San Diego Comic Con 2017 Thursday 'Star Wars' Panels

By: Dominic Jones

We're now less than two weeks away from San Diego Comic Con (SDCC), which means the organizers are ready to start revealing the schedule.  While the Star Wars films are not expected to have a major presence at this year's con, the big preview is believed to be happening the week before at D23 Expo, that doesn't mean the galaxy far, far away won't be well represented at the famous convention.  With the Thursday schedule having been released, here are the Star Wars panels taking place on the first day,

JAKKS Pacific: Fall 2017 Sneak Preview

12:00pm - 1:00pm, Room 29AB

Join JAKKS Pacific for a preview of all the new figures, collectibles, and RC vehicles they will be releasing in the coming months. Attendees will get an exclusive first look at new items for Nintendo, DC Originals, Justice League, Marvel, and Star Wars. Following the preview will be a Q&A with members of JAKKS's development team and special giveaways of their premium DC Originals Tribute Series figures.

The 501st Legion: An Introduction to Villainous Costuming in the Star Wars Universe

8:00pm - 9:00pm, Grand 1 & 2, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina

Panelists offer an introduction to the creation of fan-made villain costumes from all seven Star Wars movies and beyond. Legion members from the Imperial Sands, Southern California, and Wisconsin Garrisons will provide an overview of the creative processes that bring Stormtroopers, Tusken Raiders, Boba Fett, or Kylo Ren from the silver screen in to reality. Dean Amstutz (ISG membership liaison) will discuss the membership journey, from initial interest through final approval. Lesley Farquhar (ISG commanding officer) will speak about fabric construction. Kevin Weir (Imperial Surplus Armor and KW Designs owner) will relate his process for working with armor parts. Howard Smart (ISG member) will speak about small prop construction. Dawn Bright (Flagship Eclipse Detachment executive officer) will discuss the process and requirements for bringing a new canon costume into the Legion. Adam Petersen (Jolly Roger Squadron Detachment leader) will discuss large costume construction. Todd Mullin (ISG executive officer) will moderate the panel with a Q&A session after the presentation. 

I'll Take Quidditch for $500, Obi-Wan: Fan Game Show  
8:00pm - 9:00pm, Room 32AB

Can you name the family seat of each Westerosi house? Identify a Star Wars villain from a single line of dialogue? List every Hogwarts professor by magical subject? Test your knowledge in this bookish game show, competing head to head with fellow fans and bestselling authors in categories like "May the Force Be with You," "Expecto Patronum," and more, using audio clips from the Star Wars, Game of Thrones, and Harry Potter audiobooks. Star Wars audiobook narrator Marc Thompson will host, selecting a few lucky audience members to compete onstage as contestants!  

For fans looking to see people who have worked on Star Wars or key members of the fan community on panels that aren't specifically about Star Wars may also want to check out these panels,

 

Spotlight on Mike Royer

11:30am - 12:30pm, Room 4

As part of this year's gala Jack Kirby Centennial, here's an hour-long chat with Jack's favorite inker of his work, the man who worked with him on the Fourth World comics, Kamandi, The Demon, and many others. But Mike Royer was so much more than just Jack Kirby's inker. He worked with Russ Manning on the Tarzan comic books and newspaper strip and again with Russ on the Star Wars newspaper strip. He drew for Creepy, Eerie, and Vampirella and worked on the '60s Marvel superhero cartoons and for Gold Key Comics and had a multi-decade career working for Disney on things as un-Kirbylike as Winnie the Pooh. Come hear him be interviewed by his friend and colleague, Mark Evanier.

1987: Greatest Geek Year Ever 
3:00pm - 4:00pm, Room 5AB 

The "We're Getting Too Old for This S@#t" edition! This expert panel of geeksperts takes a trip 30 years back in time to that great geek year of 1987. Expect untouchable analysis and lethal quips as they look back at Predator, The Princess Bride, Lethal Weapon, The Lost Boys, RoboCop, Near Dark, Spaceballs, Hellraiser, The Untouchables, The Running Man, and many more. Panelists Mark A. Altman (St. Martin's The Fifty-Year Mission, Tor's Slayers & Vampires), Scott Mantz (Access Hollywood), Charles de Lauzirika (Alien Anthology, The Martian: Extended Edition), Steve Melching (Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Clone Wars), Jose Molina (The Tick, Agent Carter), Ashley E. Miller (Thor, X-Men: First Class), Robert Meyer Burnett (Agent Cody Banks, The Hills Run Red), and Steve Kriozere (V.I.P., NCIS, Castle) remind you that "if it bleeds, we can kill it" and that you should "never fight a land war in Asia." Thank you for your cooperation. Plus: a 40th anniversary bonus look back at 1977. 

NBC's Timeless: Fan Tribute Celebration 
3:30pm - 4:30pm, Room 6BCF 

NBC's Timeless traveled back in time to make the unbelievable happen. It became the first show ever to be canceled and renewed after only three days-all thanks to tremendous fan support! Join cast members Abigail Spencer (Rectify, Oz the Great and Powerful), Matt Lanter (Pitch Perfect 3, Star Wars: The Clone Wars), Malcolm Barrett (Preacher, Better Off Ted), and Goran Višnjić (ER, Extant), and executive producers Shawn Ryan (The Shield, S.W.A.T.) and Eric Kripke (Supernatural, Revolution) for a Q&A session and fan celebration moderated by USA Today' s Brian Truitt. The cast will take a look back at their favorite moments from season 1 and answer burning fan questions on unsolved mysteries. Timeless is produced by Sony Pictures Television, Universal Television, MiddKid Productions, Kripke Enterprises, and Davis Entertainment and will return to NBC in 2018.    

Gunslingers, Half-Orcs, and Fireballs: A Super-Fun Guide to Dungeons & Dragons and Tabletop RPGs

8:00pm - 9:00pm, Room 28DE

Continuing last year's popular "Rogues, Half-Elves, and Magic Missile: A Beginner's Guide to Dungeons & Dragons" panel, this session focuses on tips and tricks to get the most enjoyment out of playing D&D or any other tabletop RPG. Panelists discuss how to have a super-fun time creating a character, roleplaying that character, crafting a fascinating story, and getting along with your fellow players, so you don't want to cast Meteor Swarm on them in real life! Moderated by Jeff Burns (Super Geeked Up, Monday Night Mayhem) and featuring Jennifer Muro (Star Wars: Forces of Destiny, Justice League Action), Elisa Teague (Betrayal at House on the Hill: Widow's Walk, Geek Out!), Jennifer Kretchmer (Maze Arcana, Dollhouse), Trip Hope (League of S.T.E.A.M., Monday Night Mayhem), and Marx Pyle (GenreTainment, Monday Night Mayhem). Plus, join in immediately after the panel for a gaming session in Room 15AB with a demonstration of Fate Accelerated. 

Many more Star Wars panels are expected to take place on the Friday of SDCC, which ha traditionally been known as "Star Wars Day."  Check back tomorrow to see what there will be this year!  You can also see what Star Wars exclusives are coming to SDCC here.

Source: San Diego Comic Con
 

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