Panel moderator: Chris Hardwick of the Nerdist. Premiere Divergent footage. People who wait deserve good things. The room is now collectively 3 centimeters closer to the edge of their seats.
Hardwick calls the cast massive after Shailey Woodley sits down. …In reference to the giant screen behind them.
DIVERGENT takes place in a future, war-torn, dystopian, walled-up, dank Chicago. Just like the real Chicago. But in the future.
The citizens of Neo-Chicago are divided into factions within the city: Bravery, Selflessness, Honesty, Peacefulness or Kindfulness. Ceremony involves slitting your wrist and pouring blood into one of five bowls. Sort of a gritty, Eli Roth version of the Sorting Hat.
Director Neil Burger says they finished shooting on TUESDAY. The footage here is EXTREMELY never before seen.
Author of books Veronica Roth drops that the third book is written from two perspectives: Tris’s and from Four’s.
The NEVER BEFORE SEEN CLIP showcases Tris jumping out of the el onto a rooftop, and then being the first to take a plunge off the roof into a crater. Bravery is rewarded. I just loved seeing that Chicago Skyline.
Chris Hardwick announces upon hearing Theo James’ voice, “Half of the audience is now pregnant.”
Supporting cast member Ansel Elgort comes out sporting a Green 1-up Mushroom tee.
The first panel to fill the ENTIRE panelist table. Every seat. And we’ve still got one more movie to go!
Ansel Elgort says he loves the movie, cast and crew and can’t wait to do the sequels. The announcement has dropped – if it’s said at Comic-Con, it has to be true.
The story of DIVERGENT is really about young people choosing who/what they want to be. A nice break from the legion of “Chosen One” plots.
Rumor on the panel is that the cast will be CROWDSURFING out of the hall.
Author Veronica Roth describes seeing the movie come to life, how during her writing process she was only ever able to “see and squint at the details” … I’m guessing she has a similar vantage point up there on stage.
Dude gets up to ask question: “I love Ender’s Game, so about the book…?” Gets shut down — wrong movie, pal. Walks away in disgrace.
Next guy gets up to ask question– “Wait, hang on, we’re still laughing at the last guy with the wrong movie. His whole evening is ruined.”
Neil’s most daunting scene to shoot was the jumping out of moving train. Tells Ansel to make it looks less hard. Ansel: “But it’s REALLY HARD! D:”
In regards to shooting the moving train jumping scene with the cast: “Most of them survived. Most of them.”
What similarities do you share with your character? Maggie Q – Tattoos, obvious, dauntless casting. She’s badass. Mehki Phifer – Bravery. Growing up in NY helps. Ansel – Caleb is tall, and so is he in real life. The same height! Theo – protective of Shay in real life, waits outside while she goes to the bathroom. Shailene Woodley – Bravery, mid-way climbing a Ferris wheel mentions her fear of heights. Zoe Kravitz – word vomiting/doesn’t stop talking. Ben Lloyd Hughes – standing up for friends. Ben Lamb – Loves learning and is a hard worker. Christian Madsen – To explain why they’re similar it would be a giant therapy session. He very related with the core of the character. Amy Newbold – Hopefully not TOO many similarities, but loves to fight. Miles Teiler – Peter is not very likable… buuuut, we both like classical music. And they both brush their teeth in the shower. Misunderstood.
Chris Hardwick stares at us awkwardly while he can’t tell his F-bomb jokes during the transition between movie panels.
And the ENDER’S GAME panel begins. Cue applause.
Robert Orci filming the panel with his phone. Gavin Hood so excited he’s almost ripping his shirt off.
The cast comes out. And is he still here? Who’s this guy? …Harrison Ford? The crowd loses it.
NEVER BEFORE SEEN footage plays great. Very intense. Personal pet-peeve though: Stop saying roll the clip. This obviously is a trailer/preview, not a clip!
Hailee Steinfeld prepared for the film by training at Space Camp.
Harrison Ford brings the hammer down on Hardwick, correcting his question. He’s not Ender’s Mentor, he’s Ender’s Manipulator. Threatens to never return to Comic-Con.
Okay, so I’m totally seeing one of my personal heroes right now. He’s talking very passionately about the manipulation of children’s mind in reality and the social commentary of the book… but I can’t stop staring at his one ear ring. Do you think it’s a genuine Sun Stone?
Director Hood speaks with great eloquence and describes how wonderful it is to work with great actors, even Harrison on a good day. Ben Kingsley carries him through the movie.
Hood is sick of boring good guy vs. bad guy stories, good guy wronged, then seeks revenge to conquer bad guy — he values a good story first. Well spoken.
Asa Butterfield only capable of acting against Han Solo because he’s British, and therefore slightly better than us — according to Hardwick.
The controversial question is asked — Orson Scott Card’s personal views comes up against the filmmakers at the panel. Producer Robert Orci tells the story of empathy, and that the folks behind the film and the film itself, in nature, supports LGBT issues and people.
The banished Ender’s Game question-asker makes his glorious return. Hardwick gets him to tell the room his Twitter handle so we can all continue to torment him.
Last question: If you could take one prop home from the set, what would it be? Director Hood: “Harrison Ford.”
“…Oh wait, he’s moving.”
Last LAST question — What would Han Solo and Indiana Jones met, what would there first words be to each other? “….. ….. …. “
“….. …. … Hi? …How are you?”
Last, LAST, LAAAAST question. A very excitable young Brazillian man whom describes how he hurt his leg climbing on a rock as a kid pretending to be Indy asks Harrison: Would Han Solo be good as a soldier in Colonel Graff’s army? “… … ……..”
“……. ……. ……………”
“…… …………You know, when I was young, I wanted to be Indiana Jones too.”
“….Not so much anymore.”
ENDER’S GAME hits theatres November 1st, 2013.