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Billy Tucci told Comics2Film that he's renewed his development agreement with Franchise Pictures for the Shi movie. Franchise has long been involved with the project. Tucci told us that he had recently shopped the project around to some larger studios, but Franchise seems to have a greater appreciation for the source material that a movie would be based on.

Actresses like Tia Carrere and Mira Sorvino have been mentioned as being interested in this movie in the past. At this point, neither of the actresses are attached to the film. Tucci does tell us that there has been some interest by other big name actresses, but it's too early to spill the beans on that.

In an interview appearing in this month's Diamond Comics Previews catalog, Billy Tucci talks about progress on bringing his creation Shi to film. "I have been out in Los Angeles a lot working on two major projects that I'm really excited about," Tucci told Previews. "One is Shi: The Motion Picture in which Kevin Bernhardt (Wesley Snipes' Art of War) and myself are finishing up the final polish. Franchise Pictures plans to have the director and cast secured by the end of July and is set to start filming after Christmas, for a July 2001 release."

Tucci continued, "The second is a new video and comic book series we affectionately call Shi.G.I. 2001. It'll be a collection of three, 30-minute animated videos. I've already written the scripts and will direct the videos. I am also creating the CGI characters; it's incredible actually building and painting Shi in the computer. A monthly comic book series will launch with the videos in April 2001, so fans will be getting a tremendous amount of Shi next year!"

During the interview Tucci also discusses current and upcoming publishing plans for Crusade Entertainment.

According to Rob Allstetter of the Comics Continuum, Mira Sorvino may be in talks to star in the live-action movie version of Billy Tucci's Shi.

Tucci told fans at the recent MegaCon in Orlando, "There's been a big power play at Warner Bros. When I signed at Franchise Pictures, who was producing the movie, it was going to be Tia Carerre and it was going to be a $15-17 million movie. Now, it's a Warner Bros. movie, it's a $40 million movie and, the last I heard, it's going to be Mira Sorivno."

Tucci also is said to have told fans that Chow Yun-Fat (Anna and the King) may also be involved with the film.

Billy Tucci recently spoke with Matt Brady of the Mania website about the development of this Shi motion picture.  Tucci reports that the movie is now slated to lens in June for Warner Bros.  The creator is headed to Hollywood this month for meetings about the production.

At the same time Tucci is working on a CGI movie of his heroine.  "Right now, we're working on putting together a 30 second trailer for the film," Tucci told Brady.  "I've met with a number of investors who want to get on board and really see it take off. Right now, we're thinking of producing a 70 minute film."

Rob Allstetter of the Comics Continuum received a progress report from Billy Tucci on the Shi feature film.  

"All is going well," Tucci told The Continuum.  "They're hiring an A-list writer to do a polish on the script, because now that [Warner Bros] is involved, it's really taking off and going into a big budget with A-list stars."

Tucci stated that an animated feature may also be in the works.  "We also had a meeting on Friday with Media Blasters and they have a Japanimation Studio interested in Shi to make a 45-minute anime."  The comic creator told The Continuum that he wouldn't mind doing the Warner Bros. feature in animation, which would give him more creative control and allow him to get it to market more rapidly. 

In a recent interview, actress Tia Carrere revealed she hoped to begin production on the filmed adaptation of William Tucci's Shi comic during the filming break of her TV series Relic Hunter.  A more recent interview for the Toronto Sun indicates the actress may now have other plans.  According to that article, Carrere will be using the break to film a movie called The Colony.  The production will take place in the Philippines.  The movie tells the true story of a Belgian priest in a 19th Century Hawaiian leper colony.

It seems unlikely that Carrere's schedule could accommodate both movies, so we wonder if this means a delay for the comic book film.  (Thanks to Cinescape for the lead).

Actress Tia Carrere recently spoke with Mania contributor Michelle Erica Green.  Much of Green's article details Carrere's involvement with her new TV show Relic Hunter.  However, at one point the actress talks about the Shi movie, based on Billy Tucci's successful comic book.  Carrere holds the option on the property and hopes to begin filming next year.

