In the world of fantasy, the only limit is one's imagination. Panelists (and Comic-Con 2013 special guests) Frank Brunner (MYTHOS), Todd Lockwood (Dungeons and Dragons), Wendy Pini (ElfQuest), Ruth Sanderson (The Twelve Dancing Princesses), Adam Hughes (Fairest), and Christopher Shy (Soul Stealer) discuss how they bring fantasy to life with moderator Andrew Farago (Cartoon Art Museum).
Thursday July 18, 2013 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Room 5AB
Stars Josh Holloway (Lost), Meghan Ory (Once Upon a Time), and Marg Helgenberger (CSI) and executive producers Michael Seitzman (North Country), René Echevarria (Terra Nova, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), and Tripp Vinson discuss the new CBS dramatic thriller. Holloway plays Gabriel, a high-tech intelligence operative enhanced with a supercomputer microchip in his brain. With this implant, Gabriel is the first human ever to be connected directly into the worldwide information grid and have complete access to Internet, WiFi, telephone, and satellite data. He can hack into any data center and access key intel in the fight to protect the United States from its enemies. Leading the elite government cybersecurity agency created to support him is Director Lillian Strand (Helgenberger), a straightforward and efficient boss who oversees the unit's missions. Strand assigns Riley Neal (Ory), a Secret Service agent, to protect Gabriel from outside threats, as well as from his appetite for reckless, unpredictable behavior and disregard for protocol. As the first supercomputer with a beating heart, Gabriel is the most valuable piece of technology the country has ever created and is the U.S.'s secret weapon. Join the cast and producers for an exclusive viewing of the first episode, followed by a panel discussion moderated by Debra Birnbaum, president and editor-in-chief, TV Guide magazine.
Thursday July 18, 2013 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Ballroom 20
Host Richard Hatch (Capt. Apollo, Tom Zarek), director Michael Nankin (BG, Defiance, Blood and Chrome), Dr. Kevin Grazier (consultant, Defiance, BG, Falling Skies, Caprica), producer/writer Michael Angeli (Battlestar Galactica), write/producer Kevin Murphy (Defiance, Battlestar), Michael Taylor (Battlestar, Caprica, Defiance), producer Paul Leonard (Battlestar, Caprica, Defiance), and surprise BG guests discuss and celebrate the 35-year history and future of the three Battlestar Glactica series and franchise. Includes Q&A, theatrical trailers and discussion.
Thursday July 18, 2013 10:30am - 11:30am PDT
Room 6BCF
Authors discuss the inclusion of romantic elements in their action-packed novels. Protagonists must battle the forces of evil while trying to keep the world (and often their lovers) safe from destruction. Maryelizabeth Hart of Mysterious Galaxy leads a discussion with Comic-Con special guest Christine Feehan (The Dark Series), Claudia Gray (Spellcaster), Aprilynne Pike (Earthbound), Lauren Kate (The Fallen Novels), Kendare Blake (Antigoddess), and Magnus Flyte (City of Dark Magic).
