[Picture / Caption: Big Actor: Ted, a three-story high balloon, has been appearing around Hollywood heralding the production of two films based on L. Ron Hubbard's novel, "Battlefield Earth." Producer William Immerman, left, and director Ken Annakin, right, join in the stunt making.] When independent producer William Immerman announced months ago he would be filming L. Ron Hubbard's best selling science-fiction saga, "Battlefield Earth," as two back-to-back productions (each costing $20 million), he immediately notified all the science-fiction conventions to start ...

Scientology founder hasn't been seen in public since 1976 Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard has replaced the late Howard Hughes as the man of mystery. Hubbard, 73, was last viewed in public in 1976. And he was last seen by any close associate willing to talk about him in March 1980. So where is he? "Somewhere around here," said Bent Corydon, pointing to the bleak desert of Riverside County around the church's compound at Gilman Hot Springs. "He's never more than ...

[Picture / Caption: FILM MONSTER — Terl, a 30-foot Psychlo, confronts Jeff Pomerantz and Justine Seymour under the Hollywood sign during promotional event for two upcoming science fiction movies based on L. Ron Hubbard's best-selling novel, Battlefield Earth. Story takes place in year 3000, when humans try to reclaim Earth from Psychlos.]

[Picture / Caption: Jeff Pomerantz and Justine Seymour pretend to battle creature that will appear in film version of Battlefield Earth] Ken Annakin has been named director of two forthcoming multimillion-dollar motion pictures based on L. Ron Hubbard's bestselling science fiction saga Battlefield Earth at a party last month in his honor given by Bridge Publications, publishers of the book. The party, held at Oscar's on the famed Sunset Strip, coincided with the official publication of the 1,066-page mass paperback edition ...

[Picture] ''SCI-FI FILMMAKER Ken Annakin (centre) accepts a Saturn Award for science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, author of "Battlefield Earth". Also recently honored by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films were Hurd Hattfield, left, for his title role in "The Picture of Dorian Grey", and Ray Bradbury for his "Something Wicked This Way Comes" screenplay. Annakin will direct two films based on Hubbard's novel.

A science fiction book by a man who attended school In Manassas 54 years ago made the New York Times Best Sellers List the first week it was released and has now climbed into the top ten, his publicist says. And two movies derived from the book are due to start production later this year.from L. Ron Hubbard's 1100-page science fiction epic, Battlefield Earth, is also at the top of B. Dalton's national scene fiction list, topping Asimov's 2010 and George ...

Abe Polonsky, who's spent the last few years in the groves of academe, has been signed by producer Bill Immerman to adapt L. Ron Hubbard's current best-selling "Battlefield Earth," which Ken Annakin will direct. Polonsky, 73, whose career stretches back to his Oscar-nominated screenplay for "Body And Soul" (1947) and whose most recent writing credit was "Monsignor," is working daily with Annakin in breaking down a workable screen design from Hubbard's voluminous intergalactic sci-fi adventure (No. 9 on the New York ...