Son of Kong

Not sure how I missed this. (Via WHEDONesque)

Consternation spread quickly across the Internet movie fan universe. In April, Peter Jackson, director of the big-budget remake of “King Kong,” broadcast his plans to expand the ape epic (due in theaters this December) into a trilogy of films. But his “exclusive announcement” wasn't delivered through the usual channels — the obligatory press release or television interview. News came via his video production diary on the fan website kongisking.net.

Using his weekly weblog, Jackson presented digital mock-ups and demonstrated motion capture technology to be used in the sequel, intercut with an interview with its star, Naomi Watts. Most alarming to “Kong” purists, however, were details about the second installment, “Son of Kong”: Kong's spawn, a gigantic albino gorilla with machine guns mounted on his back, would battle genetically mutated Nazis during World War II.

“We go to Germany with the son of Kong,” costar Jack Black explains in the segment, “and he helps us defeat Hitler.”

Within hours, news of the sequel's far-fetched plot dominated movie chat room discussions and had been repeated throughout cyberspace. “Son of Kong Finally Confirmed!” screamed a headline on Ain't It Cool News. “Peter Jackson Spills All!!!”

What all but the most astute netizens failed to consider was the video diary's date: April Fool's Day.

The video is here. It's a riot: everyone—from Jack Black to Weta Workshop honcho Richard Taylor—is absolutely convincing. Until you listen to what they're saying, of course.

Also of note is the man himself, Peter Jackson, who as recently as last year looked as though he daily consumed whole hobbits for second breakfast. He's now half the man he used to be. Good on him.