"We just did a first draft, he's rewriting the script right now, it's just a matter of finding the place for me to do the film," Carrere told Green, "My first hiatus is March to May and I definitely would like to do something in that time frame. But I also have my music, so it's hard!"

Eon Magazine ran a report on the Shi movie which is set to star Tia Carrera.  The report, which credited as originating in Wizard Magazine claims that the movie is set to begin filming the January in New York and Montreal.  The article mentions that Franchise Pictures (owned by her Tia's husband Eli) is producing.  Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa is also said to have been in talks to co-star.

The DNCC reports that a movie version of Billy Tucci's Shi should be in theaters next year.  The Continuum spoke to Tucci recently about the movie, which is to star Tia Carrere (Wayne's World, True Lies).  Tucci expects production to begin on the movie this summer.   The article quotes Tucci as saying, "They're going to shoot it in Toronto and New York.  They've announced it at the Cannes Film Festival, and they've paid me to write the script. Tia's signed on; she was on Howie Mandel talking about it the other day."

The comic creator wrote the story and screenplay for the movie, and is a producer on it as well.  Carrere's husband Elie Samaha is also a producer on the movie with Ashok Amitraj and Kevin Bernhardt on board as executive producers, and Tracie Stanley and Malee Nevenhausen on board as co-producers.  Peter Gutierrez also worked on the screenplay which is said to be based on the Shi: Way of the Warrior series.

Tucci is obviously pleased with Carrere's commitment to playing the title role.   "Look at her. She's just perfect for the part," Tucci told the Continuum. "She loves the comic, and she loves the character. She's very enthusiastic and by her being so enthusiastic, it's contagious; so I am enthusiastic."  Contrary to rumors that sprang from last year's San Diego comic convention, no casting has been announced.  According to the article Tucci said he hopes to have a trailer completed for the this summer's comic conventions.

CCA reports that Tia Carerra (Wayne's World, True Lies) appeared recently on The Howie Mandel Show.  The actress reportedly talked about the movie version of William Tucci's Shi, which the actress has long been attached to.  According to the scooper, Carerra told Howie that the script is still in development. 

Previous reports indicate that the movie is to be produced by Carerra's husband via their Phoenician Films company.  Reports from last years San Diego Comic-Con indicated that Stephen Baldwin and Tom Berenger were among potential cast members, David Fincher (Seven, The Game) would be directing and filming was to have started February of this year.

Another San Diego report from CNSC claims that Shi creator Bill Tucci has named a director for his movie.  According to the report, David Fincher (Seven, The Game) will probably direct the adaptation.  However, the article also mentions that Tucci, who wrote the script,  would like to direct, so the decision has not yet been finalized.  Photography is to begin in February for a target release date of September 1999.

Although the Shi movie has been quiet for several months, the character's creator Bill Tucci gave a presentation at the San Diego Comic-Con.  According to an account given by an AICN spy, Tucci announced that Stephen Baldwin and Tom Berenger have joined the cast.   Over a year ago, Tia Carrere was named to star in the movie, with her husband working as one of the producers.

Tucci spent "the better part of" 1997 working on the script for the Shi movie.  This was reported in the Mass O' Media column .  Tucci is quoted as saying, "If everything goes well, along with writing the script, I'll be producing the film and serving as the art director, as well."   Tucci goes on to say that they hope to start filming in the summer with Tia Carrere (Wayne's World, True Lies) starring.

Ever since Crusade Comics announced that magically babelicious actress Tia Carrere (Wayne's World, True Lies) would appear as the title character on the cover a San Diego Comic Con special issue of Shi, rumors and speculation have been going full tilt as to Carrere's involvement in a possible Shi film. Just as I was going to jump in with some careless and unsubstantiated speculation, Andy Mangels broke the first solid details on the story. According to Mangels' column, Phoenician Films is in active development for the live-action movie. Shi Creator William Tucci is writing a script. Carrere will (of course) star in the title role and her husband will produce. It is my speculation that if Shi were a president she'd be Babe-raham Lincoln.