SDCC 2024: A Triumphant Return with Tony Stark, Unforgettable Offsites, and Comic-Con Magic

So, Tony Stark is back. That will be the big takeaway for those who didn’t attend the 2024 edition of San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC). For those who waited in line after line to attend the Marvel panel on Saturday, it was probably a fantastic moment. But that’s only 6,000 of the 130,000 who enter the exhibition hall on Saturday. That’s not including the 100,000s outside taking part in offsites, parties, signings, etc. So, while we always enjoy a little bit of Robert Downey Jr. in our lives, this year’s SDCC had a lot more for those who may not have wanted to spend Friday in a line in the hopes of waiting in line on Saturday.

In my prior wrap-ups of SDCC, I made note that the COVID-19 pandemic and writer’s strike seemed to hamper things, whether it was the attendees, the celebrities or everyone. 2024 is by no means perfect, there were plenty of messes left and right, but this was the first time since 2019 that things began to feel normal. Yes, there were people wearing masks, but to each their own when it comes to safety. Yes, there was a strike called by SAG-AFTRA against major video game publishers, but the festivities went on, delighting young and old, geeky, nerdy, dorky, and even the local passerbys of San Diego.

While we didn’t make it to the exhibition floor for Wednesday’s preview night, we did make it to several fantastic offsites. While the swag wasn’t available for the press preview, Adult Swim made it’s triumphant return after a one-year hiatus with a pirate party, featuring games and photo opportunities from shows like “Rick and Morty” and “Smiling Friends.” Adult Swim, as they always do, cranked the fun up to 11 in coming days with live wrestling events, daily DJs and swag that might be too big to fit into your carry-on. We also checked out Paramount+’s Lodge, which showcased some upcoming shows, like “Dexter: Original Sin” and “Tulsa King” while celebrating 25 years of Spongebob. Wait…25 years…geez I’m getting old. While both were fantastic events, especially the free drinks and pizza at the Lodge, the “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” activation was a combination of “Apes” history and the magic of modern special effects. Not only did they have a museum of Ape film artifacts, highlighting the rich history that stretches back to 1968, but several actors and crew from the latest film were on hand to talk with fans and press. If you attended, you also could had a few drinks and hors d’oeuvres with them.

The action kept rolling Thursday, although the day began with a bit of a whimper. Focus Features was celebrating 20 years of “Shaun of the Dead” with a Winchester Tavern pop-up. The only problem was, there was no air-conditioning and the free beer couldn’t be consumed on-site. As soon as word spread, it became one of the least frequented offsites of the weekend. Thankfully FX and Hulu’s Animayhem offsite activations were up next and offered some decent swag and reprieve from the heat. Knowing that they’d be under the blaring California sun, FX offered free, customized umbrellas (even if the line was an hour long) before exploring various other portions of their activation. However, FX was a mixed bag as many thought the wait to get into “The Bear” activation wasn’t worth it. Hulu managed to help fans beat the heat by setting up misting fans and overhead awnings to ensure those waiting in line for their activation didn’t leave with a wicked sunburn. The activation featured various activities, food and a collection of pins that fans of “Solar Opposites,” “Futurama” or “Hit Monkey” will treasure forever. While the day could have ended with a load of panels, instead MediaMikes’ first panel of the day hosted by Fandom, ended with us going to Fandom’s 20th anniversary party. You can read more HERE.

With offsites out of the way, Friday and Saturday was loaded with exploring the exhibition hall and attending various panels. The exhibition hall reminds us that while the big players, LEGO, Marvel, and others, take up the most space on the sales floor, fans will always find that small booth, that tiny artist, or that one thing stowed away that will ultimately bring the biggest smile to their face. For me, it was a photo with Lloyd Kaufman. The legendary director/writer/everything gladly talked with those who knew Troma, ensuring everyone who stopped by will remember him as Uncle Lloyd. One stand-out panel from the day was the audiobook preview of “Red Dead History” with Arthur Morgan (voiced by the highly personable Roger Clark) attending the panel and snapping selfies with fans of the 2018 game. While I could continue to gloat about the various panels with their various surprises, it would become a long winded article of me bragging.

