Is this the panel where Screen Gems officially announces the sixth film in the Resident Evil series? Paul W.S. Anderson has been quite vocal lately about the project. The last we heard, he was halfway through penning a script.
Or perhaps this is the panel where Screen Gems reps bring out Kate Beckinsale to reveal that the long-mooted new Underworld film is on the way. It would be the fifth chapter in the series.
We’re settling in to Hall H to live blog the panel, so keep your eyes peeled to this page and be here for the second these possible announcements hit.
You can read the archived version of our live blog below:
11:23
ComingSoon.net: Welcome to our live blog of the Screen Gems panel at the San Diego Comic-Con. The panel should start soon, stay tuned.
11:28
Comment From BadWolf
chance of a new Underworld?
11:28
Comment From bobnap
is Resident Evil The final chapter going to be announce? ask them whats the release and filming dates!
11:28
ComingSoon.net: Either Underworld or Resident Evil would be our guess.
11:30
Comment From Guest
I think it’s going to be The Last of Us movie
11:30
ComingSoon.net: Oh right, could be!
11:34
EDouglasCS: Hey everyone! Ed Douglas here and we’ll be joined by Josh Starnes shortly
11:34
EDouglasCS: No one has any idea what Screen Gems might be showing or announcing today but we have a lot of theories.
11:37
EDouglasCS: Okay, I just went up to the podium at the front of Hall H and the two guests for the panel are…. (drumroll)
11:37
EDouglasCS: Sam Raimi!!!!!!
11:37
EDouglasCS: And Neil Druckman
11:37
Joshua Starnes: maybe it’s an Evil Dead video game.
11:37
Comment From Griffin
With the new Hitman movie having a spot at the Con this year, and Uncharted just getting a release date, my money is on The Last of Us
11:37
EDouglasCS: Neil is a video game developer but this is for Screen Gems who generally does movies.
11:38
EDouglasCS: Griffin, if this is to announce a Last of Us movie, this place is going to EXPLODE!
11:38
ComingSoon.net: Neil Druckmann is from Naughty Dog!
11:38
EDouglasCS: They’re showing a clip
11:39
Joshua Starnes: it is last of us!!!
11:40
Joshua Starnes: soon to be a major motion pictuure!!!
11:40
EDouglasCS: It is The Last of Us! They just showed some footage from the game with the title “The Last of Us Remastered”
11:40
EDouglasCS: “Soon to be a major motion picture
11:40
EDouglasCS: EW’s Dalton Ross is moderating
11:40
Joshua Starnes: I’m guessing Raimi might be connected to that movie
11:40
ComingSoon.net: That’s not really news though.
11:40
ComingSoon.net: https://www.comingsoon.net//n…
11:40
EDouglasCS: CS: But Sam Raimi directing and/or producing?
11:40
ComingSoon.net: Maybe!
11:40
EDouglasCS: Oh I see… Last of Us: Remastered is a game coming out Tuesday
11:41
EDouglasCS: They asked if anyone is an Evil Dead fan… for those who didn’t already see Sam Raimi’s placard
11:41
Comment From Alex
So they’ve only shown footage from the game?
11:41
EDouglasCS: Yes, Alex, just game footage
11:41
Joshua Starnes: Yep
11:42
Joshua Starnes: Sounds like Raimi is just producing Last of Us film.
11:42
Joshua Starnes: Raimi wearing the suit and tie, as always.
11:42
EDouglasCS: Sam Raimi is really at home in Hall H having brought most of the Spider-Man movies here
11:43
EDouglasCS: Neil Druckman said they got two pitches. .one from Clint Culpepper at Screen Gems and one from Sam Raimi
11:43
Joshua Starnes: Even when the Naught Dog guys met Raimi their first response was ‘Don’t geek out, don’t geek out …’
11:43
EDouglasCS: Neil said that when he met with Sam he “really got it”
11:44
Joshua Starnes: And they got greenlight from Screen Gems to be able to write the film themselves.
11:44
EDouglasCS: Sam says that if the movie was going to be in the right hands, it would be in Neil’s hands.
11:45
EDouglasCS: No word when this will come out but Raimi mentions that it won’t come out for years but they wanted to make an announcement here
11:45
EDouglasCS: Neil’s writing the script for the movie
11:45
Joshua Starnes: They expect it to be very true to the game.
11:46
EDouglasCS: They had to make changes to shorten what ends up being a 15 hour game…
11:46
Joshua Starnes: They talked about a different ending among the various changes.
11:46
Comment From Readman
who is Clint Culpepper
11:46
EDouglasCS: Clint is the head of Screen Gems.
