COMIC-CON 2008

Full San Diego Comic-Con 2008 Schedule Announced!

by Alex Billington
July 13, 2008
Source: Comic-Con.org

The San Diego Comic-Con starts in just over 11 more days, which means it's time to yet again gear up and prepare for one hell of an adventure in the world of comics. While the last few years have featured everything from Spider-Man 3 to 300 to Iron Man to Superbad, this year doesn't look as immensely impressive, but is instead spotted with a few highlights. Presentations this year include: The Day The Earth Stood Still, Max Payne, Red Sonja, RocknRolla, Ninja Assassin, Punisher: War Zone, Repo! The Genetic Opera, Watchmen, The Wolfman, The Spirit, Terminator Salvation, Pixar's Up, Pineapple Express, Friday the 13th, Wes Craven's 25/8, and much more! The last two years, Saturday has been the big day, but this year it's Friday. Interested in seeing the full schedule? Read on!

In addition to our usual coverage of every last exciting panel that Comic-Con has to offer, we're introducing Bob Stencil this year, who will be on hand for interviews and more daily coverage. You can expect some of the best Comic-Con coverage we'll ever provide this year, from panels and interviews to daily updates and photo features to so much more. See everyone down in San Diego!

Thursday, July 24th:

11:00-12:00 Professional Writing: Threat or Menace? - Let's talk writing, creativity, and selling (and selling out), and what the world of professional writing is like. This no-holds-barred talk is moderated by J. Michael Straczynski. Room 5AB

11:30-12:30 Hasbro: GI Joe - Aaron Archer (Hasbro Design), Michael Ritchie (Hasbro Marketing), and Michelino Paolino (Hasbro Design) discuss this year's product line, entertainment, and other initiatives. Room 7AB

11:30-1:00 The Day The Earth Stood Still and Max Payne - Stars Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly, plus director Scott Derrickson and producer Erwin Stoff, present an exclusive look at The Day The Earth Stood Still, Fox's contemporary reinvention of its 1951 classic. Max Payne himself—Mark Wahlberg—will be on hand with Mila Kunis, Ludacris, and director John Moore to discuss turning the game's noirish, hard-hitting, and complex world and characters into a movie event. Hall H

1:15-2:45 Summit Pictures - Summit Entertainment presents a sneak peek of exclusive footage of some of its upcoming major film releases. Push - Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Djimon Hounsou, Camilla Belle and director Paul McGuigan present a first look at exclusive footage and answer questions about the film. Knowing - An action thriller of global proportions. Director Alex Proyas appears in person to introduce never-before-seen footage for his new major motion picture. Twilight - Director Catherine Hardwicke, author Stephenie Meyer, and the cast—including Robert Pattinson (Edward), Kristen Stewart (Bella), Cam Gigandet (James), Rachelle LaFevre (Victoria), Edi Gathegi (Laurant), and Taylor Lautner (Jacob)—answer your questions about bringing the world of these beloved characters to life on the big screen and show exclusive footage from the film. Hall H

2:00-3:00 Red Sonja: One-on-One - Robert Rodriguez (Sin City), Rose McGowan (Grindhouse), Doug Aarniokoski (2nd unit director, Resident Evil 3) and David White (Undisputed 2) are teaming up to bring back the red-headed warrior woman known as Red Sonja. Room 6CDEF

3:00-4:00 Disney: Race to Witch Mountain - What secrets does Witch Mountain hold? Stars Dwayne Johnson and Carla Gugino and director Andy Fickman talk about the mysterious, paranormal activity around Witch Mountain. Hall H

5:30-6:30 Dark Castle: RocknRolla / Ninja Assassin - Appearing in person: Gerard Butler and Guy Ritchie (Rocknrolla), Rain (Ninja Assassin), and producer Joel Silver. Hall H

8:00-8:30 Lionsgate and Marvel: Punisher: War Zone! - Producer Gale Anne Hurd (The Incredible Hulk) and stars Ray Stevenson (Rome) and Julie Benz (Rambo, Dexter) take you into the world of the Punisher for an exclusive first look. You won't be prepared! Room 6B

8:30-9:00 Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures: Saw 5 - Join director David Hackl, along with the filmmakers and cast for an exclusive first look at the latest terrifying installment of the most successful horror series in history! Room 6B

9:00-10:00 Repo! The Genetic Opera First Look - See what director Darren Lynn Bousman has been up to since directing the last three Saw movies: Repo! The Genetic Opera. Check out the phenomenon that is this Goth Rock musical with sneak peeks and the new trailer plus stories from Darren and the actors themselves, including Alexa Vega (Spy Kids), Bill Moseley (The Devil's Rejects), and Ogre (the band Skinny Puppy), among others. Room 6B

