There was a lot to see at the con. Cosplay, books hocking their wares, and of course the panels. I was able to attend Entertainment Weekly’s Women Who Kick Ass panel Icon Edition with Charlize Theron in Hall H on Saturday. Moderated by EW senior writer Sara Vilkomerson, the stunning Ms. Theron discussed ATOMIC BLONDE, her hopes for a franchise for the character, and the “waves” made about her steamy love scene with her co-star Sofia Boutella. Theron also spoke about shattering female stereotypes in Hollywood—namely the antiquated thought that women can’t do action and more importantly, that women can’t be motivated without the death of a male figure. She compared her character in ATOMIC BLONDE to Furiosa and expressed interest in revising her role if George Miller wants to make another movie. Theron also laughed with audience members who were downright speechless at the mike talking with her and didn’t really provide an answer when asked which Marvel or DC character she would like to play. She did say that one of her most satisfying roles was working with Patty Jenkins on MONSTER and tossed it out there that she would love to be in the next WONDER WOMAN film with her dear friend Jenkins. Finally, Theron squashed the rumor that she was up to be the next Bond, stating that Daniel Craig is fantastic in the role and she knows Idris (Elba) will be great after that should the opportunity arise. Theron was breathtaking (as usual) and wily and funny (as usual). The whole thing really was a fantastic and fast paced hour focusing on Theron’s career and current work. Clips were shown of Charlize’s work in MAD MAX: FURY ROAD and ATOMIC BLONDE, but it’s noting we haven’t seen before as the film is so close to release.
I stuck around at Hall H after Theron left the building and checked out the STRANGER THINGS 2 panel which revealed the fantastic new trailer for the second season of the hit Netflix series. The entire cast (minus Winona Ryder) was brought out to talk about the series. The kids have still retained their cuteness even though they are older and have about a year more of “cuteness” to them before they get to that awkward stage that most young actors go through, so hopefully they are hard at work on Season Three before any of them get growth spurts. Hosted by Patton Oswalt, the panel was lively and geek-filled with Patton and David Harbour revealing their Twitter bromance and the kids reminiscing about their favorite experiences on set for the first season (as talk about the second season was prohibited). They introduced some new characters, including Paul Riser, joked about the return of topless Sheriff Hopper, and showed the STRANGER THINGS 2 trailer not once, but twice. Ahhh, hell. Let’s watch it again!
Finally, the Marvel Panel stamped its foot down on Hall H like it was squashing a bug [gulp]! The panel, hosted by Chris Hardwick, was lively and moved at a fast clip—though it started twenty minutes late. Mega-producer Kevin Feige who was presented with the Inkpot Award for all of his efforts bringing Marvel Comics to film in the first moments and then it quickly moved to the upcoming films.
First up was a promo clip from ANT-MAN & THE WASP as Paul Rudd and Michael Peña humorously recapped everything that happened in the Marvel movies up until now. The reveal is that they are talking with the new Janet Van Dyne, none other than Michelle Pfeifer. They also showed a clip from the new film with the camera whizzing around the Wasp in flight on fluttering wings and Ant-Man growing big and small—the clip ending with a street scene with Ant-Man peeking not so inconspicuously around the corner of a large skyscraper. Feige revealed that Walton Goggins as Sonny Burch and Lawrence Fishburne as Dr. Ben Foster (the second Giant-Man!!!) would be joining the cast. The clip looked fabulous. Full of that trademarked Marvel humor and rapid-fire action. While not all of the effects were done and fully rendered, this offered up enough to get me excited.
CAPTAIN MARVEL was next up and while they didn’t have any footage, they did have some news. The film will be set in the 90’s, Nick Fury (Sam Jackson) will not only be in the movie but will have 2 eyes, and the biggest announcement is that the main villain in the film will be the SKRULLS!!! Does this mean a certain Foursome will finally be returning to the Marvel Universe? Who knows, but this might just pave the way for a huge Kree Skrull War for the fourth AVENGERS feature! The concept art looks good and Skrully. I can’t wait to see more about this film.
