, as well as supervise the development of an online RPG "Age of Conan".

Nispel said the look of the film will reflect the fantasy paintings of iconic 'Conan' illustrator Frank Frazetta.

Over the years, several "Conan" stories have been written by authors Poul Anderson, Leonard Carpenter, Lin Carter, L. Sprague de Camp, Roland J. Green, John C. Hocking, Robert Jordan, Sean A. Moore, Björn Nyberg, Andrew J. Offutt, Steve Perry, John Maddox Roberts, Harry Turtledove and Karl Edward Wagner.

Some of these writers finished incomplete Conan manuscripts by Howard, or rewrote Howard stories which originally featured different characters. Most post-Howard Conan stories, however, are completely original works.

In total, more than fifty novels and dozens of short stories featuring the Conan character have been written by authors other than Howard.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Conan"...

Free Party @ TIFF Bell Lightbox- September 12

To celebrate the opening of TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto, a free block party will be held September 12, 2010, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m, with an array of programming in the heart of Toronto's entertainment district, including a concert line-up, free pastries and a movie star look-alike contest.

Following the official ribbon cutting, TIFF will offer free admission to the building @ Reitman Square, welcoming visitors to experience special screenings, film-based artworks from artists/filmmakers and the 'Essential Cinema' exhibition.

After negotiating with filmmaker Ivan Reitman ("Ghostbusters"), whose family owns the land, TIFF Bell Lightbox was constructed as a five-storey complex, designed by architecture firm KPMB, with support by sponsors Bell, the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada, the King and John Festival Corporation (the Reitman family and Daniels Corporation), RBC, BlackBerry, the Copyright Collective of Canada, the Slaight Family Foundation, The Daniels Corporation, NBC Universal Canada, the Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation, the Harbinger Foundation, Mackenzie Financial, CIBC and BMO...

Amber Checks Into Carpenter's "Ward"

Sneak Peek the first photos of actress Amber Heard, starring in director John Carpenter's "The Ward", based on a screenplay by Michael Rasmussen and Shawn Rasmussen. Cast also includes Danielle Panabaker, Mika Boorem, and Jared Harris.

"The Ward" follows an 'institutionalized' woman, 'Kristen' (Heard) who is haunted by a mysterious ghost.

"...As danger creeps closer, she comes to realize that this ghost might be darker than anything she ever could have imagined..."

Produced by Peter Block, Doug Mankoff, Mike Marcus and Andrew Spaulding, "The Ward" is the first Carpenter film in nine years, since 2001's "Ghosts of Mars".

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "The Ward"...

"Tron: Legacy" - It's Not A Game Anymore

Sneak Peek the fan-based 'IMAX' poster supporting the Vancouver-lensed sci-fi feature "Tron: Legacy".

Meanwhile, Marvel Comics reports that "TRON: The Betrayal #1, a new two-issue limited series serializing the graphic novel from Disney Publishing Worldwide, will tie into Walt Disney Pictures' "TRON: Legacy".

The first comic books will arrive in October, serving as a prequel to "TRON: Legacy", opening in Disney Digital 3DTM and IMAX 3D, December 17, 2010.

"...The storytelling picks up in the aftermath of Walt Disney Pictures' first film in its franchise 'TRON'. 'Kevin Flynn' is now in charge of 'Encom', the world's largest video game company. Kevin, a break-through game developer, has built the 'Grid', a digital world filled with living programs. This new virtual world is about to develop a life of its own and, in order to control it, Flynn's going to need to help of an old friend...named 'Tron'..."

"Marvel Publishing is excited to bring Disney Book Group's first TRON graphic novel to comic book fans in this limited series," said Ruwan Jayatilleke, Marvel Senior Vice President, Development & Planning, Print, Animation and Digital Media. "So whether you're new to TRON or a longtime fan, TRON: THE BETRAYAL is an action-packed thrill-ride that will not disappoint!"

"TRON: "The Betrayal" #1 (of 2), written by Jai Nitz, is illustrated by Andie Tong with a cover by Salvadaor Larroca.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "TRON" Legacy"...

"Ilsa Pucci" Takes Aim @ "Human Target"- October 1

The second season of the Fox, Vancouver-lensed "Human Target" TV series, based on the DC Comics title, debuts Friday, October 1, with the episode "Ilsa Pucci".

