“I want to assemble a task force of the most dangerous people on the planet who I think can do some good. And if anything goes wrong we blame them; we have built in deniability. Getting people to act against their own self-interest is what I do for a living.” That’s Viola Davis (How to Get Away with Murder) channeling her inner Annalise Keating, and succinctly summing up the premise for DC’s upcoming super-villain flick Suicide Squad.
The all-star lineup includes Will Smith as Deadshot, Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flag, Jai Courtney as Boomerang, Cara Delevingne as Enchantress, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Killer Croc, Karen Fukuhara as Katana, Jay Hernandez as El Diablo, Adam Beach as Slipknot, and of course Jared Leto is the Joker. David Ayer (End of Watch, Fury) writes and directs.
It’s a relatively quiet trailer, until Leto’s Joker comes out to play. “Oh, I’m not gonna kill ya. I’m just gonna hurt ya really, really bad.” Wouldn’t want to be on the other side of that interrogation. For a first look teaser, it hits all the right notes; I’m all in.
During the climactic scene in Man of Steel, Superman (Henry Cavill) battles General Zod (Michael Shannon) and in the process decimates the city of Metropolis. Turns out Batman (Ben Affleck) was witness to the destruction, too. “He has the power to wipe out the entire human race,” growls Bruce Wayne. There we have it: the “v” in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is clearer than ever now. Batman wants to take out Superman before he destroys us all. We, of course, know that Clark Kent’s intentions are good, but the mess he made in Man of Steel and the death toll to come out of all that tell a different story. What else does this positively jam-packed trailer tease? Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) is up to no good and still has hair, and Gal Gadot looks fantastic as Wonder Woman. No sign of Aquaman (Jason Momoa) just yet.
If you were ever on the fence here, this latest peek at Dawn of Justice should reel you right in. A stellar trailer, indeed. Zack Snyder’s upcoming DC adventure is out March 26, 2016.
Fox is taking a number of its most vital series to San Diego Comic Con next week and to celebrate their imminent arrival the network released key art hyping the new seasons of shows like Sleepy Hollow, The Following, and Family Guy. New series Gotham and Wayward Pines are also included in the mix. Long-running animated series The Simpsons is accounted for twice; one to celebrate the show’s 25th anniversary, and the other promotes the anticipated crossover with Family Guy. Check ’em all out in the gallery below.
“It’s only 13 episodes so I’m going to be careful with what I say because I really want you guys to experience it. I’m going to be tight lipped.” Fringe sole showrunner J.H. Wyman warned fans early on that the show’s panel would not spoil anything for fans eagerly anticipating the sci-fi drama’s fifth and final season. He did, however, shed light on when exactly he finally decided on how the show would end. Ideas were already brewing during season one, “but those change because people bring things to the pie that you don’t expect. I had two and a half versions of what I should do at the end and I decided about a month ago.” He also teased fans by saying that he’s already told the cast members how things will conclude. “We want to write the scripts early to make sure everything is absolutely perfect. If I’m doing that, I wanted to make sure the actors had enough time to bring their ideas and to know where they are going for the final season. I want to make sure they had enough advance warning.” The only thing that Wyman would spill is that the season 5 premiere will take place in the year 2036 and is “going to pick up exactly where we left off in [episode] 419, the next day.”
Other tidbits… Wyman would not confirm nor deny the return of Henry Ian Cusack’s character; and we will soon learn why we have yet to see female Observers. Interesting, yes.
Without diving deep into where season five will go, the Fringe panel mostly reminisced about the past four seasons and at one point looking back made Jasika Nicole (Astrid), Anna Torv (Olivia), and even Lance Reddick (Broyles) cry like babies.
“The characters don’t end when the show ends,” said Josh Jackson (Peter). Two items so worth mentioning spring from this statement. Wyman announced that a book will release after the show ends; it will tell a tale through the perspective of our friend September the Observer. “We are trying to give you guys back so much because without you, we would not be here,” Wyman said to the cheering fanbase.
And then there’s this bombshell. When a fan asked if the show will survive after the fifth season airs, John Noble (Walter) responded like this: “Anything is possible. If this season goes off as we think it will, I would think a film is very possible down the track.” Added Jackson, “The show will live on in some form or another.” These are actors talking here, not network execs or movie studios, and so this must be taken with a grain of salt. But still, knowing that the actors are just as passionate as the fans are that they’d even mention such an exciting idea should make you feel good inside no matter what happens.