Friday, July 25th:

10:00-11:00 TheOneRing.net: The Hobbit - The world's largest Tolkien community, TheOneRing.net, takes you behind the scenes of the latest news, announcements, and rumors pertaining to the production of the new film. Chris Pirrotta (TheOneRing.net), Larry Curtis (TheOneRing.net), Cliff Broadway (TheOneRing.net), Kristin Thompson (The Frodo Franchise), and possible special guests present this early look at making The Hobbit happen! Room 32AB

10:30-11:30 Spotlight on Max Brooks - America's favorite zombie expert is a Comic-Con special guest for the first time! Author Max Brooks, whose groundbreaking work in the walking dead genre could possibly save your life some day (see his The Zombie Survival Guide), talks about his work and what's up next for him. Room 5AB

11:35-12:35 Industrial Light & Magic and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - Academy award–winning visual effects house Industrial Light & Magic takes you behind the scenes of their work for the latest installment in the Indiana Jones series. You'll get a firsthand look at how the effects were created and see what was involved in bringing Indy's world to the big screen. Room 7AB

11:55-1:00 Warner Bros.: Watchmen - A complex, multi-layered mystery adventure, Watchmen is set in an alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society, and the "Doomsday Clock"— which charts the USA's tension with the Soviet Union—is permanently set at five minutes to midnight. Guest appearances TBA. Hall H

12:00-1:00 Costume Illustrators, Production Illustrators, and Concept and Storyboard Artists - Moderator William David Hogan, director and storyboard artist (Into the Blue 2, Whiteout) will host costume illustrators from CDG, Local 892, including Oksana Nedavniaya (Narnia: Prince Caspian, Twilight), Phillip Boutte, Jr. (Star Trek 2009, Terminator Salvation), Felipe Sanchez (Speed Racer, Wolverine), and Christian Cordella (G.I. Joe, The Mummy 3), alongside illustrators and artists from Local 790: Ricardo Delgado (Age of Reptiles comics, Eagle Eye), Jeff Errico (Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, Crank), Tim Burgard (The Incredible Hulk, Wolverine), Mark Moretti (Valkyrie, The Day the Earth Stood Still), and Trevor Goring (The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Watchmen). Room 32AB

12:30-1:30 The Art of Adapting Comics to the Screen - The cinematic renaissance of comic book-based films continues, and here's your chance to learn what it takes to adapt these dream projects to the screen! Creative Screenwriting magazine's senior editor Jeff Goldsmith hosts an amazing panel of Stan Lee (co-creator of Iron Man), Zak Penn (screenwriter, The Incredible Hulk), Mark Fergus (co-screenwriter, Iron Man), and Gregory Noveck (senior VP—creative affairs, DC Comics). Room 5AB

1:00-2:00 Production Designers - Organized by the Art Directors Guild, IATSE Local 800, these production designers will show clips, answer questions, and share their methods for creating imaginary worlds and convincing environments. Participating panelists (listed alphabetically) include Richard Hudolin (Battlestar Galactica, Caprica—BSG prequel), Alex McDowell (Watchmen, Corpse Bride), J. Michael Riva (Iron Man, Spider-Man 3), Barry Robison (Wolverine, The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader). Moderating the panel is John Muto, designer of Terminator 2 3D, Species, and Home Alone. Room 32AB

1:15-2:00 Trailer Park - The Comic-Con perennial returns in a big—Hall H— way! See all the latest trailers for the biggest upcoming films, all in one handy-dandy timeslot. Hall H

2:00-2:30 Universal: The Wolfman - For its upcoming action-horror film The Wolfman, Universal will showcase new footage and a presentation from the title monster's creator, six-time Oscar-winning special effects artist Rick Baker. Hall H

2:45-3:45 Lionsgate and Odd Lot Entertainment: The Spirit - Writer/director Frank Miller and producer Deborah Del Prete are joined by film stars Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson, and Eva Mendes in unveiling an exclusive preview of the new film based on the classic comic by Will Eisner. Hall H

5:15-6:15 Entertainment Weekly's The Visionaries: Filmmakers - Kevin Smith (Zack and Miri Make a Porno), Frank Miller (The Spirit), Zack Snyder (Watchmen), and Judd Apatow (Knocked Up) are the filmmakers who are redefining what it means to have power in Hollywood. Moderated by Entertainment Weekly and EW.com senior editor Marc Bernardin. Hall H

