USA TODAY International Edition
Catch up with ‘ Stranger Things,’ ‘ GoT,’ ‘ Westworld’
Sheldon’s ‘ Big Bang’ proposal caused big tears
S mall- screen fan favorites Stranger Things, Westworld, Game of Thrones and more took the stage at Comic- Con in San Diego over the weekend. USA TODAY’s Brian Truitt shares highlights from the television panels:
MORE ‘ STRANGER THINGS’
Making their first appearance at Comic- Com, the cast and creators of Stranger Things talked Saturday about the Emmy- nominated freshman year and what’s to come in the popular 1980s- set Netflix show returning this Halloween.
The new trailer made its debut and is, as expected, retrofilled with Ghostbusters costumes, a Dragon’s Lair arcade game and a remixed version of Michael Jackson’s Thriller with Vincent Price voiceover.
The kids and the town of Hawkins are still recovering from the events of the first season.
“You’ll definitely learn how the Upside Down affected Will as you get into his story line,” Schnapp says.
Also making her grand return: Eleven, the psychic heroine played by Season 1 breakout Millie Bobby Brown. She recalled having issues crying in the initial run of episodes.
“I feel like I’m a happy person in real life,” Brown said. “I need five minutes to get into the zone.” INTENSE ‘ WESTWORLD’ Westworld star Evan Rachel Wood likened starring in the HBO drama to characters stepping into its virtual Western landscape. In the first season of the show, Wood’s sentient android Delores transforms from damsel in distress to something much stronger, but even Wood couldn’t grasp where her character would go.
“It was such a gift to be given,” the actress said. “Realizing I was at the forefront of this responsibility, I kind of had a panic attack.”
Wood copped to trying to figure out the many character arcs and reveals of the first season, though Thandie Newton, who stars as Maeve, found it “very altruistic” of executive producers Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy to keep actors in the dark for the most part.
“Some of the story lines and some of the things happening to these characters are so huge trying to wrap your head around it,” Newton said. “As an actor, you just want enough to digest. If we knew everything, it would be too much.” ‘ DEFENDERS’ ARE DUE Netflix’s heroic team- up show Marvel’s The Defenders ( streaming Aug. 18) unleashes the good guys of Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist to fight against nefarious forces led by Sigourney Weaver’s mysterious villainess Alexandra.
The upcoming eight- episode Defenders run introduces Alexandra, a woman with powerful allies who is training the resurrected ninja Elektra ( Elodie Yung), Daredevil’s ex, as a weapon. “Basically she’s an amnesiac” after coming back from the dead, Yung said. “The question for my character is how much the Elektra we know remains.” PLAYING ‘ GAME OF THRONES’ The panel for HBO’s Game of Thrones played “What would you do with if you had the Iron Throne?” Sophie Turner won.
“Unlimited carbohydrates. I don’t know why, but that’s what I want,” says Turner, who plays Sansa Stark.
During the panel hosted by Kristian Nairn, the late, beloved Hodor, Gwendoline Christie imagined a more righteous use for the throne: “That women could be knights.”
As for Season 7, Turner hinted there is still a sibling rivalry between Sansa and Jon Snow ( Kit Harington). “They need to realize they have to stop fighting for ultimate power and learn how to work together.” ‘ BIG BANG’ EMOTIONS When Sheldon bent down on one knee to put a ring on it, everybody on The Big Bang Theory set had to see it.
During a panel Friday, the sitcom’s cast and crew talked about the upcoming 11th season of TV’s top comedy — due Sept. 25 on CBS, along with prequel Young Sheldon — and they discussed the emotions behind the moment where perennial nerd king Sheldon ( Jim Parsons) proposed to girlfriend Amy ( Mayim Bialik).
“We were all crying,” said Kunal Nayyar.