The Essential Angel

Possibly the most eagerly-awaited new TV series this year is the spin-off from Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Angel. Some details have now emerged about the first episode. Entitled City of (obviously best to get the obvious jokes out of the way first), it's due to be transmitted on September 7, and sets up the premise of the show in traditional pilot style. Written and directed by Buffy excelsior Joss Whedon, it brings Angel into contact with Russell Winters, a vampire preying on young actresses. When he sets his sights on Cordelia, trying to make her living in showbiz, Angel must save her. Meanwhile, Doyle arrives to assist Angel in his mission to help others...

The Crow steps out

Universal pulled the plug recently on The Crow: Stairway to Heaven, a move which infuriated its loyal fan base which has grown slowly but surely since the show began. But fear not because producer Edward Pressman isn’t quite so keen to let it slip away. Pressman is looking to move the show to cable and has secured a second season by developing a financial organization which includes both domestic and foreign investors.

Expect the second season of 22 episodes to start winging your way within the year.

CGI Troopers

Amazing pictures were released recently on Ain’t it Cool News of the new CGI-based Starship Troopers series which it’s hoped will begin its eight-month run by fall 99. The series of 40 episodes is being produced by two FX houses, Foundation Imaging (Babylon 5 and Star Trek: Voyager) and Flat Earth (Hercules and Xena) and is apparently much darker in tone than the movie.

Hellraising Theater

Following in the grand old tradition of Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King, the next popular movie to make it to Broadway is... Hellraiser. Yes, I said Hellraiser! Oliver Parker, long-time friend of Clive Barker, spoke to the Calgary Sun about his idea to turn the ’80s horror movie which made Pinhead a household name into a stage show. “I like the idea of scaring an audience,” Parker enthused, “and Hellraiser has the potential to do that in aces.” I’m scared already, but I’m not sure if it’s in the right way.