After dealing with all of the Preview Night craziness (i.e.
the traffic, the lines, the crowds), it’s sometimes hard to remember why you’d
ever willing subject yourself to something that‘s as brutal & intense as Comic-Con
can often be.
But me? Whenever I find myself wavering, debating whether I
really want to spend another four-plus days trapped inside the San Diego
Convention Center … I’m reminded of what Willie Sutton once said. When this
notorious thief was asked why he kept robbing banks, his reply reportedly was “Because
that’s where the money is.”
And me? Well, the reason that I keep coming back to Comic-Con because this is
where the stories are. Especially when you’re talking about what the Studios
have up their sleeves for 2010 & beyond.
Copyright 2009 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Mind you, you don’t want to make the mistake of thinking
that the only way that you’ll ever learn about what Hollywood is up to next
year is by hanging out in Hall H. Which is where the Majors like Disney &
Warner Bros. typically stage their big dog-and-pony shows.
Truth be told, there’s a lot of great info to be scored by
sitting in on seemingly lesser panels. Or – better yet – by wandering up and
down the aisles of the exhibit hall.
Case in point: “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.” Walt
Disney Pictures isn’t really doing a whole lot of promotion for this new Mike
Newell film at this year’s Comic-Con. This time around, the Mouse is
concentrating most of its marketing might on getting the word out about Tim
Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland” and Joe Kosinski’s “TRON” sequel. Not to mention “Toy Story 3,” “The Princess and
the Frog” as well as the Disney Digital 3D version of “Beauty & the Beast.”
Copyright 2009 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved
But that said, if you really have your heart set on learning
more about this upcoming Jerry Bruckheimer production at this year’s Comic-Con …
Well, there are ways.
For starters, you should plan on attending tomorrow’s Disney
Press panel (which will be held in Room 3 from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.). Here, as the publishing side of the Mouse
House talks up its new comics & graphic novels initiative, they’ll also be
previewing the “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” graphic novel. Which
should offer up some hints about what actually happens in this Jake Gyllenhaal
movie.
Better yet, make a point of dropping by Booth 2829. Which is
where LEGO will be showcasing some of the mini-figures that will appear in the “Prince
of Persia: The Sands of Time” playsets that this company will be selling next
summer.
Ben Kinglsey as the villainous vizier, Nizam. Copyright 2009 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved
And speaking of summer … No one knows more about making the
most of those 104 days of summer vacation than Phineas & Ferb. And given
that last year’s Comic-Con panel for this smash hit Disney XD / Disney Channel
series actually wound up turning people away because this particular meeting
room filled up so fast … Well, if you’re a “Phineas & Ferb” fan, you may
want to consider lining up early for this year’s panel (which will be held in
Room 6DE on Sunday morning from 10 – 11 a.m.)
As to what Dan Povenmire & Jeff “Swampy” Marsh (i.e. “Phineas
& Ferb” ‘s creators) will be talking about at this year’s panel … Well, you
should expect Dan & Swampy to talk up the “Phineas & Ferb” music CD
(which is supposed to hit store shelves in September) as well as the upcoming
holiday special. And who knows? Maybe Povenmire & Marsh will also reveal
that Phineas & Ferb will soon be making their Disney theme park debuts.
Yep, walk-around versions of this cartoon characters are already in the works
and should begin appearing in the Parks sometime in 2010.
And speaking of costumes … If you’d like to see some outfits
from “The Rocketeer,” “TRON” and “Condorman,” then you should definitely drop
by Booth 3917. Which is where D23 (i.e. The Official Community for Disney Fans)
will be displaying some vintage costumes from the Walt Disney Archives.
Copyright 2007 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved
You see? There are all sorts of Disney-related stories to be
discovered at this year’s Comic-Con. You just have to have the wherewithal (more
importantly, the stamina) necessary to find these things.
Speaking of which … In order to be guaranteed a seat at
tomorrow’s Disney Animation panel, I’d best go get on line for Hall H right now.
Your thoughts?