Once again high summer in Northern California saw the yearly mass geek pilgrimage to San Diego, as fans and media conglomerates alike converged on the city’s oceanfront for the world’s biggest comic-book, video game, film and pop-culture convention—giving us all a glimpse of what to expect over the next 12 months and beyond. As always with several announcements and interactive panels on show, we breakdown the biggest movie happenings this year.
Thursday the 19th of July
The Weary Fox
The Predator
Image Source: Getty Images
Currently in limbo as the object of a Disney takeover, 20th Century Fox had a scaled-back presence at this year’s festival, kicking off with some promotion and a panel for their upcoming sci-fi thriller ‘The Predator’—a sequel/reboot and latest installment of the popular franchise, set in modern day America after the events of the first two films, but before 2010’s ‘Predators’.
The film’s director and one of the co-stars of the 1987 original Shane Black was in attendance with his stars Augusto Aguiliera, Thomas Jane, Keegan-Michael Key, Sterling K. Brown, Olivia Munn, Jake Busey and Trevante Rhodes, to talk and tease the film—including a sneak peak at the new ‘super predator’. ‘The Predator’ is out on the 12th of September in the UK and on the 14th of September in the US.
Watch the panel video, courtesy of Flicks & The City:
A Mad, Timely Sundance Darling
Assassination Nation
Image Source: Getty Images
The Hall H posse got a rare indie treat this year with a panel for a film aimed squarely at this generation, in the form of violent and anarchic teen thriller and Sundance hit ‘Assassination Nation’. Director Sam Levinson brought along the film’s buyer Joe Russo and the stars Bill Skarsgård, Hari Nef and Suki Waterhouse to talk the end of privacy and the movie mayhem it brings to middle America, ‘Assassination Nation’ is out on the 21st of September in the US, and on the 23rd of November in UK cinemas.
‘Assassination Nation’ official trailer:
Friday the 20th of July
Universal in the House
Glass
Image Source: Getty Images
With major players like Marvel and Lucasfilm giving Comic-Con a miss entirely this year, no doubt saving their wares for Disney’s own expanding convention, Universal pictures jumped on the chance at a Hall H return, kicking off their promotional efforts with a panel for the sequel to 2016’s ‘Split’ and third film in M. Night Shyamalan gritty superhero/supervillain mystery trilogy, ‘Glass’. The writer/director was joined in Hall H by his stars Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, James McAvoy and Anya Taylor-Joy, ‘Glass’ is out in UK and US cinemas on the 18th of January 2019.
Watch the full panel video, courtesy of We Live Entertainment:
Halloween
Image Source: Getty Images
Fans in Hall H were also treated to some iconic horror on Friday, as ‘The Shape’ stalked the con this year when director David Gordon Green brought along his star Jamie Lee Curtis and Blumhouse supremo Jason Blum for a panel to talk the latest Michael Myers outing ‘Halloween’—a sequel to the 1978 original, taking place forty years after those events and erasing thirty-seven years of sequels. ‘Halloween’ is out on the 19th of October in the UK and US.
Watch the full panel video, courtesy of We Live Entertainment:
Attendance is Paramount
Bumblebee
Image Source: Getty Images
Also keen to fill some of the Comic-Con space left by Disney’s absence this year, Paramount Pictures made their limited presence felt with a panel for their latest installment of the ‘Transformers’ series ‘Bumblebee’—a prequel and origin story set in the 1980s and centred around the beloved yellow Beetle. Director Travis Knight was joined by stars Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Hailee Steinfeld and John Cena, ‘Bumblebee’ is out in US cinemas on the 21st of December, and on the 26th of December in the UK.
Watch the full panel video, courtesy of We Live Entertainment:
Sony Superhero Time
Venom
Image Source: Getty Images
Not to be outdone and determined to fill somewhat of a superhero void on Friday, Sony Pictures closed the day’s movie proceedings with two panels for their upcoming Marvel collaborations, beginning with the standalone film for popular anti-hero and ‘Spider-Man’ villain ‘Venom’. Director Ruben Fleischer was on hand with stars Tom Hardy and Riz Ahmed to answer fan questions and tease their upcoming film, out on the 5th of October.
