Timothy Webber, Jennifer Morrison, Colin O’Donoghue, Keegan Connor Tracy, Josh Dallas, Lana Parrilla, Jared Gilmore, and Sean Maguire in ‘Once Upon a Time’ (Photo Credit: ABC / Jack Rowand)
Once Upon a Time will once again be presenting what’s sure to be a jam-packed panel at the 2015 San Diego Comic Con. Cast members from the series will make the trek to San Diego for the fifth year, and the panel is always a popular one with Comic Con attendees. ABC will also be sending The Muppets to the sold-out convention in support of the series’ upcoming season one premiere.
In addition to panels and autograph signings, Comic Con attendees will be able to catch rides on pedicabs featuring the shows. And, the San Diego Trolley will be decorated with The Muppets.
Here’s the details on the Once Upon a Time and The Muppets panels, courtesy of ABC:
Saturday, July 11th:
Once Upon a Time Panel
10:00-10:45am PT
Location: Ballroom 20
Attendees: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Morrison, Lana Parrilla, Josh Dallas, Emilie de Ravin, Colin O’Donoghue, Robert Carlyle, Rebecca Mader, Sean Maguire and executive producers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz. Moderated by Yvette Nicole Brown.
Details: Master storytellers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz invite everyone to join Emma Swan, Snow White, Prince Charming, the Evil Queen, Hook, Rumplestiltskin and all the other resident fairy tale characters as they cope with Emma’s new role as the dark one and they begin the search for Merlin. Once Upon a Time Autograph Signing Panel 11:15-12:15 p.m. Location: Booth 4245
The Muppets Panel
3:00-4:00pm PT
Location: Room 6A
Attendees: Executive producers Bill Prady, Bob Kushell, Randall Einhorn and Bill Barretta as well as some of the talented performers who bring the Muppets to life. Moderated by Damian Holbrook.
Details: The Muppets return to primetime with a contemporary, documentary-style show. For the first time ever, a series will explore the Muppets’ personal lives and relationships, both at home and at work, as well as romances, breakups, achievements, disappointments, wants and desires. This is a more adult Muppet show, for “kids” of all ages. The Muppets Autograph Signing 1:00-2:00 p.m. Location: Booth 4245
Channing Tatum and host Jimmy Fallon perform “Kid Theater” (Photo by: Douglas Gorenstein / NBC)
Magic Mike XXL star Channing Tatum joined Jimmy Fallon on the June 23, 2015 episode of The Tonight Show and together they performed scenes from Magic Mike…with a twist. The scenes were written by elementary school kids who only knew the title “Magic Mike” and with just that little bit of info made up their own stories. In the eight minute video, Channing played Magic Mike as a guy who rescues a kid with a flat bike tire and an employee charged with keeping aliens away from Earth. For the final scene, Fallon took on the role of Magic Mike while Channing was a magic bird who didn’t like himself and need helped calming down. Together they sang, “Magic Bird Come Fly with Me.”
The editorial team at Amazon has released their selections for the best books released in 2015 thus far. Topping the list of books released January through June of this year is Helen Macdonald’s H is for Hawk. Announcing the top books of the year, Editorial Director of Print and Kindle Books at Amazon.com Sara Nelson said, “The debate and rousing discussion that goes into every list is what fuels our team. We want to be sure that we include the absolute best books that we have read so far this year and that is no easy task. These great books will fit every reader’s summer itinerary—whether on planes or trains, beaches or backyards, traveling the world or enjoying a staycation, every reader will find something to love here. As for our team, H is for Hawk was a unanimous decision as the number one book. It is a very unusual rumination on grief; it’s poetic, it’s accessible and it will resonate even with those who know nothing about birds, hawk or otherwise.”
1. H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald: Enthralling from the first page, Macdonald’s gorgeously wrought prose describes a journey from crippling grief to something resembling grace on the wings of another deadly bird of prey—the notoriously prickly, and murderous, goshawk.
2. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir: Tahir’s debut is rich fantasy coupled with echoes of historical saga, all vividly rendered on the page. Potent action and liquid language whisk the chapters along all too quickly; there can only be great things in store for the author and her readers.
3. Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of Lusitania by Erik Larson: Larson once again illustrates his gift for seducing us with history and giving it a human face, putting readers right aboard the famous Cunard liner and keeps them turning the pages until the book’s final, breathless encounter.
4. Ghettoside: A True Story of Murder in America by Jill Leovy: Los Angeles Times writer Leovy masterfully explores the culture of violence in South Central L.A., producing a transcendent, dismaying, and tragic portrait of neglect and injustice.
5. The Sympathizer by Viet Than Nguyen: Nguyen’s first novel draws you in with the opening line: “I am a spy, a sleeper, a spook, a man of two faces.” It’s thrilling, rhythmic, and astonishing, as is the rest of Nguyen’s enthralling portrayal of the Vietnam War.
6. All the Old Knives: A Novel by Olen Steinhauer: Steinhauer’s thriller has a disarmingly quiet start, but good spy novels are like good spies: they draw you in, earn your trust, and then grab hold with both hands. By the last 100 pages, it’s hard not to race to the finish. And the ending? One word: brilliant.
7. Saint Mazie: A Novel by Jamie Attenberg: Exhibiting the same kind of wit and depth and heart of her previous novel, The Middlesteins, Attenberg weaves an astonishingly heartfelt story of poverty, loss, and unconventionality, while creating a character for the ages.
8. The Wright Brothers by David McCullough: Pulitzer Prize-winning historian McCullough brings his deft touch with language and his eye for detail to the unusually close relationship between a pair of brothers from Dayton, Ohio who changed aviation history.
9. The Book of Speculation: A Novel by Erika Swyler: Generous with well-placed detail, lyrical phrases, and mounting tension, Swyler’s bewitching tale of mermaids, deadly floods, and the silent secrets of an ancient tarot deck demonstrates a deftness and assurance rarely seen in debut novels.
10. Green on Blue: A Novel by Elliot Ackerman: Joining the canon of contemporary war literature, Green on Blue unravels the complexities of the Afghan war, then dissolves it all into the brutal heartache of reality—where home is a battlefield, fighting is a job, and vengeance is a moral right.
The Paranormal Activity franchise is coming to an end with Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension. The first trailer for the Paramount Pictures release reveals this final film of the series will show the entities behind the paranormal activities and will connect the childhoods of Katie and Kristi with two brothers who find their old VHS tapes and video cameras.
Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension opens in theaters October 23, 2015.
The cast of the comedy movie Tallulah has just expanded by six. Joining Ellen Page and Allison Janney will be Tammy Blanchard (Into the Woods), Evan Jonigkeit, David Zayas, Zachary Quinto, Uzo Aduba, and John Benjamin Hickey. The movie’s financed through Route One Entertainment and marks the feature film directorial debut of Sian Heder (Orange is the New Black). Heder also wrote Tallulah, and Heather Rae, Russell Levine, Chris Columbus, Eleanor Columbus, and Todd Traina are producing.
Filming is currently underway in New York City.
“We believe Sian Heder is an emerging talent and we wanted to surround her with the best possible cast and crew for her debut effort – one we think will make headlines for both its emotional power and comedic touch,” said Route One’s CEO Russell Levine. “Tallulah is a great addition to Route One’s line-up of new films, and we are proud to be producing alongside Chris and Eleanor Columbus’ Maiden Voyage.”
The Plot: Page stars as Tallulah, a free-spirited, urban adventurer who rescues a baby girl from her self-absorbed and reckless mom Carolyn (Blanchard). Tallulah quickly learns that the rest of the world thinks she kidnapped the child. With nowhere to turn, Tallulah passes the baby off as her own with her ex-boyfriend’s mother, Margo (Janney). By the time the baby is returned, all three women will surprisingly forge an unbreakable bond of motherhood.
