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Universal Making Its 'Future' Plans

One of the last remaining major movie trilogies never released on DVD -- the "Back to the Future" series -- will debut on Dec. 17.

The trilogy will be released in Europe in September, albeit with fewer extra features. Universal Studios Home Video had hoped to release the long-delayed title at the same time in the U.S., but the extras were not completed in time; some are still being produced.

Unlike other three-picture DVD sets that have been priced as high as $75 like "The Godfather" collection, the "Back to the Future" trilogy, which generated $418 million at U.S. theaters from 1985-1990, will carry a minimum advertised price of $39.95. A new set will also be available on VHS, where the titles have been on moratorium since 1994.

Star Michael J. Fox, director Robert Zemeckis, screenwriter/producer Bob Gale, and producer Neil Canton recently recorded new interviews and audio commentaries. A Q&A session with Zemeckis at USC Film School last month will also be included among the ten hours of extras spread across the three dual-layered discs, along with newly discovered deleted scenes and outtakes, three separate featurettes on the making of each film, and a PSA for the Michael J. Fox Parkinson's Disease Foundation.

Other extras include a feature called Universal Animated Anecdotes, in which consumers can watch the feature film and simultaneously learn over 150 facts, and a Huey Lewis music video.

Springsteen to Play Boardwalk Gig

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform live from the boardwalk on July 30 for NBC's "Today" show, his publicist confirmed.

Springsteen will perform several songs from "The Rising," his first studio album with the E Street Band since 1984, set for release that day.

"Today" will broadcast in its entirety from the boardwalk in Asbury Park, highlighted by Springsteen's "Today Summer Concert Series" performance from the adjacent Convention Hall, his publicist said Wednesday.

Katie Couric and Matt Lauer will co-host the broadcast from the beach and take a tour of Springsteen's adopted "hometown."

Lucas Talks Anakin and Boba

George Lucas revealed a few tidbits about the upcoming Star Wars: Episode III to Starlog magazine, according to a report on TheForce.net. Among other things, he confirmed that Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and Boba Fett will appear in Episode III. Jinn's appearance was foreshadowed in the current Episode II-Attack of the Clones, in which his voice can be heard in the background as Anakin attacks the Tusken Raiders.

"It's a plot point," Lucas told the magazine. "All I can really say is that you'll find out [more] in the next film. If you thought really hard, you would probably be able to figure it out, but it really is a setup for the next film. It's connected with the whole ability to be brought into and become a part of the Force, but still be able to retain your ability, which, up to this point, Anakin couldn't do. We talked to Liam about [recording new dialogue], and we went back and forth [about it]. This [dialogue] is something we already had [from Episode I]. Next time will be a little more complicated."

Lucas added, "Boba will be in Episode III, but his role definitely won't be larger. He's in a transition period of becoming a bounty hunter. The next film takes place two or three years later, so Boba would only be 13 and still wouldn't fit in the suit."

Lucas also offered a hint about Anakin's transformation into Darth Vader. "The scene where Anakin does actually become Vader is pretty good [as written in Lucas' Episode III outline]. I mean, I like it. It's a little in the vocabulary of ... I don't know how much I want to give away ... but it's in the vocabulary of a time, of the 1930s and 1940s. It's a pretty neat little thing, I think, and hopefully it's going to work."

VOLLEY

Actress Tatum O'Neal telling ABC's Barbara Walters that her ex-husband, tennis great John McEnroe, used steroids during his tennis career and became violent because of it. McEnroe said in a statement he's "disappointed" with O'Neal's comments.

TOO BAD?!?

Steven Spielberg telling Britain's Empire magazine that he always wanted to direct a Star Wars film, but George Lucas turned him down. "Star Wars is George's baby," he said. "George is my best friend and I believe I am his, but we are all competitive."

LEFT OUT?

The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences accidentally left out Buffy the Vampire Slayer's musical episode, "Once More with Feeling," when Emmy nomination ballots were mailed out to voters earlier this month.

The Academy insists the problem was immediately corrected, but some say the snafu could hurt the show's Emmy chances. Others say the show's chances were hurt by the show itself.

I BELIEVE I CAN BEAT THE RAP

R&B crooner R. Kelly pleading innocent to child pornography charges Wednesday in a Chicago courtroom. The Grammy winner, accused of videotaping sex with an underage girl, is due back in court August 7.

Papa Roach Comes In At Number Two Behind Eminem

Papa Roach's second major-label effort, Lovehatetragedy, has debuted at Number Two on the Billboard 200 album sales chart, with more than 135,000 copies sold, according to sources. The showing was just good enough to nudge Korn's Untouchables down to Number Three, but not nearly enough to challenge Eminem ( news - web sites)'s juggernaut The Eminem Show from the top spot. More than 380,000 copies of Eminem's latest were sold during the week.

While the first-week success of Lovehatetragedy bodes well for Papa Roach, only time will tell if they will be able to duplicate the triple-platinum sales of its predecessor, Infest, which was propelled by the hit single, "Last Resort."

Several other rock releases saw solid debuts this week. Coming in at Number Nine is Our Lady Peace's Gravity, while Degradation Trip, the latest from former Alice In Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell, entered at Number 33. Meanwhile, the Warped Tour 2002 Tour Compilation, featuring Sum 41, NoFX, and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, debuted at Number 55 and Paul Oakenfold's Bunkka came in at Number 65.

Billy Joel Leaves Substance Abuse Facility

Grammy award-winning singer and songwriter Billy Joel has checked out of a substance abuse and psychiatric hospital, after a 10-day stay at the facility, his spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

Spokeswoman Claire Mercuri confirmed Joel's departure without giving any details about his stay at the Silver Hill Hospital in Connecticut.

Last week, Joel's spokeswoman said the rocker had planned a 10-day visit to the facility to address "a specific and personal problem that had recently developed."

According to a recent report in the New York Daily News, Joel canceled an appearance at the Songwriters Hall of Fame dinner in New York after crashing his Mercedes.

The newspaper said Joel lost control of his car while trying to make a quick turn and slammed into a fire well and pole. He was not seriously injured in the accident.

During a March concert at New York's Madison Square Garden, Joel criticized the venue's high ticket prices, commented on American military battles, slurred his words and nearly nodded off, according to the paper.

In March, Joel also rescheduled some spring tour dates for his "Face to Face" tour with Elton John. At the time, Joel's tour manager reportedly said The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee was suffering from acute upper respiratory infection and laryngitis.