Screen Gems is holding a panel at the San Diego Comic-Con at 11:30 a.m. Pacific Time, but the studio has been very secretive about what it is presenting, saying only that the panel will feature a special surprise appearance and a Q&A. Follow along with our live blog below!
You can read the archived version of our live blog below:
11:23
ComingSoon.net: Welcome to our live blog of the Screen Gems panel at the San Diego Comic-Con. The panel should start soon, stay tuned.
11:28
Comment From BadWolf
chance of a new Underworld?
11:28
Comment From bobnap
is Resident Evil The final chapter going to be announce? ask them whats the release and filming dates!
11:28
ComingSoon.net: Either Underworld or Resident Evil would be our guess.
11:30
Comment From Guest
I think it’s going to be The Last of Us movie
11:30
ComingSoon.net: Oh right, could be!
11:34
EDouglasCS: Hey everyone! Ed Douglas here and we’ll be joined by Josh Starnes shortly
11:34
EDouglasCS: No one has any idea what Screen Gems might be showing or announcing today but we have a lot of theories.
11:37
EDouglasCS: Okay, I just went up to the podium at the front of Hall H and the two guests for the panel are…. (drumroll)
11:37
EDouglasCS: Sam Raimi!!!!!!
11:37
EDouglasCS: And Neil Druckman
11:37
Joshua Starnes: maybe it’s an Evil Dead video game.
11:37
Comment From Griffin
With the new Hitman movie having a spot at the Con this year, and Uncharted just getting a release date, my money is on The Last of Us
11:37
EDouglasCS: Neil is a video game developer but this is for Screen Gems who generally does movies.
11:38
EDouglasCS: Griffin, if this is to announce a Last of Us movie, this place is going to EXPLODE!
11:38
ComingSoon.net: Neil Druckmann is from Naughty Dog!
11:38
EDouglasCS: They’re showing a clip
11:39
Joshua Starnes: it is last of us!!!
11:40
Joshua Starnes: soon to be a major motion pictuure!!!
11:40
EDouglasCS: It is The Last of Us! They just showed some footage from the game with the title “The Last of Us Remastered”
11:40
EDouglasCS: “Soon to be a major motion picture
11:40
EDouglasCS: EW’s Dalton Ross is moderating
11:40
Joshua Starnes: I’m guessing Raimi might be connected to that movie
11:40
ComingSoon.net: That’s not really news though.
11:40
ComingSoon.net: https://www.comingsoon.net/n…
11:40
EDouglasCS: CS: But Sam Raimi directing and/or producing?
11:40
ComingSoon.net: Maybe!
11:40
EDouglasCS: Oh I see… Last of Us: Remastered is a game coming out Tuesday
11:41
EDouglasCS: They asked if anyone is an Evil Dead fan… for those who didn’t already see Sam Raimi’s placard
11:41
Comment From Alex
So they’ve only shown footage from the game?
11:41
EDouglasCS: Yes, Alex, just game footage
11:41
Joshua Starnes: Yep
11:42
Joshua Starnes: Sounds like Raimi is just producing Last of Us film.
11:42
Joshua Starnes: Raimi wearing the suit and tie, as always.
11:42
EDouglasCS: Sam Raimi is really at home in Hall H having brought most of the Spider-Man movies here
11:43
EDouglasCS: Neil Druckman said they got two pitches. .one from Clint Culpepper at Screen Gems and one from Sam Raimi
11:43
Joshua Starnes: Even when the Naught Dog guys met Raimi their first response was ‘Don’t geek out, don’t geek out …’
11:43
EDouglasCS: Neil said that when he met with Sam he “really got it”
11:44
Joshua Starnes: And they got greenlight from Screen Gems to be able to write the film themselves.
11:44
EDouglasCS: Sam says that if the movie was going to be in the right hands, it would be in Neil’s hands.
11:45
EDouglasCS: No word when this will come out but Raimi mentions that it won’t come out for years but they wanted to make an announcement here
11:45
EDouglasCS: Neil’s writing the script for the movie
11:45
Joshua Starnes: They expect it to be very true to the game.
11:46
EDouglasCS: They had to make changes to shorten what ends up being a 15 hour game…
11:46
Joshua Starnes: They talked about a different ending among the various changes.
11:46
Comment From Readman
who is Clint Culpepper
11:46
EDouglasCS: Clint is the head of Screen Gems.
11:46
Joshua Starnes: Raimi talked them out of some larger changes, pushing them back towards the story of the game.