What is the big takeaway from this year’s SDCC? Was it perfect? No. Was it amazing despite its flaws? Yes. It usually is. SDCC offers enough unique experiences so that you won’t be bored. Want to check out board games that could one day become the next “Axis and Allies?” SDCC has got you. Want to check out some independent films? SDCC has got you. I say all this because there were rumblings, just like in prior years, that SDCC could go somewhere else. But it’s hard to beat San Diego weather and the Gaslamp district’s amenities. While it’s impossible to do everything, it’s possible to get a life changing experience, no matter who you are or what you enjoy. Scout out those panels, ask those questions when attending, compliment the cosplayers, talk to strangers about the great time or to get some insight on other happenings and most important, put on some sunscreen. As a Midwesterner, where an average summer day feels like Satan breathing down your neck, the mid-to-upper 70s can trick you into thinking you won’t crisp up in a few hours.

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Filed Under: Commentary, Conventions, Misc Tagged With: adult swim, dexter, futurama, hulu, jeremy werner, planet of the apes, ...

Film Review: “Prey”

Starring: Amber Midthunder, Dakota Beavers and Dan DiLiegro
Directed by: Dan Trachtenberg
Rated: R
Running Time: 99 minutes
Hulu

Just like the “Alien” franchise, I’m always a little surprised when another “Predator” movie comes out. It’s not that I don’t like the “Predator” franchise, (I’m actually a little bit too forgiving on its weaker elements) but I’ve always struggled to find other people who’ve watched the films or even enjoyed the films. It’s not hard to find people who’ve watched and treasured the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger film, but now I feel a new generation is about to watch and treasure 2022’s “Prey.”

For “Predator” fans, the first question is going to be: “So is “Prey” a sequel, prequel or what?” The answer is uncertainty. The film takes place in 1717 in the northern Great Plains (Montana? Canada?), about 250 years before Scharzenegger and his crew of macho men gets torn apart by an unseen creature in the jungle. Naru (Midthunder) is an aspiring Comanche hunter, despite the eye rolling done by her fellow tribesmen, hunters and even her Comanche hunter sibling. All that’s about to change with the arrival of an invisible extraterrestrial who’s made Earth its hunting ground.

Just like the first “Predator,” “Prey” spends the first third of the movie building up our hero’s backstory and arc while showing us flashes of the invisible to the naked eye space monster slashing and shooting his way through wildlife. As previous “Predator” films have established, this isn’t just a bloodthirsty creature, it’s a being that enjoys the hunt; much like Naru. So, throughout the film, there is this anticipation and build-up towards these two fighting to the death. Until then, we have some interesting character development…and a lot of blood and gore to get through.

If there’s been one complaint about each film in the franchise, it’s the humans; never the trophy hunting creature. Thankfully the humans aren’t obnoxiously flawed sacks of meat or overstay their welcome, or in the case of 2018’s “The Predator,” has a subplot where autism is a superpower. Naru not only moves and flows with her tribe, but she encounters French fur trappers who are about as likable as a wasp in summer time. So, their deaths are ultimately enjoyable and welcome. In that regard, “Predator” and “Prey” are similar in that the humans we like remain alive while the disposable flesh and blood is given to the least likable of the bunch.

That being said, this is the first time the protagonist has been a woman, but you’d never know it from the way the movie ebbs and flows. Instead of calling attention to itself or virtue signaling, the film uses Predator mythos to explain why Naru is the perfect match for this galaxy traveling warrior. It also helps that she plays into the film trope of, “We can’t believe what the woman/child says or sees, right?” It also helps that she immediately recognizes the danger while each man in the film puffs his chest and charges ahead before being ripped apart, stabbed, shot or any other myriad of horrific ways to die. It reminds me a lot of Linda Hamilton’s work in the “Terminator” films. Not only do Naru and Sarah Connor radiate confidence, but they both prove their intellect and action-movie badassness each time they encounter their foe.

