Comic Con: Saturday And Sunday Panels Announced; Tron Legacy Director Outlines What He'll Present
The Saturday and Sunday schedules for this year's San Diego Comic Con have been released, so now the full Con lineup is available. I've excerpted the most pertinent film and TV highlights below. Sunday is fairly slow, with most of the panels oriented around family fare. (There's good stuff, just not much big-ticket film stuff.) But Saturday features showcases for Paul, Cowboys & Aliens, the new Resident Evil film, Let Me In, Sucker Punch and Green Lantern. Saturday will also be the big Kevin Smith day, with his annual panel/conversation and a 'Maximum Comedy' screening of Cop Out.
In addition, Tron Legacy director Joseph Kosinski has addressed rumors that his film will screen in full at the Con. In short, it won't, because the film isn't finished. See what he says will be shown, after the break.
There have been a few hopeful rumors about a full screening of Tron Legacy. That seems outrageous, given that the film doesn't open until December, which means there's no reason to expect it to be completed enough to show to the public. Indeed, director Joseph Kosinski told IGN the film isn't close to done:
We are going to need every last minute of time to finish this thing...So we've got six months until the movie opens. Probably four, four and a half months left for production on the movie.
That being the case, what will Disney show from the film?
This is our third Comic-Con...And the exciting thing about this is we actually have some footage from the movie to show....People will get the chance to see what it looks like and hear what it sounds like and hear some of the score by Daft Punk. So we'll show some pieces of the actual film. And we have some other stuff planned as well which should be really exciting for the fans.
And now on to the schedules. Saturday's full lineup can be found here, and Sunday's here.
SATURDAY highlights:
10:00-10:45 Chuck Screening and Q&A— Chuck executive producers and co-creators Josh Schwartz (Gossip Girl) and Chris Fedak appear along with series stars Zachary Levi (Alvin and the Chipmunks), Yvonne Strahovski (upcoming The Killer Elite), Joshua Gomez (Without a Trace), Ryan McPartlin, Mark Christopher Lawrence (The Pursuit of Happyness), Vik Sahay (Good Will Hunting), Scott Krinsky (The O.C.), Sarah Lancaster (upcoming The Good Doctor) and Adam Baldwin (Serenity) for their usual hijinks—a Q&A to discuss the upcoming season four (made possible by the devoted fanbase) and a special video presentation. Produced by Fake Empire, Wonderland Sound and Vision in association with Warner Bros. Television, Chuck airs Mondays at 8pm ET/PT on NBC, and Chuck: The Complete Third Season will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on September 7. Ballroom 20
11:00-12:00 Hollywood and Ghost Recon Join Forces— Little Minx, a company of Ridley Scott and Associates (RSA), presents Oscar-winning director François Alaux (Logorama), associate producer and technical advisor to all RSA films Harry Humphries, and a feature actor from the short film, who will be joined by Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Solider video game studio associate producer Adrian Lacey in a panel discussing the upcoming short film, as well as connections between the film and the game. Attendees will be treated to the world premiere debut of the film trailer, as well as a live demo of the upcoming video game. Room 25ABC
11:45-1:15 Warner Bros.: Green Lantern, Sucker Punch, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows— Warner Bros. showcases three eagerly awaited upcoming new films in this Hall H presentation!
Green Lantern— Get a first look at the upcoming sci-fi action adventure Green Lantern, directed by Martin Campbell. Green Lantern is an epic adventure that crosses galaxies to bring to life the legendary Silver Age superhero Hal Jordan, who is chosen by the ring itself to become the first human member of the Green Lantern Corps and take on the vast and powerful Parallax as it threatens to destroy the world. The film stars Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan, Blake Lively as Carol Ferris, Peter Sarsgaard as Dr. Hector Hammond, and Mark Strong as Sinestro.
Sucker Punch— Fasten your seatbelt for a sneak peek at the dark action fantasy Sucker Punch, from director Zack Snyder, who previewed his films 300 and Watchmen at past Comic-Cons. A group of young girls escape the dark reality of their lives through their vivid imagination, which takes them to various fantasy locations in different realms. The ensemble cast features Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Vanessa Hudgens, Carla Gugino, Jena Malone, Jamie Chung, and Jon Hamm.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows—Every saga has a final chapter. Kick off the year of Harry Potter with a first look at the coming screen adaptation of J. K. Rowling's final book in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, with a program created just for Comic-Con fans. One way. One hero. One destiny. Don't miss it!
