Friday Highlights at SDCC

There weren't many panels that caught my eye on yesterday's schedule but today is a totally different story!  There's about 20 panels I can't wait to hear all about later today ranging from comics to TV to film.  Here's my top 5;

Rey, Finn and BB-8 in Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Lucasfilm

There's no doubt this is number 1!  Even if there isn't a trailer there's still plenty they could reveal at this panel.  Personally I'm praying for a first look at Luke and Leia in The Force Awakens!  Plus you just know there's going to be some teases about the upcoming Anthology films Rogue One and Han Solo.  Whatever they do show is going to have to be big to beat the Han Solo announcement they made on Wednesday so I'm confident Lucasfilm must have something pretty special up their sleeve for this one!

Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
I love this show!  This panel should give a look at what's coming up in the rest of season 3 and some teases at what to expect in season 4.  With the Kraang already defeated and talk of Shredder maybe being defeated this season as well, I intrigued as to where they plan to take the show next season so this panel is definitely one to look forward to!

Superman by John Romita Jr.

DC Comics Superman Panel
The Superman comics are probably the best they've been since the New 52 re-launch right now.  We know from the solicitations that the current Truth arc ends in September so I'm looking forward to hearing what's coming next direct from the creative teams.  I'm actually hoping that the secret stays revealed, at least for a while, as it offers so much story potential.  Yang's first issue had a strong Daily Planet focus so I'm hoping that will continue when (if) the status quo is restored and I'd love Pak to really explore Kentville and the Superman living openly amongst the people.

Disney Animators
Something a bit different for SDCC.  I'm a huge Disney fan so I'm really hoping I can find some reports from this panel online.  Their current 3D films look great but I still feel there's just something magical about some of their classic 2D movies and this is a chance to hear from the people behind the magic.

DC Entertainment from Page to Screen
With Arkham Knight less than a month currently keeping gamers glued to their screens around the world, new seasons and new series coming to TV later this year and the DC Extended Universe set to take over cinemas next year there will definitely be plenty to talk about at this panel!  I'm not expecting to hear much about the movies (that'll come tomorrow) but there's plenty of TV shows to talk about and maybe I'm really hoping for a Superman/Justice League video game announcement after those screen shots appeared online recently!

Charlie Cox as Daredevil in Daredevil

Honourable Mentions - Marvel TV Presents
From the description this sounds like it will be focused on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Carter.  I enjoyed both but I'm really hoping for some Netflix news.  Daredevil was a breath of fresh air earlier this year, taking the MCU to a much darker place with a rich and powerful narrative.  I'm more of a DC comic reader so I don't know much about the other Defenders but I'm eager to find out based on the excellence of Daredevil.  With Elektra and Punisher both cast and filming underway I'm hoping for more news on Daredevil season 2 as well!

It Begins!!

 

I'd barely clicked post on my hopes for SDCC last night when 2 of them happened before the conventions even started!

 

Harrison Ford as Han Solo with Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca in Star Wars: The Force Awakens

 Last night StarWars.com officially announced that Christopher Miller and Phil Lord (The Lego Movie) will direct the second Star Wars Anthology movie - Han Solo!  Lawrence Kasdan (co-writer The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, The Force Awakens) and Jon Kasdan are writing the script which will focus on how the young Han Solo "became the smuggler, thief, and scoundrel whom Luke Skywalker and Obi-wan Kenobi first encountered in the cantina at Mos Eisley".
As Lucasfilm's Kathleen Kennedy rightly observes "It's not just any filmmaker who can tell the story of such a beloved icon like Han Solo".  The creative team is extremely strong and I'm sure they will do Han's story justice.  Ultimately though, this film will rest on the shoulders of whoever is brave enough to step into Harrison Ford's shoes and take on such an iconic role.  I wish whoever that ends up being the best of luck!  Personally I'm hoping this film is set at least a decade before A New Hope to make the re-casting a little easier for fans and creative alike.

I have to say I didn't see this announcement coming.  With the reports that there won't be a new trailer for The Force Awakens at SDCC, the announcement of the second Anthology seemed like one of the big things they could do at the panel.  To announce it now really makes me excited to think about what Lucasfilm must have up their sleeve for Friday's panel!!

Elodie Yung, photo by Getty Images

Marvel also started their pre-con announcements last night, confirming that Elodie Yung is joining the second season of Marvel and Netflix's Daredevil as Elektra!!  I loved the first series and was hoping to see Elektra in season 2 so I'm loving this announcement!  I've not seen Elodie Yung in anything but she certainly looks the part!

1/6 Scale Kevin Eastman TMNT by ThreeZero

And TMNT co-creator took to Facebook to share some images of his designs for ThreeZero's upcoming 1/6 scale Ninja Turtles figures.  ThreeZero did excellent work on the movie figures even though I wasn't a big fan of the designs so I'm excited to see how these look when they come out.  I still prefer the classic look Mondo is doing but if the price is right then these will definitely be tempting!



Kevin Eastman's Leonardo

Kevin Eastman's Raphael

Kevin Eastman's Michelangelo

Kevin Eastman's Donatello


And it's still six hours until the doors open for Preview Night!  This is going to be one awesome Comic Con!

 

Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens - A New Republic?

If you've ever read any of the old Expanded Universe then you'll probably know that soon after defeating the Empire at the Battle of Endor the Rebellion came the New Republic and the remains of the Empire eventually formed the Imperial Remnant.  The announcement that the old EU would no longer be part of continuity threw this into question and the Celebration confirmation that by the time of The Force Awakens the Rebels would the Resistance and the Empire would be The First Order didn't seem to leave much room for the New Republic in the new canon.

However, EA's website for Star Wars: Battlefront's free DLC Battle of Jakku seems to tell a different story. One where the Rebel Alliance did, however briefly, become a New Republic.  Here's how they describe it;

"Be among the first players to experience the Battle of Jakku, the pivotal moment when the New Republic confronted key Imperial holdouts on a remote desert planet. Taking place in the aftermath of the Rebel victory in the Battle of Endor, players will experience the events that created the massive, battle-scarred landscape of Jakku shown in Star Wars: The Force Awakens."
Now, this could simply be a mistake, someone confusing the two continuities and using the New Republic name in error, but given how closely these things are likely being scrutinised in the build up to The Force Awakens I doubt it.  Based on this it seems that the Rebellion did succeed in becoming a New Republic before being thrown back into Resistance by the rise of The First Order.

I'm sure we'll learn more when Battle of Jakku launches on 1st December, but we may not have to wait that long.  The Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens will begin 4th September with Chuck Wendig's novel Aftermath (the first in a trilogy of novels from Del Rey set between ROTJ and TFA) and continues in Marvel's new comic series Shattered Empire later that month.  Maybe we'll find some answers there.

Avengers: Age of Ultron Review

Occasionally living in the UK can have its advantages.  One of those is that we tend to get the new Marvel films early!  I've no idea why but I'm definitely not complaining!  So there will be MAJOR spoilers in this review.

For those of you who don't want spoilers, I'll just say this.  It's a great film.  Maybe not quite as brilliant as the original but definitely in my top 5 MCU movies.  For those who want to know a little more, read on...