Thursday July 18, 2013 10:30am - 11:30am PDT
Room 24ABC
Stars Matt Lanter (90210, Star Wars: The Clone Wars), Aimee Teegarden (Friday Night Lights), and Grey Damon (Secret Circle, Nine Lives of Chloe King), along with executive producers Adele Lim (One Tree Hill), Meredith Averill (The Good Wife), Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec (Mission Impossible, Alias), and Scott Rosenberg (Gone In 60 Seconds, Con Air) invite you to get a first look at the futuristic epic romance tale, Star-Crossed. When an spacecraft crash-landed in Emery's (Teegarden) small town when she was only 6, whether the aliens came in peace or with more sinister intentions didn't matter: a fierce battle erupted as humans fought for control over their new rivals, an alien species called the Atrians. In the midst of the conflict, Roman (Lanter), a 6-year-old Atrian boy, found his way to a shed behind Emery's house, where she protected him from harm. In their brief time together, Emery and Roman forged a deep bond, but the authorities wasted no time tracking Roman down and capturing him. Emery has grown up believing that Roman was killed that day. Ten years later, in 2024, the Atrians have been acclimated to life on Earth, but they are interred in a heavily guarded camp known as the Sector to keep them separate from humans. Now, for the first time, a group of Atrian teens will enroll in a suburban human high school, with the goal of testing the feasibility of human/alien integration. The eyes of the nation and the whole world are fixed on this historical social experiment, an endeavor fraught with suspicion and fear. In the mayhem of the first day, Emery is amazed to learn that Roman was not killed by the authorities and is, in fact, one of the Atrian students. Their childhood bond is quickly rekindled. In a school and a society that distrusts everything about the Atrians, Emery and Roman have found each other again. However, their relationship is threatened by the small-mindedness of their respective communities and the political agendas of people in power. While the world around them rages with anger and prejudice, their bond becomes increasingly strong and increasingly dangerous. As an epic Romeo and Juliet romance unfolds, a violent encounter between their two families could threaten their relationship. Can Roman and Emery's love-and peace between the species-survive? The cast and producers offer an exclusive first look at the series, followed by a panel discussion.
Thursday July 18, 2013 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Ballroom 20
Successful novelists, screenwriters, and actors each bring a different perspective to a discussion of how to write science fiction and fantasy. Raymond Feist (The Riftwar Saga, The Serpentwar Saga, Conclave of Shadows), David Gerrold (Star Trek, The War Against the Chtorr, Star Wolf), Marc Scott Zicree (Space Command, Babylon 5, Sliders, The Twilight Zone Companion), Trevor Crafts (Lantern City, Smokewood), Matthew James Daley (Lantern City, Lantern City: Rise), Jimmy Diggs (The Crypto-Historians, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager), Matt King (The World of Steam), and Bruce Boxleitner (TRON, Babylon 5, Lantern City). Moderated by Mark O'Bannon (The Dream Crystal, The Dark Mirrors of Heaven, Aia the Barbarian).
Thursday July 18, 2013 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 32AB
Corsets, werewolves, airships, robots, women in pants! Steampunk is all this and more. While the Victorian era was marked by constraint, adding a sci-fi twist has allowed women creators to reimagine this world and loosen those cultural corset strings. They are exploring how liberating, sexy, and adventurous the age of steam can be. Robin Blackburn (The League of S.T.E.A.M.), Anina Bennett (Boilerplate: History's Mechanical Marvel), Kaja Foglio (Girl Genius), Jaymee Goh (Silver Goggles), Claire Hummel (Bioshock: Infinite), and moderator Dina Kampmeyer (LadySteam) discuss literature, fashion, romance, adventure, multiculturalism, and more.
Thursday July 18, 2013 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 5AB
New York Times bestselling author Max Brooks joins Avatar publisher William Christensen to give the scoop on new projects and creators joining the industry's most groundbreaking, risk-taking publisher! Want insight into the hottest titles from such industry luminaries as Garth Ennis, Alan Moore, and Max Brooks? Can't get enough Crossed: Badlands, Uber, or Extinction Parade? Want to hear breaking news on upcoming projects? Find out what new terrors and triumphs this rogue publisher will unleash in the months ahead, and get your questions answered by the publisher!
Thursday July 18, 2013 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
Room 4
Spartans Unite! Frank O'Connor (franchise development director), Dan Ayoub (executive producer), and other 343 Industries personnel celebrate and discuss the exciting new addition to the Halo universe Halo: Spartan Assault, the new comic book series from Dark Horse Comics, Halo: Initiation, and with some "Mega" surprises. Panelists include Nick McWhorter (director of custom programs, Dark Horse Comics), Graeme Jennings (senior producer, 343 Industries), Martin de la Ronde (creative director, Vanguard), and Brian Reed (franchise writer, Halo).
