WonderCon is the lil' baby brother of Comic-Con. It's put on by the same company but hosted in San Francisco at a convention center that's about 10x smaller. FS.net will again heading out to San Fran to enjoy the festivities of WonderCon in just a few weeks. The complete schedule of presentations has been officially announced and the line-up this year is vastly more impressive than last year - from Forgetting Sarah Marshall to The X-Files 2 to Iron Man to Wall-E. If you're interested to know what we'll be covering for the site or happen to be in San Fran heading to WonderCon, below are the most interesting panels and presentations that you won't want to miss.
The full schedule can also be found online at the WonderCon site right here.
We won't be listing every last panel, just a few important panels and those related to movies that you'll want to watch out for. There will be plenty of news, clips, and major coverage from most of these, so stay tuned starting on February 22nd!
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22nd
History of Superhero Movies (3:30-4:30) - Comic books started out modestly 75 years ago, printed on pulp paper and appealing to a very young audience. Today, comics have become American mythology with a broad ranging readership, with legendary characters and stories that have transcended time and inspired generations of readers and artists in all different mediums. With movie companies now issuing bonds to finance the purchase of rights to characters, super-hero movies have become an international multi-billion dollar industry. Arie Kaplan and Eddy Friedfeld analyze the history of the comic book movie, from the innovative Fleischer animated Superman cartoons and the Columbia Batman and Superman serials of the 1940s to George Reeves and Christopher Reeve's Men of Steel, to the modern collection of Keaton, Kilmer, Clooney and Bale Batmans, Superman Returns, the Spider-Man trilogy, Ghost Rider and the upcoming The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man.
Writing with J. Michael Straczynski (4:00-5:00) - The superstar scribe of comics, movies, and television talks about the writing process. J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5, World War Z, Silver Surfer) will help answer your questions on the things that stump you most and the issues you may have with writing.
Universal: Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Wanted (5:15-6:15) - For anyone whose heart has been ripped out comes a hilarious look at relationships from the producers of Knocked Up: Forgetting Sarah Marshall. The romantic disaster comedy's Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand, Bill Hader, Jack McBrayer, director Nicholas Stoller and producer Shauna Robertson are scheduled to appear on the WonderCon stage. In Wanted, James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman and Angelina Jolie star in a fantasy-thriller with a hero for a new generation. Based upon Mark Millar's graphic novel and directed by stunning visualist Timur Bekmambetov, Wanted uncovers one apathetic nobody's transformation into an enforcer of justice. Star James McAvoy is scheduled to appear.
New Line Cinema: Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D (6:15-7:00) - Based on the classic Jules Verne novel Journey to the Center of the Earth, Journey 3D, the first live action digital 3D movie, is an exhilarating adventure staring Brendan Fraser as a science professor whose untraditional hypotheses have made him the laughing stock of the academic community. On an expedition in Iceland, he and his nephew stumble upon a major discovery that launches them on a thrilling journey deep beneath the Earth's surface where they travel through never-before-seen worlds and encounter a variety of unusual creatures.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23rd
Warner Bros.: 10,000 B.C. and Get Smart (12:00-1:00) - Warner Bros. presents two of its most eagerly awaited films in this exclusive panel only at WonderCon! 10,000 B.C. is the epic adventure of a sweeping odyssey into a mythical age of prophesies and gods, when spirits ruled the land and mighty mammoths shook the earth! Director Roland Emmerich and stars Steven Strait and Camilla Belle appear live on the WonderCon stage to discuss this fantasy film, which opens March 7. Get Smart features Maxwell Smart on a mission to thwart the latest plot for world domination by the evil crime syndicate known as KAOS. Director Peter Segal is joined by stars Steve Carell (Maxwell Smart), and Anne Hathaway (Agent 99), to talk live about this highly anticipated comedy, coming to the big screen on June 20.
Disney: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian and WALL-E (1:00-2:00) - The enchanted characters of C.S. Lewis' timeless fantasy come to life again in this second installment of the beloved book series, where a thrilling, perilous new adventure and all-new creatures and challenges await the Pevensie siblings. WALL-E, a robot, spends every day doing what he was made for. But soon, he will discover what he was meant for. Meet director Andrew Stanton as he presents exclusive new footage of Disney-Pixar's next adventure!
20th Century Fox: The X-Files and Shutter (2:00-3:15) - A new motion picture based on the phenomenally popular, award-winning series The X-Files is in production. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson—making their first-ever joint convention appearance—join director-writer-producer Chris Carter and writer-producer Frank Spotnitz to share their thoughts about the long-awaited film, and answer your questions. Next, Joshua Jackson, Transformers' Rachael Taylor and Heroes' James Kyson Lee bring you a first look at the new horror/thriller Shutter, from executive producers of The Grudge and The Ring. They'll present special footage and answer your questions about the film, which, through its portrayal of the underground world of spirit photography, reveals that the most terrifying images are the ones that are real.
New Line Cinema: Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (3:15-4:00) - Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay marks the triumphant return of the two hilarious, slacker anti-heroes. The movie stars John Cho (as Harold) and Kal Penn (as Kumar), on an irreverent and epic journey of deep thoughts and a wild trip around the world that is as "un-PC" as it gets. New Line Cinema will show exclusive footage from the film and star John Cho, along with writers and directors Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, will be there to discuss the film.
Paramount: Iron Man (4:00-5:00) - Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment present Marvel Studios' Iron Man, starring Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Shaun Toub and Gwyneth Paltrow. The film's director, Jon Favreau, will appear live on the WonderCon stage to discuss bringing the Marvel Comics superhero to the big screen.
Inside Lucasfilm with Steve Sansweet (5:00-6:00) - It's not over yet! With Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series hot on the horizon, not to mention all the other events and projects in the works at Lucasfilm, Steve Sansweet, the entertainment company's head of fan relations, will have much to share at WonderCon. Sansweet's presentation will be the first on his 2008 convention circuit, so look for fresh news and glimpses into all the Star Wars excitement to come.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24th
Spotlight on Tim Sale (12:00-1:00) - The artist behind such great comic stories as Batman: The Long Halloween, Dark Victory, and Superman For All Seasons is a special guest at WonderCon. Tim Sale leapt further into the mainstream consciousness last year with his amazing paintings for the hit NBC TV series Heroes. Richard Starkings (Comicraft) interviews Tim in this spotlight panel.
See you at WonderCon in San Francisco in just a few weeks!
Visit here to subscribe to commentsUser comment: By: DanielSeems as though Saturday is the day to go. I wish I were going, but since I'm not, the panel's that I'd want to attend would be History of Superhero Movies, Writing with J. Michael Straczynski, The X-Files(I'd skip out on Shutter), and Iron Man. The other panels you have listed are of no interest to me. What I would add to the must see list is the premiere of Justice League: The New Frontier. - I'm not too excited about Wanted. I mean I want to see it, but I don't see it as must see worthy.
0 comments:
Post a Comment