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August 12, 2005
Johnston Once Attached to JP4?
Was JP3 director Joe Johnston attached at one point to Jurassic Park 4? According to Jon Rosengrant, a member of Stan Winston Studios who spoke at this week's QuakeCon, Joe was to direct the film at one point, but he left after major script re-writes. This comes via site reader Kyle Wade, who wasted no time quizzing Rosengrant about anything JP at the convention. According to Kyle, when first asked about JP4 Rosengrant responded that "you know just about as much as I do," admitting what he has is old news: "All the information I know about it is, well, prehistoric." He added that no animatronics have been requested for JP4 at Stan Winston Studios.
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Nothing Happening on Kauai, Move Along
Continuing the "non-news" theme, I received a couple emails pointing me to a story on this website talking about filming on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, where parts of JP trilogy have traditionally been shot. Balderdash? 'Carnotaur3' was on the case, asking Bob from Hawaii Movie Tours if he's heard anything. Bob, of course, his finger always on the pulse of the island, responded in the negative. "Nothing is happening on this island right now regarding JP4", says he.
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TresCom Interviews Trespasser Lead Artist
Want to read the sordid tales behind the late, great, maligned Jurassic Park game "Trespasser"? Fansite Trescom has posted an exclusive interview with Brian Moore, the former Lead 3D artist on the project. My favorite part: "There were times when there were flat out screaming matches from very emotional team members, since the project was creating things that were never done, there were a lot of very diverse opinions on how to proceed." Ahhh Trespasser. How sucky you were. (Thanks Paul)
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July 21, 2005
Universal Studios JP4 Speculation
Is the JP4 ball rolling? A few tiny tidbits of info have surfaced over the last few days (and weeks -- see the previous story), probably most interestingly from Matt, who reports a tour guide at Universal Studios Hollywood said this week JP4 "would be back in 2006 [to film at the studio]", and they were already booking sets. On the other side of the country at Universal Studios Orlando, meanwhile, Screamscape.com echoes the previous rumor that a new JP ride is in the works. "There was also an unconfirmed claim about seeing another skyline height check balloon flying over the JP area of the park a few weeks ago," the site says. So, still nothing definite, but it sure sounds like something is going on.... (Thanks 'raptor1982')
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July 1, 2005
JP4 Announcement Coming This Summer?
So it's been a pretty slow first half of the year in terms of JP4 news. In fact, what little there's been has been depressing, scary, and overall not very encouraging. But according to a source, we might be getting some JP4 news very soon. "You can expect a big JP
announcement blitz before the end of the summer/this autumn at the
latest," says 'BRI', the same guy who alerted DJP3P to the imminent AICN script review back in August. "Universal is planning on getting their act together for JP4 very soon," he says. "This announcement will coincide with the announcement of a new BIG Jurassic Park attraction at Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure. These plans of course may change (as they usually do!) but it sounds like things are coming together!" Looks like there may be a ray of light at the end of the tunnel after all...
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News Bites
So what else has been goin on? Not much, honestly. Here's a few news bites of note:
- FX guru Dennis Muren tells Comingsoon.net he's "dino'ed out" when asked if he'd be working on JP4, though he wasn't involved in JP3...
- The UK and Germany of all places will be getting a new JP DVD box set in August called "Jurassic Park: The Ultimate Collection" that reportedly will contain a bonus 4th disc. Update: Amazon.co.uk is now accepting pre-orders for the set, which does not contain any new content but includes the "Beyond JP" disc and pretty neat looking packaging.
- An unfortunate note: The rise of Lucas' Revenge of the Sith has officially bumped the late great JP off the Top 10 All-time Box Office list.
- Of interest to JP fans will certainly be "Dinosaurs 3D", an IMAX movie created by Sky High Entertainment and due for release at the end of next year. Among other impressive stats, the giant-screen film will be shot in Patagonia, include 20 minutes of new dino CG, and "adhere to the strictest standards of scientific accuracy."
- And finally -- Hey! Anyone see that King Kong trailer!?!
(Thanks Justin, 'Ed_Regis', Scott, Kenny, Clinton, and 'Bradleynath')
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May 25, 2005
Sayles: Script Was Real
To those who still don't believe that the JP4 script that AICN's Moriarty reviewed back in August was legit, writer John Sayles wants to let you know it was real -- and that it also was stolen. "It amazes me that people are that obsessed with reading Steven Spielberg’s mail," he tells the New York Observer this week. The paper reports a hacker "intercepted" the script, which they describe as an early version, and offered their opinion of it before sending it on to AICN. The article also mentions that JP4 is "on hold", a sentiment we've seen echoed before. (Thanks Jim)
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May 14, 2005
Horner Admits Delaying T-Rex Discovery for JP3
When you're a world-famous scientist, being a movie's dino consultant is great work if you can get it. But delaying an important scientific announcement to help promote a movie -- well, that's a science no-no. And according to a story on NPR this week and reported by the AP, Jack Horner "acknowledged that the announcement of a dinosaur find in eastern Montana was delayed to help promote [JP3]." NPR charged that Univeral Studios itself asked Horner to "change the discovery date". "We decided that we could alter discovery dates," Horner said, "At least for the press, for the opening of the movie." But Jack says he's innocent: "The discovery dates are put in our notes. When somebody finds something, you write it down; you can't alter it. There wouldn't be any reason to alter it." (Thanks Kevin and 'jurassiraptor')
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May 2, 2005
Neill Says JP4 Never Coming Out?