11:47
EDouglasCS: Neil said that Sam said that he was worried about protecting the property from financiers and producers but ended up thinking he’d have to save it from Neil
11:47
Joshua Starnes: It will be laser focused on the relationship between Joe and Ellie
11:47
EDouglasCS: Moderator is asking whether the Left Behind expansion might be included in movie
11:47
EDouglasCS: He said that they possibly might use elements
11:48
Joshua Starnes: They’re talking about potential casting for the leads
11:48
Joshua Starnes: They’ve talked to Macy Williams for Ellie
11:48
Joshua Starnes: The crowd likes it.
11:49
EDouglasCS: Dalton asks if there’s a room for Bruce Campbell in the film
11:49
EDouglasCS: Sam says he’s his favorite actor … Dalton suggested him for David
11:49
EDouglasCS: Oddly, Maisie Williams may be in Hall H soon for Game of Thrones
11:49
Joshua Starnes: Maybe someone will ask her about the meeting during that Q&A.
11:50
EDouglasCS: Josh, I think you should ask… 🙂
11:50
Comment From João Paulo – BR
Would be great if he direct the movie.
11:50
EDouglasCS: I agree Joao.
11:50
Joshua Starnes: Only if I got to wear your Dr. Doom mask and call myself Ed Doom
11:50
Joshua Starnes: Neil suggests Bruce Campbell himself would make a good Joel
11:51
Joshua Starnes: Sam seems non-plussed about the idea, but they will find some place for Bruce.
11:51
EDouglasCS: Neil thinks the truck ambush would make a great fit for the movie
11:52
Joshua Starnes: They’re creating new scenes to glue some of their favorite game scenes together
11:52
Joshua Starnes: creating a new flow for the film.
11:52
EDouglasCS: Neil is being asked about the next Uncharted (the video game)
11:52
Joshua Starnes: He says it will be awesome, but avoids specifics.
11:53
Joshua Starnes: Here comes the obligatory will there be more Evil Dead question
11:53
EDouglasCS: “I always love working on that… my brother and i are working on the TV show”
11:53
EDouglasCS: “with Bruce Campbell”
11:53
EDouglasCS: They’re going to questions soon
11:54
EDouglasCS: People at the panel are able to redeem their coupons for an exclusive Last of Us poster
11:54
Joshua Starnes: Here comes the Q&A
11:54
EDouglasCS: Guy asking about whether it will be a new Joel or a rendition of the video game Joel
11:54
EDouglasCS: Neil thinks it’s good to have strong actors who bring their own interpretation to the characters
11:55
EDouglasCS: He doesn’t want the movie to be a poor imitation of the game.
11:55
EDouglasCS: There’s a woman asking a question who has WAY too much flair
11:55
EDouglasCS: (Office Space joke)
11:55
Joshua Starnes: And she’s a big Ted Raimi fan, apparently
11:55
EDouglasCS: Sam says he won’t be directing
11:55
EDouglasCS: Neil will be in charge of selecting director
11:55
Joshua Starnes: Sounds like they haven’t picked a director yet
11:56
EDouglasCS: Sam being asked how he found Last of Us
11:56
EDouglasCS: He says he’s a gamer who plays a lot of games
11:56
EDouglasCS: He likes Halo and shooter games too
11:56
Joshua Starnes: Drops the Age of Empires reference, oh yeah.
11:57
Comment From bobnap
ask them about the resident evil the final chapter movie release dates and filming dates!
11:57
EDouglasCS: Sorry I’m not in line to ask a question.. and I think the focus of this panel is The Last of Us
11:57
Joshua Starnes: Doesn’t seem like there are any execs from Screen Gems here.
11:57
EDouglasCS: It’s funny cause Sam said he rented The Last of Us… you’d think he could afford to BUY it.
11:57
EDouglasCS: Neil just corrected that they’re “infected” not “zombies”
11:58
Joshua Starnes: Then calls them zombies himself.
11:58
Comment From Guest
What about City of Ashes? Think they will announce that?
11:58
EDouglasCS: Probably not… I think that would be saved for the video game company to announce.
11:58
EDouglasCS: Neil being asked about a sequel to Last of Us… Sam thinks it’s a good idea
11:58
Joshua Starnes: Audience likes it
11:59
Joshua Starnes: What would they call it . . . More of Us?
11:59
EDouglasCS: Neil asks Sam if he should have Joel or Ellie in it…. and Sam wants to see more of them
11:59
EDouglasCS: Josh: Good one!
11:59
EDouglasCS: Someone is asking about an Uncharted movie…. I guess they don’t read ComingSoon.net
11:59
Spencer Perry-SHH: Shame on them
11:59
EDouglasCS: Neil says he’s heard things about casting for the movie but he can’t say
11:59
Comment From Jesse Gendelman
What are the movies of sony screen gems?
