Starting the morning off at WonderCon 2025 on a Saturday is one of my favorite television series but with a twist here, Only Murders in the Building: Solve the Editors’ Murder Mystery brings editors Shelly Westerman and Matthew Barbato to the table. They talked about their process in putting together comedy, drama and murder. This was a fun way to get good ideas if anyone else is thinking about writing a murder mystery. Back again into the galaxy far, far away, The Skeleton Crew Boys brings actors Ravi Cabot-Conyers and Robert Smith for this interactive panel talking about their roles and meeting fans.
When I studied to become a teacher of curriculum and instruction, comics were always frowned upon so I was thrilled to hear from the panel about Engaging Students with Comics in the Classroom. Using comics to engage students, the Comic-Con Educator Book Club is essential for teachers who want to learn how this can be achieved. Teachers from San Diego include Jaimie Chavez, Lorran Garrison, Ella Rogosin, Scott Nielsen, and Mike Cruz share.
Bad Idea brings John Wick’s Robert Venditti and Derek Kolstad take a look into what’s next including art from Planet Death and Ordained. The gentlemen were joined by Dinesh Shamdasani, Peter Stern, Benjamin Simpson and Siena Fallon. The 5th Annual “It’s Alive!”: Designing Sci-Fi, Horror, and Comic Book Genre Film and TV is one my granddaughter would have loved. The concept of the worlds in these genres come into play and goes deep into how characters are created and how it is more than just a concept. Brett W. Bachman, Christina Wen, Johnny Han, Jon Dudkowski, Leo Birenberg and Zach Robinson share their feelings on the process.
In 1984, the film GREMLINS hit the theatres and blew audiences right out of the water. It has become an iconic film that can be seen and appreciated over and over. The panel Gremlins: The Wild Batch Screening and Q&A brings the Warner Bros. and Max Original series to WonderCon showing a never-before-seen episode. The panel Tze Chun, Brendan Hay, Joe Dante, John Glover, and Sherri Chung talk about what it takes to bring the characters of Gizmo, Sam and Elle to the animated series.
If Middle Earth is more your thing, Lord of the Rings: Previewing Up Coming Projects gives Tolkien-ites a look into what is coming since the success of the animated film THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM which I absolutely loved without taking anything away from The Rings of Power on Prime. Josh Rubinstein, Kristi Fojtik, Clifford Broadway, Cathy Udovch and Nicole Roberts join in the conversation which was full of insight of what’s happening and what’s to come for fans of Middle Earth.
Faith based films are a big box office draw and A Faith-Full Dickens Tale: The Kings of Kings Animated Movie is sure to bring in a big draw. The bible story not only brings about an adventure but it does so while taking on the story of Jesus through Charles Dickens. The cast can boast some big names such as Kenneth Branagh, Oscar Isaac, Uma Thurman, Mark Hamill, Sir Ben Kingsley, Pierce Brosnan, and Forest Whitaker. Taking the directors chair is director/producer Seong-ho Jang and screenwriter Rob Edwards and brought by Angel Studios.
Jesse Negron, Tom Moran, Dave Elliott, and Anthony Francisco (senior visual development artist for Marvel Studios) discuss what is on the horizon for Mechanical Cake and Scott Free, starting with their debut graphic novel, Modville, Ridley Scott’s first foray into graphic novels. Modville is a sci-fi Southern Gothic crime drama with AI humans in future New Orleans. Moderated by Chris Northrop (Horrible Future). Book 1 of Modville is written by Jesse Negron and drawn by Hendry Prasetya and Eko Puteh.
Sony Pictures brings a new thriller with UNTIL DAWN. One year after her sister Melanie mysteriously disappeared, Clover and her friends head into the remote valley where she vanished in search of answers. Exploring an abandoned visitor center, they find themselves stalked by a masked killer and horrifically murdered one by one…only to wake up and find themselves back at the beginning of the same evening. Trapped in the valley, they’re forced to relive the night again and again - only each time the killer threat is different, each more terrifying than the last. Hope dwindling, the group soon realizes they have a limited number of deaths left, and the only way to escape is to survive until dawn.
More programming that was worthy of WonderCon is Defiant: The Robert Smalls Story in Comics, Graphic Novel and Film, Gunslingers and Ghosts: The Rise of the Weird West, and Young Indy to Young Ani: The Origins of the Star Wars Prequels.
Wrapping up a long and eventful day filled with where we have come to where we are now with so many genres and stories is the The 2025 WonderCon Masquerade. WonderCon brings their annual competition with costumes that are created by serious fans. Judged by costume designers, the masquerade also comes with a few goodies, wins and entertainment. It is a wonderful way to gather together with friends and fellow cosplayers and celebrate everything WonderCon!
Today Begins the Fun for the Beginning of WONDERCON 2025!
Jeri Jacquin
Here we are at the Anaheim Convention Center for the beginning of WonderCon 2025 from March 28th-30th. It is always a fantastic time to explore so many events and the people dressed up are equally amazing. The day begins with Spider-Men: Multiversal Storytelling as the talk is navigating the multiverse of this iconic character with James Thompson, Patrick Reed and Peter Coogan and where they see it going in the future.
Signa and Robot Invasion! Features The Rupert Wars as the Pan-Universal Galactic Worldwide brings new comics to the delight of the room. Maryelizabeth Yturralde leads the talk with creators Livio Ramondelli, Yuri Ramondelli and PUG-W founder John Nee talks about the inner workings and ideas that fans have to look forward too. It truly was interesting to hear where the ideas come from and how they make their way onto the page.
Being a happy horror lady from way back in the day, anything titled Monstrous Horror in Comics, Film and Beyond is going to be on my must-attend list. The line up of creators Rebekah and David McKendry, Shannon Denton, Dirk Blackman, David Harman and Kevin Grevioux are just the people I wanted to hear from. I had the opportunity to hear where their love of monsters comes from and was thrilled to discover that it isn’t far off from my own experience. Let’s face it, monsters scare some people out of their skin, and then there is people like me who want to find the scariest thing to read and watch.
That also falls into with Threads of Fantasy, Fright, and High-Stakes Action because you can write about a scary thing, you can do comics of scary things but it is people like Jennifer Bryan, Christine Wada, Marie Schley, Cynthis Summers and Annie Loppert who brings that scary to life, especially Summers who has The Last of Us on her resume! Follow that up with Alexa Donne, Liz Kerin, CJ Leede, Chuck Tingle and Justine Winans who talk scary icons with Terrifying Tropes. So needless to say, I’m having a horror of a good time with all this.
Moving past the horror and into a universe that I have had in my life since first seeing Luke Skywalker stand on the sunset ridge looking longingly out at a world he thinks he’s missing, puppeteers Victor Franco, William Miyamoto and Rob Wight talks about their work on Skeleton Crew and Kenobi. Being that Obi-wan had such an influence on me as a kid, I leaned into listening to the technical aspects that happened on Kenobi.
Raising two boys on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, it was a shock to them when I told them it is the 35th Anniversary of the first TMNT film. Now they now how I felt when they were kids and the reality of a favorite show anniversary came up – makes a few gray hairs pop up. Producer Bobby Herbeck tells the inside stories of trying to get the 1990 version of the film made and the pitfalls as well as reactions to the first film.
To wrap the first day, Adult Swim (and who doesn’t love Adult Swim!!) provides fans with a Sneak Peek from Shinichiro Watanabe and two episodes of the sci-fi thriller Lazaris. Prepared to be thrilled because if you loved Cowboy Bebop, then Lazarus is going to knock your socks off. That isn’t the only screening tonight as AMC is bringing THE WALKING DEAD: Dead City to WonderCon. The walkers are back along with Maggie played by Lauren Cohan and the once most hated and now most beloved Negan. Season one ended with glaring looks from Maggie and Negan realizing that going to Manhattan might not have been such a good idea after all. There is a war for control and these two characters are stuck in-between it all.
This has been a world wind of a first day and tomorrow is going to have so much more. WonderCon brings out the best and brightest in all genres with only three days to get as much of the experience as possible.
Onward to day two!
CINEMACON 2025 Has Begun!
Jeri Jacquin
We are back for CinemaCon 2025 at Cesars Palace in Las Vegas to experience what the studios have to showcase. Cinema United brings theatrical exhibitions from March 31-Spril 3rd and there is so much to cover. Representing more than 31,000 movie screens in all 50 states, and more than 30,000 screens in 80 countries worldwide, Cinema United is the largest exhibition trade organization in the world.
Their new mantra is “Moviegoing is Our Mission” that statement is a celebration for movie goers worldwide. Executive Board Chairman Bob Bagby believes that, “Cinema United will remind people of the magic of seeing a movie on the big screen. Our industry is fully dedicated to ensuring that the theatrical experience remains the premier entertainment option for millions of fans around the world.” President Michael O’Leary adds, “I want to thank our board for their incredible partnership and leadership throughout this process. We are all extremely excited for this next chapter in bringing focus back to the people who have made this industry the success it is and will continue to do so for generations to come”.
Preparing for the next four days, day one is a mixture of hectic arrivals and relaxing with colleagues to hear keynote speakers address the issues of theatres today. The goal is for future generations to understand the needs of the movie going experience for audiences and offering up views is Eric Blumenthal and Emily Rogers from The Coca-Cola Company and Tracy Oliver, writer/director/producer of the Coco-Cola Refreshing Films Program.
