Lately...
Teh Comic-Con is coming up in a couple weeks and I'm torn. I was planning on going only 1 day this year, Saturday, but after looking at the schedule, I'm tempted to go ahead and get the 4-day pass.
Thursday, July 20
3:30-5:00 Lionsgate Presents Crank, Skinwalkers, and Saw III
Meet the cast and filmmakers and be one of the first to see exclusive footage from three of Lionsgate’s highly anticipated films. From Crank: Jason Statham (Transporter), Amy Smart (Road Trip), Efren Ramirez (Napoleon Dynamite), and writer/directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor. From Skinwalkers: director Jim Isaac (Jason X) and character/creature creator Stan Winston. From Saw III: director Darren Lynn Bousman, writer Leigh Whannell, producer Mark Burg, and Jigsaw himself Tobin Bell. Also included: a sneak peek of Neil Marshall’s The Descent. Room 6CDEF
6:00-7:00 Guillermo del Toro: Pan’s Labyrinth
Famed director Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy) and Doug Jones (Hellboy) will discuss their latest collaboration, Pan's Labyrinth, a fanciful and chilling story set against the backdrop of a fascist regime in 1944 rural Spain. The film centers on Ofelia, a lonely and dreamy child living with her mother and adoptive father, a military officer tasked with ridding the area of rebels. In her loneliness, Ofelia creates a world filled with fantastical creatures and secret destinies. With postwar repression at its height, Ofelia must come to terms with her world through a fable of her own creation. Room 6CDEF
Friday, July 21
2 routes...
The TV Path:
11:00-12:00 Family Guy/American Dad
Fox TV Animation presents a Comic-Con double header! Join Family Guy and American Dad creators for a sneak peek at never-before-seen footage from this fall's season on Fox. A combined panel of writers, producers, and directors from both shows will be on hand to answer questions about upcoming episodes and fan favorites from seasons past. Panelists include David Goodman, Kirker Butler, Cherry Chevapravatdumrong, Zac Moncrief, and Dan Povenmire (Family Guy); Mike Barker, Matt Weitzman, Steve Hely, Chris McKenna ,and Matt McKenna (American Dad); and Kara Vallow (Family Guy/American Dad). Room 20
12:30-2:00 NBC: Heroes Pilot Screening and Q&A with Cast and Producers
Debuting on NBC this fall, the highly anticipated series Heroes chronicles the lives of ordinary people who discover they possess extraordinary abilities. Be the first to watch an exclusive 72-minute cut of the pilot episode, created specifically for Comic-Con. Join cast members Ali Larter (Final Destination), Greg Grunberg (Alias), Milo Ventimiglia (Gilmore Girls), Hayden Panettiere (Ice Princess), Sendhil Ramamurthy (Blind Guy Driving), and Masi Oka (Scrubs); creator/executive producer Tim Kring; executive producer Dennis Hammer; co-executive producer/comic book writer Jeph Loeb (Lost, Superman for All Seasons); and legendary comic book artist Tim Sale (Batman: The Long Halloween) for a Q&A session. Room 6CDEF
2:00-3:00 SCI FI: Battlestar Galactica
"The #1 television show of 2005"-Time magazine. "One of the most original and provocative programs on television"-New York Times. "The toughest, smartest show on television"-Rolling Stone. “A wildly intense gem . . . riveting . . . not to be missed"-TV Guide. If you’re not watching it, you should be. See what the buzz is all about. Be sure to stop by the SCI FI booth for a chance to win the ultimate BSG prize packet! Panelists include stars Edward James Olmos (Admiral William Adama), Mary McDonnell (Laura Roslin), James Callis (President Gaius Baltar), and Lucy Lawless (D’Anna Biers), plus executive producers David Eick and Ronald D. Moore and SCI FI VP for original programming Erik Storey. Moderated by Lisa Chambers, features director, TV Guide. Room 20
3:00-4:00 Fox: Bones
David Boreanaz is one of television's biggest stars. Boreanaz and Bones creator/executive producer Hart Hanson will dish up all the fun behind-the-scenes stories on the show and answer your questions! Room 20
The Movie Path:
11:00-12:30 Warner Bros. Pictures Presents
In person, stars Hilary Swank and Anna Sophia Robb, director Stephen Hopkins, and producer Joel Silver of The Reaping, a supernatural thriller in which Hilary plays a world-renowned expert in disproving religious phenomena. But when she investigates a small Louisiana town that is suffering from what appear to be the Biblical plagues, she realizes that science cannot explain what is happening. Plus: Bryan Singer Returns! Please welcome long-time friend of Comic-Con director Bryan Singer to answer your questions about Superman Returns and give you an idea of what's next. Hall H
