Saturday, July 20, 2002

X-MEN SEQUEL UPDATE

Daniel Cudmore will be playing Colossus in the X-Men sequel, 20th Century Fox told The Continuum.

Colossus will be one several new mutants making appearances in the film, which is in production in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The studio has confirmed that Bruce Davison, who played Senator Kelly in X-Men, will be returning for the sequel. Davison’s character was apparently killed in the first film, dissolving into a puddle of water. And, at the end of the film, Kelly was being impersonated by Mystique.

X2 marks the third time Davison has worked with director Bryan Singer, following Apt Pupil and X-Men.

"Bryan is always a hard taskmaster, but a wonderful filmmaker," Davison told The Continuum. "I really respect how he specifies at getting what he wants, which can be arduous.

"He's a very smart guy. I like him. I have a lot of friends who are directors, but unlike them, he is unafraid of using people over and over, like Ian McKellen (who plays Magneto) and myself from Apt Pupil."

Fox also confirmed that neither Tyler Mane, who played Sabretooth, nor Ray Park, who played Toad, will be in X2. Park has been attached to an Iron Fist film that Marvel is developing with Artisan.

As widely reported but not confirmed by Fox until Friday, Katie Stuart will be playing Kitty Pryde.

DAREDEVIL MOVIE UPDATE

Gary Foster, producer of the Daredevil movie, told The Continuum that principal photography will wrap on Tuesday.

“We still have three weeks of green-screen work immediately thereafter,” Foster told The Continuum on Friday. “We are very excited about what we've accomplished to this point.

“Now comes the editing room, sound design and music.”

Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige, an executive producer, told The Continuum he also is pleased with the film’s progress, noting things are “looking good.”

Daredevil is scheduled for a Feb. 14 release. Look for more news on the film very soon here in The Continuum.

MIA SARA TO PLAY HARLEY QUINN

Mia Sara has been cast as Dr. Harleen Quinzel, aka Harley Quinn, for the upcoming Birds of Prey series from The WB.

Sara replaces Sherilyn Fenn, who played the role in the Birds of Prey pilot, but could not commit to a regular role in the series. Fenn's scenes will be re-shot for the series.

Sara, 35, is probably best known as Ferris Bueller's girlfriend Sloane in Ferris Bueller's Day Off from 1986. She also starred in the 1994 film Timecop, based on the Drk Horse comic book, and her film and television credits number more than 30.

Sara is married to Jason Connery, the son of Sean Connery, who has played Dominic in Smallville.

Production on the first season of Birds of Prey is targeted to begin before the end of the month.

For a complete transcription of last weekend's Birds of Prey press conference, CLICK HERE.

BACK TO THE BATCAVE UPDATE

Burt Ward said the upcoming Back to the Batcave special on CBS will be full of "terrific recollections and flashbacks."

Ward, 56, who played Robin in the Batman TV show, and Adam West, who played Batman, were interviewed this week by Entertainment Tonight about the special.

"The explosions, the injuries, the fights, the women," Ward said. "There was a certain fantasy for young ladies what it would be like with super-heroes."

"I thought it was a wiggy idea. I thought it was fly," West, 73, said in typically campy fashion about the special.

Both actors said they were glad they played the characters back in 1966-67 are still identified with the roles.

"It's been wonderful. I love having played Robin," Ward said.

"Wherever I go, people ask me about Batman," West said.

The special has not been scheduled yet, but will air this fall.

BRIEFLY