Marvel’s Comic-Con panel in San Diego Saturday night wasn’t very substantive—a lot of sizzle, not much steak. The audience there went ape over most of the teaser footage shown. Anyone desperate for news about Marvel mystery release dates, “Doctor Strange” or announcements of any Marvel superheroes newly headed for the big screen walked away empty handed. However, Chris Pratt and director James Gunn did come out at the very end of the panel to announce “Guardians Of The Galaxy 2.” The movie has been slated for a July 28, 2017 release.
It is all but assured that Comic-Con will conclude with seven Marvel titles still unnamed but scheduled for various dates through 2019.
I can’t say I’m totally surprised. Last year’s Marvel Comic-Con panel was also low on announcements: in total, fans received the final word on production for “Ant-Man” (with no release date at the time), but that was all a fait accompli. Beyond that, San Diego audiences received several new logos and the reveal of the ‘Avengers 2’ official title, “Avengers: Age Of Ultron.” It’s easy to forget that Warner Bros. dominated last year’s Con by announcing Zack Snyder’s “Batman V. Superman,” a film no one knew was coming.
A few details regarding Peyton Reed’s “Ant-Man” were forthcoming. Evangeline Lilly was confirmed as Hank Pym’s (Michael Douglas) daughter Hope Van Dyne (Janet Pym was The Wasp in the comics, so presumably Hope is their daughter) while Corey Stoll was unveiled as the villain Yellowjacket. But unless quotes like “It’s a mind bender…it’s really thrilling” (Paul Rudd) float your boat, one would be forgiven if one was underwhelmed. “Ant-Man” starts filming August 18th in Atlanta.
Frankly, Marvel did what it needed to Saturday and nothing more. Fans were already over the Edgar Wright fiasco (no hoots, hollering or gripes), and the studio will make major announcements in due time. I will bet any money Joaquin Phoenix doesn’t take the “Doctor Strange” role. There’s no reason for an actor of that caliber, who can pick and choose high-toned, Oscar-bait roles, to lock himself in a multi-picture deal for the lowball money Marvel is said to pay. This is a guy who’s been working with the crème de la crème of "respectable" filmmakers like Spike Jonze, Woody Allen and Paul Thomas Anderson. Phoenix is probably aiming to work with people like Scorsese or Spielberg. Why would a serious actor as such want to go work at the Marvel mill?
Not much to write home about! Tweet context and some Comic-Con interviews with the “Ant-Man” and “Avengers” cast below. Excelsior!
Marvel’s “Ant-Man,” will hit theaters July 17, 2015. “Avengers: Age Of Ultron” opens the same year on May 1st. Watch the entire Comic-Con panel for "Avengers: Age Of Ultron" and "Ant-Man" below as well as 40 minutes of interviews with the casts of both films.
I’m just still kind of wondering how you end your panel with an announcement for GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 2, like really? That’s it? NADA?
— LatinoReview-Kel (@Latinoreview) July 27, 2014
Now that the excitement has worn off, there’s a palpable sense of disappointment that Marvel made no Doctor Strange announcement. #SDCC
— Oliver Jones (@oliverjones) July 27, 2014
Disappointed that WB revealed NOTHING about DC universe, Fox brought no Fantastic Four & Marvel didn’t title their new projects.
— Rob Keyes (@rob_keyes) July 27, 2014
I felt reaction to Ant-Man cast & footage was tepid. The crowd wasn’t really into it like prior years when Wright 1st showed that demo reel.
