“I thought your world would be so different from mine,” says Dolores (Evan Rachel Wood) in a new trailer for “Westworld” Season 3.
“There isn’t any difference at all is there?”
The HBO drama unveiled the trailer at San Diego Comic-Con, where cast and crew teased tidbits about the upcoming third season.
Set in the immediate aftermath of the android host rebellion in the theme park, the story picks up with Dolores emerging into the outside world bearing the pearls housing the consciousness of several androids with her.
“Breaking Bad” Emmy winner Aaron Paul joins the cast as a construction worker in near-future Los Angeles with a robot co-worker named George. He runs into Dolores and forms a connection with her.
“Some people were born into privilege and some are born into poverty,” Paul said during the panel discussion. “Caleb was born into a complicated thing …. He’s just trying to survive in the world and sometimes he has to do bad things.”
The trailer includes glimpses of Jeffrey Wright as Bernard, Tessa Thompson as Charlotte (or likely, Dolores in Charlotte’s body), and Thandie Newton’s Maeve in a World War II setting. Which means: Nazi robots are coming.
“This is season is a little less of a guessing game and more of an experience with the hosts finally getting to meet their makers,” co-showrunner Jonathan Nolan recently said.
“Westworld” Season 3 is set to premiere on HBO sometime in 2020.
This year’s San Diego Comic Con has been a mostly sleepy affair, with most of the major movie studios forgoing splashy presentations, leaving buzzy television series to pick up the slack. (In all fairness, that “Watchmen” trailer rules.) So there was a certain amount of built-in hype for Marvel Studios’ return to Hall H (they skipped last year); not only has the 2019 cinematic landscape been largely defined by the studio (thanks to hits like “Captain Marvel” and “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” and the release of the juggernaut “Avengers: Endgame,” which just surpassed “Avatar” as the highest grossing movie ever) but much of their upcoming slate has been a mystery, a muddled brew of conjecture, half-truths and wishful thinking. So this afternoon, in San Diego, the air was cleared. In a breathless 90-minute presentation, “phase four” of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, encompassing theatrical releases and new productions for Disney’s forthcoming direct-to-consumer streaming platform Disney+, were meticulously detailed. And far from a saggy slate, this crop of titles is exciting and experiment. After so much change and so much success, Marvel Studios seems ready to mix it up. And we couldn’t be more excited.
In an effort to streamline our reporting, we’ll go in the order they went in Hall H. Just strap in. It’s a wild ride.
Marvel Studios
After quickly showing a MCU greatest hits reel and announcing “Avengers: Endgame’s” box office milestone, Kevin Feige introduced the cast and crew of “Eternals,” set for release on November 6, 2020. Director Chloé Zhao appeared onstage with a ridiculously stacked cast, including Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff (the “first deaf hero” in the MCU), Brian Tyree Henry, Salma Hayek, Lia McHugh, Don Lee and, the queen herself, Angelina Jolie.
As far as kicking things off with a bang, this was pretty great.
Nanjiani said that he’d been to Comic Con eight times before but that this was the first time he’d gotten into Hall H. He then made a really cool analogy for the MCU. “It used to be like ‘Casablanca’ had everything – action, drama, thriller and movies had to be little genres. Is this a comedy? Is it a thriller? Marvel is a throwback to those old school movies because they have everything,” he said. “I’m just excited to be able to do all that.” Jolie, for her part, didn’t take the role lightly. “What it means to be a part of the MCU to be a part of this family, we know what the task is and we are all going to work very, very hard,” Jolie said, sounding both humble and very determined.
Marvel Studios
After “Eternals,” we were then treated to a look at “The Falcon and the Winter Solider,” a new series scheduled to hit the Disney+ streaming service in August 2020. Sebastian Stan and Anthony Mackie appeared on stage and Feige described the setting of the show as “post-‘Endgame,’” but besides that, details weren’t exactly revealed … oh, except that Daniel Bruhl, who played the villainous Baron Zemo in “Captain America: Civil War,” will be back (and presumably, up to no good).