11:46
Joshua Starnes: Raimi talked them out of some larger changes, pushing them back towards the story of the game.
11:47
EDouglasCS: Neil said that Sam said that he was worried about protecting the property from financiers and producers but ended up thinking he’d have to save it from Neil
11:47
Joshua Starnes: It will be laser focused on the relationship between Joe and Ellie
11:47
EDouglasCS: Moderator is asking whether the Left Behind expansion might be included in movie
11:47
EDouglasCS: He said that they possibly might use elements
11:48
Joshua Starnes: They’re talking about potential casting for the leads
11:48
Joshua Starnes: They’ve talked to Macy Williams for Ellie
11:48
Joshua Starnes: The crowd likes it.
11:49
EDouglasCS: Dalton asks if there’s a room for Bruce Campbell in the film
11:49
EDouglasCS: Sam says he’s his favorite actor … Dalton suggested him for David
11:49
EDouglasCS: Oddly, Maisie Williams may be in Hall H soon for Game of Thrones
11:49
Joshua Starnes: Maybe someone will ask her about the meeting during that Q&A.
11:50
EDouglasCS: Josh, I think you should ask… 🙂
11:50
Comment From João Paulo – BR
Would be great if he direct the movie.
11:50
EDouglasCS: I agree Joao.
11:50
Joshua Starnes: Only if I got to wear your Dr. Doom mask and call myself Ed Doom
11:50
Joshua Starnes: Neil suggests Bruce Campbell himself would make a good Joel
11:51
Joshua Starnes: Sam seems non-plussed about the idea, but they will find some place for Bruce.
11:51
EDouglasCS: Neil thinks the truck ambush would make a great fit for the movie
11:52
Joshua Starnes: They’re creating new scenes to glue some of their favorite game scenes together
11:52
Joshua Starnes: creating a new flow for the film.
11:52
EDouglasCS: Neil is being asked about the next Uncharted (the video game)
11:52
Joshua Starnes: He says it will be awesome, but avoids specifics.
11:53
Joshua Starnes: Here comes the obligatory will there be more Evil Dead question
11:53
EDouglasCS: “I always love working on that… my brother and i are working on the TV show”
11:53
EDouglasCS: “with Bruce Campbell”
11:53
EDouglasCS: They’re going to questions soon
11:54
EDouglasCS: People at the panel are able to redeem their coupons for an exclusive Last of Us poster
11:54
Joshua Starnes: Here comes the Q&A
11:54
EDouglasCS: Guy asking about whether it will be a new Joel or a rendition of the video game Joel
11:54
EDouglasCS: Neil thinks it’s good to have strong actors who bring their own interpretation to the characters
11:55
EDouglasCS: He doesn’t want the movie to be a poor imitation of the game.
11:55
EDouglasCS: There’s a woman asking a question who has WAY too much flair
11:55
EDouglasCS: (Office Space joke)
11:55
Joshua Starnes: And she’s a big Ted Raimi fan, apparently
11:55
EDouglasCS: Sam says he won’t be directing
11:55
EDouglasCS: Neil will be in charge of selecting director
11:55
Joshua Starnes: Sounds like they haven’t picked a director yet
11:56
EDouglasCS: Sam being asked how he found Last of Us
11:56
EDouglasCS: He says he’s a gamer who plays a lot of games
11:56
EDouglasCS: He likes Halo and shooter games too
11:56
Joshua Starnes: Drops the Age of Empires reference, oh yeah.
11:57
Comment From bobnap
ask them about the resident evil the final chapter movie release dates and filming dates!
11:57
EDouglasCS: Sorry I’m not in line to ask a question.. and I think the focus of this panel is The Last of Us
11:57
Joshua Starnes: Doesn’t seem like there are any execs from Screen Gems here.
11:57
EDouglasCS: It’s funny cause Sam said he rented The Last of Us… you’d think he could afford to BUY it.
11:57
EDouglasCS: Neil just corrected that they’re “infected” not “zombies”
11:58
Joshua Starnes: Then calls them zombies himself.
11:58
Comment From Guest
What about City of Ashes? Think they will announce that?
11:58
EDouglasCS: Probably not… I think that would be saved for the video game company to announce.
11:58
EDouglasCS: Neil being asked about a sequel to Last of Us… Sam thinks it’s a good idea
11:58
Joshua Starnes: Audience likes it
11:59
Joshua Starnes: What would they call it . . . More of Us?
11:59
EDouglasCS: Neil asks Sam if he should have Joel or Ellie in it…. and Sam wants to see more of them
11:59
EDouglasCS: Josh: Good one!
