Another Comic-Con has come and gone. The scale of the convention which showcases all things geek was at an all-time high, with plenty of news, announcements, teasers, and trailers being revealed.
There are plenty of things to discuss from the event, but here are the 10 best announcements from this past weekend in San Diego.
DC Films’ course correction
With Suicide Squad on its way, DC wanted to show off a lighter, warmer version of their iconic characters, opposed to the grim, desolate universe established in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The big announcement of the day was the first look at footage for Justice League. Unlike the small, brutish teases of the past, DC released a full-on sizzle reel for the film featuring new looks at Aquaman, The Flash, Cyborg and more. The tone didn’t flatline to darkness like BvS. Instead, the teaser showcased some fun moments, specifically Batman’s encounter with The Flash.
If the footage didn’t quench your superhero thirst, DC showed off an epic trailer for Wonder Woman. Spoiler alert: It looks badass. A third trailer for Suicide Squad was also made public. So was a hilarious extended look at The LEGO Batman Movie. DC is working hard to restore its image and showed upcoming projects are heading in the right direction.
The MCU had a great Comic-Con. Who would have guessed that?
Call me Captain Marvel. pic.twitter.com/IgqRIb9ijM
— Brie Larson (@brielarson) July 24, 2016
Marvel’s best news was confirmation that Brie Larson has officially signed on to play Captain Marvel. The talented young actress becomes the first Academy Award winner to play a superhero in the MCU. Marvel didn’t stop there, revealing a new trailer for Doctor Strange. The mystical, earth-bending visuals look unique and complex. It’s a nice changeup for Marvel’s movies. James Gunn said Ego the Living Planet, played by Kurt Russell, would be Peter Quill’s dad in Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 2.
There were also casting reveals for Black Panther, Hulk’s gladiator armor for Thor: Ragnarok was on display and Spider-Man: Homecoming got a teaser and some swanky Vulture vs Spidey concept art. Unlike DC, Marvel didn’t rely on first-look trailers, instead opting to drop multiple tidbits for the MCU.
Marvel’s TV side also hit a home run
David Haller knows what he is…or does he? @LegionFX premieres early 2017.https://t.co/Ku3iaXRIDf
— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) July 23, 2016
On the television side, there was a plethora of news from Marvel. Legion, Noah Hawley’s new FX series, showed its first trailer. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. confirmed Ghost Rider (the Robbie Reyes version) will make his small screen debut in season four, which should inject some more life into the underrated series.
This fall, Ghost Rider will ignite on Marvel's #AgentsofSHIELD. ⛓🔥 pic.twitter.com/GvwchWJ9uE
— Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (@AgentsofSHIELD) July 22, 2016
On the Netflix side, Iron Fist and Luke Cage both got extended trailers, while The Defenders team-up series was teased. Marvel continued to demonstrate why they’re the best in the biz at Comic-Con.
Bates Motel: Rihanna playing Marion Crane
.@rihanna to check into #BatesMotel as Marion Crane in the 5th and final season!https://t.co/7t2pRL43cf
— Bates Motel on A&E (@InsideBates) July 22, 2016
Bates Motel is a very good show I admittedly need to catch up on. (I’m three seasons deep) Carlton Cuse and Co. have done a wonderful job telling the story of Norman Bates’ unfortunate upbringing, which spawns the events of Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho.
At Comic-Con, producers announced that the show would be concluding after season five. But it wasn’t all bad news. Rihanna has been cast as the iconic Marion Crane in the series. Yes, her. It’s a batshit insane casting choice and I love it. Never in a million years could someone predict Rihanna would step into one of the most recognizable roles in movie history, but the folks at Bates Motel don’t care what you think. The casting on Bates Motel (from what I’ve seen) has been pitch perfect, so I’m not about to doubt the decision. It’s awesome to see a show just go for it.
The Walking Dead continues to tease
Who did Negan kill? The central mystery from the end of season six of The Walking Dead won’t be solved until the show returns later this year, but a new trailer revealed some juicy new footage. Our own Sean Keeley did an excellent breakdown of the trailer, so I’ll just say this: King Ezekiel is coming, as is his vicious tiger.
Kong: Skull Island looks menacing
It makes sense to reboot King Kong, even if Peter Jackson’s 2005 King Kong was an epic, underrated blockbuster. Kong: Skull Island looks part Jurassic Park, part Apocalypse Now, and part Godzilla. This is some dark shit.
The action-packed trailer shows man versus ape and is tense and exhilarating. Kong: Skull Island features a talented cast with Brie Larson, John Goodman, Tom Hiddleston and Samuel Jackson headlining the monster movie. Once King Kong faces off against the humans, I’m ready for a monster showdown against Godzilla.
Harry Potter spinoff reveals monsters
The trailers for the film adaptation of the 2001 Harry Potter spinoff book have been underwhelming, failing to feature many beasts or monsters, but the latest Comic-Con trailer gloriously shows them off. Throw in some classic Harry Potter music, a screenplay written by J.K. Rowling herself and an immensely talented cast, and there’s some belief that Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them might actually be a worthy chapter in the franchise. At the very least, the trailer accomplished the goal of pleasing Potter diehards.
James Cameron digs Neill Blomkamp’s Aliens sequel script
Neill Blomkamp’s Aliens sequel has been long-discussed, but little aside from concept art has been shared about the project, other than it will ignore continuity from Alien 3 and Alien: Resurrection. The project has been on and off and on, and for now, it’s off. Blomkamp’s film was recently shelved due to Ridley Scott’s Alien: Covenant.
Is the project buried for sure? Its future looks uncertain. But during Comic-Con’s 30th-anniversary celebration of Aliens, director James Cameron praised Blomkamp’s script, admitting he’s hopeful the film gets made.
“I think it works gangbusters. He shared it with me, and I think it’s a very strong script and he could go make it tomorrow. I don’t know anything about the production, and I don’t know what Ridley [Scott]’s doing. But hopefully there’ll be room for both of them. Like parallel universes.”
It’s a strong endorsement, but should be taken with a grain of salt. Let’s not forget Cameron’s praise for Terminator: Genisys, which was a huge dud critically.
The positive here is, if Cameron is discussing the project, it’s not entirely dead yet. Hopefully, Blomkamp makes the “Alien 3” that the franchise deserves.
TV shows say au revoir
It wasn’t all good news for fans at Comic-Con, as multiple shows announced next season will be their last. Those shows taking a final bow include A&E’s Bates Motel (season 5), BBC America’s Orphan Black (season 5), MTV’s Teen Wolf (season 6) and The CW’s Vampire Diaries (season 8).
Fans might not be thrilled with the end dates, but should take comfort in knowing those shows will end on their own terms. Getting canceled early and having no beginning, middle and end in a story after wrapping up is depressing. (Hello, FlashForward.)
CBS’ online Star Trek show finds a name
https://twitter.com/startrekcbs/status/756974219322273792
We now know the next generation of Star Trek in the television universe will be titled Star Trek: Discovery. CBS dropped a teaser for the show, set to air in January 2017, which should have Trekkers happy. In the spot, the newest fleet will pioneer space within the U.S.S Discovery. The teaser’s animation is top notch.
No cast details were revealed, but considering Bryan Fuller (Hannibal) and Alex Kurtzman (Fringe) are the driving forces behind the project, there’s little reason to believe it will be a failure. Star Trek: Discovery will be the first original series to air on CBS’ streaming platform, CBS: All Access.