Marvel Studios
Next was a look at the film for February 12, 2021: “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” Not only is that title new (and quite a mouthful!), but Feige detailed how the Ten Rings, a famous terrorist group in Marvel history, has been planted as Easter eggs in a ton of the movies (serious, “Ant-Man!?!”) but now it will really get to take center stage. Tony Leung, one of our greatest living actors, will play the real version of The Mandarin (you’ll remember Ben Kingsley infamously played a phony version of the character in “Iron Man 3”), alongside Awkwafina (in an undisclosed role) and newcomer Simu Liu as the titular hero. Liu said he was “cast on Tuesday,” and said the casting was “a fulfillment of my dream.” Director Destin Daniel Cretton said that he’s excited to create an MCU film that “reflects all the beautiful colors I see in this room. To be a small part in that is really special to me.”
Marvel Studios
After that we got a brief (and I mean brief) look at “WandaVision,” the upcoming Disney+ series that concerns Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany’s characters from the MCU along with a very cool surprise, the addition of Monica Rambeau, who we last saw as a child in “Captain Marvel,” now played by the wonderful Teyonah Parris. Everyone on stage described the show as “strange,” with Feige saying it’s “unlike anything we’ve done before,” and Bettany calling it “surprising and weird.” It looks, in part, to be based on Tom King’s recent, highly celebrated comic book run and if the logo is any indication will have a retro 1950’s aesthetic. Look for it in spring 2021.
Marvel Studios
Another Disney+ title we got a taste of is “Loki.” Feige said that after “Endgame,” “The question I got asked more than any other was: where did Loki go?” Well, as it turns out, a lot of places, thanks to his use of the space stone. Tom Hiddleston, always the fan favorite, says that this will be a less evolved Loki than he currently sits in the MCU. Think first “Avengers” Loki. “Just about the last thing that happened to him was he got Hulk smash. There’s a lot of psychological evolution that has yet to happen,” Hiddleston said. “Kevin has shown me what his plans are but it is one of the most exciting, creative opportunities I’ve ever come across. This is new territory, a new world, new challenges. I cannot wait to get started.” He’ll beam into your homes spring 2021.
Marvel Studios
Next, the film hitting theaters on May 7, 2021 was revealed: the sequel to “Doctor Strange,” with the tantalizingly rococo title “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Feige started by saying that just because Jake Gyllenhaal was lying to our beloved Peter Parker, doesn’t mean that a multiverse doesn’t exist. But when returning director Scott Derrickson walked out on stage, he let loose an even bigger bombshell: “We’re going to make the first scary MCU film.” Whoa. (Feige quickly said: “It’s a PG-13 movie and you’re going to like it.” So no R … yet.)
Benedict Cumberbatch came out on stage and said that “This twist of horror will really have people gripped. He’ll be in a position of not knowing what’s coming at him. We’re going back to trying to destroy him a bit.” Olsen was then brought back out on stage; she’ll be fighting the forces of darkness alongside Strange in this outing and she remarked that the storylines of her show and the “Doctor Strange” sequel will be linked.
Marvel Studios
Next up: summer 2021 on Disney+, the first “animated series from Marvel Studios,” “What If.” It’ll feature Jeffrey Wright from “Westworld” as the voice of The Watcher and “a huge majority f the actors in our movies will reprise their roles,” taking on alternative takes on characters and scenarios you already love.
Marvel Studios
Jeremy Renner then emerged, making his way through the crowd, to help announce the “Hawkeye” “limited series” (none of the other shows were described as such) coming to Disney+ in the fall of 2021. What’s more, as Feige said with great pride, the series will be responsible for “bringing Kate Bishop into the MCU and we’ll explore more of his time as Ronin in this series.” Renner seems pumped about the series (which, based on the logline and the logo seems to be derived from Matt Faction’s amazing series): “What I think Hawkeye is a superhero without superpowers. And I get to train somebody else to be a superhero without superpowers. It’s an amazing sentiment. I think that’s fantastic.”
