On March 19, the folks at michaelshanks-online.com turned over the @MichaelShanks twitter handle to Michael himself. Perhaps motivated by his upcoming role in Saving Hope (imdb, twitter), Michael decided to start tweeting himself, and he’s started off with a bang! He’s been saying hi to fellow Stargate alums, responding to fans, and even exchanging tips with his wife Lexa Doig (@LexaShmexa). So if you’re not on Twitter, this might be your reason to finally take the plunge. After all, Michael swore he’d never do it either!
Saving Hope, a medical drama starring Michael Shanks and Erica Durance, has been picked up by prime-time US network NBC. Its 13 episodes will air on both NBC and the Canadian CTV this summer. Filming starts March 12 in Toronto. It’s not clear if the pilot episode will be used as already filmed, or re-shot in some way.
This marks the first time Michael will appear as a co-star in a regular series airing on a major US network! We wish him every success and we’re sure we speak for all of his fans in looking forward to seeing him on our TV screens again.
For more information on Saving Hope, check our recent blog postings here.
Tony Award nominee Stephen Kunken (Enron), Grace Gummer (Arcadia) and Brian J. Smith (Come Back, Little Sheba) will join previously announced John Lithgow, Margaret Colin and Boyd Gaines for the Broadway world premiere of David Auburn’s The Columnist, Manhattan Theatre Club announced.
The movie is about a famous columnist, played by John Lithgow. It’s not clear what role Brian will play, but he has tweeted about it with great excitement:
Back to NY tomorrow to start work on a play that has kept me sleepless with excitement for months. One hint: Broadway!!!!
and
Great first day of rehearsal. Damn this cast is impressive! Amazing design team too – I peed a little during the set designer’s presentation
Public performances will begin at the Manhattan Theater Club on April 4, with the official opening night on April 25. It will run into June. We hope some Stargate fans will go see it and report back to us!
Michael Shanks as Dr. Charlie Harris in SAVING HOPE (CTV/BellMedia)
The first trailer of the new Canadian series “Saving Hope” is up now here at eonetv.com. Go watch it — it’s intriguing and demonstrates what a lead role Michael and Erica will have!
Thanks to Michael’s wife Lexa for the tip via her twitter, @LexaShmexa:
Check out the trailer for hubby’s new show! It might take a while to load, but worth it! bit.ly/zRFVF9#SavingHope
Right now it’s a Canadian production that will be shown on a Canadian network, but we hope it will be purchased for airing in the US as well. In that vein, Lexa also said this:
I believe #SavingHope will be airing on NBC – keep an eye out for it
The pilot was shot in the Fall, and Michael has said the shooting for Season 1 starts in February. We’ll update you as more info arrives.
A reminder that Dark Matter, the first of a four-part comic book series by former Stargate producers Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie, is now available for purchase! Published by Dark Horse Comics, it’s available in your local comic book shop, or via these on-line ordering and digital sources:
Here is the intriguing premise of the series and a summary of the first issue:
A derelict ship floats in space, its troubled crew awakened from stasis with no memories of who they are or how they got on board. Their search for answers triggers the vessel’s deadly security system: a relentless android bent on their destruction. Facing threats at every turn, they have to work together to survive a voyage charged with vengeance, redemption, betrayals, and hidden secrets best left unknown.
For much more information and links to the many reviews and interviews that have appeared, head on over to Joe Mallozzi’s blog!
Australia was also the home of the developers of the never-released Stargate SG-1: The Alliance video game. They haven’t let termination stop them from creating a trailer featuring their work, however. The Gaming Liberty has extensive coverage of the ill-fated game. Below is the trailer, but The Gaming Liberty article has much, much more.
Robert Carlyle, who currently stars in the series Once Upon A Time, was of the same mind [as Sean Bean’s that the snobbery of whether one was a film star versus a television star has diminished]. “I have always wanted to do a bit of US TV because in the past five to 10 years they’ve raised the bar incredibly. Probably when 24 came along – that changed everything. And then the advent of cable TV,” he said, adding that developments in communications technology also helped change the game. “In the past … there was still an attitude that if you did film, you didn’t do TV, and vice versa. That’s all gone now. I mean, look at it – you can watch movies on the Internet, on the phone, whatever. You don’t have to go to the cinema to see a movie.”
Christopher Judge’s Projects
CHRISTOPHER JUDGE co-stars in the last installment of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight triology, The Dark Knight Rises. The movie premieres July 20.