That leaves just enough time to attend the Sony Pictures Entertainment presentation of upcoming releases in the Colosseum. Leaving the audience cheering, CEO of Sony Pictures spoke to the exhibitors with this, “Cost and windows can work for us or against us. Theatrical needs to be smart about them both. I will let you know that Sony will work with you on both.” He also brought up something I have been known to participate in from time to time and that’s discounted tickets on Tuesdays. His question was why just that day? That’s been something I’ve asked myself for many years as well.
How do you follow that? Well, only as Sony can of course! Their slate for upcoming projects includes a remake of the film ANACONDA with Paul Rudd and Jack Black. That will be interesting as Black has already had a bit of time in jungle films. The excitement showed with the next Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse. I enjoy Darren Aronofsky so thrilled to see Austin Butler in his film CAUGHT STEALING. A film my family is anxious to see since the first in the series in 1984 (and I had broken furniture to prove it back then) is the next chapter with KARATE KID: Legends with Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio.
On the more frightening side, 28 YEARS LATER shows survivors still living the pandemic life. Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes lead the cast with Danny Boyle directing. Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie take A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY, still wanting a big of fright is I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER sequel with the return of a certain handsome character who has not problem letting anyone know that it “isn’t the first time there’s been violence”.
Other announcements include director Sam Mendes and each man has his own story, but together they are legendary. The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event. In theaters April 2028.
It is easy to see that Sony isn’t sitting back on its laurels presenting the audience with what the game plan is for the future and how they are getting there! That’s a wrap on a quick day one and there is so much more to come in the next three days and we are here to bring it all to you from CinemaCon 2025!
CINEMECON 2025 Starts Early for a Day of Surprises
Jeri Jacquin
Welcome to day two of CinemaCon with a day full of presentations from the studios of Lionsgate, Warner Bros., and a Fandango Anniversary. Keeping the tennis shoe laces tied tight, there is so much to see and do so taking care of the feet is important so let’s get started.
The start of the day A Look Back at the Year 2024 in Film and also includes the State of the Industry with keynote speaks from President and CEO of Cinema United Michael O’Leary, Charles Rivkin (Chairman and CEO, MPA), Bob Bagby (CEO, B&B Theatres and Chairman, Cinema United) and Cinemark’s Sean Gamble received the distinguished Cinema United Marquee Award.
Following that is Lionsgate and their offerings in the world of one of the most amazing franchises in The World of John Wick. Expanding the John Wick universe will be a new dimension and an animated action film featuring the renowned assassin. Also, the look at director Len Wisemen’s BALLERINA MOVIE starring Ana de Armas in that franchise. The chair of Lionsgate, Adam Fogleson brought to the stage director Frances Lawrence, David Jonsson and Mark Hamil (Cinema Icon Award Honoree) talking about the film THE LONG WALK. Lawrence wasn’t done when he announced THE HUNGER GAMES: Sunrise on the Reaping is in development. NOW YOU SEE ME: Now You Don’t bring director Ruben Fleischer to show a bit of a peek. The stars of the upcoming THE HOUSEMAID lets us all see Amanda Seyfried, Brendan Sklenar and Sydney Sweeney in action with producer/director Kevin Feig.
Feig says, “The reason I wanted to call Lionsgate my home is because working with Adam, Nathan, Erin, and the team is always an incredibly positive experience. Their commitment to theatrical is incredibly important to me, and their support and encouragement to make the movies I’ve wanted to bring to audiences has been tremendously empowering. My films are better for their involvement, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to be in business with them.” HURRY UP TOMORROW stars Jenna Ortega with director Trey Shults and then – a performance from The Weeknd.
Trade Shows and Suites is one of my favorite parts of CinemaCon. It is a chance to come up close and personal to all the amazing bits and bobs that make movies fantastic in theatres. From the seats, to the sound and those that provide that technology include such companies as Barco, Christie, D-Box Technologies, Samsung, Sharp and RealD (and their glasses are pretty cool as well). Walking around all of their presentations, it is also a chance to ask questions which they are more than happy to answer. The Trade Show floor is where attendees can see what products and new innovations will be coming to theatres. I remember learning about self-serve drink machines a year before they were in theatres and I loved the idea then and now. It is also a chance to see all the fun items that come with the newest films from cup lids to popcorn buckets. It is also a chance to see the newest taste sensations from candy to hot food items and trust when I say I’m all for visiting those booths with all the walking around, makes a girl hungry!
Warner Bros. takes the stage for their slate of upcoming films with Jeff Goldstein with logos of Warner Bros., New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Animation and DC Studios and a reel of what is to come. Leonardo DiCaprio, Regina Hall and Teyana Taylor have the chance to talk about their film ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. DiCaprio says about Anderson, “He tapped into something politically and culturally that is right beneath our psyche. It’s an incredible epic movie that has such scope and scale.” The audience is treated to extended footage of the film. Maggie Gyllenhaal and Jessie Buckley tell the monstrous story of THE BRIDE! Gyllenhaal says of the film that she wanted “a punk, monstrous love story in a classic cinematic way that respected these characters then offers up a sneak peek. New Line offers up FINAL DESTINATION: Bloodlines that show a mix of death and laughs – my personal favorites together in one film.
Writer/director Zach Cregger has an upcoming film entitled WEAPONS with Josh Brolin (those two words already have me all in!) and Julia Garner and the trailer had my eyes wide open. Jerry Bruckheimer has well deserved bragging rights about last years TOP GUN: Maverick and now he’s back with Brad Pitt (there is that two-word thing again that has me already signed up) in the race film F1. Moving to the more comical, Bill Hader takes on THE CAT IN THE HAT – as the cat of course. James Gunn and Peter Safran are up thanking exhibitors for the success of GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 and wants to keep theatre-going “strong and vital for future generations”. That being said, Rachel Brosnhan, Nicholas Hoult and David Corenswet talks SUPERMAN and offers a bit of a peek.
Also today, Mark Hamill will receive this year’s Cinema Icon Award, it was announced today by CinemaCon. Sponsor The Coca-Cola Company says, "Mark Hamill’s career is proof that great characters don’t just live on the screen—they live within us, galvanizing generations of audiences worldwide,” noted Mitch Neuhauser, Managing Director, CinemaCon. “This Cinema Icon Award honors not just an actor, but a legacy of incredible work that extends beyond the screen and continues to inspire us all." Hamill has a busy year with three films coming to screens with THE LONG WALK, LIFE WITH CHUCK and The Flying Dutchman in THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: Search for Squarepants which will have my ENTIRE family in theatres to see our favorite animated sponge.
Receiving the CinemaCon Cinema Verite Award is Oscar and Emmy Award winner James L. Brooks. Brooks will be presented with this special honor as part of The Walt Disney Studios presentation, “If anyone embodies the essence of authentic filmmaking, it’s James L. Brooks,” noted Mitch Neuhauser, Managing Director of CinemaCon, “as his filmography represents a heartfelt cinema of truth. Over the past six decades, he has directed films such as Terms of Endearment, Broadcast News and As Good as It Gets that have made moviegoing audiences around the world laugh, cry and reflect on life in ways that are undeniably honest. As a producer, he brought us passionate films like Big, Say Anything and Jerry Maguire. We could not be more honored to present the Cinema Vérité Award to a filmmaker who continues to create stories that speak to the very heart of who we are.”
That brings you up to date on day two of CinemaCon 2025. Half way through the convention but far from over with two more days to see what theatres and the studios have to announce to eager attendees. Now it is off to help Fandango celebrate their anniversary. See you tomorrow!
Day Three at CinemaCon
Brings Dragons!
Jeri Jacquin
The third day of CinemaCon and a bit of weather doesn’t change what this amazing convention brings in its four days in Las Vegas. After breakfast, which is a fantastic time to catch up about what has been presented so far and what has interested each of us the most, it is time to move on to the days first presentation.
Angel Studios was founded in 2013 by Neal, Daniel, Jeffrey and Jordan Harmon who wanted then to create a studio that provides empowering films. Presenting their slate for the second year at CinemaCon, their philosophy is one of community and providing, what they call, a “viable family-friendly alternative to Hollywood”. The most recent success for Angel Studios is the television series The Chosen and the film Sound of Freedom. One of my favorites from the studio is the film SIGHT which is the true story of Dr. Ming Wang becoming a renowned eye surgeon. Coming to theatres next week is the animated THE KING OF KINGS. During their presentation they spoke about “the Angel Guild” which is a audience-driven entertainment landscape. They also announced that a Toronto International Film Festival choice of SKETCH with Tony Hale and D’Arcy Caden is under their umbrella and will hit theatres August 6th.