The one thing that’s kind of always fascinated me about the franchise, even in its highs and lows, is how much the directors and writers stay true to the creature itself, rarely rolling the dice on a bizarre character development, but instead attempting new things within the realm of logic for this fictionalized species. Director Dan Trachtenberg proves that he can provide an equal balance of substance and style, hopefully breathing life into a franchise that was nearly left for dead by director/writer Shane Black four years ago. Not only does Trachtenberg give us a neat origin story about the first Predator hunting expedition on Earth, but gives us hope that maybe, for once in this franchise, we’ll start to have a string of decent Predator films.

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Filed Under: Film Reviews, Movies Tagged With: amber midthunder, arnold schwarzenegger, dan trachtenberg, film, hulu, jeremy werner, ...

NYCC 2019: Hulu’s Castle Rock

Just in time for Halloween, Hulu is ready to invite viewers back to the not-so-sleepy town of Castle Rock. The fictional Maine location may sound familiar to even casual horror fans, as it features across the many works of Stephen King. To celebrate the launch of season 2, the cast of the anthology series joined fans at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden for a screening of the premiere episode at this year’s New York Comic Con.

The highlight of the premiere was the debut of Lizzy Caplan as “Stephen King’s nurse from hell” Annie Wilkes. Wilkes was the star of King’s Misery where she was willing to go to lethal lengths to get her way from James Caan’s stranded author character. Bates famously won an Academy Award for her performance and if you had asked me if I needed to see more background on her character I may have doubted you until this episode. Caplan channels her own unblinking manic energy and manages to make Wilkes’s “cockadoody” vernacular her very own. As a bonus, she has the wonderful Elsie Fisher (Eighth Grade) as a daughter to play off of in this series.

While I won’t go into spoilers for the show, suffice to say there was at least one jaw dropping scene that made checking the show out in the massive NYCC audience incredibly satisfying.

Head over to our NYCC Facebook album to see even more photos from the panel which also featured Shawshank Redemption alum Tim Robbins

Castle Rock season 2 is available on Hulu starting October 23rd.

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Filed Under: Conventions, Featured, TV, TV Headlines Tagged With: barkhad abdi, castle rock, elsie fisher, hulu, lizzie caplan, matthew alan, ...

BookCon: The Handmaid’s Tale Season 3

The second season of Hulu’s hit series The Handmaid’s Tale left more than a few fans stunned when June (Elisabeth Moss) bucked her chance to escape to freedom in Canada with her baby and instead handed the infant off to Emily (Alexis Bleidel) while turning back into the world that still holds her other child hostage.

This weekend eager Handmaid’s fans finally got to see where June’s unexpected decision has lead the inhabitants of Gilead when showrunner Bruce Miller and actress Ann Dowd (“Aunt Lydia”) brought the premiere episode of the third season to New York’s BookCon.

Without going into episode spoilers, I will say what I saw went a long way in explaining why June would make such a tremendous sacrifice in that finale and the acting across the board continues to be top notch. Alexis Bleidel’s Emily in particular had me moved to tears more than once. And the BookCon crowd broke out into applause at least twice.

While the terrifying Aunt Lydia did not appear in the premiere ep, the trailers showed that she will return after Emily very literally stabbed her in back last year. Dowd, who was also nefarious in last year’s horror hit Hereditary, is delightful and warm in person and said of Lydia, “she is doing quite well…she’s very concerned” She also offered some exciting tidbits into where season three might take Aunt Lydia.

Although in the last two seasons we’ve seen almost every protagonist’s backstory, Aunt Lydia has remained a mystery. Apparently that will change in season three. Of this insight, Dowd commented that while it wasn’t exactly what she thought it would be “it’s so true to what might have went wrong.” On that change she added that whatever happened, “her life leaned toward Gilead and [to being] one of the most staunch believers of that group.” And while Dowd clearly loves playing Lydia, she joked about her inner dialogue with the character: “I say I’m disappointed with her and she says to mind my business!”

