So Good News: San Diego Comic-Con Recap

Well what a weekend that was! My favourite time of year is over, San Diego Comic-Con has finished and what a convention it was. We got plenty of surprises and announcements from a variety of mediums, movies to TV and comic books to whet fans excitement for the foreseeable future. All of the trailers released over the weekend are featured on our Facebook page. So, what was some of the big news from Comic-Con?


Spawn

That’s right, the 90’s antihero is set to star in another feature film. This reboot will be the first time since his disappointing first outing in 1997 that Spawn will star in a movie. The good news gets better, Spawn creator and writer Todd McFarlane is helming the project through studio Blumhouse Productions, famous for the films Split and Get Out. McFarlane is wanting to write and direct the film and has stated that he is going to work with a minor budget of only $10-12 million dollars. The film is also slated to be Rated-R with minor supernatural elements according to Collider.

Spawn was one of the biggest comic book characters in the 90’s during the rise of Image Comics although, like many comics from that era, he struggled to remain relevant with his over the top stories, 90’s physique and convoluted storytelling. I for one am eagerly anticipating this reboot that promises to take a more grounded approach to the character. For anyone who needs proof on how Spawn can be made awesome on a small budget, check out the fan film Spawn: The Recall.


Captain Marvel And A Secret Invasion

The most significant news to come out of Marvel’s panel was the announcement of the villains for the upcoming Captain Marvel movie. During Marvel’s time in Hall H, Kevin Feige showcased some of the films concept art showing us our first glimpse at what Brie Larsen might look like as Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel. It was also announced on the Hollywood Reporter that the film will be set in the 90’s. But it was the reveal of the Skrulls as the villains that took everyone by surprise.

For those who are unaware, the Skrulls are aliens who are often in conflict with the Kree for control of space, with the ability to shape shift and in many cases emulate super powers of the people they are copying. Skrulls were considered a Fantastic Four property and were unable to be used in the MCU due to the rights being owned by Fox. Several years ago Marvel made a trade agreement with Fox for the rights to several properties, including Daredevil in exchange for X-Men television rights. Specific details of the trade agreement were kept under wraps. This all happened after the release of the first Avengers movie, which is the main reason why the Badoon were the invading aliens in that film, rather than the Skrulls. It appears that the Skrulls were a part of that trade deal which opens up so many avenues for Marvel. This could be a good solution to dealing with upcoming contract expirations. I got chills at the thought of a potential Secret Invasion leading into Dark Reign.


Ant Man & The Wasp

Little is known about the sequel to 2015’s Ant Man other than Evangeline Lily is going to take on the mantle of the Wasp, as teased at the end of the first film. However The Verge state during the Hall H panel some big casting news revealed that founding Avenger from the comics, Janet Van Dyne will feature in the film and will be played by Michele Pheiffer. Also set to appear in the film is Laurence Fishbourne, who is making the jump from DC to Marvel to play another Giant Man from the comics, Bill Foster. Foster has also gone by the alias Goliath or Black Goliath and is famously known for dying by the hands of the Thor clone in the original Civil War. Pheiffer and Fishbourne will star alongside Paul Rudd, Lily, and Michael Douglas.


Wonder Woman Sequel

We knew it was coming based on the success of the first film, but the Huffington Post has confirmed that the sequel to Wonder Woman has been green lit. What is even better is the comic book legend Geoff Johns has already started developing the script. Johns is known for focusing on characterisation and more intimate moments, something that I found to be a bit stale in the first film. Director Patty Jenkins is expected to return and Diana is expected to be battling the Soviets in the 80’s. It will be interesting to see how War will feature upon Ares’ apparent demise in the first film.


Shazam!

During the Warner Bros. panel audiences were given an update on the upcoming Shazam! movie. IGN reports that Geoff Johns confirmed Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson‘s departure from Shazam!, however still remains in the role for the spin off Black Adam film, which has been slated as Part 2 of the Shazam! movie after it being split last year. Johns also confirmed that the film will be released in 2019. Honestly, this is one of my most anticipated upcoming comic films if they can do Captain Marvel (I’m sorry but licensing issues or not it’s still Captain Marvel) correctly on screen.


Flashpoint

We were also given an update on the upcoming Flash film that has been in production turmoil since it’s announced. After losing directors, script rewrites, and a general sense of confusion, IGN reports that Johns confirmed that the title of the film has also changed, taking a page from the 2011 comic event Flashpoint. What could cause a production to become even more confusing; the Flashpoint event is where reality gets rewritten by the Reverse FlashAquaman and Wonder Woman become war mongering tyrants, Bruce Wayne gets murdered as a child with Thomas and Martha Wayne becoming Batman and Joker respectively over the loss of their son, and Superman being a failed experiment. I don’t think this is the right choice of movie for such an early extended universe if it is to follow the comics. At this point, whether the movie will follow similar events to the comic book is yet to be known, I certainly hope it doesn’t. However, seeing Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Flashpoint Batman would kick all sorts of ass.


DC Animation

Not to neglect the animated movies, as was the announcement of the two part Superman tale, Death of Superman and Reign of the Supermen. According to Newsrama, these will be released in 2018 and 2019 and will be a more faithful adaptation of the infamous 1992 comic book. The story focuses on Superman’s demise at the hands of Doomsday, along with the replacement Supermen who take the hero’s place. A similar animated movie was released in 2007 which kicked off DC’s animated movies, Superman: Doomsday. This feature was greatly altered from the source material and focused purely on an altered version of Cyborg Superman who took over the heroe’s role upon his death.

Also announced was the first DCEU continuity animated Suicide Squad feature called Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay. No information was provided as to who would be in the squad (my first guess would be Harley Quinn, Deadshot and Boomerang for obvious reasons), however audiences were promised a very strong voice cast. Suicide Squad previously appeared in animated form in Suicide Squad: Assault on Arkham, which was set in the Arkham games universe.


Franklin Richards Spin-off

If this news is any indication that Fox have no idea what to do with the Fantastic Four properties, then I don’t know what is. Can anyone name Franklin Richards who isn’t a comics fan? Has he been in any movies before? What is the Power Pack and Future Foundation? For those who don’t know Franklin is the mutant offspring of Reed Richards and Sue Storm of the Fantastic Four who has the ability to alter reality.

This proposed film follows the surprise announcement of the Doctor Doom spin-off. There is no real information as to whether the FF will appear in the film or what the central plot could be. It has been hinted on Comic Book Resources that it will be a family friendly film that could also include Franklin’s sister Valeria, Human Torch and The Thing. Needless to say that Fox should just give up the rights to Fantastic Four and give back to the safe hands at Marvel. Or better yet, make a god damn Sub-Mariner movie!


That’s about it for the big news from Comic-Con. What were you excited to see come out of the weekend? Hit us up in the comments or on Facebook.

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