'Vampire Diaries' and Hollywood's undying love for fang fantasy

This year marks the 40th anniversary of "Let It Bleed," the classic Rolling Stones album, and how perfect is that? There has never been more bloodsucking in pop culture that right now, and Gina McIntyre reports in this fun feature on Hollywood's vamping pursuits. Next we may ask her to consider the link between the resurgence in zombie cinema and the current condition of Keith Richards...   

Forget the garlic, the crucifixes, the security of daylight. Nothing is holding the vampires at bay these days. With the wild popularity of movie, TV and literary properties including "Twilight" and HBO's hit series "True Blood," the bloodthirsty undead are dominating the pop culture landscape in ways Count Dracula could have never imagined, and the trend seems unlikely to abate any time soon.

"The Twilight Saga: New Moon," the second film adaptation of the popular series of novels, is set for release in November, with the third installment to follow in June 2010. "True Blood," drawing some of HBO's largest audiences since "The Sopranos," concludes its second season on Sunday. Now, the CW network is taking a stab at the genre with "The Vampire Diaries," which premieres Thursday.

"Vampires are the bad boys," says series co-creator Kevin Williamson in trying to explain their popularity. "They're dangerous, but they're also just sexy and they can protect you. You can challenge them. There's so much there -- epic love, epic romance, epic epic! Everyone wants their life to be epic."

He admits, though, that he was somewhat skeptical at first, well aware that his new show will be compared to "Twilight." And there are plenty of similarities: Small-town girl meets good-guy vampire, falls head over heels, conflict ensues.

But Williamson said that it's where the action goes after that point that he found particularly intriguing, and the creative possibilities ultimately convinced him to say yes. Well, that and the fact that vampire stories are just plain cool.

And they appear to be here to stay, at least through 2012. Tim Burton is crafting a "Dark Shadows" movie starring Johnny Depp that is set for release in 2011, and there's also a talked-about cinematic reboot of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" aimed for the following year.

On the page, director Guillermo del Toro and his writing partner Chuck Hogan will produce the second and third installments in their vampire series -- the first book the pair co-wrote, "The Strain," was released earlier this year to solid reviews.

Of course, this is not the first time in recent memory vampires have captivated the pop culture consciousness. In the late 1970s and '80s, Anne Rice's novels sparked a resurgence in the popularity of the creatures, playing up the romantic and sexual aspects of the vampire myth more strongly than writers who had come before.

She created a dashing monster. These days, the vampire is almost always depicted as the handsome leading man (or at least the handsome, conflicted villain)...

THERE'S MORE, READ THE REST

-- Gina McIntyre

Here's a trailer for "The Vampire Diaries"...

RECENT AND RELATED

Sucking in Hollywood: Vampire-Con arrives

Guillermo del Toro talks "The Strain" and "Frankenstein"

Will the "Cloverfield" director ruin "Let the Right One In"? 

"True Blood" pumping: HBO ratings soar

Jessica Gelt on the set of "True Blood"  

PHOTO GALLERY: Scenes from Season 2 of "True Blood"

'Near Dark' remake shelved because of ...'Twilight'?

Stephenie Meyer and the future of 'Midnight Sun'

Robert Pattinson has an Obi Wan moment

Bill Nighy talks about 'the hissing matches' of 'Underworld'

CREDITS: Photos, starting from top -- "Vampire Diaries" (The CW);  "True Blood" (HBO); "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" (Summit Entertainment) and the cover for "The Strain."

Edward James Olmos: 'The Plan' is not the end for 'Battlestar Galactica'

A grateful and hopeful Edward James Olmos told an enthusiastic crowd that because of their support, he knew this wasn't the end for "Battlestar Galactica."

"When it comes out, it's going to be huge," Olmos said. "They'll have to do another."

He uttered the phrase at the panel that both introduced the Comic-Con crowd to the "BSG" prequel "Caprica," and showed them a glimpse of "Battlestar Galactica: The Plan," the TV movie replaying the entire"BSG" saga from the Cylons' point of view. The panel also gave out the date for the premiere of "Caprica" -- Jan. 22, 2010.

Esai Morales, who plays Joseph Adama in "Caprica," was on the panel alongside Olmos, head writer-showrunner Jane Espenson, producer David Eick, and show creator Ron Moore (who had more to say over at The Watcher). Grace Park came out later as a surprise guest.

Morales spoke of the bond he and Olmos have, and that despite the fact that he wasn't up on all of the "BSG" lore, he connected with the character's nobility and his stranger-in-a-strange-land qualities.

"When he got to Caprica, he had never seen a flower," Morales said. "At the beginning of "Caprica, "well, you won't have the same character that you'll have at the end."

Morales says that there were three other actors he thought could fill the role, but that he had the spirit, and now when filming a scene, he has been told that "he was channeling Eddie, and that's a good sign."

