Are you willing to spend the night on a San Diego sidewalk in order to get all the latest geek news out of Comic-Con, as thousands of fans did over the weekend?
We thought not. So sit back at your desk or in your easy chair, enjoy the roof over your head and check out the five biggest stories that broke during the four-day pop-culture festival. No surprise, movies were the biggest news.
A first look at the Joker
Footage was finally screened from next year’s film “Suicide Squad” about a group of super-powered criminals who are forced to complete dangerous missions for the government. But before the footage was officially released on Monday, a Hall H audience member captured some grainy video of it.
“So, that’s it, huh? We’re the patsies? We’re some kind of suicide squad?” asks Will Smith, who stars as assassin Deadshot.
Margot Robbie, who plays the pixieish Harley Quinn, got much of the screen time, but it was the brief glimpse of Jared Leto as the Joker that had fans cheering loudest.
“I’m just gonna hurt you really, really bad,” the Joker says with menace.
Fans have been curious how Leto’s interpretation of the clown prince of crime would differ from that of Heath Ledger, who won an Oscar for his performance in “The Dark Knight.”
More ‘Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice’ footage revealed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WWzgGyAH6Y
Fanboys have been a bit divided over the upcoming superhero smackdown: On one hand, it’s sort of a sequel to 2013’s “Man of Steel,” which kind of stunk. But, on the other hand: Batman!
Ben Affleck, Amy Adams, Henry Cavill, director Zack Snyder and others unveiled a new trailer — one that more clearly explains the story than the first teaser did — and online sentiment at least seems to suggest interest is building.
The footage reveals Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) in action, as well as a glimpse of what appears to be kryptonite.
It seems we’ll also be treated to yet another Batman origin story. We get it: His parents were shot in an alley. Is there anyone who doesn’t know this by now?
Is Wolverine about to get his AARP card?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlAulib08E4
Hugh Jackman made a surprise appearance at Fox’s “X-Men: Apocalypse” panel, despite the fact that he reportedly won’t appear in the film.
After behind-the-scenes footage from the original “X-Men” was shown, Jackman joked about how much he’d aged since 2000, when that movie was released.
“I’ve got three words for you guys: Old Man Logan. Read into that what you will,” he said.
Jackman was probably just making a joke about his age — he’s 46. Nonetheless, the Internet exploded with speculation that the upcoming “Wolverine 2” will be based on the 2008 comic book series “Old Man Logan” that imagined an elderly Logan fighting baddies in a post-apocalyptic California. The villain Red Skull is president, and villains have carved up the United States into tribal territories.
Is “Old Man Logan” really destined for the big screen? Probably not, as most of the story’s major elements, including the Red Skull, Hulk and Hawkeye, aren’t owned by Fox.
Still, the general premise could be preserved. We’ll see.
Is the world ready for a sarcastic, R-rated superhero?
Comic-Con ticket holders got a first look at next year’s “Deadpool,” an “X-Men” spinoff starring Ryan Reynolds as a wise-cracking assassin in a red leather bodysuit.
“Please don’t make the supersuit green. Or animated!” Reynolds’ character pleads — a dig at the actor’s 2011 bomb “Green Lantern,” which featured a computer-generated costume.
The NSFW footage featured lots of F-bombs: In one scene, the hero blows away a group of criminals, takes a long sniff of his guns, then announces he plans on touching himself that night.
The tone is obviously different from DC’s grim-and-gritty superhero films, as well as Marvel’s lighter, family-oriented releases.
‘Green Lantern’ — again?
And speaking of Ryan Reynolds bombs . . .
Warner Bros. made a surprise announcement that “Green Lantern” would be rebooted in 2020. The film will have a new cast (Chris Pine is rumored for the lead) and will be set in the “Superman v. Batman” universe — also home to heroes Aquaman and Wonder Woman.
The film’s title, “Green Lantern Corps,” suggests that it will be an ensemble movie, featuring not just Earth’s Green Lantern, a k a Hal Jordan, but also those from far-flung planets.