News from the Helpers' Network US for fans of Beauty and the Beast..

Deepest Sympathy -

It is with the deepest regret that I have to inform all "Beauty & The Beast" fans of the sudden and untimely death, on February 22nd of Jean Bryant.

She and husband John (married 45 years) gave us so much of their time and effort over the last 12 1/2 years, helping me to keep the dream alive.  Those who contacted Jean for help, will know only too well that nothing was too much trouble.  We, the fans have lost a dear helper and friend.

On your behalf, I would like to extend to John, their daughters, grand-children, family and friends our heartfelt deepest sympathy.

Please feel free to send personal messages to :-

John Bryant, 222 Lady Margaret Road, Southall, Middlesex UB1 2RU, England.

Thank You.  Gwen Lord, UK.

News from Nan Dibble of the Helpers' Network US for fans of Beauty and the Beast...

From today's (2/21/02) Sci-fi wire website:
Updated 2:43pm ET on 21-February-2002
9:00am ET, 21-February-02

Del Toro Heralds Hellboy

Guillermo del Toro told SCI FI Wire that he's eager to make a big-screen version of the Hellboy comic series his next project. "Hellboy is probably the last comic over the past 15 years that I was actually in awe of the character and in awe of the visual universe that was created to sustain it," del Toro said in an interview. "I look forward to every new Hellboy story as much as I was waiting with bated breath, for example, as a child for the next Swamp Thing comic by [artist] Bernie Wrightson, even though he did so few of them."

Del Toro--the director of Cronos, Mimic and Blade II , due for a March 22 release--added, "Having that occur to you when you're more than 30 years old, not only is it sad about your mental state, but it's also incredibly liberating creatively. I have a duty to myself and [to] the character not to allow Hellboy to be f--ked up in the translation into a movie by someone who doesn't care. I want it to be exactly the comic book. This is my ambition, and I will leave my body there on the ground to make it happen, but I want Hellboy to be the
best goddamn comic book-based movie ever made. Ever. I don't care what comes this year, if it's Spider-Man or whatever. It will be the best comic book movie ever made."

As far as casting, del Toro reported that "Ron Perlman or nobody" will assume the title role. Perlman, the Beast in the TV series Beauty and the Beast, co-starred in the director's breakthrough film, Cronos . "We have toyed with other ideas, which were good, like Vin Diesel, but the whole project was written by me with Ron in mind," del Toro said. "Undoubtedly I would [get a bigger budget if Diesel were cast], and I think Vin would be a great alternative. I think Vin was also born to play Hellboy, but when I first met [Hellboy creator] Mike Mignola, we looked at each other suspiciously across the table, and we said, 'There's only one actor who can play Hellboy.' I said, 'I don't want to give up on the idea,' and Mike said, 'Neither do I.'  We said, 'Let's say it together.' And it was, 'One, two, three, Ron Perlman.' So I think Ron is the guy. I'd rather not do the movie than do it wrong."

Interesting, huh?

I'll update the website soon, by the way. Maybe this weekend. It's Been more than usually crazy at my house lately...

Nan

News from Margot Worthington of the Helpers' Network US for fans of Beauty and the Beast...

"Just a quick note on the message about the Slanted Fedora convention in Vegas...(the one with Ron Perlman appearing)...I saw kind of a strange post that indicated that they really don't have their act together as
conventioneers yet...they're newbies. Not that this is a BAD thing, just a warning. Might be worth holding off and hoping to see Ron someplace else (like a B&B convention?!! ).

OH and TOO cool for words. OUR "Elliott" is a TRUE hero. If you get or can beg or borrow a copy of this month's OPRAH Magazine, there is an article by a lady named Samantha Dunn that is totally incredible. It's her story of a horrifying riding accident and how she recovered. In the part where she is describing the accident in detail (owwwwwwwwieeee), she mentions yelling for help and seeing this MAN appear at her side to help her...and she recognizes him as Edward Albert Jr. He LITERALLY saved her life!! If you can't get
a copy of the magazine, I'll do my best to get it scanned and sent it to you.

HUGS
Margot"

Helpers' Network US
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