— Umberto Gonzalez (@elmayimbe) July 27, 2014
The Avengers assemble on the Comic-Con stage once again #sdcc pic.twitter.com/pt8cyMA7Wg
— ErikDavis (@ErikDavis) July 27, 2014
RDJ jokes about becoming less significant with each movie as more characters join. But they’re "damn good" he says #SDCC
— Screen Rant (@screenrant) July 27, 2014
THE ENTIRE AVENGERS 2 CAST IS HERE #sdcc #MarvelSDCC #hallh pic.twitter.com/fh34Q0jB8s
— michelle buchman (@michelledeidre) July 27, 2014
The whole cast of AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON pic.twitter.com/Jy1epKScx0
— LatinoReview-Kel (@Latinoreview) July 27, 2014
RDJ loves him some Iron Man #sdcc https://t.co/xXvHKT5xTb
— Brian Truitt (@briantruitt) July 27, 2014
"I was flattered that Joss and the Marvel guys approached me for this," Aaron Taylor-Johnson mumbles. Seems overwhelmed. #SDCC #THEAVENGERS2
— Adam B. Vary (@adambvary) July 27, 2014
"It’s the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to my children." Paul Bettany on his #AvengersAgeOfUltron gig. pic.twitter.com/CC8MseIE3q
— moviefone (@moviefone) July 27, 2014
James Spader: "[Comic-Con] may be the weirdest, craziest place I have ever been." Time to look in the mirror, fan boys
— Ben Fritz (@benfritz) July 27, 2014
Spader: "I play an eight-foot robot in this movie. I’ve always played humans up till now."
— Empire Magazine (@empiremagazine) July 27, 2014
Spader on Ultron #sdcc https://t.co/JDiJ8JHR0C
— Brian Truitt (@briantruitt) July 27, 2014
GUARDIANS 2 announced, but we already knew that. Sort of bummed, to be honest. #SDCC
— Devin Faraci (@devincf) July 27, 2014
Elizabeth Olsen makes a corporate rights no-no: "There’s now magic. There’s now mutant—mutated people." (Fox owns Marvel’s mutants.) #SDCC
— Adam B. Vary (@adambvary) July 27, 2014
OH GOD HULKBUSTER IRON MAN ARMOR LOOKS SO AMAZING I CAN’T EVEN #AgeOfUltron #MarvelSDCC
— Ryan Penagos (@AgentM) July 27, 2014
AVENGERS AGE OF ULTRON footage gets massive standing o. Awesome stuff. Ultron. The Hulkbuster. Everything #SDCC
— ErikDavis (@ErikDavis) July 27, 2014
Josh Brolin is here as Thanos! #SDCC pic.twitter.com/Md7bT2NuTb
— ScreenCrush (@screencrushnews) July 27, 2014
Was it a disappointment? Well, possibly for fans wanting news, yes, but it’s not like Marvel announced announced a lot in 2013. You got the
He jumps onto an ant, which then flies away. All the while, he’s communicating with Pym through a slightly malfunctioning helmet.
— Empire Magazine (@empiremagazine) July 27, 2014
ANT-MAN teaser features Michael Douglas’ voice guiding Paul Rudd in suit onto a wasp to escape a sticky situation #SDCC
— ErikDavis (@ErikDavis) July 27, 2014
Paul Rudd and Michael Douglas, first timers at the Con. pic.twitter.com/aqwbhvqadk
— LatinoReview-Kel (@Latinoreview) July 27, 2014
#AntMan is a story of heist. Corey Stoll character has taken a company in a bad direction. Paul Rudd becomes Douglas’ partner. #MarvelSDCC
— Ryan Penagos (@AgentM) July 27, 2014
Hope Pym, everybody. #MarvelSDCC pic.twitter.com/EQCQl1kPKx
— moviefone (@moviefone) July 27, 2014
Douglas: "This is the story of a heist of his company and his partner, Corey, has taken it in an evil direction." Pym is Lang’s mentor.
— Empire Magazine (@empiremagazine) July 27, 2014
Douglas is giving him shit… "Jesus Christ, somebody already shrunk your balls."
— Eric Vespe (@EricVespe) July 27, 2014
MARVEL just showed an ANT-MAN teaser of Paul Rudd suited up for a small heist & jumping on a flying ant for an escape through a vent. #sdcc
— – Aaron – (@AboveAverageA) July 27, 2014
Michael Douglas says the movie is the story of a heist, Paul has been chosen to take over his position as Antman. #ComicCon
— Peter Sciretta (@slashfilm) July 27, 2014
