Coming out in 2-D, RealD 3D and digital 3-D, M. Night Shyamalan’s THE LAST AIRBENDER hits theaters July 1. In our second set interview (click here to read the Nicola Peltz-Noah Ringer chat), THE DAILY SHOW’s Aasif Mandvi spoke about playing Admiral Zhao, the hot-tempered Fire Nation Commander in pursuit of the Avatar (Ringer). He is Zuko's (SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE’s Dev Patel) principal rival.

STARLOG Magazine started covering the world of SF & fantasy in 1976. Its sister magazine, FANGORIA, has been “America’s Horror Magazine” since 1979. For the time being, STARLOG Magazine and its website are no longer operating. However, the SF, fantasy and comics universe is still going strong, and so we will be keeping the STARLOG brand alive via Fangoria.com. Inaugurating STARLOG’s return to web will be a series of on-set interviews with the cast & crew of M. Night Shyamalan’s fantasy epic.

With the Nimrod Antal-directed PREDATORS on the way, the time is perfect to look back at PREDATOR 2, a worthy follow-up featuring the extraterrestrial huntsman who singlehandedly brought down an entire team of commando elite in the 1987 original. In the second installment, released in 1990, a new alien hunter prowls the crime-infested streets of Los Angeles searching for worthy trophies to add to its immense collection.

Recently, I had the opportunity to rap a bit with JimmyO and April Monique Burril, the Maryland-based founders of Forbidden Pictures and creaters of the CHAINSAW SALLY franchise. The first series of the splatter sitcom based on their 2004 movie has been set for DVD release by Troma in September, with a second season in the works. The duo also recently self-released their latest feature THE GOOD SISTERS, co-starring Debbie Rochon.

Poor Corey Haim. As you’re no doubt well aware, the former ’80s star, known for his roles in THE LOST BOYS, SILVER BULLET and LICENSE TO DRIVE, passed away a few months ago. Haim had a very public struggle with drugs and alcohol, followed by strings of rehab sleepovers and broken hearts. Though LOST BOYS and BULLET will always remain classics in my book, Haim did a creature feature in 1988 that will always hold a special place, somewhere on my shelf.

Recently, we reported on a host of William Lustig-related news, including the upcoming new double DVD and Blu-ray debut of MANIAC, his second annual “William Lustig Presents” series at NYC’s Anthology Film Archives and the aforementioned cult slasher’s special screening at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (see that item here ). Lustig is clearly having a busy summer—and he also has a MANIAC remake to talk about.

As the New Mexico desert dust continues to furiously swarm the set of the Hughes Brothers’ THE BOOK OF ELI (out on DVD and Blu-ray from Warner Home Video June 15; see the first part of this report here), the chance to interview the film’s stars comes slowly but surely. Stationed in a huge tent rigged up for the cast and crew to eat lunch in, the gaggle of journalists here to visit the set are left to fend for themselves while the others go back to work.