Thursday July 18, 2013 11:45am - 12:45pm PDT
Room 6BCF
Kristin Kreuk (Smallville) and Jay Ryan (Terra Nova) along with executive producers Jennifer Levin (Without a Trace), and Sherri Cooper (Brothers and Sisters), invite all #Beasties to join them for an exclusive discussion of what is ahead for #VinCat and the sophomore season of the breakout fan-favorite series from the CW network. Beauty and the Beast, winner of the People's Choice Award for Favorite New TV Drama, is a modern adaptation of a beloved fairy tale. In the second season, Detective Catherine Chandler (Kreuk), shaken to the core that everything she knows has been a lie, is determined to get answers to the secrets that have been revealed about her family. Cat must also try to navigate her evolving relationship with handsome doctor Vincent Keller (Ryan), who struggles with becoming a terrifying beast when he is enraged, unable to control his super-strength and heightened senses. Cat and Vincent continue to grapple with the desire to be a normal couple while trying to keep a low profile from Muirfield, now on the hunt for both of them. Join the cast and producers for a panel discussion moderated by Jenna Busch from Fanhattan.com.
Thursday July 18, 2013 12:00pm - 12:45pm PDT
Ballroom 20
Award-winning illustrator and Comic-Con special guest RuthSanderson (The Twelve Dancing Princesses) will give a visual presentation on her career as a fantasy artist and fairy tale author/illustrator, and on her move to a more graphic format for a fairy tale for older children. Ruth's work has appeared in fantasy magazines and on many book covers, and she has illustrated over 80 books for children. Her artwork can be seen in Spectrum, and she was the 2011 Artist Guest of Honor at the World Fantasy Convention in San Diego.
Thursday July 18, 2013 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Room 9
At the movies, it seems there's so much science fiction, but so little science. Sebastian Cordero's Europa Report seeks to change that. The film depicts a near-future crewed mission to Jupiter's moon Europa, seeking evidence for life in an ocean beneath the moon's icy surface. The movie uses current science to tell a story of discovery and danger. This panel features the film's crew and cast, alongside scientists involved with a NASA concept for a real robotic spacecraft, the Europa Clipper, designed to investigate the mysteries of Europa, including whether it has the elements to support life. Participants include Sebastian Cordero (director, Rage and Chronicles), Bear McCreary (composer, Battlestar Galactica,The Walking Dead), producer Ben Browning, and actress Karolina Wydra, alongside JPL scientists Steve Vance and Kevin Hand. The panel will be moderated by astronomer Dr. Phil Plait (Slate magazine, Phil Plait's Bad Universe). Space.com called the film "One of the most thrilling and realistic depictions of deep-space exploration since Moon and 2001: A Space Odyssey."
Everyone knows that published science fiction authors reign on the Geek Heirarchy charts, because the Internet tells us so! Join panelists as the genre's top names in publishing celebrate all things geeky and nerdy, with Charlie Jane Anders of io9.com. Geek out with Cory Doctorow (The Rapture of the Nerds), Chuck Palahniuk (Doomed), Patrick Rothfuss (The Name of the Wind), Austin Grossman (You), D. C. Pierson (Crap Kingdom), and Robyn Schneider (The Beginning of Everything).
Thursday July 18, 2013 1:45pm - 2:45pm PDT
Room 6A
Neville Page (Star Trek Into Darkness) demonstrates his latest techniques for creating unique creatures and characters for entertainment. A variety of techniques will be shared, from traditional to digital. Multiple examples will be shown from his personal work to the latest films he has worked on, such as Star Trek and Prometheus.
Thursday July 18, 2013 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 5AB
Chris Metzen (Blizzard Entertainment SVP story and franchise development) and a team of esteemed guests reveal never-before-seen licensed products and plans for 2013/2014. Talk to the designers, writers, and artists themselves as they dig into toys, novels, comics, statues, and more. Panel and extended game Q&A session moderated by Kat Hunter (host of Blizzcon coverage on DIRECTV).
Thursday July 18, 2013 2:15pm - 3:15pm PDT
Room 6BCF
From art house cinema to studio blockbuster, these uncompromising directors have electrified audiences with their virtuoso storytelling and breathtaking imagery. Marc Webb (The Amazing Spider-Man 2, 500 Days of Summer), Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban), and Edgar Wright (The World's End, Shaun of the Dead) lead this master class on the art of filmmaking and a wide-ranging discussion about the future of film.
