STACK NZ August 2016 Issue 76

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received the loudest reception.
STACK met with the new Power Rangers
on Saturday night – yes, another ‘90s series
that’s being reimagined for a new generation,
and following the Ninja Turtles onto the big
screen courtesy of Lionsgate.
The five young stars – Dacre Montgomery,
Becky G, Naomi Scott, Ludi Lin and RJ
Cyler – were an affable and articulate bunch,
and praised the new movie’s coming-of-age
themes and multicultural casting.
Power Rangers also stars Bryan Cranston
and Elizabeth Banks, and is currently still
in production and aiming for a March 2017
release.
Things began to wind down on Sunday,
as the Con crept towards closing for another
year at 5.00pm. Traditionally a more family-
focused day, there were lots of LEGO panels
and animation activities for the kids, and also
the chance to explore a less crowded Exhibit
Hall. And if you still hadn’t bought the Comic-
Con exclusives you wanted by then, it’s off
to eBay.
Hall H still featured a couple of big panels;
including Sunday staple Supernatural and
Sherlock in the morning, with FOX’s ‘Action
Showcase’ at lunchtime. This year, the
network’s panels premiered footage from
the Prison Break reboot and the Kiefer
Sutherland-free 24: Legacy.
Press conferences were also coming to
an end, although STACK did grab some time
with the Sherlock gang, including creators
Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, and Benedict
Cumberbatch (who gives a really good
interview).
Alas though, like last year, they had little to
say about what’s in store for the legendary
sleuth in the fourth series, leaving us to use
our own powers of deduction on the first
trailer.
San Diego Comic-Con is a four-day
rollercoaster ride for attendees and press
alike. You begin the ascent on Thursday,
with the first big drop coming on
Friday, the 360-degree loop on
Saturday, and the slow slope to
disembark on Sunday.
It’s a giddy and relentless
experience, but you love every
minute of it, and can’t wait to
line-up again for more in twelve
months time.
Star Charlie Hunnam revealed the film
will feature lots of magic realism, as well
as “cheeky loveable lads, fast talking, fast
punching rogues that guide you through it.” As
if there was any doubt?
The WB presentation closed with a panel and
new trailer for Harry Potter spin-off Fantastic
Beasts andWhere to Find Them, which
ostensibly resembles Potter meets Pokémon
GO, when a horde of magical creatures is
unleashed on Prohibition-era New York by Eddie
Redmayne’s fantastically named wizard, Newt
Scamander.
It will be interesting to see if this does the
same kind of business as the Harry Potter
films, given it’s a period piece with an adult
lead character.
Redmayne brought magic to the panel,
stopping the presentation to walk off stage and
distribute wands to audience members (with
the help of Warner staff), then commanding
everyone to cast a Lumos Maxima spell. It
was the perfect conclusion to the best studio
presentation at the Con this year.
Having skipped last year’s event, Marvel
returned to Hall H with an equally massive
release slate as it gears up for ‘Phase Three’.
“We only want to come when we have a lot
to show you,” said president Kevin Feige. “We
actually have quite a bit today.”
That included a new studio logo, the
second trailer for Doctor Strange, clips from
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Spider-
Man: Homecoming (“a straight up high school
movie” according to director Jon Watts), and
a Thor mockumentary featuring Chris
Hemsworth that filled in for a lack of
footage from the still-shooting Thor:
Ragnarok.
The biggest news was that
Brie Larson will be joining the
MCU as Captain Marvel (great
casting!) and Kurt Russell is
officially Star-Lord’s dad in the
Guardians sequel (more great casting).
Black Panther still doesn’t have a finished
script as yet, but director Ryan Coogler (Creed)
was on hand to discuss the world inhabited
by T’Challa, whom we recently met in Captain
America: Civil War.
The star-studded panel also included Black
Panther’s Lupita N’yongo and Michael B.
Jordan, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Tilda Swinton from
Doctor Strange, and of course the good Doctor
himself, Benedict Cumberbatch, who naturally
visit EXTRAS COMIC-CON
12 AUGUST 2016
EXTRAS
STACK did grab some
time with the Sherlock
gang, including creators
Steven Moffat and Mark
Gatiss, and Benedict
Cumberbatch
Huge thanks to
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, Warner Bros.,
Roadshow, BBC Worldwide, Lionsgate, Starz,
Sony Pictures and FOX Networks Group
for their assistance during our trip
For more Comic-Con
coverage, news and
2016
Comic-Con fact...
Thankfully, the San Diego
Convention Centre press
workroom offers free coffee
and snacks