12:45-2:15 Twentieth Century Fox Presents
Twentieth Century Fox returns to Comic-Con in a big way, with a sneak peek at some of the studio's most anticipated 2006 and 2007 releases. It's a program so epic it couldn't be contained in one hour! Get ready for some very special guests, exclusive footage, screening announcements, and eye-opening-if not jaw-dropping-surprises. Hall H
2:30-3:30 Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures is proud to present an early look at footage from the upcoming fantasy adventure film Stardust from director Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake) and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura (Constantine, Four Brothers and the upcoming Transformers). After captivating audiences in both novel and graphic novel formats, Neil Gaiman's Stardust makes its big-screen adaptation debut next March starring Claire Danes, Robert DeNiro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sienna Miller, Ricky Gervais, Peter O'Toole, Rupert Everett, and Charlie Cox. Neil Gaiman (The Eternals and co-writer with Roger Avery of the screenplay for the upcoming Beowulf), illustrator Charles Vess, co-screenwriter (with director Vaughn) Jane Goldman, and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura will discuss the film, which is currently in production. (Credits not contractual.) Hall H
3:30-4:00 Universal: Children of Men
Academy Award-nominated writer/director Alfonso Cuarón (Y tu mamá también, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) will present scenes from his upcoming futuristic thriller Children of Men, starring Clive Owen, Julianne Moore and Michael Caine. The new trailer from Children of Men and never-before-seen clips from the film will be shown, along with a discussion of the filmmakers's work. Hall H
5:45-7:00 New Line Cinema Presents Snakes on a Plane
Sit back. Relax. Enjoy the fright. New Line Cinema will show exclusive footage from Snakes on a Plane. Samuel L. Jackson makes his first San Diego Comic-Con appearance, along with director David R. Ellis, to discuss his new film! And, watch out-snake wrangler Jules Sylvester will also be on hand with live snakes from the movie. Also included in the presentation will be a special preview of New Line Cinema's upcoming The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, while Final Destination 3 director James Wong and star Ryan Merriman demonstrate the unique "Change-Their-Fate" interactive feature on the upcoming DVD, available from New Line Home Entertainment on July 25. Hall H
Saturday, July 22
10:30-12:00 Lost: Season 3
You won't want to miss this panel with Jorge Garcia (Hugo “Hurley” Reyes) and Daniel Dae Kim (Jin-Soo Kwon) from the cast of ABC’s hit show Lost as they are joined by co-creator/executive producer Damon Lindelof and executive producers Bryan Burk and Carlton Cuse to discuss the new season of Lost. They'll preview excerpts from the Lost Season 2 DVD box set, take questions from the audience, and perhaps even offer some surprises! Room 20
12:00-1:00 The Simpsons
Heading into their unprecedented 18th season this fall, and with their historic 400th episode airing next spring, The Simpsons continues to entertain and delight. Members of the team responsible for the longest-running comedy on television will be on hand to answer the questions everyone wants to know, including: how do you continue to keep it so good? Panelists include Matt Groening, creator and executive producer; James L. Brooks, executive producer; Matt Selman, executive producer; Al Jean, executive producer and head writer; Don Payne, co-executive producer; Bill Odenkirk, co-executive producer; Matt Warburton, supervising producer; Mike Scully, producer; and David Silverman, director. Moderated by Bill Morrison. Room 20
2:00-3:00 SCI FI: Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis
Diving into its tenth season, Stargate SG-1 has made history by becoming the longest-running sci-fi drama in U.S. television history. The show follows General Hank Landry (Beau Bridges) and his team as they travel through the Stargate-an ancient portal allowing instantaneous travel to distant galaxies-to explore the uncharted regions of the universe and save the Earth from destruction. Panelists for SG-1 include Christopher Judge (Teal’c) and additional cast members, plus executive producers/writers Joe Mallozzi and Paul Mullie, and Nora O’Brien, VP original programming, SCI FI.
