San Diego Comic-Con takes place this week and brings with it a whole host of events. While many are focused on comics, there's so much more to the annual convention. From gaming panels to TV and movie panels, SDCC has a lot going on. If you’re a movie-lover heading out to the convention, here are five panels you’ll really want to catch.
Best Movies Never Made – July 18, 10.30am – 11:30 am, Room 24ABC
This panel is fronted by Stephen Scarlata and Josh Miller, hosts of the podcast Best Movies Never Made. Scarlata was a producer on Jodorowsky’s Dune and Miller was a screenwriter for Sonic The Hedgehog. The podcast sees the duo discuss the most legendary movies that never happened with screenwriters and critics as guests.
They will be joined by Ashley E.Miller, writer for Thor, X-Men: First Class, Mallory O’Meara, author of Lady From The Black Lagoon, Steven Melching, writer for Star Wars Rebels and The Clone Wars, and Judson Scott, producer of Atomic Monster.
The discussion will include thoughts about a potential Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian movie. The panel will also include several surprise film-makers who will discuss the movies they never got to complete.
35th Anniversary of Ghostbusters – July 18 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm The Theatre, Comic-Con Museum
It’s hard to believe but the original Ghostbusters movie was released 35 years ago, back in 1984. This panel is a celebration of everything that is loved about the franchise, which is due to get a highly anticipated rebooted sequel in 2020.
Ghostbusters is often a staple of conventions, with a whole range of comics, animated series, and other spin-offs revisiting four men and their proton packs. This panel is hosted by Jessica Tseang, founder of Positive Pop Culter/Presisted Media Group. She will be leading a fan appreciation discussion about the franchise and fandom; just don’t mention the 2016 all-female reboot.
Celebrating 40 Years Of Alien – July 18, 7:15 pm – 8:15 pm, Room 6BCF
For those who like their classic movies to be on the scarier side, this panel offers a deep dive into the origins of the Alien franchise. It’s being led by documentary maker Alexandre O. Philippe, producer of The People Vs George Lucas, Doc of the Dead and 78/52: Hitchcock’s Shower Scene.
Philippe is joined by Diane O’Bannon, Will Linn, and David Baxter, among others. The panel will focus around discussion of Philippe’s upcoming documentary Memory: The Origins of Alien and will also include a trailer for the feature.
Ray Harryhausen: The Lost Movies – July 19, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm, Room 26AB
Harryhausen was a legendary artist, designer, visual effects creator, writer, and producer. During his lifetime, he was involved in a string of successful movies including the Academy Award Winning Mighty Joe Young. His other work includes Jason and the Argonauts, The Three Worlds of Gulliver, and The Golden Voyage of Sinbad. His final movie was Clash of the Titans.
This panel is hosted by filmmaker John Walsh and collections manager Connor Heaney. They will be revealing missing scenes from films you love as well as artworks, models, and test footage that reveal new worlds and creatures originally thought to have been lost.
Future Indies You Must See July 19, 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm, Grand 12 & 13
This panel is hosted by Film Threat’s Chris Gore, who is joined by fellow staff Alan Ng, Bobby Schwartz, Walter Areas, and Anthony Ray Bench, as well as some special guests. They will be revealing trailer premieres and exclusive clips for a number of upcoming independent films coming in 2020 and beyond. They promise to include the very best in indie sci-fi, fantasy. and horror movies.
For more details about these and other movie focused panels, you can check out the full Comic-Con schedule. We’ve also rounded up the very best gaming panels and presentations for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.