The Handmaid’s Tale returns weekly to Hulu starting Wednesday June 5th.

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Filed Under: Books, Conventions, Headlines, TV, TV Headlines Tagged With: ann dowd, aunt lydia, Bookcon, bookcon 2019, bruce miller, handmaid's tale, ...

TFF 2017: Executive Producers of “The Handmaid’s Tale”

“The Handmaid’s Tale”, Hulu’s stunning adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s 1985 novel held its premiere screening at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival as part of their Tribeca TV series. The series follows Elisabeth Moss’s “Offred,” one of many handmaids forced to serve a man in a dystopic American society where a wave of infertility has caused women to be stripped of their rights and utilized strictly for reproduction. The series debuted its first three episodes on Hulu on April 26th, with new episodes available every Wednesday. I spoke with the executive producer and showrunner of this brutal and hopefully not too prescient series.

What kind of freedom did you find adapting this novel into a streaming series rather than a regular tv show or film?

Executive Producer, Warren Littlefield: Well look, it’s not network television. Margaret Atwood’s vision, that she created in her book 32 years ago, was a dark dystopian world. And Bruce Miller adapted that and it’s a powerful, dark and very disturbing world and our partners at Hulu did not limit us in what we were able to do. In language, in action and physicality, in sexuality, in brutality. We were able to deliver the message that we wanted to deliver. I think it’s a thriller, I think it’s entertaining but it’s pretty damn powerful, so fasten your seatbelt.

Showrunner and writer, Bruce Miller: I haven’t worked in film very much at all. Almost all my work has been in tv which is much more fun because you could have stories that go on forever. But working in a streaming service, you get the great benefit of not having to have a show that’s forty-two minutes and twenty-two seconds long, but it can be longer or shorter. Which, more than you know, throws the audience off. They don’t know what’s gonna happen when you don’t know how much is left! It could end five minutes from now or fifteen minutes from now and that makes all the difference.

Were you very familiar with the novel before you worked on it?

Miller: There’s a novel?! [Laughs] Yeah I read the book when I was in college, in a ‘New Fiction’ class–which shows you how long ago I was in college. I loved it and I read it a whole bunch of times, completely on my own just as–I was interested in it. So I wasn’t thinking about it in terms of turning it into a television show. And then when I started to get more into writing tv and my career took off, I probably looked at it more in that way. But when I heard they were making a tv show, I was excited because I would get to watch it! Not because I was going to be making it. And then over the years, the show didn’t come out and there were reasons and this and that and you know, I ended up, despite my gender, getting the job. And it was wonderful after having been so familiar with the book but also having been familiar with it in a lot of different time periods. Because it kind of was perennially relevant. Every time I read it seemed like ‘wow this is just the time!’ to read it.

Especially this election year, where it seemed like assailing women’s rights was just a common trend…

Miller: It’s a hobby!

At which point when you were filming, did you realize what a hot topic you were handling?

Miller: I wrote the first few episodes before the election season started and then we were writing all the way through the debates and the election. And then we were shooting you know, in the middle…when Trump was elected president, we were shooting then. It was interesting, we were in Canada, so we had a little bit of a different perspective…But that was all very interesting. I don’t know–I’m sure subconsciously or unconsciously it changes the way you shoot things. But we were just trying to be gutsy. You know when you’re working from a book that showed so much bravery to write in the first place, you don’t want to be the wimp that turns it into a safe tv show. You want to be as bold as Margaret Atwood was. And so it just reinforced that idea that we should continue to be bold because its an important story we’re telling. But really, in a lot of ways like I said, I’m a writer, I’m in the question business, not the answer business. I’m just trying to put interesting questions out there, that doesn’t really change. I mean I certainly saw the relevance and certainly we went from saying ‘oh my gosh’ to ‘we better not screw this up!’ But I don’t know that anybody changed their story tact. I think we just became a lot more comfortable with what we had decided to do.

