The clock is ticking down to the start of San Diego Comic Con 2014 (SDCC 2014) when next Wednesday 23rd July a preview night will be held to allow a sneak peek at some of the events and screenings that will take place over the next four days (24th – 27th July). We of course will bring you as much of the news and stories as we can from SDCC 2014 next week, along with our friends over GothamTVPodcast for all things Gotham and Batman related. For all the latest from SDCC 2014 watch this space and follow us on Twitter.
SDCC 2014 is the “big-one” of the comic conventions and it puts on a show for all those who are interested in comics from the big headline film and TV events through to guest appearances from the likes of the comic artist Greg Capullo (currently doing some amazing work on the Batman Series – The New 52). There is of course the amazing cosplay and also the fun fringe events, which this year includes a Gotham themed zip-line and über cars from Fox.
The schedule for SDCC 2014 is already packed with panels, talks, competitions and screenings. Amongst these are the TV and film panels taking place over the four days that will include celebrating 25 years of the Simpson with co-creator Matt Groening, a look at Bill Finger the co-creator of Batman during his 75th Anniversary and a look at new TV show iZombie. With this in mind we thought we would share our three big TV and film events scheduled for SDCC 2014.
1. Warner Bros Television and DC Entertainment event – Saturday 26th July
From 8pm on Saturday Warner Bros. TV with DC Entertainment will host a three hour extravaganza in Hall H to be hosted by Stephen Amell of the hit TV show Arrow. This is an event that has never been tried before at SDCC and is exclusively a superhero themed event for fans of DC and will include loads of exclusives for the upcoming TV shows from Warner Bros and DC. Not only will the event feature appearances from cast and crew from Arrow, but it will also showcase footage of the new upcoming TV series’ Gotham, The Flash and Constantine. The world premiere screening of the Gotham TV series pilot, starring Ben McKenzie and Jada Pinkett Smith, will be shown along with the complete screening of the new Flash pilot. To wrap things off exclusive footage of episode one of the new Constantine TV series, starring Matt Ryan, and episode one of Arrow season three will be screened. We think this is going to be a very special event and panel indeed and is certainly set to raise the roof on all the small screen heroes from DC and build on the continued success and popularity of Arrow.
If you have any questions for the Arrow and The Flash panels you can use #AskArrow and #AskTheFlash for a chance to have them answered at SDCC 2014. Simply tweet the Arrow and The Flash Twitter accounts with your question to Stephen Amell and Grant Gustin.
The Warner Bros. Pictures panel (see below) is also scheduled for Saturday 26th July and whilst there is no indication of any sneak peaks of footage from the 2016 Batman v Superman film or that the cast will attend, it is likely that the Batmobile will make an appearance. DC is also planning to announce their future DC movie road map, with the tease that the Justice League cast will make an appearance.
2. Marvel Television Present Panel – Friday 25th July
Moderated by Jeph Loeb, the panel will take a look at season two of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D with the cast and crew, including executive producer Jed Whedon, along with Clark Gregg, Brett Dalton and Iain de Caestecker and Elizabeth Henstridge (aka Fitz and Simmons). The panel promises to be a lot of fun and no doubt there will be some surprises given last seasons revelations and shocks. We can’t wait to hear what they have to say. We will also get to learn more about the tone and plot of Marvel’s new mid-season series Marvel’s Agent Carter in a Q&A session that will include the one and only Agent Carter, Hayley Atwell from Captain America: The First Avenger.
There will of course be the Marvel’s Studio panel on Saturday 26th July to be hosted by Kevin Feige and with anticipation for next years Avengers: Age of Ultron there should be early announcements and a few surprises at this panel. With Marvel’s phase three developments also beginning to rapidly take shape, we would of course hope for some announcements surrounding some of these films, such as Captain America 3. For me personally, an announcement about the Doctor Strange movie, such as the 2016 release date and/or who will play the title role, would be fantastic.
3. Warner Bros. Pictures Panel – Saturday 26th July
Warner Bros. are bringing three upcoming films to their 10am slot in Hall H, including Mad Max: Fury Road and Jupiter Ascending, but we are very excited about the third and final film from Peter Jackson, The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies. Peter Jackson will be on the panel to tease some of the details and events from the film and explore Tolkien’s world and Bilbo’s journey of discovery in this last film that converges the destiny of Men, Dwarves, Elves and Hobbits on the Lonely Mountain.
There is also an unofficial look at the final Hobbit instalment from TheOneRing.net on 24th July at 5pm. Having reported on all things middle Earth for the last 15-years to the host of Tolkien fans it is great to see them have their moment taking a look at what to expect in last of the Hobbit trilogy. Let us hope there be some wild fan speculation, rumours and great conjecture at this panel.
We are looking forward to all the events next week at SDCC 2014 from the big to the small and whilst J. J. Abraham’s Star Wars Episode VII is not scheduled to appear at SDCC 2014, Star Wars will have a presence with a look at the new animated series, Rebels. But then in the best tradition of SDCC we hope there will also be plenty of big surprises and unexpected guests to come at SDCC 2014 next week.