TheWrap's Top 5 Comic-Con Must-Do's

We’re in the heart of summer now, and in Hollywood that means two things -- blockbusters and bloodsuckers. Or, as it's better known, Comic-Con.

This year’s convention kicks off at the San Diego Convention Center on July 23 and runs to July 26. Along with it: superstar directors, movie and TV stars, parties, previews, deals and a lot of people in masks and tights -- which makes for great caped eye candy.

Indeed, Comic-Con has gone from humble beginnings in 1970 to become the Cannes of the fan world. From an industry point of view, it’s movie marketing, straight no chaser.

It’s not only where next year’s big guns are brought out for a first look -- as was the case with “Iron Man” back in 2007 and as will be the case this year when director Jon Favreau returns to give fans a peek at “Iron Man 2.”

It’s also where that big surprise or big trend might reveal itself, too.

This year, that big trend’s biting down pretty strong on vampires. In case you’ve been in a Transylvanian crypt for the past year, vampires are hotter than … well, hotter than a vampire’s skin is cold.

Everyone will be clamoring early Thursday afternoon for a look at footage from the upcoming “The Twilight Saga: New Moon,” when Summit Entertainment and the members of the cast -- which the rumors say will include Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson -- show what they’ve been cooking up there in Vancouver these past few months.

And there’s a lot more bloodsucking going on. Producer Kevin Williamson, the evil genius behind the “Scream” movies, on Saturday previews the pilot for his upcoming CW series “The Vampire Diaries.” There’s even a vampire costume contest and a panel on “Bram Stoker: The Joss Whedon of His Day?” We thought it was the other way around.

While you chew over that -- and over Warner Bros.’ reel-spinning at 10 a.m. Friday of bits from Spike Jonz’s “Where the Wild Things Are” and Guy Ritchie’s “Sherlock Holmes” -- TheWrap has your Comic-Con 2009 Top 5:

1. The King Returns. Director James Cameron is hoping to regain the throne with a glimpse at the highly anticipated “Avatar,” his first movie since "Titanic." Over four years in the making -- with 3D technology that purports to show everyone just how it’s really done -- will Cameron’s $195 million sci-fi epic continue his Midas touch? If you want something a bit more up close and perhaps personal, the director’s also co-starring with “Lord of the Ring’s” Peter Jackson in a panel on the future of film. (“Avatar,” 3 p.m. July 23; panel, 6:30 p.m. July 24).

2. Jumpin' Out at Ya! Well, here's something Comic-Con is actually late on: the first-ever panel on 3D.

 

1 | 2