By Armando
It has been another great week at SDCC, almost a week full of big announcements, exciting trailers and amazing cosplays. Here is a roundup of some of the highlights at this year’s Comic-Con at San Diego.
Epic “Aquaman” Trailer Debuts
Jason Mamoa, Amber Heard, Nicole Kidman, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and director James Wan – photo: AI Photo Imaging
After months of anticipation, fans finally got a glimpse of the James Wan directed “Aquaman” as the film’s full trailer debuted to rousing reception from fans at San Diego Comic-con on Saturday.
“I’m no leader.” says the reluctant ruler of Atlantis Arthur Curry on the trailer. “I came because I have no choice. I came to save my home, and the people that I love.”
With the Aquaman panel being WB’s finale feature in it’s Saturday lineup at Comic-Con, the trailer is fittingly big and epic, while also showcasing Aquaman’s lighter side as well as a few comedic banter between the characters. The cast, including Aquaman himself Jason Mamoa, and director James Wan appeared on the Hall H stage to talk about their experience working on the film.
Oscar winner Nicole Kidman, who plays Queen Atlanna and Aquaman’s mother, seem particularly excited about her first ever appearance at Comic-Con. “On my opening scene, I had to lie on a rock with massive waves crashing over me,” says Kidman.
“First film that we did together was a very small movie, and I knew this guy can do any genre,” Wilson praising Wan. “And I was just hoping he would take me along for at least part of the ride, and he has, so thank you.” Wilson and Wan worked together on the Insidious and The Conjuring horror film series.
More Aquaman at SDCC 2018 >>
Sony’s “Venom” Villain Reveal
Director Ruben Fleischer, Riz Ahmed, and Tom Hardy – Photo: AI Photo Imaging
Tom Hardy, Riz Ahmed, and director Ruben Fleischer were at SDCC on Friday where lucky fans had a chance to see the latest footage from Venom with a big reveal of a villain at the end: Riot, another symbiote who is controlling inventor Carlton Drake, played by Ahmed.
In his Comic-con debut, Hardy admits to being nervous being on the SDCC stage, though very excited about the film. “Venom by far, for me, I don’t want to upset anyone, is the coolest Marvel superhero there is. I just like the way he looks,” Hardy says about the character that appealed to him, adding: “my son is a massive Venom fan, and he was a very strong influence on why I should play Venom specifically.”
Fleischer describes that Venom is a “much grittier, grounded, complicated character and more violent,” distinguishing the film from other Marvel characters. “Unlike other superhero movies, there’s no heroes in this movie. Its full of copmlicated and complex characters.”
The trailer prominently featured Drake and his symbiotes experiments. It also showed Venom’s head stretching out of Eddie’s body so the two can have a conversation as well as Venom’s ability to form axes out of his hands. Then towards the end, the footage reveals Drake as Riot and then showed him with Venom in an epic fight.
More “Venom” at Comic-Con 2018 >>
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald”
Cast of “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” – Photo: AI Photo Imaging
Fans of Harry Potter were ecstatic on Saturday at Comic-Con as Warner Bros.’ released one of its main presentations with an extended trailer for “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.”
The cast were on stage Saturday at SDCC to talk about the film and reveal the new trailer to an enthusiastic crowd. Later during the panel discussion, Johnny Depp surprised the crowd as he appeared on a dimly lit stage in front of a sea of lit-up wristbands.
“It has been said that I hate the Muggles, the No-Maj, the Can’t-Spells. I do not hate them,” Depp declared. “I say the Muggles are not lesser. Not worthless, but of other value. Magic blooms only in rare souls. It is granted to those who live for higher things.”
More on Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” at SDCC >>
“Breaking Bad” Cast Reunite
Cast and creators of Breaking Bad at SDCC – AI Photo Imaging
“I love Jesse, I love that guy so much, I miss him!” Paul said of his Jesse Pinkman, cooking partner and former student to Bryan Cranston’s Walter White during a 10th anniversary panel for “Breaking Bad” at Thursday’s Comic-con.
It was ten years ago that audiences were introduced to the two characters which went on to become one of the biggest pop culture icons in TV history.
And on Thursday, that chemistry between the two and the whole cast is as fresh and palpable as if time has not passed since. And there’s added bonus of course of Aaron Paul bringing his adorable baby to the panel.
