Barker added that the series hasn't been cast yet, and that he foresees a two-year production period to incorporate the story's special effects. "Because it's a big book, preproduction will be enormous," Barker told SCI FI. "There are special effects up the gazoo--physical effects...a whole world to create. I think it will be a marvelous project, and I'm very pleased Russell's going to do it."

Buffy Action Update
DH reports Buffy's Tara (Amber Benson) said this recently (minor spoiler): "All I can tell you is that we're all going to be dealing with Glory (Clare Kramer) really soon, in episode 20. And Tara really gets a run-in with her."

In other Buffy news, creator Joss Whedon told the New York Daily News that remarks by The WB's chief executive angered him to the point that he's ready to move the show to another network. The WB's Jamie Kellner told Entertainment Weekly that the show wasn't the network's top ratings earner and that it appealed mainly to teens.

"It makes me angry to see this show belittled," Whedon told the Daily News. "For Jamie Kellner to call it a teen show and dismiss his own product angers me. It doesn't breed love."

Feelings have been running high between The WB and Fox, which produces Buffy. A deadline has passed for contract renewal negotiations between The WB and Fox, leaving Fox free to shop the series to another net.

"If we end up somewhere other than on The WB, we'll be the exact same show, and producers at 20th Century Fox have supported us on everything," Whedon said. "I think the fans will find it." Whedon added, "I keep thinking it will be best for everyone if the show stays where it is, but ultimately, I don't know if that will happen."

Wrinkle in Time Heading Toward Production
The New York Times reports (via Dark Horizons) that after two decades of struggle and fighting with movie producers who wanted to something more flashy FX oriented, Madeline L'Engle's classic novel A Wrinkle in Time is headed into production. Miramax will make the four hour mini-series based on the novel with ABC set to air it at an as yet unspecified date. L'Engle is apparently satisfied with the current director, and does maintain some rights to the story.

Linda Hamilton Discusses Why She Said No to T3
DH has an update regarding the recent reports that Linda Hamilton does not want to reprise her Terminator 3 character. Hamilton was on an Atlanta radio station on Friday and talked a bit about why she wouldn't return, here's a summary from a DH tipster: "There is a script. But she declined the reprisal as Sara due to the lack of 'new direction' for the character. Apparently, its all been said and done for Sara, there is nothing left for her to do now. Linda would prefer everyone remember Sara as the champion and hero. Which would infer that in T3, this was not to be the case."

Dimension Films Picks Up Duke Nukem Rights
Variety reports Duke Nukem, the muscle-bound hero of one of the PC gaming industry's most popular titles, may soon burst onto the big screen.

Dimension Films, the studio behind the Scream and Scary Movie franchises, has acquired Duke Nukem: The Movie, a project based on the video game series that's already generated nearly $1 billion, from multimedia giant Threshold Entertainment.