Chris writes: I thought you would want to see below for the Sean Astin news.
‘Jeremiah’ Returns to Showtime for Second Season Friday, October 10 At 10:00
Series Stars Luke Perry, Malcolm-Jamal Warner
Sean Astin Joins the Cast
NEW YORK, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire/ — SHOWTIME will premiere the second season of the sci-fi adventure drama series JEREMIAH on Friday, October 10 at 10:00 PM (ET/PT). With 15 new episodes, the series has added Sean Astin (“The Lord of the Rings” “Staying Together”) to the cast. JEREMIAH stars Luke Perry in the title role, who rose to international fame as the brooding Dylan McKay in the television and cultural phenomenon that was “Beverly Hills, 90210”.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner (“The Cosby Show”) stars in the series as “Kurdy”, Jeremiah’s friend and partner in his quest to forge a new world order out of the chaos of a post-apocalyptic future. The series, from MGM Television Entertainment, is created for television by sci-fi icon J. Michael Straczynski, creator and executive producer of “Babylon 5”. Luke Perry, also serves as executive producer on JEREMIAH.
In the new season, Sean Astin, known for his role as Samwise Gamgee in “The Lord of the Rings” hit motion picture trilogy, will play a colorful character named “Mr. Smith”, who teams up with Jeremiah and Kurdy to forge new alliances in the hope of building a brave new world.
The series is set in a future post-apocalyptic world where, 20 years before, a deadly virus wiped out the world’s adult population, sparing only those who hadn’t reached puberty. Now, the oldest survivors of the “Big Death” must struggle to create a civilization out of the chaos that was left to them when the adult population was wiped out, along with the majority of society’s collective knowledge.
During the first season, Jeremiah (Perry) sought to locate a mysterious place called Valhalla, which his father had claimed might hold some hope for the survivors. This personal quest was redirected when he met up with the loner and opportunist named Kurdy (Warner). Together, they discovered a group of highly organized survivors at a technologically advanced military facility called Thunder Mountain. It was there that Jeremiah and Kurdy were enlisted to orchestrate peace among the warring factions that often roamed the countryside or squatted in abandoned towns, and to work towards preventing the killer virus from returning.
As the second season opens, Jeremiah has been separated from Kurdy in the aftermath of a struggle with forces from the Valhalla Sector. He is being held in captivity and is about to be reunited with his father — a mysterious figure he thought long dead, and who holds the answers to many secrets about Jeremiah’s world.
JEREMIAH is based on Platinum Studios’ comic book-to-film adaptation based on the award-winning comic book by Belgian author Hermann Huppen. The series is being produced by Jeremiah Productions Inc. in association with Lion’s Gate Television and Platinum Studios and is distributed by MGM Worldwide Television Distribution.
Straczynski serves as show runner and executive producer, alongside Grant Rosenberg who has produced and written for “The Outer Limits” and “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.” The executive producers also include Luke Perry, Scott Mitchell Rosenberg (who developed the hit film “Men In Black”) and Ervin Rustemagic.
MGM Television Entertainment handles television development and production for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. Its series lineup includes the smash off-beat dramedy Dead Like Me; Fame, MGM’s successful foray in reality programming showcasing the ultimate talent search; the hit syndicated action-adventure series She Spies; the popular post-apocalyptic drama Jeremiah; the award-winning, critically acclaimed series Stargate SG-1 and The Outer Limits; and The L Word, the forthcoming ground-breaking drama. For more information on MGM, visit MGM Online at http://www.mgm.com/.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Viacom Inc., owns the premium television networks SHOWTIME(R), THE MOVIE CHANNEL(TM) and FLIX(R), as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME(R) TOO(TM), SHOWTIME(R) SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME(R), SHOWTIME BEYOND(R), SHOWTIME NEXT(R), SHOWTIME WOMEN(R), SHOWTIME FAMILYZONE(R) and TMC xtra.
SNI also offers SHOWTIME HDTV(R), SHOWTIME ON DEMAND(R) and THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND(TM). SNI operates and manages the premium television network SUNDANCE CHANNEL(R), which is owned by SNI, Robert Redford and Universal Studios. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME(R) PPV.
Additionally, the advertiser-supported television network SHOWTIME EXTREME(R) is available in Spain through a joint venture with Media Park and the advertiser-supported television network SHOWTIME is available in Turkey through a joint venture with UK-based Zone Vision.
BIOS
LUKE PERRY (Jeremiah/Executive Producer) — Prior to taking on the dual roles of star and executive producer for JEREMIAH, Luke Perry made his Broadway debut as Brad Majors in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” In recent years, he appeared in feature films including “Fogbound” and the spy thriller “The Enemy,” opposite Roger Moore. His television credits include the miniseries “Johnson County War,” the TBS thriller “The Triangle,” and an eight-episode run as the Reverend Jeremiah Clouthier on the series “OZ” for which he received rave reviews.
