Star Wars treat at Comic- Con
HUGH Jackman, Margot Robbie, Will Smith and Ben Affleck have whipped 6000 ecstatic nerds into a frenzy at Comic- Con.
They were members of a cavalcade of stars that took to the stage at the supersized comic book convention as part of Hollywood studio Warner Bros’ presentation of upcoming films.
Jackman stars as the villainous pirate Blackbeard in Pan and told how director Joe Wright convinced him to join the new take on Peter Pan.
“He showed me a picture which was my face superimposed with a wig from Marie Antoinette and a costume of Louis the 14th,” Jackman said.
“I was like, ‘ I’m in’.” Pan will be released in September.
Warner Bros has aligned itself with DC Comics and Queensland- raised Robbie marched on stage with her rag tag crew from Suicide Squad.
Robbie plays Batman nemesis Harley Quinn, with fellow Aussie Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang, Smith as Deadshot, Jared Leto as The Joker, Adewale Akinnuoye- Agbaje as Killer Croc and Cara Delevingne as Enchantress. Suicide Squad is currently being shot in Canada and will arrive in cinemas in August next year.
Warner Bros, which showed sneak peek footage for each film, ended its presentation with the much anticipated Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. After Christian Bale stepped away from the Batman role, Affleck was cast as the caped crusader.
The appearance at Comic- Con, which attracts 130,000 fans over five STAR Wars hero Harrison Ford has returned to the public stage for a special moment along with fellow cast members Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill, joining stars of the latest film.
Legions of fans had slept outside the Comic- Con convention centre in San Diego for days before the much anticipated appearance. They were rewarded for their commitment when they were treated to a behind- the- scenes look at the making of The Force Awakens, as well as a surprise outside concert attended by the cast bearing light sabres. days, was Affleck’s first public foray since the announcement he was splitting from wife, actress Jennifer Garner. Affleck looked gloomy but scored plenty of laughs when he told the crowd how he randomly ran into Bale at a Los Angeles costume store.
Both actors were with their young sons, who wanted to go as Batman for Halloween.
“There he and I were standing in the Batman aisle,” Affleck said.
The Star Wars originals accompanied new cast members and actors Gwendoline Christie, Domhnall Gleeson, John Boyega and Daisy Ridley, as well as co- stars Oscar Isaac and Adam Driver, for a further glimpse at what fans can expect when the new film is released in cinemas in December.
The panel was Ford’s first public appearance since crashing his small plane earlier this year and he received a standing ovation from fans as he walked onto the stage.
Clearly touched by the reception, Ford said: “The
Affleck did ask Bale if he had any tips on playing the superhero.
Affleck said Bale told him: “Make sure you can piss in that suit.” Oscarnominated Australian costume designer Michael Wilkinson was responsible for creating Batman and Superman’s suits.
“Yeah, we put a zipper on it,” the film’s director Zack Snyder added.
Batman v Superman is set for release in March next year. original Star Wars was the beginning of my working life, I was very happy to be a part of the story and the cast again.”
The Indiana Jones star, 72, also suffered a broken leg during an accident on- set but assured the crowds he felt “just fine”.
Director JJ Abrams told devotees they could expect a new trailer later in the year, adding that one of his most important tasks was ensuring he did not let his love of the franchise interfere with the filmmaking.