On July 23rd, 2016 Marvel Studios returned to San Diego Comic Con, and they came correct. Saturday at Comic Con belongs to Hall H. Hall H is a room that fits 6500 people and because it is the largest room at the San Diego Convention Center, it usually announces the biggest news and puts on the best show. Every Saturday in Hall H begins with Warner Brothers and ends with Kevin Smith. In between will change from time to time but with the exception of 2015 Marvel is also usually present and they usually are the talk of the night.
Hall H has a stage with a giant screen behind it used to play footage as well as display what is happening on the stage for everyone in the hall to see. There are also 2 other screens on either side of the hall for those sitting at an odd angle. Each panel uses these screens the same way. Starting in 2012, Warner Brothers stepped up their presentation. When their panel began they pulled back the curtains to reveal side screens that took up the half of the hall. When this first happened in 2012 all minds were blown. Warner Brothers exclusively continued this tradition up through 2016. This year, Marvel did better.
First Chris Hardwick, founder of the Nerdist moderated the panel and it began with head of Marvel Studios Kevin Feige coming out and introducing Marvel Studio's new logo and fanfare.
The first film discussed was Black Panther.
Nothing has been shot yet so Feige brought out director Ryan Coogler. Coogler said that they are working on a script but he was extremely excited to be working on the film and with the cast. He then brought out the stars: Chadwick Boseman who is of course T'Challa The Black Panther, Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave and The Jungle Book) who will be playing Nakia, Michael B. Jordan (Creed) as Kilmonger, and Danai Gurira (The Walking Dead) as Okoye the head of the Dora Milaje.
The video shows Thor in Australia sharing a flat with a mild mannered young man named Brian. Throughout the video we see Thor at work with Brian sending emails to Steve Rogers and Tony Stark asking the cause of their "relationship" issues. The video also shows Thor researching the Infinity Stones with a big white board. One bit shows Bruce Banner sitting with Thor when Banner's phone rings. Banner is conversing with Tony Stark informing him that he won't choose a side no matter how much money is offered, but when Thor wants to talk, Stark hangs up. Banner says that Stark will call him later with Thor replying that he doesn't own a phone and to instead send a raven. Probably my favorite bit shown was Thor walking into his bedroom and his hammer (Mjolnir) being tucked away in a small bed as Thor turns to the camera saying "Mjolnir is having a little nap." Thor then shows a picture he has drawn of Mjolnir holding a miniaturized Thor.
The video was very funny and definitely displayed a lot of Chris Hemsworth's natural improvisation and comedic skills.
The screen then went blank and transitioned to a reel of concept art and photos for Thor Ragnarok. The concept art revealed a gladiatorial arena with Thor and Hulk. The Hulk is dressed in his gladiator garb from the popular story arc Planet Hulk. It also showed art for Hela (who will be played by Academy Award Winner Cate Blanchett) and Loki. The final shot was art of the Hulk lunging into an attack against the demon Surtur (whose head is five times the size of the Hulk). Needless to say, Thor Ragnarok is going to be EPIC!
Next the lights dimmed. Then those screens I talked about before that Warner Brothers always used; the curtains pulled back to reveal them again. Then fog began to emit from the ceiling. Then...an image of light and magic appeared on both the main screen and the cloud created by the fog in the hall. An insane light show began which could only be described as magical light beams dancing from screen to screen and on the fog cloud. The psychedelic light show went on for a couple of moments before exploding and then going black. Marvel just took presentations in Hall H to the next level. When the lights came back Benedict Cumberbatch (wearing a t-shirt and jeans) was standing on the main stage. He timidly said "Hi."
Director Scott Derrickson was then brought to the stage. Derrickson then brought out the rest cast of Doctor Strange.
When asked if Marvel brought anything, Kevin Feige responded with a bit footage showing Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) first meeting The Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) and being thrown into the astral plane. The clip was followed by the newest trailer for Doctor Strange.
Spider-Man Homecoming came up next.
Tom Holland was brought out to uproarious applause. Director Jon Watts followed as well the rest of the high school cast for the film.
