The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part portion of Warner Bros.' massive Hall H panel at Comic-Con 2018 opened with a LEGO version of Aisha Tyler moderating a pre-recorded panel with LEGO Batman, LEGO Aquaman (both versions--the classic orange-suited one and the Jason Momoa Justice League version), plus Lego Movie stars Emmet (Chris Pratt) and Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks).
The unfinished, exclusive LEGO Movie 2 footage shown gave attendees a new glimpse at the now-apocalyptic LEGO world--basically, it's Mad Max with LEGOs. "Everything was awesome. Now, everything is bleak," Wyldstyle says. Of course, Emmet quickly breaks the mood by cheerily showing up with coffee. In the footage, the movie's new villain, General Mayhem, kidnaps Wyldstyle. LEGO Harley Quinn points out that rescuing her is a "suicide mission," a tongue-in-cheek reference to Suicide Squad.
Most importantly, the clip introduced us to Rex Dangervest, a new character also voiced by Chris Pratt, who among his many jobs is a "raptor trainer," a cute little Jurassic World joke. The two characters show the dual sides of Pratt, who, as the actor pointed out during the panel, started his career as the hapless Andy on Parks and Rec and is now a superhero and action movie star.
Unlike the first LEGO Movie, which was directed by Chris Miller and Phil Lord, the follow-up will be helmed by Mike Mitchell. It's set five years after the first film and, along with those mentioned above, the cast consists of Jonah Hill (Green Lantern), Will Arnett (Batman), Channing Tatum (Superman), and Stephanie Beatriz (Sweet Mayhem). It releases on February 8, 2019.
From creepy furbies to demonic beings, Season 4 of Legends of Tomorrow has some old and new faces. As we saw from the new SDCC 2018 trailer, the series is set to return to The CW in October.
Season 4 will follow the Legends after they've defeated Mallus with Beebo, a giant furby-esque stuffed animal. Now that the Legends have proven themselves, "fugitives"--creatures from myths, fairy tales, and lore--invade the real world. The Time Bureau isn't prepared to deal with these magical beings, so it's left up to the ragtag band of superheroes, the Legends, to take on the threat. You can see the entire sneak peek in the trailer above.
Legends of Tomorrow will air on The CW on October 22 at 6 pm PST / 7 pm CST. Right now, we don't have word if the series will come to DC's streaming service, DC Universe, which is set to release this fall with the premiere of Titans.
Fans of The CW's DC output have come to expect new seasons of their favorite shows to arrive each fall, and this year will be no different. Supergirl is one of the series that returns in October, alongside The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, and Arrow. The first trailer for Supergirl Season 4 has been revealed at San Diego Comic-Con.
The trailer is extremely dramatic and centres around a voiceover from the evil Agent Liberty (Sam Witwer). He talks about waves of destruction and orders mankind to stand up against "the invaders"--presumably superheroes like Supergirl. There's also loads of impressively staged city-wide destruction and the debut of a seriously cool-looking new Supergirl suit. Check it out above.
Supergirl stars Melissa Benoist as Kara/Supergirl, plus Mehcad Brooks as James Olsen, Chyler Leigh as Alex Danvers, Jeremy Jordan as Winn Schott, and Katie McGrath as Lena Luthor. Season 4 premieres on The CW on October 14.
In related news, it was reported last week that The CW has greenlit the pilot of a Batwoman show. The Vampire Diaries showrunner Caroline Dries is set to write and executively produce. The character will debut during the network's annual crossover event in December, which will incorporate all the shows in the so-called Arrow-verse.
DC fans also have plenty to look forward to when the streaming service DC Universe launches in the fall. The service will present a variety of new live-action and animated shows, plus classic DC movies and series, and comic books. The first trailers for two of the new shows--the live-action Titans and the animatedYoung Justice: Outsiders--were also revealed at this year's SDCC.
While it's still not clear exactly when we'll see the big screen Flash movie, the TV version of super-fast Barry Allen is as popular as ever. Season 5 of The CW's DC show The Flash premieres in October and the first trailer was revealed at San Diego-Comic-Con.
Season 4 ended with the surprise appearance of Nora, a girl claiming to be the daughter of Barry and Iris, who has arrived from the future. The trailer shows that the new season picks up immediately afterwards, with Barry attempting to find out why Iris--codename XS--is here, and uncovering some dark secrets along the way. Check it out above.
The Flash stars Grant Gustin as Barry, with Candice Patton as Iris and Jessica Parker Kennedy as Nora. It was revealed at The Flash's SDCC panel that the villain will be Cicada, the metahuman-hating villain who first appeared in DC comics in 2001. He'll be played by American Pie's Chris Kline.