On Stargate Atlantis, currently in its third season, evidence of a secret base left by the originators of the Stargate is found in the most unlikely of places-on Earth. The implications of this discovery lead the team to the distant Pegasus galaxy, where they find the legendary city of Atlantis, and a primitive human civilization threatened by a sinister new enemy. Stargate Atlantis panelists include Joe Flanigan (Lt. Colonel John Sheppard), Torri Higginson (Dr. Elizabeth Weir), Rachel Luttrell (Teyla Emmagan), David Hewlett (Dr. Rodney McKay), Paul McGillion (Dr. Carson Beckett), executive producers/writers Joe Mallozzi and Paul Mullie, and Tony Optican, VP development and current programming, SCI FI.Gary Jones (Chief Master Sergeant Walter Harriman, Stargate SG-1) moderates both panels. Room 20
3:30-4:30 TV Guide Presents: 2006 and Beyond
Craig Tomashoff, TV Guide’s West Coast bureau chief, hosts this look at the current successful supernatural/ fantasy/sci-fi television series and how they are paving the way for television series of the future. Panelists include Brannon Braga (Star Trek: Voyager), Rene Echevarria (Medium), Jorge Garcia (Lost), David Goyer (Blade), Jennifer Love Hewitt (Ghost Whisperer), Jeph Loeb (co-executive producer, Heroes), Bryan Fuller (consulting producer, Heroes), Frank Spotnitz (Night Stalker, Star Chamber), and Mark Stern (VP, original programming, SCI FI Channel). Room 20
4:30-5:30 Veronica Mars
Series creator and executive producer Rob Thomas (Drive Me Crazy, Cupid) and cast members Kristen Bell (the upcoming movie Pulse, Showtime's Reefer Madness), Jason Dohring (Deep Impact), Francis Capra (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation), Ryan Hansen (Death by Engagement), Michael Muhney (upcoming Lovers, Liars & Lunatics), and Enrico Colantoni (Galaxy Quest) have brought to life some of the most memorable noir characters on network television today. Join Veronica and the rest of Neptune's residents for a Q&A session about the San Diego-filmed series moderated by tvguide.com's Daniel Manu. Room 20
Masquerade is kind of up in the air right now considering the last panel will end around 5:30, which will be way too late to get in line vying for a "good" seat. Plus, my Comic-Con crew is kind of absent this year. One's in Asia, another's in Germany, one in Mexico, and another in LA. And the other probably isn't staying that late.
Oy vey...
Thursday, July 20
3:30-5:00 Lionsgate Presents Crank, Skinwalkers, and Saw III
Meet the cast and filmmakers and be one of the first to see exclusive footage from three of Lionsgate’s highly anticipated films. From Crank: Jason Statham (Transporter), Amy Smart (Road Trip), Efren Ramirez (Napoleon Dynamite), and writer/directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor. From Skinwalkers: director Jim Isaac (Jason X) and character/creature creator Stan Winston. From Saw III: director Darren Lynn Bousman, writer Leigh Whannell, producer Mark Burg, and Jigsaw himself Tobin Bell. Also included: a sneak peek of Neil Marshall’s The Descent. Room 6CDEF
6:00-7:00 Guillermo del Toro: Pan’s Labyrinth
Famed director Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy) and Doug Jones (Hellboy) will discuss their latest collaboration, Pan's Labyrinth, a fanciful and chilling story set against the backdrop of a fascist regime in 1944 rural Spain. The film centers on Ofelia, a lonely and dreamy child living with her mother and adoptive father, a military officer tasked with ridding the area of rebels. In her loneliness, Ofelia creates a world filled with fantastical creatures and secret destinies. With postwar repression at its height, Ofelia must come to terms with her world through a fable of her own creation. Room 6CDEF
Friday, July 21
2 routes...