Littlefield: I think like the character of Offred, who is a fighter, that was our intention. We always felt a lot of pressure to live up to Margaret’s vision because it’s such a strong vision. And I think when we woke up in November in the middle of production, we were like ‘we better not screw this up!’ like…oh my god. But I think we were kind of fueled by [saying] ‘Alright, this is what we need to do.’ And I think the audience will be as well.

Streaming shows often come with binge-viewing, how do you feel about that approach?

Littlefield: Well, I kind of love what we’re doing. Hulu is presenting on the 26th of April, the first three hours, so you engage in a big way. And then each week, they’ll roll out an additional one. And so, I think that that also is really good because you want time. You may want to watch it again and it’s best I think in smaller doses, because it’s complex. I mean the world of television allows you to do complex characters and a complex narrative and we embrace it.

Can you discuss casting Elisabeth Moss in the main role?

Miller: Elisabeth Moss is astonishing in this. I’ve been a fan of hers forever. She has just such a range of skills and I can’t imagine anybody else in this role. She was who I wanted to be in this role from the beginning. She has main circuit cable connecting her heart to her face that doesn’t have an off switch. So whatever she feels bubbles up. But it’s a really interesting role to play because she’s got all this stuff showing on her face that she doesn’t want anybody else in the room to see, but she wants you to see. The best thing about Liz is she likes to be challenged so I got to write stuff that I never would have written for anybody else because everything I wrote that was harder and harder and harder, she loved it! So we got to really push the boundaries of the skills of an actor.

Series star Elisabeth Moss was understandably pressed for time on the carpet, but offered this comment on acting out the defiance displayed by her character Offred:

Elisabeth Moss

“It was important to me, I mean that’s her whole story you know? That she’s so beaten down and torn apart, and has everything taken from her and just will not give up. And she’s so stubborn. And I think it goes up and down throughout the season, to me that defiance that I think we would all find in ourselves if we had to.”

The Handmaid’s Tale continues to add new episodes to Hulu every Wednesday and was already renewed for a second season in 2018.

 

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Filed Under: Interviews, Misc Interviews, TV Headlines, TV Interviews Tagged With: bruce miller, elisabeth moss, handmaid's tale, hulu, margaret atwood, TFF, ...

Tommy Wiseau talks about “The Room” Rifftrax Live, James Franco in “The Disaster Artist” and his Hulu series “The Neighbors”

Tommy Wiseau is the director, producer, writer and star of the cult classic film “The Room”. Since the film was released back in 2003 it has achieved “Rocky Horror” like fame playing to midnight screenings non-stop to a huge fan base. Some called the film one of the worst ever made but true fans see “The Room” for what it really it, which is fun! The film was parodied live by the Rifftrax gang last year and is heading back to theaters again on January 28th, 2016. Media Mikes had a chance to catch up with Tommy again to discuss “The Room”, James Franco playing him in “The Disaster Artist” film adaptation and what else he is currently working on.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us how you feel about “The Room” being parodied by Rifftrax Live?
Tommy Wiseau: Yeah they reached out to me about a year ago about doing it. I liked what they did, I mean, I don’t support parts of it 100%, but it does show how fun “The Room” is. People take things too serious and the film isn’t made to be serious, it is made to be fun. If you haven’t seen the Rifftrax Live version of “The Room” in theaters, I would recommend it highly when it comes around again January 28th, 2016. And bring a big group of friends with you as well.

Mike Gencarelli: The film has been out for 13 years now, are you ever taken back by the continued interested in it year after year?
Tommy Wiseau: Yes, I am still surprised. I am happy that people are still talking about it and still seeing it in theaters. I also have been working a few new projects as well that I am excited for fans of “The Room” to see as well. I love touring with the film across the country. I usually show “The Room” and an episode of “The Neighbors” as a double header. It is a lot of fun to do and also getting to interact with the fans.