At the SDCC panel, Gustin spoke about the changes in store for the characters in Season 5. "I think we're kind of all on different pages," he said, via CBR. "Barry, Iris, and Nora are all in very different headspaces. Nora is pretty clingy to Barry. We don't know why. She's kind of attached to him when she arrives and a little more distant with Iris."
In related news, it was reported last week that The CW has greenlit the pilot of a Batwoman show. The Vampire Diaries showrunner Caroline Dries is set to write and executively produce. The character will debut during the network's annual crossover event in December, which will incorporate all the shows in the so-called Arrow-verse--The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl, and Arrow.
Every year San Diego Comic-Con 2018 brings together fans and nerds from around the world as they celebrate the movies, TV shows, comic books, video games, and more that they love most. This year's convention runs from July 18-22 in San Diego and is packed with panels, appearances, and screenings. There's enough to see and do that it can be pretty intimidating. Luckily, GameSpot is here to help you sort through it all and figure out what you simply must see
Sunday, the final day of Comic-Con, has the least amount of panels. That said, there's still plenty to see for TV fans. First and foremost, Supernatural is making its return to Hall H and, chances are, there is something very special in store. At SDCC in 2017, the CW series brought the band Kansas for a live performance of the song "Carry On Wayward Son," which appears repeatedly throughout the series. Will the show somehow top itself? Other notable panels include Riverdale and FX's Legion, as well as a sneak peek at the upcoming Sons of Anarchy spin-off Mayans MC.
The mothership has landed. We're now into the second day of San Diego Comic-Con 2018, which sees the casts and creators of your favorite TV shows, movies, comic books, and more gather to meet and talk to fans. The annual celebration of all things nerdy runs through July 22 in San Diego, CA, and there's something for just about anyone, spanning genres from horror to sci-fi and beyond. We've already gotten a Titans trailer and DC Universe news, learned about new episodes of beloved animated series The Clone Wars, and gotten an Iron Fist Season 2 release date. Friday should bring more, with the likes of Walking Dead and Sony Pictures panels on tap. But the biggest news of the day will likely involve James Gunn, who was originally scheduled to show up for Sony's panel; that's now doubtful, as Disney has fired him from Guardians of the Galaxy 3.
With a seemingly countless number of events packed into four days, it can be hard to figure out exactly what you want to see at Comic-Con. After all, this will be the first chance many have to watch sneak peeks and new trailers for upcoming movies and TV shows, as well as shows returning in the fall. Luckily for you, though, GameSpot has studied the SDCC schedule closely to pick out the panels you probably won't want to miss.
Some events are an easy choice to attend, especially where movie fans are concerned. Though Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm are both opting not to bring presentations to Comic-Con this year, there is more than enough to experience.
Thursday will see a panel for The Predator that will surely include new footage. Meanwhile, Friday sees Universal Pictures presenting panels for the upcoming Halloween film starring Jamie Lee Curtis, as well as M. Night Shyamalan's Glass--a sequel to both Unbreakable and Split. Saturday kicks things off right with the annual Warner Bros. presentation. That's where you'll likely get new looks at things like Aquaman, Wonder Woman 1984, and maybe even the upcoming Shazam.
TV is no slouch this year either. While HBO will not be bringing Game of Thrones or Westworld to the event, there is no shortage of shows. The CW's entire superhero roster is returning with individual panels. Other shows represented with panels include The Walking Dead, Vikings, Riverdale, Star Trek: Discovery, Preacher, Legion, and so many more returning favorites.
As far as new shows are concerned, SDCC has those covered as well. Castle Rock, the upcoming Hulu series set in the Stephen King universe, has a panel, as well as USA's TV spin-off of The Purge, Syfy's Deadly Class adaptation, and FX's Sons of Anarchy follow-up Mayans MC. There are also reunion panels featuring the casts of Breaking Bad, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and Twin Peaks.
You can take a look at the full list of GameSpot's San Diego Comic-Con highlights below; we've also got roundups of what to look for on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. If you aren't able to make it to San Diego this year, make sure to keep your eyes on GameSpot Universe as we bring you the best moments, trailers, and more from the weekend.