Hall H
12:45-1:30 Futurama— Celebrate Futurama's triumphant re-return to the airwaves! World-premiere footage will offer an exciting and informative glimpse of Comic-Con in the year 3010. Panelists include executive producers Matt Groening and David X. Cohen, cast members Billy West, John DiMaggio, Katey Sagal, and Maurice LaMarche, director Crystal Chesney-Thompson, writers Ken Keeler and Patric M. Verrone, and animation producer Claudia Katz. Ballroom 201:30-2:30 Behind the Scenes with Sid & Marty Krofft: A Look at the Past, Present and Future— Sid & Marty Krofft are iconic names in the world of children's television and true pioneers in what they have achieved throughout their long career. From their puppeteer beginnings to their timeless shows HR Pufnstuf, The Bugaloos, Sigmund the Sea Monster, and Land of the Lost to their new feature films and endeavors in Creations from the World of Jack Kirby, the Krofft brothers create amazing entertainment for everyone to enjoy and love. Sid & Marty Krofft look back at what they have achieved, then look to the future with Joe Ruby and Ken Spears (Scooby Doo, Thundar the Barbarian), who have partnered with the Kroffts in Creations from the World of Jack Kirby. Panel and Q&A moderated by producer Bonny Dore. Free exclusive gift will be given out to attendees while supplies last. Room 24ABC1:30-2:30 Overture: Let Me In— The cast and filmmakers of Let Me In, a haunting and provocative thriller written and directed by filmmaker Matt Reeves (Cloverfield), give the Hall H audience a sneak peek at this highly anticipated film. Let Me In is an astonishing coming-of-age story involving a young girl (Kick Ass's Chloe Moretz) and an alienated boy (Kodi Smit-McPhee from The Road) unlike any you have seen. Based on the bestselling Swedish novel Lat den Ratte Komma (Let The Right One In) by John Ajvide Lindqvist and the highly acclaimed film of the same name, Let Me In takes audiences straight to the troubled heart of adolescent longing and loneliness. Academy Award–nominee Richard Jenkins (The Visitor) also stars in this exhilarating reboot of the beloved original. Hall H3:00-4:00 NBC's Community Cast and Creative Team— The cast and producers — Joel McHale (The Soup), Chevy Chase (Hot Tub Time Machine), Donald Glover (30 Rock), Yvette Nicole Brown (Rules of Engagement), Danny Pudi (Greek), Gillian Jacobs (Choke), Alison Brie (Mad Men) and executive producers Dan Harmon (The Sarah Silverman Program), Joe Russo (Arrested Development), Anthony Russo (Arrested Development), Neil Goldman (Scrubs), Garrett Donovan (Scrubs) and Russ Krasnoff (The Soloist) — are on hand for an animated discussion and Q&A session about what's in store for viewers this fall. Indigo Ballroom, San Diego Hilton Bayfront3:15-4:15 Fringe Screening and Q&A— Fringe returns to Comic-Con as Lance Reddick and Blair Brown make their first appearance at the convention, joining fellow series stars Anna Torv , Joshua Jackson, John Noble, and Jasika Nicole plus executive producers Jeff Pinkner and J. H. Wyman for a Q&A with fans and an exclusive video presentation. Join the discussion of this critically acclaimed thriller, which explores the ever-blurring line between science fiction and reality, where hybrid monsters tear through sewers, thieves walk through walls and portals open to worlds unknown. From Bad Robot Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, Fringe airs Thursdays at 9pm ET/PT on FOX, and Fringe: The Complete Second Season will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on September 14. Ballroom 203:30-5:00 Warehouse 13 and Eureka— Don't miss two of Syfy's biggest hit series in one exclusive event. Catch back-to-back Warehouse 13 and Eureka panels, featuring Warehouse 13's Eddie McClintock (Pete Lattimer), Joanne Kelly (Myka Bering), Saul Rubinek (Artie Nielsen), Allison Scagliotti (Claudia Donovan), and Jack Kenny (showrunner/executive producer) and Eureka's Colin Ferguson (Jack Carter), Salli Richardson-Whitfield (Allison Blake), Neil Grayston (Douglas Fargo), James Callis (Grant), Jaime Paglia (co-creator/executive producer/writer), and Bruce Miller (executive producer/writer). Room 6BCF4:00-4:45 Screen Gems: Resident Evil: Afterlife— In a world ravaged by a virus infection that turns its victims into the Undead, Alice (Milla Jovovich) continues on her journey to find survivors and lead them to safety. Her deadly battle with the Umbrella Corporation reaches new heights, but Alice gets some unexpected help from an old friend. A new lead that promises a safe haven from the Undead takes them to Los Angeles, but when they arrive the city is overrun by thousands of Undead and Alice and her comrades are about to step into a deadly trap. The fourth installment of the hugely successful Resident Evil franchise, Resident Evil: Afterlife is again based on the wildly popular video game series and this time will be shot in 3D using the same state-of-the-art cameras created for Avatar. Writer/director Paul W. S. Anderson, along with the film's stars Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter, and Wentworth Miller, will be on hand to show you some stunning 3D sequences and answer your questions. Hall H4:15-5:15 Marvel Animation: Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes— Enter the Avengers Mansion and become a part of the team! Celebrity voice talent introduce you to top-secret Avengers files, including never-before-seen footage and two full-length episodes from the all-new Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes animated series premiering on Disney XD this fall. The road to the Avengers starts here! Room 6DE4:45-5:45 Universal: Paul and Cowboys & Aliens— Universal presents two upcoming films in this exclusive Hall H presentation.
