Comic-Con 2013 Preview

As the sun beats down on the UK and we hastily coat our roasted shoulders in another layer of SPF 50 (just in case), the movie world’s attention turns to a celebration of all things geeky. You see July in San Diego doesn’t mean paddling pools and a layer of scarlet flesh on display in every park, it means Comic-Con, it means major announcements and it means hot, sweaty neck-beards.

The build-up to this year’s Gathering of the Geeks (a much better name if you ask us) has been dominated by the absence of a certain returning sci-fi saga and its seventh episode but that’s not indicative of the array of top films stomping towards the San Diego Convention Centre.

['Secret characters' from X-Men: Days of Future Past revealed]

One of those films is the upcoming ‘Godzilla’ reboot which, on the basis of its director (Gareth Edwards, director of the acclaimed ‘Monsters’) and cast (Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Bryan Cranston & Elizabeth Olsen) is looking mighty impressive. With a May release fast approaching, a teaser of sorts is almost certain with a glimpse of the titular atomic monster almost nailed on, at least for the packed crowd if not the wider public. 

Comic giants Marvel will of course be in attendance with ‘Thor: The Dark World’ and ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ in tow. Expect a trailer for the former, a teaser for the latter and a surprise of some kind. Maybe the wacky ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ cast will assemble as The Avengers did in 2010, or perhaps we will find out who will be voicing the gun-toting mercenary Rocket Racoon.

Bryan Singer will be showing off ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ for the first time in Hall H so expect stars in force and  a little something to promote ‘The Wolverine’s release next week. 2014’s X-Men sequel/prequel will be the seventh in the ‘X-Men’ franchise and brings together an enormous cast of young and old mutants for a time-travel plot. It’s an enormous movie and Fox will be hoping it makes a good first impression.

Fox will also be bringing ‘Dawn of the Planet of the Apes’ to San Diego for its debut and have promised a surprise which, if a recent Facebook post is to be believed, is a new ‘Predator’ movie. Could Arnie himself even make an appearance?

[Is a new Predator film on the way?]

‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’ and ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ will be there to reveal footage and secrets for the first time but, despite the last few paragraphs, it won’t all be sequels. 

This year’s adaptation of sci-fi teen novel ‘Ender’s Game’ will be pitching itself as the next ‘Harry Potter’ or ’Twilight’-calibre series with the help of its star, ‘Hugo’s Asa Butterfield. Fellow cast member and living legend Harrison Ford could turn up but will likely be avoiding the show and the inevitable barrage of ‘Star Wars’ questions that would surely follow his arrival.

‘The LEGO Movie’ cocked a few eyebrows when it was first announced but with the talent it has on board it’s looking an increasingly hilarious prospect and should also make for a great panel at the Con. Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller will hopefully bring some of the cast with them. Chris Pratt and Allison Brie are most likely while other stars such as Morgan Freeman, Will Ferrell and Liam Neeson could make great surprise appearances.

Elsewhere the rebooted ‘Robocop’ will be hoping to ease the concerns of those loyal to the original with some new footage and Aaron Eckhart-starring comic book adaptation ‘I, Frankenstein’ will be looking to barge its way to the top of some Most Anticipated lists. 

Outside the world of film there are a huge number of panels for new TV shows such as Joss Whedon’s ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D’ and slightly older ones. ‘Doctor Who’ will be tabling a special panel to celebrate its 50th anniversary and, as it will be his final Comic Con as the Doctor, to send-off Matt Smith. Expect an enormous crowd for that one.

‘Sherlock’, ‘Breaking Bad’, ‘Game of Thrones’ and cult comedy ‘Community’ will also all be in attendance to tease their new series and will bring cast members in tow.

Of course there is plenty more on show. There’s ‘300: Rise of an Empire’, ‘Riddick’, ‘Kick Ass 2’, and ‘Escape Plan’ screenings, ‘Divergent’, ‘Gravity’ and an ‘X-Files’ 20th anniversary panel with Mulder and Scully in attendance. We haven’t even mentioned the wealth of comic book and videogame panels that will be at the show, and then of course, there are the surprises that only a handful of top industry types are privy to.

So what should you be most excited about?  Well that’s up to you, but for us we can’t wait to see the outrageously good and outrageously bad costumes that will undoubtedly be on the show floor. Dressing up is a major part of Comic Con and there are some insanely talented fanboys and girls out there who will putting the final touches to their costumes right this second.

What are you most looking forward to seeing? Do you have a favourite Comic Con moment? Let us know in the comments below…