Thursday
The Predator (10:30 am - 11:30 am - Hall H)
Blade Runner: Revelations (10:30 am - 11:30 am - Room 6BCF)
WWE Elite Squad (11:15 am - 12:15 pm - Room 6A)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars 10th anniversary celebration (11:45 am - 12:45 pm - Room 6BCF)
Doctor Who (11:45 am - 12:45 pm; Hall H)
Nightflyers (3:00 pm - 3:50 pm; Indigo Ballroom)
Better Call Saul (3:30 pm - 4:30 pm - Hall H)
Breaking Bad 10th anniversary reunion (4:30 pm - 5:30 pm; Hall H)
Marvel's Iron Fist (6:00 pm - 7:00 pm; Ballroom 20)
Friday
Fear the Walking Dead (11:15 am - 12:15 pm; Hall H)
Vikings (11:30 am - 12:30 pm; Ballroom 20)
The Walking Dead (12:15 pm - 1:15 pm; Hall H)
Hulu's Castle Rock (12:45 pm - 2:00 pm; Ballroom 20)
Star Trek: Discovery (1:30 pm - 2:30 pm; Hall H)
Universal Pictures' Glass and Halloween (3:45 pm - 4:45 pm; Hall H)
Bumblebee (5:00 pm - 6:00 pm; Hall H)
Sony Pictures (6:15 pm - 7:15 pm; Hall H)
Preacher (7:30 pm - 8:30 pm; Hall H)
Saturday
Warner Brothers (10:30 am - 12:30 pm; Hall H)
Black Lightning (11:00 am - 11:45 am; Ballroom 20)
My Hero Academia (11:15 am - 12:15 am; Room 6A)
The Simpsons (12:00 pm - 12:45 pm; Ballroom 20)
Krypton (12:00 pm - 12:50 pm; Indigo Ballroom)
The Gifted (2:30 pm - 3:15 pm; Ballroom 20)
Supergirl (3:30 pm - 4:15 pm; Ballroom 20)
Arrow (4:15 pm - 5:00 pm; Ballroom 20)
Batman: The Animated Series on Blu-ray (4:15 pm - 5:15 pm; Room 6DE)
We're in the midst of San Diego Comic-Con 2018, and there's a ton of new trailers for some of the most highly-anticipated movies and TV shows. Some of the biggest standouts have been new films and shows, like Glass and Shazam, as well as the return of classic shows, like Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Young Justice.
There were also new trailers for other big shows, like The Walking Dead, Better Call Saul, and Star Trek: Discovery. Check out all of the new trailers below, and be sure to check back often as we update this feature with more. For all of the top updates from the event, be sure to check out our extensive SDCC 2018 coverage throughout the weekend.
Aquaman
Aquaman is the newest movie in the DC Cinematic Universe. Focusing on Arthur Curry, aka Aquaman, in the events following Justice League, Aquaman will tell the story of how Arthur becomes king of Atlantis. Arthur's villainous half brother Orm, aka Ocean Master, appears in the new trailer, as well as Arthur's archenemies David Hyde, aka Black Manta.
Better Call Saul Season 4
Better Call Saul's next season deals with some heavier themes that previous seasons. Both Saul and Mike must struggle through even bigger challenges as this Breaking Bad spin-off series moves even further into the timeline.
Black Lightning Season 2
Black Lightning is returning for a second season this October. Although the new trailer doesn't actually show off anything new, it's a good refresher for the first season of the show. Black Lightning will return to The CW on October 9.
Doctor Who Series 11
The latest Doctor Who stars the first female Doctor in the series three-decade long history. Actress Jodie Whittaker is playing the 13th incarnation of the Doctor, and takes over from previous Doctor actor, Peter Capaldi. She will be accompanied by three companions this time--Ryan (Tosin Cole), Yasmin (Mandip Gill), and Graham (Bradley Walsh).
Dragon Ball Super: Broly
The new Dragon Ball Super film pits Goku and Vegeta against the infamous series villain, Broly. And this time around he has a completely new appearance.
Deadly Class
Produced by the Russo brothers - and based on the best-selling graphic novel – Deadly Class follows a new recruit in a high scool for assassins. It premieres on SYFY in 2019.
The Flash Season 5
Barry Allen's present is thrown into chaos when someone from his future turns up at his door. On top of that, a new villain emerges and sets his sights on the speedster.
Fear the Walking Dead
The new Fear the Walking Dead trailer showcases new plotlines, but also offers a look at a familiar face that fans will recognize from the main series.
Glass
Glass bridges the Unbreakable and Split, bringing their casts together for what looks to be perhaps the most unique superhero--or villain--tale ever seen on the big screen.
Godzilla: King of Monsters
The 35th Godzilla movie in the franchise and sequel to 2014's Godzilla got a pretty amazing trailer during SDCC. King of Monsters marks the third film in Legendary's MonsterVerse, which also includes King Kong. The new trailer sees the return of Godzilla, as well as our first look at Mothra, Rodan, and King Ghidorah.
Impulse Season 2
The critically acclaimed series returns for its second season, available only on YouTube Premium.
Marvel's Iron Fist Season 2
Marvel's Iron Fist is getting a follow-up season that promises to expand upon the character, while upping the game on the quality of storytelling and fight choreography.
Mayans M.C.
Mayans M.C. is the highly-anticipated spin-off of the popular biker drama, Sons of Anarchy.
