Guardians 2 title revealed and Comic Con lineup announced

Marvel’s third phase has titled its new properties fairly simply – Ant-Man, Doctor Strange, Black Panther, Captain Marvel and Inhumans – while their sequels have received subtitles – Captain America: Civil War, Thor: Ragnarok and The Avengers: Infinity War. The new Spider-Man’s title is yet to have been revealed but the latest news from Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn is that the sequel has been titled: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2.

Gunn directs the cast of Chris Pratt (Jurassic World) as Star Lord, Bradley Cooper (Limitless) as Rocket, Zoe Saldana (Avatar) as Gamora, Vin Diesel (Pitch Black) as Groot, Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men) as Thanos, Karen Gillan (Oculus) as Nebula, Dave Bautista (Riddick) as Drax, Seth Green (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) as Howard the Duck and Benicio Del Toro (Traffic) as The Collector

The schedule for the famed San Diego Comic Con 2015 has been revealed.

Thursday:

• Lionsgate: ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2′: 12:00 PM-1:15 PM, Hall H
  Lionsgate presents an exclusive first look at one of the studio’s highly anticipated films coming to theaters this fall. Get a sneak peek into the powerful final chapter of the epic The Hunger Games film franchise. Attendees will be shown exclusive, never-before-seen footage from Mockingjay: Part 2 and treated to a cast and filmmaker Q&A session revealing details on the big-screen finale. Featuring stars Jennifer Lawrence and Julianne Moore and director Francis Lawrence.
• CBS TV Studios Comic-Con Lineup: 12:00 PM-3:30 PM, Ballroom 20
  Exclusive Sneak Previews and Panels for the CBS series ‘Extant’, ‘Zoo’, ‘Under the Dome’, ‘Limitless’, and ‘Scorpion’.
• ‘Doctor Who’: BBC America’s Official Panel: 2:15 PM-3:15PM, Hall H
  Following his record-breaking first season as the Doctor, Peter Capaldi will make his first ever appearance at Comic-Con with stars Jenna Coleman (Clara Oswald) and Michelle Gomez (Missy), and lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat. Doctor Who follows the adventures of the Doctor, the time traveler who will continue to journey through all of space and time in epic adventures in the new season premiering this fall. Capaldi’s first season delivered BBC America its highest rated season ever and is available now on all digital platforms.
• ‘Sherlock’: 3:45 PM-5:15PM, Ballroom 20
  Steven Moffat (co-creator, executive producer, and writer), Sue Vertue (executive producer) and Rupert Graves (actor, DI Greg Lestrade) discuss the latest adventures of Sherlock Holmes and his long-suffering faithful friend, Dr. John Watson. Sherlock will return to BBC in a forthcoming special.
• MTV’s ‘Teen Wolf’: 5:00 PM-6:00PM, Ballroom 20
  Teen Wolf cast members and executive producer are taking Comic-Con by storm for the sixth consecutive year. The pack of MTV’s hit series Teen Wolf will dish secrets, share a sneak peek of the upcoming season, and answer fan questions.
• ‘Damien’: 6:45 PM-7:45 PM, Room 6A
  From executive producer Glen Mazaara (The Walking Dead, The Shield), Damien follows the adult life of Damien Thorn, the mysterious child from the 1976 motion picture who has grown up seemingly unaware of the satanic forces around him. Haunted by his past, Damien must now come to terms with his true destiny: that he is the Antichrist. Starring Bradley James (Merlin), Barbara Hershey, Megalyn Echikunwoke and Omid Abtahi. Get an exclusive first look at the show followed by a Q&A with cast and producers, plus a special guest appearance.

Friday:

