'Caprica,' James Cameron's 'Avatar' and John Barrowman in Everyday Hero headlines

Welcome to the latest edition of Everyday Hero, your roundup of handpicked headlines from the fanboy universe....

"Caprica" coming in 2010: I talked to Ron Moore just a few weeks ago and he was still waiting for the official word on the green-lighting of the first season of "Caprica," the series that would fill the void left by "Battlestar Galactica" (which is winding down with only 10 episodes left). Well, now its official: "The drama, which kicks off with a two-hour pilot movie, stars Eric Stoltz, Esai Morales, Paula Malcomson and Polly Walker. Set 50 years before the events in 'Battlestar Galactica,' 'Caprica' follows two rival families -- the Graystones and the Adamas -- as they grow, compete and thrive in the vibrant world of the 12 Colonies, a society recognizably close to our own. Enmeshed in the burgeoning technology of artificial intelligence and robotics that will eventually lead to the creation of the Cylons, the two houses go toe to toe in a series that blends action with corporate conspiracy and sexual politics. Production on the series is slated to begin in the summer of 2009 in Vancouver, Canada, for a 2010 premiere. Jeffrey Reiner ("Friday Night Lights") directed the pilot. As the series begins, a startling development is about to occur -- the creation of the first cybernetic lifeform node, or "Cylon"--the ability to marry artificial intelligence with mechanical bodies. Joseph Adama (Esai Morales) -- father of future Galactica commander William Adama (Sina Najafi) -- is a renowned civil liberties lawyer and becomes an opponent of the experiments undertaken by the Graystones, led by a patriarch played by Eric Stoltz, who are owners of a large computer corporation that is spearheading the development of the Cylons." [Sci Fi Wire] ... ALSO: There's a great trailer for "Caprica" -- you can find it on the jump below by clicking through to the second page of this post.

James Cameron talks "Avatar": Here's a short article that came across the wire today: "Director James Cameron said Tuesday that his upcoming big-budget 3-D movie “Avatar” couldn't possibly live up to the hype on the Internet ahead of its release late next year. The Internet has been buzzing about the sci-fi thriller shot with motion-capture technology and the 3-D camera system he helped develop with partner Vince Pace. There are even movie trailers made by fans that apparently have nothing to do with the movie. 'Whatever they think it's going to be, it's probably not,' Cameron said on the sidelines of a conference on 3-D entertainment in Los Angeles. The $200 million movie is in production ahead of its planned Dec. 18, 2009 release and Cameron does not yet have a trailer prepared. 'We are making the movie in blocks. You can't cut a great trailer right now because so much of the movie would be unrepresented,' he said. When asked about high expectations, the director of all-time U.S. box office record holder 'Titanic' said he had stopped trying to meet them. 'I went out and got drunk, contemplated the whole thing and got over it,' he said, adding, however, that 'Avatar' was 'really cool' and 'groundbreaking' for its combination of motion capture, computer graphics and live action. 'Sometimes we stop working on it and just stare at it because it's just mesmerizing,' he said.  He said he had not met with Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp. executives about the marketing plan, but that the movie studio did not want to put out anything too early." [Associated Press]

Wolverine, clawing forward: I have to say one of the things that has me most optimistic about "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" is the presence of Liev Schreiber in the cast. I think he's an outstanding actor. He plays Victor Creed and here's the first picture I've seen of him in the role, which has Schreiber joining Hugh Jackman in the feral hair club. The movie is due in May. This photo is from an album of early-look images at Newsarama. In other "Wolverine" news, you can check out Christina Radish's interview with Taylor Kitsch (I'm serious, those are their real names) the "Friday Night Lights" star who is playing Gambit in the mutant movie. Kitsch explained the role to Radish (I just love typing those names!): "He’s just another comic book character that has kinetic energy. It’s a fun role. You’ll have fun watching it ... I knew of him, but I didn’t know the following he had, and I’m sure I’m still going to be exposed to that. I love the character, I love the powers, and I love what they did with him. I didn’t know that much, but in my experience, it was a blessing to go in and create my take on him. I’m excited for it, to say the least." [Newsarama/MediaBlvd Magazine]