Mike Gencarelli: Last time we spoke back in 2011, you mentioned you were planning a 3D release for “The Room”; can we expect that soon?
Tommy Wiseau: Yeah that is something that I have wanted to do for a while. Making a film into 3D is definitely not an easy process. So yes, I still want to release “The Room” in 3D, but right now I am not sure if I want to reshoot the entire film in 3D or just convert it. But I am definitely still planning and exploring my options. Right now James Franco is making his film of “The Disaster Artist”, so I will let him have that and then I will focus more on the 3D after it is released.

Mike Gencarelli: Speaking of that, tell us about your feelings on James Franco playing you in the film adaption of Greg Sestero and Tom Bissell’s book “The Disaster Artist”?
Tommy Wiseau: I think James is one best actors in the business. I feel good that someone like him is playing me. Of course, I also feel a little like they are taking something away from me since it is based around my life and my movie. I hope that this is a big success for James since then in return I think it will also then bring more people to “The Room” and that’s good.

Mike Gencarelli: Exactly, I think that this will put your film back in the spotlight and also introduce it to a new audience…
Tommy Wiseau: Yes, exactly. I am hoping about that. James and his brothers are doing a very good job so far and I am excited to see it when it comes out later this year.

Mike Gencarelli: Do you have any involvement or input on the upcoming film?
Yeah James did speak with me about the role and I gave him some tips. My life is very complex but I believe he will do a good job. I also have a small part in the film as well, which is cool.

Mike Gencarelli: Did you enjoy playing the villain Linton Kitano in newly released “Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance”?
Tommy Wiseau: It is always great to play a villain, I loved it. This film was a very fun experience for me I can tell you that.

Mike Gencarelli: Your TV series “The Neighbors” has aired 6 episodes on Hulu; any plans for more episodes on that format?
Tommy Wiseau: Yes! Currently 6 episodes have aired on Hulu and the fans really have been excited about what we have so far. I am currently working on another 6 episodes for Hulu. We have been also exploring releasing the episodes in animated format as well. So that is something that we were trying and it also getting a good response. I hope to have the next 6 episodes on Hulu by the end of 2016.

Mike Gencarelli: You did a Reddit AMA last year where you mentioned a new project called “The Foreclosure”, what can you tell us?
Tommy Wiseau: Yeah that is a project that I am currently working on as well as “The Neighbors”. “The Foreclosure” focuses on the housing market right now and looks into the current situation that we are facing today with people not being able to pay for their houses and being forced to foreclose. It is a current topic. There is also another project that I have that is currently untitled but that I cannot talk about right now…maybe in about 3-4 months, I can. But a lot of very excited stuff coming up for my fans!

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Filed Under: Film Interviews, Interviews Tagged With: artist, disaster, franco, hulu, james, live, ...

Jim Henson’s “Fraggle Rock” Spin-off “Doozers” Premieres on Hulu

Any fans of “Fraggle Rock” out there…I know there are! Well, this might be something for you(r kids) if you are looking for a return to Fraggle Rock. It has been more than 30 years since “Fraggle Rock” premiered and now we get a brand new spin-off called “Jim Henson’s Doozers”, which just premiered Hulu Plus with the first few episodes, which run 11-minutes long.

They show is aimed for preschoolers, which is perfect for me because I have a 2 year old and cause use her an excuse to watch. There are 52 episodes planned for this series already, which is a big commitment especially since this new series is Hulu’s first original project for kids.

Trading puppets for computer animation, this Fraggle Rock” spin-off introduces us to the “Pod Squad”, which consits of four new 3-inch-tall kid Doozers: Spike, Molly Bolt, Flex and Daisy Wheel. Check out the clip below, grab your kids and log on to Hulu ASAP!

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Filed Under: TV Headlines Tagged With: doozers, fraggle, hulu, premieres, rock, spinoff, ...
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