Todd McCaffrey (Dragonwriter), Kevin J. Anderson (Dan Shamble, Zombie PI), Jon Del Arroz (www.flyingsparks.com), Dani Kollin (The Unincorporated Man), Craig Miller (The Hunger, Curious George), and Mallory Reaves (The Silver Dream) form the amazing Delphic Oracle and, one word at a time, one person at a time, build answers to your questions about the future (or summer camp).
Thursday July 18, 2013 3:30pm - 4:30pm PDT
Room 24ABC
It's been two decades since FBI Special Agents Mulder and Scully first partnered to investigate unsolved paranormal cases. The X-Files made primetime safe for sci-fi, and spawned a generation of hugely successful writer/producers. Somewhere, the truth is still out there. TV Guide Magazine Los Angeles bureau chief Michael Schneider leads a panel that is scheduled to include Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny, plus series creator Chris Carter and writers/producers David Amann, Vince Gilligan, Howard Gordon, Darin Morgan, Glen Morgan, John Shiban and Jim Wong.
Thursday July 18, 2013 3:30pm - 4:30pm PDT
Ballroom 20
Summit Entertainment presents a special sneak peek at the highly anticipated film adaptation of the beloved, award-winning novel Enders Game. This is a must-see for fans, who will be shown all-new, exclusive footage and treated to a Q&A with stars Harrison Ford, Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, and Abigail Breslin, along with producer Roberto Orci (Star Trek Into Darkness) and director Gavin Hood (X-Men Origins: Wolverine). The panel will also feature the first footage ever seen of the futuristic thriller based on the #1 New York Times best-selling novel, Divergent. Cast and filmmakers will complete a Q&A sharing details of the project's transition from book to film. Panelists will include novelist Veronica Roth, director Neil Burger, and cast members Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Miles Teller, Maggie Q, Ansel Elgort, Mekhi Phifer, Ben Lamb, Ben Lloyd-Hughes and Christian Madsen.
It's time to put the great debates to rest as GEEK Magazine answers the most important question of our time: What are the best and worst TV season finales of all time? A panel of geeksperts dissect the end of Galactica's lonely quest in Battlestar Galactica, the purgatory of the Lost finale, the Sopranos sign-off, the all good things come to an end for Star Trek: The Next Generation, Special Agent Dale Cooper getting piqued in Twin Peaks, and many more. Moderator Mark A. Altman (Free Enterprise, Femme Fatales) turns up the volume for GEEK panelists Kathryn Reindl (Twisted, Millennium), Nikki Griffin (GEEK magazine editor-at-large), Ashley E. Miller (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Thor, Fringe), and Steve Melching (Batman: The Brave and The Bold, Starship Troopers).
Thursday July 18, 2013 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room 23ABC
Bill Hunt, Adam Jahnke, and Todd Doogan of The Digital Bits.com host a panel discussion and Q&A with leading independent and indie studio producers of Blu-ray extras. Panelists include Brian Ward (Shout!/Scream Factory), Charles de Lauzirika (Pain and Gain, Prometheus, The Amazing Spider-Man), Robert Meyer Burnett (Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Enterprise), Cliff Stephenson (Escape Plan, The Vatican Tapes, The Hunger Games), Eric D. Wilkinson (of Kino Lorber), Warner Archive, and others.
Thursday July 18, 2013 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room 5AB
Trouble finding a book publisher? How about a literary agent? Do you really need your own publicist? Is getting into print different when your book's topic is particularly geeky? Hear how these bookworms got their works into print, how they made money at it, and how you might, too: S. G. Browne (Breathers: A Zombie's Lament), Bonnie Burton (The Star Wars Craft Book), Katrina Hill (Action Movie Freak), Alan Kistler (Doctor Who: A History), Alex Langley (The Geek Handbook), and Dr. Travis Langley (Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight). Moderated by Jenna Busch (Fanhattan).