San Diego comics sale: IDW Publishing has been coming on strong -- Diamond Distributors recently ranked the outfit No. 4 among comics publishers -- and they are looking to clear some warehouse space. So they're having a pretty major sale with some artists on hand as well. Here's the info: "IDW Publishing is holding its first ever sale of comic books and graphic novels at its San Diego headquarters on Saturday, December 6, 10 am – 3 pm.  This is a fantastic opportunity for comic book collectors to scoop up some real bargains and hunt down some rare titles they may have missed, including some limited editions and signed copies, all at bargain prices.  There will be surprises and giveaways with every purchase. A number of comic book creators will be on hand offering free autographs of their work, including Ben Templesmith ('Wormwood,' '30 Days of Night'), Chris Ryall ('Clive Barker’s The Great and Secret Show,' 'Zombies vs. Robots'), and Chris Mowry ('Transformers')...The sale will be held in IDW’s parking lot, 5080 Santa Fe St., San Diego, CA, 92109. IDW is offering new comics for $1 each (Reg. $3.99 cover)...Trade paperbacks / collections will be $5 each (Reg. $19.95-$24.95 each). Other books, comics and magazines will be up to 80% off cover price. [IDW press release]

Captain Jack exposed: I've seen the human tornado that is John Barrowman in action before-- I was the moderator at Comic-Con International last summer for the "Torchwood" panel and Barrowman sang, jumped up on the table, flirted, leered and cracked wise throughout. It was the easiest panel duty I ever had -- all I had to do was stay out of the way. I thought Barrowman pulled out all the stops that day but, it turns out, he pulled out even more during a recent U.K. appearance. Mimi Turner has this report: "BBC Radio was forced to issue yet another apology Tuesday for failing to control its staff and stars, after 'Torchwood' and 'Doctor Who' star John Barrowman exposed himself on a live Radio 1 show that also was video streamed over the Internet. The incident, in which Radio 1 host Nick Grimshaw urged the actor to expose his genitals, aired live Sunday night and generated one complaint to the BBC. It comes less than a fortnight after the BBC Trust, the pubcaster's governance unit, slammed 'systematic failures' in the pubcaster's editorial and compliance standards over lewd material. A spokeswoman for the Radio 1 network stressed that the camera recording the live webcam of the Switch show had been 'quickly covered up by the producer' during the incident and that nothing explicitly sexual had been shown online.... In a raucous interview with Barrowman reported by wire services, Grimshaw said: 'You're famous, we're told, for getting your willy out in interviews. Is this going to happen today? Should Annie (Mac, the show's co-host) be careful?' Barrowman then asked if the webcam was on, and when told that it was broadcasting live video, he said: 'All right, I'll get it out for you then. No problem.' The show's producer moved to obscure the webcam, but listeners and viewers heard Mac screaming 'Oh my God!' as Barrowman and Grimshaw laughed. Barrowman was then heard to say, 'I didn't take the whole thing out, but I got my fruit and nuts out.'" [Hollywood Reporter]

-- Geoff Boucher

AFTER THE JUMP: THE NEW "CAPRICA" TRAILER

 

Not long ago I wrote about how much I like the new HBO series "True Blood," which premieres Sunday night. It turns out that not everyone was equally intrigued.

Mary McNamara, one of my favorite writers and the television critic for the Los Angeles Times, has a "True Blood" review that says the show, well, pretty much sucks, and not in that good vampire way.

Borrowing heavily from many genres, "True Blood" aspires to transcend them all but instead quickly deposits the viewer waist-deep in a literal and figurative swamp.

Vampire fantasy, murder mystery, star-crossed love story, political satire, "True Blood" is all and none of the above. Not quite funny, not quite scary, not quite thought-provoking, the show's attempt to question the roots of prejudice is continually undermined by its own stereotyping.

Seriously, isn't it time to stop portraying every small town below the Mason-Dixon line as populated by drunken, racist, testosterone-charged lunkheads? Apparently not. In Bon Temps, the tiny Louisiana town where "True Blood" opens, all the men seem obsessed with booze and sexual assault while their wives quietly devour fried foods and despise them.

Early in the review, McNamara expresses disappointment that executive producer Alan Ball ("Six Feet Under") has "decided to take Charlaine Harris’ light, fun series of Southern Vampire Mysteries and turn it into a heavy-handed political fable with vampires." I haven't read the books at all, maybe that is one of the reasons we had such different takes on the show.

