Like clockwork high summer in Northern California called global genre fans, the world’s press and giant media conglomerates to the San Diego waterfront for the yearly mass geek pilgrimage to 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.
This year further underlined the recent trend of an increased TV and streaming presence and a dwindling movie offering at SDCC, perhaps an illustration of shifting dynamics and changing fortunes for both industries, and while Disney made a triumphant return to the con with major Marvel presentation, it’s unlikely to become a trend given their own competing D23 Expo . . . and their general global domination. Meanwhile Warner Bros., Universal and Sony were all conspicuous in their absence from this year’s event, meaning our breakdown of the movie announcements and interactive panels will be a shorter one this year.
Thursday the 18th of July
Of Paramount Importance
Terminator: Dark Fate
Image Source: Getty Images
With several big studios giving the con a miss this year, and with newly acquired 20th Century Fox not having an official presence, it was left to their production partners Paramount to flog their collective wares, keeping faith in their ‘Terminator’ franchise despite the 2015 critical and box-office dud that was ‘Terminator Genisys’—treating the Hall H audience to behind-the-scenes gossip and a closer look at the latest, even more female-led instalment of the beloved dystopian sci-fi series ‘Terminator: Dark Fate’.
The film’s director Tim Miller(Deadpool) was joined by in Hall H by stars Linda Hamilton, Natalia Reyes, Diego Boneta, Mackenzie Davis, Gabriel Luna, and the Austrian oak himself Arnold Schwarzenegger, to talk all things Skynet and Sarah Connor, and tease the Hall H audience with new footage. ‘Terminator: Dark Fate’ is out on the 23rd of October in the UK, and on the 1st of November in the US.
Watch the panel video, courtesy of Films That Rock:
Return of the Mav- Top Gun: Maverick
Image Source: Getty Images
Not ones to miss a promotional opportunity, Paramount followed up the ‘Terminator: Dark Fate’ panel with an unexpected Hollywood superstar visit for another of their 2020 releases, as Tom Cruise made a surprise and very brief appearance to talk ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ and debut the first trailer. ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ is out on the 26th of June 2020 in the US, and on the 17th of July 2020 in the UK.
Watch the panel video, courtesy of Films That Rock:
Friday the 19th of July
Westerosi Closure
Game of Thrones: Season 8
Image Source: Getty Images
Despite this being a Comic-con movie recap, we can never resist a Seven Kingdoms visit to San Diego, and this year proved to be the last for this first class of George R. R. Martin’s ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ on the small screen. Stars Isaac Hempstead Wright, Conleth Hill, John Bradley, Maisie Williams, Jacob Anderson, Liam Cunningham and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau paid a visit to Hall H to talk season 8, and as expected the bratty reactions to the final season from some fans—as well as the accompanying media stoking of the fire—was a topic of discussion . . . along with many other things.
Watch the full panel video, courtesy of Films That Rock:
SDCC Bootlegging
It Chapter Two
Image Source: Getty Images
Despite not officially attending the event, after having dominated it last year, Warner Bros. took advantage of the media circus surrounding Comic-con to get in some valuable promotion for their upcoming Stephen King adaptation and horror blockbuster sequel ‘It Chapter Two’. Director Andy Muschietti was joined by stars Andy Bean, Isaiah Mustafa, James Ransone, Bill Hader, Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy and Jay Ryan, as they joined the likes of Conan O’Brien to talk all things Pennywise and the adult ‘Losers’ Club’. ‘It Chapter Two’ is out on the 6th of September in the UK and US.
Watch the full panel video, courtesy of Team Coco:
Check out Saturday’s events on the next page, featuring Marvel Studios 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
Like clockwork high summer in Northern California called global genre fans, the world’s press and giant media conglomerates to the San Diego waterfront for the yearly mass geek pilgrimage to 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.
With several big studios giving the con a miss this year, and with newly acquired 20th Century Fox not having an official presence, it was left to their production partners Paramount to flog their collective wares, keeping faith in their ‘Terminator’ franchise despite the 2015 critical and box-office dud that was ‘Terminator Genisys’—treating the Hall H audience to behind-the-scenes gossip and a closer look at the latest, even more female-led instalment of the beloved dystopian sci-fi series ‘Terminator: Dark Fate’.
Not ones to miss a promotional opportunity, Paramount followed up the ‘Terminator: Dark Fate’ panel with an unexpected Hollywood superstar visit for another of their 2020 releases, as Tom Cruise made a surprise and very brief appearance to talk ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ and debut the first trailer. ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ is out on the 26th of June 2020 in the US, and on the 17th of July 2020 in the UK.
Despite this being a Comic-con movie recap, we can never resist a Seven Kingdoms visit to San Diego, and this year proved to be the last for this first class of George R. R. Martin’s ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ on the small screen. Stars Isaac Hempstead Wright, Conleth Hill, John Bradley, Maisie Williams, Jacob Anderson, Liam Cunningham and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau paid a visit to Hall H to talk season 8, and as expected the bratty reactions to the final season from some fans—as well as the accompanying media stoking of the fire—was a topic of discussion . . . along with many other things.
Despite not officially attending the event, after having dominated it last year, Warner Bros. took advantage of the media circus surrounding Comic-con to get in some valuable promotion for their upcoming Stephen King adaptation and horror blockbuster sequel ‘It Chapter Two’. Director Andy Muschietti was joined by stars Andy Bean, Isaiah Mustafa, James Ransone, Bill Hader, Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy and Jay Ryan, as they joined the likes of Conan O’Brien to talk all things Pennywise and the adult ‘Losers’ Club’. ‘It Chapter Two’ is out on the 6th of September in the UK and US.