Thursday July 18, 2013 4:30pm - 5:30pm PDT
Room 26AB
A new generation of heroes has revitalized television. These daring, dauntless young actors have fans swooning and critics raving. Matt Smith (Doctor Who), Kit Harington (Game of Thrones), Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead), Tyler Posey (Teen Wolf), and David Giuntoli (Grimm) discuss the thrills and fears of taking on iconic characters, reveal how they broke into the business, and share their favorite stories from set.
Thursday July 18, 2013 4:45pm - 5:45pm PDT
Ballroom 20
Spend 60 minutes with award-winning studio Crytek to learn about the making of Ryse: Son of Rome, one of the year's most anticipated blockbusters coming exclusively to Xbox One this November. An epic action/adventure story of struggle, brutality, and heroism, Ryse: Son of Rome follows a fearless Roman soldier named Marius Titus who joins the army to avenge the slaying of his family and emerges as a hero who must fight to save the Roman Empire. Fans will learn key story details, get a peek behind the scenes at the making of the game, and receive a limited-edition printed comic book that will prepare them for the intense adventure they will embark on this holiday.
Thursday July 18, 2013 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Room 7AB
John Barrowman (Arrow, Torchwood, Doctor Who, Sing Your Face Off) discusses his past, present, and future projects, including playing the Dark Archer and Captain Jack Harkness. John's sister and co-author, Carole Barrowman (Hollow Earth, Bone Quill), will join him in the final segment to discuss their collaborations.
UPDATED: Fri, Jul 05, 03:06PM An eccentric and reclusive computer genius plagued with existential angst works on a mysterious project aimed at discovering the purpose of existence or the lack thereof once and for all. However, it is only once he experiences the power of love and desire that he is able to understand his very reason for being. Appearing on stage to introduce the special early look at this new film and take your questions are producers Zev Foreman (Killer Joe) and Dean Zanuck (Get Low), and Terry's daughter Amy Gilliam, who worked on the film. Moderated by Gina McIntyre of the LA Times' Hero Complex.
With 14 years on the front line of Middle Earth news, take a look with TORn staff at what you might not know about the second Hobbit movie. Rumors, spy reports, conjecture, inside info, debunking, and lively debate all play a part as Cliff Broadway (Ringers), Lisa Crouch (Barliman's), Larry D. Curtis (set visits), Rebecca Perry and Alex and Kellie Rice (Happy Hobbit), and additional staff dish the latest by and for fans of J. R. R. Tolkien.
Thursday July 18, 2013 5:30pm - 6:30pm PDT
Room 6A
Vertigo is ready to blow your mind with the next wave of trend-setting comics! From horror to mythic fiction to sci-fi and beyond, see what amazing new ideas are coming your way from the imprint that's on a mission to defy all your expectations! With Mark Buckingham (Fables), Jeff Lemire (Trillium), Scott Snyder (American Vampire, The Wake), and others.
Thursday July 18, 2013 5:45pm - 6:45pm PDT
Room 6DE
Sure, it says "fiction," but the word "science" comes first. How do you balance the two for a TV show or movie and still tell the tale? Panelists Amy Berg (co-executive producer, Eureka, supervising producer, Person of Interest, Leverage), Kevin Murphy (writer/executive producer, Caprica, Defiance), Kevin Grazier, Ph.D. (science advisor, Defiance, Falling Skies, Gravity), Nicole Perlman (writer, Guardians of the Galaxy), and Jaime Paglia (executive producer/creator/writer, Eureka) will dive into the issue of the struggle between accurate science and an entertaining story. The panel is moderated by Dr. Phil Plait (writer/host, Phil Plait's Bad Universe, Slate Magazine's Bad Astronomy Blog), and is sponsored by Slate Magazine and The Science and Entertainment Exchange (a program of the National Academy of Sciences).
