Robert Simons did these designs a couple years ago, but I haven't seen them posted too much elsewhere. The Kraken looks especially imposing, but the alien-looking diving suit is also fantastic. Check out the rest at the link. [Robert Simons via Super Draw]

In January we warned you about the sexy sword-playing script that was getting tossed around for the 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea prequel. The script sounded epically hokey, at best. We even asked McG what was the deal with this over-the-top screenplay, and he assured us it was nothing like that.

In any case, The Hollywood Reporter says that the big script is now undergoing a hefty rewrite from Braveheart scribe Randall Wallace. Let's hope they get it right this time.

But with all the hub-bub around the disastrous Terminator 4, will Will Smith still be game to sign as baby Nemo? And isn't he getting a little old to play these youngsters? Although granted, Captain Nemo wasn't super young in Jules Verne's novels. Plus, isn't Captain Nemo usually depicted as either a Hindu or a Sikh?

The Captain Nemo origins movie, which McG has been very vocal about attaching Will Smith to, is up and rolling. Last week, we asked McG what the status of the script was. And although McG seemed very happy with that draft, now it turns out the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe writer has been assigned to tweak the details.

According to Variety, Marks is on board to rewrite the "fast tracked" script, and we applaud this decision. Please just cut out the many, many, many montage scenes from the current draft. [Variety]

At a private press roundtable at New York Comic Con, McG spilled the details on the next projects he's got his eyes on. He's pretty dead-set on getting Will Smith signed on as the younger (and less damaged) Nemo, and he's even talking plot details... But now that he's conquered the fear of flying which sadly cost him his directing gig for the last Superman movie (as the movie was to be shot in Australia), is it time for him to think about upgrading America's boy scout? Check out what McG's Supes would be like and what baby Nemo will be like.

Are you willing to take another shot at Superman now that they are rebooting it again?

I talk to JJ [Abrams] a lot about that. We went through a lot on that whole thing, I don't know. I talk to the DC guys, [President Paul] Levitz is here and I just saw Greg. Food for thought. I think it's a great character, I would want to make the character infinitely more dark and complicated, and get away from the big Blue Boy Scout a little bit and get into the alien among us. And how that could be lonely and interesting. It's not that I would make it depressing, I'd would just make it a little tougher... Which I suspect people would respond to. We have the glorious Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, which to me is an excellent example. I like the Schumacher pictures and everything Burton did but it needed to be reinvented to some degree and I think we're all better for it. We're all happy it went that way at least. I haven't thought about it [editor's note...clearly].

The next picture I'm likely to make is 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. Which is challenging, because it's got the classic literature roots and it's the film that Walt Disney sort of bet the farm on when he was only known for animation when he got involved in live action.

Do you have any news on that front? Do you have someone in mind?

I'm working on the script right now and I wouldn't go to an actor that I really respect until I have a script that I can fall on the sword for. You know how it is, I definitely like the idea of Will Smith. I've made that very clear. I like the idea of breaking down any racial barriers and taking the idea of what people perceive to be a period film and turning it on it's ear. And we have a few interesting way to deal with that as well. When the time is right with the script then I'll go to the actors. But there are very few great entertainers out there right now. I think you see what Downey did with Iron Man certainly what Johnny did with Pirates and it's not a long list, wouldn't you say?

Because I think he can handle it. It's basically a guy at war, with war itself. And I don't want it to be so dark as to be prophetsorial and to feel like a history lesson. It has to have a journey component to it so it makes you want to get out of your cubicle and your small life and go live in a world larger than your accustomed to. For that I think you need somebody to take you with them, and like I said that's a short list.

We've read about a few possible leaked scripts and what you described sounded very similar to what we've read. In what we read there was a lot of fighting and it felt very epic. Could you talk a little bit more about that, there seemed to be a lot of montage fighting scenes and great love?

It's not like that. We're developing just sort of, firstly a genesis story, how Nemo got to be. Where you look at the original picture and James Mason just enters [from the 1954 film] and he's already pissed off and underwater and what we want to do is show how he got there.

