The end of July once again signalled the much anticipated return of the world’s biggest pop-media convention to northern California, as superfans, the world’s press and multinational multimedia conglomerates converged in San Diego bay to share passions at geek ‘Valhalla’ and promote their wares—and give us a glimpse of what to expect over the next 12 months and beyond.
With several announcements and interactive panels on show, we breakdown the biggest Movie happenings this year, plus a little something on a certain fantasy TV show we can’t resist addressing.
Thursday the 20th of July
What Does the Fox Say?
Kingsman: The Golden Circle
Image Source: Getty Images
The movie proceedings at this year’s Con were opened by 20th Century Fox with a visit from the cast of the much anticipated spy romp sequel ‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle’, with the the folks in Hall H being treated to a panel featuring returning stars Taron Egerton and Colin Firth, plus their new American ‘Statesmen’ counterparts Channing Tatum, Halle Berry, Pedro Pascal and Jeff Bridges, with writer Jane Goldman rounding-off the panel while director Matthew Vaughn was conspicuous in his absence.
Together they assembled to promote the film (and the accompanying Whiskey merchandise) and bring us a new trailer for a sequel which reunites us with Kingsman after they are attacked and their infrastructure is decimated, prompting ‘Eggsy’ and the remaining agents join forces with their secret US counterparts to get revenge and stop a dangerous organisation which threatens the world. ‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle’ is out on the 22nd of September in the UK and US.
Watch the full panel video, courtesy of Flicks & The City:
The Flix Awakens
Bright
Image Source: Getty Images
Streaming giants and now major Hollywood players Netflix made their movie presence felt at this year’s Con with panels for two of their upcoming original films, starting with director David Ayer’s fantasy crime thriller ‘Bright’—set in a modern-day L.A. where humans and mystical creatures live side-by-side, and a human cop must work with an orc partner to keep a mysterious weapon from those who will do anything to have its power.
Ayer graced Hall H with for a panel with his stars Will Smith, Joel Edgerton, Edgar Ramírez, Noomi Rapace and Lucy Fry, and the film’s producers, ‘Bright’ is out on Netflix everywhere in December.
Watch the full panel video, courtesy of Flicks & The City:
Death Note
Image Source: Getty Images
The Comic-con crowd were also treated to another dark fantasy thriller from Netflix on Thursday, in the form of director Adam Wingard’s adaptation of the Japanese Manga series ‘Death Note’—the story of a teenager who begins to play god after he discovers a supernatural notebook with the power to kill whoever’s name is written in it, prompting him to dispatch those he deems unworthy of life.
Wingard brought along stars stars Margaret Qualley, Masi Oka, Lakeith Stanfield and Nat Wolff for a Hall H panel, ‘Death Note’ is out on Netflix on the 25th of August.
Watch the full panel video, courtesy of moviemaniacsDE:
Is Everything Still Awesome?
The LEGO Ninjago Movie
Image Source: Getty Images
Before upping the stakes with their Hall H takeover on Saturday, Warner Bros. kicked off their Comic-Con presence this year with a smaller appearance from the team behind the latest expansion of their animated cinematic Lego universe ‘The LEGO Ninjago Movie’—a tale set in a far away land threatened by a megalomaniac, where a group of talented but inexperienced young ninjas group together to defend Ninjago in a good vs evil battle which turns out to be a family affair.
Producer Dan Lin was on hand with stars Dave Franco, Justin Theroux, Olivia Munn, Abbi Jacobson, Kumail Nanjiani and Zach Woods for a small panel,‘The LEGO Ninjago Movie’ is out on the 13th of October in the UK and on the 22nd of September in the US.