Marvel Studios
And then we got to talk about the third film of 2021, coming November 5, 2021: “Thor: Love and Thunder.” Writer/director Taika Waititi has returned to the franchise and he was joined on stage alongside Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson. Waititi said he was inspired by the Jason Aaron comic book “The Mighty Thor.” “It introduces, for the the first time, female Thor.” He said there was only one person who could carry the hammer (and carry the hammer, out onto the stage, she did) — Natalie Portman, making her return to the MCU after a somewhat contentious shoot on “Thor: The Dark World.” People were shook. This is a huge surprise. Portman said that inheriting the role of Thor, “Feels pretty good.” She then said: “I’ve always had some hammer envy.”
Marvel Studios
At the tail end of the panel, we were treated to May, 2020’s film, “Black Widow.” We saw some footage, which looks very “Mission: Impossible”-y, and Scarlett Johansson was joined onstage by her amazing cast (including an incredibly charming David Harbour from “Stranger Things”). We’ll do a deep dive into the footage and everything a bit later, but at the end of the panel, the cast walked on stage with their Black Widow hats for a big group photo. They were then joined by everybody else who had been a part of the presentation (all wearing their Black Widow hats, which I noticed were considerably higher quality than the ones that were handed out) and then, at the very very end of the presentation, after Feige had bemoaned the fact that he didn’t get to talk about “Black Panther 2” (!), or “Captain Marvel 2” (!!) or “Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 3” (!!!) or talk about “Fantastic Four” or the plans for the mutants (!!!!).
Marvel Studios
Then he brought out two-time Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali. Feige said that Ali had another hat he’d like to wear. And then he put it on and it said “Blade.” It’s unclear whether or not it’s a TV series or a movie, but goddamn are we pumped.
This year’s big-budget retelling of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ beloved graphic novel “Watchmen” has been one of the most tantalizing question-marks on the TV landscape this year. We knew it was coming but what would it be? Thankfully, a new trailer, released to coincide with San Diego Comic Con, has shed some light on the project, if not given us any straight-up answers. Maybe it’s best if you just watch the trailer for the Damon Lindelof-created series yourself:
As you can see, there are some hallmarks from the original work: Dr. Manhattan (who is playing the character has yet to be revealed), on and off of Mars; the Owl Ship; a sneering Ozymandias (Jeremy Irons); Nixon; squids! There are also allusions to Silk Spectre and the pirate comic strip that acted as a through-line in the original series. Everything else though … wow. It seems to involve a vast conspiracy, the philosophical conundrum of vigilantism, and Don Johnson chewing the scenery with reckless abandon. And, true to earlier reports, it seems to be something of a companion piece/sequel to the original story (fitting for a series as obsessed with alternate history as Moore and Gibbons’ book) and not a direct adaptation. We are in.
The series, which features a score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, will premiere before Halloween this year. But something tells me that after watching the show, maybe you won’t want to wear a mask.
“Avengers: Endgame” directing duo Joe and Anthony Russo are keeping busy, with projects that still connect them to the MCU and new projects based on more obscure childhood favorites.
The brothers, who were at San Diego Comic-Con to promote their new movie thriller with Chadwick Boseman, “21 Bridges,” also teased “Cherry” with Tom Holland.
Set in their hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, Anthony Russo said the film will be rated R and require the Spider-Man star to play his darkest role yet. Based on the 2018 novel by Nico Walker, Holland will play a young Army vet with PTSD who develops an opioid addiction and starts robbing banks.
Holland appeared in a video message for the panel, calling the role “complicated,” saying it was unlike any he’d done before.
The Russos also plan to team with “Black Panther” star Michael B. Jordan for a remake of “The Thomas Crown Affair.”
They also announced two new projects that aren’t related to the MCU. First up is “Grimjack,” an ’80s comic book about, well, a space pirate.