11:59
EDouglasCS: Someone is asking about an Uncharted movie…. I guess they don’t read ComingSoon.net
11:59
Spencer Perry-SHH: Shame on them
11:59
EDouglasCS: Neil says he’s heard things about casting for the movie but he can’t say
11:59
Comment From Jesse Gendelman
What are the movies of sony screen gems?
12:00
EDouglasCS: Jesse, they’ve done Underworld and Resident Evil and more
12:00
Joshua Starnes: Here comes the Ellen Paige casting question.
12:00
EDouglasCS: Someone in the chat room asked about that, too
12:00
EDouglasCS: The reaction to Ellen Page wasn’t that overwhelming…
12:00
Joshua Starnes: Audience is firmly in the Macy Williams camp
12:01
EDouglasCS: Draco Malfoy is now asking a question and he spoiled part of the plot!!! 🙂
12:01
Comment From Guest
Wasn’t Ellen Page torqued that they used her likeness for the game? Or did I dream that?
12:01
EDouglasCS: I seem to remember her being flattered…
12:01
EDouglasCS: But this isn’t the game where they had a nude likeness of Ellen Page, is it? That was creepy
12:01
Spencer Perry-SHH: That would be Beyond: Two Souls
12:01
Joshua Starnes: Raimi encouraged Neil to keep the opening of the film very similar to the opening of the game.
12:02
EDouglasCS: Thanks Spencer!
12:02
EDouglasCS: Are all video game programmers obsessed with Ellen Page? 🙂
12:02
Comment From Irvin
What did Draco Malfoy ask?
12:02
Joshua Starnes: They’re talking about ways to get some of the actors from the motion capture into the film, somehow.
12:02
EDouglasCS: He asked about a character who dies in the opening of the game
12:03
EDouglasCS: Sam doesn’t think that Ellen could play the part because Ellie is a younger girl
12:03
EDouglasCS: Sam was asked about a trilogy
12:03
EDouglasCS: And he gave the diplomatic answer that they want to make one great movie first
12:04
EDouglasCS: I should say “possible trilogy”
12:04
Joshua Starnes: All amid a very good bald sight gag using the Hall H screen
12:04
EDouglasCS: Sam is asked if it’s too soon for a movie after the release of the video game
12:04
EDouglasCS: Sam says again that he wanted to come to Comic-COn early to talk about the movie but he doesn’t feel that it’s too early for a movie
12:04
EDouglasCS: “I want to tell people it’s coming. I think it’s a great project.”
12:05
Joshua Starnes: Naughty Dog’s goal is to make the first great video game/film adaptation
12:05
Joshua Starnes: They are aware it has traditionally not been done well.
12:06
EDouglasCS: EVERYONE says that…. and has there been even one good video game adaptation yet?
12:06
Spencer Perry-SHH: Way to trash the Resident Evil movies at Screen Gems panel 😉
12:06
Comment From MattyDC
Silent Hill is the best film adaptation to date
12:06
Joshua Starnes: Super Mario Brothers 🙂
12:06
EDouglasCS: Yeah, that first Silent Hill wasn’t that bad. That was also Screen Gems, by the way
12:06
EDouglasCS: BTW, Josh is close enough I can hit him if anyone asks me to 🙂
12:06
Joshua Starnes: I can take it. Ed’s arms are really skinny.
12:06
Comment From Roku
Some video game films are fun. I enjoyed the first tomb raider and mortal kombat
12:07
EDouglasCS: We interrupt this liveblog to say that they have just announced an actor in talks for Doctor Strange!!! 🙂
12:07
Comment From Thrall
Surely Sam Raimi would think Warcraft would be if he wanted to direct it
12:08
Comment From oggie
what tv show is Sam talking about that he is working on with his brother and bruce campbell?
12:08
Spencer Perry-SHH: Evil Dead
12:08
Joshua Starnes: Some sort of event planned for the panelists
12:08
EDouglasCS: There is already a Warcraft movie being directed by Duncan Jones of Moon… I’m hoping they’ll show something at the Legendary panel tomorrow
12:08
EDouglasCS: I think they’re going to present an award to Sam Raimi
12:08
Joshua Starnes: sounds like it
12:08
EDouglasCS: Eddie Ibrahim just came back out
12:09
Joshua Starnes: They’re giving an Inkpot Award to Sam Raimi
12:09
EDouglasCS: This was a surprise and wasn’t announced beforehand. Well deserved!
12:09
EDouglasCS: https://www.comingsoon.net//n…
12:10
EDouglasCS: Re: Dr. Strange
12:10
EDouglasCS: Panel is over! Next up is The Walking Dead! I’m going to let Josh fly solo on that as I have to go do other things for a while
12:11
ComingSoon.net: Thanks guys!