Getty Images File Photo
Keanu Reeves
There’s lots of production activity around town these days…
First up, in the neighborhood of Byrne Road and Marine Drive, you may have noticed the facade of an entire town being constructed, akin to what Hollywood studios used to build for their old westerns. It’s all for the remake of The Day The Earth Stood Still, starring Keanu Reeves, and shooting here from December 2007 to March 2008. In the film, to be directed by Scott Derrickson, an alien visitor and his giant robot counterpart visit Earth with an important message for humanity.
Getty Images File Photo
Michelle Ryan
Elsewhere around town, Vancouverites caught glimpses of Chris Haddock’s Intelligence filming at the Ovaltine Cafe on Hastings Street last Friday, while others spotted Michelle Ryan (a.k.a. Jaime Sommers) shooting sequences for her series, The Bionic Woman, last Sunday night at Robson and Hornby.
Galactica’s future cast in an uncertain light: One of Vancouver’s most significant series in recent memory, Battlestar Galactica, just doesn’t seem to get any respect from its parent network, Sci Fi Channel. Amidst the lavishing of praise from both fans and critics alike, the network has never been able to quite figure out what to do with the jewel in its crown. Of late, rumours have been flying about the show’s fate — that a new fifth season is being considered (not technically accurate), or that NBC may adopt the series to help offset the writer’s strike (unsubstantiated). Meanwhile, Ron Moore and his staff of writers have been quietly working toward ending the show after another 22 hours of programming — not counting the “Razor” telefilm, set to air Nov. 24 after getting a limited theatrical release in the U.S. on Nov 12.
Either way, an announcement was made this week that season four will not premiere until sometime in April of next year, suggesting that two, 11-episode mini-seasons — probably accounting for the fifth season rumour mentioned above — is unlikely. The Sci Fi Channel, for its part, remains mum as to whether the coming season will be split into two, or whether it will be shown, as the creators hope, in a full 22-episode run.
