San Diego Comic-Con Fills Its Weekend Schedule With Marvel Studios, The Hobbit, And More

The Cinema Blend offices have been buzzing these past few days as we all get ready for one of the biggest events of the year in our industry: San Diego Comic-Con. The massive geek-fest will be kicking off on July 23rd, and just like every year we will once again have a team on the ground (including myself) covering the expo. We’re going to see a ton of cool, early, footage, talk with some interesting filmmakers and actors, and deliver it all straight to you. Now we can give you a wider look at some of the stuff that the movie section will be bringing to you.

While we brought you the Thursday schedule earlier in the week, the official San Diego Comic-Con website has now unveiled exactly what’s in store for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. To give you a clearer picture of what’s going on film-wise, we’ve cut through all of the various panels, presentations and events and focused in on the big movie-related events you’ll find during the convention. Are you excited for some Avengers: Age of Ultron action? Will the people behind Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice be on-hand? Read on to find out!

Horns Daniel Radclife

Friday, July 25th

Friday is a big day for television in Hall H, with big shows like Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead both grabbing the early afternoon hours on the expo’s biggest stage, but there’s plenty of movie action happening after as well. Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe, will be present with filmmakers and co-stars of Horns, the adaptation of Joe Hill’s novel, and that presentation will be followed by showings from 20th Century Fox and Kevin Smith’s new movie, Tusk (kinda strange to have Horns and Tusk on the same day, no?).

Exactly what Fox has planned is more of a head scratcher. You’ll notice that the official description below doesn’t include any details, but we have confirmed the presence of films including The Maze Runner, Book of Life, Hitman: Agent 47, Let’s Be Cops, and Kingsman: The Secret Service. But could The Fantastic Four be making an appearance as well? We’ll have to wait and see.

RADiUS-TWC Previews Horns and EverlyFirst-time Comic-Con attendee and star of Horns Daniel Radcliffe joins co-star Juno Temple, director Alexandre Aja, and novelist Joe Hill to debut the world premiere of the Horns movie trailer, chat about the film, and hold an audience Q&A. In addition, Salma Hayek will be introducing new footage from her kick-ass film Everly. The panel will also reveal new scenes from upcoming RADiUS titles with some special surprises. Friday July 25, 2014 3:00pm - 4:00pmHall HFree Enterprise: 15th Anniversary ReunionIt's time to party like it's 1999 as Access Hollywood's Scott Mantz moderates a panel celebrating the 15th anniversary of the theatrical release of Free Enterprise, starring William Shatner and Eric McCormack, the film that The New York Times called "a bright, clever romantic comedy" and US magazine's Andrew Johnston hailed as "a very funny comedy that jubilantly celebrates geek culture." Writer/producer Mark A. Altman (Castle, Necessary Roughness) and director/writer Robert Meyer Burnett (Agent Cody Banks, The Hills Run Red) are interviewed along with some special surprise guests who will take part in a freewheeling discussion about this beloved cult classic and share the latest news about their Kickstarter campaign to produce a new Free Enterprise TV pilot.Friday July 25, 2014 3:30pm - 4:30pmRoom 24ABC20th Century FOX PresentationTBAFriday July 25, 2014 4:20pm - 6:20pmHall HMaking X-Men: Days of Future PastJeff Goldsmith (publisher of Backstory on the iPad) interviews screenwriter/producer Simon Kinberg (Mr. & Mrs. Smith) about what it took to write and produce the worldwide box office smash hit X-Men: Days of Future Past. Kinberg will take you behind the scenes as to how he and the film's creative team evolved the longstanding film franchise to an all new high. From the standout Quicksilver sequence to managing the same comic characters at different points in time and beyond-he'll discuss how the film was made and take your questions.Friday July 25, 2014 6:30pm - 7:30pmRoom 5ABThe Musk of Tusk: An Evening with Kevin SmithAfter all the interesting and exciting movie panels are over, Hall H belongs to a middle-aged man who once worked with BatFleck! Ask ComiKev questions and get ready to say #WalrusYes as Kev premieres the trailer to his first film in three years: the twisted, transformative tale of Tusk! Wrap up a busy Friday with the Clown Prince of Comic-Con!Friday July 25, 2014 6:35pm - 8:05pmHall H

The Avengers: Age of Ultron

Saturday, July 26th

San Diego Comic-Con has a history of loading the Saturday schedule with plenty of big screen goodies – especially in Hall H – and it doesn’t appear that 2014 will be a disappointment in that regard. In addition to solo-movie presentations like Boxtrolls and Sin City: A Dame To Kill For, the day is also scheduled to see unveilings from Warner Bros. Pictures (which has confirmed at least three panels for three different titles), Legendary Pictures, and Marvel Studios.

This day, of course, is all about the superheroes. We have been hearing some big rumors about what WB has planned for their DC Cinematic Universe – including Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - and we fully expect at least a few reveals and announcements about The Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ant-Man and more from Marvel.