Watch the panel video, courtesy of JoBlo Movie Trailers:
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Image Source: Getty Images
Sticking to the ‘Spider-Man’ theme, fans in Hall H were also treated to previews and a voice cast panel for upcoming inter-dimensional superhero animation ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’, with stars Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson and Hailee Steinfeld joining directors Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey and Rodney Rothman, plus writer/producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller to answer questions for a film scheduled for a 14th of December release.
Watch the panel video, courtesy of Flicks & The City:
Check out Saturday’s events on the next page, featuring DC Comics and Warner Bros. 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
Once again high summer in Northern California saw the yearly mass geek pilgrimage to San Diego, as fans and media conglomerates alike converged on the city’s oceanfront for the world’s biggest comic-book, video game, film and pop-culture convention—giving us all a glimpse of what to expect over the next 12 months and beyond. As always with several announcements and interactive panels on show, we breakdown the biggest movie happenings this year.
Currently in limbo as the object of a Disney takeover, 20th Century Fox had a scaled-back presence at this year’s festival, kicking off with some promotion and a panel for their upcoming sci-fi thriller ‘The Predator’—a sequel/reboot and latest installment of the popular franchise, set in modern day America after the events of the first two films, but before 2010’s ‘Predators’.
The Hall H posse got a rare indie treat this year with a panel for a film aimed squarely at this generation, in the form of violent and anarchic teen thriller and Sundance hit ‘Assassination Nation’. Director Sam Levinson brought along the film’s buyer Joe Russo and the stars Bill Skarsgård, Hari Nef and Suki Waterhouse to talk the end of privacy and the movie mayhem it brings to middle America, ‘Assassination Nation’ is out on the 21st of September in the US, and on the 23rd of November in UK cinemas.
With major players like Marvel and Lucasfilm giving Comic-Con a miss entirely this year, no doubt saving their wares for Disney’s own expanding convention, Universal pictures jumped on the chance at a Hall H return, kicking off their promotional efforts with a panel for the sequel to 2016’s ‘Split’ and third film in M. Night Shyamalan gritty superhero/supervillain mystery trilogy, ‘Glass’. The writer/director was joined in Hall H by his stars Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, James McAvoy and Anya Taylor-Joy, ‘Glass’ is out in UK and US cinemas on the 18th of January 2019.
Fans in Hall H were also treated to some iconic horror on Friday, as ‘The Shape’ stalked the con this year when director David Gordon Green brought along his star Jamie Lee Curtis and Blumhouse supremo Jason Blum for a panel to talk the latest Michael Myers outing ‘Halloween’—a sequel to the 1978 original, taking place forty years after those events and erasing thirty-seven years of sequels. ‘Halloween’ is out on the 19th of October in the UK and US.
Also keen to fill some of the Comic-Con space left by Disney’s absence this year, Paramount Pictures made their limited presence felt with a panel for their latest installment of the ‘Transformers’ series ‘Bumblebee’—a prequel and origin story set in the 1980s and centred around the beloved yellow Beetle. Director Travis Knight was joined by stars Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Hailee Steinfeld and John Cena, ‘Bumblebee’ is out in US cinemas on the 21st of December, and on the 26th of December in the UK.
Not to be outdone and determined to fill somewhat of a superhero void on Friday, Sony Pictures closed the day’s movie proceedings with two panels for their upcoming Marvel collaborations, beginning with the standalone film for popular anti-hero and ‘Spider-Man’ villain ‘Venom’. Director Ruben Fleischer was on hand with stars Tom Hardy and Riz Ahmed to answer fan questions and tease their upcoming film, out on the 5th of October.
Sticking to the ‘Spider-Man’ theme, fans in Hall H were also treated to previews and a voice cast panel for upcoming inter-dimensional superhero animation ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’, with stars Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson and Hailee Steinfeld joining directors Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey and Rodney Rothman, plus writer/producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller to answer questions for a film scheduled for a 14th of December release.
