“VICTOR Frankenstein” costars Daniel Radcliffe (left) and James McAvoy explained their new looks and talked about joining the costumed Con-goers. Photos by Ruben V. Nepales
LOS ANGELES—Only at Comic-Con would such disparate TV shows and movies like “Deadpool,” “Outlander” and “Orphan Black” be showcased in one simultaneously crazy, sublime world. Where we entered a hotel elevator, find a bear (or at least we hoped a person in an ursine costume), and we didn’t find that surprising.
Where a man in a Batman costume—and in the Dark Knight’s voice, to boot—showed up at the renowned Hall H of the San Diego Convention Center and got to ask a question, not at the “Batman v Superman” panel but at the “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” panel.
Speaking of “Star Wars,” one minute we were inside the cavernous Hall H with 6,000-plus fans screaming at the sight of the cast led by Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher. Then, in a few minutes, we were outdoors at the Embarcadero Marina Park South, being led by a phalanx of Stormtroopers—what a sight that was—for a surprise “Star Wars” music concert announced by director JJ Abrams.
Jedi-Sith party
The thousands of spectators were each given lightsabers (in your choice of color—red, green or blue) and instantly turned the bayside park into a mass of swaying laser swords, singing along to a DJ playing Taylor Swift, dance versions of Journey songs, Bruno Mars and more.
Finally, the concert featuring the San Diego Symphony began, a series of the franchise’s well-known theme songs and scores done in classical style by John Williams. Spectacular fireworks lit up the sky and bay as the orchestra played the iconic “Star Wars” theme as the finale number.
In the hectic rounds of interviews, the serious and the comic also animated the discussions. The following are samples.
“SUPERGIRL” actress Melissa Benoist wanted to attend the convention as a fan.
Ryan Reynolds, who has the title role, a wisecracking mercenary, in “Deadpool”: “My character suffers from terminal cancer and he beats it. He doesn’t beat it in terms of a cure but he finds a workaround. For a lot of kids, they look up to that and they relate to that.
“We saw so many Deadpools who are in wheelchairs. I saw one today who had a walker. I think he’s 92. I couldn’t believe it. It opens our minds to the possibility of things. People relate to the idea that they can overcome anything, and that’s Deadpool.
“I saw one kid who was terminally ill. She said, ‘I so relate to your character because he’s got cancer, but he just doesn’t give a f***.’ While it makes you laugh, it was heartbreaking, too. It’s so moving and powerful.”
Other “Deadpool” cast members, Gina Carano, Ed Skrein, TJ Miller, Brianna Hildebrand and Morena Baccarin later joined Ryan for a group interview.
TJ said, “Ed saw a really weird-looking figure in Andre the Giant leotard. That’s not as poignant as what Ryan just said.”
Ryan deadpanned, “Nice contribution, TJ.”
TJ quipped back, “I made a wish; it came true.”
Daniel Radcliffe and James McAvoy, in town to hype their horror-drama “Victor Frankenstein,” illustrated the long and the short of it—hair, that is. The “Harry Potter” star was remarkably hairy, with a full beard and long thick mane. James, on the other hand, sported a shaved head.
“This is not necessarily for a role,” Daniel explained his look. “It’s just that I start a job (‘Swiss Army Man’) on Monday. I’ve grown my hair out so they can do whatever they like to do with it.”
“I quite like it,” James interjected.
“And I don’t know if the beard is staying,” Daniel said. “I’m keeping it for as long as I can because I enjoy having it.”
“This is for ‘X-Men,’ for playing Patrick Stewart,” James explained his hairless look. James and the famously bald Patrick played the young and old versions, respectively, of Charles Xavier, aka superhero Professor X, in “X-Men: Days of Future Past.”
James shaved his head to play the mature Professor X in the coming “X-Men: Apocalypse.”
RYAN Reynolds saw fans of all ages dressed as Deadpool, his wisecracking mercenary character.
James joked with a laugh, “I don’t play Charles Xavier. I just play Patrick Stewart.”
We asked if the two guys, who have an easy camaraderie, if they have hit the convention floor in costumes.