Paul— Scheduled to appear for Universal Pictures' sci-fi comedy-adventure Paul are a who's who of film comedy. Director Greg Mottola (Superbad) will be joined by cast members Simon Pegg (Hot Fuzz), Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead), Kristen Wiig (Date Night), Bill Hader (Forgetting Sarah Marshall), Jeffrey Tambor (The Hangover), Joe Lo Truglio (Role Models), Seth Rogen (The Green Hornet), and Sigourney Weaver (Baby Mama) as they discuss the movie about two sci-fi geeks whose pilgrimage to Comic-Con ultimately takes them to America's UFO heartland. While there, they accidentally meet an alien who takes them on an insane road trip that alters their universe forever. Q&A session to follow.
Cowboys & Aliens—Director Jon Favreau (Iron Man series) discusses what's happening behind the scenes of Universal Pictures and DreamWorks' action-thriller Cowboys & Aliens, based on Platinum Studios' graphic novel. Currently shooting in New Mexico, Cowboys & Aliens stars Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford and takes audiences into the Old West, where a lone cowboy leads an uprising against a terror from beyond our world. Q&A session to follow.
Hall H
5:00-6:00 Dark Shadows: The Classic Series, the Comic Books, and the Upcoming Film— Hermes Press celebrates Dark Shadows with a panel discussing the past, present, and future of the series. Join series stars Jonathan Frid (Barnabas Collins, via special video appearance), Lara Parker (Angelique), Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans/Josette), with Jim Pierson (Dark Shadows) and Daniel Herman (publisher, Hermes Press) for a discussion and Q&A session. Room 37:15-8:45 Kevin Smith— He's back! Spend a quiet, refined evening with the one-and-only Kevin Smith, who will no doubt solve all the bad things in the world for you or, at the very least, make you laugh a few hundred times. Hall H8:00-9:00 Troma Troma Troma— Movie-making insights with irreverent filmmakers Lloyd Kaufman (Poultrygiest: Night of the Chicken Dead), Adam Green (Frozen), Adam Rifkin (The Dark Backward), Dennis Dreith (Creep Van), Darren Bousman (Mother's Day), James Gunn (Super), and moderator Mimi Cruz (Night Flight Comics). Troma Entertainment is Reel Independence! Room 88:30-9:30 World Premiere of The House That Drips Blood on Alex: An Evening With Tommy Wiseau— Visionary cult auteur Tommy Wiseau, creator of midnight movie phenomenon The Room, has teamed up with Atom.com and Studio 8 for The House That Drips Blood On Alex. See the world premiere and join the cast and creators Tommy Wiseau, Brock LaBorde, Jared Richard, Yaque Silva-Doyle, Chris Trew, Joey Greco (Cheaters), and Justine Ezarik (iJustine) for a lively discussion. Room 7AB10:00-12:00 Kevin Smith presents Cop Out in "Maximum Comedy Mode"— Director Kevin Smith (Clerks, Chasing Amy) is on hand for the world premiere presentation of Cop Out in "Maximum Comedy Mode," the latest innovation in home entertainment viewing that showcases the comical stunts, improves, and hi-jinks that went into creating this side-splitting buddy cop film. Bruce Willis (Die Hard) and Tracy Morgan (30 Rock) star as bickering Brooklyn cops on the hunt for a stolen 1952 mint-condition baseball card, plunging them into a gun-slinging war with a deadly drug ring. "Maximum Comedy Mode" features Kevin Smith and Seann William Scott making onscreen appearances to guide Blu-ray viewers through the behind-the-scenes hilarity. Stop by for a bundle of laughs and a bucket of popcorn, courtesy of Warner Bros. Indigo Ballroom, San Diego Hilton Bayfront
SUNDAY highlights:
10:30-11:30 ABC's Castle: Nathan Fillion & Stana Katic— Up close and personal with actors Nathan Fillion (Firefly) and Stana Katic (Quantum of Solace), creator Andrew Marlowe (Air Force One), and executive producers Rob Bowman (X-Files) and Laurie Zaks. BE sure to be on hand for the Q&A session, filled with exclusive videos and fun surprises. Whether you're a fan of the show or a fan of Nathan Fillion, you won't want to miss this panel! Room 6BCF2:45-3:45 X: Sons of Anarchy and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia— Appearing at Comic-Con for the first time is Sons of Anarchy, with series stars Charlie Hunnam, Katey Sagal (Futurama), and Ron Perlman (Hellboy, Beauty and the Beast) and series creator Kurt Sutter. Next up is It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia with Charlie (Charlie Day), Mac (Rob McElhenney), Dennis (Glenn Howerton), Sweet Dee (Kaitlin Olson), and Frank (Danny DeVito), the self-centered owners of Paddy's Pub in Philadelphia who will do just about anything — no matter how reprehensible — in an attempt to better their own situation. Ballroom 203:00-4:00 DC Town Hall Meeting— All are welcome to join DC co-publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee for a relaxed Sunday afternoon discussion. Share your thoughts on what you love about comics now and what you hope to see in the future! Room 25ABC