Callan McAuliffe (I Am Number Four) will star in the ABC Family series Beyond which is about to start shooting in Vancouver, BC. The one-hour supernatural drama from writer/executive producer Adam Nussdorf (Once Upon a Time in Wonderland) has Jordan Calloway, Dilan Gwyn, Romy Rosemont, Michael McGrady, and Burkely Duffield set for co-starring roles.
Tim Kring, Zak Kadison, Justin Levy, and Brian Kavanaugh-Jones are on board as executive producers.
The Plot:
Holden (McAuliffe) wakes up in a hospital not realizing he’s been in a coma for 12 years – emotionally still a teenager, physically an adult, and possibly in possession of supernatural powers. Jordan Calloway portrays Holden’s childhood best friend, Kevin, now a therapist, who is haunted by guilt after the incident that put Holden in a coma. Dilan Gwyn stars as Willa, a beautiful woman who appears to be interested in Holden and who warns him he is in great danger. Romy Rosemont plays Holden’s mother, Diane, who has refused to give up on Holden throughout his coma and now is determined to protect him.
Michael McGrady costars as Holden’s father, Tom, who is emotionally withdrawn after his son’s ordeal and defers to his wife, Diane. Burkely Duffield rounds out the cast as Holden’s clever younger brother, Luke, who grew up in the shadow of his brother’s tragedy and is now faced with a brother who knows less about the world than he does.
Caroline Dhavernas as Alana Bloom, Laurence Fishburne as Jack Crawford, Mads Mikkelsen as Hannibal Lecter, Gillian Anderson as Bedelia Du Maurier, Hugh Dancy as Will Graham, and Tao Okamoto as Chiyoh in ‘Hannibal’ (Photo by: Elisabeth Caren / NBC)
NBC previously announced they’ll be bringing cast members from Heroes Reborn and the ever-popular Grimm to the San Diego Comic-Con, and now they’ve just confirmed their full Comic Con lineup. New series The Player and Blindspot will have a presence at the event, and Hannibal cast members will make one final trip to the Con in support of the show’s final season.
Among the actors heading to San Diego to talk about NBC shows are Jaimie Alexander, Wesley Snipes, Philip Winchester, Hugh Dancy, Richard Armitage, David Giuntoli, Russell Hornsby, Silas Weir Mitchell, Reggie Lee, Sasha Roiz, Bree Turner, and Claire Coffee. Jack Coleman, Zachary Levi, Robbie Kay, Ryan Guzman, Gatlin Green, Henry Zebrowski, Judith Shekoni, Danika Yarosh and Rya Kihlstedt are also expected to take part in the Con.
NBC’s Comic Con Plans:
HEROES REBORN (Sunday, July 12, 1:45-2:45, Hall H; sponsored by Universal Television)
From Tim Kring, who imagined NBC’s original critically acclaimed Heroes series, comes Heroes Reborn, an epic 13-episode event series that chronicles the lives of ordinary people who discover they possess extraordinary abilities.
Heroes Reborn takes over Gaslamp Square with a first-of-its-kind 4-D interactive experience where fans will have the opportunity to access their own extraordinary pyro-kinetic ability. Through a multi-sensory experience of interactive visuals and kinetic effects, fans will enter the world of Heroes Reborn and use their power with fire to escape a dangerous scenario.
Fans will also be able to take an animated “heroic” photo and tour through a “Heroes” gallery featuring iconic props from the previous series.
The Heroes Reborn Q&A panel, which will include an exclusive look at the extended trailer, will be moderated by returning cast member Greg Grunberg. Panelists include Tim Kring, Jack Coleman, Zachary Levi, Robbie Kay, Ryan Guzman, Gatlin Green, Henry Zebrowski, Judith Shekoni, Danika Yarosh and Rya Kihlstedt.
Heroes Reborn premieres Thursday, Sept. 24 at 8 p.m. on NBC.
