Granted, that's not much, but that's the first thing we've seen in print in a long time.  While many fans will be quite disappointed to learn of plans to move forward with a sequel without the franchise's lead actor, we all have pretty much known for a few years now that this would be the case should a sequel move forward.

We've been hearing a lot of BTTF4 chatter lately.  "Kilgore" recently informed us of a new Franchise Division that has been formed at Vivendi-Universal, and says that Back to the Future is indeed atop the list of potential Universal properties to be revived.  With The Mummy Returns setting a new box office record last weekend, Universal certainly appears to be hot on the sequel trail.  Jurassic Park III and American Pie 2 are both on tap for summer releases by the studio.

We're tracking this developing story now, but for now, take this report with a grain of salt until we hear something more firm from Universal in Variety or The Hollywood Reporter.  Stay tuned. [Thanks to "Moviehole", "marksdvds", "lightlondon" and "katesaddiction" for the news!]

THE BIG TIME:  Christopher Lloyd will appear in the pilot episode of this period drama about the television industry in 1948 New York.

DIAMOND OF JERU:  Billy Zane stars as "Diamond Hunter" in this short story adaptation for the USA Network about a diamond hunter in Borneo.

FANTASTIC FOUR:  Peyton Reed will direct this big budget live-action feature based on the popular Marvel Comics characters.

FISH DON'T BLINK:  Lea Thompson stars in this independent comedy currently shooting in Los Angeles, which began filming on April 23.  The film also stars Wil Wheaton, Richard Grieco and Dee Wallace Stone.

INVINCIBLE:  Billy Zane stars as "Os" in the pilot episode of this martial arts sci-fi adventure series for TBS set in San Francisco.

MAX KEEBLE'S BIG MOVE:  Jeffrey Weissman will portray a frog named "Mr. Googles" in this upcoming live action Disney film about a 7th grader who tells off the bullies in his school who have been torturing him and confesses his crush to the girl of his dreams, thinking that he's moving out of town the next day, only to find that his parents have decided not to relocate.

NERO WOLFE:  James Tolkan appears as "Wragg" in this new mystery / detective series now airing on A&E.

OTHERWISE ENGAGED:  Michael J. Fox will executive produce this new romantic series for the Lifetime network which follows a couple from their engagement through their married life.

THE PRIZE WINNER OF DEFIANCE, OHIO: HOW MY MOTHER RAISED 10 KIDS ON 25 WORDS OR LESS  Robert Zemeckis will produce this memoir about a midwestern housewife in the 1950s and '60s who rescued her family from debt by entering contests for ad slogans sponsored by consumer product companies.

SUNSHINE STATE:  Mary Steenburgen stars alongside with Angela Bassett and Timothy Hutton, among others in this Sony Pictures Classics film about a group of people concerned about the destruction of tradition and community in Florida.  John Sayles is directing his own script and presently shooting on location on Amelia Island in Florida.