Nightflyers
The TV series adaptation of George R.R. Martin's novella Nightflyers finally got a debut trailer. It follows a group of scientists as they embark on a mission to find a race of alien nomads. The group gets on the Nightflyer spaceship, ready to explore, unaware that the man who captains their ship is murderously insane.
The Purge
Based on the movie series, The Purge examines society and the people within it when, for a single day, all crimes are legal and carry no consequence.
Shazam
Shazam got its first official trailer at SDCC. The movie is about Billy Batson, a 14-year-old foster child who's gifted with the magical power to transform into the adult superhero Shazam. The trailer depicts what will probably be the most light-hearted film in the DC Cinematic Universe to date.
Star Trek: Discovery
The latest Star Trek: Discovery trailer features new character Captain Christopher Pike, who has taken command of the ship under orders from Starfleet.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
In a surprise announcement, Star Wars: The Clone Wars Animated Series was confirmed to be returning. The trailer below offers a look at an older Anakin making contact with the fan-favorite Ashoka.
Titans
The first trailer for the DC Universe original series Titans--a live-action take on Teen Titans--takes on a darker tone most fans weren't expecting.
Rise Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Rise of the Teeange Mutant Ninja Turtles is the latest series in the long-running franchise. It takes on a far more stylized and cartoonish art style than its predecessors.
Voltron Season 7
The latest Voltron season sees the Paladins on a course for Earth. Unfortunately, after a long and perilous journey, they discover that their home planet is not how they left it.
The Walking Dead Season 9
The latest season continues Rick and the gang's fight for survival with them forging a truth among the communities of survivors. However, it's an uneasy one that's liable to break before they know it.
Young Justice: Outsiders
After three years away, Young Justice is returning for a third season. It picks up from the tragedy at the end of the previous season, showcasing the traumatic effects it has on the team as they face yet another villainous threat.
For all of our coverage on San Diego Comic-Con 2018, be sure to click from the links below. Check back often to keep up to date on all the latest announcements and trailers from the show.
San Diego Comic-Con 2018 rolls on, with Day 2 bringing even more news about everything from The Walking Dead and Star Trek: Discovery to Venom and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. And, as with the first day, there remains a ton of great cosplay, as fans of various movies, shows, and games wander the San Diego Convention Center.
With Comic-Con representing such a wide array of franchises and types of media, there's a huge amount of diversity in the cosplay to see. On Thursday, we spotted a variety of characters from Game of Thrones, Star Wars, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, among others. Those were again represented on Friday, but we also spotted some others, including Skyrim's Dragonborn, Captain Marvel, It's Pennywise, and Black Panther.
James Gunn, director and writer of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, was fired by Disney and will not be involved with the upcoming third film. The move was made in response to old tweets of Gunn's that surfaced online in which he discussed various controversial subjects. Gunn doesn't deny having written them, but did attempt to explain and apologize for them. Nevertheless, Disney and Marvel are done with Gunn. As a result of the news coming out, we didn't see the director make an appearance during the Sony Pictures panel as expected. He was believed to be there to reveal a new movie project, possibly a horror film we heard about last year.
We'll continue to report all of the biggest news from Comic-Con, so stay tuned to GameSpot. You can also expect plenty more cosplay from the event as it continues.
The Purge series is one of the most successful horror franchises of recent years, with more than $399 million earned at the worldwide box office to date. The fourth movie--The First Purge--is currently in theaters and September will see the premiere of the new TV spin-off. It's simply titled The Purge, and a new trailer was revealed at San Diego Comic-Con.
The trailer is a good reminder of exactly what happens during the annual Purge night, where all laws are suspended and citizens are encouraged to act out their most violent and criminal impulses with no consequences. It looks like it'll be the same mix of violent thrills and social satire that has made the films so popular. Check it out above.
The Purge premieres on the USA Network on September 4, 2018, and will run for 10 episodes. It's written by franchise creator James DeMonaco and executively produced Jason Blum, the man behind such other horror hits as Get Out, Insidious, and Paranormal Activity. The cast includes Gabriel Chavarria (War for the Planet of the Apes), Hannah Emily Anderson (Jigsaw), Reed Diamond (Designated Survivor), and Amanda Warren (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri). For more, check out our guide to everything we know so far about The Purge TV show.
The series takes place between the events of the second and third movies, namely The Purge: Anarchy and The Purge: Election Year. At the SDCC panel, director Anthony Hemmingway and producer Thomas Kelly spoke about the freedom they were given with the series, and if it was necessary to see the movies beforehand.
"It was like having your own art project. Anything was possible. We were able to tap into a lot of things in today's social climate and paint them on this big canvas," Hemmingway said. Kelly added: "The good thing with the series is that you don't have to see any of the movies to get into this TV show, but if you are a fan of the movies, we paid you respect and have easter eggs popping in the episodes."