12:00
EDouglasCS: Jesse, they’ve done Underworld and Resident Evil and more
12:00
Joshua Starnes: Here comes the Ellen Paige casting question.
12:00
EDouglasCS: Someone in the chat room asked about that, too
12:00
EDouglasCS: The reaction to Ellen Page wasn’t that overwhelming…
12:00
Joshua Starnes: Audience is firmly in the Macy Williams camp
12:01
EDouglasCS: Draco Malfoy is now asking a question and he spoiled part of the plot!!! 🙂
12:01
Comment From Guest
Wasn’t Ellen Page torqued that they used her likeness for the game? Or did I dream that?
12:01
EDouglasCS: I seem to remember her being flattered…
12:01
EDouglasCS: But this isn’t the game where they had a nude likeness of Ellen Page, is it? That was creepy
12:01
Spencer Perry-SHH: That would be Beyond: Two Souls
12:01
Joshua Starnes: Raimi encouraged Neil to keep the opening of the film very similar to the opening of the game.
12:02
EDouglasCS: Thanks Spencer!
12:02
EDouglasCS: Are all video game programmers obsessed with Ellen Page? 🙂
12:02
Comment From Irvin
What did Draco Malfoy ask?
12:02
Joshua Starnes: They’re talking about ways to get some of the actors from the motion capture into the film, somehow.
12:02
EDouglasCS: He asked about a character who dies in the opening of the game
12:03
EDouglasCS: Sam doesn’t think that Ellen could play the part because Ellie is a younger girl
12:03
EDouglasCS: Sam was asked about a trilogy
12:03
EDouglasCS: And he gave the diplomatic answer that they want to make one great movie first
12:04
EDouglasCS: I should say “possible trilogy”
12:04
Joshua Starnes: All amid a very good bald sight gag using the Hall H screen
12:04
EDouglasCS: Sam is asked if it’s too soon for a movie after the release of the video game
12:04
EDouglasCS: Sam says again that he wanted to come to Comic-COn early to talk about the movie but he doesn’t feel that it’s too early for a movie
12:04
EDouglasCS: “I want to tell people it’s coming. I think it’s a great project.”
12:05
Joshua Starnes: Naughty Dog’s goal is to make the first great video game/film adaptation
12:05
Joshua Starnes: They are aware it has traditionally not been done well.
12:06
EDouglasCS: EVERYONE says that…. and has there been even one good video game adaptation yet?
12:06
Spencer Perry-SHH: Way to trash the Resident Evil movies at Screen Gems panel 😉
12:06
Comment From MattyDC
Silent Hill is the best film adaptation to date
12:06
Joshua Starnes: Super Mario Brothers 🙂
12:06
EDouglasCS: Yeah, that first Silent Hill wasn’t that bad. That was also Screen Gems, by the way
12:06
EDouglasCS: BTW, Josh is close enough I can hit him if anyone asks me to 🙂
12:06
Joshua Starnes: I can take it. Ed’s arms are really skinny.
12:06
Comment From Roku
Some video game films are fun. I enjoyed the first tomb raider and mortal kombat
12:07
EDouglasCS: We interrupt this liveblog to say that they have just announced an actor in talks for Doctor Strange!!! 🙂
12:07
Comment From Thrall
Surely Sam Raimi would think Warcraft would be if he wanted to direct it
12:08
Comment From oggie
what tv show is Sam talking about that he is working on with his brother and bruce campbell?
12:08
Spencer Perry-SHH: Evil Dead
12:08
Joshua Starnes: Some sort of event planned for the panelists
12:08
EDouglasCS: There is already a Warcraft movie being directed by Duncan Jones of Moon… I’m hoping they’ll show something at the Legendary panel tomorrow
12:08
EDouglasCS: I think they’re going to present an award to Sam Raimi
12:08
Joshua Starnes: sounds like it
12:08
EDouglasCS: Eddie Ibrahim just came back out
12:09
Joshua Starnes: They’re giving an Inkpot Award to Sam Raimi
12:09
EDouglasCS: This was a surprise and wasn’t announced beforehand. Well deserved!
12:09
EDouglasCS: https://www.comingsoon.net/n…
12:10
EDouglasCS: Re: Dr. Strange
12:10
EDouglasCS: Panel is over! Next up is The Walking Dead! I’m going to let Josh fly solo on that as I have to go do other things for a while
12:11
ComingSoon.net: Thanks guys!
