Greetings, citizens! ROBOGEEK here with a little tidbit of personal joy I just have to share with ya.
As you know, SXSW is currently rockin' and rollin' Our Fair City, and I've entered the fray with the fond hope that I'll actually find the time to write up some coverage hopefully).
Anyway, earlier this evening I was hanging out with THE DUDE and the good folks from theTexas Film Commission at Austin's famed Continental Club, which was hosting a party for the film THE WOMAN CHASER (screening at SXSW this week).
And lo and behold, there he was -- THE TICK, Patrick Warburton (who also happens to star in THE WOMAN CHASER).
Now, I may not have gotten to go see GLADIATOR at the METREON, or go to SHOWEST in LAS VEGAS... but I have personally witnessed Patrick Warburton say "spoon!" -- and that's pretty damn groovy.
Faithful readers will no doubt recall that Warburton was tapped last month to portray THE TICK in the eponymous half-hour live action series coming this Fall to Fox from executive producers Barry Sonnenfeld, Barry Josephson and TICK-creator Ben Edlund. (It's worth noting that this casting announcement generated some of the most enthusiastically giddy Talk Back postings in AICN history.)
Now, it should come as no surprise that Warburton has been sworn to secrecy, but TICK fans will be pleased to know that he has dutifully watched every episode of the animated "Tick" series (which he and his kids love) and has been reading the comics. He's really into it, excited and enthused. He has _not_ yet been fitted with a costume, though his understanding is that it will basically be the same basic Tick character design we all know and love, except perhaps for the big white oval eyes. (I expect that we'll get to see Patrick's eyes; hiding them would be a pretty severe acting handicap.)
More interestingly, however, he said that he's headed back to L.A. Monday because they're screen-testing candidates for ARTHUR opposite him this week. As far as he knows, no other casting besides him has been set yet, but he did let slip two Arthur candidates who had been courted, but unfortunately didn't pan out. I was asked not to reveal the names of these two non-Arthurs (at least until I can corroborate their identities from an independent source the part) Literally, each name made my jaw drop with an "Oh my GOD that would've been COOL!" However, the powers-that-be apparently have wrangled some candidates that are potentially even cooler, and hopefully there will be an announcement soon.
Also, the next characters to be cast are AMERICAN MAID and DIE FLEIDERMAUS, and there are already candidates lined up for these, too. Production on the pilot episode is slated for this spring. (A glowing review of the pilot script recently popped up over at JLA Direct, by the way.)
We'll keep you posted.
- robogeek@robogeek.com
P.S.: So as not to be a total tease, there are clues to the secret identities of the two NON-ARTHURS on this very page. Take a crack at them below in Talk Back, but don't bother to ask me -- I ain't telling.
