COMIC CON PREDICTIONS
It’s here! And we hope you are having some big fun at the Con! Yes, I /we expressed doubts earlier this year. Well, wouldn’t you? Marvel Movies missing in action and let’s face it: it was THEIR success that to some extent, put comic book culture into the mainstream.
It also seemed a bit odd that they would branch off and do their own annual movie launch events without a proper Comic-Con presence. That said, Marvel DO have a ‘presence’ at the Con, it’s just that they are focused now more on television than on film (the films are a law unto themselves and in any event, all the major announcements / speculation have been dealt with; notably the big Spider-Man stuff).
But there WILL be SOME surprises. A surprise by its very nature is precisely that: something one cannot predict or see coming. There are patterns, though, and those create precedents. Based on that, I humbly offer a few sketchy snapshot ideas of what MIGHT happen / be happening / have already happened by time of publishing this: events that go beyond the official events advertised /announced.
BEN AFFLECK IS THE BATMAN!
We know there will be a Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice presence at the Con. What better platform to announce an actual solo Batman movie? It’s already been rumoured: Affleck starring in and directing a film that will focus on Batman alone, unfettered by the need to bond with Superman or other super-powered people.
Some even speculated it was a condition of Affleck’s contract when he accepted the role: he gets to direct a Batman movie. Makes sense, if any of you have seen his heist thriller, The Town, you’ll just ‘get’ a Batman vibe from it. It’s compatible with the way Chris Nolan made his Dark Knight trilogy. Fuse that with a bigger universe that now DOES encompass the supernatural and you could have a VERY interesting Batman movie indeed. Kind of Maltese Falcon meets Raiders of the Lost Ark. But with BATMAN! Watch this space. 2018 probable release date.
CHRIS PINE IS …
Pine is a STAR. An old school movie star. A man that deserves better. Sure, he’s Captain Kirk and that’s great. But it’s not enough. He tried Jack Ryan, a hero that had also been played by Ben Affleck, Harrison Ford and Alec Baldwin. Poor timing, title and marketing made that movie flop. But Pine and indeed Ryan, were just fine. And Hollywood allows a star actor at least one flop. They just make sure your next attempt does not fail.
And so, since Pine’s choices MUST count, whilst yes, we COULD get an announcement that he is playing Wonder Woman’s love interest, it is equally, if not MORE possible, that Chris Pine WILL be the GREEN LANTERN. A reboot is due after 2011’s misfire. And they need to re-cast the part, given the hero’s role in the Justice League, alongside Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman et al. It could happen. Just a question of WILL!
STAR WARS
There’s been no official promise of a new trailer. Denials, in fact! But then, WHO knew there’d be a trailer back in April? Not also: the cycle of timings. You get nowadays at least THREE trailer s before a film is finally released if it’s a big one. So there COULD and indeed SHOULD be one for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, due sometime around NOW.
Sure, it’d be a few weeks early, even a month. But still within the 3-4 month window without risking saturation. Three months since the last one; 4-5 months before release (by which stage there will be new tv spots and featurettes online to pad things out).
It’s also a Disney product, thereby connecting it to Marvel, thereby perhaps explaining WHY the Marvel Movie stall took a step back this year: give the new flagship product a bigger platform? The Comics alone have now broken records in publishing; why not repeat the trick at the cinematic /comic-con level? It makes ruthless business sense.
And there COULD also be some more surprises: Harrison Ford on stage? Footage from Rogue One? Official announcements on casting the ‘young’ Han Solo? Something on the sequels to The Force Awakens? Limitless possibilities; narrowing probabilities. But FUN in any event: revealing and yet guaranteed to leave you all wanting more!
We hope you enjoy /are enjoying the Con. Remember: stay hydrated. Stay mobile /contactable. Keep your ID on you at all times. And have FUN! That’s what it’s all about, all things considered.