Is it time to give up and admit defeat? Is it possible that JP4 is stuck in development hell, with a crazy script, no director, and a uninterested Steven Spielberg? Sam Neill seems to think so, if a gossip column on an Australian website is to be believed. According to an email newsletter, while attending the Logie Awards last night, a "well-oiled" Neill "ruled out a possibility of a Jurassic Park 4" in-between making political comments and presenting an award. Is Sam speaking the truth, or just trying to get into the papers? You decide! The Logies, by the way, are Australia's version of the Emmy. (Thanks Matt and 'jurassiraptor')
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April 10, 2005
Winston: JP4 "Sort of on Hold"
Could it be -- JP4 news? Well, sorta. According to today's Dark Horizons, which in turn got the info from the vague-sounding "Cinemania Magazine", our ol' bud Stan Winston has been talking about JP4 of late. According to the JP dino consultant, while JP4 is "definitely going ahead" and "there will be a Jurassic Park IV", he does concede that "admittedly things have somewhat slowed on the development of the film, as Steven [Spielberg] wasn't very enthused with the first couple of screenplay drafts... So we're sort of on hold at the moment, just waiting for the written word to be in place, and then it's full steam ahead, baby!" For the full excerpt, look here. (Thanks Dennis, Steve, and Zach.)
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April 1, 2005
Dino DNA Growing in a Frog?
Well this one is just too weird not to post. CNN is reporting this morning that the same researchers who brought us the news last week that they had isolated soft tissue actually now have, well, something growing in a real life frog in their labs, right now. The article just has to be read to be believed. (Thanks John, among others)
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March 26, 2005
JP3 Toy Clearance at KB
Dog chewed through all your Alan Grant JP3 action figures? Got a little too physicial with your Jungle Raptor? Head over to KB Toys (or the website) between now and April 4th for some deals, reports 'Jurassiraptor'. "Not a lot of variety available anymore," says Jurassiraptor, "But some folks may find a figure or two they need to complete their JP collection."
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Dino DNA Found?
A bunch of people sent me the link to this interesting story with the news that researchers at North Carolina State University have recovered 70-million-year-old "soft tissue, including what may be blood vessles and cells" from a T-rex. A more entertaining article from the NY Times points out that "similarities have already been pointed out between the dinosaur's blood vessels and those of an ostrich". (Thanks 'tsplano')
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February 15, 2005
More Script Rumors
A lot of weird JP4 stuff going around the interweb recently, most of which traces back to this story at a film site called RopeofSilicon.com. Essentially the story says that someone who shares an agent with William Monahan says the script is complete, but that in this version, all the original actors will return, as well as "Spielberg in 'some' capacity". Of course this would contradict the script review (which featured no original cast members save Hammond) and also leave out John Sayles, who doctored the script last year after Monahan was done with it. Either way, sounds fishy.. The fact remains we haven't heard any concrete, official JP4 news in a long, long time. (Thanks 'PocketAssReturn', among many others)
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AICN Reviews Monahan's Latest Script
And speaking of ol' Bill Monahan, the little-known-author-turned-super-hot-screenplay-author and JP4's (possibly former) scribe, AICN has a review of his screenplay for The Departed, a remake of a Hong Kong film by Martin Scorsese due out next year. The reviewer seems to like the script, saying it "reads well, with strong, grounded dialogue".