During his years on “Beverly Hills 90210,” Perry appeared in several independent films and major studio productions. These included Columbia’s “Fifth Element,” the SHOWTIME Original Picture “RIOT,” “Normal Life”, and “American Strays.” He also co-starred with Chris Penn, Michael Madsen and Mary Stuart Masterson in “The Florentine.” Perry made his feature film debut in the starring role of real-life champion bull rider Lane Frost in “8 Seconds,” which he also co-produced.
MALCOLM-JAMAL WARNER (Kurdy) — An Emmy(R)-nominated child actor for his regular role on “The Cosby Show,” Malcolm-Jamal Warner has matured as an actor but has also received accolades in several new creative ventures: directing, playing bass for his band Miles Long, Performance Poetry gigs and civic-minded advocacy appearances.
His theater credits include “Cryin’ Shame,” “Freefall” at the Victory Garden Theatre in Chicago, the off-Broadway play “Three Ways Home,” at the Astor Place Theatre, and in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the La Jolla Playhouse.
A seasoned director, Warner was the resident helmer as well as star on “Malcolm and Eddie.” He also directed episodes of “The Cosby Show,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air,” “All That,” and a host of music videos. His film short “This Old Man” received critical acclaim on the festival circuit. Additional directing credits include the Saturday morning teen magazine “All Ax-S,” featuring Jaleel White and Kriss Cross, Nickelodeon’s “Keenan and Kel” and the AIDS awareness video “Timeout: The Truth about HIV, Aids and YOU.” The video, which starred Magic Johnson and Arsenio Hall, earned Warner the NAACP Key of Life Image Award.
Always civic-minded, Warner has been involved in several programs that reach out to the community. He hosted the Emmy Award(R)-winning “Kids Killing Kids” and directed “Teen Files: Truth About Violence.” Warner recently appeared at the National Black Theater Festival in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in a theatrical production of his Performance Poetry entitled “Love And Other Social Issues.”
SEAN ASTIN (Mister Smith) — Sean Astin, currently appearing in “The Lord of the Rings,” began his acting career at the age of nine, appearing opposite his mother Patty Duke in the ABC after school special, “Please Don’t Hit Me, Mom.” As a teen actor, he appeared in “Toy Soldiers,” “The War of the Roses,” and “The Goonies” among others. His more recent credits include “The Long Way Home,” “Courage Under Fire,” “Rudy,” and the SHOWTIME Original Picture “HARRISON BERGERON.”
In 1994, Astin produced and directed the Academy Award(R) nominated short film “Kangaroo Court.” More recently, he directed “On My Honor” and, while filming the “Rings” trilogy in New Zealand, he directed the documentary short, “The Long and Short of It.”
Yarrow writes, “A co-worker of mine came across a couple of interesting fall classes on the San Francisco State University (SFSU) Web site:”
“‘Lord of the Rings’ as Epic” (English Language and Literature 630) Students delve deep beyond the pages of J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic, guided by English professor George W. Tuma, who has studied Tolkien’s work for more than 20 years and taught English literature at SFSU for 33 years. Tuma, a Tolkien purist, has not seen either “Lord of the Rings” film because he is afraid the films would stray too far from the book. He also notes that Tolkien himself questioned if it was possible to transform the book into a quality movie.
The course description clearly indicates that the lecturer has not seen P.J.’s films, and almost seems to read, “don’t even think about discussing the movies in this class.”
And…here’s another course that San Francisco Tolkien fans might find interesting, also at SFSU:
“Magic and the Supernatural in Medieval Europe” (History 640) Students study fantastic creatures and places, with an exploration of miracles, magic, charms, folk traditions, saints and relics. Taught by Assistant Professor of history Jarbel Rodriguez, the course also covers stories of ghosts and vampires and shows how the supernatural played a role in medieval society and what the beliefs reveal about the medieval world.
Andúril – reforged by elvensmiths from the shards of Narsil – is perhaps the most famous swords in the Lord of the Rings. This United Cutlery replica will be released in November 2003.
Elrond said of the legendary blade: “The man who can wield the power of this sword can summon to him an army more deadly than any that walk this earth.”
The inscription down the length of the blade on both sides is in the Tolkien language of Quenya, written in the runes of Eregion, that say “Nányë Andúril i né Narsil i macil Elendilo. Lercuvanten i máli Mordórëo”. This translates to “I am Andúril who was Narsil, the sword of Elendil. Let the thralls of Mordor flee me.”
The blade inscription features runes framed by stylised symbols of the Sun and the Moon, which represent Anarion and Isildur, the sons of Elendil, and seven symbolic stars that represent Elendil, who died wielding Narsil in battle against Sauron.
