BackTalk Backlog
February 09, 2000
February 07, 2000
January 28, 2000
©2000, To Be Continued...
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Universal woes; Where's the train?
Is Seagram selling out?
There's a lot of buzz these days in Hollywood that Seagram may still be planning on unloading itself as well as Universal Studios. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Seagram CEO Edgar Bronfman, Jr. is presently denying the reports, telling some 160 employees at Universal's three-day retreat in Palm Springs that the company is not for sale. According to the report, few employees at the retreat were convinced, apparently more inclined to believe the Newsweek report on Tuesday confirming that Seagram has had recent informal discussions with various companies to sell the entire company. Among the companies named in the report are Canal Plus, Sony Corp., Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., and French conglomerate Vivendi. Reportedly, Bronfman's asking price for Segram/Universal is a whopping $25 billion, causing all prospective buyers to balk at the seemingly
excessive amount.
When pressed at the retreat to comment on the confirmed reports by both magazines, Bronfman shrugged it off claiming that everyone was "misinterpreting" what is going on. He quickly changed the subject to focus on how the company would focus on emerging technology for the Internet.
The potential selling of Segram would include its distillery business, as well as Universal's Music Group, Motion Picture Group, Theme Park Division, and other entertainment properties. However, Bronfman says he's intent on retaining ownership of the company and seeing everything through. Time will certainly tell.
Doc's Train relocated for MIB attraction
Longtime visitors to Universal Studios Florida know that Doc Brown's time travel train seen at the end of Back to the Future Part III has resided at the park next to Back to the Future...The Ride ever since the attraction opened in May 1991. However, in recent months, visitors to the park have seen only the utmost top portion of the train, as it has been fenced in behind a wall.
Various reports quickly came in as rumors circulated as to the train's fate, but the facts soon emerged — the train was blocking the entrance to a new attraction that opens next month: Men in Black Alien Attack. Before the rumors got out of hand, which ranged from a relocation elsewhere in the park to it being shipped to Universal Studios Hollywood, I contacted the park to get the official word on the fate of the train.
Linda Buckley, Director of Publicity & Public Relations for Universal Orlando, was kind enough to provide me with the following official statement regarding the train:
"In response to your question regarding the BTTF locomotive that is featured outside of the ride venue:
The locomotive has already been relocated to a position even closer to the Back To The Future...The Ride venue and will remain part of the attraction after the April opening of our new Men In Black Alien Attack ride. It has a fence around it currently due to the area construction, but will remain part of the Universal Studios theme park in Orlando."
In other news regarding ...The Ride, I attempted to get a statement regarding the rumored replacement of the ridefilm footage next year after the attraction opens at Universal Studios Japan, but nobody seems to want to talk right now. The sources I spoke with either hadn't heard that news, or wouldn't comment on the subject at this time.
Chris Hayes taking a break from Huey Lewis & The News
The following statement has recently been issued from Huey Lewis & The News' management office:
A message to all of our fans from Huey Lewis and The News
We want to let you know that Chris Hayes has decided to take a break from
touring with the group. He feels that it is important to spend more time
with his family. He is healthy and happy, but feels that this is the right
thing to do. We will miss him very much, and know that it will not be the
same without him. We are all still very much the best of friends.
Taking over on guitar is Stef Burns. We are excited to have him along, and
welcome his considerable talent. We wish him the best of luck, and of
course, we hope you come out to see us all soon.
Chris Hayes has been with the band since its inception, and co-wrote both "The Power of Love" and "Back in Time" with Huey. The statement is somewhat vague as to whether this arrangement is permanent or not. Should he not return to the group, he'd be the second original member to leave the band. Mario Cipollina left the group in 1995.
Hayes' decision not to tour with the guys comes just as the band's first tour dates this year approaches later this month. The band is quickly filling their 2000 tour schedule in anticipation of the release of their first studio album in six years. To find out if the band will be touring in your area, see our online calendar. (Thanks to Newsline II for the scoop!)
Michael J. Fox autograph values on the rise
As a direct result of Michael J. Fox's upcoming final appearance as a series regular on ABC's Spin City on May 24th, collectible prices for the actor are quickly on the rise. eBay Magazine lists autographs by Michael J. Fox as one of the top five hotest signatures in the April 2000 issue (page 104). No word on the current demand for Charlie Sheen autographs. 
Project updates
HARRY POTTER:
Well, Steven Spielberg is now out of the running as the director for this upcoming Warner Bros. feature, but The Hollywood Reporter recently confirmed reports that Robert Zemeckis is on the short list of directors interested in the project. Since Warner is considering filming the first two books of the seven-book series simultaneously, it sounds as if Zemeckis would be perfect for the job since he has lots of experience in that area. However, Zemeckis & crew head out to Fiji next month with Tom Hanks to complete the second half of Cast Away to have it ready for a Christmas 2000 release, so his schedule may be too tight to squeeze in the Harry Potter films and be able to meet Warner Bros. schedule.
STUART LITTLE 2:
Geena Davis has now signed on board to reprise her role for this planned Christmas 2001 sequel. Other cast members are soon expected to follow. No official word from Michael J. Fox's camp yet, but it's expected that he will reprise his role as well as the voice of the title character.
— Stephen Clark
Got a scoop? We're always looking for credible inside sources with information regarding the BTTF franchise. Anonymity is guaranteed, so click here to tell us what you know!
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