Friday and Saturday are Comic Con's two biggest days. And 2008 is really shaping up to be something quite special. We recently got word of what and whom you can expect to see on those days. Friday will be Star Wars day, with six special programs that revolve around the long-standing sci-fi property. And Saturday will offer you a first look at Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins as well as Pixar's latest projects. Here is a list of film and TV panels happening on Friday just for you:
Friday, July 25
10:00-11:00 Batman: Brave and Bold
See an exclusive first look at the latest take on the Dark Knight, which premieres this fall on Cartoon Network. Producers Sam Register (Teen Titans) and James Tucker (Justice League
Unlimited) discuss the show, along with writer Michael Jelenic (The Batman), director Brandon Vietti (Superman Doomsday), voice director Andrea Romano (Superman Doomsday), and the new voice of Batman, Diedrich Bader (Surf's Up), followed by a Q&A session. Room 6B
10:00-10:50 Star Wars: Designing the Clone Wars Universe
Meet the original in-house team that designed the unique look of the Star Wars: Clone Wars series. They will discuss how they worked with supervising director Dave Filoni to come up with the graphic, painterly style of imagery that gives Star Wars: Clone Wars its distinct look. Drawing on the last three years of production, they will share how the characters and environments have evolved using much of the rich classic Star Wars imagery as reference for designing the show's overall look. Moderated by Lucasfilm's Steve Sansweet. Room 7AB
10:00-11:00 TheOneRing.net: The Hobbit
Middle Earth returns with the announcement that The Hobbit will be developed into a feature film directed by Guillermo del Toro and produced by Peter Jackson. The world's largest Tolkien community, TheOneRing.net, takes you behind the scenes of the latest news, announcements, and rumors pertaining to the production of the new film. Chris Pirrotta (TheOneRing.net), Larry Curtis (TheOneRing.net), Cliff Broadway (TheOneRing.net), Kristin Thompson (The Frodo Franchise), and possible special guests present this early look at making The Hobbit happen! Room 32AB
10:15-11:15 The Big Bang Theory Screening and Q&A
Positive proof that physics is funny, The Big Bang Theory makes its Comic-Con debut with a screening of the "Nerdvana Annihilation" episode and a Q&A with the show's creators and stars. Come talk with executive producers Chuck Lorre (Two and a Half Men) and Bill Prady (Dharma & Greg), as well as series stars Johnny Galecki (Roseanne), Jim Parsons (Garden State), Kaley Cuoco (Charmed), Simon Helberg (Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story) and Kunal Nayyar (Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service). Adam Savage (MythBusters) will moderate the session. From Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television, The Big Bang Theory returns for a second season on September 22 and airs Mondays at 8:00 PM< ET/PT on the CBS Television Network. Room 6CDEF
10:45-11:45 Stargate: Continuum
Following on the heels of the hit DVD release Stargate: The Ark of Truth, the next full-length feature will be released Tuesday, July 29, with principal cast members returning for the biggest adventure of them all! This panel features Brad Wright (series co-creator and Stargate: Continuum developer, executive producer and writer), Martin Wood (director), and (subject to availability) stars Richard Dean Anderson (General Jack O'Neill), Amanda Tapping (Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter), Ben Browder (Lt. Colonel Cameron Mitchell), Michael Shanks (Dr. Daniel Jackson), and Christopher Judge (Teal'c). Ballroom 20
10:50-11:35 Star Wars: The Clone Wars 3D Modeling
What gives Star Wars: The Clone Wars series its live action cinematic sensibility? The process is called 3D Story at Lucasfilm Animation. Learn how this innovative team of panelists worked together to redefine traditional storyboarding so that the majority of storytelling is now done in the computer. This panel will give you firsthand insights into the challenges the crew faced as they embarked on defining this new process, both technically and creatively, while training traditional and CG artists to combine skill sets and create a new process for television animation. Moderated by Catherine Winder, producer, Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Room 7AB
11:15-12:15 The Powerpuff Girls10th Anniversary and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends
Believe it or not, it has been 10 whole years since The Powerpuff Girls flew out of Professor Utonium's lab and into our hearts. Along the way Blossom, Buttercup, and Bubbles have kicked the butt of every major villain in Townsville. Celebrate their 10th Anniversary with show creator Craig McCracken and the voices of The Powerpuff Girls-Cathy Cavadini, Tara Strong, and Elizabeth Daily. They will answer all of your questions and accept all of your praise! And Craig will also be talking about his other Cartoon Network hit, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, along with co-creator Lauren Faust and voice talent Keith Ferguson (Bloo) and Tom Kenny (Mayor, Eduardo). Room 6A
11:35-12:35 Industrial Light & Magic and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Academy award-winning visual effects house Industrial Light & Magic takes you behind the scenes of their work for the latest installment in the Indiana Jonesseries. You'll get a firsthand look at how the effects were created and see what was involved in bringing Indy's world to the big screen. Room 7AB
11:45-12:15 Stargate MMO
After nearly 15 years on the air, the Stargate franchise is launching its first-ever multilevel online game, with all the elements-and more!-fans expect from the Stargate family. The key creative team from Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment and FireSky Studios present a compelling sneak-peek and answer questions. Panelists include Brad Wright (Stargate SG-1 series' co-creator, executive producer and writer) plus Dan Elggren (FireSky Studio head), Chris Klug (creative director), Howard Lyon (art director), and Demetrius Comes (director of technology). Ballroom 20
11:55-1:00 Warner Bros.: Watchmen
A complex, multi-layered mystery adventure, Watchmen is set in an alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society, and the "Doomsday Clock"- which charts the USA's tension with the Soviet Union-is permanently set at five minutes to midnight. When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the washed-up -- but no less determined -- masked vigilante Rorschach sets out to uncover a plot to kill and discredit all past and present superheroes. As he reconnects with his former crime-fighting legion-a ragtag group of retired superheroes, only one of whom has true powers -- Rorschach glimpses a wide-ranging and disturbing conspiracy with links to their shared past and catastrophic consequences for the future. Their mission is to watch over humanity...but who watches the Watchmen? Guest appearances TBA. Hall H.
