Now doesn’t this look fun? A teaser trailer for an online version of pulp science fiction/comics classic Buck Rogers which is due to appear on the web sometime in 2010. I’ve no other information on it yet (although the Buck Rogers Wiki page states that a company called Phase II were planning an online fan film for 2010, so I wonder if its part of that? Anyone know (there was no extra info on the YT page)? I love that they have stuck with the old school style from the days when we didn’t have spacecraft, we had ‘rocket ships’. I think that’s an encouraging indicator -- the recent re-launch of Buck’s fellow 30s pulp SF comics/film hero Flash Gordon (no relation, sadly) totally misfired for me, they should have stuck with the classic pulp look and feel of the originals in my opinion, Buck (and Flash) were meant to be pulp fun (the 80s Flash movie may have updated it a little but it still played it purely as loveable pulp). If this new online version is going to go down the Rocketeer route of glorying in those marvellous 1930s retro-futuristic designs it should be a blast. My ray gun trigger finger is getting itchy at the thought… (via SFX’s Twitter)
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:54 pm
I included the appropriate websites for the Buck Rogers questions. No, this is NOT a fan film. It is a licensed commercial production being produced by Retro Film Studios / Cawley Entertainment Company of Ticonderoga and Port Henry New York USA. RFS/CEC is well known for its fan series Star Trek New Voyages / Phase II. The Star Trek work is fan-produced while the Buck Rogers is a commercial effort. See http://www.buckrogersbegins.com and http://www.startrekphase2.com.
The production is fully licensed by the trademark owners. The senior Trademark owner is also a consulting producer. The series will be based upon the long-running daily and Sunday comic strips! The stories will be modernixed, but with familar Buck Rogers characters such as Dr. Huer, ‘Killer’ Kane, Wilma Deering and others. We are also filling out the back-story for Buck. Samantha Hissong is cast as Buck’s fianceé in the 1918 scenes. She is Erin Gray’s daughter.
A four day filming was conducted at the end of September 2009 at a remote Museum near Crown Point, NY USA, that is a perfect “1918 horse farm” for the Rogers’ family. We currently have approximately 1/4 of the pilot in the can. Another segment will be filmed in Spring 2010.
We are aiming for an Autumn 2010 release.
Buck Rogers role if silled by actor Bobby Quinn Rice. His father, William, is actor Gil Gerard. His mother, Frances, is actress Erin Gray. Yes, BOTH are from the late 1870s movie and 1988-81 US TV series.