San Diego Comic-Con 2018 is now its third day, and the news just keeps on rolling in. Today we've had trailers for Aquaman, Shazam, and Godzilla: King of Monsters. But the event is about more than just big reveals; in fact, one of the best parts of the show is seeing the passion fans have for movies, comics, TV, games, and more. Walking the halls of Comic-Con, this passion is most obviously manifested in cosplay, and it's hard not to stop and marvel at some of the fantastic costumes that people put together to show their love.
We've been snapping pictures of our favourite costumes every day of Comic-Con so far, and have seen characters from Iron Man, Game of Thrones, Moana, Mega Man, and Batman, among others. And Saturday has been no different, with each of those franchises and more strongly represented once again, along with Silver Surfer, Pokemon, Static Shock, and Lord Zedd.
For those looking to catch-up on some of the news, we've put together a list of our Comic-Con coverage highlights below for a quick and easy way to get up to speed. Big news includes a brand-new trailer for Preacher Season 3, which sounds like it's going to get even more gruesome and stomach-churning in the remaining episodes.
Cloak and Dagger fans can also look forward to seeing more of Tandy Bowen and Tyrone Johnson, as the superhero duo will return for a second season. With just two episodes left in the current season, the future was unclear for the series, but at the Cloak and Dagger panel during Comic-Con, Marvel TV boss Jeph Loeb confirmed that Season 2 will start production in the fall, which means it should hit screens in 2019.
There's still plenty of Comic-Con to go, and you can be sure we'll continue to bring you all of the biggest news from the show, so keep your eyes on GameSpot. You can also expect lots more cosplay from the event.
The 1993 movie Demolition Man is a science-fiction masterpiece, if you ask the staff of GameSpot Universe. We discuss the inner-workings of John Spartan, Simon Phoenix, and the world of San Angeles way more than anyone in their right minds should. So when Taco Bell announced that it would have a pop-up restaurant at Comic-Con, recreating the Taco Bell scene from the movie, we had to go, and it was the best activation we'd ever participated in the history of the show.
As you may know, according to Demolition Man lore, Taco Bell was the sole survivor of the Franchise Wars. Companies engaged in corporate warfare and buyouts until Taco Bell was the only restaurant left. All restaurants in Demolition Man became Taco Bell. In the movie, John Spartan--who was recently unfrozen from his cyro-prison--visited Taco Bell with his partner Lenina Huxley to have dinner with Dr. Raymond Cocteau, the creator of the peaceful society San Angeles.
There are lots of notable things about the Taco Bell scene in Demolition Man alone, from the tiny portions of vegan food to MTV Sports' Dan Cortese playing piano and singing the commercial for "Green Giant." And at Comic-Con, Taco Bell created a restaurant that could have been one of the many Taco Bells around San Angeles.
Additionally, GameSpot spoke with Matt Prince, who works as public relations and brand management at Taco Bell about the insane activation and how it came to be.
Matt Prince: Yeah, so this was an idea that the brand had for probably a good three years. You know, being around the brand in social media, listening, we see people bring up Demolition Man all the time. Even for a movie that's 25 years old, any time we come out with a new brand initiative or an element to the experience for the customer or the restaurant, people always bring up Demolition Man. When we brought in weddings, people were like, "Oh my gosh, the future's coming true, Demolition Man was a premonition, it's true." When we opened up the more cantina-style restaurant that was more upscale, alcohol was available at the restaurants, people were comparing it to the restaurant from the movie.
Prince: So we knew there was still a really strong desire to tie the brand to that movie, even 25 years later. Knowing the 25th anniversary was coming up, we thought, "If we're gonna do it, now is the time." And what better place to do it than the holy grail of science fiction in Comic-Con. So we've been working with Warner Bros. for the past eight months to put this all together. And so everything from the elements that you see from the movie, like the actual memorabilia and the wardrobes to the movie, we got from the archives, from Warner Bros.
Prince: It's just been, from top to bottom, from the bathrooms to the entrance, there are touches of the movie, that if you saw the movie and you're familiar with it, you're gonna be blown away. Like, these little Easter eggs are really cool. But it also gives us our flexibility to talk about, "OK, well what if Taco Bell was in 2032? What if we were the only restaurant that survived the franchise wars? What would that look like?"
Prince: So that's where we see some elements that you don't get from the movie, like robots serving different dishes, you have some elements like hanging hydroponic plants that we could grow in restaurants someday, so you have the no silverware at the table. So there's all these little predictions that we're trying to make over the course of, you know, "What would 2032 Taco Bell look like?" So that kind of gives us a little bit of fun to have with it.