BLINDSPOT (Preview Night Screening, Wednesday, July 8, 6-10 p.m. Ballroom 20; Pilot Screening and Panel, Saturday, July 11, 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Room 6A; sponsored by Warner Bros. Television)
From executive producer Greg Berlanti and writer/executive producer Martin Gero comes Blindspot: A vast international plot explodes when a beautiful Jane Doe is discovered naked in Times Square, completely covered in mysterious intricate tattoos with no memory of who she is or how she got there. There’s one that’s very clear, however: the name of FBI agent Kurt Weller, emblazoned across her back. “Jane,” Agent Weller and rest of the FBI quickly realize that each mark on her body is a crime to solve, leading them closer to the truth about her identity and the mysteries to be revealed.
Fans can discover Blindspot at Tin Fish restaurant in Gaslamp Square. They will be able to receive both temporary tattoo sleeves and partake in a photo op where their head will be placed on a tattooed body, similar to the character of Jane Doe in the new NBC drama.
Also, throughout the Gaslamp District, fans can go on a scavenger hunt to search for and find the Jane Doe look-alikes. Once found fans can text “Blindspot” to a number tattooed on her body and receive the next step to enter for a chance to win $1,000.
Fans at Comic-Con can get their first look at Blindspot during the show’s world premiere as part of Warner Bros. Television’s annual Preview Night screenings on Wednesday, July 8.
Warner Bros. Television’s Blindspot Q&A panel, which will include a pilot screening and be moderated by Yahoo! TV editor-in-chief Kristen Baldwin, will feature star Jaimie Alexander and executive producers Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and Martin Gero.
Blindspot premieres Monday, Sept. 21 at 10 p.m. on NBC.
THE PLAYER (Thursday, July 9, 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Room 6A; sponsored by Sony Pictures Television)
From the executive producers of The Blacklist comes the action-packed Las Vegas-set thriller The Player. The series co-stars Wesley Snipes as a pit boss and Charity Wakefield as the dealer for a high-stakes game where an organization of wealthy individuals gamble on the ability of former military operative turned security expert Philip Winchester (Strike Back, Fringe) to stop some of the biggest crimes imaginable from playing out. Can he take them down from the inside and get revenge for the death of his wife, or is it true what they say: The house always wins.
The Player Q&A panel, which will include the premiere pilot screening and be moderated by Rob Moynihan of TV Guide, will feature Wesley Snipes, Philip Winchester and executive producer John Rogers.
The Player premieres Thursday, Sept. 24 at 10 p.m. on NBC.
HANNIBAL (Saturday, July 11, 5-5:45 p.m., Ballroom 20; sponsored by Gaumont Intl. Television)
One of the most critically acclaimed series on broadcast or cable, Hannibal remains a favorite at Comic-Con. A sneak peek of the “Red Dragon” story will be followed by a Q&A with cast members Hugh Dancy, Richard Armitage, and executive producers Bryan Fuller and Martha De Laurentiis.
Hannibal airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. on NBC.
GRIMM (Saturday, July 11, 3-3:45 p.m., Ballroom 20; sponsored by Universal Television)
A Friday fan favorite entering its fifth season, Grimm is inspired by the classic Grimm Brothers’ Fairy Tales. The Q&A panel, which will include a sneak peek at the new season and will be moderated by Lynette Rice of Entertainment Weekly, will include cast members David Giuntoli, Russell Hornsby, Silas Weir Mitchell, Reggie Lee, Sasha Roiz, Bree Turner and Claire Coffee, as well as executive producers Jim Kouf, David Greenwalt and Norberto Barba.
Are Rick and Morgan headed for a showdown in season six of The Walking Dead? AMC’s released the first poster from the sixth season of the zombie apocalypse series and fans are speculating that based on the positioning of Andrew Lincoln and Lennie James, Morgan might not be friends with the version of Rick who’s currently residing in Alexandria.