The biopic TRUTH & TREASON is set for October and is a Holocaust story and the thriller ZERO A.D. directed by Alejandro Monteverde. The film has an impressive line up with heavy hitters with Deva Cassel, Gael Garcia Bernal, Ben Mendelsohn, Sam Worthington and Jim Caviezel. The latter actor has been known to be open about his faith and chooses that important part of his life over his career so Angel Studios is the place to be for Caviezel. Another actor who shares that his faith is a significant influence is Neal McDonough who has co-written the film THE LAST RODEO due in studios in May. Brandon Purdie, Executive Vice President and Head of Theatrical Distribution says of their presentation this morning, “At CinemaCon 2025, we unveiled the most ambitious and cinematic slate in Angel Studios’ history. There are no greater partners than the dedicated exhibitors who bring these stories to life on the big screen. We are all in on theatrical, bullish on the big screen, unwavering in our commitment to the theatrical window, and firm believers in the power of the shared moviegoing experience.” Their films have truly been successful as the box office shows.
Now it’s time to turn the lights down with the Universal and DreamWorks previewing of HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON. Prepare to return to the world of dragons and a friendship between a boy and a nightfury! Gerard Butler takes on the live-action character of Stoick the Vast.
Universal brings out their presentation reminding viewers of such offerings as BACK TO THE FUTURE, JURASSIC PARK, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, PSYCHO, JAWS DESPICABLE ME, CONCLAVE, OPPENHEIMER and WICKED. These films and so many more have left an iconic mark on the lives of movie-goers and brought film lines into our world like “we’re going to need a bigger boat!”. The dinosaur world isn’t done with us yet either as director Gareth Edwards offers up Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali to talk about JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH. It seems Johansson has been biding her time to get into the franchise saying, “This time I went to Steven Spielberg directly and told him I’ll play any role, even if I was eaten in the first five minutes. It’s an incredible honor to be here with Jurassic and we want to put the scares back into Jurassic.” Let’s just say from what I’ve seen, a T-rex chasing people in a dingy, sounds like a fun watch to me. DreamWorks is taking one of their beloved shows on Netflix and turning it into something on a larger scale with GABBY’S DOLLHOUSE and I personally know a few kids who are going to be thrilled about that. Universal is also taking a swing at a HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON sequel coming to theatres in 2027 so look for that. Tyriq Withers plays a football player with a head injury in HIM and there is going to be some more bustin’ and bruising coming to theatres when Bob Odenkirk returns in NOBODY 2.
Focus Features brings a slate of their own and one in particular is going to be a heartache for me but let’s get to that in a moment. First, Wes Anderson brings a cast that includes Benicio Del Toro, Michael Cera, Bryan Cranston, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch and the one and only Tom Hanks to star in THE PHOENCIAN SCHEME. Another director that likes the unusual is Yorgos Lanthimos and his next film BUGONIA with Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Alicia Silverton and more. Now, for my heartache, Focus Features comes to the screen one more time with DOWNTON ABBEY: The Grand Finale with a screenplay by Julian Fellowes and Carson telling everyone “Welcome to 1930”. Downton fans knew that one day this would come and I personally have watched the series over and over again along with the previous films but Kleenex is going to have to be included in the ticket price for sure. The cast we have come to love from both upstairs and down will be back for a final bow. Oh gosh, the tears just creeped in a little.
Blumhouse makes sure they are getting their turn at the frights with a trailer for FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S 2 as Jason Blum takes us all back at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza and I’m already creeped out and that’s the point. Another of my family’s favorite films has a sequel as THE BLACK PHONE 2 is purported by Blum to be scarier than the first one a telephone ring and “Hello Finney, did you think our story was over?’ gave me chills. Ticket please! Want more frights? Well, M3Gan 2 brings a different look but same jaw drops and SOULMSTE is a little more adult but same crazy technology. Universal’s president Jim Orr teases of an upcoming Steven Spielberg film with “a return to form in the spirit of his monumental classics, with a propulsive, out of this world twist” which could basically be said of most of his films. Untitled for now, we will have to keep our eye on this one. Finally, producer Mark Platt and director Jon M. Chu get to talk about WICKED: For Good. For fans who are waiting for the second installment, Chu says, “Our second film deals with the consequences of the decisions made. This film brings us past the point where Dorothy drops in.” Because, in the words of Elphaba, “this is between the wizard and I”.
The final presentation of the evening begins with Head of Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios, Mike Hopkins. His first time at CinemaCon, Hopkins recalls seeing STAR WARS as a kid with his brother (something I can totally relate to with the hundreds of times I have seen the film since I was 16). He announces that the studio plans to offer up fifteen films a year by 2027 with 12-14 starting next year. He says, “It is still early days for us, and we have a ton of work to do but we are committed to epic, culturally, relative storytelling that needs to be seen on giant screens like the one behind me.” Later next year, Ryan Goslings film PROJECT HAIL MARY get a sneak peek. Gosling says of the film, “it’s an insanely ambitious story, massive in scope and so big we tried to put it on television once, it wouldn’t fit.” That’s what happens when you make a film about space and a guy trying to save the world. AFTER THE HUNT brings director Luca Guadagino (BONES AND ALL), and cast Andrew Garfield and Ayo Edebiri to talk about the thriller that also stars Julia Roberts as a college professor and situation that leads to secrets. Also shown is Michael Showalter’s VERITY and the remake of THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR with Michael B. Jordan. As a detective accused of a crime, Chris Pratt is seen in the footage for the film MERCY coming next January. A month after that is Hugh Jackman and Emma Thompson’s film THREE BAGS FULL: A Sheep Detective Movie. Two of my favorite actors together so I’ll be seeing it.
Another sneak peek is for the film CRIME 101 with Halle Berry and Chris Hemsworth. Directed by Bart Layton, he says, “from the very beginning, this movie was written, imagined, planned and dreamed for the big screen.” Making her directorial debut, Aleshea Harris brings her own work to the screen with IS GOD IS with Vivica A. Fox, Kara Young and Mallori Johnson. Bassam Tariq brings YOUR MOTHER YOUR MOTHER with Mahershala Ali who has a message for the audience. Oh goodness my grown boys are going to get the first tickets in theatres to see MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE! Directed by Travis Knight and will be ready for fans next June, he says, “We’re not making a cartoon here!”.
Ben Affleck’s film THE ACCOUNTANT 2 bring he, Jon Bernthal, Daniella Pineda, Cynthia Addai-Robinson and director Gavin O’Connor to the stage and a look at what’s coming to theatres. Reflecting on his character, Affleck says, “It does feel great to continue the story of THE ACCOUNTANT. I’m thrilled to be playing this part again with this great cast. In some ways, I feel like this character never left me.
That’s the last for day three of CinemaCon with the last day tomorrow bringing all the fun to an end. Paramount and Disney are the last studios to bring their slates and then celebrate with awards at the end of the evening. See you then!
Final Day of CinemaCon 2025 Brings
Paramount and Disney
Jeri Jacquin
These past four days have completely flown by here at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. The studios have brought anticipated films and a few surprises with their upcoming slates. This morning begins with Paramount and later today Disney to wrap up this year’s conference. Let’s get started!
It doesn’t take but a hot minute to get things going starting off with motorcycle stunts on stage as the iconic (and often repeated in people’s minds when they are doing something stunt-y) Mission Impossible theme. Chris Aronson, Domestic distribution president for Paramount gets a chance to joke with the audience “on the heels of Sony releasing four Beatles movies, they’re gonna release four Paw Patrol films for each character”. No worries my grandson, he’s just being silly. CEO Brian Robbins talks of CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE being adapted for the screen saying the film is “a labor of love” and in regards to SCREAM 7, “Sidney Prescott is back with old suspects and fresh new victims” which is code for ut-ohhhhhh.
Edgar Wright’s film THE RUNNING MAN with the very handsome Glen Powell, Colman Domingo and Josh Brolin. On stage Wrights says “the media and the world have gone out of control. It’s worth mentioning that Stephen King’s original book was set in 2025.” Now if that doesn’t send King-like chills down one’s spine! In the film, Domingo’s character says, “This is American goddamnit, and we don’t put up with no bullsh*t!”, amen to that sir! From this film to the endless possibilities of THE LEGEND OF AANG: The Last Airbender is another project for Paramount.
SMURFS will be making their blue trail back to theatres this summer but made sure to nod at CinemaCon with Papa Smurf’s brother says, “You don’t see that at CinemaCon!”. However, I’m all googly-eyed as Mark Hamill and, of course, Tom Kenney hit the stage to talk about THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: Search for Squarepants. Okay, so I’m still 16 and see Luke watch the sunset at this moment, but I digress. Hamil takes the role as the voice of the Flying Dutchman saying, “I actually did an episode of SpongeBob in the fifth season, and I did such a great job they asked me back 18 years later – and if I do my job correctly, every child in America will hate my guts.” The one thing about Mark Hamill you can be sure of is you can never be sure what he will say next! Paramount has decided to reboot THE NAKED GUN with Liam Neeson and I’m actually all about it right now. The trailer is totally hilarious and I will be the first to buy a ticket, I mean come on – if Liam Neeson dressing like a school girl entering a bank with a lollipop doesn’t crack you up, then maybe you need to have your funny bone checked!
Distinguished Decade of Achievement in Film Honoree Channing Tatum previews his film ROOFMAN saying the project is special to him and is “an immensely entertaining ride and unbelievably hilarious”. Congratulations to Tatum for his award this year and the film looks fun and funny.