With all those words out of the way, indulge yourself with the season 5 preview trailer that’s embedded above. Most of it contains highlights from last season, especially from pivotal episode 419. But there’s also some new stuff sprinkled in that’ll get you going. Fun fact: Wyman says that this video was used to sell a fifth season to FOX. The cult fanbase had its say, of course, and for that Wyman and the entire cast of the show forever remains grateful.
In the future Olivia will join Walter, Peter, Astrid, Henrietta, and even Belly in the fight against the Observers. “We need to keep those bald-headed basterds occupied,” says Peter. “What’d you have in mind?” Olivia asks. “I think it’s time we caused a few fringe events of our own,” Peter replies. But it is Walter’s new line that takes the licorice-lined cake: “I know what we need to do. I know how to rid our world of the Observers.” BOOM.
Fringe returns Friday, September 28 at 9PM on FOX.
Update: Major kudos awarded to Warner Bros. for posting the Fringe panel in its entirety to YouTube in glorious high definition! Watch the waterworks fly in the video link provided here. Also inside you’ll be privy to a Comic Con exclusive video made by the Fringe team for the fans; it spectacularly highlights some of the best moments of the show over the course of the past four seasons and tees things up for the final thirteen. Pick an hour out of your day and WATCH IT.
The Walking Dead returns October 14 at 9PM on AMC. And here’s your very first look at season three! While Rick and his gang attempt to penetrate the prison merely teased at the end of last season, Andrea and Michonne are captured by next season’s villain known as The Governor and are brought to a town called Woodbury. There will come a time when these storylines cross and Rick will face off with The Governor as our hero won’t easily give up their newfound home. “I’m not giving up this prison. We took it, it’s ours. We split blood. If we see you out here, anywhere near our people, I’ll kill you,” snarls a gruffy Rick Grimes. Speaking of appearances, you’ll surely notice that Rick is overdue for a haircut and shave and the former goes for his son Carl too; and old man Hershel is rocking one helleva white beard. What else? David Morrissey’s Governor comes off as an inviting fellow in this teaser; obviously everything is not as it seems here. “I don’t trust him,” Michonne whispers to Andrea in that perfect little town of his. And then, at the very end, Merle returns in the flesh this time. Dontcha like what he did with his stub?
Jump after the break to see The Walking Dead Comic Con banner. It features Rick with a hoard of zombies creeping behind him, Michonne with her zombie slaves wielding her katana sword, and The Governor offering his hand with that mysterious helicopter flying in the skies above him. “May-day, May-day!” the soldiers controlling the ‘copter scream in the clip. Is it the same one Rick saw recently? The questions pile on as anticipation ramps up like never before. Is it October yet? Continue reading Comic Con 2012: ‘The Walking Dead’ season 3 trailer inside→
The second season of ABC’s Once Upon A Time is already proving to be more magical than the first. At the show’s Comic Con panel attendees got a glimpse into what’s in store for the citizens of Storybrooke. In a brief teaser for the upcoming season, little Henry warns that “bad things are still happening in Storybrooke” and proof follows: Captain Hook from Peter Pan fame breaks into Mr. Gold’s pawn shop to retrieve what is his. Now that the citizens of the mysterious Maine town remember their past lives in fairytale land perhaps Mr. Gold should upgrade his security. The season 2 preview is embedded above.
During the panel which consisted of executive producers Eddie Kitsis and Adam Horowitz and many of the show’s stars, it was shared that season 2 will reveal the identity of Henry’s father, Dr. Whale’s fairytale character, and the fate of Rumpelstiltskin’s son Bae. Also, “the show this year is not going to change from the one you loved last year,” Kitsis reassured fans. We will still be shifting back and forth from fairytale land and Storybrooke even though magic has been introduced into the latter locale. He also made it a point to say that even though the Storybrooke residents remember their true fairytale identities, their Storybrooke memories do not fade away.