Thanks to IESB, we've got additional details as to how the movie version of Nemo becomes the angry underwater sea captain. And I have to say that if my life was filled with as many montages as this screenplay, I too would be an angry and bitter old sea dog. Or Rocky.

The movie starts with a young Nemo who is returning to Mumbai Harbor in the 1850s. After awaking from a naked dream where he floats, stranded and surrounded by fish, we learn that his mother is passed, and the young man is on his way back to visit her grave. But his wishes are cast aside when the General (who is also Nemo's Papa) demands Nemo's presence in his office.

Like all good movie dads, the General is none too pleased with Nemo's lackadaisical attitude towards the crown and his title, because he's not in appropriate uniform (gasp). But no time for pleasantries, because Nemo is thrown back into service for Her Majesty, his mother's grave be damned.

Nemo grudgingly goes back to training the troops but not for long, because Indian rebels are attacking. A bloody fight ensues — with elephants — and Nemo comes face to sexy face with Rami. The hottie rebel who "rides like a warrior and heads down the hall full speed with the reins in her teeth, a sword in one hand and a pistol in the other," fights Nemo with Kama Sutra books and sexy head butts.

Their fighting leads to love, and the next thing you know, the two are thrust into a montage of secret meetings and love-making. There are love and babies and escape plans, and the next thing you know Nemo and his bride are on a steamboat, with a little baby in tow.

This is where the movie gets crazy confusing. The crew of the steam boat uncovers the secret Vulcania Island, that is full of dead people and mystery. Apparently this island holds the key to eternal power. What is this power? No idea. But everyone wants it.

Then more betrayal and fighting, as Nemo's old army buddies catch up with him and demand knowledge of the new power source. But noble Nemo won't give it to them, and they end up framing him for the murder of his Papa.

There's more fighting and long winded speeches about courage, and Nemo is eventually kidnapped while his lady and baby are on the lam.

Things don't go so well for his tiny family, and Nemo is thrown into anger and depression. But he recoups with the aide of montages and the building of the Nautilus. Which leads to an all out warship battle and lots of destroyed lives and boats.

All in all, all that torturing and messed-up family stuff lends credence to Nemo's crappy state of mind afterwards. But as for the actual story itself? Well it sounds like the writers may need to fill in some submarine-sized holes.

Check out IESB for the entire run down, and let's all hope that they give the rewrite a little more thought. Also I'm going to have to STRONGLY agree with IESB that Will Smith would be a terrible casting decision for this origins tale. I'm hoping for a younger actor with less one-liner delivery.

After the NYC screening for Terminator Salvation, McG apparently got a bit chatty to a group of reporters about his next picture:

The character [Captain] Nemo in this film is more about obsession. He is obsessed, and people tend to forget that when you become so obsessed you end up being the villain. Man, I’m trying to get Will Smith to do it, been trying to get a hold of him. I've been wanting to work with him for a long time already. That guy's great.

Hmm, interesting idea if you want to make bundles of money. But honestly, I don't know if this is a good match for the legendary captain (and pretty complex character) from Jules Verne's books. Well at least we know he likes underwater creatures, after watching Seven Pounds.

[Latino Review]

20,000 Leagues is a major undertaking. You've got one highly detailed submarine, underwater scenes, and of course a giant squid to battle. This movie could not, and should not be made with green screen and CG effects, and hopefully McG's work with Stan Winston's visual effects studio for Terminator Salvation has taught him this.

Also Variety is reporting that Disney wants to start filming this year. Will this mean that McG could be pushing the next Terminator movie back a bit? Sean Bailey (Tron 2.0) is producing the movie, and the script has been penned by Bill Marsilli (Deja Vu).

Disney, please take care of this movie. Besides the fact that the Jules Verne novel is a classic journey into the fantastic, the 1954 movie with Kirk Douglas and James Mason was, and still is, a major pleasure to watch. Please, please make it about the story and less about the CG, I beg of you.