Judge is currently filming To Have and to Hold. The movie has had several filming locations, including Virginia, Cayman Islands, and the Bahamas. Judge co-stars with Aiden Turner (“All My Children”), Kelly Greyson (“Alone Yet Not Alone”), Rusty Joiner (“Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story), Mark Dacascos (Hawaii Five-0) and John Rhys-Davies (“Lord of the Rings: Return of the King”). A release date has not yet been announced, but is set for this year.
Stallone About Momoa: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a guy move like this”
Catch a video interview with Bullet to the Head star Sylvester Stallone at Best Movies Ever News & Reviews as he talks about the physical demands of this action film that co-stars JASON MOMOA. The legendary action star praises Momoa’s moves in their fire-ax fighting sequence. Bullet to the Head is being released April 13 to American movie theaters.
Mallozzi & Mullie: Still Partners in Sci-Fi
DARK MATTER #1JOSEPH MALLOZZI and PAUL MULLIE joined the Stargate production crew during Season Four of SG-1 and were there when the television franchise ended. They’ve written a new comic book series, Dark Matter, which will hit shelves January 11.
LOU DIAMOND PHILLIPS can be seen tonight (January 1) in the premiere of the Food Network’s Celebrity Cook-Off at 9 PM ET. There are six episodes and six celebrities: Olympic gold medalist swimmer Summer Sanders; Golden Globe-nominated actor Lou Diamond Phillips (The King and I); recording artist-actor Aaron Carter (The Fantasticks); singer, actor and founding member of ‘N Sync, Joey Fatone (Rent); recording star-actress Taylor Dayne (Aida); Grammy-winning hip-hop artist Coolio; comedian, writer and actor Cheech Marin; and Miss USA 2011 Alyssa Campanella. One of these celebrities will be sent home each week until there is only one still standing.
Browder & Black: Farscape Blu-ray and Official Convention
Farscape: The Complete Series, starring SG-1’sBEN BROWDER and CLAUDIA BLACK, is coming out on Blu-ray in the USA this Tuesday, November 15 (Amazon link)! Additionally, Creation Entertainment will be having its “5th Anniversary FINAL FRELLIN’ FAREWELL Official FARSCAPE Convention” this weekend in Los Angeles (coinciding with the Official Stargate convention). Browder is scheduled to be in attendance.
Judge’s Dark Knight Prologue Rated and Scheduled
Mania: Beyond Entertainment has gathered more information about the six-minute prologue that will be shown in IMAX theaters for The Dark Knight Rises. CHRISTOPHER JUDGE appears in this third installment in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy that stars Christian Bale:
A few weeks after it was revealed that director Christopher Nolan was planning the same type of prologue that he utilized for the Dark Knight back in December 2007—attached to I Am Legend IMAX showings—the MPAA has officially rated a similar block of video to be shown off when Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol arrives in IMAX theaters on December 16. As with the other Batman features under Nolan’s direction, the 6-minute prologue has been officially rated PG-13 for “some violence”.
A list of the theaters that will be screening the prologue is forthcoming.
Happy Birthday, Ming-Na!
SGU star MING-NA will be celebrating her birthday this coming weekend on Sunday, November 20! She’s on Twitter if you’d like to send your birthday wishes!
Lou Diamond Phillips an Honorary Wildlife Guardian
San Diego, California – San Diego Zoo Global is expanding its conservation focus through the launch of its new Wildlife Conservancy. By bringing the worldwide conservation efforts of San Diego Zoo Global under a single umbrella, the Wildlife Conservancy provides people around the world an easy way to support and become involved with the organization’s efforts to save critically endangered species.
Although in its infancy, the Conservancy has already gained strong support from notable personalities and a sizable donation. Celebrities Lou Diamond Phillips and Jesse Tyler Ferguson have been named honorary Wildlife Guardians, helping to encourage others to become involved in this effort.
The Wildlife Conservancy is dedicated to bringing endangered species back from the brink of extinction by helping to preserve imperiled wildlife, bank crucial genetic resources, prevent wildlife disease, conserve habitat, restore nature, and inspire change. For nearly 100 years, San Diego Zoo Global has worked with rare and endangered species, managing them in both captive and wild settings, including more than 15 successful programs where species have been reintroduced into the wild. By sharing groundbreaking work on endangered species such as the giant panda, African elephant, Hawaiian crow, and California condor, and giving people a glimpse into these animals’ lives and the measures taken to preserve them, individuals will not only develop a better understanding of these species but will also be inspired to join the effort. With 100 conservation projects in 35 countries around the world, the Conservancy needs help from supporters like Phillips and Ferguson to grow its efforts.
More at the link.
Robert Picardo and The Great Allentown Comic Con
The Great Allentown Comic Con is coming this weekend (November 19-20), and Stargate star ROBERT PICARDO will be there. The weekend will be featuring an auction for Epilepsy Awareness, and Picardo has placed up for bids a dinner with him (“What is the Nature of the Dinner Emergency?”). The Epilepsy Awareness Fundraiser is “to support the Toteman Epilepsy Awareness Comic Book. All monies raised will go to cover the printing costs for the book, which will then be distributed to local hospitals, schools and youth groups to increase awareness of epilepsy in children.” For more on the guests and fundraiser, make sure to visit The Great Allentown Comic Con website.
The Pastor’s Wife Can Be Viewed Online
If you missed MICHAEL SHANKS in the Lifetime movie A Pastor’s Wife, you can watch it online! Visit My Lifetime or Hulu (expires soon).
Claudia Black Narrates Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning Preview
There’s no mistaking CLAUDIA BLACK’s voice in this new preview trailer for the RPG video game Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, set for launch on February 7, 2012, in the United States and February 10, 2012, in Europe.
New Project for Beau Bridges
Collider is reporting that BEAU BRIDGES has a new film project called Outrun. Here’s a snippet from the press release:
Los Angeles, CA (October 28, 2011) – Exclusive Media Group (“Exclusive”) has acquired worldwide rights in all media excluding US and Canada to the high-octane, action romantic comedy OUTRUN, written and directed by Dax Shepard (acting credits EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH, BABY MAMA and MTV’s “Punk’d”) who, co-directs with David Palmer, and stars with Kristen Bell, Bradley Cooper and Tom Arnold, it was announced today by Exclusive co-chairmen Nigel Sinclair and Guy East. The all-star ensemble cast featuring some of the industry’s leading comedic actors also includes Kristin Chenoweth, Beau Bridges, David Koechner, Michael Rosenbaum, Joy Bryant and Ryan Hansen.
The feature film is being produced by Andrew Panay (WEDDING CRASHERS), Nate Tuck (BROTHER’S JUSTICE), and Kim Waltrip & Jim Casey (EXPECTING MARY).
Living under an assumed identity in central California, ex-getaway driver “Charlie Bronson” (Shepard) agrees to break the rules of his Witness Protection and drive his sexy girlfriend (Kristen Bell) to Los Angeles so that she can land her dream job. When the authorities and his former gang (led by Bradley Cooper) learn he is back behind the wheel, they hit the road to chase him down. Desperate to stay one step ahead, Charlie upgrades to an even faster car as the story shifts into high gear; cranking up the horse power and increasing the speed to make it to Southern California in time and, more importantly, in one piece.
More at the link.
Preview Trailer for Flanigan’s Metal Hurlant Chronicles
JOE FLANIGAN’s name appears at the end of this new preview for Metal Hurlant Chronicles, a new TV series based on the 1975 comic book series, that’s set to premiere in April 2012. A second season will follow in November 2012. As of this writing, the series does not yet have a US distributor.
From Horror-Movies.ca: “The series stars Rutger Hauer (The Hitcher, Hobo With A Shotgun), Scott Adkins (“The Expendables 2?),Michael Jai White (“Black Dynamite”), Joe Flanigan (“Stargate Atlantis) and James Marsters (“Buffy”).”
Lou Diamond Phillips will guest-star on the Season 4 premiere of TNT’s Southland, TVGuide.com has learned.
The former NUMB3RS and Stargate Atlantis star will play Danny Ferguson, a physically intimidating beat cop who is deeply cynical about law enforcement. His views cause more than a little tension with Ben (Benjamin McKenzie) and Sammy (Shawn Hatosy), but when the time comes to put up or shut up, Ferguson proves to be an exceptional officer.
[…]
Southland, which also stars Michael Cudlitz, premieres Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 10/9c on TNT.
Staite and Nykl Spending Time with the Ferengi
Stargate Atlantis stars JEWEL STAITE and DAVID NYKL are spending some time with the Star Trek crew this weekend in Orlando, Florida. Deep Space Nine star ARMIN SHIMERMAN, also attending the Vulcan Events – Away Mission: Orlando, visited Stargate SG-1 in the Season One episode “The Nox.” Read more about the guest list at Subspace Communique.
Fitzgerald, on the other hand, says his large display began about a dozen years ago with one light-up Frankenstein piece that sat in his front yard.
When his brother-in-law, Brad Richardson, an Emmy-award winning Hollywood set designer, moved into his house 11 years ago, Fitzgerald’s display really took on a whole new life.
Featuring hundreds of movie quality props including a 20-foot-tall spider, a Stargate (from the film “Stargate”) and a huge crocodile, many of the one-of-a-kind objects are made by Fitzgerald and Richardson.
“There is tremendous detail in the props,” Fitzgerald said. “People are always discovering new details.”
Got More To Add?
We invite you to leave a link in our comments section below for new items to announce in our next STARGATE BRIEFING.
If you’re on the look-out for Stargate-themed auctions, look no further than Legends Memorabilia for a chance to bid on Stargate props, costumes, and replicas. It’s a trip down memory lane just to look at what’s being offered.
Beau Bridges to Be Honored at FLiFF
BEAU BRIDGES is to be awarded the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLiFF), which begins October 21. This news from Sun Sentinel:
Bridges, son of the late Lloyd and older brother of Oscar winner Jeff, will be at the 26th annual event Oct. 23 for a Cinema Paradiso screening of his new film,”Don’t Fade Away,” starring Ryan Kwanten (“True Blood”), Mischa Barton and rapper Ja Rule.
FLiFF will present Bridges with a Lifetime Achievement Award, a ceremony highlighted by a clip reel retrospective of his screen performances, just prior to the 5:45 p.m. showing of “Don’t Fade Away.” An audience Q&A follows the movie.
In “Don’t Fade Away,” Bridges portrays a fatally ill family patriarch whose estranged son (Kwanten) puts his poisonous L.A. music career on hold to return to North Carolina to care for his father.
MICHAEL SHANKS is filming a new zombie movie he referred to as Eerie 13 (aka 13 Eerie). We’ve got more information about the plot from this article in MJ Times, the news site for the movie’s filming location, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada.
“The film is a zombie movie,” Richelle Bourgoin, publicist for Minds Eye Entertainment, told the Times-Herald.
“It centres on some forensic undergraduate students who are undertaking a scientific expedition on a remote island that was formerly used as a biological testing ground for life-term criminals left for dead, but they are not dead. They are undead as they find out,” she said.
Bourgoin said filming is taking place in and around Moose Jaw and is due to finish at the end of October.
The film stars Katharine Isabelle, a Canadian actress, who played the lead role in Ginger Snaps, as student Megan; Michael Shanks from Stargate as the professor; Brendan Fletcher from The Pacific as student Josh; Nick Moran from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows as Larry the driver; and Brendan Fehr from CSI Miami as student Daniel.
In a similar announcement, Dread Central published the name of Shanks’s character as Professor Tomkins. We’ve added Eerie 13 to our COMING SOON feature and will update it when more info becomes available.
Joe Flanigan announced at a convention in the UK this weekend that he’s taken a role in a new scifi series called the Metal Hurlant Chronicles. He said (according to a @FlanInfo Twitter report) that he’ll be filming in November, after he goes to the Marseille Halfway Convention. He said, “It’s cool, like Blade Runner, but more bad guys.”
Variety has published two articles about the project so far, here and here. The first describes the show as being based on the 1980’s French graphic novel series that was called Heavy Metal in the US. The live-action series is a multi-national Euopean production that’s been sold as a TV series to more than 20 territories, although not yet to the US. Distribution in the US is still under negotiation. There is a plan to produce two seasons of 12 episodes each.
Each episode will be shot in English and French. Perhaps Joe’s ability to speak French (to some degree!) helped him get the role!
The second article announces early casting decisions, naming Joe as “starring” in the show. From the article:
CANNES — Scott Adkins (“The Expendables 2”) and Michael Jai White (“Black Dynamite”) have joined the international cast of sci-fi TV series “Metal Hurlant Chronicles.”
Rutger Hauer (“Blade Runner”), Joe Flanigan (“Stargate Atlantis) and James Marsters (“Buffy”) will also star in the TV show’s first season.
It’s not clear if Joe will be a regular or a guest star in one or more episodes. At the convention he only mentioned filming during the month of November (in Belgium), and in the past he’s said he doesn’t want to work far from his home in Malibu for long periods.
By the way, Joe tweeted the attached picture late last week, showing the stenciled tattoos he wore for Six Bullets, which he just finished filming in Romania. By the way, IMDB shows the name of that movie has changed to The Butcher.
Thanks to @FlanInfo for gathering all the Metal Hurlant information from the convention and the ‘net!
Metal Hurlant has a FaceBook page, in French. So far no mention of Joe that we can see.
On March 19, the folks at michaelshanks-online.com turned over the @MichaelShanks twitter handle to Michael himself. Perhaps motivated by his upcoming role in Saving Hope (imdb, twitter), Michael decided to start tweeting himself, and he’s started off with a bang! He’s been saying hi to fellow Stargate alums, responding to fans, and even exchanging tips with his wife Lexa Doig (@LexaShmexa). So if you’re not on Twitter, this might be your reason to finally take the plunge. After all, Michael swore he’d never do it either!
SGU star 