Fans were understandably ecstatic to see the cast in panel to mark the neo-western crime television series’ 10th anniversay, which included Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn, Dean Norris, Giancarlo Esposito, Bob Odenkirk, Betsy Brandt, RJ Mitte and show creator Vince Gilligan.
Set and filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico andran from January 20, 2008 through September 29, 2013 on AMC, the series was a huge hit and widely regarded as one of the bet ever.
More on “Breaking Bad” reunion at SDCC 2018 >>
DC Unveils First “Shazam” Trailer
Zachary Levi, David F. Sandberg, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Asher Angel for Shazam. – AI Photo Imaging
DC releases the first ever trailer for “Shazam!”, one of major highlights at Comic-con and one of Warner Bros.’ most highly anticipated films set for release in 2019.
The trailer features a fun and lighthearted take on the superhero genre and one of the standouts of the day. Its shows a young boy Billy Batson fighting off some bullies and is granted super powers by a wizard who told him to utter his name “Shazam,” which morphed him into a grown-up superhero. Some hilarity ensues as he adjusts to his new powers.
But it wasn’t just the trailer that got plenty of laughs at Hall H on Saturday. Zachary Levi, who plays the film’s titular superhero, was every bit a child at heart, hopping and dancing towards the stage as he is introduced by moderator by Aisha Tyler and had an amusing and hilarious presence during the panel’s interview. “This is 14-year old me, that got to put on spandex and a cape and fly around and be a superhero,” says Levi about the experience of playing the role. “The whole movie is about wish-fulfillment.”
More of Shazam! at SDCC 2018 >>
“Wonder Woman 1984” Panel At Comic-Con Debuts First Footage
Director Patty Jenkins, Chris Pine and Gal Gadot – Photo: AI Photo Imaging
Director Patty Jenkins, actor Chris Pine and Wonder Woman herself Gal Gadot graced the SDCC stage Saturday and surprised an over-excited superfans with the film’s first footage, giving fans a glimpse of what the cast has in store.
“I hope we can keep it in this room because its just a rough cut, we’ve very proud of it,” Jenkins told the Comic-Con crowd, reminding fans that the film has just started shooting for a few weeks, While Gadot reconfirms the message: “Our secret is safe with you guys, right you guys?
The exclusive teaser footage shows Wonder Woman leaping into an ’80s shopping mall to save a young girl while simultaneously stopping two gun-wielding goons. It was a short but fun teaser, low on spoilers but enough to get the Comic-Con crowd roaring in approval.
Pine was equally tight-lipped on details, particularly when asked if he’s back in the film. “I am actually not really here right now, I am just an aura of emotional support for my pals,” joked Pines before declining to comment further. “I can’t tell you that,” he adds.
More of Wonder Woman 1984 at SDCC 2018 >>
Intense New “Halloween” Footage Revealed
Yvette Nicole Brown moderates the Halloween panel at San Diego Comic-Con. From left: Jamie Lee Curtis, David Gordon Green, Malek Akkad and Jason Blum
Director David Gordon Green, producers Jason Blum and Malek Akkad and “original scream queen” Jamie Lee Curtis brought the slasher sequel from Blumhouse to Comic-Con on Friday, bringing with them an intense and shocking brand-new footage from the film. Curtis strutted out on stage when she arrive, and was given a big welcome by the Hall H crowd which was clearly loving her presence.
Producer Akkad was equally excited to be on the stage. “The first and last time I was at San Diego Comic-con was in 1976. I was 7 years old and there was about 300 people so its growing a bit,” said Akkad, whose production company Trancas International Films produced every film in the Halloween film series from its inception. “And to think that 42 years later I would be on this stage with these three amazing filmmakers presenting a film that I’m so excited about and the fans are gonna absolutely go crazy over is just surreal.”
The footage which the filmmakers unveiled were frightening and intense which gives it a more thriller vibe. It features an extended tracking shot of Michael going house to house on a killing spree, walking around unnoticed during Halloween night even with a knife on his hand. Towards the end, he stabs a woman as she was looking out the window and closing the curtains. It was a gruesome and shocking scene that caught everyone by surprise.