Eick, the quick-witted producer that he is, stepped in. "I think we really made the right choice not going with Jack Black," Eick said. Morales countered by saying he was glad about that "because 'Nacho Libre' had just come out."

Questions from the audience included one about "Battlestar's" notoriously tight-lipped set, and if everyone involved had to sign some kind of legal document.

"No, there was really nothing legal to sign," Moore said. "There were no real penalties for divulging information."

"It's just [you would keep quiet] if you ever wanted to work in show business again. That's all," Eick said.

Jane Espenson, head writer and showrunner for "Caprica" -- who also made remarks paralleling the teen girl at the center of the show to a certain vampire-slaying teen girl -- also brushed aside comments about her being one of the only female showrunners in the business.

"A good writer is a good writer and should be able to tell any story that he or she is passionate about," she said.

Other panel points:

-- "It is a [grave] crime that the cast of 'Battlestar Galactica' was not recognized in the entire three-year run," Moore said. "It is criminal."

-- Grace Park on Olmos directing her in "BSG: The Plan": "Eddie was awesome. He always wanted to take the series further. I'm surprised that there wasn't more nudity, but it was probably the father-daughter type of relationship they have [that prevented it]."

-- The first three people who came to the microphone to ask questions received a branded "Caprica" PSP.

-- A question was asked about the linguistics involved in making "Caprica," a show that will involve many other planets and languages. It was revealed that other races will be brought in, and that they already have "an entire episode planned that takes place on Scorpia," Espenson said. More from her here:

-- Jevon Phillips

MORE 'BATTLESTAR' COVERAGE AT HERO COMPLEX

VIDEO: Our "Battlestar" panel with Olmos, McDonnell

EXCLUSIVE: Behind-the-scenes photos on "Battlestar" set

Inside the party: 'Battlestar' cast watches the series finale

Starbuck speaks! Katee Sackhoff on the end of 'BSG'

<<< 'Battlestar' propaganda posters, winning hearts and minds

PHOTO GALLERY: What's next for the 'Battlestar' cast?

Kate Vernon on her life as Ellen Tigh, the Cylon cougar

'Caprica': The trailer for the new show

 

'Twilight' vs. 'Buffy'...it's on!

Denise Martin has a fun piece on our sister blog Show Tracker about this great bit of bloodsucker creativity...

On June 19, Jonathan McIntosh vanquished “Twilight’s” undead heartthrob Edward with the help of one Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

It was something that needed to be done, McIntosh said in an interview, calling Edward “a creepy stalker guy.” After the vampire’s obsessive pursuit of his teenage love Bella in last year’s “Twilight,” McIntosh was driven to act. 

“Bella is not weirded out by his behavior at all, which made me think, ‘What would Buffy do to this guy if he was into her? What would she do if he snuck into her room at night watching her sleep without her knowing?’” McIntosh said.

As realized by McIntosh, he’d get rebuffed, mocked and, ultimately, a stake through the heart.

McIntosh, 30, a freelance Web designer and owner of RebelliousPixels.com, took it upon himself to pit the two characters against each other in a video he created using footage from the “Buffy” TV series and the “Twilight” film to show, well, an alternative -- and fatal -- ending for the love-struck Edward.

"Buffy" executive producer Marti Noxon said in an interview, "I'm a sucker, so to speak, for any vampire story so I'm a fan of the 'Twilight' saga, but it's true that Edward hasn't come up against a kick-ass woman like Buffy." 

"I'm really glad that she didn't end up doing the smoochies with him..."

READ THE REST

--Denise Martin

RECENT AND RELATED

VIDEO: "Twilight" fans can be a bit...scary

VOTE: "Twilight," "Trek" or "Up" -- which just got a boost in Oscars race? 

"Twilight" struggle: The reason Catherine Hardwicke was fired

Stephenie Meyer and the future of "Midnight Sun"

Report from Forks, Wash., the "Twilight" town

Robert Pattinson talks about his career "backup plan"

Stephenie Meyer talks about ... mermaids?

Photo: Robert Pattinson. Credit: Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times

McIntosh, 30, a freelance Web designer and owner of RebelliousPixels.com, took it upon himself to pit the two characters against each other in a video he created using footage from the “Buffy” TV series and the “Twilight” film to show, well, an alternative -- and fatal -- ending for the love-struck Edward.

"Buffy" executive producer Marti Noxon said in an interview, "I'm a sucker, so to speak, for any vampire story so I'm a fan of the 'Twilight' saga, but it's true that Edward hasn't come up against a kick-ass woman like Buffy." 

"I'm really glad that she didn't end up doing the smoochies with him..."

READ THE REST

--Denise Martin

RECENT AND RELATED

VIDEO: "Twilight" fans can be a bit...scary

VOTE: "Twilight," "Trek" or "Up" -- which just got a boost in Oscars race? 

"Twilight" struggle: The reason Catherine Hardwicke was fired

Stephenie Meyer and the future of "Midnight Sun"

Report from Forks, Wash., the "Twilight" town

Robert Pattinson talks about his career "backup plan"

Stephenie Meyer talks about ... mermaids?

