News/Rumors Summary

Some extremely nerdy guys at Serious Lunch noticed that background screen during Conan's opening monologue looks a lot like Super Mario game screen. They even did this comparison to show what they mean, and the similarity is indeed uncanny. The night after this picture stormed the web, Conan acknowledged that theory on his show and even did a funny bit based on that resemblance, not really denying it.

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Timur Bekmambetov continues to ride on his success and massive publicity he receives all around the world. The filming of Black Lightning just finished less than two seeks ago (watch teaser), and now a new project has been announced.
Apparently, popular Russian sci-fi writer Sergei Lukyanenko, that wrote the screenplays for Bekmambetov's Night Watch and Day Watch, arrived to the sci-fi books market in St Petersburg, where he told the reporters that he and Timur are working on the new movie. This Russian/Kazakhstanian co-production has the working title The Golden Man (Zolotoi Chelovek), and it will be big budget science fiction adventure film. Lukyanenko, that was born in Kazakhstan same as Bekmambetov, also said, that in addition to entertaining story, "the movie will carry a big message of friendship and will remind people that once we were a single country". Right... Some people are actually trying to forget that.
No details about the story so far, but knowing Bekmambetov and his themes, it will involve a young male that will have to discover the strength in himself, and by doing that he will participate in some big adventure and as result he will save the world with his new superpowers.
As for Lukyanenko, he said that in his works he is trying to imagine the future he wants to avoid, and fear of biotechnology is what's on his mind right now. "It is very dangerous change of the reality, because we are changing the nature of human being". So there you go, a patriot and a conservative. How do you say Republican in Kazakh?
The filming will start later this year.

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Speaking of Bekmambetov, here are some technical specs and concept design of the monster called Seamstress from 9, the movie that he is co-producing. [Source]

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Exciting about the remake of the Clash Of The Titans? Here are two official photos of Sam Worthington, who plays the main hero Perseus, the son of Zeus. Looks like Worthington, an Australian actor, is the next big thing in Hollywood. He did Terminator Salvation already, and he will also be the lead in James Cameron's Avatar. Good luck.

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David Carradine died in Bangkok at the age of 72. Possible suicide they said, accidental death due to autoerotic asphyxiation they said later, a murder - said the family and demands from FBI to investigate. I guess no one would be paying attention if the man died of old age in his home in bed, he did not receive so much press coverage all the years he was still alive. The hell with that, where is my favorite plastic bag?

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First photos of Josh Brolin from the set of Jonah Hex. For some reason I am not very impressed by the scars, it looks like he is smiling or going to spit. Maybe in the film it will look better.

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Some posters and logos for the upcoming Marvel movies. I am not sure if Spiderman 4 and Iron Man 2 posters are official ones, it could be some nice fan art. But the logos are official and were included at the Licensing Show in Las Vegas, whatever the hell it is.

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Long awaited new sequel of the Heavy Metal is getting more directors. Now the news are that James Cameron will be directing a segment for the film, and Rob Zombie is also in talks.
To remind everyone what we are talking about, Heavy Metal is hugely popular animated cult film from 1981, that was constructed from number of sci-fi and fantasy stories. Based on the somewhat alternative and underground spirit of the fantasy comics magazine by the same name, the film included violence, nudity and sexual content. The film featured remarkable rock songs soundtrack as well. Any animation fan who haven't seen this masterpiece should be ashamed of himself.
Anyway, a sequel was released in 2000 named Heavy Metal 2000, but it wasn't very good. And now bunch of big time directors are working on much more impressive third sequel, based on the same universe. So far the list of directors includes Zack Snyder, David Fincher, Gore Verbinski, Mark Osborne and now James Cameron. And there is a place for two more. This is getting more and more exciting, looks like the new film will get the proper treatment it deserves.

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Popular Scream trilogy is getting a new trilogy? Early reports are saying that Kevin Williamson, the writer of the original films, has been working for some time on the new set of screenplays, and now he is approaching the original actors, at least the ones that their characters remained alive. It's not very clear right now whether this project got future and in what form. To be continued...

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And in this week's issue of "What the hell is wrong with our stupid world?": Rubina Ali, widely known as the little girl from Slumdog Millionaire, is writing a memoirs. The autobiography named Slumdog Dreaming: My Journey to the Stars, telling the story of her life, will be published and released in form of a book in July. Rubina Ali is nine years old.
Nobel prize in literature and a film based on the book guaranteed.