No, not that one, but an Australian TV producer and writer. This time the rumor comes from SciFiNow. (via)
Fresh live-action series rumors from down under
Sci Fi Australia is reporting that their ‘inside sources’ say that Rick McCallum has approached several acclaimed local ‘chick show’ writers.
However, let’s note that ‘approached’ is not the same as ‘hired’… As a certain Doctor Who showrunner can attest.
Rumor: A new Buffy animated series?
TV Overmind is reporting that a new Buffy the Vampire Slayer animated series is in the works, based on the “Season 8” comic books:
What is certain is that because they’re using the comic books as their starting point, all our favorite characters will be returning and this animated series will compliment the original series. Whether any of the original cast will provide voices is uncertain (though I’m doubtful). But Joss Whedon is involved.
This isn’t the first we’ve heard of a Buffy animated series, of course: Fox was developing one in 2002, but it never went furthur than a 4-minute “pilot.” Will this new attempt will ever get beyond the rumor stage? We’ll just have to wait and see.
Rumor: Futurama lives?!?!
Collider.com is reporting that Comedy Central has placed a 13 episode order for the best science fiction cartoon ever. I hope to Space Pope that it’s true. (via)
Checking on on the live-action show
Tagne of StarWars-Universe.com found that the Star Wars live-action show is listed as being in pre-production by the Screen Australia (Warning: PDF link) website. He contacted Lucasfilm, who said:
The live-action series is still too far off for any immediately impending announcements, but feel free to keep checking in!
Screen Australia is probably jumping the gun – we have nothing solid (only hearsay) about casting yet, and if Wikipedia is to be trusted (I know, I know,) that at least would come before pre-production began officially. But the fact is, Lucasfilm is playing things close to their chest at this point, so we just don’t know.
It’s not much, but hey: Any little bit, right?
Lucasfilm shooting new Star Tours footage
So sayeth /Film, anyway. We’ve heard a rumor or two hinting at that in the past year or so, and it could certainly use the refresher. Some details:
Our source reveals that the revamp will incorporate prequel characters (like Naboo citizens and Geonosians) along with many aliens from the original trilogy (Aqualish. Bith, Rodians, etc). In the action sequence, the Star Tours vehicle is now going to be chased by Boba Fett. C3PO and R2-D2 are still the hosts, and Anthony Daniels will be recording his parts this week. Admiral Ackbar holographically communicates with the Star Tours vehicle. Right now they’re shooting mostly green screen footage, as it is the middle part of the production timeline.
..Yay? (Star Tours at night photo by Loren Javier @ Flickr.)
eBook tie-in to Fate of the Jedi? Uhh… Maybe?
Rebelscum has discovered… somehow… what they say is a Fate of the Jedi eBook tie-in: Lost Tribe of the Sith 1: Precipice by Knights of the Old Republic’s John Jackson Miller. Looks like a duck, quacks like a duck and I doubt they made it up out of whole cloth. Hopefully this means we’ll get official info very soon.
Laga’aia talking to Lucas about live-action role?
Jay Laga’aia (Captain Typho) has told New Zealand’s Dominion Post that he has talked with George Lucas about a role in the live-action TV show which officially isn’t casting at all. Here’s a quote from the article, which appears on stuff.co.nz but not the Post’s actual web site:
“It’s one of those things that people sort of take for granted you worked on the first one, so … we’re in discussion at the moment because I’m interested in playing a couple of roles.
“You find with those sort of roles you can play different characters some are heavily made up, others aren’t.”
This whole situation is more than a little fishy, so I wouldn’t take it for granted just yet… (via)
Rumor: We have live-action sign!
MTV is reporting that the Star Wars live-action show is now casting. Weirdly enough the source is… Attack of the Clones bit player Rose Byrne?
During the junket for the Nicolas Cage thriller “Knowing,” star Rose Byrne let slip that Team Lucas is casting a wide net for actors to join the show. “A lot of my friends have been auditioning for it,” she said.
Well okay then. Our live-action news roundup does need a bit of updating, but there’s been so little news on this lately that it still hits most of the major points. But if casting really is underway, that’s about to change. (via)
UPDATE: Entertainment Weekly got hold of a Lucasfilm rep:
But EW has confirmed with a Lucasfilm rep that a casting agent in Australia is “doing some preliminary ground work, but official casting will not start until the scripts are complete.” At the earliest, the series would go into production in 2010, the rep added.
Rumorsville: Christensen and Bilson engaged?
People is reporting that Rachel Bilson and Hayden Christensen got engaged last weekend. The two have been an item since they worked together in Jumper, right: Bilson is probably best known for playing Summer on The O.C. (I’m confident you’re already familiar with Christensen.) Both Hayden lusters and Seth/Summer shippers can cling to one key fact: Their people are neither confirming nor denying.