Next was THOR: RAGNAROK as Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Mark Ruffalo, Clare Blanchett, Jeff Goldblum, Karl Urban, director Taika Waititi made their way out to the stage. While the rivalry between Australia and New Zealand was brought up numerous times on the panel, the international cast seemed to get along swimmingly. No real bombshells other than the fact that Hulk has been trapped in his Hulk form for two years and has the voice capability of a two-year old. So expect the Hulk speaking in sentences in this film. The clip they brought was a Technicolor dream as Thor is routed through a psychedelic tunnel set to the music of WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY’s train ride music and taken face to face with the Grandmaster (Goldblum). Another clip reveals that Waititi offered up his own voice for Korg (who comics fans will remember as the Rock-like monster who befriends Hulk in PLANET HULK). Waititi said he based his voice on a Polynesian bouncer whose immense size doesn’t match soft pleasant voice. A new trailer for THOR: RAGNAROK was revealed as well. Let’s check it out, shall we?
On to BLACK PANTHER, which also looks stunning. Director Ryan Coogler came out, along with the entire cast including Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Forest Whitaker, Danai Gurira, Andy Serkis. Again, accolades and praise for Coogler and production were lobbed out with Serkis stating this was one of the best shoots he’s ever done (and having worked with Jackson and Reeves, among other heavyweights, that’s high praise). A clip was shown and it was very James Bond-like with T’Challa (Boseman) and his female bodyguards (Nyong'o and Gurira), along with Martin Freeman’s Everett Ross (who was absent from the panel), are on a stakeout to capture the evil Ulysses Klaw (Serkis). The big reveal was that Klaw has his trademark sonic blaster arm (it also has missiles in there for shits and gigs) in this one and while the opening is funky and tension filled in a CASINO ROYALE sort of way, it quickly becomes a high octane fight/chase scene with Gurura tossing her wig in the face of one thug and whipping a retractable spear out of her purse and Panther pulling his tie which changes his tuxedo into his Panther costume. This clip was followed by a trailer for BLACK PANTHER. Check it out below!
Feige feigned an exit from the stage, but Hemsworth, Hiddleston, Ruffalo, and Boseman burst out on stage saying that “There are three Avengers and a villain here. So they HAVE to show a clip from AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR!” And that they did. After a montage of imagery that lead up to the film, we got to see new footage of just about the most pants-wettingest crossover mash-up I have ever seen. The clip had so much in it at such a feverish rate that I can’t say I retained it all, but here is a staccato list of what I recollect.
The Guardians arrive on Earth.
Thanos says he doesn’t often smile, but this puts a smile on his face as he crashes his ship onto Earth right in front of Tony Stark and the Guardians.
Scarlett Witch does an acrobatic twist to dodge a force bolt.
The Vision looks at Scarlett Witch longingly.
The hair on Peter Parker’s arm stand up as he looks out at something horrible about to happen (Spidey Sense tingling!!!)
Thanos dons the Infinity Gauntlet with all of the stones.
Doc Strange creates energy disks for Starlord to leap on as he blasts at Thanos.
Steve Rogers with a beard coming out of the shadows.
Black Widow with grey hair leaping into battle.
The Winter Soldier cocks his rifle and starts blasting.
Black Panther and an army of Wakandans ready for battle with Panther unleashing his claws.
Spider-Man in the armor from the end of HOMECOMING is punched by Thanos.
Thanos palms Thor’s head and begins to squeeze with Thor screaming.
An unmasked Peter Parker apologizes to Tony Stark for failing him.
Gamora stares down Thanos.
Thanos makes a fist with the gauntlet and throws an entire freaking moon and tosses it at our heroes!!!
It all looks batshit crazy, connected to every film we’ve seen, and simply mind-blowing. The crowd went ape-shit and Hall H was rocked to the rafters as Saturday’s star studded schedule came to a close. I’ll be back tomorrow with a report about my own Reinventing Horror panel. Hope you enjoyed my hazy recollection of the events of Saturday’s celebration of all things geek! Below the byline are some pics from the con to ride out on. Enjoy!
Ambush Bug is M. L. Miller, original @$$Hole/wordslinger/writer of wrongs/reviewer/interviewer/editor of AICN COMICS for over 15 years & AICN HORROR for 5. Follow Mark on the Twitters @Mark_L_Miller and on his new website collecting posts for AICN HORROR as well as all of the most recent updates on his various comic book projects on MLMillerWrites.com.