First Comics / IDW Publishing
Per Collider, here’s the project synopsis: ‘Grimjack is the story of mercenary and his crew who are forced to dig into their own pasts when Grimjack’s estranged teenage daughter comes to him looking for help. This will take them through the insane streets of Cynosure, a mysterious city where all parallel universes intersect. There, this unlikely team fights to save not just themselves, but all the planes of existence as we know it.”
The Russos also want to do a live-action adaptation of the animated show “Battle of the Planets,” an American adaptation of the Japanese anime series “Science Ninja Team Gatchaman.” The Americanized version ran from 1978 – 1980.
Joe said he and his brother would rush home from school every day to watch “Battle of the Planets,” while Anthony added that “Grimjack” was a “deep cut” that the pair loved as kids.
“Rick and Morty” is finally coming back and it’s bringing “Thor: Ragnarok” director Taika Waititi with it.
A clip of the episode from the long-awaited 4th Season was shown today at San Diego Comic-Con.
Waititi voices an alien intern who may or may not have diabolical designs. And who developed an app that Morty and Jerry desperately need to get off the Internet. (Which has something to do with servers?)
“I think it’s safe to say without fear of being wrong that the gap between seasons three and four will be the longest, and last time that it’s ever so long that it’s ridiculous,” Harmon told EW. “I don’t know how fast we can do it, but I know it will never be this long again.”
So far, that Kanye West cameo still isn’t happening, however. “We’re trying to schedule something,” Roiland said. “It’s not going to be for this batch coming up. But we love the idea of doing something with him.”
Season 4, which will be 10 episodes long, will debut sometime this fall.
We got a brief — very brief — teaser for the first Rick Grimes “The Walking Dead” movie today at San Diego Comic-Con.
Essentially, it’s the familiar opening theme, a logo and the tag line, “Rick Grimes Returns Only In Theaters.”
The movie, which will focus on Andrew Lincoln‘s character, doesn’t yet have a release date, or an official name, but it does have a distributor. Universal confirmed it will distribute the film theatrically.
The Grimes movies are some of the first projects in development from TWD producer Scott Gimple as part of a multi-year plan that which will include additional TWD films, specials, series, and digital content.
According to Gimple, some of the stories will be connected to “The Walking Dead” as fans know it, while others will be standalone stories.
If you were impressed with Henry Cavill’s “arm gun reload” in “Mission: Impossible — Fallout,” stand back for his extra-pumped reveal in the first trailer for Netflix fantasy series “The Witcher.”
Cavill stars as monster hunter Geralt of Rivia who wields a mean sword and is handy with a rope. It’s based on the writings of Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski (and not the video games it also inspired, according to SyFy.)
In the trailer, we also meet the show’s other main characters.: Anya Chalotra as Yennefer, a sorceress and Geralt’s lover; and Freya Allan as Ciri, princess of a conquered nation and a potential Witcher herself.
“I’m a big gamer. I’ve played the games a lot,” Cavill told the crowd in Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con today. “There was something about Geralt that struck a chord with me. He’s not your average hero. He’s a hard exterior, real-world type person and at the same time, deep down, he’s a real hero.”
Cavill also revealed that he did his own stunts for the series. “It’s very important for me that you know it’s Geralt and it’s not some guy doing Geralt stuff but it’s me in there,” he told the audience before showing a clip of his character cutting through a throng of armored soldiers.
Allan said of her character, “She’s had a very sheltered upbringing and as a result she’s incredibly naive to what the real world is. A huge part of her journey is putting herself in other people’s shoes. It’s clear from the start that she has this might and drive but she has to find a new kind of drive to look past the horrific things she sees. It’s a journey of discovery.”
No official release date has yet been announced for the series, only that it’s “coming soon.”
“The Walking Dead” Season 10 trailer premiered today at San Diego Comic-Con, promising a Whisperers showdown and a potential hook-up between Michonne (Danai Gurira) and King Ezekiel (Khary Payton).
