ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY plans to raise the bar even higher at Comic-Con 2017 by presenting its first-ever Icon Edition of fan-favorite panel, “Women Who Kick Ass,” featuring Atomic Blonde star and producer Charlize Theron on Saturday, July 22. Theron, an Oscar-winning actress who consistently embodies strength, searing intelligence and steely determination on screen, is the perfect icon to inaugurate this annual panel which celebrates and recognizes the most powerful, empowering female stars in pop culture.
Theron will be featured on the cover of EW’s “Inside Comic-Con,” a bonus issue, which will be distributed by F.Y.E – For Your Entertainment – sponsored street teams on the ground in San Diego throughout the weekend, and can be purchased beginning Thursday, July 20, on all tablet devices. The cover story, written by EW senior writer Sara Vilkomerson, is a must-read for Comic-Con attendees. Vilkomerson will also interview Theron at the “Women Who Kick Ass” panel. Additionally, EW’s always-popular Comic-Con preview double issue will hit newsstands nationwide July 14.
“Comic-Con has always been a celebration of and for the fans, and their favorite stars and franchises. This year, we’re so excited to host our annual panel, ‘Women Who Kick Ass,’ with the ultimate kick-ass icon, Charlize Theron,” said Henry Goldblatt, Editor in Chief of ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY. “In 2017, EW’s Comic-Con coverage will be bigger and better than ever, as we double-down on content across all our platforms, including EW Radio on SiriusXM and the new addition of ‘EW: The Show,’ from our streaming network, PEN, in the EW Studio and from the convention hall floor.”
Once again, the EW Studio at the Hard Rock Hotel will be the ultimate talent destination. For the eleventh consecutive year, EW.com will deliver non-stop video content and commentary from the convention, offering fans immediate and intimate access to Comic-Con’s biggest stars. Viewers can also get in on the festival action, while EW’s award-winning writers and editors interview the TV and film industries’ biggest names in the EW Studio. Guests will stay refreshed with Peet’s Cold Brew in EW’s Hospitality Suite, thanks to sponsor Peet’s Coffee.
The EW Studio will be a one-stop shop for the leading TV and film stars to promote their upcoming projects. For the fifth year, SiriusXM’s Entertainment Weekly Radio channel will air interviews and coverage with EW Morning Live hosts Dalton Ross and Jessica Shaw, and LA Daily hosts Julia Cunningham and Kyle Anderson. Entertainment Weekly Radio’s Comic-Con broadcast will begin Thursday, July 20 at 3pm ET and will air through Monday, July 24 on SiriusXM channel 105.
For the first time ever, PEOPLE/ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY Network (PEN)’s “EW: The Show” will make its Comic-Con debut and broadcast talent interviews from the EW Studio. Host Lola Ogunnaike will bring “EW: The Show” to the San Diego Convention Center floor to witness all the super-heroic action along with coverage from the streets for chats with stars and fans, giving viewers intimate access to the pulse of the city, a close-up look at the memorable costumes, and a window into the after-hours action that makes Comic-Con such a unique event.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY will also host two “EW After Dark” evening events in the EW Studio; the FX Networks-sponsored “After Dark” will feature cast members from The Strain, Archer and Legion, while the Marvel “After Dark” will feature the casts of Marvel’s The Defenders, Marvel’s Inhumans and The Gifted.
No Comic-Con experience would be complete without EW’s legendary closing night party on Saturday, July 22. The poolside fete will once again take place at FLOAT at the Hard Rock Hotel and will attract some of Hollywood’s biggest film and television talent in a celebration of all things pop culture. This year’s highly anticipated party will feature activations from presenting sponsor HBO and participating sponsor Peet’s Coffee, along with tunes from DJ Michelle Pesce.
Along with reporting on all of the weekend’s festivities, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY will host the following panels:
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY 2017 COMIC-CON PANELS
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY presents
BRAVE NEW WARRIORS
EW’s laugh-filled conversation with TV’s hottest male heroes: Rodrigo Santoro (Westworld), Ricky Whittle (American Gods), Richard Rankin (Outlander), David Harbour (Stranger Things), Christopher Meloni (Happy!), and Colin O’ Donoghue (Once Upon A Time). They’ll discuss the thrill of playing popular characters, their sometimes awkward encounters with fans, and the highs (and lows) of a career in Hollywood. Moderated by EW editor at large Lynette Rice.
Friday, July 21, 1:45pm – 2:30pm, Ballroom 20
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY presents
WOMEN WHO KICK ASS – ICON EDITION WITH CHARLIZE THERON
Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road. Cipher in The Fate of the Furious. Queen Ravenna in Snow White and the Huntsman. Meredith Vickers in Prometheus. Aeon Flux. For more than a decade, Oscar winner Charlize Theron has embodied strength, power, searing intelligence and steely determination on screen. Now, as she explodes into summer in her new movie, Atomic Blonde, EW senior writer Sara Vilkomerson sits down for a no-holds-barred conversation with a woman who defies the rules—and creates her own.
Saturday, July 22, 2pm – 2:45pm, Hall H
If you were born in the ’80s, ’90s, or literally ANY decade after those, you know about Super Mario. A cultural phenomenon was brought to life on the big screen this last weekend. One that has not only stood the test of time but reinvented itself time and time again. This wasn’t even the first time it’s been made into a movie but, well, let’s be honest.. some of us choose not to acknowledge the LIVE action adaptation of the beloved game from 30 years ago.