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December 29, 2004
Attenborough's Family Affected by Tsunamis
Word comes in from CNN.com that Richard Attenborough's 14-year-old granddaughter has died, and his daughter and mother-in-law are among the thousands missing in the resort city of Phuket following the tsunamis that devistated southern Asia last week. Another granddaughter vacationing with the family is apparently injured but OK. Obviously what is needed most now is money and supplies -- one of the many sites accepting contributions to the Red Cross is Amazon.com. (Thanks C.J. and 'fordprefect')
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December 17, 2004
Goldblum Clueless on JP4
In the "non-news" department, when asked by Cinema Confidential if he'd be working on the next Jurassic Park movie,
Jeff Goldblum either was playing dumb or just isn't involved (the script review we heard about a few months back indicated there'd be no Ian Malcolm in the fourth film). "I haven't heard anything about it myself," he told the website, "But I love working with Steven Spielberg." So. There ya go. (Thanks John and 'Smarr')
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More Chances to Win Autographed "State of Fear"
Just received word from the people running the State of Fear Webgame that today is the last day you can enter location codes to see if you've won an autographed copy of Crichton's State of Fear. The codes are, in order: 1. AKAMAI
2. Paris Nord, France, 3. Pavutu, Africa, 4. Pahang, Malaysia, 5. Shad Thames, London, 6. Tokyo, Japan, 7. Vancouver, BC, 8. San Francisco, CA, 9. Point Moody, CA, 10. TERROR, 11. Punta Arenas, Chile, 12. Weddell Station, Antarctica, 13. Beverly Hills, CA,
14. ANGEL, 15. Los Angeles, CA, 16. Century City, CA,
17. FLASH, 18. City of Commerce, CA, 19. Diablo Canyon, AZ
20. McKinley State Park, AZ, 21. Arroraville, AZ, 22. Oakland, CA, 23. BLUE, 24. Santa Monica, CA, 25. RESOLUTION, 26. Resolution Bay, Gareda, 27. Pavutu, Gareda. Good luck!
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December 12, 2004
"State of Fear" Reviews
It's been a few days since Michael Crichton's "State of Fear" has been released, his new novel about the "hoax" of global warming. The reviews, like in the case of Crichton's recent novels, have been decidely titled in the "negative" category. The LA Times, for one, pulls no punches, calling it "contrived, the characters one-dimensional.. with [Crichton having] an instinct for cliche." "Crichton's real genius," says the author, "Is to have written the first neo-con novel." Slate, likewise, declares that Crichton's charm has disappeared in recent years. "When one of Crichton's heroic skeptics makes a controversial statement about global warming," says Slate, "Crichton tags it with a footnote-look it up for yourself, liberal critic!" And while The Globe and Mail says that "For a while [in the novel] it appears that Michael Crichton might have got his groove back... conceptually [it] shows considerable promise." Ultimately however, the novel degrades into "low-grade theatrics, [that] detract from the force of the scientific thought."
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JP DVD's - Cheap!
Dan from JPToys.com points out that Circuit City is having a pre-holiday DVD sale this week, where you can get any 2 of the JP trilogy DVD's for 15 bucks. Makes a great gift! Update: BestBuy has the same deal.
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December 7, 2004
Crichton's "State of Fear" Released
If you haven't noticed the ad banners around here, Crichton's new novel, State of Fear has hit the streets today. As usual, the secrecy around the plot has been well-guarded, though if you sign up for the State of Fear Webgame you can currently read 3 excerpts from the novel by entering these 3 clues: TERROR, FLASH, and RESOLUTION. If you find any more, post them in the comments below!
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September 8, 2004
Winston: JP4 Script Almost Complete
A report from ol' DJP3P friend Nate this morning, who attended a recent Q&A session with JP series special effects guru Stan Winston. "We made it through the entire night without any mention of JP4 until they very end," Nate says. "A guy in the back row yelled out, 'Hey Stan, whats the deal with JP4?'", to which Winston replied "The script is a few weeks out".
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Boreanaz Not in JP4?
There's an article on Scifi.com that a few people sent me, talking to David Boreanaz about some recent rumors that he'd be in a big-budget movie franchise. The article is worded a little strangely though, and while it seems the author asked about Indy 4 (which Boreanaz denied), they don't specifically ask about JP4... (Thanks 'Iluvdolma')
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Andromeda Strain Remake in the Works
Comingsoon.net has a tidbit from yesterday's Variety about two upcoming Sci-Fi Channel miniseries, one of which is a 4-hour remake of the 1971 film based off of Michael Crichton's thriller, The Andromeda Strain. Robert Schenkkan ("The Quiet American", "Sparticus") will pen the script, with Ridley Scott executive producing. (Thanks Anthony)
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August 19, 2004
David Boreanaz Cast as Nick in JP4?
An interesting hint from TV actor David Boreanaz this morning that he might be involved in the next JP4 movie, telling TV Guide that he's been signed up for a high-profile franchise. "'Four' would be the magic number - that's all I'm going to say," he told the magazine. Of course, as Comingsoon.net says, the "Angel" actor could be reffering to Indy 4, JP4, or Fantastic Four (or Crow 4 or T4 as some site members point out). Considering the script suggests the Nick character is a mercenary big-guy type character, Boreanaz would be an interesting choice. [Update, 8/25: Dark Horizons is reporting that Boreanaz is indeed about to be signed to the lead role in JP4. Thanks 'Oviraptor' and 'GW']
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Sayles 'Silver City' Trailer
Just noticed that the trailer for JP4 screenwriter John Sayles new project Silver City is now available online. Sayles wrote and directed the political comedy that pokes fun at the current administration. It'll be out September 17th. Oh yeah -- still seething about Tuesday's JP4 script review? Check out this site for some comforting comedy. :)
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August 17, 2004
AICN Reviews JP4 Script!