"Ilsa Pucci," introduces the new character 'Ilsa Pucci', played by UK actress Indira Varma.

"...In the episode 'Ilsa Pucci', billionaire Ilsa (Varma) finds herself in need of the services of the 'Human Target' bodyguard, 'Christopher Chance' (Mark Valley), while 'Ames' (Janet Montgomery), causes heartbreak and headache..."

Meanwhile, DC Comics new 6-issue mini-series "Human Target", written by Len Wein and illustrated by Bruno Redondo with covers by artist Lee Bermejo, continues to adapt the TV series.

The updated comic book series debuted February 10, written by Wein and Peter Johnson.

"...After 'Christopher Chance' is hired to protect a highly placed informant and collect evidence around Europe, every assassin and goon from Paris to Prague starts aiming for the Human Target..."

The Fox TV series is executive produced by Jonathan Steinberg and Matt Miller ("Chuck").

"'Christopher Chance' is a unique private contractor/security expert/bodyguard hired when an unusual or imminent threat cannot be solved through normal means of protection. Chance works with his business partner and trusted friend, 'Winston' and hired gun 'Guerrero', to integrate himself completely into his clients lives..."

"Human Target" stars Mark "Boston Legal" Valley as the DC Comics character, created in 1972, by Wein and illustrator Carmine Infantino, following detective/bodyguard 'Christopher Chance' who impersonates clients to eliminate threats, becoming the 'human target'.

Writer Peter Milligan and illustrator Edvin Biukovic revived the character in 1999 for a four-issue limited series followed by the graphic novel "Human Target: Final Cut", an ongoing series that lasted 21 issues.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Human Target"...

"DC Universe Online": Enter "Wonder Woman"

Sneak Peek new screen shots featuring DC Comics' "Wonder Woman", in her traditional 1940's costume, for the new massively multiplayer online role-playing game, "DC Universe Online", debuting November 2, 2010.

The story of DCUO is set in the 'present day', beginning with the arrival of a time-traveling 'Lex Luthor' who has come to warn the Earth about a future battle that kills off the majority of heroes and villains, leaving the planet vulnerable to an invasion by 'Brainiac'.

The exclusively online game will offer a dramatic setting where players can enter the DC Universe and battle alongside/against their favorite DC Comics heroes/villains including comic book icons 'Batman', 'Superman', 'Wonder Woman', 'The Joker', 'Green Lantern', 'The Flash', 'Catwoman' and 'Martian Manhunter', set in locations as diverse as 'Arkham Asylum', 'Gotham City' and 'Metropolis'.

Based on the artwork/designs of comic book artist Jim Lee, the 'physics-based cobat system' turns vehicles, streetlights and other players into weapons, resulting in dynamic combat scenarios.

Actor Mark Hamill ("Star Wars") again voices 'The Joker', with Kevin Conroy ("The Office") voicing 'Batman'.

"We're excited that not only will Mark and Kevin bring their talent back to the DC Universe as part of DC Universe Online, but we've hit the jackpot with a full cast that are veterans of movies, TV shows and games that our fans are crazy about," said Sony Online Entertainment Vice President of Development, John Blakely.

"Several of these actors are recognized as the definitive voices for these characters, and will help us in creating an authentic and exciting experience for fans when they get in the game."

Other cast members include Adam Baldwin as 'Superman', Gina Torres as 'Wonder Woman', James Marsters as 'Lex Luthor'/'Brainiac', Michelle Forbes as 'Circe' Diedrich Bader as 'Solomon Grundy', Maria Canals Barrera as 'Hawkgirl', Powers Boothe as 'Gorilla Grodd', Greg Cipes as 'Beast Boy', Doug Erholtz as 'Hal Jordan', Summer Glau as 'Supergirl', Jennifer Hale as 'Zatanna', Megan Hollingshead as 'Starfire'/'Ravager', Yuri Lowenthal as 'Nightwing',Vincent Martella as 'Robin', Robert Patrick as 'Hawkman', Khary Payton as 'Cyborg', Michael Rosenbaum as 'Flash', Patrick Seitz as 'Deathstroke', Tara Strong as 'Raven' and Tony Todd as 'Darkseid.

DCUO will be a 'subscription-based' revenue model, rather than using 'microtransactions'.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "DC Universe Online"...