3.17.03
Gillian Anderson Discusses Next X-Files Movie
DH reports (via Zen) that Gillian Anderson was on the UK chat show "Parkinson" this weekend and said that they're doing another X-Files movie hopefully by the end of this year. She said she and David [Duchovny] have signed, and that Robert Patrick and Annabeth Gish are also back. She had no idea on storyline, but said it might be a prequel set before the events of the TV series last season.

"Chris doesn't tell anyone what he's writing about, so we have no idea what to expect," Anderson said. "But I assure you it will be something quite good. It's taken all this time, it better be. David, Robert, Annabeth, Brian Thompson who played a hunter and Mitch Pileggi, are all in it so it will be a nice reunion for us all."

3.16.03
John Cusack Talks I.D.
One night in the middle of the desert a violent rainstorm has isolated a lone motel when all roads and phone communication are washed out. Eventually a group of 10 stranded strangers will congregate at the ramshackle motel and discover to their horror that they are being murdered one-by-one.

This is the storyline behind the ensemble flick I.D. a psychological-thriller directed by James Mangold and starring John Cusack, Ray Liotta, Rebecca DeMornay, Clea Duvall and more.

Cusack, whose character Ed is a limo driver stuck in a dead-end job, says he was hooked by the writing. "It's a sophisticated, adult thriller which when I first read it, had me guessing and the tension was heightened by misdirection and I kept getting surprised.

"From an acting point of view, what's unusual about this movie is the actors are serving an intricate plot. Most films you have do things where character motivates plot but this is where we are basically elegant chess pieces and it's a nice change of pace to be in service of that," says Cusack.

Ricci Cast in Cursed
Variety reports Christina Ricci has joined Dimension Films new horror thriller Cursed. Ricci will lead the flick, which reunites Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson.

The film is described as being a throwback to classic horror tales following three strangers whose fates collide on a moonlit night in contemporary Los Angeles. Scott Foley and Omar Epps will co-star.

Katie Holmes Joining Phantom?
Variety reports (via Cinema Confidential) Katie Holmes is the frontrunner for Joel Schumacher's Phantom of the Opera big screen adaptation. The feature version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's hit stage musical will begin principal photography in the UK next fall.

Cape Wrath Optioned for Film
Telos Publishing announced that Cape Wrath, a horror novella by Paul Finch published by Telos in November, has been picked up for development as a film.

The project is currently with a London and LA-based scriptwriter and producer, and the four-figure, two year option deal was negotiated by the Blake Friedmann Literary agency on behalf of Telos Publishing.

3.15.03
House of the Dead Sells to Over 25 Markets
We just got an e-mail from House of the Dead's co-executive producer Michael Roesch who tells us House of the dead was sold at the American Film Market to more than 25 countries and there will be a wide theatrical release in all major territories.

Buyers from nearly all important international territories acquired the Uwe Boll directed movie. It comes out late summer and in a lot of territories on Halloween. The US theatrical release will be announced soon.

Also, six months after the theatrical release there will be an X-rated House of the Dead DVD. For more information, visit www.house-of-the-dead.

Boogeyman Writer Found
Zen reports Ghost House Pictures and Senator International have tapped Stephen Kay (Get Carter) to write the horror film The Boogeyman.

3.14.03
HBO Suspends Sopranos Shooting
This isn't really horror news but it's important news, as well as crappy news. THR reports (via Zen) that due to the pending litigation between The Sopranos actor James Gandolfini and HBO, the network has postponed the start of production indefinitely. Gandolfini sued HBO for alledged breach of contract and HBO disagreed filing a $100 million countersuit to prove it.

Giles Dormant Spinoff May Become TV Movie
Sci Fi Wire reports Anthony Stewart Head, who plays Giles on UPN's Buffy the Vampire Slayer, told the icLiverpool Web site that the dormant British spinoff series based on his character may turn into a two-hour TV movie instead.

