June 11, 2001

Orlando Jones has been signed to play The Compendium of All Human Knowledge see below for more and a link to an interview with Orlando. Orlando is most known currently for his "make 7-up yours" commercials.

The production is approximately one month behind and is expected to finish principal photograpghy on or about June 22, 2001. Release date has been moved closer to Christmas.

Looks like Hans Zimmer may not be doing the film score after all, no indication as to who will be doing it.

May 26, 2001

The following two reports were posted on Dark Horizon's web site:

'Joe S.' has a follow up scoop to yesterday's story: "Just to follow up on today's story. I JUST returned from the TIME MACHINE set myself. YES, the A.D. staff has been let go. YES, they are reshooting crucial parts of the story. Jeremy Irons (billed on the Call Sheet as the "Uber-Morlock") was brought in to shoot his intro scene with Guy Pearce. There are also two full units shooting to hurry and finish the troubled production".

"Although Gore Verbinski stepping in was news a week or so ago, there's a little more happening that hasn't turned up yet. Gore's first AD was brought on as a 'technical consultant'. Shortly thereafter, she took the reigns after the original first was fired and the rest of the AD staff quit in a silent protest or something. This is just a number of strange dealings with only two weeks of shooting left and from what I understand, they don't even know how they're going to approach the futuristic NYC world, have been rewriting key points of the story, and are reshooting the ending with the "new and improved" director".

Samantha Mumba's brother Omero joined the cast and will be playing Kalen, Mara's brother in the film (Photo below)

Yancey Arias has been signed on to play Toren.

I got to work two weeks on prototype costume parts for the Morlocks.
(More on that once Dreamworks lifts their veil of secrecy)

Bob Ringwood was brought in around mid March as costume designer and made changes to both the Eloi costumes and Morlocks as well.

Also reported is that Spielberg has made changes to the script requiring reshooting of scenes involving Samantha Mumba.

Rumor is that Hans Zimmer may be doing the film score.

Also rumored is an animated series based on the new film.

Publicity should start around June.

Corrections:
Philip Bosco was the Dean of Columbia College not Jeremy Irons.
Jeremy will be playing the Morlock leader.

Friday May 11 02:17 AM EDT

Fatigue puts Wells out of 'Time' By Marla Matzer Rose

LOS ANGELES (The Hollywood Reporter) --- Only 18 days before wrapping principal photography for his live-action feature directorial debut on DreamWorks/Warner Bros.' "The Time Machine," director Simon Wells has abruptly dropped out of the project.

Gore Verbinski has stepped in to complete the movie on schedule.
DreamWorks announced the move Thursday afternoon, saying that Wells had to step down after being diagnosed as "suffering from extreme exhaustion" and ordered by doctors to rest for a minimum of two weeks.

Verbinski, who directed DreamWorks' "The Mexican" and "Mouse Hunt," is expected to hand the reins back to Wells after the completion of filming. Wells plans to return to oversee all postproduction duties. "Our first concern is for Simon's health, so we are very pleased that Gore was able to come in and pinch hit," said DreamWorks Pictures co-head Walter Parkes, who added that Wells plans to resume his duties overseeing postproduction on the film in several weeks. "We look forward to Simon Wells' return to the production ... and wish him the best during this time," Parkes said. When asked for further details, a DreamWorks spokeswoman said, "We're not going into detail ... he's just wiped."

Wells is the great-grandson of H.G. Wells, the science fiction author on whose work "Time Machine" is based. Although the project was his first live-action feature, Wells has directed several animated features, including DreamWorks' "The Prince of Egypt." "Time," which stars Guy Pearce, Mark Addy, Philip Rosco and Jeremy Irons, has been shooting in New York and Los Angeles since February.

Wells and Verbinski are repped by Endeavor.

Filming is scheduled to begin in February 5, 2001, release date is currently slated for December 14, 2001
Current Script: 102 pages dated December 1, 2000 by John Logan
Read a review of the Script written by Stax
(Feb 2000 draft)

Director
Simon Wells
Great Grandson of H.G. Wells

Screenwriter
John Logan

Producers
David Valdes
Walter Parkes
Laurie MacDonald (Executive Producer)
Arnold Leibovit (Executive Producer)
Mr. Leibovit has his own website Sci-fi Station
Jorge Saralegui (Executive Producer)

Soundtrack Compossor
Hans Zimmer ?
We have heard that Hans Zimmer is not doing the score, but no indicationas as to who is.

