Wizard World Philadelphia convention highlighted by Hayden Panettiere and news of big changes for Spider-Man comics.
“Heroes” star Hayden Panettiere was the queen of this past weekend’s Wizard World Philadelphia, which featured all-star comic panels, celebrities, gaming, costumed geeks and more. During a packed hour-long question-and-answer session Saturday Hayden gave fans an inside look at the hit NBC series and her character, the indestructible cheerleader Claire Bennet.
Hayden, however, skirted the biggest question of the afternoon, but hinted that we might see more of Zachary Quinto. When a young boy asked, “Is Sylar really dead,” Hayden coyly answered, “So it looks like he’s…hurt. But no show can go without a villain.”
She also hinted that she might get a love interest in season two. “I may get [a boyfirend]. I [told the writers], ‘Dudes, okay! That’s it! Everyone else on the show has a love interest, and I don’t get one? I killed my first one…unfortunately.”
With her character, Claire Bennet, being “killed” several times during last season, the 17-year-old actress admitted that she often felt like Kenny from “South Park.” “I always say I feel like a piece of steak. I get flayed and grilled and stir-fried. I knew when I read the pilot that my ability would allow me to be in the brunt of the action and the middle of the explosions and fire, which was very appealing to me…. It’s always cool to find out what limbs are falling off next.”
Hayden even wowed the audience with a performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” after a young man asked her to prove her singing skills (check out a clip of her performance on YouTube). Hayden, by the way, has an album coming out later this year.
The weekend also featured several comic book panels, which included such bigwigs as Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada and writer Brian Michael Bendis. The big news over the weekend was the change in format for Spider-Man titles. Marvel announced the follow-up to the Spider-Man story arc “One More Day.” It’s called “Brand New Day” and Marvel is changing things up a bit for it. They’ll be combining all the Spider-Man titles into “Amazing Spider-Man,” which will ship three times a month. “Spider-Man comes out three times a month,” Quesada explains. “It just came out under the titles ‘Amazing,’ ‘Friendly [Neighborhood],’ and ‘Sensational Spider-Man.’ All we’re doing is calling it ‘Amazing’ all the time. Instead of it being three separate story lines, it’s one continuous story line.” Marvel also recently released the promo image for “Brand New Day,” at right.
The big news from DC was the announcement of a Parallax one-shot comic. Also announced were three comics covering the impending nuptials of Green Arrow and Black Canary — “Green Arrow/Black Canary Wedding Special,” “Black Canary Wedding Planner,” and “Justice League Wedding Special.” (more…)
Lucy Lawless has been proving that she’s much more than a warrior princess. She showed the world she could belt out tunes with the best of them after placing second on last season’s “Celebrity Duets.” She continued her brilliant role as the Cylon Number Three on the third season of “Battlestar Galactica.” And next up, she appears on Larry David’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” voices Wonder Woman in the animated movie “Justice League: The New Frontier,” and takes her singing career a step further with three shows in New York this weekend. It seems blondes really do have more fun.
We recently chatted with Lucy and she gave us the scoop on a few things — including a possible return to “Battlestar Galactica”; working with Larry David; and doing a live-action Wonder Woman movie.
How did you get the role of Cylon Number Three (D’Anna Biers) on “Battlestar Galactica”?
[Battlestar Galactica producer] David Eick, who used to work on “Hercules” with my husband [Robert G. Tapert]…we stayed in touch and he wanted me for the role. And I wanted to do it and it was magic. I loved being that character.
You left “Battlestar Galactica” to star in the pilot “Football Wives.” Though your “Battlestar” character was “boxed,” the door is open for her to return. Are there plans for you to come back to BSG?
I’ve heard whispers of it. But I was all gung-ho to go off and do my own thing on “Football Wives,” but it didn’t get picked up. So I don’t know. I’m kind of weighing all sorts of interesting options at the moment.
We hear that you appear as yourself in the upcoming season of Larry David’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” What was it like doing the show?