"I talked to [Buffy creator] Joss [Whedon]," Head told the site. "He said that instead of getting himself committed to another hourlong detective show, like Angel, he'd rather do a two-hour movie."

Head added, "It would look in depth into the character more. He's interested in Giles' character. It could be a one-off, and if anybody liked it, they'd go from there. At the moment, that's what I'm looking at. It makes more sense all 'round, and I know the BBC are still up for it. Joss has got so many ideas. It's not good for one man."

3.11.03
Final IHG Awards Not Ready for WHC
The slate of nominations for the 2003 International Horror Guild Awards, but not the final recipients, will be announced at the World Horror Convention in Kansas City on April 19, 2003. The final awards recognizing outstanding achievement in horror/dark fantasy for the year 2002 will be announced on May 23."

"Since each nomination is a well-deserved recognition of achievement," said award coordinator Paula Guran, "we are pleased the focus at WHC will be on the entire slate, but we realize not having a presentation ceremony there may be a disappointment for those attending the convention. In order to give due consideration, we felt the judges simply needed more time to make their decision. We've also been a bit short-handed this year as Fiona Webster had to withdraw from the adjudication for personal reasons." Webster had served as a judge since 1998.

More Cast Considering Stepford Wives
Zen reports Christopher Walken, Glenn Close, and Faith Hill are in negotiations to join the cast of The Stepford Wives.

P.O.D. on Matrix Reloaded Soundtrack
Zen reports P.O.D. is recording the lead single to the upcoming film The Matrix Reloaded. Video footage and a slide show from the recording session are available at the band's official website.

3.10.03
Bunch o' Celebs Added to Horrorfind Lineup
A bunch of new celebs have been added to the lineup for the Third Annual Horrorfind convention this summer. In addition to folks like David Naughton (American Werewolf in London), Traci Lords (First Wave) and Bill Moseley (House of 1,000 Corpses), you can now add Judy O'Dea and Kyra Schon, both from the original Night of the Living Dead, Dee Wallace Stone, Michael Berryman and Brinke Stevens. Plus Doug Bradley, Gunnar Hansen, Ken Foree, Reggie Bannister and more.

Click here for more information

Reservoir Dogs Getting Video Game Translation
Filmforce reports SCi Games is working on a game adaptation of Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs.

SCi promises that the game will remain dutifully faithful to the film and that you'll not only be able to play as any of the six Mr. Colors, but also as "key policemen" (earless guy maybe?).

"SCi has considerable experience in developing successful computer games based on strong movie plots, such as The Italian Job and The Great Escape." Said Jane Cavanagh, Chief Executive of SCI. "Reservoir Dogs has a remarkable following within the gaming community. The whole company relishes this exciting opportunity."

No release date has been set.

3.9.03
John Cusack Considering Stepford Wives
Zen reports John Cusack is in negotiations to star in a remake of The Stepford Wives, starring Nicole Kidman and Joan Cusack.

3.7.03
Buffy Writer & Star Working on BBC Web Show
Following the success of its first two Doctor Who internet dramas, BBCi has has enlisted Amber Benson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Tara) and author Christopher Golden to develop another online project.

Revolution magazine reports The Ghosts of Albion will be set in the mid-19th century and is a tale of demons, vampires and ghosts, which the BBC hopes should appeal to Buffy fans.

The Ghosts of Albion is set following the death of the famed stage magician grandfather of a brother and sister. However, the brother and sister discover that not all of the old man's magic was performed onstage. The siblings find themselves the inheritors of an extraordinary legacy, and must bear the burden and the sorcerous power that makes them the mystical guardians of early 19th century England.

Visitors to bbc.co.uk/cult/ghosts can access the Real Player file episodes. Each week over the course of five weeks -- from March 27 2003 -- a new chapter of the story will be available, allowing visitors to the website to explore and participate in an expanded online world. Golden and Benson co-wrote The Ghosts of Albion and Benson directed. "Chris Golden and I are super excited to be writing The Ghosts of Albion," Benson said. "Being a fan of British broadcasting, it's such an honour to be working with the BBC."

