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THE LEGO Ninjago Movie
SCAREDIEGO
some edge to it – something people won’t expect to see.
“It’s a great moment to be alive, because
IT
is coming
back after all this time,” he beamed.
Producer and screenwriter Gary Dauberman presented
a scene from
The Nun
, who creeps up behind star Taissa
Farmiga in a Romanian chapel. The brief clip promised a
Euro-horror feel, which bodes well.
Annabelle: Creation
director David F. Sandberg (
Lights Out
) and
stars Anthony LaPaglia, Stephanie Sigman, Talitha Bateman and Lulu
Wilson took to the stage for a quick Q&A prior to the screening, with
Sandberg describing the film as not “the usual sort of horror sequel
where you get the same movie with things cranked up a bit.” And he
was right – the scares come thick and fast, with a scene involving a
bedsheet ghost a standout.
IT
opens in cinemas on September 7,
Annabelle: Creation
is released
August 10, and
The Nun
is due in 2018.
A
new trailer and footage from
IT,
as well as a first
look at the just completed
Conjuring 2
spin-off
The
Nun
, was unveiled to an appreciative and rowdy
audience. An advance screening of
Annabelle: Creation
,
the second film to feature the demonic doll introduced in
The Conjuring
, followed.
IT
is the first of a two-part adaptation of Stephen King’s best-seller
and director Andy Muschietti (
Mama
) and the film’s child star ensemble
introduced the new footage, which featured the kids known as The
Losers’ Club bonding by the lake, fending off bullies in a rock fight (a
scene fans of the book and mini-series will fondly remember), and a
quick cameo by resident evil Pennywise the clown waving a severed
child’s arm.
Bill Skarsgard’s Pennywise looks to be a far more sinister creation
than Tim Curry’s TV version, and we can’t wait to see more of him.
“Pennywise is one of the greatest monsters of all time,” noted
Muschietti. “The idea of reimagining Pennywise, to me, means it’s
important to stay true to the essence of the character, but also bring
The voice cast and producer of the third big brick in the block-busting LEGO
Movie franchise were in town to talk ninjas, family, and Jackie Chan.
L
EGO movies are family films in more
ways than just appealing equally to
kids and adults. In between fighting
villains and injustice, the films’ mini-figure
heroes are searching for their own place in
a family dynamic. Emmet Brickowoski found
his amongst his gang; Batman was a
solo operator but had Alfred, Robin
and Batgirl; and then there’s the
team of
The LEGO Ninjago
Movie
.
Based on an original LEGO
property that also inspired a
TV series, Ninjago is the island
home to this group of six ninjas –
teenagers by day, warriors by night
– who must fight to defend it from the
evil Lord Garmadon.
In true LEGO Movie tradition, a cracking
voice cast – Dave Franco, Kumail Nanjiani,
Michael Peña, Zach Woods, Justin Theroux
and the legendary Jackie Chan – bring the
characters to life. But how does a bunch of
seasoned actors prepare to play LEGO roles?
“We went to LEGOLAND
for a couple of months just for
research,“ jokes Franco, with
Nanjiani adding, “I keep a bunch
of LEGO under my pillow every
night to get into character.”
Unfortunately, Chan (who voices the
group’s Sensei) couldn’t make it to Comic-
Con, but producer Doug Lin and the cast
were quick to acknowledge his contribution to
the movie.
“In his films there’s always a large element
of comedy, even with the fights,” says
Theroux, “so his brand really
lends itself to what we did in
this movie.”
Lin adds that the martial
arts master even brought in
his own stunt team to act
as doubles for each of the
characters. “When you see
the martial arts in the movie,
they did all the stunts, and
we animated against all that
action. It sounds crazy and it’s
the first time we ever did that.”
“It feels so unnecessary,” quips Nanjiani.
Lin also promises that this will be the most
beautiful looking LEGO movie to date. “We’ve
brought some new live-action elements, and
we have some organic elements – real grass,
water, trees – as well as a great comedy cast.
It’s a really different look and that’s really
exciting.”
The LEGO Ninjago Movie
is in cinemas
on September 21.
IT
Annabelle
New Line got Comic-Con off to
a spooky start onWednesday,
hosting a special late night horror
event at the Horton PlazaTheatre.
st154_020-027_ComicCon_v3.indd 6
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