So what was buzzing at this year’s Comic-Con? This Nerdenberg Rally, which took place in San Diego last week, has become the prime event to ponder early sightings of upcoming science-fiction, action and comic-based entertainment.
Andy Serkis, everyone's favourite ape-double, was greeted with cheers when he turned up to promote Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Steven Spielberg, ostensibly there to promote The Adventures of Tintin, confirmed that a fourth Jurassic Park is on the way. Matt Smith, the current Dr Who, arrived to shake plungers with a few Daleks.
But the most anticipated presentation was that of Ridley Scott's Prometheus. When the film was first announced, it was described as a prequel to Alien, but, having gone through several iterations, it is now seen as an original project "with DNA" culled from the earlier project. Speaking on a big screen from Iceland, Ridley tried to clarify: "We've gone in a completely different direction," he said. "But in the last few minutes of the movie you'll understand what we're talking about."
Amazingly, the 2012 release is the first science-fiction film Scott has made since Blade Runnerin 1982.
Elsewhere at Comic-Con, a tired and emotional Rhys Ifans, in town to promote the rebooted Spider-Man, was placed under citizens' arrest after shoving a female security guard and shoving some of her colleagues. I think that constitutes a quiet evening out for Rhys.