The Secret is Out!

Comic-Con 2005's Hollywood Programming

The first thing most people notice about Comic-Con International when they arrive at the San Diego Convention Center is the massive exhibit hall, the largest of ANY comics or pop culture show anywhere in the United States. Anywhere!

But there’s so much more to Comic-Con. In fact, a short ride up the escalators and you’re in the world of programming. Over 444 hours of programming in fact, and that’s not counting anime screenings, gaming, film showings and much more. The complete Programming schedule is on this website...but for those of you interested in our Hollywood-oriented programs, here’s a rundown.

For starters: On Thursday, July 14, there’s an exclusive look at the new animated A Scanner Darkly movie. There’s fan-fave Bruce Campbell, in one of several appearances during the weekend. And the rage of the Cannes Film Festival, David Cronenberg, with a look at his soon-to-be-released movie A History of Violence, based on the DC graphic novel. Thursday also features Rachel Weisz talking about the Constantine DVD, That 70s Show star Wilmer Valderrama with his new movie, El Muerto, based on the indy comic book, the first Cartoon Network Adult Swim panel and much more!

On Friday, July 15, we shift into hyper-gear with Hall H (our 6,500 seat theater) and Ballroom 20 (our 4,500 seat theater) opening their doors. Hall H hosts the big Warner Bros. 2-hour extravaganza, featuring looks at Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, The Fountain, and V For Vendetta, featuring live on stage, producer Joel Silver and star Natalie Portman. And Rachel Weisz returns for The Fountain. Then it’s acclaimed director Tony Scott talking about his new movie Domino, followed by Jon Favreau and his new film Zathura. Friday speeds along with Disney/Pixar’s Cars, plus the 10th anniversary of Toy Story, and our man Bruce Campbell is back with Sky High. And Friday in Hall H ends with the Lucasfilm inside scoop on the future of Star Wars.

Elsewhere—as if Hall H wasn’t enough!--Ballroom 20 hosts a major panel on upcoming DVD releases from Anchor Bay, featuring, once again, Bruce Campbell! Then it’s a sneak peek at the new Lord of the Rings documentary: Ringers: Lord of the Fans. Plus the Masters of Horror panel featuring some of the top directors in horror and suspense films, like John Landis, Roger Corman and Mick Garris. SCI FI channel’s first panel of the weekend features Battlestar Galactica with Academy Award nominee Mary McDonnell, among others. And following that, it’s the new Fox fall show, Bones, with David Borenaz LIVE! Other TV shows abound at Comic-Con on Friday, including more Adult Swim (with Seth Green); the WB Animation presentation on both The Batman and Justice League Unlimited; members of the cast from the cult fave Veronica Mars; Fox’s The Inside cast members make an appearance, and you can see the complete pilot episode for the brand new WB series Supernatural! Plus a first look at Aaron MacGruder’s The Boondocks animated series.

And hey, on Friday night—DON’T LEAVE THE BUILDING! We have your SCI FI FRIDAY PREMIERES! All new, season premiere episodes of Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, and Battlestar Galactica, on the big screen in Room 6CDEF, uncut and commercial free!

Take a breath...it’s Saturday! And it starts off with a bang...Bryan Singer and Superman Returns! Then it’s Academy Award winner Charlize Theron for Aeon Flux, live on the Hall H stage. Kevin Smith and Donnie Darko director Richard Kelly announce an amazing new project. Josh Whedon is back with a look at Serenity and he’s bringing nine of his closest associates from the film with him. Sony previews a whole mess of new films with Kate Beckinsale and Scott Speedman back for Underworld: Evolution, and a visit from the set of Ghost Rider, plus the director, Mark Steven Johnson, all in person. After Sony, it’s the proverbial 8,000-pound gorilla, King Kong! And the day in Hall H ends with Tenacious D, Jack Black and Kyle Gass, performing a 20-minute set LIVE on stage!

Elsewhere Saturday includes a massive 2-hour panel on ABC’s shows, including the new Nightstalker, Invasion and the hit of 2004/2005, Lost, featuring Maggie Grace (Shannon), Harold Perrineau (Michael), and Josh Holloway (Sawyer). Get there early...this one starts promptly at 10:00 AM ! Then it’s our friends at SCI FI again, with 90 big minutes on their popular Stargate shows, including Ben Browder and Beau Bridges live. Next, a special sneak peek at the Family Guy DVD movie. And it doesn’t get any better than this: Ray Bradbury, Ray Harryhausen and Forry Ackerman together on stage, followed by Matt Groening and The Simpsons.

Had enough? WE’RE. NOT. DONE. New Nickelodeon shows. J. Michael Straczynski. Teen Titans table read-through. Gary Owens. Quick Draw. Cartoon Network Toonami.

Remember when Sunday was our SLOW day? Well, we don’t either, but some people still think it is. But not anymore! Sunday sees Hall H AND Ballroom 20 open for business and packing them in! Get here EARLY, because in Hall H, it’s Trailer Park at 10:30, followed by an exclusive look at the new suspense film Cry Wolf. Then, at 11:30, The Rock takes center stage with Karl Urban to talk Doom, based on the mega-popular videogame. And Disney offers a close look at their eagerly anticipated Narnia. Upstairs, it’s 2 great new TV shows in room 20: Threshold, an amazing new SF show on CBS, created by David Goyer and Brannon Braga and starring Carla Gugino, Brent Spiner, Charles S. Dutton and Peter Dinklage and they’re all going to be here! Then it’s the science fiction hit, The 4400, including a screening of the episode that airs Sunday night, July 17 along with stars Joel Gretsch and Jacqueline McKenzie, among others in attendance. We’ve also carved out a great line-up of videogame programs in room 6A, featuring Ubisoft (King Kong), Activision (their games based on Marvel Comics), Nintendo, and more. And our Kids Day programming is phenomenal! The first-ever showing of the new Lilo and Stitch DVD movie! Cartoon Network Studios’ 5th anniversary! Power Rangers from Jetix! And 3 words that will shake you to your very core:

NEW. SPONGEBOB. SQUAREPANTS.

That’s just the tip of the Comic-Con iceberg, just a sampling of the high-profile headlines, if you will. We have expanded comic book programming this year, including DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, Image, Todd McFarlane and many, many more. The Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival has 59 choice films, and a move to a new, bigger room in 26AB. Great nighttime programs like Spike and Mike, Free Enterprise, 2 new indie films not yet released in the U.S., the first Comic-Con screening of Comic Book The Movie, an evening with special guest J. J. Sedelmaier, the return of the Worst Cartoons Ever.

It’s the biggest year yet for Comic-Con. Make sure your visit includes a trip upstairs to the magical world of programming!