Oh my God, so good. To me, that was the ideal working situation. It is all unscripted, but everyone is totally relaxed. Larry David is such a doll. I so enjoyed working with him, and we had a good time…. I seem to make him laugh. I don’t know why. (more…)
Attention, Lucy Lawless fans! Next weekend you’ll be able to get your Xena fix like never before. The warrior princess will not only appear at the 12th annual Xena Convention in Secaucus, New Jersey; Lawless will also be singing live at three shows in New York City.
Xenites will gather June 1st, 2nd, and 3rd at the Crowne Plaza Meadowlands Hotel in Secaucus, New Jersey for the annual Xena Convention. Headlining the weekend’s activities will be Lucy Lawless and Renee O’Connor (Gabrielle), on stage together and separately on Saturday (for the first time in New York). Also appearing throughout the three-day celebration will be Brittney Powell (Brunnhilda), Alexandra Tydings (Aphrodite), Charles Keating (Zeus), Meighan Desmond (Discord/Sturgina), and Steven L. Sears (co-executive producer).
There will be special behind-the-scenes footage, on-stage presentations, trivia and costume contests, a charity breakfast, plus a merchandise emporium featuring licensed merchandise developed through NBC Universal. General admission tickets will be available at the door for $30 on Friday and Sunday, and $45 for Saturday. Tickets for children 6 to 12 are $20 each day and kids under 6 are free. For more information, visit creationent.com.
And if that isn’t enough, you can catch Lawless performing at The Canal Room in New York City. Following a sold-out gig earlier this year at The Roxy Theatre in Hollywood, her New York concert at the Canal Room is close to selling out, too. The performance is scheduled for three performances, May 31st, June 1st, and June 2nd.
Lawless finished a close second on the recent Fox series “Celebrity Duets,” in which she performed with musical icons Smokey Robinson and Dionne Warwick. Lawless says, “I’ve become a junkie for live performance. I can’t get enough and I can’t give enough.”
At her New York shows, she’ll sing songs by Etta James, Nina Simone, Crissy Hynde, and Melissa Etheridge, plus some of her own work.
Premium seating for the New York show is now sold out, but general tickets are available for $89. They can be purchased at the Canal Room office or by calling 212-941-8100. Doors will open at 7:30 PM. For more information, call Creation Entertainment at (818) 409-0960 or visit creationent.com.
AFRO SAMURAI (Director’s Cut)
Release Date: May 22
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Ron Perlman, Kelly Hu
Director: Fuminori Kizaki
Length: 215 minutes
Afro Samurai is one badass. This westernized sci-fi hip-hop samurai anime tale somehow combines all these elements and creates one cool series. “Afro Samurai,” based on the Japanese manga by Takashi Okazaki, originally aired on Spike TV earlier this year in a five-episode mini-series. It’s the story of a samurai with a ginormous afro who is trying to avenge the death of his father. Ron Perlman gives an awesome voice performance as the No. 1 samurai Justice, who beheaded Afro’s dad right before his eyes. The director’s cut is dark and violent, full of blood, boobs, and Sam Jackson doing what he does best — spitting out the word “motherf***er.” Jackson actually voices two of the main roles, Afro Samurai and his fast-talking comical sidekick Ninja Ninja. “Afro Samurai” has awesome animation, a kicking soundtrack by Wu Tang member The RZA, and the baddest afro in cartoons. The first episode is fast-paced and intense, highlighted by the appearance of Justice, a baddie who wields a really long gun. The rest of the episodes don’t quite live up to the kickoff. But the finale, which also includes Justice, rocks. I guess I’m trying to say that we should have seen more from Justice. Nonetheless, “Afro Samurai” makes up for Samuel L. Jackson’s “Snakes on a Plane.”
DVD GOODIES
A second disc of bonus material includes a featurette on the voice talent, a RZA music production tour featurette, and an interview with the associate producer.
APOCALYPTO Director Mel Gibson follows up “The Passion of the Christ” with this action-adventure tale about the end of the Mayan civilization.
EPIC MOVIE The writers of “Scary Movie” spoof such blockbusters as “Superman Returns,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” and “The Chronicles of Narnia.” Starring Kal Penn and Adam Campbell.
KYLE XY, SEASON 1 This three-disc set collects the first season of the ABC Family series about a mysterious boy who doesn’t have a belly button.
The “Robot Chicken: Star Wars” special airs June 17 on Adult Swim.