A big moment for everyone is Tom Cruise arriving to push MISSION: Impossible - The Final Reckoning but first, he grabbed my heart with this, “I’d like to take a moment before we move on. I’d like to honor my dear friend Val Kilmer. I really can’t tell you how much I admire his work, how much I thought of him as a human being, and how honored I was when he joined TOP GUN and returned for TOP GUN: Maverick.” He also talks about Brad Pitt and his film F1 and just being openly supportive of film in general. The trailing always gets me when Kittridge says, “Everything you are, everything you’d done, has gone to this” because it sounds so brutally cold in tone. The director for MISSION: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’s director Christopher McQuarrie received CinemaCon’s Director of the Year Award for this year speaking of his twenty-year relationship with Cruise saying, “Tom, it’s an honor to work with you and to place you in harm’s way for people’s entertainment.”
The final presentation on the last day is Disney and all it has to offer. Starting off with their reel that, if I’m not mistaken, includes a bit of TRON in a quick flash. The much anticipated live-action LILO & STITCH gives a look at the friendship that might make fans happy to know it feels like the animated story. That will come as a happy thing for some kids in my household who love Stitch more than our dog! On the stage, and nice to see, is Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis to show that time hasn’t changed them much and previewing their new film FREAKIER FRIDAY. Mother and daughter are living the grown-up life – enter Chad Michael Murray which will bring problems of its own. I was right, Jared Leto and Jeff Bridges returning as Flynn in the house to promote TRON: Ares. Leto plays Ares and says, “Ares is a highly advanced program who crosses over from the digital world to the real world on a mission”. Directed by Joachim Ronning, the look it there to bring audiences from as far back as 1982 when the original hit theatres.
PREDATOR: Badlands is next up with star Elle Fanning letting the audience know that “Something unprecedented happens in this movie…my character teams up with the predator!” Set in the Predator universe, Fanning takes up the mantle and we hear “I didn’t think you survived” and I’m here for whatever comes next. This next pairing is for the Springsteen biopic of DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE starring Jeremy Allen White and Jeremy Strong (having two Jeremy’s on the set ought to be fun!). The reel offers up a look at pieces of Springsteen’s childhood and into music. Jamie Lee Curtis is certainly centered in the Disney world and back on stage with Emma Mackey for the film ELLA MCCAY. Following a idealistic politician, she follows her mentor preparing to take over the job – as governor, while also dealing with home issues. The film also stars Woody Harrelson and Kumail Nanjiani directed by James L. Brook. The director also receives CinemaCon’s Cinema Verite Award and well deserved for movies like AS GOOD AS IT GETS and TERMS OF ENDEARMENT. When the perfect couple of Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Coleman become not-so-perfect, director Jay Roach gives us THE ROSES.
Marvel is up bringing out Hannah-John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, Florence Pugh, Julia-Louis-Dreyfus and David Harbour for THUNDERBOLTS. The trailer shows Red Guardian and Bucky talking about what happened at the Soviet Union in a truck with Yelena, Walker and Ghost in the back. Cracking me up is when Fontaine refers to Red Guard as “old Santa”. The film opens up soon! They are not the only heroes (or anti-heroes depending) as Kevin Feige video messages from the set of AVENGERS: Doomsday. He says the entire cast of the film hasn’t totally been revealed but, does reveal that the Thunderbolts, Wakandans, Fantastic Four and original X-Men are going to take on Doctor Doom. That means a huge cast and full theatres everywhere. THE FANTASTIC FOUR: First Steps gets new footage with a shot of the Silver Surfer as well.
Pixar has the chance to show a bit of their new animated adventure ELIO. The boy Elio voiced by Yonas Kibreab, is taken by aliens and going to their community, he meets Glordon voiced by Remy Edgerly. The vocal cast also includes Zoe Saldana as Aunt Olga, Brad Garrett, Jameela Jamil and Shirley Henderson. It’s a story of friendship in outer space! Saldana says of the film, “it is a heartfelt, funny and beautiful story”. On pace is Ke Huy Quan voicing Gary in the new ZOOTOPIA 2 as Nick and Judy are back as partners having partner issues after only a week but their job is to find the snake.
Finally, James Cameron messages the audience with “I’m in New Zealand finishing up Avatar: Fire and Ash. I think we can agree that’s a good use of my time since this sucker’s coming at us like a freight train. I’m sending you a reel to give a taste of the spectacle – and the increased emotional heart and soul”. He is speaking about the next installment of AVATAR: Fire & Ash. Cameron’s next storyline shows the Na’vi, Wind Traders who have ships that float with the help of giant creatures. Jake and his family are together as Kiri still communes with Ewya but the Fire People tell her “Your goddess has no dominion here”.
That’s they way to end CinemaCon’s presentations for 2025. Later this evening is the CinemaCon Awards Ceremony and the list of winners is below. It has been another amazing CinemaCon and we want to thank everyone for making it possible to be here and bring all the exciting events to you. See you next year!
COMIC CON Arrives with Indoor and Outdoor Fun in 2025
Jeri Jacquin
Yes, we know its summer in San Diego when San Diego Comic Con International takes over downtown San Diego. Wednesday night is Preview Night and that means something for everyone and the hints at what is to come for the next four days.
Arriving in the Exhibit Hall is always a treat and, of course, I have to head over to the Funko booth (#5145) to see the latest and greatest. It is always fun to see what faces are now gracing these five-inch-high cuties and yes, I have lots of them myself! Sony is just a few booths down (#4745) and you know they are going to show off a bit of what is coming to their slate including Anthony Mackie and TWISTED METAL, BETTER CALL SAUL, FOR ALL MANKIND, Starz series OUTLANDER, THE BOYS and the newest spinoff OUTLANDER: Blood of my Blood.
Right next to them is DC and with their summer hit of SUPERMAN, you can be sure there is plenty to give away and the line will be worth the wait. Abrams returns to Comic Con (#1216) with signings and exclusive giveaways with titles such as The Reckoning Roku, The Veracity Trap!, The Essential Peanuts and more.
Down a few booths is a favorite of this family with Crunchyroll. If you haven’t had a chance to catch them on streaming, do it and you won’t regret a moment of it. Anime fans from all walks of life have a chance to stream all day some of the most fantastic series. Right around the corner from that is Disney (#4229) and with the success of their new series IRONHEART, this will definitely be a booth to hit up. Shout! Studios will have a photobooth featuring the background of shows like Arcane: League of Legends, Hard Boiled, PARANORMAN and more! Their pin sets are absolutely outstanding and I’m going to get MST3K for myself!
Kitty-corner to them is Nickelodeon and if there are any fans (and you know we are of all ages), drop by and see what they bring to the weekend of fun and trust when I say it’s a lot. A little further down you can find Paramount inside but they will also have The Lodge waiting outside for fans of series like LANDMAN, my favsies, STAR TREK: Strange New Worlds, DEXTER: Resurrection, NCIS: Tony & Ziva and MISSION: Impossible. You know Comic Con would not be complete without Star Wars making themselves right at home in practically the middle of the hall. I am quite temped to bring my Grogu along with me but he’s so darn cute and might get away from me!
Lego is right across the aisle and I love visiting them every year because basically I just don’t have the patience to make anything with them so this gives me an opportunity to golf-clap all the hard work they do to present awesomeness for fans. Just a few steps further and Marvel’s booth is waiting to show you everything, well, Marvel! It is always fun to see what they bring as it is quite nostalgic for me since my brother kept me interested and my sons love just about everything Marvel. The NECA’s booth (#3545) is inviting everyone into the Jason Universe with panels and giveaways as Spirit Halloween shows off its newest Jason mask in celebration of his 45th anniversary, exclusive 45th anniversary hats, and a limited-edition Mondo lithograph inspired by Sweet Revenge.
It is comics that put the comic in Comic Con so let’s talk about that as Roye Okupe will be signing for his graphic novel series Iyanu: Child of Wonder and IYANU has become the number one kid’s show on Cartoon Network and soon coming to film. Rob Liefeld will be on panel for “Rob Liefeld: Youngblood 33rd Anniversary and fans can look for an exclusive in the Image booth (#1915). Comic Distro and eigoMANGA has several scheduled events and one the kids might be interested in it “Manga Tutorials for Kids” with a beginner-friendly workshop introducing kids to manga drawing and basic storytelling techniques. Titan is bringing much anticipated new comic to launch at Comic Con and guests that include Jim Zub (Conan the Barbarian), Max Allan Collins (Hard Case Crime’s Mike Hammer) and Roman Dirge (Lenore).
IDW Publishing is bringing a brand-new booth design (#2729) and has packed their schedule with comics, creators, signings and panels that are sure to give a few secrets away. They will also have exclusive with Godzilla, Monster High, Star Trek, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles X Naruto. Wonderstorm is bringing the panel “The Dragon Prince: The Next Arc as creators Aaron Ehasz and Justin Richmond along with voice actors Jack De Sena and Dante Brasco to talk about what is next in the Dragon Prince world. Britton Payne moderates an interesting look at “Autism in Comic Books” as with Rebecca Burgess’ graphic novel “Speak Up!” and will be on panel to discuss comic books and their mission of inclusion.