Then, the footage for the film was shown for the first time to anybody. I mean the cast had not even seen it yet. Tom Holland's face turned to shock as he was genuinely excited to see it.
The footage begins with high school yearbook pictures from the Avengers cast. I mean they found actual yearbook or high school aged pictures of the actors and swapped out the names with their character names. Apparently Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) used to rock the mullet in his youth.
Next we see Peter Parker going through his day at school. In math he is ignoring the teacher as he checking out youtube videos of himself as Spider-Man, but is still able to correctly answer the teacher's equation. In Science, he is going under the desk to work on his webbing formula. And my favorite is when he is in study hall. He gets an alert that Spider-Man is needed and when he excuses himself one student (played by Zendaya) asks where he is going. Parker freezes for a moment when the other student casually smiles and says, "Just kidding, I don't care." The tone is definitely that of a high school comedy. It looks genuinely funny and is a take that we have never seen before for Spider-Man.
At the end of the footage Tom Holland looked at the audience and the look of pure joy was wide on his face. This kid is adorable and makes a great Spidey. And the cast of high school kids look like kids that would go to public school in New York, as oppose to the usual group of model-like attractive and athletic twenty-somethings playing teenagers.
The final film was Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2
Hardwick and Feige mention that there is another film they want to discuss but their conversation is interrupted. The song "Come and Get Your Love" starts playing, but instead of Chris Pratt coming out dancing, the actors who play the Ravagers came out through the audience.
The lights then went out and the screens showed some footage shot for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2. The footage showed Yondu (Michael Rooker) being locked up by the Ravagers with Rocket. The Ravagers then take Groot, not fully grown so he stands about 10 inches tall and looks like he is just a baby. They are poking fun at him and stick him in a Ravager uniform. Groot walks by Yondu and Rocket stuck in the cell and agrees to help get them out. What follows is a string of miscommunication until Yondu gets his new fin top. I do not have the words to explain what happens next but I will say it involves Yondu with his whistle arrow, Rocket getting guns, Baby Groot kicking butt, and a shot of bodies raining from the sky.
We then see a bit more footage showing Drax, Quill and Gamora on a job fighting an alien. Then a couple of quick shots showing the return of Nebula, the Kree, and a shot of Sylvester Stallone. The footage ends with a short scene introducing Kurt Russell as Ego The Living Planet as he informs Starlord that he is his father.
Hardwick and Feige mention that there is another film they want to discuss but their conversation is interrupted. The song "Come and Get Your Love" starts playing, but instead of Chris Pratt coming out dancing, the actors who play the Ravagers came out through the audience.
They then took the stage for a few minutes before director James Gunn brought out the stars of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2. The Ravagers moved to the side of the stage and continued their shenanigans by heckling the cast as they came out.
We then see a bit more footage showing Drax, Quill and Gamora on a job fighting an alien. Then a couple of quick shots showing the return of Nebula, the Kree, and a shot of Sylvester Stallone. The footage ends with a short scene introducing Kurt Russell as Ego The Living Planet as he informs Starlord that he is his father.
When the lights came back on one more cast member came onto the stage. Michael Rooker dressed as Yondu came out and stole the show.
Kevin Feige then asked for all of the cast of the Marvel films to come out for a group photo. As the actors and directors were coming out, Feige stated that if they really wanted to take a group photo the newest member of the Marvel Family should come out. Kevin Feige then announced that Brie Larson is Captain Marvel. Larson then took the stage.
And finally, Kevin Feige announced that everyone in the audience would get a hat with the new Marvel Studios logo.
I waited in line 27 hours in the hottest day in San Diego of Comic Con Weekend, slept on the sidewalk, and was cramped in Hall H all day for this panel. And Marvel delivered.
Make mine Marvel!
And finally, Kevin Feige announced that everyone in the audience would get a hat with the new Marvel Studios logo.
I waited in line 27 hours in the hottest day in San Diego of Comic Con Weekend, slept on the sidewalk, and was cramped in Hall H all day for this panel. And Marvel delivered.
Make mine Marvel!
0 comments :
Post a Comment