As promised, AICN's Moriarty has posted his impressions of the new JP4 draft by indie filmmaker-slash-script-doctor, John Sayles (whom he says is credited alongside William Monahan). Moriarty's thoughts? While he considers the script "well-written and certainly inventive", he also "think[s] it just might be the single most bugfuck crazy franchise sequel I've ever read," he says colorfully. "I'm not sure we're ever going to see this thing onscreen. It just doesn't seem possible that Universal would make something this vigorously whacked out". The details: Warning: Obviously, we're spoiling a LOT of the plot here, and never in the history of my JP pages will we have known so much about the story so early on. Proceed with caution!
I spent the entire first act of the script thinking I had it figured out. I knew where it was going. Problem was, every time I thought I had it figured out, something happened that seemed to change the entire premise of the movie.
The movie opens at a Little League Game Gone Bad as Pterosaurs attack the kids, as a TV report explains, "the first attack on North American ground following months of this sort of thing in Central America and Mexico". Moriarty says that the script introduces a new lead character named Nick Harris, "an unemployed soldier of fortune", and that neither Grant or Malcolm figure into the script, though Hammond has a "great cameo... [as] the most sued man in history".
"[T]he first three films are all pretty much carbon copies of each other, excuses to turn people loose on the island. I almost set the script down at that point, disappointed that they'd do something so predictable again after all this talk about how they were going to turn things upside down. Page sixteen, and I was sure I knew the rest of the script without even reading it... But I was wrong... again."
Moriarty goes on, explaining that Harris returns to Nublar, alone, tracking down Nedry's infamous shaving cream can. What happens next? Moriarty explains we're only on page 39. "It kept confounding my expectations... It certainly didn't feel like it was just another rehash of the same formula." And then, well, it gets weird:
Nick is put in charge of training... five dinosaurs, X1 through X5, and the first thing he does is name them... So we are introduced to Achilles, Hector, Perseus, Orestes, and Spartacus, each of them a specially created deinonychus, which is sort of like a miniature T-rex"
Overall, as Moriarty says, the script writers have put together another in the series of our favorite popcorn movies. Will Universal make it? Will viewers dig dinosaurs in full Power Rangers mode, attacking other dinos on command? Are the action figures in production already? Obviously, go read his review and decide yourself.
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August 16, 2004
AICN to Review JP4 Script This Week
Everyone go to Ain't It Cool News and hit reload! According to Moriarty's Rumblings, Harry & Co. scored a copy of John Sayles' recent draft of the JP4 script and are planning on posting a review "this week". Check back here for more info, or, of course, head on over to AICN. (Thanks Bri)
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July 19, 2004
Frank Marshall Producing JP4?
A lot of weird JP4 news going around these days, and while I've avoided posting a majority of it because it seems like sheer nonsense, one has resurfaced: That Frank Marshall, famous Hollywood producer who has worked with Spielberg on all 3 Indy movies will be joining Kennedy on JP4, at least according to an off-hand comment he made to a newspaper when asked if he would ever make a movie in Idaho. This would be the first JP movie for Marshall. (Thanks 'Oviraptor')
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More on John Sayles
For those of us not as familiar with master filmmaker John Sayles (who is now reported to be working on a JP4 script -- see below), 'the weazle' points us in the direction of this interview from 2002 where AICN's Quint questions him about his career, from his work on the 'B' and 'C' grade Roger Corman films to his recent roll as script doctor (Note the mention of his work on the infamous "The Alamo" script for Ron Howard). An interesting read.
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Crazy Rumor Roundup
Ah hell, while I'm here, might as well print a list of the crazy JP4 rumors I've heard recently, in official bulleted list(tm) form:
- Alex Proyas (The Crow, I, Robot) will direct. (Coming Soon) Update: Proyas himself shot this one down at Moviehole.net, saying he is "very uninterested" in doing JP4.)
- Sam Neill is out, but Goldblum and Attenborough will return. (Coming Soon)
- Emmy Rossum (The Day After Tomorrow) and Jeremy Piven (Runaway Jury) are set to star. (Cinemania Magazine)
- Expect lots of marine dinos in this one (Dark Horizons)
- Filming is scheduled for March or January of 2005 at Pinewood Studios, UK. (Dark Horizons)
(Thanks to many, many people)
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[JP3 News from February 7th through June 16th]
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