The Mondo booth (#5045) will also be on hand to showcase their new collectables to include DC, Marvel, Godzilla and so much more. Penguin Random House booth’s (#1514 and #1515) are bringing the Eisner Nominated book Big Jim and the White Boy and more works including Muted: Volume One by Miranda Mundt, The History of the Computer by Rachel Ignatofsky, Castle Swimmer: Volume Two by Wendy Martin and Artifices & Alchemy: A Young Adventurer’s Guide by Jim Zub.
Don’t forget the Comic-Con Museum as all three levels have something to explore. U.S.’s First DOCTOR WHO exhibit, World Premier Lucha Libre exhibit, World Premier Tokidoki exhibit, World Premier Luann comic exhibit, Comic-Con Masquerade Costumers: Award-winning cosplay, and Julien’s ECHOES FROM THE GALAXY: A Star Wars Memorabilia Exhibit and Auction is coming on Sunday the 27th.
There is so much more on the inside to see and do but let’s talk about outside, shall we? Just to start off the fun, the Thunderbolts Treatz Truck is going to keep us all cool in the heat offering up swag and ice cream with themes like “Strawberry Red Glory”, “American Shield”, “Winter Soldier Swirl” and “Killer Charm Sundae” . STAR TREK: Strange New Worlds is going to be bringing performers dressed as the U.S.S. Enterprise crew as the Gaslamp Quarter comes to life on a living stage plus an Interactive Zone at Petco Park.
DC has partnered with Old Spice and an immersive experience inspired by SUPERMAN and you can discover all of it on the Promenade Plaza at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel. LILO & STITCH has brought A Taste of Paradise! To San Diego in the Gaslamp Diagonal where there will be family-friendly activities with photo ops and free shaved ice to keep things super cool with unnecessary cuteness guaranteed!
FX’s ALIEN: Earth “The Wreckage” invites attendees to explore mysterious debris of the USCSS Maginot as part of the upcoming series by Noah Hawley. Fans will be part of interactive thrills and never-before-seen aliens. Adult Swim always brings the fun with the Smiling Friends break room, Rick and Morty Buttworld Bounce House, Adapt-a-Cuy Station, Common Side Effects Mushroom Hunt and all with games, photo ops and a Nightly DJ.
Finally, if you are wanting to see a favorite film, well, SDCC has that for you as well. At 6 p.m. in the Marriott Marquis you can see MY SCIENCE PROJECT, CAPTAIN AMERICA: Brave New World at 7:45 p.m. and AIR FORCE ONE all in one night. Now that’s what I call binge watching. Just think – this is just Preview Night!
See you tomorrow, wearing comfy shoes, bring water and charger packs!
Thursday Brings the First Full Day of Comic Con 2025
Jeri Jacquin
What an amazingly beautiful day to start the actually full day of San Diego Comic Con as all outside events begin to open up and the Exhibition Hall brings fans from all over the world.
Hall H begins the morning with PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS! Timothy Simons (Tantalus) brings about introductions but before that invites everyone who hasn’t seen the show to get on that. Executive Producers Dan Shotz, Craig Silverstein and Jon Steinberg are joined by the cast of Daniel Diemer (Tyson), Dior Goodjohn (Clarisse La Rue), Charlie Bushnesll (Luke Castellan), Aryan Simhadri (Grover Underwood), Leah Sava Jeffries (Annabeth Chase), and Walker Scobell (Percy Jackson).
In the next season, the Executive Producers talk about how everything finally came to a safe space for Percy but in season two there is going to be quests to find the Golden Fleece. It’s needed for protection for all. Steinberg says that the world coming will be all magic and is a challenge but also exciting for fans. “It is all an adventure from start to finish,” says Steinberg. Shotz says, “The next season is so massive that we can not wait for you to see what we can do”.
Scobell and Jeffries have an amazing rapport on screen but they are so charming and funny on the panel stage as well. Jeffries says her character is going to be more vulnerable with Percy. Walker and Simons talk about the challenges of school and being on the set. “I remember, how we would be fighting and screaming on set for a scene and then I’d be in school” remembering what he had just done on set. A fun thing to film for Simhadri, “In season two it would be the wedding dress, that was pretty awesome.”
Finally, when asked about what :: would want fans to know, she says, “I think the big thing that I’ve been thinking about in my head is that it’s a very, very big deal is just seeing all of you here puts things in perspective and I believe that being able to live our characters fully and portray them properly knowing we are doing it for a higher purposes makes everything worth it.”
Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias and Jo Koy are the next panel and they bring the entire hall into fits of laughter. Making sure to be comedians bearing gifts there was a little something for everyone and it was a great way to start the morning because I’m always up for a laugh! They spoke about their show in 90-minute sets and joked about their heroes. HYDE: When Graphic Novel and Movie Worlds Collide takes the stage next to talk about the Johnny Depp-Ridley Scott collaboration with Robert Louis Stevensons Hyde. The graphic novel, created by Jesse Negron, is getting input from Depp and Scott for this intense collaboration.
“To build within the world of Robert Louis Steven’s masterful characters and to be welcomed into the vision of Ridley Scott…and inexplicably having the opportunity to explore, it’s surprising to me. Hopefully surprising to him. It’s insane and beautiful to receive trust from Ridley – a master”, says Depp.
Hall H has invited a few frights of its own as FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S 2, with Juju Green, has arrived for fans. Based on the wildly popular video game, it is a story of murderous animatronics inside a pizza restaurant that seems to have a curse. The first film opened in theatres and screaming in 2023 making a, pardon the pun, killing with $130 million the first weekend. Director Emma Tammi says there are many more animatronics than the first which, for viewers, means more twisted fun. Jason Blum says, “There is so much more lore here and we worked quite a long time to get the script right.” They are joined on stage by the cast of Josh Hutcherson (Mike), Piper Rubio (Abby), Theodus Crane (Jeremiah) and Teo Briones (Alex).
Hutcherson says his character now is, “Mike and Abby went through a lot in the first movie. I think Mike wants to get back to a normal life and find stability for Abby. He wants to have a nice normal life and that just can’t happen. I think that Mike in a way is trying – he has all this trauma from the first film and now he’s trying to fake it till you make it without full working through what happened. He’s going through it, I think the cool thing in this movie is that Mike and Abby are really strong. I think what happens in this film is that it gets to a place in this film where it gets even stronger.”
Skeet Ulrich joins the panel and when asked which animatronic would they be most afraid of if they were in the game, Skeet says, “Probably Freddy! I don’t know if I’d be scared of any of them.”
I was personally thrilled when THE TOXIC AVENGER: Unrated & Radioactive came to the main stage and a nice follow bringing another horror/comedy to the screen. The story is about Winston Gooze played by the amazing Peter Dinklage who is a janitor that becomes a little more than messed up by toxic waste. Turning into a superhero, it should surprise no one as toxic sludge has a tendency to do that. The panel brought Dinklage (Winston), Elijah Wood (Fritz), Jacob Tremblay (Wade), Taylour Paige (J.J.) and writer/director Macon Blair and Lloyd Kaufman producer. If that isn’t enough, how about a serenade mixed with an apology from Kevin Bacon but refers to the film as a “hilarious, punk, fun, and bloody ride” which means I will be first in line.
Loving how Dinklage gave us his personal feelings about seeing the film as a kid made me wonder, did he feel like a kid while making the film? He says so and that makes it all the more eager to see. He also doesn’t hesitate to give credit to Luisa Guerreiro for her work as the Toxic Avenger claiming “she does a better me than I do of me!”.
Finally, more frights as Ballroom 20 hosts Madelaine Petsch, director Renny Harlin and producer Courtney Solomon to rile up the fans about the sequel and a first-look from STRANGERS CHAPTER 2. Coming into theatres September 26th, the film promises to be more brutal because the strangers learn that Maya is still alive and they just can’t let that go. Of course, this means that no one is going to stand in their way – no one. Get ready to run!
That wraps up day one and a full day inside only matched by the fantastic happenings outside. Tomorrow has even more for film and television!
DAY THREE Brings Finales, New Shows and Films
Jeri Jacquin
Okay OUTLANDER fans, this is going to be a tough one as the series reaches its final season. Hall H and STARZ brings Sam Heughan (stop that!), Sophie Skelton, Richard Rankin (I said stop that!) and producer Maril Davis and Matthew B. Roberts to the panel. Knowing the audience is dealing with the heartbreak of saying goodbye to our favorite time travelling couple, Roberts says, “I think the idea for the last season was to not try to top season 7, just do a really good season of OUTLANDER and make it work.”
He also says, “Make sure the stories work and give the characters time to do what they do. To deal with the conflicts in front of them instead of trying to make it something it wasn’t just to do that. I think we accomplished that and hopefully you guys feel the same way.” We might not exactly feel the same way about the show’s ending but we’ll put on a brave face because we have something else to look forward to. Caitriona Balfe couldn’t make the panel due to filming but sent a message to fans, “We have shared many a good time in Hall H together. I seem to recall vaguely some drinking, some dancing, maybe some Irish dancing…so many amazing memories. I’m excited for you to see the final part of this journey.”
Heughan, minus his usual golden locks, had his own take on the final season. “It was a very, very hard season to shoot. I think there were so many emotions going around. I think day to day you’d be like, ‘Oh, this is just another day at work. We’ve been doing this for 11 years. Then other days, ‘This is the last time I’m going to work with this person or put on this costume’. It made the last season very charged that adds to the very dramatic storyline, just a mega XL version.” He also says, “For Jamie and Claire, their world is about to change very differently”.