The TV Path:
11:00-12:00 Family Guy/American Dad
Fox TV Animation presents a Comic-Con double header! Join Family Guy and American Dad creators for a sneak peek at never-before-seen footage from this fall's season on Fox. A combined panel of writers, producers, and directors from both shows will be on hand to answer questions about upcoming episodes and fan favorites from seasons past. Panelists include David Goodman, Kirker Butler, Cherry Chevapravatdumrong, Zac Moncrief, and Dan Povenmire (Family Guy); Mike Barker, Matt Weitzman, Steve Hely, Chris McKenna ,and Matt McKenna (American Dad); and Kara Vallow (Family Guy/American Dad). Room 20
12:30-2:00 NBC: Heroes Pilot Screening and Q&A with Cast and Producers
Debuting on NBC this fall, the highly anticipated series Heroes chronicles the lives of ordinary people who discover they possess extraordinary abilities. Be the first to watch an exclusive 72-minute cut of the pilot episode, created specifically for Comic-Con. Join cast members Ali Larter (Final Destination), Greg Grunberg (Alias), Milo Ventimiglia (Gilmore Girls), Hayden Panettiere (Ice Princess), Sendhil Ramamurthy (Blind Guy Driving), and Masi Oka (Scrubs); creator/executive producer Tim Kring; executive producer Dennis Hammer; co-executive producer/comic book writer Jeph Loeb (Lost, Superman for All Seasons); and legendary comic book artist Tim Sale (Batman: The Long Halloween) for a Q&A session. Room 6CDEF
2:00-3:00 SCI FI: Battlestar Galactica
"The #1 television show of 2005"-Time magazine. "One of the most original and provocative programs on television"-New York Times. "The toughest, smartest show on television"-Rolling Stone. “A wildly intense gem . . . riveting . . . not to be missed"-TV Guide. If you’re not watching it, you should be. See what the buzz is all about. Be sure to stop by the SCI FI booth for a chance to win the ultimate BSG prize packet! Panelists include stars Edward James Olmos (Admiral William Adama), Mary McDonnell (Laura Roslin), James Callis (President Gaius Baltar), and Lucy Lawless (D’Anna Biers), plus executive producers David Eick and Ronald D. Moore and SCI FI VP for original programming Erik Storey. Moderated by Lisa Chambers, features director, TV Guide. Room 20
3:00-4:00 Fox: Bones
David Boreanaz is one of television's biggest stars. Boreanaz and Bones creator/executive producer Hart Hanson will dish up all the fun behind-the-scenes stories on the show and answer your questions! Room 20
The Movie Path:
11:00-12:30 Warner Bros. Pictures Presents
In person, stars Hilary Swank and Anna Sophia Robb, director Stephen Hopkins, and producer Joel Silver of The Reaping, a supernatural thriller in which Hilary plays a world-renowned expert in disproving religious phenomena. But when she investigates a small Louisiana town that is suffering from what appear to be the Biblical plagues, she realizes that science cannot explain what is happening. Plus: Bryan Singer Returns! Please welcome long-time friend of Comic-Con director Bryan Singer to answer your questions about Superman Returns and give you an idea of what's next. Hall H
12:45-2:15 Twentieth Century Fox Presents
Twentieth Century Fox returns to Comic-Con in a big way, with a sneak peek at some of the studio's most anticipated 2006 and 2007 releases. It's a program so epic it couldn't be contained in one hour! Get ready for some very special guests, exclusive footage, screening announcements, and eye-opening-if not jaw-dropping-surprises. Hall H
2:30-3:30 Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures is proud to present an early look at footage from the upcoming fantasy adventure film Stardust from director Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake) and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura (Constantine, Four Brothers and the upcoming Transformers). After captivating audiences in both novel and graphic novel formats, Neil Gaiman's Stardust makes its big-screen adaptation debut next March starring Claire Danes, Robert DeNiro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sienna Miller, Ricky Gervais, Peter O'Toole, Rupert Everett, and Charlie Cox. Neil Gaiman (The Eternals and co-writer with Roger Avery of the screenplay for the upcoming Beowulf), illustrator Charles Vess, co-screenwriter (with director Vaughn) Jane Goldman, and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura will discuss the film, which is currently in production. (Credits not contractual.) Hall H
3:30-4:00 Universal: Children of Men
Academy Award-nominated writer/director Alfonso Cuarón (Y tu mamá también, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) will present scenes from his upcoming futuristic thriller Children of Men, starring Clive Owen, Julianne Moore and Michael Caine. The new trailer from Children of Men and never-before-seen clips from the film will be shown, along with a discussion of the filmmakers's work. Hall H
5:45-7:00 New Line Cinema Presents Snakes on a Plane