Inscribed on the pommel are runes in the Elven language of Sindarin that say Narsil essenya, macil meletya; Telchar carneron Navarotesse. This translates to “Narsil is my name, a mighty sword; Telchar made me in Nogrod.”
NB: Some people have wondered why the blade inscription is in “Dwarven Runes” and not the Tengwar. Both the angular runes (known as the Cirth) and the more cursive Tengwar lettering were initially created by the elves. The Sindar elves of Beleriand invented the Cirth, while the Tengwar originated in Valinor and was “imported” by the Noldorin elves.
The Tengwar became the dominant form of writing for elves – only in Eregion (Hollin) did the Cirth retain its popularity. The elvish smiths of Eregion passed the Cirth on to the Dwarves of Khazad-dum, who adapted it for their own use.
So although runes were primarily used by Dwarves by the Third Age, they were still elvish in origin.
Additionally, Appendix E of LoTR tells that the Cirth was long used only for “inscribing names and brief memorials on wood or stone”. It would have been ideal for a blade inscription.
Finally, when Eregion was overrun by Sauron in the Second Age, Elrond gathered the few survivors of the sack to himself. Afterwards, he retreated with them to Rivendell.
Could it have been that a few Celembrimbor’s famed cadre of smiths survived to enter the service of Elrond and later reforged Narsil? Unfinished Tales does not reveal the fate of the Gwaith-i-Mirdain, although Celembrimbor himself was killed. But it could be that this is part of the logic as well.
It makes a nice unsupported theory anyway.
UPDATE: JO writes, “The simplest explanation for the presence of Dwarvish Cirth on Narsil (and of course Anduril as well) is this: it was made by Telchar, who was a dwarf. No more complex theory is necessary. “
Mary writes: A great new exhibit of Viggo Mortensen’s photographs from the “Hidalgo” filming opened yesterday in Los Angeles.
It’s called “Miyelo”, a Lakota Indian word, and shows about 20 wonderful, almost mystical, photos of an Indian Ghost Dance recreated on the site of the Wounded Knee Massacre. These are huge prints, full of swirling vivid colors, and featuring luminous indistinct figures that could well be ghosts! It is a moving and inspiring exhibit!
Open through November 8th, at the Stephen Cohen Gallery, 7358 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles. The gallery is open from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, and while there was no sign of Viggo there — or any promise of future attendance– the show is a rewarding experience which speaks eloquently for this artist!
There were a few obvious LOTR fans in attendance, and it was great to be one of them! I couldn’t afford the signed monograph, which included a signed print, but the book “Miyelo” is available on its own. It includes copies of all the photos in the exhibit, as well as very thoughtful words, and a re-telling of the Wounded Knee story. [stephencohengallery.com]
An SF convention! In Brisbane! Rare as hen’s teeth, you might think. But Supanova has rolled into town from Sydney, and is set to keep Brisbane’s geek collective – including myself – happy for a few weeks.
Unusually, though, I’m horribly disorganised and don’t arrive at the RNA Showgrounds in Brisbane until midday. This is a Bad Thing(tm). Bruce Hopkins was supposed to hit the stage at 10.30am. As I wander through the gates, I console myself with the thought that he’ll be on tomorrow and that maybe I can corner him for a few words during the afternoon.
The first thing I note is that there’s quite an impressive crowd – I twist and turn my way through the press of people as I figure out where everything is.
Lots of comic stalls – every comic store (and hopeful artist) in Brisbane must be represented here. Ooooh, Borders. Must stay away, books could be excessively tempting. I hurry on without stopping.
Around the corner is the WETA stall. Now, I’ve been reporting on the amazing stuff WETA which dreams up for ages, but seeing it in the flesh (or is that polystone?) is something entirely different. These things are truly incredible. For starters, they’re larger than I imagined. Most of the statues are two hands high, and the busts about half that. The colours are fantastic. Even the Frodo statue – which always struck me as a bit off in pictures – looks really good.
Standouts are the Watcher in the Water, an armoured Easterling and Gimli posing amid the ruins of Moria with his axe. I boggle at them for a bit – idly pondering the pile of cash sitting in my wallet. Even a rabid hater of dust collectors wouldn’t mind owning one of those, surely. There’s also several sets of tiny replica weaponary arrayed on a smallish plaque that are seriously impressive.
I introduce myself to the people on the stand, and chat with Bill Hunt (prosthetics expert with WETA FX) for a while. Bill tells me he has worked with WETA virtually since the inception of the film, but it’s obvious he’s lost none of his enthusiasm for the project. He’s still like a little kid who’s been handed the keys to a chocolate store. If this is typical of the enthusiasm, friendliness and dedication at WETA, it must be a remarkable place to work.
