SanDiegoComicCon

Last month, we heard a rumor about The CW's Smallville ending its run with a TV movie called Metropolis. The most exciting part of this idea was the possibility of seeing Tom Welling's Clark Kent finally put on the cape and tights and take flight as Superman. Will it happen? The show's producers are reportedly prepping for a big announcement at Sunday's Smallville Comic-Con panel, but the new rumor has some Con attendees already receiving a sneak peek at what's to come. Here's John Scott Lewinski reporting from TV Squad:

A persistent rumor around the Comic-Con International floor says a major television network is abducting random innocent people and forcing them to look at a man's intimate garments.

It seems CW's Smallville series will finally go full-on Superman this year and knock off all of this Clark Kent adolescent, romantic angst nonsense. And Superman needs a super suit to match his new gig. CW reps are reportedly pulling random faces out of the crowd to go behind the scenes and get a glimpse of the mythical outfit.

Here's some advice for those planning to attend Marvels' Comic-Con panels: Get there early. I'm talking three to four hours early, at least. Marvel hosts some of the most popular panels at the annual event, and they tend to fill up fast. I was rewarded for showing up two hours early to last year's Wolverine and the X-Men screening with an obstructed view in the back of the screening room. I was pissed. (I'm pretty sure the dude wearing the Rorschach costume sitting next to me was too.)

This year, Marvel will give punctual Con attendees a first-look at two of its highly anticipated TV projects: Marvel Animé and Super Hero Squad. Friday's Marvel Animation Panel will feature a preview of the Marvel Animé TV series from writer Warren Ellis and Japan's Madhouse animation studio. We haven't heard much about this project since it was announced last year, but it looks like Marvel is moving full-speed ahead with its plan to develop an animé series for the Japanese market featuring some of its most popular characters. The series is expected to debut in Japan in 2010.

On Saturday, Marvel will hold a panel devoted exclusively to Super Hero Squad, it's adorable mini-hero franchise aimed at geeks of all ages. According to Marvel, most of the voice talent behind Cartoon Network's upcoming Super Hero Squad TV show, including Stan Lee, will appear on the panel. Marvel's editor-in-chief, Joe Quesada, will also be on hand to talk about the show. The panel will feature a never-before-seen clip and a preview of THQ's upcoming Super Hero Squad video game.

And Marvel will also hold some panels about, uh, comic books and a little movie called Iron Man 2, as Erik told us earlier. Check out the full Marvel Comic-Con panel sked after the jump:

The full schedule for this year's San Diego Comic Con has finally been revealed, and we're here to give you sci-fi fanatics a taste of how our genre is representing big time at the convention this year. You can check out the full schedule over at the Comic Con website, but here's a list of some must-see sci-fi related awesomeness going down at The Con in just about 10 days from now:

Thursday:

10:15-11:15 Summit Entertainment: Astro Boy- A superhero origin story set in a futuristic world, Astro Boy is an all-new CG-animated feature film based on the classic manga about a young robot with incredible powers and his adventure-filled journey in search of his identity and destiny. Director David Bowers, producer Maryanne Grager, and stars Freddie Highmore (Astro) and Kristen Bell (Cora) debut footage exclusive to Comic-Con 2009 and answer your questions about bringing this beloved hero to the big screen. Room 6BCF

10:30-11:30 Science Fiction That Will Change Your Life- The staff of io9.com, Eisner Award–winning author Douglas Wolk (Reading Comics), and others talk about science fiction from the last year that does more than blow things up. It might also blow your mind. What science fiction should you be reading and watching if you want your brain to grow so big it pops out of the top of your skull and starts throbbing and shooting lasers? The panelists have some tips. Room 8

11:00-12:30 Disney: 3D Panel- Walt Disney Pictures presents key filmmakers, select cast members and previously unseen footage from its upcoming slate, including Disney's A Christmas Carol, Alice In Wonderland and Tron. Special guests include Robert Zemeckis, Tim Burton, Sean Bailey, Steve Lisberger, and moderator Patton Oswalt. Hall H

With only a few weeks to go before this year's San Diego Comic Con, the major studios are beginning to reveal which films they're bringing to what is arguably the country's biggest geek convention. Warner Brothers is first up to bat, and it looks like they'll be bringing some goodies for films like Where the Wild Things Are, The Final Destination, Nightmare on Elm Street, The Book of Eli and more. Additionally, Hall H (which is the Con's largest theater, seating roughly 6,000 people) will be converted to HD for certain presentations. Here's their schedule ...

Thursday, July 23rd
3:30pm-4:30pm 3D SHOWCASE PRESENTATION IN HALL H
Film: The Final Destination
Talent: Craig Perry (producer)

Friday, July 24th
10:15am-12:30pm WARNER BROS. PRESENTATION IN HALL H
Films: Where The Wild Things Are, The Book Of Eli, Nightmare on Elm Street, The Box, Jonah Hex, Sherlock Holmes
Talent: TBD

1:45pm-2:45pm PRESENTATION AND Q & A W/ ROBERT RODRIGUEZ IN ROOM 6DE
Film: Shorts
Talent: Robert Rodriguez (director)

Head over to the official Comic Con site for more details, and stay tuned for all our coverage from the convention.

Our friends in nerdery at SF Universe have the rundown on all the network sci-fi shows slated to take it to the stage at this year's San Digeo Comic-Con. ABC's V revamp and Fox's Human Target are among the new shows set to woo the con crowd with panels featuring cast members, writers and producers. Human Target's Mark Valley, Chi McBride, and Jackie Earle Haley are set to appear, and V's Elizabeth Mitchell and Scott Wolf will be on hand to promote the show.

The con will also host Q&A's and panels with the stars and creators of Squad favorites like Fringe, Smallville, Futurama and Dollhouse. Check out Warner Bros' and Fox's mammoth Comic-Con lineups.

Above: The spaceship from District 9

Now that we've entered the month of June, folks are beginning to geek out about this year's Comic Con in San Diego, which looks to be already setting up some pretty awesome (and geektastic) treats for all those who make the trek out there. In a new story over at the New York Times, they reveal that Peter Jackson will make his first ever trip to San Diego Comic Con this year in order to help promote the upcoming flick District 9, which he's producing. Jackson will be joined by that film's director (and Jackson apprentice) Neill Blomkamp.

The film, which looks to be an extension of sorts of Blomkamp's fantastic short film Alive in Joburg (watch it here), tells of an alien race that's forced to live in a slum-like environment on earth while government examines the situation further. (Watch the Cloverfield-like trailer over here.) There's no word on whether Jackson will reveal any nuggets of coolness regarding his other upcoming movies like The Lovely Bones or the first Tintin film, though even if he doesn't I bet the Comic Con crowd will grill him to pieces during Q&A time.

Check out some of the clever outdoor marketing for District 9 in the gallery below (via Flickr).



After the Jump: Will James Cameron Bring Avatar to Comic Con?