Back in February, we told you about a documentary Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly) and Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me) were planning on making about Comic-Con International in San Diego. Now we have more information on the film, including the title, which is mildly clever Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan’s Hope. Get more details after the break.
The film will capture not only a moment in time that literally touches hundreds of thousands of people, but a world that inspires us all – but more than anything else, it will show us that whether at home or away, in costume or not, en masse or alone, we should all have the courage and confidence to be ourselves.
In a press release provided today, we learn that Whedon and Spurlock aren’t the only heavy hitters involved in the project. Stan Lee, creator of almost every Marvel superhero you know, and blogger Harry Knowles of AICN will be working to bring the documentary together. Spurlock will direct, while Whedon will join Lee and Knowles as executive producers. This group is perfect for this topic, with Spurlock’s documentary experience, Whedon and Lee’s comic/nerd cred, and Knowles representing (to a degree) the people they are following.
Read the full press release below.
MORGAN SPURLOCK, STAN LEE, JOSS WHEDON, HARRY KNOWLES AND THOMAS TULL BRING COMIC-CON CULTURE TO LIFE WITH GROUNDBREAKING NEW FEATURE DOCUMENTARY: ‘COMIC-CON EPISODE FOUR: A FAN’S HOPE’
Burbank, CA – May 20, 2010 – Oscar®-nominated filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, producers Thomas Tull and Jeremy Chilnick along with comics icon Stan Lee, writer/producer Joss Whedon and online film guru Harry Knowles have joined together to bring audiences the feature length documentary COMIC-CON ESPISODE FOUR: A FAN’S HOPE. The concept for the film is spurred by the ever-growing influence that San Diego Comic-Con continues to have on comics, film, television and pop-culture. The feature documentary will follow seven different people from across America, and around the world, as they descend upon and the veritable Mecca of fandom and experience the rapture that is Comic-Con.Stan Lee, who is the chairman of Pow! Entertainment, said “An incredible phenomenon is occurring throughout the world. The once-denigrated comicbook has become one of the mightiest pillars of today’s culture. Many of our highest-grossing movies, best selling toys and most popular video games owe their existence to the increasingly influential comicbook. Truly, we live in the day of an ever-burgeoning, ever-growing comicbook culture.”
“When I was a kid, comics changed my life and my world,” said director Morgan Spurlock. “So when I got to San Diego, I felt like I was home. It was such an overwhelming experience for me, and I soon found out that I was not alone. So for me to get to share the experience of Comic-Con with fans all over the world will be an incredible opportunity.”
Thomas Tull, who is producing outside of his day job as Chairman of Legendary Pictures, said “There is no age limit to a fanboy or girl; rather it is a mindset and a love of comics and all things inspired by them that make up this growing community. We look forward to capturing the spirit, energy and people that Comic-Con has infused into legions of fans, bringing these audiences and projects out of the Halls and onto a world stage.”Harry Knowles said “Comic-Con and the culture that swirls around it is such a beautiful, bizarre and varied universe to capture. I for one, cannot wait to have Morgan film and share it with the world. I’ve been going to Comic-Con since 1974 and have been amazed that nobody has mounted a serious attempt at documenting what it is that happens there. This is an incredibly exciting project, one that I’m very proud to be a part of!”
Added David Glanzer, spokesperson for Comic-Con, “Since our first convention in 1970 our attendees have long known that comics are as viable form of art and entertainment as any other. We look forward to Morgan sharing this message with an even broader audience.”
COMIC-CON EPISODE FOUR: A FAN’S HOPE will begin shooting in June and culminate its principal photography at this year’s Comic-Con in July. Morgan Spurlock will direct the film and Thomas Tull will produce alongside Spurlock’s Warrior Poets producing partner, Jeremy Chilnick. Stan Lee, Joss Whedon and Harry Knowles will executive produce. The film will capture not only a moment in time that literally touches hundreds of thousands of people, but a world that inspires us all – but more than anything else, it will show us that whether at home or away, in costume or not, en masse or alone, we should all have the courage and confidence to be ourselves.
In case you didn’t know, MovieViral will have full coverage of Comic-Con 2010, live from the floor of the San Diego Convention Center. We’ll have more details on that as July draws closer.