Photo: Robert Pattinson. Credit: Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times

No. 1 sci-fi woman of all time? Ripley, believe it or not

I'm a big fan of lists, so is Jevon Phillips, a star contributor here at Hero Complex. Here's his take on a recent tally of the women of sci-fi....or is that sigh-fi? -- G.B.

As usual, there's a lot to dispute about anyone having a top so-and-so list, but Totalscifionline.com's 25 women who shook up sci-fi isn't too startling. "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Battlestar Galactica" and "Star Trek" are the only franchises with multiple entries on the list (and rightfully so). Sigourney Weaver's Ellen Ripley of "Alien" fame was named First Lady of Sci-Fi.

Of course, there were parameters, which the site laid out like so:

We've limited ourselves to TV and film - SF and fantasy literature probably warrants a further list all of its own - and in those instances where multiple actresses have portrayed a character, we’ve written who we believe gave the most definitive performance in brackets. No doubt there are many characters you feel we’ve left off.

Yeah, yeah -- and the site does include a more in-depth examination of each choice. There will be debate over ones who didn't make it. I really like River Tam on "Firefly" -- but it was short-lived -- and the women of "Cleopatra 2525" and Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity in "The Matrix" and ... well, let's stop there.  And there may be some on the list who deserve to be higher. Wonder Woman and Xena, 22 and 23? Hey, I like Leeloo and Claire bear, but not over those two icons.

Again, it can be debated (Lois Lane! "Bionic Woman!") until we're all breathless, but give the site credit for taking on the task. Here's their final list. Let the comments flow.

The 25 Women Who Shook Sci-Fi:

1) Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver, "Alien" series)

2) Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer")

3) Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff, "Battlestar Galactica")

4) Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson, "The X-Files")

5) Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton, "Terminator," "T2")

6) Princess Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher, "Star Wars" series)

7) Rose Tyler (Billie Piper, "Doctor Who")

8) Sam Carter (Amanda Tapping, "Stargate SG-1")

9) Nyota Uhura (Nichelle Nichols, "Star Trek")

10) Leeloo (Milla Jovovich, "The Fifth Element")

11) Claire Bennet (Hayden Panettiere, "Heroes")

12) Storm (Halle Berry, "X-Men")

13) Pris (Daryl Hannah, "Blade Runner")

14) Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer, "Batman Returns")

15) Barbarella (Jane Fonda, "Barbarella")

16) Sarah-Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen, "The Sarah-Jane Adventures" / "Doctor Who")

17) Mikaela Banes (Megan Fox, "Transformers")

18) Susan Ivanova (Claudia Christian, "Babylon 5")

19) Number Six (Tricia Helfer, "Battlestar Galactica")

20) Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew, "Star Trek: Voyager")

21) Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer")

22) Wonder Woman (Lynda Carter, "Wonder Woman")

23) Xena (Lucy Lawless, Xena: "Warrior Princess")

24) Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner, "Alias")

25) Marina (Stingray)

-- Jevon Phillips

Photo credits: "Aliens" - 20th Century Fox. "Star Wars" - Lucasfilm Ltd. "X-Men" - 20th Century Fox.  "Xena Warrior Princess" - Reuters.

RECENT AND RELATED

Beyonce wants to lasso the role of Wonder Woman

Princess Leia strikes back at 'Star Wars' and George Lucas

A Whedon-less Buffyverse continues

Starbuck speaks! Katee Sackhoff on the final days of 'Battlestar Galactica'

Lights, shining on Wonder Woman

Dan Akyroyd says Sigourney Weaver ready for "Ghosbusters 3"

A Whedon-less Buffyverse continues

Yes, we know it's Joss Whedon's world, but slayers belong to us all. On the heels of the news that the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" movie's original director, Fran Rubel Kuzui, and her husband, Kaz Kuzui, are working on a "reboot," we wanted to see who else were major slayers in the Buffyverse.

 

Though almost a couple of thousand more were created after Willow's stunt with the Scythe in Season 7, there are still a few slayers who stood out. Because the comic book was known as Season 8, we can take that into account as well and take a look at the ones that have made a mark in the series' mythology.

 

 

 

The announcement included the tidbit that Whedon would apparently not be involved in the filmmaking (he was reached by Entertainment Weekly and had only this comment: "I hope it's cool.")  It was also announced that the new movie would not include "Buffy" characters we've grown to know from the show's seven-year run.

 Here's hoping that whoever or whatever comes next lives up to the show. Surely, many of you have ideas and opinions on this development so leave 'em in the comments section.

 

-- Jevon Phillips

 

RECENT AND RELATED

 

 

True Blood' is draining experience to some

 

'Twilight: New Moon' begins to rise

 

Comic-Con video: Joss Whedon, Eliza Dushku talk 'Dollhouse'

'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.