UPDATE: Sorry you're right this is a origins story "of Nemo as he creates his warship, the Nautilus. The characters come from the Jules Verne novel." Still needs to be handled with care.

Tonight

The Middleman's latest episode "The Obsolescent Cryogenic Meltdown" features Kevin Sorbo as a Middleman from the past who's been frozen in time. He's brought back to fight a supervillain, the Candle, but will his obsolete manners force Wendy to kill him?

The Japanese shōnen mecha anime Gurren Lagann, about an underground future society, is on twice on Monday once at 11 and again at 11:30 PM on the Sci Fi Channel.

My favorite X-Files two parter "Duane Barry Part 1" is on Sci Fi at 2 AM. If you like aliens, hostage situations and crazy folk, this is for you.

Futuristic private dick Charlie Jade is back and desperately trying to piece together the clues behind a murder mystery of a lovely young woman, the only problem is, she has no identity (which is impossible in his future), Charlie Jade airs at 3 AM on the Sci Fi Channel

Movies:
Enlist in The Federations alien bug-killing campaign before the evil being take over the universe in Starship Troopers, which is showing at 10 AM and 3 AM on TBS. Murderous soul eating car Christine is on AMC at 5:45 PM. And later, count all of the terrible one-liners in Batman & Robin on TBS at 12:30 AM.

Tuesday

Eureka has a new episode, where Allison starts to get ready for her wedding and all the genius dogs line up for a show of their own. "Best In Faux" is on the Sci Fi Channel at 9 PM.

Movies:

A handsome young man tries to repair the problems of his past with a time machine, but instead he ends up going forward about 800,000 years into the future. The Time Machine will be on TBS at 12:30 AM.

Wednesday

Journey back and discover the roots of our flying saucers. According to UFO Files: UFOs: Then and Now? The Innocent Years, even Medieval times had their share of alien encounters. UFO Files is on the History Channel at 11 PM. Later, explore the secret lives of flexible bendy monsters on the History channel's MonsterQuest: Boneless Horror at 1 AM.

Movies:

Watch the original War Games before they ruin it with that awful remake /sequel, on AMC at 5:30 PM. Crazy scifi movie Mad Love, where murderous hands get transplanted on unsuspecting victims. is on at 8 PM on TMC. Later, Kirk Douglas' 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea is on TMC at 2 AM.

Thursday

Movies:

Milla Jovovich dons the world's tiniest bandages as a supreme being that can save the world from biblical alien doom in The Fifth Element on TBS. At 10 AM watch the first ever reality TV Show gone horribly wrong when an entire world is built to house enough cameras to film one man from birth until death (or escape) in The Truman Show, on TBS at 9 PM.

Friday

Stargate Atlantis "The Ghost In the Machine" brings back Doctor Elizabeth Weir, but as a creepy kill-crazy Replicator. Or is she one of the good replicators? Wait, are there good Replicators? Atlantis is on the Sci Fi Channel at 9 PM.

Movies:
Get ready for high kicks and punches — and kitchen splits — with Jean-Claude Van Damme's Timecop at 10:30 PM on AMC.

Saturday

More British scifi beasties and monsters jump out of the rip in time in Primeval on BBC America at 9 PM. This weeks episode has the gang searching through the tunnels of London's underground and uncovering a bunch of gigantic spiders.

Movies:
TNT launches a scifi movie marathon starting at 11 AM with Jackie Chan's terrible movie about fatal formal wear The Tuxedo. Then there is Aeon Flux at 1 PM, Ultraviolet at 3 PM, Blade II at 7 PM, Blade: Trinity at 9 PM, Land of The Dead and 3:10.

Sunday

Venture Brothers will have a new episode for fans on Sunday at 11 PM on Adult Swim.

Movies:

Start your day off right with Space Cowboys where a group of aged astronauts get sent back into space to protect the world from ancient space technology. It airs on TNT at 8:30 AM. Later watch a military plane become self aware and try to blow up the world and fighter pilot Jessica Biel along it in Stealth on TNT at 1 PM.