Ridley Scott to Direct New Blade Runner

In death, troubled sci-fi writer is darling of Hollywood

(NEWSER) - Sci fi writer Philip K. Dick died paranoid, impoverished, and obscure. But since his death in 1982, nine movies have been based on his novels—including Blade Runner, Minority Report, and Total Recall—-and interest in his work , eerily prescient of the digital age, has never been higher. More»

Production firm in talks to buy rights to sci-fi classic's universe

(NEWSER) - Other Blade Runner movies could be here in time for 2019, the year when the 1982 sci-fi classic takes place. Production company Alcon Entertainment says it's in the final stages of talks to acquire the rights to make prequels and sequels based on the settings and characters of the original, according to the Hollywood Reporter . The deal won't include the right to remake Blade Runner itself, and there's no word on whether director Ridley Scott or star Harrison Ford will be involved. More»

(NEWSER) - Science fiction movies run the gamut from cerebral to "joyful space opera." The writers at Total Sci-Fi run down the 100 best; here's the top 10:

1. Blade Runner: This "masterpiece," with standout performances from Harrison Ford and Rutger Hauer, is "backed up by a real sense of sadness, fear, and longing."
2. 2001: "The film is as enigmatic as the universe itself," and unlike newer fare, "there is a real depth behind the groundbreaking special effects."
3. Star Wars: "If you haven't seen Star Wars, then, well, you're probably not interested in reading a list about SF movies."

Really? 'Hot Tub Time Machine' is the best we can do?

(NEWSER) - “2010 very possibly is the worst year in the history of motion pictures,” declares Joe Queenan in a hilarious Wall Street Journal piece bemoaning the downfall of American cinema. You know things are bad in Hollywood when:

• “Shia LaBeouf—who looks a bit like the young George W. Bush” is being passed off “as the second coming of Tom Cruise.”
• The top contenders for Next Big Action Star are Jake Gyllenhaal and Adrien Brody. “None of these are logical heirs to the throne abandoned by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Harrison Ford and Sylvester Stallone. They may not even be legitimate heirs to the throne vacated by Steven Seagal and Jean-Claude Van Damme.”

Alleged assailant in Harry Potter T-shirt may face serious charges

(NEWSER) - A dispute before a Comic-Con panel discussion ended with one attendee in police custody and another in the hospital being treated for a stab wound near the eye, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. The alleged assailant was armed with a pen and wearing—look away, kids—a Harry Potter T-shirt. "The room was very crowded and the males argued over one male sitting too close to the other," a police officer told CNN . More»