Our conversation covers a huge amount of ground, some of which he later raises again in his presentation and Q&A. I’m sure you’re all salivating to hear what he had to say, but you’ll have to wait for my fuller write-up tomorrow.
I wander on, stumbling across the Trading Card Game guys doing demonstrations and running a competition. I confess to Paul – the guy organising the comp – that I have no idea how TCG works. He tries to explain the process to me as he plays. The strategy aspect is fascinating.
I slowly get the feeling of how everything functions as he and his opponent take turns to attempt to corrupt/kill each other’s Ringbearer (or reach the game endpoint) first. The balance of the game sways back and forth. Each player uses Fellowship companions to defend their Ringbearer, while using “dark” card to attack their opponent.
At Helm’s Deep Paul’s opponent, David, is unable to attack. He doesn’t have the right cards, even though he’s in a very strong position. It proves a critical point and Paul prevails a short time later, getting to the game endpoint and claiming the win.
I watch another game before I decide it’s time to move on. EA’s there previewing the RoTK game, as well as a couple of others. I watch people play for a while – it’s very action oriented. Lots of hack and slash.
However, I only see the Paths of the Dead sequence, so it’s difficult to gain any sense of the plotline. One thing I do note is the appearance of the Dead – robed, ghostly figures with large shields and halberds. I idly wonder if this is some sort of hint as to the appearance of the Dead in the film.
The person playing Aragorn “dies” mid-sequence, so I don’t see the exit of the Paths. I’m too incompetent at Console games to have a go and humiliate myself before the assembled masses.
Over in another section of the building, Bruce Hopkins sits with the other special guests. There’s an enormous line of people attempting to get David Prowse’s (Darth Vader) signature. I don’t really recognise the other guests – I need to work on my geekiness, I guess.
Bruce Hopkins is wearing a t-shirt that reads “Isengard Swim Club”. He explains that it was given to him by some people from the United States. Appropriate considering the hours he spent on the flooded Isengard set. Even if the reverse does read “Team Elf”.
I ask him how he maintains intensity and focus when (as is the case with acting) you sometimes have to do take after take. He replies that in the end, it boils down to the fact that it’s what actors are paid to do. But he also adds that he finds a personal focus and inspiration from the enormous effort that goes on behind the scenes, where hours (or even weeks) might be spent creating a scene for him to come into just to say a few lines. He says it’s his way of honouring their work.
I get the sense that this sort of attitude and incredible work ethic defines the cast and crew of Lord of the Rings. Bill Hunt says as much while describing the time when Viggo Mortensen lost part of a tooth during a battlescene and didn’t stop to look for it until the scene finished.
“No-one wanted to drop the ball,” he says simply.
The Supanova convention concludes today at the RNA showgrounds in Brisbane.
With the attention of the Dark Lord turned outside his borders, Sam and Frodo make their way across the treacherous terrain of the Gorgoroth. Here, at the end of their journey and with no hope of return, the two hobbits resolve themselves for the final steps to Mt. Doom. Now is Sam’s finest hour, forsaking food and water for his master, while determinedly making way for a destination he has no idea how to find.
With each step, the growing weight of the Ring becomes a burden and a torment to Frodo, until he loses strength for anything beyond mere endurance. Sam now carries Frodo part of the time, and the hobbits cast aside all but the most necessary gear in an effort to lighten their load.
Some way up the mountainside the hobbits are waylaid by a desperate and dangerous Gollum. Sam strikes Gollum to the ground, but in pity spares his life. Continuing on their way, at long last the Ringbearer enters the forges of Sauron. There, upon the edges of the pit, Frodo stunningly renounces his goal: succumbing to the power of the One Ring and declaring himself Ringlord in the heart of Sauron’s realm.
As Sauron becomes instantly aware of the threat within Mordor, from the shadows Gollum attacks again. Biting Frodo’s ringfinger off, Gollum dances around in brief triumph before stumbling into the fires of Orodruin, still clutching the Ring.
How does this chapter reveal Sam’s growth since setting out from Rivendell? How does pity and mercy ensure the success of the quest? Did Frodo fail the quest? And finally, what do you think about the tragedy of Smeagol?
Join us in #thehalloffire as we debate RoTK Book 6, Ch 3: Mount Doom.
Upcoming Topics: September 20-21: The relevancy of Tolkien to the 21st century. September 27-28: RoTK Book 6, Ch 4: The Field of Cormallen October 4-5: Leaf by Niggle
Times: Saturday Chat: 5:30pm ET (17:30) [also 11:30pm (23:30) CET and 7:30am Sunday (07:30) AET]
Sunday Chat: 7:00 pm (19:00) CET [also 1:00pm (13:00) ET and 3:00am (03:00) Monday morning AET]
ET = Eastern Time, USA’s East Coast CET = Central European Time, Central Europe AET = Australian East Coast