Did you guys partner with anybody else to design or flesh it out?
Prince: Yeah, so we work with an experiential agency called Cyrano Rox. We worked with them for many, many years on a lot of the pop-ups that we do, typically out in New York. But when we launched some products like the naked chicken chalupa, we did a really cool speakeasy in the heart of Manhattan. And so we've done different elements like that, but nothing to the scale of this and the buzz around Comic-Con and this kind of excitement.
These are great. We looked at these [menus] for eight or ten minutes.
Prince: It takes you a while for your brain to get it. But yeah, all sorts of people came together to really make this thing happen, which is really cool to see it come to life.
So you had the piano player upstairs. By chance, did you try to get Dan Cortese?
Prince: So we worked closely with Dan. So Dan came to our headquarters a few weeks ago to film some really neat elements for the line queue--you guys probably missed the line--but in the queue, there is a Dan that is welcoming everybody into the restaurant.
Cortese continued
Prince: He's not Dan Cortese, he's the minister of communications, so he basically welcomes everybody to the future of Taco Bell. So for us, it's kind of that entertainment while you wait in line you get surrounded. It's also that easter egg of Dan Cortese being the guy to do it. So before you leave, that video's also playing above the bar. You might have to wait a few minutes to see it turn, but it's amazing. He did a great job. It was really great. Yeah, he loved to be a part of it. We still get mentions from Dan Cortese all the time. That was a big thing that happened, like, we have to have Dan Cortese be a part of it in some way, shape, or form.
I have a question about the seashells. Everybody coming in was like, "Well, they better have the seashells. Like, they have them, right?" But having them be "out of order"--I thought about it for a second, and I think I realized that if you have the seashells out, people would probably try to wipe their a** with them or something. So what was the thinking behind the way that you did it?
Prince: [Laughing] Yeah, that was a strategic move for sure. One of the biggest things from the movie is the seashells obviously, and the question of how you use them is one of the biggest mysteries of all time. So we wanted to play within that space to kind of keep it going without making our own predictions. But, for sure, we wanted to make sure it wasn't something that people would be, you know, from a sanitary perspective, be using, and things like that. So you can still get the element that it's there. We add a nod to it without having any terrible things happening.
How can a seashell be out of order?
Prince: It's probably because of how they're used.
My favorite thing about it is that it adds to the canon. You guys worked with the studio, so we can assume that anything that happens here is canon, right? So now we've added a layer to the seashell lore. It's beautiful, it's one more piece of the puzzle.
I just wanted to also ask you about Taco Bell's overall strategy of, like, I feel like you guys have really zeroed in and gotten in tune with your audience. I mean, nacho fries as a concept, I think, speak to a certain kind of person. And now we're here, and you guys are doing a good job of this. Like, what is the overall strategy?
Prince: Yeah, if you look at the overall evolution of social media, it was around the same time as our brand really started picking up. Because for us, our consumers are really fanatical and they share that on social media. So it kind of opened our eyes to this culture and this fandom and this cult-like following that Taco Bell had. And so we really leaned into that. So everything from products that people wanted to come back to the way that our restaurants are built to the different things that we do, like this, is basically reflective of our consumer and our fan.
Prince: So once we really leaned into that, you kind of started this really shift in dynamic of, we truly do consider ourselves a lifestyle brand--more than just food, more than just a restaurant. How do we partner with Forever 21 on a really cool retail collaboration? How do we partner with Lyft on some technology innovations that have never been seen in the industry? So we're looking at different ways to be in culture and ways that other brands within the industry aren't doing and that's what we really hang our hat on. Because you have moments like this where, going down the line and talking to people and, like, "What are you most excited to see?" They're like, "Honestly, I just love Taco Bell, and this is amazing."
Prince: I talked to one guy and was like, "Hey, are you a fan of Taco Bell?" He was like, "Yeah, do you wanna see my tattoo on my ass?" I'm like, "Of course I do!" And he had "Live mas" on his butt-cheek tattooed. And we got it on camera, so it was amazing.
Oh my god.
Prince: But to have that fandom, that level of fandom where people are tattooing slogans...
That's wild. So you would have thought that you'd be calling his bluff and he'd say "Just kidding."
Prince: I thought he was bluffing, I was like, "Okay, sure, I'll see your tattoo," but he actually had it.
I mean, personally I just love that you can replace any item on the menu, beans instead of meat, and make everything vegetarian, which is me, so I do that.
Prince: We're the only restaurant in the industry to be certified by the American Vegetarian Association, which is amazing. We have the largest vegetarian menu with your substitutions with beans. With potatoes, we can make it meatless. It's not certified vegetarian because we fry them in the same fryer some with some of the meat. But with potatoes, you can make anything meatless and amazing, so the options are fantastic for vegetarians. And a lot of places, the vegetarians are left with sides and these smaller, compromising dishes.