Hold on…don’t put away your hearts yet! OUTLANDER: Blood of My Blood is coming to STARZ with a two-episode premiere on August 8th. The panel, being precluded by bagpipes, includes Jamie Roy as Brian Fraser, Harriet Slater as Ellen MacKenzie, Hermione Corfield as Julia Moriston and Jeremy Irvine as Henry Beauchamp. Fans get a look at clips of Jamie Fraser’s parents Brian and Ellen on a Scottish bridge and Claire’s parents Julia and Henry driving through Scotland in the 20th century.
Not sharing much else, producers of the show aren’t giving much away about Claire with her parents as a child as Roberts says, “Maybe (as the crowd goes nuts), maybe isn’t a no!” One of my OUTLANDER favorites Graham McTavish drops by to question young Sam Retford who plays Dougal MacKenzie saying, “First of all, congratulations on the wig and beard” but asking about Dougal’s sensitive side. Retford says he fell in love the moment he saw McTavish calling him “dad.” What got everyone teary eyed was Raya Yarbrough getting a hall full of fans to sing the “Skye Boat Song” – okay, I’m broken now.
And I suppose I’ll have to stay that way as AMC’s THE WALKING DEAD: Daryl Dixon’s Norman Reedus says, “Daryl’s journey is far from over” but it is also announced that the series will end with Season 4. Good gawd how much more can we take? A lot apparently! Reedus also says, “We’ve had a very close connection with all of you and a loyal fan base. We started this show way back when, and we would come here, we get all this love, and it just made us work harder and the show has just gotten better and better. I’s been such a big part of my life; it’s something I’ve put so much work into and spent so many hours, weeks, months and years thinking about it obsessively and trying to improve every single year.” Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride’s characters will be taking a global trot through Spain (with stops in Bilbao, Galicia, Andalucia, Segovia, Toledo and Madrid – passport please!). McBride says of her journey through the dead, “It has been the thrill of a lifetime to shoot this part of Daryl and Carol’s adventure together in Europe and I keep coming back for more of these two characters. There is still so much story left to tell and so much for the fans to look forward to.”
Moderated by Chris Hardwick and joined by showrunner David Zabel, Scott M. Gimple as executive producer and chief content officer as well as executive producer Greg Nicotero, prep your televisions for September 7th when the show premiers. Shudder is getting in on the action as Nicotero is part of a competition show called GUTS & GLORY which will air September 9th on AMC+. The premise of the show is a horror experience of challenges, horror and survival. Sign me up for that!! Reedus also has another season of RIDE WITH NORMAL REEDUS coming on September 14th and his ride guests include a few names you might recognize with Robert Patrick, Kim Coates (back in the saddle SOA rider!), Gimple and Nicotero and love when McBride joins in the fun.
So, after all the emotional morning trauma, lets turn to something more galactic, shall we? FX’s new show ALIEN: Earth makes its debut in Hall H. The series created by Noah Hawley is based on the ALIEN franchise in this prequel set two years before the original 1979 ALIEN film. A craft crashes on Earth as a ragtag band of soldiers with something aboard they should have. Premiering on FX August 12th (set your intergalactic calendars people), the series will complete a season in eight-episodes. The panel included Sydney Chandler who plays Wendy, Timothy Olyphant, Alex Lawther, Samuel Blenkin and Babou Ceesay who are sitting in a room of almost 7,000 fans who are here to see what the show has to offer in the way of details.
There is family, friendship, greed, corruption and, of course, the kind of horror one would expect when a xenomorph is out to kill everything, no exceptions. Creator Hawley says, “Each hour has to have its horror elements but it has to be a drama. You have to worry that I may kill one of these people, I just might.” He also refers to the creatures as “genetic revulsion.” Right up our alley! Olyphant talks about the storyline as “the thing that wake you up in the middle of the night that you’re thinking about the next day are just scenes between two people and they’re so riveting, in addition to the thrills, scares and drama.” Yes, it is true that the first episode of ALIEN: Earth was shown and no, I’m not giving out any details! Trust me, you’ll be glad I made you wait!
If you haven’t had enough of ALIEN: Earth, head over to the interactive called “The Wreckage” and discover the story, activities and a few cool beverages outside of the Convention Center.
Okay, the cat is out of the bag, I have been a Mark Hamill fan since I fell into a teenage crush for him in 1977 as Luke Skywalker (I think I just aged myself!). So when I heard he was in the film THE LONG WALK, I didn’t need to see or hear anything more to know I would be in the front row at the theatre. Of course, the bonus is that this film is based on the Stephen King novel because that my friends means our emotions are going to be on a roller coaster ride. Getting a chance to see the first twenty-two minutes of the film (that came with a hefty warning from the moderators Eric Vespe and Anthony Breznica), the story is based on a contest where one hundred teen boys walk under the eye of the commander played by Luke Skywalker, oh sorry, Mark Hamill. Who ever makes it to the end – wins. The panel included David Jonsson, Tut Nyuot, Garrett Wareing, Charlie Plummer and Mark Hamill, producer Roy Lee and screenwriter JT Mollner. The latter on the panel said, “We wanted the beauty, love, story of friendships, brutality and hopelessness. If this book got into the wrong hands, the wrong studio, it could have been neutered. We kept the teeth. It definitely has bite, it needs to, it wouldn’t work if we didn’t go all the way. It is an unrelenting and brave film.”
Hamill said of his taking on the role of the Army commander (and his reception was craaaaazy loud) that it was a character he knew a lot about being raised on a military base in Japan recalling of soldiers, “if you vomited, you ate it. I saw it first-hand.” But he also said after reading the script that, “I know this guy”.
With monster’s human and not so human, we are now into PREDATOR: Badlands as the audience comes face to sorta face with the Predator himself scanning the audience and saying something that only a fellow predator might understand. Sometimes it’s better not to know, ya know? Moderator Kevin Smith comes into Predator’s line of sight and the audience is spared. Director Dan Trachtenberg who said of predator’s vocal stylings, “I don’t speak Yautja, but I’m pretty sure he said something about the Epstein files!”, Elle Fanning, Dimitrius Schuster-Kolamatangi, and VFX Alec Gillis.
The story is that of a outcast predator meets an ally searching as this is the first time a predator has been a good guy? Fanning puts her thought in, “It has so much heart and emotion. PREY definitely had that, but what made Badlands unique is there are no humans in this film. I play a synthetic android and Dimitrius is a predator. There’s an unlikely friendship among these two characters. I will say, I do play two parts in the film.” Begin shown the first fifteen minutes of the film, with predator brothers and a father who wants one of them gone. One saves the other sending them to another planet and I’ll leave you to see it in theatres November 7th to decide which one.
Now that my eyes are forever emblazon with red lasers and a heck of a light show, there are recognizable riders marching down the aisle to stand guard at the main stage. Disney brings it all with TRON: Ares. Kevin Smith returns as moderator asking the audience, “Did you see that entrance? That cost more than CLERKS!” The pan included director Joachim Ronning, Jared Leto, Evan Peters, Arturo Castro, Gillian Anderson, Cameron Monaghan, Jodie Turner-Smith, Greta Lee and Jeff Bridges (aka Kevin Flynn). In this film, Ares (Leto) is sent into the real world facing evil tech Julian Dillinger (Peters). It is Bridges who makes an impact by saying, “1982! 43 years ago, c’mon man, and we’re continuing the story? Lisberger created this wild word that was so fun to be part of. These times, artificial intelligence is on everybody’s mind and heart these days.”
Leto says he is a Tron superfan, “If I wasn’t on the stage, I would be in the audience right now cheering like all these crazy people here. It was in 1982 that video games were exploding and films were a huge part of my life when I was a kid. This movie just grabbed hold of me, my imagination and it showed me what was possible in the world. Movies like this really gave me something to dream for and dream about.” Two different clips were shown and they are fantastic. Nine Inch Nails (for the millions of fans) is responsible for the score of the film with the song “As Alive as You Need Me to Be” released recently. I remember the first time I saw TRON in 1982 so you know I’ll be there in 2025 to see it through. Ah, traditions!
That is the end of Day Two and if that isn’t enough for you, Hall H and Ballroom 20 are going to be filled again tomorrow with fan favorites. See you there!
Controversy and Laughs with Comedy Central Adult Animation
Jeri Jacquin
Hall H was packed late Friday afternoon for Comedy’s Central’s Adult Animation panel. South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone (their first time in 10 years), took the stage along with Beavis and Butt-Head creator Mike Judge and Digman! Star and co-creator Andy Samberg. Moderated by Josh Horowitz, excited fans were treated to stories, laughs and what is coming next for these beloved and iconic shows. It must also be said that fans were talking before the panel began about the recent South Park Season 27 with the teeny, tiny DJT character – oh hell, the whole episode had every recalling and laughing.
Horowitz addressed Parker and Stone with the unbelievable apology of “we’re terribly sorry”. Personally, I don’t think they have anything to apologize for since signing their $1.5 billion (with a b) deal with Paramount to continue South Park which means that neither writer is afraid of Oompa Loompas!
