HARRY HERE in Rotterdam, and I just want to say... I don't believe this news. I haven't seen the original email or any of Father Geek's follow ups on it, but I can tell you from my own knowledge that as of the Writer's fest, AKW was not working on this script, Cameron was. Cameron dropped off the project as a mutual thing with FOX. What has happened to the project since then is (allegedly until now) unknown. I spoke with some of Michael Bay's people just last week and while we did talk about a number of projects, this one never came up.... of course they could have been.... "HIDING THE TRUTH"... but I don't think so. I'm pretty familiar with this source, and I think he would have told me, about this. BUT HEY... It's been a week. When I get back in the U.S. on Friday, I'll let you folks know what I find out. Ok? Cool. Besides... this plotline... it ummm... doesn't sound too good.... (suppressing my barfing instinct) It wouldn't be too bad a loss if it weren't true. Alright, it's back to the festival I go.... I'll talk atcha tomorrow, alrighty?

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Ma-Gog has filed this story with FATHER GEEK. When Walker was in Austin this past Fall he talked a little about this project, I'm glad to see that it may be getting a go-ahead soon. An action packed Apes flick could be Cool,I don't know it could also be very bad, but enough of me and on to the report.

Kevin Andrew Walker recently submitted his story treatment for the Planet of the Apes remake. Walker has taken the saga in a dramatic new direction, something different from than anything we've seen before. This is the world of Planet of the Apes, but as seen through the eyes of the man who wrote Se7en. Fox is VERY excited about Walker's work, and I suspect that the project will finally awaken from its torpor.

Michael Bay will probably direct the movie, with Jerry Bruckheimer executive producing. They are looking for a Kevin Costner/Michael Keaton-type "average joe" actor for the lead character, Ulysses (sp?) Monroe. For his fellow scientist and love interest they are thinking along the lines of someone like Catherine Zeta-Jones.

The plot revolves around the two scientists journeying into the center of the Earth, only to discover a civilization run by apes. The reason why they scientists embark on the quest to the center of the Earth is that they've traced the origins of an airborne virus to a volcano in the Pacific Ocean. The plague has wracked humanity, causing severe brain errosion in normal humans and, at the same time, it has increased the brain power of apes (there are some hilarious scenes with mischievious, intelligent spider-monkeys). It turns out that the virus is actually the brainchild of Ma-Gog, the spiritual and secular leader of a race of intelligent, sub-terranian apes. The Apes live in a lava kingdom beneath the ocean floor, where Ma-Gog rules like a cross between Satan, Neptune and Hugh Hefner. Ma-Gog only recently discovered the world above, where upon he ordered his scientists concoct a disease to wipe mankind from the face of the planet, so the apes can arise from their hellish existence and rule the surface. I'm not going to spoil the plot for you entirely, so let's just leave it at this: the scientists must foil Ma-Gog's plan before they fall victim to the virus themselves and they must also discover an antidote before it's too late.

Needless to say, this is going to be one kick ass movie. Imagine the fast-paced action associated with Bruckheimer and Bay, mixed in with the dark sensabilities of Walker. There are some truly horrofic scenes in this puppy.

Sorry I can't tell you more now. Perhaps later.

Ma-Gog