Comic Con day 1: Wrap-Up *UPDATED*
Zombies, Del Toro, Whedon, Willis, Urban and more
Hey Fools! Unfortunately none of us here at the Fools had time to attend the Con this year, but we do receive some inside tips and goodies, and we survey the scene from afar to bring you the latest. Since we're not attending we can,t give you a breakdown of each panel held there -besides, who wants to known about the Twilight panel, really- but the event is THE favored venue for studio to make their big-splash announcements. Even if some of those got scooped ahead.
So each day we'll do our best to break down the biggest nuggets to come out of San Diego, starting with what went on Thursday night and yesterday at Preview Night.
URBAN: DREDD OFFERED, TREK II LOCKED
It took a while before Karl Urban really started cashing in on his LOTR fame -Doom and Riddick did nothing to boost his profile, ask me- but playing Bones in last year's fantastic Trek reboot solidified his star status. What's next?
-Met with the minds behind the new Judge Dredd and "we’re in the process of making that happen.”
-As far as he knows, Trek II will happen next Summer and J.J. Abrams is an almost certainty for the "Captain's" chair.
-He's NOT involved in Fivenal Destination as rumored recently.
WILLIS: DIE HARD 5 AND...UNBREAKABLE 2?
Bad Boy Bruno is in town to help promote The Expandables -where he's finally sharing screen time with fellows 80's action icons Sly and Arnie- as well as the fun-lokking RED, but since we movie buffs always look 3 movies ahead, he's been asked (of course) about John McLane and his other upcoming projects.
-Says Die Hard 5 is imminent; "the coin is about to drop" says he.
-Unbkreabable 2's only stumbling block for happening is Shyamalan who's busy miserably failing to make better movies than his first 2. Willis himself would do it in a heartbeat.
WHEDON MEETS JJ
One of the most geek-heavy panels this year is one where Joss Whedon is paired with J.J. Abrams - two of the biggest ks working in Hollywood today, and just as heavily followed. Sh*tloads were talked about during that one, but most interesting was:
-Whedon confirmed once and for all he's directing The Avengers.
-Abrams's Spielberg-inspired Super 8 stars filming in September, which will be cutting it close to the rumored January start date of Trek II. Did somebody jump the phaser?!?
-Whedon has great ideas for Dr. Horrible 2 and even some songs ready, but it's taken a backseat to Marvel for now.
-Cabin in the Woods, Whedon's much anticipated horror flick, probably won't be seen by anyone until MGM gets their act together.
GUILLERMO DEL TORO = HAUNTED MANSION
The director's been keeping mum on what his next project would be, having an awful lot on his plate and mind since leaving The Hobbit. Right after the Tron panel, Disney made the announcement that Del Toro would be doing a new adaptation of the vintage theme park ride Haunted Mansion. In a subsequent press release, Del Toro stated that:
“Dark imagery is an integral part of the Walt Disney legacy. After all, Disney himself was the father of some really chilling moments and characters. I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of my own adaptation of the original theme park attraction Walt envisioned and that remains- for me- the most desirable piece of real estate in the whole world!”
Considering Pan's Labyringht and other such dark nightmares he brought, we can safely assume that Eddie Murphy won,t be allowed within a thousand yards of this one...
PIRATES 4 SYNOPSIS
Again right after the Tron panel, Disney showed attendees a film reel where Johnny Depp himself talked about the film and its plot. Aftr which the studio emitted a press release with said storyline, which I thought everybody knew about but apprently it was kept secret. Yeah, like Lindsay's coke habit I guess... Says the press release:
Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) finds himself on an unexpected journey to the fabled Fountain of Youth when a woman from his past (Penelope Cruz) forces him aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane).
THE MUPPETS MEET PIXAR
When you've got a genius in the school yard, you ask him for his notes before the big test. Disney applied that age-old principle to the upcoming The Greatest Muppet Movie Ever Made, by flying it's crew to Pixar headquarters where they'll be screening what footage they got in the can and ask for some advice. Maybe they should've flown Jerry Bruckheimer there a few months ago...
PITT FIGHTING IN WORLD WAR Z
Novelist Max Brooks' unusual take on zombies has been attempted for a big screen adaptation, and this time might be the right time. Brooks himself (son of the great Mel, btw) said from the con floor that Brad Pitt snagged up the whole thing to produce, and signed up to star as well. The source book consists in interviews and accounts from people of different backgrounds and cultures who chronicle an undead outbreak and how each part of the world reacted to it. Can I get a Hell yeah?!?
LET ME IN: THE POSTER
I've been going on and on these last few months on how much I loved the original adaptation of Let the Right One In and how much I had faith in Matt Reeves to Americanize it based solely on the genius casting of Hit Girl herself Chloe Moretz. Well now we got an amazing poster straight form the Con floor which re-inforces my faith. Though I still say read the book first. For those who can read. Kristen Stewart is excused from the exercise.
Posted by Fleetwood - 7/22/2010 9:13:15 PM
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