12:00-1:00 ABC Family: Samurai Girl: Real Bout High School
Based on a series of popular young adult novels, Samurai Girl: Real Bout High School tells the story of a 19-year-old Japanese girl named Heaven, who discovers that the wealthy businessman who adopted her as an infant is really the head of the Yakuza (the Japanese mafia) and may have had her beloved brother brutally murdered. She breaks from her family, begins training to become a samurai, and with the help of a group of new American friends sets out to take down her father's evil empire. The panel includes Jamie Chung (The Real World), Brendan Fehr (Roswell), and Stacy Keibler (WWE Saturday Night's Main Event)-along with executive producers Andre Nemec-Josh Applebaum,-and Luke McMullen (all from Alias). Samurai Girl: Real Bout High School will air as a special event premiering with six hours over three nights, on September 5, 6, and 7. Room 2
12:15-1:15 Stargate: Atlantis
With new allies and new challenges, Stargate: Atlantis is making big waves in its action-packed fifth season. Be on hand for this exclusive panel discussion with the cast and creators of SCI FI's hit series. Panelists include cast members Joe Flanigan, Robert Picardo, and Jewel Staite, co-creator and executive producer Brad Wright, and , Chris Sanagustin, VP original programming SCI FI. Moderated by Martin Gero, executive producer. Ballroom 20
12:25-1:15 Star Wars: The Clone Wars: New Books Based on the Movie and TV Series
The Star Wars Saga continues with a wide variety of tie-in books for the groundbreaking new series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, including novels, nonfiction, comics, and children's books. Please join Carol Roeder and Frank Parisi from Lucas Books, along with Karen Traviss (author of The Clone Wars novel from Del Rey), Henry Gilroy (author of The Clone Wars comic from Dark Horse), Jason Fry (author of The Clone Wars Visual Guide from DK Publishing), and Erin Dempsey (marketing director, Penguin Young Readers) for questions and answers-and a sneak peak at these must-have books! Moderated by Lucasfilm's Pablo Hidalgo. Room 7AB
12:30-1:30 The Art of Adapting Comics to the Screen
The cinematic renaissance of comic book-based films continues, and here's your chance to learn what it takes to adapt these dream projects to the screen! Creative Screenwriting magazine's senior editor Jeff Goldsmith hosts an amazing panel of Stan Lee (co-creator of Iron Man), Zak Penn (screenwriter, The Incredible Hulk), Mark Fergus (co-screenwriter, Iron Man), and Gregory Noveck (senior VP-creative affairs, DC Comics). Room 5AB
12:30-1:15 Spaced
Actor/creator Jessica Hynes (Shaun of the Dead), actor/creator Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead), and director Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz) recall Spaced, the clever and edgy comedy series that started it all for the award-winning team behind Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. Plus: Q&A session. (Look for the Spaced screening tonight in the same room at 10:15PM!) Room 6A
1:00-2:00 Introducing Resident Evil: Degeneration
Producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi (Devil May Cry 4, Resident Evil 4) and director Makoto Kamiya (special effects director, L: Change the World, Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack) introduce the full-length CG-animated motion picture based on the popular Capcom video game franchise. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment invites you to be the first to see the film's revealing new trailer and take part in a Q&A session with the filmmakers. Room 2
1:00-2:00 Production Designers
For the second consecutive year, Comic-Con attendees will have the opportunity to interact with a lineup of master production designers-the artists responsible for creating the looks of today's most celebrated sci-fi/fantasy films and television. Organized by the Art Directors Guild, IATSE Local 800, these production designers will show clips, answer questions, and share their methods for creating imaginary worlds and convincing environments. Participating panelists (listed alphabetically) include Richard Hudolin (Battlestar Galactica, Caprica-BSG prequel), Alex McDowell (Watchmen, Tim Burton's Corpse Bride), J. Michael Riva-(Iron Man, Spider-Man 3),-Barry Robison (X-Men Origins: Wolverine, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader). Moderating the panel is John Muto, designer of Terminator 2: Judgement Day, Species, and Home Alone. Room 32AB
1:15-2:00 Primeval
Actor Douglas Henshall gives you firsthand info about his leading role in BBC America's new U.S. premiere sci-fi series Primeval, along with actors Juliet Aubrey and Karl Theobald. When evolutionary zoologist Nick Cutter (Henshall) discovers prehistoric creatures alive and well in the present day, the natural world is turned on its head and humanity faces a threat to its very existence. Followed by a Q&A session. Room 6A
1:15-2:00 Hasbro: Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Derryl DePriest and Justin Kreter (Hasbro marketing), are joined by Brian Parrish, Mark Boudreaux, Dwight Stall, and Brian Wilk (Hasbro design) to talk about what the Hasbro design and marketing teams have in store for the remainder of 2008 in the Star Wars and Indiana Jones lines. Plus a special sneak peek into some 2009 secrets and a Q&A session! Room 7AB
1:30-2:30 Joss Whedon
Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer