The Warner Brothers Interminable Showcase
SO MUCH goes on each year at SDCC in Hall H, but no panel quite carries the amount of stuff that goes on in the Warner Brothers’ showcase. It began this year with everyone getting a light show wristband marked with the Deathly Hallows. Knowing what was coming (we’ve been to a TSwift concert) didn’t cheapen the experience. Eddie Redmayne came out and lit us all up! But it was the surprise appearance of Johnny Depp as Grindlewald (in full costume and giving full monologue) that made it a surreal experience. Word on the twitter street is that people booed when he was onscreen and cheered when he came out. Let me tell you: you can only really tell what people directly next to you are doing in Hall H, so while that might be true, from where we were (surrounded by press) it was cool AND uncomfortable.
The rest of the Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindlewald panel was great – Ezra Miller shocking no one with a perfect cosplay (Toadette) and Jude Law shocking no one with his perfect smile.
We didn’t get to hear much at all from the rest of the cast, and that was a bummer, but that’s the way it goes at these sorts of panels: when they have a strict schedule to keep to get everything in and they spent a ton of time on making it a fun show. Which it WAS. Check out the trailer in Jamie’s post from today.
Next up was the cast of The Lego Movie The Second Part, so we all got a big pie in the face of Chris Pratt, and the guys that probably ruined Solo. I loved The Lego Movie and I think this trailer looked great, but this panel was slightly forgettable. But props to Elizabeth Banks’ colorist because she was gloriously platinum.
The next movie to showcase was the new Godzilla, which I don’t really care about at all, but I *do* care about Millie Bobbie Brown (my 14 year old daughter is a SUPER FAN), and I didn’t expect her to there, so I spent the whole panel fielding “I HATE U MOM” texts and sending her pics.
FINALLY it was time for one thing we KNEW was coming and would unite us all with anticipation and glee: Wonder Woman 1984. Gal Gadot, Patty Jenkins and Chris “Orange Julius” Pine blessed us with their presence and a few great answers to questions about the upcoming movie. My favorite one was that 1984 is not a sequel; it’s a new movie, a new world, a new decade and a new adventure for WW. I only wish we could have seen a little bit of Kristin Wiig in action as Cheetah. NEXT YEAR.
Next up: SHAZAM and my favorite Comic-Con fun guy: Zachary Levi. Zach consistently impresses me with his approachability and openness. He’s one of the best people to see and talk to at the con because he treats every encounter like he is meeting someone he admires. Not many people bend down to chat with folks in the press cage. Also, this movie looks right up his alley: a little Big, a little dorky, a little Flash, a little terrible. But again, my kids like Asher Angel, so I took lots of pics.
Last, but never least, Jason Momoa graced us with some boot-stomping excitement and the brand new Aquaman trailer. The panel began slightly uncomfortable for everyone considering Amber Heard was there, and she must have been backstage with her abusive ex (and the most controversial attendee of the year), Johnny Depp. Totally tone deaf for WB to have them appear in the same slot. The trailer itself was … not great, but thankfully, they brought out a bit more at the end that had fans screaming: Momoa as Aquaman in a more traditionally hued gold and green.
Despite a few missteps, we have nothing but love for the WB Showcase every year: they work REALLY hard to put on a great show, and that is what SDCC is all about. It’s why so many people camp out to be in that room. It’s really worth it.
Getting Real with The Man in the High Castle
Back in 2016, I (Julie) asked the cast from The Man in the High Castle about the upcoming second season. For some of the cast mates, I ended my time with a lighthearted question: Would your character swipe left or right on another character’s Tinder profile? Total hard hitting journalism there, folks.
This year, my questions took a different turn as they centered around the startling irony of how a show that depicts an alternative universe where Nazis rule over democratic nations has started to mirror our current political landscape. Although I don’t want to go into too much about the interviews – coming soon! – with Alexa Davalos (Juliana Crain), Rufus Sewell (John Smith), newcomer Jason O’Mara (Wyatt Price) and executive producers Isa Dick Hackett and Daniel Percival; I did learn the following:
- Rufus Sewell is beyond brilliant and every answer he gives is a gift that needs to be recorded and treated as a national treasure.
- I could listen for days to Daniel Percival speak about the dangers of history repeating itself. Get this man a podcast, NOW.
- Isa Dick Hackett, the daughter of TMITHC author Philip K. Dick, is pretty certain her father would be “apoplectic” to see the current state of American democracy.
- I cannot wait for The Man in the High Castle season 3 premiere on October 5th.
Deadpool Super Duper F*&king Uncomfortable Panel
Our Saturday at the Con ended with another trip to Hall H just in time to see this in all its iPhone slo mo glory:
Hosted by Dopinder himself, Karan Soni, the Deadpool 2 panel was filled with never before seen clips of the upcoming extended DVD release, Ryan Reynolds having the arduous task of both defending and apologizing for Green Lantern multiple times, and questions about pansexuality and vitiligo (not joking). Although the panel featured part of the cast and crew, it was clear that the hour belonged to Ryan, who fielded most of the questions.
The gang’s all here for Deadpool in Hall H at #SDCC! The home ent release will feature a brand new cut of the movie! pic.twitter.com/XBWXBPVz4r
— That's Normal (@Thats_Normal) July 22, 2018
Since we’re on the subject of questions, the Q&A portion of any panel is a total crap shoot. Every once and a while, someone will ask a question that sparks amazing conversation and fantastic sound bites for a post (see A Discovery of Witches panel). However, a majority of the time you find yourself either rolling your eyes over incessant ass kissing, getting second hand embarrassed for the panel, or just straight up annoyed.
This panel’s Q&A had a running lesson: Stop being the absolute worst parent by letting your eight year old watch Deadpool. While it’s no surprise that children are in Hall H, what was shocking and disturbing were the amount of children (not tweens or teenagers…children) dressed as the Merc with the Mouth, telling the panel that Deadpool was their favorite movie and asking questions that clearly made the cast and crew, espeically Ryan Reynolds, uncomfortable. Any sane adult who has seen Deadpool knows that while it is hilarious, it is also filled with graphic violence and sex. The person who is well aware of that the most? This guy.
You making your kid dress up as Deadpool and coaching them on what to ask or say wasn’t cute or funny; it was annoying and you clearly skipped parenting classes, Comic Con Mom and Dad.
The Good(?) Place
Hey The Good Place writers, have I got a Bad Place scenario for you! Picture this: Standing in line for over 2 hours with thousands of folks, trudging back and forth through endless switch backs in the blazing sun, subjected to a smorgasbord of smooth, bland hits of the 70s from a hotel lounge, all while watching twitter blow up with hilarious anecdotes from a panel that YOU WILL ULTIMATELY NEVER SEE.
Yep, welcome to the panel line for NBC’s The Good Place, just one of the many shit-shows brought to you by the Con-long shit-show known as the Indigo Ballroom (See also: Brooklyn 99). The saddest part by far was watching all the Janets disperse dejectedly when it was announced that the panel was full.
From what I gleaned from Twitter, it sounds like they showed the first 3 minutes of season 3, the cast was completely adorable, and everyone who made it in probably got a free car or some shit (#bitterCon). Anyway, here’s a highlight reel:
Eff you, Indigo Ballroom!!
Project Blue Book
If you’ve every thought to yourself “What I really need is a The X-Files/Mad Men mashup,”* has the History Channel got a show for you!
Coincidentally, it’s about damn time we got a Chris into this post
Project Blue Book is the name of an actual program from the Cold War that documented unexplained sightings that could constitute national security threats. Aiden Gillen (GoT) plays real-life astronomer Allen Hynek, who is brought on to debunk the reports, but slowly begins to believe that these are real alien sightings. He’s partnered with Army Captain Michael Quinn (Michael Malarkey), who acts as Hynek’s handler, keeping him just far enough away from the truth. The duo are kind of a Mulder and Scully without the sexual tension (?), and their investigations get more dangerous and action packed as they discover things the government doesn’t want to know. Here’s the Comic Con trailer:
So get your tin-foil hats ready for the premiere! We’ll update you when the date is set.
*I have thought that
Disenchantment
Matt Groening is back with a new animated series featuring the adventures of Princess Bean (voiced by Abby Jacobson of Broad City), who rebels against her royal fate after narrowing escaping an arranged marriage. She and her crew – a personal demon (Luci) and a clueless elf (Elfo) – get sucked into some intrigue that leads them on an epic quest. While the episodes are self-contained, they all aggregate into a larger story arc about a mystery in the kingdom. The show reunites most of the cast of Futurama, whose ad-lib sessions are incorporated action! If you love that classic Groening humor and style, Disenchantment is definitely for you, as you can see from the trailer:
Disenchantment premieres August 17th on Netflix!
Farewell Comic Con!
Another San Diego Comic Con is done! We came, we saw, and we survived with the help of Auntie Anne’s pretzels, insulated water bottles, and portable phone chargers. From falling in love with The Discovery of Witches, celebrating Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s return, and catching up with our favorite authors; this year’s Con reminded why we brave the crowds and panel lines. Best part? Braving it alongside these amazing women!
Until next year, San Diego Comic Con!
