Morgan Spurlock And Joss Whedon's Comic Con Documentary Confirmed For This Summer

You may remember hearing back in February that the dream team of Morgan Spurlock and Joss Whedon were teaming up to make a documentary about Comic Con, and hoping fervently that this could somehow become a reality. Well, geeks, Joss has once again failed to let you down. A press release today confirms that Spurlock will be directing, with Whedon writing and producing Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan's Hope, which will follow seven different people from across the country as they prepare for and attend San Diego Comic Con.

And there are even more big names to add to the bunch-- Stan Lee is on board with his POW! Entertainment label, Thomas Tull of Legendary Pictures (of Dark Knight fame) is producing, and original movie geek blogger Harry Knowles is participating as well. Shooting starts in June, presumably with all of the subjects in their hometown, and culminates at this year's Comic Con, where a massive Cinema Blend team will be present and hopefully jamming ourselves into the background of every shot.

Read the full press release below, complete with fawning, hyperbolic quotes from all the people involved about how amazing the project will be. Having attended my first Comic Con last year and been generally blown away by the whole thing, I totally see the cinematic potential in such a gigantic, over-emotional and silly event. Expect a lot of hand-wringing in geek blogs (quite possibly this one) about how the documentary may fail to capture the true spirit of the event, but for me-- a committed non-geek about most things Comic Con covers-- I just can't wait to see how it turns out.

We'll also let you know if there's an opportunity for a geek just like you to be the star of this movie, but I'm going to wager that casting is already complete. Still, if you show up in San Diego this summer with a particularly impressive Stormtrooper outfit, you may have your shot at fame anyway.

Burbank, CA – May 20, 2010 – Oscar®-nominated filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, producers Thomas Tull and Jeremy Chilnick along with comics icon Stan Lee, writer/producer Joss Whedon and online film guru Harry Knowles have joined together to bring audiences the feature length documentary COMIC-CON ESPISODE FOUR: A FAN’S HOPE. The concept for the film is spurred by the ever-growing influence that San Diego Comic-Con continues to have on comics, film, television and pop-culture. The feature documentary will follow seven different people from across America, and around the world, as they descend upon and the veritable Mecca of fandom and experience the rapture that is Comic-Con.

Stan Lee, who is the chairman of Pow! Entertainment, said “An incredible phenomenon is occurring throughout the world. The once-denigrated comicbook has become one of the mightiest pillars of today’s culture. Many of our highest-grossing movies, best selling toys and most popular video games owe their existence to the increasingly influential comicbook. Truly, we live in the day of an ever-burgeoning, ever-growing comicbook culture.”

“When I was a kid, comics changed my life and my world,” said director Morgan Spurlock. “So when I got to San Diego, I felt like I was home. It was such an overwhelming experience for me, and I soon found out that I was not alone. So for me to get to share the experience of Comic-Con with fans all over the world will be an incredible opportunity.”

Thomas Tull, who is producing outside of his day job as Chairman of Legendary Pictures, said “There is no age limit to a fanboy or girl; rather it is a mindset and a love of comics and all things inspired by them that make up this growing community. We look forward to capturing the spirit, energy and people that Comic-Con has infused into legions of fans, bringing these audiences and projects out of the Halls and onto a world stage.”

Harry Knowles said "Comic-Con and the culture that swirls around it is such a beautiful, bizarre and varied universe to capture. I for one, cannot wait to have Morgan film and share it with the world. I've been going to Comic-Con since 1974 and have been amazed that nobody has mounted a serious attempt at documenting what it is that happens there. This is an incredibly exciting project, one that I'm very proud to be a part of!"

Added David Glanzer, spokesperson for Comic-Con, "Since our first convention in 1970 our attendees have long known that comics are as viable form of art and entertainment as any other. We look forward to Morgan sharing this message with an even broader audience."

COMIC-CON EPISODE FOUR: A FAN’S HOPE will begin shooting in June and culminate its principal photography at this year’s Comic-Con in July. Morgan Spurlock will direct the film and Thomas Tull will produce alongside Spurlock’s Warrior Poets producing partner, Jeremy Chilnick. Stan Lee, Joss Whedon and Harry Knowles will executive produce. The film will capture not only a moment in time that literally touches hundreds of thousands of people, but a world that inspires us all – but more than anything else, it will show us that whether at home or away, in costume or not, en masse or alone, we should all have the courage and confidence to be ourselves.