To have those options are great for people. And of course, in the movie Demolition Man, it's all vegetarian. So if you look at the menu tonight, there was obviously one meat dish but everything else was vegetarian, so I don't think they're that far off from their prediction of the future, really leaning into a more plant-based, meatless world.
Thanks to Matt Prince for talking to GameSpot about the pop-up. Keep going for a look at the food the restaurant served, inspired by the movie.
Warning: The menu is really weird and doesn't make sense until you see the actual food. Items with * next to it are outlawed items from the world of Demolition Man. However, because this was a special occasion, you could ingest them.
At San Diego Comic-Con, DC Entertainment announced a new publishing imprint called DC Black Label. The label will only mark certain stories, each created by DC Comics' most prominent writers and artists. They'll bring edgy and provocative standalone stories to the legends of DC's greatest heroes and villains. For starters, the label is focusing on stories centered around Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman.
"Creating DC Black Label doubles down on our commitment to working with all-star talent and trusting them to tell epic, moving stories that only they can tell with the highest levels of creative freedom," said publisher Jim Lee. And freedom those writers and artists will have. Series that run under the DC Black Label won't be restricted to a specific format, release schedule, or canon.
When it comes to DC Black Label, creative vision is most important. Writers will be free to write stories that contradict The New 52 or Rebirth, and artists can reimagine heroes and villains with designs that have never been seen before. DC Entertainment has six books planned for the first wave of DC Black Label titles: Superman: Year One, Batman: Last Knight on Earth, Batman: Damned, Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons, Wonder Woman: Diana's Daughter, and The Other History of the DC Universe.
Frank Miller and John Romita Jr. are on Superman: Year One, which promises to be a groundbreaking reimagining of Superman's classic origin story. Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo are behind Batman: Last Knight, a story that begins with Batman waking up in the desert next to The Joker's head still alive in a jar. Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo are tackling Batman: Damned, a story where Batman and Constantine team up to chase down a horrific serial killer who might have managed to murder The Joker.
Kelly Sue DeConnick and Phil Jimenez are telling a Homeric epic of the lost history of the Amazons in Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons. Not much is known yet about Wonder Woman: Diana's Daughter (in fact, that's a working title), but Greg Rucka will be using the comic to tell the story of a young woman who defies the odds of her hopeless world. John Ridley is writing a literary series that analyzes iconic DC moments in The Other History of the DC Universe.
The full summary of each of these books can be found on DC Comics' blog.
Prior to San Diego Comic-Con 2018, all we knew about Netflix and Matt Groening's new show, Disenchantment, was what we saw in a brief teaser trailer: It's a fantasy show, made by Groening (the creator of The Simpsons and Futurama), and it stars an irreverent, relatable princess played by Broad City's Abbi Jacobson. During group interviews at the convention, we learned a whole lot more; you can also see a new trailer below.
Groening, who's been embroiled in controversy lately, was totally focused on promoting Disenchantment during Comic-Con. Alongside longtime collaborator Josh Weinstein--who also worked on both The Simpsons and Futurama--he described his influences for the show, which go back to his childhood dreams of an "enchanted forest."
He didn't want to make a straight fantasy show, though, and he and Weinstein hope to subvert the genre's many tropes--both old and new. "The princess is a perfect example," said Weinstein. "It used to be like the Disney princess, but also, I think a lot of writers make the mistake too of going the other way--it's like, 'She's totally kick-ass and she's perfect.' So we wanted to bust that trope and actually make, what if the princess were just like, a realistic 19-year-old young woman?"
"The tendency in a lot of epic fantasies and science fiction is 'good vs. evil,' and we tried to shade it a little bit," Groening added. "[King Zog, played by Bender and Jake the Dog actor John DiMaggio] here starts out pretty villainous, but then you find out he has his reasons, and he's not all bad. And same thing with [Princess] Bean, who's the star of the show, and who it's all about. She's not perfect by any means--she makes some bad mistakes and she has a lot of flaws, but you like her anyway."
Monty Python and the Holy Grail proved to be a big influence, unsurprisingly, given the setting. But Disenchantment's home on Netflix allowed Groening and Weinstein more freedom than they're used to. Netflix has become known as a place where creators can fulfill their visions without studio meddling--for better or worse. One way they're experimenting is with length and pacing--the show's first episode is around 35 minutes long, and later episodes vary in length, which isn't possible on network television.
Disenchantment also has more adult content than The Simpsons and Futurama, but they didn't want to be gratuitous.
"If there's nudity, it's going to be King Zog"--i.e. a character most people wouldn't want to see naked, Weinstein said. "If there's violence, it has to be funny or clever so it's not gratuitous."