AMC’s release of The Walking Dead season six poster is in support of the show’s upcoming panel at the 2015 San Diego Comic Con. The Walking Dead panel will take place on Friday, July 10th at 12pm PT in Hall H and cast members expected to attend include Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Steven Yeun, Lauren Cohan, Danai Gurira, Melissa McBride, Chandler Riggs, Michael Cudlitz, Lennie James and Sonequa Martin-Green. Executive Producer and Showrunner Scott M. Gimple, Executive Producer Gale Anne Hurd, Executive Producer Robert Kirkman, Executive Producer, Director and Special Effects Make-up Supervisor Greg Nicotero and Executive Producer David Alpert will also be on hand to answer questions from fans.
Natalie Dormer in ‘Game of Thrones’ season 5 (Photo: Helen Sloan / HBO)
HBO’s Game of Thrones cast members are once again heading to San Diego for Comic-Con. HBO just revealed this year’s plans for the GoT panel and the list of actors scheduled to appear during the sold-out convention.
Alfie Allen (Theon/Reek), John Bradley (Samwell Tarly), Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth), Liam Cunningham (Ser Davos Seaworth), Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell), Conleth Hill (Varys), Hannah Murray (Gilly), Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark), Carice van Houten (Melissandre), and Maisie Williams (Arya Stark), along with executive producer Carolyn Strauss and director David Nutter, will be making the trek to So. California for the Game of Thrones panel on Friday, July 10th. The GoT panel will be held in Hall H at 2:30pm ET/PT, and Seth Meyers has been tapped to moderate.
Game of Thrones cast members will also participate in autograph signings at 4:15pm ET/PT.
Cast members from Cinemax’s new series Outcast are also going to be part of the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con. Patrick Fugit (Kyle Barnes), Philip Glenister (Reverend Anderson), Wrenn Schmidt (Megan Holter), creator/executive producer Robert Kirkman, and creator/executive producer Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead) are confirmed for the Saturday, July 11th panel. The Outcast panel will take place in Room 6A at 3pm ET/PT and will be moderated by Silicon Valley‘s Kumail Nanjiani. The Outcast group will sign autographs at 5:45pm ET/PT.
Details on the Autograph Signings:
“The autograph signings will take place in the Warner Bros. booth #4545. Warner Bros. follows Comic-Con’s ticket drawing/wristband distribution procedure for all signings. All ticket drawings and wristband distributions will take place in the morning of the day of the specific signing at the Sails Pavilion floor, between Ballroom 20 and Rooms 6A, 6BCF and 6DE.”
Tom Holland as Spider-Man in Marvel’s ‘Captain America: Civil War’
Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures announced Tom Holland has landed the role of Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the upcoming Spider-Man films. Cop Car‘s Jon Watts has been tapped to direct and Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal are producing. Holland will first appear in Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War before tackling a new Spider-Man movie.
Holland’s film credits include The Impossible, Wolf Hall, and the upcoming action film In the Heart of the Sea directed by Ron Howard.
“It’s a big day here at Sony. Kevin, Amy and their teams have done an incredible job. The Marvel process is very thorough, and that’s why their results are so outstanding,” said Tom Rothman, Sony Pictures Motion Pictures Group Chairman. “I’m confident Spider-Man will be no exception. I’ve worked with a number of up-and-coming directors who have gone on to be superstars and believe that Jon is just such an outstanding talent. For Spidey himself, we saw many terrific young actors, but Tom’s screen tests were special. All in all, we are off to a roaring start.”
“As with James Gunn, Joss Whedon, and the Russo brothers, we love finding new and exciting voices to bring these characters to life,” added Feige. “We spent a lot of time with Jon and find his take and work inspiring.”
And Pascal stated, “Sony, Marvel, Kevin and I all knew that for Peter Parker, we had to find a vibrant, talented young actor capable of embodying one of the most well-known characters in the world. With Tom, we’ve found the perfect actor to bring Spider-Man’s story into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.”
The next Spider-Man standalone movie will take the webslinger back to high school. Sony and Marvel are targeting a July 28, 2017 theatrical release.
