L.A. disc jockey Ralph Garman moderated the panel which began with Nicolas Cage, Idris Elba, Johnny Whitworth and directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor presenting our first look at the Ghost Rider sequel. We also got a look at the two directors and their daredevil, hands-on filmmaking style, which Cage called "infectious."

 

Whereas Cage called the first Ghost Rider more family- and kid-oriented, this second movie takes on a much darker, nightmarish tone with lots of action sequences and 3D technology being used very well. Following each clip, the Hall H crowd popped with loud applause.

 

During the Q&A session, Elba was asked if there were a superhero he would like to play; he  immediately and repeatedly responded, "Luke Cage."

 

The Ghost Rider segment was the briefest of the four. Next up was 30 Minutes or Less, which hits theaters next month. Director Ruben Fleischer (who received applause whenever Zombieland was mentioned) was joined on stage by Nick Swardson, Michael Pena and Aziz Ansari.

 

A new clip was shown featuring Jesse Eisenberg and Ansari attempting to pull off a bank robbery. The four-minute clip had the Hall H crowd laughing, as did Ansari who later silenced the crowd with a very straight-faced joke. "They just screened the first 15 minutes of Dark Knight Rises. Amazing." After a brief pause, Ansari continues, "You guys didn't see it? They screened it with Inception 2. I have no idea how he finished both those movies at the same time. The man's a genius."

 

Fleischer also addressed a couple of projects that have his name attached. In regards to Zombieland 2, the director said it's just a matter of getting everyone's schedule arranged, while The Gangster Squad features an all-star cast that includes Pena. Aziz then joked that Fleischer should add Eisenberg to the cast as an "overly-nervous Jewish gangster."

 

With the crowd buzzing over the first two segments, next up was Total Recall. Director Len Wiseman returned to the Hall H stage with wife Kate Beckinsale, Colin Farrell, Jessica Biel, John Cho and Bryan Cranston. Wiseman said that they were about halfway through shooting and offered up a look at the opening sequence, which featured an impressive action-packed and tense sequence involving Farrell's Doug Quaid. When the lights came back up, the Hall H crowd was abuzz and a loud applause echoed through the massive room.

 

When asked to describe each of the characters they're playing, Farrell said, "I play a world champion Austrian bodybuilder who becomes a huge movie star only to realize my fame could be used for political purpose." Beckinsale then added that her character, who was originally played by Sharon Stone, would be a fresh take on her role in the story.

 

The lights dimmed as the Total Recall cast exited the stage. For several minutes, The Amazing Spider-Man logo appeared on the giant screens around the room. The anticipation was palpable as many of the fans in the room had sat through hours of panels just for this moment.

 

The logo then disappeared and the room was bathed in darkness for a few seconds before the trailer, which premiered a couple days ago, was suddenly presented in 3D. When the lights came back up, a thunderous applause echoed through the room. Garman took to the mic to introduce the cast but was interrupted by a man dressed as Spider-Man at the Q&A mic. The man, clearly excited and nervous, said this was his first Comic-Con and that he had always wanted to go. He said that Spider-Man was his hero and meant the world to him. Then he removed his mask, and there stood Andrew Garfield as flash bulbs popped from every direction and shrieks from women young and old pierced through the applause.

 

Garfield then went on to read a long, passionate monologue before jumping up on stage to join director Marc Webb and Emma Stone. Webb described this new Spider-Man movie as emotionally complex and rich, and that there was so much of the Spider-Man universe that had yet to be brought to the big screen. A first clip of the film followed, featuring Garfield and Emma Stone at high school; the comedic chemistry between the two is undeniable.

 

As the panel progressed, Garman noted that there hadn't been a mention of the villain to which Webb sheepishly replied, "We might have another clip for you guys."

 

The lights went down again and we got our first look at Rhys Ifans as The Lizard, who looked absolutely menacing. When the clip ended, Webb announced that there was a surprise guest and out walked Ifans.

 

Highlights from the Q&A regarded the Spidey suit (changed to match Garfield's skinny frame), Stone and Garfield slowly eating a Hershey's Kiss and Garfield later confessing that former Webslinger Tobey Maguire had passed along his blessing and that he was very much a member of Team Tobey.

 

Time ran out and there was a mass exodus when the Sony panel ended, but the buzz didn't end there. The Hall H audience was buzzing still about Spiderman, their fears and doubts somewhat eased with what they saw. We'll find out next summer if today's panel can boost this Spider-Man flick to success.