More about “Halloween” at SDCC 2018 >>
“Assassination Nation” Debuts Trailer
From left: Joe Russo, Sam Levinson, Bill Skarsgard, Suki Waterhouse, Hari Nef – AI Photo Imaging
The cast of the last comedy crime film Bill Skarsgard, Hari Nef, Suki Waterhouse, director Sam Levinson as well as Joe Russo were at SDCC on Thursday to talk about the controversial and provocative film, and present an exclusive footage. The film was acquired by Marvel directing duo Joe and Anthony Russo’s AGBO banner who partnered with NEON for distribution rights to the film shortly after its Sunday Film Fest world premiere earlier this year.
The film is about what happens when an anonymous hacker begins to terrorize a small town of Salem by releasing the most private and personal information; all privacy is destroyed and lives are ruined as deadly secrets are exposed. “Imagine if the comment section came alive and tried to kill everyone you know and love. That’s it in a nutshell,” the film’s writer and director Sam Levinson (son of Oscar winning director Barry Levinson) summing up the film candidly.
“But nobody is safe in this movie. Everybody is getting dragged,” says Hari Nef. “My character, for instance, one second she’s espousing these high-minded, social justice warrior beliefs, and then the next minute she’s tearing down some other guy using homophobic slurs. There’s no infallible political message to this, because there’s no infallible political message in America. Nobody’s listening to one another. I think its important.”
More about “Assassination Nation” at SDCC 2018 >>
Thrilling New “Glass” Trailer Unveiled
M. Night Shyamalan, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, Sarah Paulson, Anya Taylor-Joy
M. Night Shyamalan brought together the cast of “Glass” on the SDCC stage and unveiled the film’s thrilling first trailer. The film brings together Samuel L. Jackson and Bruce Willis’ characters from the 2000 superhero thriller “Unbreakable” with last year’s surprise hit “Split” Anya Taylor-Joy and James McAvoy.
Debuting in the film series is Sarah Paulson who plays psychologist Dr. Ellie Staple. “I have no question there are two dozen identities that live in that body with you,” Dr. Staple tells McAvoy’s Kevin Wendell Crumb. “What I am questioning is your belief that you are something more than human.”’
Before unveiling the trailer the cast talked about their experience working on the film though Willing was clearly tight-lipped about the details of the plot. There are a lot of secrets in this movie that.”
Shyamalan talked about meeting McAvoy at Comic-Con and instantly found his Kevin, the dissociative identity disorder (DID) sufferer of who has 23 prominent personalities.
“He just came back from X-Men, his hair three quarters of an inch long. And I was like, ‘this is the guy, this is how she should look in the movie,’” Shyamalan on meeting the actor. “So literally, Split was created right here at Comic-Con.” Pretty cool huh!
More about “Glass” At Comic-con 2018 >>
Comic-Con 2018: Star Trek Discovery Panel
The cast and crew of Star Trek: Discovery were at Comic-Con on Friday where fans were shown with the first trailer for Season 2.
The panel included Executive Producers Alex Kurtzman and Heather Kadin, as well as stars Sonequa Martin-Green, Shazad Latif, Doug Jones, Mary Wiseman, Wilson Cruz, Anthony Rapp and Mary Chieffo. It was Moderated by Season 2 newcomer Tig Notaro, who plays Chief Engineer Reno.
Starting it all off was a big reveal from Executive Producer Alex Kurtzman: “I can tell you that, yes, you will be seeing Spock this season.”
To what extent Spock will make an appearance remains unknown. The trailer, set to Lenny Kravitz’s Fly Away, did show a brief glimpse of Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green_) in Spock’s quarters observing the area. “Spock is linked to these signals, and he needs help,” Michael says in the trailer.
Joining this time is Anson Mount, also in the panel, as Captain Christopher Pike who is taking command of the ship. “This is awkward, but the best way to get into a cold stream is to jump right in,” he says.
More on the Star Trek Discovery Panel >>
South Korean boy band and K-Pop stars SEVENTEEN announce venues for the North American leg of their Ode To You World Tour. Produced by Live Nation, the exclusive 8-city North American run will kick off January 10th, 2020 at the Prudential Center in New Jersey with stops at United Center in Chicago, Toyota Music Factory in Dallas, Smart Financial Centre in Houston, Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City, The Forum in Los Angeles and SAP in San Jose before wrapping January 23rd in at the ShoWare Center in Seattle.