Samberg said South Park was a college get together, as well as Beavis and Butt-Head and it meant everything to him. Judge talks about how he thought he would be recognized for his work for Beavis and Butt-Head, but he wasn’t. Stone and Parker agree but also say that Comic Con fans are so nice. They also admit they may use their character voices from time to time.
Asking about their influences, Stone and Parker met over MONTY PYTHON’s Flying Circus on PBS on a Thursday night. Meeting in film school, the two guys were in classes and they were the only two that wanted to do comedy. “The internet was just coming out but it was the VHS that went ‘viral’ yet me and Matt were sleeping on couches to get to meetings”, says Parker.
Judge agrees that it was the PBS series and that Terry Gilliams animation was everything. He also mentioned National Lampoons Magazine saying the animation in the 80s was bad unless you went to creative festivals. A personal note, Judge does sound like Beavis! He tells the story of the Beavis-laugh inspired by a student crushing on a calculous teacher who was a former Dallas Cowboy cheerleader.
Stone says he loves animation because they don’t age. They last and it was a good creative decision for both Stone and Parker. “We got to create these characters and stick with them for a long time”, Stone says. Parker also admits that he has no idea what the next week episode is going to be and it’s “super stressful”. The timeline is admittedly unique and Judge says it has changed some and it takes time doing storyboards and vocals etc. “It’s getting a little faster”, he says. Parker says, “what is great for animators today is that it can all be done in one building so we can make changes. That’s the beauty of it”. Samberg did his at home which allowed him to make changes. “I think for us it was more about timing. SNL was people talking about it and over a period of time people would get a shirt that says “Making Copies!”. That’s why SNL did the same characters over and over. Digman!, my friend Neil Campbell wanted to do an animated show. I did Nic Cage impression on SNL but I wanted to keep doing it after so we reversed engineered it and went from there.” Asked if he was up to going to 25 to 30 seasons, Samberg replied, “Gawd, I would do anything to do that yeah. It is pretty amazing to be on here with my show but I’m going to roll with it.”
Stone says there is always competition with TikTok saying, “I’m jealous of how they can edit on their phone and what took us so much longer, people have these creative tools. It feels competitive, that’s something that keeps us going. Everyone is doing it.”
Horowitz asks if there is a keeper of the knowledge of South Park or Beavis and Butthead? And Parker points to the audience and says, “It’s them! We just go on the internet and see what people are saying and we can look at a fanbase and find out ‘oh yeah that’s who his mom is’ and the audience has said it”. Taking a break for Judge he says, “Not to bash on MTV, we had an ugly relationship for a while and we were doing too many too fast. There was no quality control but I loved doing it. I was relieved to be done but over the years I missed it. When we rebooted it, I did have all the model sheets and it was a good thing because no one else had them. I felt like I needed a break at the time but I did miss doing it and happy to do it again.”
The guests have maintained control of their projects, Parker says, “For us, we always like to think we were a band. It was like we go into a new season it’s like going into the studio together not knowing what was going to come out. WE have no idea what this album is going to sound like and every episode is a song. Even like last night, that show ended up a certain way and now we can react to that. When the season is done, okay, that’s a good album or not. It’s that creative thing. For us, we are either on or off. We have to have that energy otherwise we get lazy.”
Thoughts on being pitched live action for their characters? Judge says, “From the very beginning we were pitched and I’ve come close to wanting to do it. We did a casting session when the pandemic started, I’m open to it if something pops. There was one guy who did Beavis and it was funny. Then SNL did it with Ryan Gosling and I thought ‘that was pretty cool’ so many you never know.” Stone says they have never been approached but Parker says they have seen fan made things. Samberg believes, “In some ways the scale of things is so much less than live action which is what I like about it. It’s cartoon pace and it’s what we love and that’s why I think animation is so good for comedy. We are generation Sponge Bob now and that’s what people are coming up on. I like the jam of jokes and bigger, if it’s making us laugh, we will do it.”
Satirizing public figures over the years, Horowitz asks if each of them has a favorite? Somehow, I feel this is a loaded question but okay. Samberg believes its Nic Cage doing Nic Cage on SNL. Bringing up Matt Damon for Team America, Stone jumped in with, “Matt was super cool because he knows that all came from making puppets. They showed us the puppets and said that it didn’t look like Matt Damon. It looked like something was wrong with him! I just did the thing and oh well.”
Finally, who inspires these clearly creative geniuses? Stone was the first to chime in with, “YouTube, I will find a random person doing a random thing and it reminds me of high school and making all those movies. Chocco-dogger and I watch him eat for two hours.” Judge says, “There is a guy on TikTok who does an imitation of Tucker Carlson and it’s him reading Dr. Dre lyrics and it makes me laugh. I’m the same way; I find these funny people on Instagram etc.”
What is amazing is that the same things that make us laugh, like a dog eating sandwiches on YouTube are the very same things that make Samberg, Judge, Stone and Parker laugh. That might very well be the key to their success. The more twisted and unusual, the more we as a collective group of carbon-based units who are starving for hilarity, are going to watch their work religiously. Ren & Stimpy me started down the rabbit hole helping to look for magic nose goblins, followed by Beavis and Butthead and my teenagers (at the time) repeating lines and embracing Cornholio like the character was a member of the family! When The Simpsons aired, every t-shirt in the house had Barts face on it and gawd forbid the dryer cracked the applique or a kid would go nuts! South Park roped me in tight and Cartman felt like a brother from another mother because I felt it in my soul when he yelled, ‘you will respect my authoritaaaahhhhyy’ and gawd forbid the applique cracked in my nightshirt. Digman! keeps comedy animation moving forward alongside with the same laughs and shocks that has gently shoved me towards my Amazon cart to order a new nightshirt. Damn washer better not crack the applique!
Look, grasp that adults need their cool stuff too!
Saturday Brings Animation and Space from Comic Con 2025
Jeri Jacquin
It is day three of San Diego Comic Con 2025 and if animation is your thing, then Hall H and Ballroom 20 have plenty for you. The sun is shining; the weather is amazing so let’s get to it. Ballroom 20 has a total line up of shows including BOB’S BURGERS, FUTURAMA, THE SIMPSONS, AMERICAN DAD and FAMILY GUY. All the shows that are fit to test your funny bone to the max.
In Hall H this morning, more animation of familiar ‘faces’ comes with the film COYOTE VS. ACME. Coming the summer of 2026 from Ketchup Entertainment, the panel includes moderator Paul Scheer who is interrupted by Bill Pellicano (P.J. Byrne) yelling that he has ‘cease and desist’ papers claiming the movie is anti-ACME. Eric Bauza, Dave Green and Martha Kelly. The film is the legal push by Wile E. Coyote against Acme claiming he has suffered under their hands. Trying to capture the Road Runner and feeling ‘Hurt’ (thanks Johnny Cash), Wile sees a commercial for a personal injury attorney with the question, “Have you ever pulled the ripcord to your parachute and only silverware fell out?”
It's off to court with attorney’s Avery (Will Forte) and Crane (John Cena) as the judge (Luis Guzman) hears the case. As a Road Runner-Wile E. Coyote fan since infancy, I love this twist and can’t wait to see how Wile’s court case comes out when the truth about Acme fires off like a rocket skate!
Later today, my granddaughter and I will be off to see THE BAD GUYS 2 from DreamWorks Animation. Until then, moderator by Kevin McCarthy, brings the voices of Sam Rockwell returning as Mr. Wolf, Craig Robinson as Mr. Shark, Marc Maron as Mr. Snack, Anthony Ramos as Mr. Piranha, and Awkwafina as Ms. Tarantula to the screen. Clips from the film get the actors to talk about the difficulties of doing voice over work. The new characters to the film are Natasha Lyonne as Doom, Maria Bakalova as Pigtail and Danielle Brooks as Kitty Kat, also knows as The Bad Girls! I think the best part was the cast letting the fans know this was their full trip to Comic Con and Hall H. Nothing like experiencing it all with 7,000 of your closest friends, right?
Star Trek Universe has a place in the big hall today as moderator Robert Picardo who played The Doctor in STAR TREK: Voyager and will be returning for STAR TREK: Strange New World and STAR TREK: Starfleet Academy, along with co-show runners and executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau. Always full of surprises, Hall H fans got a screening to an upcoming episode A Space Adventure Hour and an episode with Jim Henson’s Creature Shop puppets. The list was long for this panel of Rebecca Romijn, Ethan Peck, Jess Bush, Christina Chong, Paul Wesley and executive producers Akiva Goldsman who says, “We think of you all the time when we are in the writer’s room and what would the fans want and love”, Henry Meyers and Alex Kurtzman.
A trailer for STAR TREK: Starfleet Academy gives fan a look at Holly Hunter as Chancellor Nahla Ake and Paul Giamatti as the evil Nus Braka. The cadets include Sandro Rosta, Karim Diane, Kerrice Brooks, George Hawkins and Bella Shepard. If you need something more of Star Trek, head over to the Gaslamp Quarter and step inside the immersive Strange New Spectacle and go into different worlds brought about by Strange New Worlds.