But even bigger news: Gurira confirmed at the panel that this will be her last season as Michonne. She told the audience:
“This has been one of the purest joys of my life to play this role and be amongst these people, and amongst all of you. I am very, very thankful for the experience I’ve had, in ways I can’t even express right now. My heart does not leave, the beauty of this show is that TWD family is forever. The connection between us never ends… It was about my calling in a sense and other things I feel called to and the opportunities I’ve had. All I’m filled with is a lot of pain about leaving and a lot of gratitude. I love you, and TWD Family is forever.”
As for what we can expect of her final season on TWD, here are the highlights from the trailer:
We see Carol (Melissa McBride)and Alpha (Samantha Morton) face off, with Carol saying (if we heard this right): “Bitch has to die,” while Alpha says ominously, “You should fear. me.”
It also teases a long-in-the-works Neegan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Daryl (Norman Reedus) showdown and Daryl and Carol talking about riding off into the west together.
The trailer ends with Michonne wielding what looks like Negan’s barb-wire-wrapped bat. Who’s going to be on the receiving end of lethal Lucille this time?
Executive producer Gale Anne Hurd also announced two new cast members:
Thora Birch (last seen on “Colony”) will be playing a character named Gamma, a member of the Whisperers who is wildly protective of Alpha.
Kevin Carroll of “The Leftovers” and “Lucifer” will be playing Virgil, whom executive producer Gale Ann Hurd Hurd said encounters the group but is “desperately trying to get home to his family.” Good luck with that, Virgil.
Thora Birch, Kevin Carroll (USA/HBO)
Season 10 will debut on October 6.
AMC will kick off 10 weeks of “Walking Dead “season 10 reveals leading up to the premiere.
Surprise, Marshmallows! Hulu’s highly-anticipated revival of “Veronica Mars” has debuted a weekly early.
All eight episodes of Season 4 were slated to premiere on Friday, July 26. But today at San Diego Comic-Con, star Kristen Bell revealed that Hulu had decided to gift fans with an early drop.
Start screaming (and streaming) now.
Bell returns as the snarky, clever titular private investigator gets on the case after a series of bombs are set off in Neptune during spring break. After Veronica is hired by the family of one of the victims, the crime-solving, taser-wielding sleuth is pulled into a mystery that pits the enclave’s wealthy elites against the working class.
“We’re only here because you guys kept watching us,” Bell told the Comic-Con panel’s audience.
She added, “I’ll play Veronica until everyone in Neptune is dead.”
Season 4 also brings back Enrico Colantoni as Keith Mars, Jason Dohring as Logan, Percy Daggs III as Wallace, Francis Capra as Weevil, and Max Greenfield as Leo.
New cast members include J.K. Simmons, Patton Oswalt, and Kirby Howell-Baptiste (Bell’s “Good Place” co-star).
“Fear the Walking Dead” will keep walking for Season 6.
AMC has renewed the spinoff of “The Walking Dead,” news that was announced at the show’s San Diego Comic-Con panel today.
The panel featured showrunners Andrew Chambliss and Ian Goldberg; executive producers Robert Kirkman, Dave Alpert, Gale Anne Hurd, and Greg Nicotero; and cast members Lennie James, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Danay Garcia, Maggie Grace, Jenna Elfman, Alexa Nisenson, Austin Amelio, Rubén Blades, and Karen David.
Ahead of Sunday’s midseason finale, attendees got a sneak peek at season 5B, which returns August 11.
Goldberg announced three new faces will join the cast: Colby Minifie, Peter Jacobson and Colby Hollman.
He also teased what to expect when the show returns next month. “The big secret is that there have been other civilizations that have survived the apocalypse,” he said. “We are about to show a lot more.”
“Fear the Walking Dead” is AMC’s second most-watched series, behind only the flagship. It will have company soon: A new spinoff will expand the “Walking Dead” universe,
