As we get closer to San Diego Comic Con this just might be a blow to scheduling for SDCC. The Wrap broke news that 20th Century Fox is pulling out of San Diego Comic Con Hall H Presentations:
“20th Century Fox will not showcase its upcoming movie releases in Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con this year, TheWrap has learned.
The studio feels it cannot prevent the piracy of custom trailers and exclusive footage routinely screened for fans in attendance, an individual familiar with the decision told TheWrap.
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Disney is considering pulling out of their regular showcase as well, the source added. A recent date change in their year long campaign of fan events, D23, puts it within days of ComicCon 2016 — suggesting the studio won’t double its efforts for fans.
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Fox would likely have shown glimpses of “Assassins Creed,” the Michael Fassbender video game adaptation that wowed movie exhibitors at this year’s CinemaCon. An early first look at Hugh Jackman‘s “Wolverine 3” and the recently-delayed “Maze Runner: The Death Cure” were also possibilities.
Last year Fox screened footage from “Deadpool,” the perverse Ryan Reynolds superhero film that would go on to gross $760 million worldwide. A trailer prepared especially for the 2015 convention was screened on a Saturday — and a pirated version was available online the following Monday.
The same went for “X-Men: Apocalypse” and Warner Bros. hotly anticipated “Suicide Squad,” footage from which was shown while shooting was still underway — 13 months prior to the DC Comics film’s forthcoming August 5 release.
A representative for Fox declined to comment and representatives from SDCC were unavailable for comment. What does this mean for scheduling and does this mean more studios will follow? Disney already has D23 lined up for July 14-17 to be followed by SDCC July 21–24. Now it is annoying that people post what they have been asked not to post and of course the few ruin it for the many. For some companies they have enlisted security to walk the aisles to make sure no one is recording the presentations and if more people continue to post items that they should not post then say goodbye to the big companies.
What do you think about 20th Century Fox pulling out of SDCC? Let us know in the comment section below.
Let us know what you think about 20th Century Fox and if more studios follow.
As much as I would love to see an exclusive trailer for a movie I’m interested in, I think Fox (any other movie companies) have a right to protect their property, and I respect that. It is a shame that companies are backing out of conventions because of all this piracy though.
I see it both ways. I remember when SDCC was more about comics than Hollywood and I miss those days. On the other hand I have been fortunate to see and hear some amazing things in Hall H.
Wow! Game changing for Comic-Cons. Lets be honest, cons thrive just fine without the big studios, but…. it’s also the big studio’s that bring in the crowds because they wanna see the early viewings and other material. Just my humble opinion.