• ‘Lucifer’ Pilot Screening and Q&A: 11:30 AM-12:30PM, Room 6BCF
  Lucifer is the story of the original fallen angel. Bored and unhappy as the Lord of Hell, Lucifer Morningstar has resigned his throne and retired to the City of Angels, where he owns an upscale piano bar called Lux. When a beautiful pop star is murdered, for the first time in roughly 10 billion years, he feels something awaken deep within him. Is he actually capable of feelings for a human being? The very thought disturbs him. The murder attracts the attention of LAPD homicide detective Chloe Dancer, who finds herself both repulsed and fascinated by Lucifer. At the same time, God’s emissary, the angel Amenadiel, has been sent to Los Angeles to convince Lucifer to return to Hell. But with the City of Angels at his feet and a newfound purpose, Lucifer’s having too much fun to go back now. Sexy, dark and irreverent, Lucifer makes its Comic-Con debut with a screening of the complete pilot episode, followed by a Q&A with series stars and producers. From Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Aggressive Mediocrity in association with Warner Bros. Television, and based on characters created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth, and Mike Dringenberg for DC Entertainment’s Vertigo imprint, Lucifer premieres Midseason on FOX.
• AMC’s ‘The Walking Dead’: 12:00 PM-2:00 PM, Hall H
  Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Steven Yeun, Lauren Cohan, Danai Gurira, Melissa McBride, Chandler Riggs, Sonequa Martin-Green, Michael Cudlitz and Lennie Jamesjoin executive producer and showrunner Scott M. Gimple, executive producer Robert Kirkman, executive producer Gale Anne Hurd, executive producer Dave Alpert, and special effects makeup supervisor and executive producer Greg Nicotero in a panel moderated by Chris Hardwick (The Nerdist, Talking Dead). The panelists will discuss the shocking finale of Season 5 and what to look forward to in Season 6, debuting this fall on AMC. Join the panelists for a Q&A session and an official sneak preview of Season 6.
• ‘Minority Report’: 1:45 PM-2:45 PM, Ballroom 20
  Be one of the first to take a look at FOX’s new fall sci-fi action thriller. Based on the hit futuristic Steven Spielberg feature, Minority Report follows the unlikely partnership between a man haunted by the future and a cop haunted by her past, as they race to stop the worst crimes of the year 2065 before they happen. Join Stark Sands (Inside Llewyn Davis), Meagan Good (Think Like a Man franchise, Californication) along with other cast and producers for a special screening followed by a Q&A.
• ‘Game of Thrones’ Panel and Q&A: 2:30PM-3:30PM, Hall H
  Based on the bestselling fantasy book series A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin, HBO’s Game of Thrones concluded its 10-episode fifth season in June and will begin filming its sixth season this summer. The series, executive produced and written by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, is an epic story of treachery and nobility, set on the continent of Westeros, where summers and winters can last years. Panelists include (in alphabetical order) Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy/Reek, John Bradley as Samwell Tarly, Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth, Liam Cunningham as Davos Seaworth, Natalie Dormer as Margaery Tyrell, Conleth Hill as Varys, David Nutter (director), Hannah Murray as Gilly, Carolyn Strauss (executive producer), Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark, Carice van Houten as Melisandre, and Maisie Williams as Arya Stark.
• Marvel Television Presents: 3:00 PM-4:15 PM, Ballroom 20
  Jeph Loeb (Marvel’s head of television) brings you exclusive news and surprises about your favorite action-packed Marvel series on ABC. Join Jeph, showrunners, and the casts of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Carter for this can’t-miss panel that’ll have everyone talking! Featuring Clark Gregg and Hayley Atwell.
• ‘iZombie’ Special Video Presentation and Q&A: 5:45 PM-6:45PM, Ballroom 20
  After the shocking events in the season finale of brainy hit iZombie, be among the first to get the scoop on what’s in store for Season 2. Now that Liv (Rose McIver) gave the cure for zombie-ism to Blaine and Major (one that she desperately wanted to take herself!) will Ravi find a way to develop another cure? Will Clive remain in the dark about the existence of zombies? A special video presentation will be followed by a Q&A with series stars as well as executive producers Rob Thomas (Veronica Mars) and Diane Ruggiero-Wright (Veronica Mars). From Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Spondoolie Productions and Warner Bros. Television and based on characters created by Chris Roberson and Michael Allred, published by DC Entertainment’s Vertigo imprint, iZombie returns this fall with all-new episodes on Tuesdays at 9/8c on The CW. iZombie: The Complete First Season will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on September 29.
• Lucasfilm: ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’: 5:30 PM-6:30 PM, Hall H
  Lucasfilm president and producer Kathleen Kennedy, director J.J. Abrams, writer Lawrence Kasdan, and special guests provide a special look at Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Featuring Harrison Ford, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o and Andy Serkis.
• ‘Orphan Black’: BBC America Official Panel: 5:45 PM-6:45 PM, Room 6BCF
  Stars Tatiana Maslany (Sarah and the Leda clones), Jordan Gavaris (Felix), Maria Doyle Kennedy (Mrs. S), Dylan Bruce (Paul), Kristian Bruun (Donnie), and Ari Millen (Mark and the Castor clones) and co-creators John Fawcett and Graeme Manson look back at last season before filming begins on Season 4. Orphan Black Season 3 is currently on VOD. For those new to the Clone Club, you can also start watching the BBC America series by streaming the first two seasons on Amazon Prime or download the entire series from any of the major digital platforms.
• Star: ‘Ash vs. Evil Dead’: 6:00 PM-7:00PM, Room 6A
  Original filmmakers Sam Raimi (executive producer, director, writer), Rob Tapert (executive producer), Bruce Campbell (executive producer and star of the series, Ash), Ivan Raimi (co-exeuctive producer), and Craig DiGregorio (executive producer), along with Lucy Lawless (Ruby), discuss the highly anticipated new series and what fans can expect in the premiere season.
• ‘Yoga Hosers’: 7:15 PM-9:00 PM, Hall H
  An evening with Kevin Smith. After all the interesting and exciting movie panels are over, Hall H belongs to a middle-aged loser who dresses like a 12-year-old! Ask Kev questions about AMC’s Comic Book Men and his forthcoming Mallrats sequel Mallbrats, and see the world premiere of the trailer to his new movie, Yoga Hosers. Wrap up a busy Friday with the Clown Prince of Comic-Con! With special guests from the Yoga Hosers cast. Featuring Johnny Depp and Haley Joel Osment.

