WonderCon Announced 2008 Programing Line-Up
WonderCon has announced their programing line-up, and this year it's packed with great panels. Here is a look at this year's movie and television related panels:
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22
3:30-4:30 History of Superhero Movies- Comic books started out modestly 75 years ago, printed on pulp paper and appealing to a very young audience. Today, comics have become American mythology with a broad ranging readership, with legendary characters and stories that have transcended time and inspired generations of readers and artists in all different mediums. With movie companies now issuing bonds to finance the purchase of rights to characters, super-hero movies have become an international multi-billion dollar industry. Arie Kaplan and Eddy Friedfeld analyze the history of the comic book movie, from the innovative Fleischer animated Superman cartoons and the Columbia Batman and Superman serials of the 1940s to George Reeves and Christopher Reeve's Men of Steel, to the modern collection of Keaton, Kilmer, Clooney and Bale Batmans, Superman Returns, the Spider-Man trilogy, Ghost Rider and the upcoming The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man. Room 236/238
5:30-6:30 Universal: Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Wanted- For anyone whose heart has been ripped out comes a hilarious look at relationships from the producers of Knocked Up: Forgetting Sarah Marshall. The romantic disaster comedy's Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand, Bill Hader, Jack McBrayer, director Nicholas Stoller and producer Shauna Robertson are scheduled to appear on the WonderCon stage.  In Wanted, James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman and Angelina Jolie star in a fantasy-thriller with a hero for a new generation. Based upon Mark Millar's graphic novel and directed by stunning visualist Timur Bekmambetov, Wanted uncovers one apathetic nobody's transformation into an enforcer of justice. Star James McAvoy is scheduled to appear. Hall A6:30-7:00 New Line Cinema: Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D- Based on the classic Jules Verne novel Journey to the Center of the Earth, Journey 3D, the first live action digital 3D movie, is an exhilarating adventure staring Brendan Fraser as a science professor whose untraditional hypotheses have made him the laughing stock of the academic community. On an expedition in Iceland, he and his nephew stumble upon a major discovery that launches them on a thrilling journey deep beneath the Earth's surface where they travel through never-before-seen worlds and encounter a variety of unusual creatures. Journey 3D is directed by Academy Award-winning visual effect veteran Eric Brevig. The film, which is a co-venture between New Line Cinema and Walden Media, is scheduled to be released on July 11, 2008. Star Brendan Fraser will be present to discuss the film. In addition, a special screening of never before seen footage in 3D will be shown at the Metreon later Friday evening! Attend this panel for a chance at a ticket for that limited-seating screening. Hall ASATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2312:00-1:00 Warner Bros.: 10,000 B.C., Get Smart- Warner Bros. presents two of its most eagerly awaited films in this exclusive panel only at WonderCon! 10,000 B.C. is the epic adventure of a sweeping odyssey into a mythical age of prophesies and gods, when spirits ruled the land and mighty mammoths shook the earth! Director Roland Emmerich and stars Steven Strait and Camilla Belle appear live on the WonderCon stage to discuss this fantasy film, which opens March 7. Get Smart features Maxwell Smart on a mission to thwart the latest plot for world domination by the evil crime syndicate known as KAOS. Director Peter Segal is joined by stars Steve Carell (Maxwell Smart), and Anne Hathaway (Agent 99), to talk live about this highly anticipated comedy, coming to the big screen on June 20. Hall A1:00-2:00 Disney: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian and WALL•E- One year later for the Pevensie siblings. 1,300 years later in Narnia. The enchanted characters of C.S. Lewis' timeless fantasy come to life again in this second installment of the beloved book series, where a thrilling, perilous new adventure and all-new creatures and challenges await the Pevensie siblings. Watch exclusive new film footage from this epic adventure series! A very special guest will be on hand to introduce the footage and participate in an audience Q&A. In WALL•E: The year is 2700. WALL•E, a robot, spends every day doing what he was made for. But soon, he will discover what he was meant for. From Academy Award®-winning director, Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo), WALL•E is the story of one robot's comic adventures as he chases his dream across the galaxy. Meet director Andrew Stanton as he presents exclusive new footage of Disney-Pixar's next adventure! Hall A