6:30-8:00 Kevin Smith Makes a "Porno" - Well, not really, but for the umpteenth time, Smith is back at Comic-Con to talk movies, comics, and whatever else the audience wants to talk about. This year, he'll be highlighting his fall film, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, starring Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks. Expect some special guests. Hall H

Saturday, July 26th:

1:15-2:00 Warner Bros.: Terminator Salvation - In the highly anticipated new installment of The Terminator film franchise, set in post-apocalyptic 2018, Christian Bale stars as John Connor, the man fated to lead the human resistance against Skynet and its army of Terminators. Guest appearances TBA. Hall H

2:30-3:30 Disney Pixar: Bolt and UP - Be the first to see exclusive animation as directors Chris Williams and Byron Howard present the new 3D comedy-adventure from Walt Disney Animation Studios! Meet director Peter Docter (Monsters, Inc.) as he presents the first-ever look at Disney Pixar's new animated 3D adventure comedy, UP. Hall H

3:45-5:15 Universal: The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor and Death Race - Universal Pictures presents key cast members, filmmakers, and previously unseen footage from its upcoming slate, including Summer 2008's The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor and Death Race. Additionally, the studio will showcase talent and materials from 2009 films such as Land of the Lost and more. Hall H

4:00-5:00 Costume Designers: Designing for Feature Films - Meet the women and men who are the costume designers on this year's blockbuster films. Panel moderator Mary Vogt (Men in Black, Batman Returns) will talk to fellow members of the Costume Designers Guild, Local 892, Michael Wilkinson (Watchmen, 300), Michael Dennison (The Spirit, The Eye), Isis Mussenden (Narnia: Prince Caspian), and Kym Barrett (Speed Racer). Room 3

5:30-7:00 Sony: Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, Quarantine, Pineapple Express - See the exclusive first look at footage and meet the stars of Underworld : Rise of the Lycans. On stage to take your questions will be Rhona Mitra, Bill Nighy, Michael Sheen and director Patrick Tatopoulos. Pineapple Express: Frankly, if we tell you almost anything about the plot to this action/comedy, we probably wouldn't even be allowed to be here, so let's just say that producer Judd Apatow will be on stage with the gang in tow—director David Gordon Green, Seth Rogen (star and co-writer), James Franco, Danny McBride, Amber Heard, and Evan Goldberg (co-writer)—to show you how they've taken this particular genre to new highs. Also, be sure to ask Seth and Evan about their upcoming Green Hornet film. Hall H

10:00-12:00 World Premiere! Mutant Chronicles - Special "work-in-progress" feature film screening hosted by stars Thomas Jane (The Mist), Ron Perlman (Hellboy II), and Devon Aoki (Sin City). This is the first public showing in our hemisphere of this steampunk action-adventure. A disparate squad of former enemy soldiers undertakes a suicide mission deep into the seething heart of the otherworldly mutant scourge bent on human extinction. Unrated, uncut, unreal. Q&A with cast, director Simon Hunter (Lighthouse), and producer Edward R. Pressman (The Crow). Room 6CDEF

Sunday, July 27th:

11:30-12:00 Focus Features: Hamlet 2 - Featuring appearances by Steve Coogan (24 Hour Party People, Night at the Museum and the upcoming Tropic Thunder), Elisabeth Shue (Adventures in Babysitting, The Karate Kid), writer Pam Brady (South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, Team America: World Police), and writer/director Andrew Fleming (The Craft, Dick). There will be other surprise appearances, so don't miss it! Ballroom 20

12:00-12:45 Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay - Comedy legends Harold, Kumar, and NPH (Kal Penn, John Cho, and Neil Patrick Harris) appear live and in-person ato talk about the creation of their latest masterpiece—Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay—available on DVD on July 29. Ballroom 20

1:00-1:30 Friday the 13th - Sneak a peek at the new movie retelling the original Friday the 13th about teenaged summer camp counselors who are systematically slaughtered by a mysterious killer. Ballroom 20

1:30-2:30 Rogue Pictures - Rogue Pictures presents select footage, key cast members, and filmmakers from its upcoming 2009 slate. Scheduled appearances include writer/director Wes Craven, discussing his suspense thriller 25/8, and writer/director David Goyer, discussing his supernatural thriller The Unborn. Ballroom 20

Tweet

Find more posts: Comic-Con 08, Hype, Movie News

6 Comments

New comments are no longer allowed on this post.