Horror fans should drop by fearnet.com to check out the first chapter in a six-part mini-movie called "30 Days of Night: Dust to Dust," which stars "Saw" scream-queen Shawnee Smith. Each chapter of the vampire tale "Dust to Dust" picks up after "Blood Trails," a FEARnet miniseries last fall that the website says was viewed more than 5 million times.

There's a limited edition "Dust to Dust" tie-in comic book (only 10,000 copies printed) and poster that will be given out at Comic-Con International in San Diego. Shawnee Smith and others involved in the project will be signing stuff at the Sony Pictures Entertainment booth (#4313) on Saturday at noon.

Here's the lowdown on "Dust to Dust" from the press release:

'Dust to Dust' continues the New Orleans storyline from Blood Trails where fans first met George, an ex-junkie who, while trying to expose the vampires, got captured by the authorities and blamed for the trail of bodies.  Our new series begins as Detective Nick Maguire learns that his sister Sara, a nurse at the local penitentiary, disappeared during a mysterious prison break in which George escaped. Nick ignores the wishes of his former partner, Gina, and begins to search for Sara himself. While scouring the gritty streets of New Orleans, Nick finds George and learns that there was more to the prison break than anyone thought, and that the wounds inflicted upon Sara may be changing her into a blood-thirsty vampire.  Now, in order to save his sister, Nick will have to learn to trust George, and become a believer in the evil that stalks his streets at night.

Dust to Dust’s spine-tingling action will premiere in July at Comic Con San Diego.  The chilling story unfolds over six, 3-7 minute mini-sodes that will be released on a weekly basis.  Ben Ketai, who wrote Blood Trails, makes his directorial debut with a script penned by Ed Fowler.  Steve Hein, who produced the Boogeyman Franchise, returns to produce this second series with Ghost House Pictures’ Aaron Lam.  Jim Burns, Steve Niles, Rob Sebastian and Shawnee Smith serve as executive producers. 

Both FEARnet projects followed the "30 Days of Night" film which adapted the graphic novels written by the always spooky and smart Steve Niles. In other Niles news: He's doing a signing at Meltdown in L.A. to promote "Lost Ones" (an upcoming Zune Arts graphic novel) on July 31. You can find the press release after the jump.

-- Geoff Boucher

Photo of Shawnee Smith in "Dust to Dust," courtesy of FEARnet.com

'True Blood' is draining experience to some

Not long ago I wrote about how much I like the new HBO series "True Blood," which premieres Sunday night. It turns out that not everyone was equally intrigued.

Mary McNamara, one of my favorite writers and the television critic for the Los Angeles Times, has a "True Blood" review that says the show, well, pretty much sucks, and not in that good vampire way.

Borrowing heavily from many genres, "True Blood" aspires to transcend them all but instead quickly deposits the viewer waist-deep in a literal and figurative swamp.

Vampire fantasy, murder mystery, star-crossed love story, political satire, "True Blood" is all and none of the above. Not quite funny, not quite scary, not quite thought-provoking, the show's attempt to question the roots of prejudice is continually undermined by its own stereotyping.

Seriously, isn't it time to stop portraying every small town below the Mason-Dixon line as populated by drunken, racist, testosterone-charged lunkheads? Apparently not. In Bon Temps, the tiny Louisiana town where "True Blood" opens, all the men seem obsessed with booze and sexual assault while their wives quietly devour fried foods and despise them.

Early in the review, McNamara expresses disappointment that executive producer Alan Ball ("Six Feet Under") has "decided to take Charlaine Harris’ light, fun series of Southern Vampire Mysteries and turn it into a heavy-handed political fable with vampires." I haven't read the books at all, maybe that is one of the reasons we had such different takes on the show.

Horror fans should drop by fearnet.com to check out the first chapter in a six-part mini-movie called "30 Days of Night: Dust to Dust," which stars "Saw" scream-queen Shawnee Smith. Each chapter of the vampire tale "Dust to Dust" picks up after "Blood Trails," a FEARnet miniseries last fall that the website says was viewed more than 5 million times.

There's a limited edition "Dust to Dust" tie-in comic book (only 10,000 copies printed) and poster that will be given out at Comic-Con International in San Diego. Shawnee Smith and others involved in the project will be signing stuff at the Sony Pictures Entertainment booth (#4313) on Saturday at noon.