Saturday:

• Warner Bros.: 10:30 AM-12:00 PM, Hall H
  A “sneak peek” at a few upcoming releases from Warner Bros. Likely including The Man From UNCLE (Armie Hammer, Guy Ritchie), Pan (Hugh Jackman, Joe Wright), In the Heart of the Sea (Chris Hemsworth, Ron Howard), Point Break (Edgar Ramirez), Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (Ben Affleck, Zack Snyder), Central Intelligence (Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart), Tarzan (Alexander Skarsgard, Margot Robbie), Knights of the Roundtable: King Arthur (Charlie Hunnam, Jude Law), Suicide Squad (Jared Leto, David Ayer) and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Eddie Redmayne, David Yates).
• The Weinstein Company: ‘The Hateful Eight’: 1:30 PM-2:15 PM, Hall H
  Academy Award-winning writer/director Quentin Tarantino brings fans an exclusive look at his highly anticipated 8th film, The Hateful Eight. Followed by a Q&A session with the cast: Samuel L Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Bruce Dern.
• Legendary Pictures: 2:30 PM-3:30 PM, Hall H
  Filmmakers and talent from Legendary’s upcoming Warcraft (Duncan Jones, Dominic Cooper, Toby Kebbell) and Crimson Peak (Guillermo Del Toro, Tom Hiddleston, Jessica Chastain), distributed by Universal Pictures, will discuss the innovative slate and present never-before-seen material. Chris Hardwick (AMC’s Talking Dead) hosts the panel that will also include surprises from highly anticipated legendary movies, including Great Wall, Krampus, and more.
• 20th Century Fox: 5:45 PM-7:30 PM, Hall H
  20th Century Fox Presentation including Fantastic Four (Miles Teller), Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (Dylan O’Brien), The Martian (Matt Damon), Bridge of Spies (Tom Hanks), Kung Fu Panda 3 (Jack Black), Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds), X-Men: Apocalypse (Jennifer Lawrence), Independence Day: Resurgence (Jeff Goldblum), Gambit (Channing Tatum), and Assassin’s Creed (Michael Fassbender).
• Warner Bros. Television and DC Entertainment Screening Block: 8:00 PM-11:00 PM, Hall H
  Includes Supergirl season 1 (Melissa Benoist), Gotham season 2 (Ben McKenzie), Arrow season 4 (Steven Amell), The Flash season 2 (Grant Gustin) and Legends of Tomorrow season 1 (Brandon Routh).

Sunday:

• TV premieres including Heroes Reborn, American Horror Story, Scream Queens, Supernatural and The Vampire Diaries.

Tron 3 is confirmed for Autumn shoot, first look at Maze Runner 2 and Guy Ritchie reveals King Arthur

The follow up to the 1982 sci-fi cult classic Tron had mixed success commercially and critically but Joseph Kosinski has been determined to make a sequel to his Legacy – a film more renowned for the Daft Punk soundtrack. In a surprising announcement, the Oblivion director has confirmed his project is set to shoot this autumn. From what we’ve heard, it sounds as if various cast members, including Jeff Bridges (True Grit), Garrett Hedlund (Unbroken), Olivia Wilde (Rush) and Cillian Murphy (Batman Begins). Perhaps Michael Sheen (The Queen) can return as his eccentric club owner Castor.

Next today is Sherlock Holmes director Guy Ritchie’s first look on the set of his fantasy epic Knights of the Roundtable: King Arthur. The franchise starter will star Charlie Hunnam (Pacific Rim, Sons of Anarchy), Jude Law (Artificial Intelligence, The Aviator), Astrid Berges Frisbey (I Origins), Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond, Guardians of the Galaxy), Mikael Persbrandt (In a Better World, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug) and Eric Bana (Hanna, Munich, Stark Trek).

Sci-fi action The Maze Runner took us all by surprise when it significantly outgrossed fellow young adult flicks Divergent and The Fault in Our Stars, despite those film’s great success in the US. The sequel to it, The Scorch Trials, was quickly confirmed and the first stills have been revealed. The plot this time sees the Gladers enduring WCKD’s brutal second challenge. It’ll star Dylan O’Brien (Teen Wolf), Kaya Scodelario (Moon), Thomas Brodie Sangster (Wolf Hall), Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones), Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad), Barry Pepper (Saving Private Ryan) and Patricia Clarkson (Shutter Island) with director Wes Ball.

The Maze Runner: Scorch Trials – September 28th

Knights of the Roundtable: King Arthur – July 22nd 2016

Tron 3 – 2017

Eric Bana joins King Arthur, new Man from UNCLE trailer and first still from Spectre

Idris Elba’s departure caused some issues in casting for the new King Arthur reboot, from Sherlock Holmes/Snatch/Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels director Guy Ritchie, but from there Charlie Hunnam (Pacific Rim, Sons of Anarchy), Astrid Berges Frisbey (I Origins), Djimon Hounsou (Guardians of the Galaxy, Gladiator) and Jude Law (The Aviator, Road to Perdition, Artificial Intelligence) joined. Now Eric Bana (Star Trek, Hanna, Munich) is confirmed to be playing Arthur’s father Uther in the new film, which is setting up a franchise.

On the subject of Guy Ritchie, we have the trailer for his spy thriller The Man From UNCLE. It sees a Russian and American agent in 1963 forced to work together to prevent a nuclear disaster. It stars Henry Cavill (Man of Steel), Armie Hammer (The Social Network, The Lone Ranger), Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina, A Royal Affair), Elizabeth Debicki (The Great Gatsby), Jared Harris (A Game of Shadows, Lincoln) and Hugh Grant (Notting Hill, Cloud Atlas).

UNCLE isn’t the only spy movie planned this year with Kingsman: The Secret Service released and Melissa McCarthy’s comedy Spy and Mission: Impossible 5 still to come. The biggest release though is Spectre, the twenty fourth Bond instalment. The very first still has been revealed and shows Bond in action in the Austrian Alps.

Oscar winner Sam Mendes (Skyfall, Road to Perdition, Revolutionary Road, Jarhead, American Beauty) directs the cast of Daniel Craig (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Lea Seydoux (Blue is the Warmest Colour), Naomie Harris (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom), Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy), Ben Whishaw (Cloud Atlas), Monica Bellucci (The Matrix), Andrew Scott (Sherlock), Rory Kinnear (The Imitation Game) with Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained, Big Eyes) as Oberhauser and Ralph Fiennes (The Grand Budapest Hotel, In Bruges) as M.

The Man From UNCLE – August 14th

Spectre – October 23rd

Knights of the Roundtable: King Arthur – July 22nd 2016

Hounsou in talks for King Arthur, Greengrass joins 1984 and new Jessica Jones castings

As well as post production on spy thriller The Man From UNCLE, British director Guy Ritchie (Sherlock Holmes, Snatch) has spent the best part of this year nailing his castings for his Dark Ages-set adventure, King Arthur. Since Idris Elba (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Thor) left, the mentor role, either Bedevere or Merlin (it’s still unclear), has been vacant but is now likely to be filled by a two time Oscar nominee. Djimon Hounsou (Guardians of the Galaxy, Blood Diamond, Gladiator) is now in talks to join what we’ve heard is the first chapter in a six-legged saga. Charlie Hunnam (Pacific Rim, Sons of Anarchy), Astrid Berges Frisbey (I Origins) and Jude Law (The Aviator, Road to Perdition) are already signed on to star.

Were it not for Christopher Nolan, Paul Greengrass would be the greatest British direct of the century. The lower budget action drama Bloody Sunday was followed by the acclaimed mainstream likes of The Bourne Supremacy/Ultimatum, Green Zone, United 93 and Captain Phillips. Next up may be more Bourne with Matt Damon or the homeland security thriller, based around a sporting disaster, with Jonah Hill and Leonardo Di Caprio. Greengrass is now set to helm an new project based on George Orwell’s classic futuristic novel 1984, depicting a man who rebels against a state who observe and control everything. The themes of surveillance and the rights and wrongs of knowledge have never been more relevant.

Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Hulk, Ant-Man, Black Panther, Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel and Guardians of the Galaxy are at the forefront of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as it develops into its third phase but a new set of heroes are shaping up on Netflix as an expansion to the series: Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist who then form The Defenders in a set of five shows. Charlie Cox (Stardust, Broadwalk Empire) has long been cast as Daredevil but new casting rumours have emerged.

In the running for Jones are Krysten Ritter (Big Eyes), Teresa Palmer (Warm Bodies), Jessica De Gouw (Dracula) and Alexandra Daddario (True Detective) but Cage is down to Lance Gross (Crises) and Mike Colter (Zero Dark Thirty).

Knights of the Round Table: King Arthur – July 22nd 2016

1984 – 2017?

Jessica Jones – 2015 (?) on Netflix

Luke Cage – 2015 (?) on Netflix