Film & TV Saturn Nominations Announced
It was another banner year for both Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson as their films lead the pack in this year's nominations for the 29th Annual Saturn Awards. Acclaimed filmmaker James Cameron will be honored with the Academy's Dr. Donald A. Reed Award, with special recognition also going to Kurt Russell, Sid and Marty Krofft, Bob and Harvey Weinstein and Bill Paxton for their contributions to the genre.

As genre films continue to dominate the box office, the 31-year-old non-profit Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films honors the world's most popular films with multiple nominations going to The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and Minority Report, each of which garnered 10 nominations, including Best Picture for fantasy and science fiction, respectively. Among the films receiving multiple nods were: Star Wars: Episode 2: Attack of the Clones (7), Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets (6), Spider-Man (6) and One Hour Photo (5).

ÊÊÊÊTelevision was well represented with such popular series as Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Smallville received five nominations each. The Mini-Series, Steven Spielberg Presents Taken showed its presence with four nominations. Angel and UPN's Enterprise also received four nominations each, with Alias and Farscape receiving three nominations each.

This year's ceremony will be presented on Sunday, May 18, 2003, at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel.

Argento Talks About Continuing Suspiria Theme
Fango spoke with Dario Argento who hinted at some possible good news for Suspiria fans. After he finishes Dark Glasses, (which he plans beginning work on again once The Card Player is wrapped up in July), he will make a return to the Suspiria territory.

He isn't saying if the untitled occult horror is the third part of the Three Mothers trilogy continued by Inferno, but reveals, "It's time for me to make another supernatural story in the tradition of Inferno. When I was in a deep depression over the Dark Glasses fiasco, I had a dream that I was visited by my late father Salvatore. And his presence inspired the story. It's about a young boyÑme, I think, from years agoÑand will be a fusion of autobiography, horror and fantasy."

Year's Best Fantasy & Horror Authors Announced
Hellnotes reports Ellen Datlow has announced which stories will be included The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror, sixteenth edition (stories published in 2002). Authors whose work will be reprinted include: Lucy Taylor, Elizabeth Hand, Graham Joyce, Jay Russell Stranger, Conrad Williams, China Mieville, Christpher Fowler, Don Turnasonis, Mark Libling, Ramsey Campbell, Joel Lane, Terry Dowling, Kelly Little, Bentley Little, Neil Gaiman, Eric Schaller, Stephen Gallagher, Kathy Koja, Kim Newman, Emma Donaghue, two stories each from Brian Hodge and Nicholas Royle, and a poem from Nan Fry.

Another Whedon Firefly Actor Guesting on Buffy
According to Firefly Fans and Spoiler Slayer (via Zen), Nathan Fillion, formerly of Joss Whedon's Firefly, has signed on to play the villainous Caleb in the last five episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. As previously reported, Fillion's other Firefly shipmate, Gina Torres, will also be making an appearance on the last few episodes of Angel.

3.6.03
Dawn of the Dead Redo Details...Unfortunately
It looks like this do-over is happening so we figured we should at least warn you. Maybe we'll be wrong and it won't totally suck but we wouldn't bet on it. Variety reports Zack Snyder (known for directing commercials in Europe) will direct the remake of George Romero's horror classic Dawn of the Dead. Wait, it gets better -- James Gunn (Scooby-Doo) has scripted the redo. They're set to begin filming in June.

"The story benefits from a larger canvas, and the fact that malls have changed so much," said rights controller Richard P. Rubinstein, who produced the original, "There are all kinds of things we can use, down to the food courts. George did a lot with a pedestrian mall in Monroeville, Pa., where the only real highlight was a hockey rink."

Uh huh, that' reassuring. When the producer says one of the highlights of the movie will be their ability to use the exciting new elements in malls today, such as food courts, we tend to get concerned.