Sit back. Relax. Enjoy the fright. New Line Cinema will show exclusive footage from Snakes on a Plane. Samuel L. Jackson makes his first San Diego Comic-Con appearance, along with director David R. Ellis, to discuss his new film! And, watch out-snake wrangler Jules Sylvester will also be on hand with live snakes from the movie. Also included in the presentation will be a special preview of New Line Cinema's upcoming The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, while Final Destination 3 director James Wong and star Ryan Merriman demonstrate the unique "Change-Their-Fate" interactive feature on the upcoming DVD, available from New Line Home Entertainment on July 25. Hall H
Saturday, July 22
10:30-12:00 Lost: Season 3
You won't want to miss this panel with Jorge Garcia (Hugo “Hurley” Reyes) and Daniel Dae Kim (Jin-Soo Kwon) from the cast of ABC’s hit show Lost as they are joined by co-creator/executive producer Damon Lindelof and executive producers Bryan Burk and Carlton Cuse to discuss the new season of Lost. They'll preview excerpts from the Lost Season 2 DVD box set, take questions from the audience, and perhaps even offer some surprises! Room 20
12:00-1:00 The Simpsons
Heading into their unprecedented 18th season this fall, and with their historic 400th episode airing next spring, The Simpsons continues to entertain and delight. Members of the team responsible for the longest-running comedy on television will be on hand to answer the questions everyone wants to know, including: how do you continue to keep it so good? Panelists include Matt Groening, creator and executive producer; James L. Brooks, executive producer; Matt Selman, executive producer; Al Jean, executive producer and head writer; Don Payne, co-executive producer; Bill Odenkirk, co-executive producer; Matt Warburton, supervising producer; Mike Scully, producer; and David Silverman, director. Moderated by Bill Morrison. Room 20
2:00-3:00 SCI FI: Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis
Diving into its tenth season, Stargate SG-1 has made history by becoming the longest-running sci-fi drama in U.S. television history. The show follows General Hank Landry (Beau Bridges) and his team as they travel through the Stargate-an ancient portal allowing instantaneous travel to distant galaxies-to explore the uncharted regions of the universe and save the Earth from destruction. Panelists for SG-1 include Christopher Judge (Teal’c) and additional cast members, plus executive producers/writers Joe Mallozzi and Paul Mullie, and Nora O’Brien, VP original programming, SCI FI.
On Stargate Atlantis, currently in its third season, evidence of a secret base left by the originators of the Stargate is found in the most unlikely of places-on Earth. The implications of this discovery lead the team to the distant Pegasus galaxy, where they find the legendary city of Atlantis, and a primitive human civilization threatened by a sinister new enemy. Stargate Atlantis panelists include Joe Flanigan (Lt. Colonel John Sheppard), Torri Higginson (Dr. Elizabeth Weir), Rachel Luttrell (Teyla Emmagan), David Hewlett (Dr. Rodney McKay), Paul McGillion (Dr. Carson Beckett), executive producers/writers Joe Mallozzi and Paul Mullie, and Tony Optican, VP development and current programming, SCI FI.Gary Jones (Chief Master Sergeant Walter Harriman, Stargate SG-1) moderates both panels. Room 20
3:30-4:30 TV Guide Presents: 2006 and Beyond
Craig Tomashoff, TV Guide’s West Coast bureau chief, hosts this look at the current successful supernatural/ fantasy/sci-fi television series and how they are paving the way for television series of the future. Panelists include Brannon Braga (Star Trek: Voyager), Rene Echevarria (Medium), Jorge Garcia (Lost), David Goyer (Blade), Jennifer Love Hewitt (Ghost Whisperer), Jeph Loeb (co-executive producer, Heroes), Bryan Fuller (consulting producer, Heroes), Frank Spotnitz (Night Stalker, Star Chamber), and Mark Stern (VP, original programming, SCI FI Channel). Room 20
4:30-5:30 Veronica Mars
Series creator and executive producer Rob Thomas (Drive Me Crazy, Cupid) and cast members Kristen Bell (the upcoming movie Pulse, Showtime's Reefer Madness), Jason Dohring (Deep Impact), Francis Capra (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation), Ryan Hansen (Death by Engagement), Michael Muhney (upcoming Lovers, Liars & Lunatics), and Enrico Colantoni (Galaxy Quest) have brought to life some of the most memorable noir characters on network television today. Join Veronica and the rest of Neptune's residents for a Q&A session about the San Diego-filmed series moderated by tvguide.com's Daniel Manu. Room 20
Masquerade is kind of up in the air right now considering the last panel will end around 5:30, which will be way too late to get in line vying for a "good" seat. Plus, my Comic-Con crew is kind of absent this year. One's in Asia, another's in Germany, one in Mexico, and another in LA. And the other probably isn't staying that late.
Oy vey...