Warner Bros. PicturesWarner Bros. returns to Hall H with a look at three upcoming movies:Jupiter Ascending - The first original science fiction film from filmmakers Lana and Andy Wachowski since their game-changing "Matrix" trilogy is an action adventure starring Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis. The story will take audiences from the streets of Chicago to the furthest galaxies of space, as Caine (Tatum), a genetically engineered ex-military hunter, arrives on Earth to track down Jupiter Jones (Kunis), a young woman whose genetic signature marks her for an extraordinary inheritance that could alter the balance of the cosmos. Written, directed and produced by the Wachowskis, with producer Grant Hill and many of their longstanding creative collaborators, the film also stars Sean Bean, Eddie Redmayne, Douglas Booth, and Tuppence Middleton.Mad Max: Fury Road - Seminal director George Miller returns to the post-apocalyptic universe he created three decades ago with the cultural phenomenon Mad Max. Tom Hardy reinvents Max Rockatansky in Mad Max: Fury Road, Miller's extraordinary new take on the legendary character for a new generation of fans. The film also stars Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Zoe Kravitz, Riley Keough, Hugh Keays-Byrne, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies - This December, Oscar-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson will unleash the epic final film in The Hobbit Trilogy, based on the timeless masterpiece by J. R. R. Tolkien, from New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures. Bilbo's journey culminates in a desperate and dangerous choice as darkness converges on the Lonely Mountain, and the races of Dwarves, Elves, and Men must decide: unite or be destroyed. Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf the Grey, with Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins and Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield. The ensemble cast is led by Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Luke Evans, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ken Stott, and James Nesbitt, with Cate Blanchett, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, and Orlando Bloom.Saturday July 26, 2014 10:00am - 12:00pmHall HLegendary PicturesLegendary Pictures presents a panel featuring their upcoming slate of highly anticipated films.Saturday July 26, 2014 12:25pm - 1:10pmHall HThe BoxtrollsFocus Features presents The Boxtrolls, a new family event movie from LAIKA, the creators of Coraline and ParaNorman, that introduces audiences to a new breed of family- The Boxtrolls, a community of quirky, mischievous creatures who have lovingly raised an orphaned human boy named Eggs (voiced by Isaac Hempstead Wright of Game of Thrones) in the amazing cavernous home they've built beneath the streets of Cheesebridge. When the town's villain, Archibald Snatcher (Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley), comes up with a plot to get rid of the Boxtrolls, Eggs decides to venture above ground, "into the light," where he meets and teams up with fabulously feisty Winnie (Elle Fanning). Together, they devise a daring plan to save Eggs' family. Appearing in person are actors Ben Kingsley, Isaac Hempstead Wright, and Elle Fanning; producer and lead animator, LAIKA president and CEO Travis Knight; and directors Anthony Stacchi and Graham Annable.Saturday July 26, 2014 1:30pm - 2:30pmHall HFrank Miller's Sin City: A Dame to Kill ForDimension Films in association with Aldamisa Entertainment present exclusive footage from the highly anticipated sequel Frank Miller's Sin City: A Dame To Kill For from acclaimed co-directors Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller. Fans will get to experience the Sin City universe and take part in a special discussion with Rodriguez, Miller, and cast. Saturday July 26, 2014 2:50pm - 3:50pmHall HMarvel StudiosMarvel Studios president and producer Kevin Feige and special guests provide an inside look at the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe.Saturday July 26, 2014 5:30pm - 6:30pmHall H

The LEGO Movie

Sunday, July 27th

If you go to peruse the Sunday schedule for panels and presentations from major studios and blockbusters, you’re going to notice that the events are few and far between. Shows like Supernatural, The Following, Sons of Anarchy, and The Strain will occupy Hall H all day, so you’ll need to look elsewhere for feature-centric entertainment.

Going into some of the smaller presentation rooms you’ll find people gathering to learn more about the documentary made about Batkid, the young kid who had his wish granted to turn a section of San Francisco into Gotham City. There is also something happening for fans of The LEGO Movie, just in case you can’t get enough of that absolutely awesome film.

Batkid: The FilmDana Nachman (documentary filmmaker, KTF Films) unveils her latest project Batkid: The Film, which chronicles the making of the overnight international phenomenon that is Batkid. The panel features Patricia Wilson (CEO of Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area and mastermind behind Batkid), Eric Johnston (Batkid's adult Batman sidekick and inventor), Mike Jutan (Batkid's nemesis, The Penguin, and Lucasfilm engineer), and Sue Graham Johnston (The Damsel in Distress and VP of operations, Oracle). Join this dynamic team for a Q&A session moderated by Chris Taylor (deputy editor, Mashable).Sunday July 27, 2014 10:30am - 11:30amRoom 8LEGO/Warner Bros.: The LEGO MovieHear all about how key toys from the film were brought to life! Brian Bowler (brand marketing director, LEGO) will lead the discussion on the development of The LEGO Movie with Matthew Ashton (executive producer and vice president of product design, LEGO), Michael Fuller (senior product designer, LEGO), and Jadon Sands (actor, The LEGO Movie).Sunday July 27, 2014 3:45pm - 4:45pmRoom 5AB

Eric Eisenberg
Assistant Managing Editor

Eric Eisenberg is the Assistant Managing Editor at CinemaBlend. After graduating Boston University and earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism, he took a part-time job as a staff writer for CinemaBlend, and after six months was offered the opportunity to move to Los Angeles and take on a newly created West Coast Editor position. Over a decade later, he's continuing to advance his interests and expertise. In addition to conducting filmmaker interviews and contributing to the news and feature content of the site, Eric also oversees the Movie Reviews section, writes the the weekend box office report (published Sundays), and is the site's resident Stephen King expert. He has two King-related columns.