Two more videos were screened at the panel. One is a clip that contains all of season 1’s title sequences plus a few new ones coming soon in season 2 (spoiler: Mulan, Sleeping Beauty, and Jack (from Jack and the Beanstalk) will be introduced). The third video is a parody of online dating services called Singlebrooke that features Once‘s main characters discussing what they look for in the perfect mate; funny stuff. Check these out after the break. Continue reading Comic Con 2012: ‘Once Upon A Time’ teases new fairytale characters for season 2→
The Marvel panel at Comic Con made some major announcements concerning its upcoming movie projects. The next slate of movies set in the Marvel Comics universe is being referred to as “Phase Two.” Without further ado…
Iron Man 3, directed by Shane Black (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang), is out May 3, 2013.
Thor: The Dark World, directed by Alan Taylor (Game of Thrones), is out November 8, 2013.
Captain America: The Winter Solider is out April 4, 2014.
Guardians of the Galaxy is out August 1, 2014.
Ant-Man, directed by Edgar Wright (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) does not have a release date yet.
There’s the “Phase Two” lineup. At the panel, footage from Black’s Iron Man 3 rallied fans with the introduction of Tony Stark’s new nanobot technology that allows him to remotely suit up and a first look at the movie’s villain Mandarin played by Ben Kingsley. For Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel detailed the five superheros who make up this new (potential franchise-worthy) team and they are Drax The Destroyer, Groot, Star-Lord, Rocket Racoon, and Gamora; see them all depicted above. What will likely connect this team to the one we already know (read: The Avengers) is that it is Drax’s ultimate mission to defeat Thanos, the yellowish grinning alien seen in the post-credits scene during The Avengers. For Ant-Man, Wright showed off test footage of the superhero who can grow extremely tiny and immensely large at will. Wright exclaimed, “Ant-Man will kick you ass one inch at a time.”
Check out the logos for all of the “Phase Two” Marvel movies in the gallery below. Download hi-res versions at Marvel.
Director Zack Snyder and star Henry Cavill took part in the Man of Steel panel at Comic Con last week. There they unveiled footage from the flick as well as the Comic Con branded poster seen above. Snyder says that fans will get a taste of the footage Con attendees were privy to when The Dark Knight Rises hits theatres this Thursday; a teaser trailer for the upcoming Super-Man reboot will play before Christopher Nolan’s anticipated conclusion to his Batman trilogy. The teaser will be uploaded here once it hits the ‘Net.
Snyder and Cavill made it a point to say that their mission with this new Superman is to make him relatable. “How would you feel if you were Superman?” Snyder posed to the excitable crowd.
Back in February E! News spilt the details of a Comic Con documentary to be developed by Joss Whedon (Dollhouse) and Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me). Now we have an official press release that instructs how you can take part in the doc. Here’s the pertinent details:
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, producer Thomas Tull, comic book icon Stan Lee, writer/producer Joss Whedon, and film guru Harry Knowles have joined together to bring audiences the feature-length documentary COMIC-CON EPISODE FOUR: A FAN’S HOPE – a documentary celebration of all things con-tastic!
We are looking to cast original, eccentric, funny, touching, and mildly obsessive people that will capture the excitement, enthusiasm, joy, and passion of comic book, anime, sci-fi, and fantasy lovers everywhere.
If Comic-Con International will be the highlight of your year and you have a story to share about your passion, let us know. Join the fellowship, take part in this epic documentary, and write us at ComicConDoc@gmail.com. Include your name, phone number, a picture, and tell us your story.
Do you think you have what it takes to star in a such a doc? Then watchareya waiting for? Send that email off to the powers that be and keep your fingers crossed! Look after the break for the full PR.
According to E! News, creator/director/producer/writer/genius Joss Whedon is teaming up with director Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me) to develop a documentary following a group of uber-nerds attending this year’s Comic Con. According to the source, “They want to follow people for about three months leading up to this year’s Comic-Con. And then they want to film them there. They’re looking at all types of people.”
As much as I would love to be featured in this doc, I don’t know if I have the chops to make the cut. I’m not really into the whole costume thing. But they did say they are searching for all types of people. WHEDON & SPURLOCK, listen here: If you’re looking for a blogger who goes to Comic Con to walk the convention floor and attend as many TV/movie/web series panels as humanly possible, I’m the one you want! Hey, it’s worth a try.