1:00-2:00 Making Monsters: Behind the Scenes of Beowulf-Â Join the creative VFX team from Sony Pictures Imageworks, including animation supervisor Kenn McDonald, effects supervisor Theo Vandernoot, CG supervisor Francis Liu and technical animation supervisor Corey Turner to see how Grendel, the Golden Dragon and other creatures roared to life in the blockbuster Beowulf debuting in a Director's Cut DVD. Room 204/206
2:00-3:15 20th Century Fox: The X-Files and Shutter- The truth is out there, again-finally! A new motion picture based on the phenomenally popular, award-winning series The X-Files is in production. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson-making their first-ever joint convention appearance-join director-writer-producer Chris Carter and writer-producer Frank Spotnitz to share their thoughts about the long-awaited film, and answer your questions. Next, Joshua Jackson, Transformers' Rachael Taylor and Heroes' James Kyson Lee bring you a first look at the new horror/thriller Shutter, from executive producers of The Grudge and The Ring. They'll present special footage and answer your questions about the film, which, through its portrayal of the underground world of spirit photography, reveals that the most terrifying images are the ones that are real. Shutter opens everywhere March 21. Hall A
3:15-4:00 New Line Cinema: Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay-Â Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay marks the triumphant return of the two hilarious, slacker anti-heroes. The movie stars John Cho (as Harold) and Kal Penn (as Kumar), on an irreverent and epic journey of deep thoughts and a wild trip around the world that is as "un-PC" as it gets. New Line Cinema will show exclusive footage from the film and star John Cho, along with writers and directors Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, will be there to discuss the film. Hall A
4:00-5:00 Paramount: Iron Man-Â Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment present Marvel Studios' Iron Man, starring Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Shaun Toub and Gwyneth Paltrow. The film's director, Jon Favreau, will appear live on the WonderCon stage to discuss bringing the Marvel Comics superhero to the big screen. Hall A
5:00-6:00 Inside Lucasfilm with Steve Sansweet-Â It's not over yet! With Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series hot on the horizon, not to mention all the other events and projects in the works at Lucasfilm, Steve Sansweet, the entertainment company's head of fan relations, will have much to share at WonderCon. Sansweet's presentation will be the first on his 2008 convention circuit, so look for fresh news and glimpses into all the Star Wars excitement to come. Hall A
5:00-5:30 Sneak Preview of Starship Troopers: Marauder- The bugs are back! Writer/director Ed Neumeier (Robocop) and action star Casper Van Dien (Starship Troopers) host the world premiere of the trailer from the action-packed continuation of the Starship Troopers franchise, coming this summer from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment! Room 204/2065:30-6:30 Special Make-up FX with Ed Martinez- Ed Martinez (instructor of special make-up effects at the Academy of Art University San Francisco) presents a live demonstration of new state-of-the-art special make-up effects materials now being used on the latest films. Silicone can be used for many things including life-casting with body double silicone rubber, and as a medium for creating extremely realistic 3-D prosthetics and skin effects. Ed will instruct as to the proper creation of silicone appliances as well as using new on-skin products to create realistic effects. Room 236/238SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2412:15-1:00 Trailer Park Returns!- It's the triumphant return of a WonderCon tradition! Trailer Park brings together some of the very best in trailers for upcoming movies-some new, some old, all enjoyable. Come sit in the dark for 45 minutes and see what the movies coming soon to a theater near you! Hall A1:00-2:30 JERICHO- Get a sneak peek of a new episode of JERICHO, followed by a moderated panel discussion led by TV Guide West Coast Bureau Chief Craig Tomashoff with series stars Lennie James (Robert Hawkins) and Ashley Scott (Emily Sullivan) and Executive Producer Carol Barbee.  Returning for a second season as a result of one of the most unprecedented and impassioned displays of fan support on behalf of a television program, JERICHO is a drama about what happens in the aftermath of a nuclear explosion in the once peaceful town of Jericho. Hall A2:30-3:30 Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Special Presentation and Q&A- Cast members Thomas Dekker (Heroes), Summer Glau (Firefly) and Brian Austin Green (Domino) join series consulting producer/pilot executive producer James Middleton (Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines) for a special presentation and Q&A session. Airing Mondays at 9:00 PM on FOX, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles is produced by C2 Pictures in association with Warner Bros. Television. Hall A