Jeremy Irons
as Uber-Morlock

Mark Addy
as
Dr. Philby

At the press junket for A Knight's Tale, Mark Addy shared his knowledge of Dreamworks' remake of The Time Machine starring Guy Pearce. He says the plot follows the 1960 filmed version faithfully, but the big difference will be in the modern technology employed in the presentation. "The original was 1960 so [the remake] sticks very closely to the novel but you've got the advantage of the kind of stuff they can do with special effects nowadays," Addy said. "They're going to make that time travel stuff just unbelievable and also the designs for the Eloi and the Morlocks. In the original they're a little ropey, but the stuff they can do now with prosthetics and make-up as well." Unfortunately, Addy himself does not get involved with the main action of the film. "I'm Philby, the friend of Guy Pearce's character," Addy lamented. "I stay at home. I don't get to do any of the fun stuff. I'm just there at the beginning and the end, so all my stuff's turn of the last century New York, stiff clothes and talking proper."

Samantha Mumba Age: 18
Place of Birth: Dublin, Ireland
Home: Drumcondra, Dublin, Ireland

Ain't it Cool News has also announced that Samantha's 11 year old brother Omero Mumba, was on his way to be screen tested to play her son in the film.

Orlando Jones
as The Compendium of All Human Knowledge

"It's an impossible character to describe, but okay. I'm a third generation photonic with verbal and visual link capabilities connected to every database on the planet. A photonic is basically something that doesn't exist. You only see me in glass. When you go into the New York library 800,000 years into the future, what has basically happened is there's no card catalog anymore and there's no antiquated computer voice. There's actually a creation and you go to the glass and ask it whatever you want and it tells you. It's not a hologram. The closest thing is I'm Obi Wan Kenobi which is sort of a projection. He knows everything in the world. "

Complete Interview with Orlando Jones at About.com

Cinematography
Donald McAlpine

Film Editing
Wayne Wahrman

Casting
Mindy Marin

Production Design
Oliver Scholl

Costume Design
Bob Ringwood
Deena Appel

Makeup Department
Scott H. Eddo .... key makeup artist
Robin Slater .... makeup artist
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Thomy Harper .... second assistant director

Art Department
Christopher Glass .... storyboard artist
Jennifer N. MacLeod .... researcher
Steve Park (II) .... set dresser
Angela Stauffer .... art department coordinator Bruce West .... set designer
Tim Wilcox .... digital illustrator

Special Effects
Jim Charmatz .... special effects

Special Makeup
Stan Winston Studios
Visual Effects Supervisor
Greg Figiel

Special Costume
Make-up & Effects Labs

Industrial Light & Magic
Visual Effects Supervisor
Scott Squires

Digital Domain
Visual Effects Supervisor
Erik Nash

Official Press Release - 02/22/2001
The Clock Starts on DreamWorks Pictures' and Warner Bros. Pictures' 'The Time Machine' Principal photography is underway on DreamWorks Pictures' and Warner Bros. Pictures' sci-fi adventure "The Time Machine," based on the classic science fiction novel by H.G. Wells. The film marks the live-action directorial debut of Simon Wells, who co-directed DreamWorks' animated hit "The Prince of Egypt." The last name of the director and author being the same is no coincidence: Simon Wells is the great-grandson of H.G. Wells.

"The Time Machine" stars Guy Pearce ("Rules of Engagement," "L.A. Confidential") as Alexander Hartdegen, a scientist and inventor, who is determined to prove that time travel is possible. His determination is turned to desperation by a personal tragedy that makes him want to change the past. He tests his theories with a time machine of his own invention that hurtles him 800,000 years into a future where mankind has divided into the hunter ...and the hunted.

Pearce heads up the international cast that also includes Academy Award(R) winner Jeremy Irons ("Reversal of Fortune," "Die Hard: With a Vengeance"), Mark Addy ("The Full Monty"), Philip Bosco ("Shaft," "My Best Friend's Wedding"), Phyllida Law ("Saving Grace"), and Sienna Guillory ("Kiss Kiss Bang Bang").

Simon Wells is directing "The Time Machine" from a screenplay adapted by John Logan ("Gladiator," "Any Given Sunday"). Walter F. Parkes and David Valdes are producing the film, with Laurie MacDonald, Arnold Leibovit and Jorge Saralegui serving as executive producers.

Collaborating with Wells behind the scenes is a veteran creative team led by cinematographer Don McAlpine ("Romeo + Juliet," "Clear and Present Danger"), production designer Oliver Scholl ("Independence Day," "Godzilla"), costume designer Deena Appel ("Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me," "Bedazzled"), editor Wayne Wahrman ("Charlie's Angels," "U-571") and visual effects supervisor Jamie Price ("Waterworld").

"The Time Machine" will be distributed domestically by DreamWorks, with Warner Bros. Pictures handling the international release.

Principal photography on "The Time Machine" began on location at Vassar College in upstate New York, with additional location filming to be undertaken in Albany, Troy and Schenectady. When the company returns to Los Angeles, shooting will be completed on soundstages at Warner Bros. Studios.