The Lego Ninjago panel, courtesy of moviemaniacsDE:
Friday the 21st of July
Here be Dragons
Game of Thrones (Season 7)
Image Source: Getty Images
The return of the greatest show on TV, and our only non-movie indulgence in this recap, was the highlight of this year’s Friday at the San Diego con—although a shift from previous years when the stars of HBO’s flagship show would grace Hall H to wax lyrical about the awesomeness of the season which just ended. This year the cast were hamstrung by not being able to say much about a shorter season which just began, instead focusing on broader questions about the show’s history and their individual characters.
Show creators David Benioff & D.B. Weiss were conspicuous in their absence so it was left to ‘Hodor’ himself Kristian Nairn to host the customary cast panel, attended by stars Sophie Turner, Isaac Hempstead Wright, Alfie Allen, Jacob Anderson, John Bradley, Gwendoline Christie, Liam Cunningham, Nathalie Emmanuel and Conleth Hill—discussing their hopes and expectations for the show an their respective characters, without giving anything away about a season which just started.
Watch the full panel video, courtesy of Flicks & The City:
Check out Saturday’s events on the next page, featuring DC Comics and Warner Bros. as well as Marvel’s appearance at this year’s convention.
#TriviaTuesday: A cost-cutting insect-like suit was the early design for the alien hunter in 1987's 'Predator'—unsuccessfully worn by the character's first actor Jean-Claude Van Damme—but it was ditched for a now iconic Stan Winston design at twice the price. Money well spent. pic.twitter.com/pvbTmpgUIB
#TriviaTuesday: ‘Big Kahuna Burger’ is most certainly the fictional fast food of choice in the Tarantinoverse, appearing or referenced in 'Reservoir Dogs', 'From Dusk Till Dawn', 'Death Proof', 'Four Rooms', as well as its starring turn in 1994’s 'Pulp Fiction' of course. pic.twitter.com/k3xVsbDuA6
The end of July once again signalled the much anticipated return of the world’s biggest pop-media convention to northern California, as superfans, the world’s press and multinational multimedia conglomerates converged in San Diego bay to share passions at geek ‘Valhalla’ and promote their wares—and give us a glimpse of what to expect over the next 12 months and beyond.
The movie proceedings at this year’s Con were opened by 20th Century Fox with a visit from the cast of the much anticipated spy romp sequel ‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle’, with the the folks in Hall H being treated to a panel featuring returning stars Taron Egerton and Colin Firth, plus their new American ‘Statesmen’ counterparts Channing Tatum, Halle Berry, Pedro Pascal and Jeff Bridges, with writer Jane Goldman rounding-off the panel while director Matthew Vaughn was conspicuous in his absence.
Streaming giants and now major Hollywood players Netflix made their movie presence felt at this year’s Con with panels for two of their upcoming original films, starting with director David Ayer’s fantasy crime thriller ‘Bright’—set in a modern-day L.A. where humans and mystical creatures live side-by-side, and a human cop must work with an orc partner to keep a mysterious weapon from those who will do anything to have its power.
The Comic-con crowd were also treated to another dark fantasy thriller from Netflix on Thursday, in the form of director Adam Wingard’s adaptation of the Japanese Manga series ‘Death Note’—the story of a teenager who begins to play god after he discovers a supernatural notebook with the power to kill whoever’s name is written in it, prompting him to dispatch those he deems unworthy of life.
Before upping the stakes with their Hall H takeover on Saturday, Warner Bros. kicked off their Comic-Con presence this year with a smaller appearance from the team behind the latest expansion of their animated cinematic Lego universe ‘The LEGO Ninjago Movie’—a tale set in a far away land threatened by a megalomaniac, where a group of talented but inexperienced young ninjas group together to defend Ninjago in a good vs evil battle which turns out to be a family affair.
The return of the greatest show on TV, and our only non-movie indulgence in this recap, was the highlight of this year’s Friday at the San Diego con—although a shift from previous years when the stars of HBO’s flagship show would grace Hall H to wax lyrical about the awesomeness of the season which just ended. This year the cast were hamstrung by not being able to say much about a shorter season which just began, instead focusing on broader questions about the show’s history and their individual characters.