"We do have a lot of severed limbs and decapitations in this show," Groening added.
Dropping all the episodes at once has advantages, too. "This was a different kind of storytelling than we've ever done, in that you don't have to wrap things up at the end of the episode," Groening said. "And so we have a lot of fun with cliffhangers--a literal cliffhanger at the end of Episode 1."
"Some of the best jokes come from when you don't have to push the story forward so much," he continued. "On The Simpsons and Futurama and other cartoon shows like that, you're so pushing the story forward that you don't have time for some of the best jokes, which are free-standing."
Groening and Weinstein said they designed the show first as if it was a drama, getting the story beats in place before subverting things to add the humor. Weinstein brought up a "rule" that he said Groening has had "from the very beginning of The Simpsons": that characters have to react emotionally to the story in realistic ways.
"We especially thought that in a fantasy, and in an epic tale, and with a character like Bean, if those emotions, and her relationship with her dad, if those aren't real, you'll just disconnect, and it would just be like, a stupid parody show," Weinstein said.
In addition to Jacobson and DiMaggio, Disenchantment's voice actors include Eric Andre, Noel Fielding, and many other talented comedians and actors. The music is atypical for a fantasy show, created by Mark Mothersbaugh, an accomplished film composer and frontman of the band Devo. And the show will be chock full of secrets, according to Groening, from the very first scene.
"The very first thing you see is a giant clue," he teased. "The first animation you see reveals a giant clue, and it's staring you right in the face. And I'm being very legalese here, and my wording is very precise, so it will pay off later."
Most of all, he said, they want to create a show that elicits a wide range of emotions--not unlike The Simpsons and Futurama before it. "We hope we choke people up and break some hearts and maybe cause a tear here and there," Groening said. "But that's after we make you laugh."
After being driven from Kattegat in the Vikings midseason finale, Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig), Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick), and Ubbe (Jordan Patrick Smith) are ready to fight back against Ivar the Boneless (Alex Andersen). As they do every year, the cast and creator of Vikings marched into San Diego Comic-Con armed with a special treat for fans attending their panel: A trailer.
In the two-and-a-half minute clip, which you can see above, Kattegat is a very different place than it was when fans last saw it. Under Ivar's rule, nobody looks particularly happy. But with a leader as ruthless as Ivar, can you blame them?
Least happy of all is the one brother that didn't turn his back in Ivar, Hvitserk (Marco Ilso). In the trailer, he makes it clear he doesn't trust his brother and, by the end of the clip, has switched allegiances to fight at Bjorn's side. What this means for the impending war remains to be seen, especially with the return of Rollo (Clive Standen), who admits he missed the small town that's now become a thriving kingdom.
"I think it's fair to say every time [creator] Michael [Hirst] writes for Rollo, he's not going to do whatever you think he's going to do," Standen said during the panel, when asked about Rollo's motives in returning. "He's now a ruler of his own country in Normandy and he has his own people to think of and to put first." However, Standen played coy when it comes to saying whether he's truly sided with Rollo.
Don't go expecting the return of the berserker, though. According to Standen, this Rollo isn't the same man from earlier seasons. "He's older now. Your body doesn't quite work as you want it to work," he teased. "He's at that age where you start thinking about death and your own mortality and where you go afterward." However, the actor does say there's some unfinished family business for him to tackle.
One thing is clear, when it comes to most of the cast: Their allegiances set them at odds with Ivar, even if there is a lot of family drama between everyone. The strange relationship between Torvi (Georgia Hirst), Bjorn, and Ubbe is especially problematic. After Bjorn left Torvi in Season 5, she found love with his brother Ubbe. As Hirst tells it, though, this is how it was meant to be. "I never think he was satisfied, so I think Torvi felt a sense that she was never enough," she explained. "I think he just came at the right time and I think they have found genuine love."
Additionally, as you can see in the trailer, Lagertha's grey hair isn't going anywhere. Recounting the midseason finale, Winnick said, "The very last shot of Lagertha, she is completely in shellshock--so much that her hair actually turned grey." That look is sticking around and she continues her quest to kill Ivar--something the new king of Kattegat isn't pleased about.
While he took control of Kattegat, in some ways he considers his victory a failure. "He's in a bad place and he didn't even get to kill Lagertha," Andersen said. "He's mad." Of course, that's not necessarily the kind of person the people of Kattegat will want in charge. "Let's make a guy who can't control himself control an entire city," the actor joked.
There's still a while before Vikings returns, sadly. Thankfully, a midseason premiere date was also announced at Comic-Con. You'll get the remainder of Season 5 starting on November 28 at 9 PM ET on History. Thankfully, this won't be the end of the road for the series as Season 6 has been in production for some time.
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