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©1995-99, To Be Continued...
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The latest news in Hill Valley
Brief updates on upcoming BTTF projects
As you can tell, there's been very little to report lately in terms of news on this site, thus the lapse between "Back Talks". However, we've got a few pieces of information to pass along to you today in terms of previously reported upcoming Back to the Future projects. Our anonymous source has popped in with these few pieces of information:
- "I've checked up on the BTTF4/5 project for you, which is pretty quiet right now, but there's no word at the moment on the sequels."
- "I've heard two different stories about the DVD. One story maintains that it's coming out November 23rd/Thanksgiving, but I haven't found this to be true. The other story says it's being postponed so that they can add some extras to the BTTF2 and BTTF3 discs — I'm guessing that they're all coming out next year to celebrate the 15th Anniversary."
- "Heads up — the N64 game isn't happening anymore. It's being folded into the DVD-ROM version for PCs. There's talk that a Dreamcast version is in the works, instead."
Hopefully, no news is good news on the sequels. As far as the DVDs are concerned, it does seem now that the smartest thing for Universal to do it to release them next year in celebration of the 15th Anniversary of the first film. Let's just hope that they're also getting beefed up in content too with missing scenes, interviews, etc. like the first one will have. We know it's going to be worth the wait, but if you're like me, you've grown weary of all the delays since the first film was originally announced over two years ago on July 10, 1997.
After the recent success of the Dreamcast player, I'm not surprised that the N64 game will cease to be and that the Dreamcast version will take its place. Let's just hope that the hoverboard pad will still be an accessory for the game!
In other related news, I'm assuming that the development of the new Back to the Future...The Ride is on course. Universal Studios Japan is now slated to open just about 18 months from now in April of 2001, according to the VSI Holdings press release yesterday concerning their new contract with Universal Studios Florida to build interactive animatronics for the new Men in Black attraction. The new BTTF film is supposedly going to debut at Universal's other two parks here in the U.S. just a few weeks after it debuts in Japan.
The brand new Back to the Future Trilogy CDs have finally arrived in our office, and all outstanding orders for this item have now been shipped. The two week delay in shipping from Varese Sarabande was blamed on the recent merger of Universal's Music Division and PolyGram Music — apparently their warehouse has been relocated and it is mass hysteria right now trying to get anything shipped on time. I listened to the new collection yesterday for the first time, and I'm quite pleased with the results, although I do feel that there are several missing pieces. My complete review of the CD should be posted this weekend. Also, don't forget that we're giving away a free Pizza Hut 2015 foil wrapper prop from Back to the Future Part II to one lucky customer who buys the CD from BTTF.com between now and October 26, 1999. All purchasers of the CD from us will be automatically entered into our drawing, and the winner, who will be chosen at random and notified by
email, will be announced on our site when the contest ends.
New features at BTTF.com
In an effort to take our site to the next level in many ways, we're adding on several new features and staff members at BTTF.com. These additions will be slow I'm sure due to the time it takes to develop them, but at the same time, they're necessary and viable to continue to keep BTTF on the forefront of the public's mind. As you may have discovered by now, we have a brand new intro to our site that is reminiscent of the opening scene in the first film. I'd like to thank our new staff member, Danny Pesses for the work he's done so far on our site's appearance, and I'm sure that there will be plenty to come in the near future along these lines! If you haven't seen the new intro, check it out now at www.bttf.com (requires Flash 4).
Also, if you frequent Kristen Sheley's Welcome to the Future website, you've probably discovered that it is now hosted by BTTF.com. Kristen's fan fiction has become somewhat legendary among BTTF fans over the years, and she & I had been discussing the merger for quite some time now because of her limited space resources for holding her files. At the present time, I don't know what direction we'll take with the incorporation of her site into this one, but at least for now all of her material can be found in one location. Kristen has been a dedicated and loyal fan to the BTTF fandom, and has assisted with the Fan Club and this site for many years, and I look forward to our continued association and friendship in the future.
As for other planned changes, they'll be forthcoming in the near future. I've been in some preliminary talks with Universal Online for our site to become a Universal affiliate, so hopefully that's going to lead somewhere. We'll also be attempting to gain other sponsorships through some of the various companies who were featured in the BTTF films. Meanwhile, we'll be updating the look of other pages as well, and will also be hopefully bringing on more talented and dedicated fans in the near future to help take this site into the next century. As you can see, there are a lot of things planned, and with the series' 15th Anniversary just around the corner, I want us to be ready for the onslaught of fans who will rediscover the Trilogy once the DVDs, games, and other 15th Anniversary items hit the market. The Future has just begun, so stay tuned!
Project updates
AFTER THE VISITATION: (a.k.a. ROAD SIDE PICNIC)
Bob Gale wrote this script in 1996, and the film has been in perpetual development since. Now In Hollywood reports that it has been put into Active Development, indicating that it must now be on the fast track to be made. The film takes place in 2024, where a man must save his daughter from scientific experiments by entering "The Zone", a hazardous place where the laws of physics do not apply because of an alien landing years earlier. His mission is to locate an object rumored to grant any wish.
MAN ON THE MOON:
Studio Briefing reports that Universal is considering producing a theatrical documentary on the making of this film, citing some 200 hours of behind the scenes footage filmed by Andy Kaufman's girlfriend. The film hits theaters on Christmas day, and co-stars Christopher Lloyd as himself from their Taxi days.
MONSTER HOUSE:
Robert Zemeckis has signed up to produce yet another horror flick which will be produced and distributed by DreamWorks in association with Zemeckis' ImageMovers company. This one is about three kids who discover that their neighbor's house is a monster, but no one believes their story.
WISH YOU WERE DEAD:
Apparently, the start date of this film got pushed back, as we've recently learned that it was scheduled to begin filming yesterday, October 4, in Los Angeles. Originally slated to begin filming in August for a targeted December release, the film now will no doubt be released sometime next year by New Line Cinema. The film reunites BTTF alumni Christopher Lloyd, Mary Steenburgen, and Charles Fleischer. The delay could have been due in part to Lloyd's last minute addition to the cast of the play "Oliver!" in early-to-mid August at the Sundance Theatre in Sundance, Utah.
— Stephen Clark
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