It was pretty bad… But this was animation. ILLUMINATION animation at that. The Universal company that brought us Gru and his Minions, showed us the Secret Life of Pets, and gave us a reason to SING! Still, I had my reservations and even some concerns, especially when the casting was announced.
Eyebrows were raised. As big of stars as they were on paper, could they really deliver on voicing characters from a staple of our childhood? They did.
Chris Pratt and Charlie Day may not be Italian, and Jack Black may not be a King or Turtle creature from the Mushroom Kingdom, but they make the characters their own all while paying homage to the lore of a video game.
From the jump, the story reintroduces us to the brothers that just want to save Brooklyn one clogged sink at a time. We feel an instant connection and relate to these “underdogs of the plumbing world”. The movie is riddled with easter eggs, each of which tugs on the heartstrings of every generation of Mario fandom. And the soundtrack was beautifully put together to not only make us feel like we’re taking a walkthrough of the game but like an experience all its own with some familiar favorites thrown in.
Every word in the movie is pure eye candy for both those that are casual fans, and those analyzing every frame to see what they’ll catch next. Bowser’s ship, the Mushroom Kingdom, Kong’s arena, and the Rainbow Road.. They’re all meant to give us just enough of a “new” look at these amazing worlds, but stay true to how we remember them.
The movie itself moves along at the perfect pace. Although, if you don’t really know ANYTHING about the Super Mario Bros, you may have gotten a little lost and felt left behind in the green tunnel. But that’s ok! It’s an adventure of the imagination and a classic story of a boy that meets a girl and tries to save the world from a monster that wants to destroy it.
What’s funny is that you could easily say this is a story about two characters who couldn’t be more opposite if they tried, battling to win the heart of a princess. Who would’ve thought that the King of the Koopas was just trying to impress his crush?
And that song? Ohhh THAT song! It’s my new ringtone and deserves the Oscar for Best Original Song.
Back to the movie.
Universal and Illumination clearly understood the assignment. Is it missing some things or could things have been done differently or even better? Absolutely! We’re the worst critics of the things we hold nearest and dearest to our hearts. But if you’re up for going on a 90-minute adventure through amazing worlds, with awesome music, and characters that’ll make you smile and laugh, then this is the perfect movie to spring you into that warm summer feeling.
Plus there’s the whole part with karts and shells, and banana peels and oh my goodness how amazing was that?? It’s enough to make you want to stand up and cheer, then go home and destroy your friends and family on your favorite track haha.
The bottom line, it pays homage in all the right ways to the little guy with the mustache, while giving us something new and exciting. Take the kids and go see Super Mario Bros. You’ll be glad you did!
Justice League x RWBY: Superheroes & Hunters Opening Act Saturday, March 25 at 1:30 p.m. on North 200A. Talent confirmed so far to participate in the post-screening panel is Natalie Alyn Lind (Big Sky, The Goldbergs, Gotham) as Wonder Woman/Diana Prince and longtime RWBY cast member Lindsay Jones (Camp Camp) as Ruby, Kara Eberle ( RWBY: Ice Queendom) as Weiss, Arryn Zech (Detective Now Dead) as Blake and Barbara Dunkelman (Blood Fest) as Yang – along with Jeannie Tirado (Soul, Saints Row) as Green Lantern and Tru Valentino (The Rookie, The Cuphead Show!) as a cyborg. Also attending the panel will be producer/director Kerry Shawcross (series RWBY) and writer Meghan Fitzmartin (Supernatural, Justice Society: World War II).
Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment returns to WonderCon 2023 with the big screen debut from DC Animated Films: highlights this year include the world premieres of the highly anticipated Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham and Justice League x RWBY: Superheroes & Hunters Part One the weekend of March 24-26 in Anaheim, California. Both screenings will be followed by panel discussions with actors and creators. Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham premieres at The Arena on Friday, March 24 at 6 p.m. Tati Gabrielle (Kaleidoscope, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Uncharted) as Kai Li Cain, Christopher Gorham (The Lincoln Lawyer, Insatiable) as Oliver Queen, David Dastmalchian (Dune, Suicide Squad, Ant-Man) as Grendon, producer/co-director Sam Liu (The Death and the Return of Superman), co-director Christopher Berkeley (Young Justice) and screenwriter Jase Ricci (Teen Titans Go! and DC Super Hero Girls: Mayhem Across the Multiverse).
Both films will have encore screenings in the Arena on Sunday, March 26. Justice League x RWBY: Super Heroes & Huntsmen, Part One will screen at 12:15pm, followed by Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham at 2:00pm
No Question Mark Box Here; Super Mario Delivers a 1-Up in Theaters
Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment returns to WonderCon 2023
Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Crunnchyroll presents ‘BOFURI: I don’t want to get hurt so I’ll max out my defense’: You’re not twinking!
‘Knock at the Cabin’: Puttin on your boogie shoes!
No Question Mark Box Here; Super Mario Delivers a 1-Up in Theaters
Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Illinois’ financial crisis could bring the state to a halt
The final 6 ‘Game of Thrones’ episodes might feel like a full season
No Question Mark Box Here; Super Mario Delivers a 1-Up in Theaters
Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment returns to WonderCon 2023