The upcoming film PROJECT HAIL MARY brings directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, along with author Any Weird and THE MARTIAN screenwriter Drew Goddard to the panel in Hall H. Don’t think for a moment that last night lightshow was the one any only because galactic maps look absolutely stunning in the stretchy screens. The film tells the story of Ryan Gosling’s character Ryland Grace who is a school teacher who becomes an astronaut. Up in space, he suddenly wakes up on a space station and doesn’t remember who he is or what he is suppose to be doing. Twelve light years from Earth, he has to use duct tape and a table knife (figurately speaking) to do what needs done.
Gosling, who received a very loud reception by the audience and gives a shout out to Hall H, says the film is, “about a scared guy who doesn’t know what he’s doing and I was a scared guy who didn’t know what I was doing, trying to turn it into a movie.” It explains why he wanted Andy Weird as part of the project calling him the greatest science fiction writer, I’d blush! Amazon MGM Studios is set to release the film March 2026. As a fan of THE MARTIAN, I can’t wait to see how this looks on screen and plays out.
For Season 2 of HBOMax’s PEACEMAKER, moderator Josh Horowitz returns hyping up fans after we see a trailer. James Gunn’s universe brings the panel Tim Meadows, Frank Grillo, Steve Agee, Freddy Stroma, Jennifer Holland, executive producer James Gunn and, of course, John Cena who comes out in costume. After chugging a full bottle of water, Cena makes his apologies for any ‘mishaps’ that may follow warning he needed to stay hydrated. Meadows wanted to make it clear that he thinks the fans are so nice shouting “I love you too Mom” to a fan in the audience.
Cena says wearing a costume is what he is needed because it’s Comic Con! The crowd then goes wild when Horowitz mentions SUPERMAN as Cena gives a standing ovation next to Gunn. So, PEACEMAKER Season Two falls under the guise of the new DCU as Gunn explains, “The SUPERMAN leads directly to the show, the show happens a month after the events of Superman. A lot of the characters return from season one and there is a lot more as we go down the line. It is part of the DCU now.” When asked about working in the Gunn universe, Grillo says quite loudly, “It’s FUN!” Holland says, “The most unique thing for me is that James’ improv writes while we are filming so he is throwing improv lines while we are filming and he is laughing the whole time he’s doing it. It is a lot of fun.”
Gunn continues, “I like television shows where there is growth and sometimes regression. Peacemaker is a different guy this year, he is dealing with the demons and has uncovered from the first season and the world isn’t accepting him. They aren’t accepting him as a hero, he’s in love with Amelia Harcourt and she isn’t accepting him. He isn’t getting anything he wants so he discovers another universe and he thinks it’s the perfect universe and it goes from there.” Cena adds, “I’m doing great! Gosh, I applaud James for his ability to tell stories through super circumstances and make material we can all relate to is so important. When we watch these larger-than-life characters go through their journey, it needs to be something we can root for. I never want to tell the audience how to feel but what I see is someone going through a rough patch in life and thinks the grass is greener on the other side. I think people will enjoy that lane of the season.”
Tim Meadows (of SNL fame and other films) gets the call to be a part of the comic universe and says, “I was very excited and my manager said James wanted to facetime with me. I didn’t want to fan-boy out to hard but he explained to me the character and the arc and it was the easiest negotiating ever.” Gunn says, “we were desperate! We interviewed so many and none of them fit the character and I thought Meadows might be good. He came in day one and the role was written for him, he was perfect.” Grillo adds, “When James Gunn calls you and says ‘I got this’, it isn’t like ‘okay send me the script’, it’s okay – you don’t have to send me anything, just tell me where to show up. When that call comes, there is no question that you are going to do it. It is about the captain!”
Anne Rice has always been one of my favorite authors and my love affair with her world begin in 1976 and Interview with a Vampire before it ever became a film with Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Antonio Banderas. AMC has been on top of her work bringing INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE to the screen for its 3rd season changing its name to THE VAMPIRE LESTATE as well as the return of MAYFAIR WITCHES, and now THE TALAMASCA: The Secret Order which premiers in October.
Sam Reid looks exactly like the Lestat in my head and is on his way to being a rock star and going on tour along with Gabrielle, Nicholas, Marius (oh goodness read his story!) and Magnus joining Louis played by Jacob Anderson, Armand and the rest of the gang in what can only be called vampiric need for therapy. Jennifer Ehle, Christopher Heyerdahl, Damien Atkins, Ella Ballentine is Baby Jenks and Jeanine Serrales takes on the role of Christine. Reid says in Season 3, that Lestat is, “living a rock star life in its hedonistic and most authentic way. Right now, he wants to be completely engulfed in the music and it lights a fire in him.”
Moderating is Damian Holbrook as Eric Bogosian has crossed over from Interview to Talamasca portraying writer Daniel Molloy, who is being summoned to speak with Louis once again. The stars include Nicholas Denton, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Celine Buckens, William Fichtner (be still my heart) along with showrunners John Hancock, Mark Lafferty and Mark Johnson. Since finishing up her long role on Downton Abbey, Elizabeth McGovern moves on to a role in the series and I’m so thrilled for her to be a part of this new world. If you don’t know anything about the Talamasca (and I highly suggest you read about them because its awesome), this secret group basically tracks witches and vampires all over the world. Another amazing bit of it all is that Anne Rice’s son, Christopher Rice will be part of showrunning the series.
Can you believe it? One more day and San Diego Comic Con 2025 will be coming to a close. Tomorrow is a great time for families to bring the kids and explore all the fun things to see and do both inside the exhibit hall and outside behind the Convention Center and in the Gaslamp. I have one more stop in Hall H before bidding everyone adieu till we meet again in 2026!
Final Day of San Diego Comic Con 2025 is Historic
Jeri Jacquin
The final day is here and to once again say it all flew by so fast is an understatement. Packed with panels and activities, the final days is always a chance to catch up to things I didn’t get to see earlier in the week and spend a little time watching the kids come and explore as families have an opportunity for free fun. My own family did their part to participate with granddaughter Jaycie dressed as Coraline and daughter Jenise dressing as Other Mother. They were well received and spent a lot of time having their picture taken!
Me? Well, I was here for one thing and one thing only. The panel for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art and the last for Hall H. Everyone there wanted to be a part of something unique and iconic as George Lucas arrives to the loud cheer and love of fans. Trust me when I say 7,000 people is LOUD. Queen Latifah began his introduction saying, “he revolutionized film making, not just through spectacle but through a deeply human lens. His magnum opus STAR WARS has saved our lives for generations and taught us to trust our instincts. One person can change the course of history and the Force is always within us. His imagination has led the path for generations of fans and filmmakers alike – he’s the reason we are here today. Please welcome for the first time, ever, at Comic Con, give it up for the one, the only George Lucas!!
Of course, there were light savers everywhere and a warm welcome from Queen Latifah, Guillermo del Torro who is a board member for the Lucas Museum, along with illustrator and production designer Doug Chiang. He came to talk about the museum where so much of the work he has kept with him will finally have a new home for all of us to see opening in 2026 in Exposition Park on 11-acres which 81-year-old Lucas, himself, calls a “cultural fantasy”. The audience was treated to a tour of what it will look like inside and narrated by who else – Samuel L. Jackson. There will be works by Norman Rockell, Frida Kahlo, Jack Kirby and R. Crumb along with drawings from 1934 and Flash Gordon and original Peanuts sketches from the 50s and 60s. My favorite is a 1968 drawing of Iron Man and Black Panther.
Don’t think for a moment he forgot his loyal and generational Star Wars fans as there will be a Naboo starfighter and speeder bikes and I’m hoping THAT will be interactive because me on a speeder bike has to happen! The past 50 years, Lucas has collected quite a bit and says, “I’ve been doing this for 50 years now and it occurred to me, what am I going to do with it all. I’m not going to sell it. I would never do that. It’s not what art is … It doesn’t work that way. If you have an emotional connection, then it’s art.”
He continues, “I’ve worked with hundreds of illustrators in my life and they’re all brilliant, but they don’t get recognized for anything. This museum is a temple to the people.” There will be a section of the museum for science fiction artworks. “It’s one thing that this kind of art will celebrate because of science fiction. Science fiction is a myth, but we have made it real. Humans made it real because of science fictions books and art that makes people say, ‘Oh we could go to the moon’, and once that idea is implemented, then we believe we could do it.”
Reflecting on Lucas, Chiang says his own work will be in the museum halls as “George leads from the heart, and this museum is him. My hope is that it will inspire the next Rockell or Frazetta.” Del Torro spoke of the wildfires early this year in Los Angeles that came “frighteningly close” to his own at-home collection adding, “Now that the museum exists, a lot of it may go there. Comics were the first one to punch Nazis before movies” saying the political importance of comics has been their since the beginning.
I found myself being quite moved sitting so close to someone who changed my life and view of films in so many ways back in 1983 when STAR WARS hit theatres. The scope and visuals of what was on the screen, the depth of storyline and characters became engrained into my being and I passed that on to my family and grandkids. It must be said that my collection of ‘toys’ has not been altered one bit. Over the years, there have been additions and as more stories came to the little screen, my Yoda has a companion sitting next to him in Grogu. Since they all mean something to me, I suppose that means they are my art. The person responsible for that is George Lucas and I will forever be grateful to him.