Here's the lowdown on "Dust to Dust" from the press release:

'Dust to Dust' continues the New Orleans storyline from Blood Trails where fans first met George, an ex-junkie who, while trying to expose the vampires, got captured by the authorities and blamed for the trail of bodies.  Our new series begins as Detective Nick Maguire learns that his sister Sara, a nurse at the local penitentiary, disappeared during a mysterious prison break in which George escaped. Nick ignores the wishes of his former partner, Gina, and begins to search for Sara himself. While scouring the gritty streets of New Orleans, Nick finds George and learns that there was more to the prison break than anyone thought, and that the wounds inflicted upon Sara may be changing her into a blood-thirsty vampire.  Now, in order to save his sister, Nick will have to learn to trust George, and become a believer in the evil that stalks his streets at night.

Dust to Dust’s spine-tingling action will premiere in July at Comic Con San Diego.  The chilling story unfolds over six, 3-7 minute mini-sodes that will be released on a weekly basis.  Ben Ketai, who wrote Blood Trails, makes his directorial debut with a script penned by Ed Fowler.  Steve Hein, who produced the Boogeyman Franchise, returns to produce this second series with Ghost House Pictures’ Aaron Lam.  Jim Burns, Steve Niles, Rob Sebastian and Shawnee Smith serve as executive producers. 

Both FEARnet projects followed the "30 Days of Night" film which adapted the graphic novels written by the always spooky and smart Steve Niles. In other Niles news: He's doing a signing at Meltdown in L.A. to promote "Lost Ones" (an upcoming Zune Arts graphic novel) on July 31. You can find the press release after the jump.

-- Geoff Boucher

Photo of Shawnee Smith in "Dust to Dust," courtesy of FEARnet.com

Shawnee Smith's '30 Days of Night' Web scare

Horror fans should drop by fearnet.com to check out the first chapter in a six-part mini-movie called "30 Days of Night: Dust to Dust," which stars "Saw" scream-queen Shawnee Smith. Each chapter of the vampire tale "Dust to Dust" picks up after "Blood Trails," a FEARnet miniseries last fall that the website says was viewed more than 5 million times.

There's a limited edition "Dust to Dust" tie-in comic book (only 10,000 copies printed) and poster that will be given out at Comic-Con International in San Diego. Shawnee Smith and others involved in the project will be signing stuff at the Sony Pictures Entertainment booth (#4313) on Saturday at noon.

Here's the lowdown on "Dust to Dust" from the press release:

'Dust to Dust' continues the New Orleans storyline from Blood Trails where fans first met George, an ex-junkie who, while trying to expose the vampires, got captured by the authorities and blamed for the trail of bodies.  Our new series begins as Detective Nick Maguire learns that his sister Sara, a nurse at the local penitentiary, disappeared during a mysterious prison break in which George escaped. Nick ignores the wishes of his former partner, Gina, and begins to search for Sara himself. While scouring the gritty streets of New Orleans, Nick finds George and learns that there was more to the prison break than anyone thought, and that the wounds inflicted upon Sara may be changing her into a blood-thirsty vampire.  Now, in order to save his sister, Nick will have to learn to trust George, and become a believer in the evil that stalks his streets at night.

Dust to Dust’s spine-tingling action will premiere in July at Comic Con San Diego.  The chilling story unfolds over six, 3-7 minute mini-sodes that will be released on a weekly basis.  Ben Ketai, who wrote Blood Trails, makes his directorial debut with a script penned by Ed Fowler.  Steve Hein, who produced the Boogeyman Franchise, returns to produce this second series with Ghost House Pictures’ Aaron Lam.  Jim Burns, Steve Niles, Rob Sebastian and Shawnee Smith serve as executive producers. 

Both FEARnet projects followed the "30 Days of Night" film which adapted the graphic novels written by the always spooky and smart Steve Niles. In other Niles news: He's doing a signing at Meltdown in L.A. to promote "Lost Ones" (an upcoming Zune Arts graphic novel) on July 31. You can find the press release after the jump.

-- Geoff Boucher

Photo of Shawnee Smith in "Dust to Dust," courtesy of FEARnet.com