Jeri Ryan to star in new Syfy thriller 'Helix'

Jeri Ryan will star in Syfy's new Tv thriller, "Helix," the channel announced it Tuesday. Science-fiction fans should be excited because they are familiar with Ryan for her role as Seven of Nine on "Star Trek: Voyager."


More recently, though, she played Dr. Kate Murphy on ABC's "Body of Proof." She was also a series regular on "Boston Public," CBS' "Shark" (with James Woods) and NBC's "Dark Skies," among others.

The "Helix" cast also includes Billy Campbell ("The Killing") and Hiroyuki Sanada ("The Wolverine"). The show is produced by Ronald D. Moore ("Battlestar Galactica"), show runner Steven Maeda ("Lost," "The X-Files") and Lynda Obst ("Sleepless in Seattle," "Contact").


A little about "Helix" The series follows a team of scientists from the Centers for Disease Control who travel to a research facility in the Arctic to investigate a potential outbreak of disease. While there, they find themselves stuck in a life-or-death situation that could decide the fate of the future of mankind. It will run for 13 episodes.

Ryan plays Constance Sutton, the owner of Arctic Biosystems, where the series takes place. Campbell plays Dr. Alan Farragut, who heads up the CDC research team that is investigating the outbreak and Sanada is Dr. Hiroshi Hatake, the director of Arctic Biosystems.

The 13 episode Gripping thriller, drama series will debut in 2014.

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J.J. Abrams Comments On Benedict Cumberbatch STAR WARS Rumor

When the initial word of Benedict Cumberbatch's involvement in J.J Abrams' new Star Wars flick hit it was almost immediately dismissed as fan casting, before being denied by the actor's reps. But the rumor refused to go away, with the latest report from Latino review claiming that Cumberbtach is definitely, 100% in the movie (and the next two films in the new trilogy), no matter what he or anyone else involved may say to the contrary. Well now we have a quote on it from Abrams himself, who was quizzed about the rumor by LA Times reporter Yvonne Villarreal Who tweeted :


"JJ Abrams on #StarWars: "We're working our asses off trying to get things in place w/ casting." Benedict Cumberbatch? "I love that guy."



Hardly confirmation, but far from a dismissal at the same time. Of course Abrams' secrecy and fondness for deception also has to be taken into account, and he may just be keeping the rumor mill spinning. What do you guys think?

(Source: Comic Book Movie)

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Unused Star Trek 2 prop designs reveal alien civilization cut from script

You know that opening chase scene on the alien planet in Star Trek Into Darkness? Apparently it was supposed to be a whole lot bigger.

Concept artist John Eaves has revealed some new sketches from J.J. Abrams’ latest Trek sequel, and dropped some knowledge about how that opening changed during the development of the film.

Apparently the opening on the alien world (which is a catalyst for a lot of the narrative with the young Enterprise crew) was originally conceived as a much larger segment. So Eaves was commissioned to develop some designs for the alien civilization. From spears and weapons to weird saddles, he did a lot of work that wound up on the cutting-room floor.

Another cool tidbit? He also designed the cool  phasers used by the crew of the U.S.S. Vengeance. Check out Eaves’ explanation of the designs below: 

“As time went on, script changes started coming in and the grand alien nation and village shrunk in size drastically to fit budget constraints. By the time the film came out there was not much more than a chase scene through the jungle and the interior of a massive volcano. A great deal of the props we designed also got the axe and very few got any screen time. As in any art department, the process is design away like there is no limit and then, as budgets start to be put in place, the art is toned down by leaps and bounds.”

Check out the pictures below and let us know what you think about the alien culture we mostly didn't see?

(Via: Comic Book Movie And Blastr)

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The Star Wars Collection That Made It Into The Guinness Book Of World Records

What's contained within the largest Star Wars collection? Let's find out.

Steve Sansweet might be the world's biggest Star Wars fan. We don't know, because there's no way to measure that. But the Guinness Records folks can count the amount of items within a collection, and they've dubbed Sansweet's to be the largest, with somewhere in the ballpark of 300K pieces.

But what treasures can be found in the 9,000-square-foot museum dubbed Rancho Obi-Wan (converted from a chicken ranch) located in Petaluma, Calif.? Well, if you can think of it, it's probably there. A full cantina that sways to the music, multiple Darth Vader helmets, life-size figures (some made entirely from Lego) a full arcade of nearly every Star Wars-themed title in existence -- it's all there, from tiny scraps of promotional material to figures and busts all the way up to Han in carbonite.

Even Sansweet's story is interesting. He's been collecting since before the first film was even released, beginning with a discarded promo booklet thrown into the trash at the Wall Street Journal. Sansweet eventually went on to even work for LucasArts as the director of specialty marketing.

The best part of all, though, is that you can actually go and check out the museum. Tours are hosted by Sansweet himself.

(via The Huffington Post)

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It's official!: J.J. Abrams WON'T be directing a 3rd Star Trek Movie

Remember when Simon Pegg Zachary Quinto promised that J.J. would be back for more Trek? Oops :( 

Sci-fi fans have known forever that you can't just step off the bridge of the Starship Enterprise and on to the Millennium Falcon, but J.J. Abrams has only now finally admitted it. The director of Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness is locked in and ready to start in January on Star Wars: Episode VII, and we've assumed since he first signed on that it meant he wouldn't be able to direct Star Trek 3. 

Now, after a few months of hedging, Abrams has finally admitted it too. Here's what he said to Collider, talking about the Blu-ray release of Star Trek Into Darkness:

Well? Abrams is stepping down as director. Here's what he had to say about it:

"Whomever it is that directs the film will be someone we all know is going to keep the cast and crew in good hands. I feel very lucky to have been part of it, and it definitely feels like the right time to let someone come in and do their own thing. I certainly don’t want someone to come in and try to do what I would have done. We want to hire someone who’s gonna come in and bring their own sensibility. I’m very excited to see what comes next, despite feeling jealous of whomever that person is."

And who will that person be? You can probably aim a dart at your favorite up-and-coming Hollywood director and assume they're a pretty good guess, based on the variety of rumors we've heard. Recent chatter suggested that the frontrunner was G.I. Joe: Retaliation (a.k.a. "Ninja Mountain") director Jon M. 

Chu, who was in consideration alongside Attack the Block director Joe Cornish, Fast & Furious mastermind Justin Lin and Brad Bird, the Pixar veteran who turned to live action spectacularly with Mission: Impossible-- Ghost Protocol. Then recent chatter started suggesting that Rupert Wyatt, who has attached himself to a ton of projects since directing Rise of the Planet of the Apes, might take over. 

It's clear that Abrams, who will still produce the third Star Trek film, will have a hand in choosing his successor. But if he's made his pick yet, he's keeping mum about it. Then again, we know perfectly well by now that he's really good at that. 

Who do you think will direct the next Star Trek tell us ion the comments?

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