Thursday July 18, 2013 6:30pm - 7:30pm PDT
Room 24ABC
Get the inside word on Simon and Schuster’s upcoming books and the chance to win exclusive prizes! Lucille Rettino (vice president, director of marketing), Carolyn Swerdloff (marketing manager), Chrissy Noh (associate marketing director), Mara Anastas (vice president, deputy publisher), and Anna McKean (publicity manager) will give you the scoop on upcoming books from exciting authors, including Scott Westerfeld, Cassandra Clare, Orson Scott Card, Tony DiTerlizzi, and Brandon Mull. Hear what is going on with S&S’s hot properties and get a chance to win exclusive giveaways. All attendees will receive a limited edition T-shirt for the upcoming The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones movie.
The hit comedy show from the Upright Citizens Brigade theatre comes to Comic-Con. Who would win in a fight, Batman or Wolverine? Superman or Gandalf? Debates like these have raged for decades. Tournament of Nerds! pits two comedians against each other to battle it out in heated debate. Hosted by Justin Donaldson (Reno 911!) and Hal Rudnick (Screen Junkies) and featuring Jonah Ray (Nerdist), Marc Andreyko (Manhunter), Maddox (The Best Page in the Universe), Roger Barr (I-Mockery), Mike Carlson (Conan), and many more.
Thursday July 18, 2013 7:30pm - 8:30pm PDT
Room 26AB
GeneseDavis (The Holder's Dominion), Warren Davis (Q*bert), David Eddings (Boderlands 2), Rachel Lara (Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City), and Paul Dean (The Space Invaders: In Search of Lost Time) discuss the past of video game culture as it compares to today and how it can all show what comes next. Moderated by Patrick Scott Patterson (The Jace Hall Show).
What builds The Guild? How do people from so many different backgrounds, sometimes operating on shoestring budgets, bring their own shows to life on YouTube and other websites? Geeks and Gamers Anonymous creators Katrina Hill and Alex Langley assemble geeky webseries creators and performers from Shelf Life (Tara Platt, Stephanie Thorpe), Husbands (Jane Espenson, Brad Bell), Super Knocked Up (Jeff Burns, Jourdan Gibson), and creator of The Legend of Neil (Sandeep Parikh) to discuss the creative process from conception through casting, crowdsourcing, production, and promotion of original online content.
Thursday July 18, 2013 7:30pm - 8:30pm PDT
Room 24ABC
During a "zombie apocalypse" humans play by a new set of rules-or no rules at all. Zombies kill humans, humans hunt zombies, and humans murder other humans-with no legal repercussions. But suppose the zombie apocalypse ended after eradication of the zombies or the discovery of a cure that rejoined the dead with the living. When society's laws are restored, what would happen if humans, zombies, and former zombies alike stood trial for their actions? Would any of them be found guilty, or would the circumstances of the apocalypse excuse crimes like theft, breaking and entering, misuse of a corpse, murder, and cannibalism? What legal defenses might apply? The forensic psychiatrists of Broadcast Thought-H. Eric Bender, M.D., Praveen R. Kambam, M.D., and Vasilis K. Pozios, M.D.-along with an attorney from Law and the Multiverse, James Daily (The Law of Superheroes), and attorney and professor Jeff Trexler examine the legal issues faced by a post-zombie-apocalyptic world. In a mock trial, the lawyers will be the prosecution and defense, the doctors will be the expert witnesses, and you will be the jury. Will the walking dead be found guilty or will they walk free?
Thursday July 18, 2013 8:00pm - 9:30pm PDT
Room 7AB
Creator/star Adam Green (Hatchet), cast members Laura Ortiz (Happy Endings), and Oderus Urungus (GWAR), director Sean Becker (The Guild), and fan-favorite moderator Alison Haislip (The Voice) discuss the inner workings of their hit television series (now in its second season) and explain the process of creating a sitcom specifically for horror, sci-fi, comic, and heavy metal fans. Including exclusive clips and the world premiere of series character "Lance Rockett" (Dee Snider, Twisted Sister) and his band Dyver Down's first original music video from the upcoming Season 2 finale, this just might be the most you'll laugh all weekend long. Q&A to follow the presentation.
Thursday July 18, 2013 8:30pm - 9:30pm PDT
Room 24ABC