“I did it two years ago,” James answered. “I didn’t put a costume on but I got a mask and covered my face up. Big Nick (Nicholas Hoult) and I went around doing some stuff. We actually got funny looks. All we had were silly masks. I could have tried harder.
“People were really looking down on us. I don’t know if I can take that kind of judgment again.”
Breaking into a grin, James cracked, “I felt really bad. It has taken two years of therapy before I can even think about coming back here. I thought I was over that after leaving high school.”
Daniel as Spidey
Daniel, who donned a Spider-Man costume last year and reveled at being able to walk around without being mobbed, said, “I don’t think I’m going to get a chance this year because we’re wall-to-wall [busy]. But I might, again, at some point. I didn’t get it (costume) together enough.
“As James says, you can’t go down there in a crappy costume. You feel ridiculed so when I come back next year or whenever I come back, I’ll prepare my costume in advance, something very elaborate and home-made.”
“Orphan Black’s” Tatiana Maslany, recently nominated for a best actress Emmy (drama), was ready with a costume. “I have a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle costume with me,” she said gleefully. “It’s head to toe with mask and everything—weapons—so we’ll see.”
“It feels new and surprising every time we come to Comic-Con, to feel this wave of love from the audience,” said the actress who plays a horde of clones in her show. “It’s my favorite event because it’s about the connection with the fans. It’s about their stories, about why the characters mean something to them, why they see themselves in the characters.
“It’s very rewarding but it’s also completely insane and overwhelming,” Tatiana echoed a common sentiment. “I’m getting used to it but it’s very bizarre.”
She added, “Last year’s Comic-Con was really amazing. We had a few really cool girls who came out to us publicly, in front of the whole convention. They said that because they’d seen Cosima, Felix and Tony on screen, they felt brave enough to be who they are, which is gay. It was moving to us and definitely something we kept in our heads as we went back to season 3.
“When you have that kind of impact on people’s lives, you really have to make sure that you contribute to tell stories that move people and are important.”
Jeffrey Dean Morgan told us that Augustus, 5, his son with his girlfriend, actress Hilarie Burton, is already a fan of “The Walking Dead.” And that Augustus thinks his dad might be a zombie.
TATIANA Maslany considers Comic-Con her favorite event because “it’s about the connection with the fans. It’s about their stories.”
He couldn’t bring Augustus to the geek fest because it was a short working trip for the actor (to promote “Extant” which he has joined). “His eyes would have bugged out if I took him to the convention floor,” the dad imagined Augustus’ reaction. “It would be the greatest day of his life, I have no doubt.”
“But I just flew in last night and I fly out tonight. At some point, I promise you I will bring him here. It will change his life and mine. Are you kidding me? If he saw ‘The Walking Dead’ people… Last night, I got into the elevator with seven zombies. I don’t know where his head would go (if he were with me).”
“Supergirl” Melissa Benoist was bummed that she didn’t have time to walk on the so-called “floor.”
“I didn’t get to go on the floor at all, which I’m a little disappointed about because I’ve always wanted to come to Comic-Con as a fan,” said the former “Glee” actress.
“I love ‘Star Wars.’ I grew up as a sci-fi fantasy fan. I’m sad I didn’t get to go but I’ve been able to see a lot of the costumes. How do you say ‘cosplay’? It’s crazy the gumption that a lot of people have. Their creativity is cool. I really wish I could have walked around the convention center.”
Sam Heughan, beloved by the many rabid followers of the TV series “Outlander” as Jamie Fraser, was excited to be back.
“We were here for the first time last year,” said the Scottish actor. “The show hadn’t aired then. It’s going to be exciting what it’s like now that the show has been aired. We had a whole season. We’re going to show some footage from season 2 for people to see that’s really exciting.”
Sam showed up costumed as a pirate, eyeliner and all, at the “Outlander” Comic-Con panel. He and costar Caitriona Balfe endeared themselves even more to fans.
One of the “highlights” of that blooper reel? Something that surely broke the illusion that filming romantic scenes is “hot”: a wedding kiss between Sam and Caitriona was riddled with both actors’ saliva. Only at Comic-Con, folks.
(E-mail the columnist at rvnepales_5585@yahoo.com. Follow him at https://twitter.com/nepalesruben.)