Fox Theatrical hosted a panel at WonderCon today (April 19) to preview their upcoming slate. While “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” and “X-Men: Days of Future Past” were the big draws for the crowd, everyone got a treat by also getting the first look at “Secret Service.”
MTV News was on hand to get you the latest information about these upcoming blockbusters.
First Look at Colin Firth in “Secret Service”
“Secret Service” wasn’t the most advertised film on Fox’s panel list this year. However, the adaptation of Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons’ popular graphic novel is sure to become one of the most talked about upcoming films.
The film stars a be-speckled and posh Colin Firth as Jack, an umbrella-wielding secret agent who must convince a hooligan, Gary, that he has far more potential than he’s using.
The special sneak peek opened with Jack and Gary in a pub, each enjoying a pint. Jack argues with Gary that he’s wasting all the potential he once had as a child, and that his father would be ashamed of him. Their conversation is interrupted by a group of thugs who come in to pick a fight with Gary, telling Jack he’d better leave.
While Jack turns seemingly to exit, instead he locks the doors and engages the group in a hilariously mismatched fight that begins by him flinging a glass back into the tallest goon’s head using only the handle of his umbrella.
The fight scene was incredibly stylized and humorous in spite of its intense violence — people get stabbed, people get stunned, and yet it was all played for laughs. Plus, Colin Firth’s umbrella happens to be a multi-purpose weapon capable of blocking bullets, electrocuting and even stunning the bartender when he attempts to call for help.
The sequence screamed graphic novel with its editing style. It’s safe to say that with a good combination of style, humor, and all-star actors, we’ll be hearing more about “Secret Service” soon.
Apes Brings All-Star Cast to Panel
“Planet of the Apes” fans were treated to a panel that not only included director Matt Reeves, but also stars Keri Russell, Gary Oldman, and Andy Serkis.
The panel included exclusive footage: an extended version of the recently-released trailer, with a bonus scene at the end.
The bonus scene featured a comedic ape attempting to bond with a couple of drunken humans, only for things to turn distinctly violent by the end.
Reeves talked about how the film is leading towards “Planet of the Apes” — this is the middle step, the only point at which the ape family and the human family truly coexist together.
Reeves and Serkis both really focused on continuing to highlight Cesar’s humanity and being torn between the two aspects of himself. Ten years after the first film, Cesar has become the leader of his ape clan. He has a wife and two children.
“He is a family man… or, ape,” Serkis said.
Wolverine Front and Center in “X-Men: Days of Future Past”
WonderCon attendees also got to view an extended fight scene and trailer for “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” which showed the X-Men battling the robotic bad guy Sentinels.
While the original “Days of Future Past” storyline sent Kitty Pryde (Ellen Page) into the past, for the film they opted to send Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) instead. Simon Kinberg assured the audience that this was the biggest liberty they took with the story. He recognized that this story is one of the biggest in the franchise, along with Dark Phoenix.
Kinberg joked that Dark Phoenix was not nearly as good as it could have been, so “Days of Future Past” is their way of correcting the mistakes.
Kinberg also revealed that they would be including some historical aspects of the 70’s in the film. In particular, Richard Nixon is one of the characters included, and has a few interactions with the mutants. Kinberg hinted that perhaps one of them may even have had something to do with those missing tapes.
“Secret Service” opens on October 24. “Dawn of Planet of the Apes” and “X-Men: Days of Future Past” both open on May 23.
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