2007 Comic Con International Already a Smash Hit - An Update

We are only two days into the Con and it is already a record-setter with visits from more celebs and participants than ever before. The crowd that showed up yesterday for the JJ Abrams announcement exceeded 6500 and the room was filled to capacity.

Here is an update to what has occurred since the Con opened Thursday afternoon. Steven Spielberg made a surprise video appearance and officially announced that Karen Allen will definitely be returning to Indiana Jones 4 to reprise her role as Marian Ravenwood, the part she made famous in the first Indy flick, “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” This finally ends countless speculations all over the media about the possibility of Karen’s return to the franchise.

As we broke yesterday, JJ Abrams, director/producer and co-writer for the next film in the Star Trek universe has chosen Zachary Quinto to play his young Spock for the highly anticipated next movie and the original Spock, Leonard Nimoy, was on hand to pass the torch — so to speak. He will also be reprising his role as Spock, for one last time, in the film.

First looks have been given to films such as “Beowulf,” due out in November. Steve Carell’s next film, the “Get Smart” remake, Disney/Walden’s “Prince Caspian,” the next film in the Narnia franchise, as well as the Pixar entry titled “Wall-E.”

Lots of celebrities have stopped by during these first two days of the Con with many more to be on hand before the session closes on Sunday. Some of the celebrities wandering about the Con have been the aforementioned JJ Abrams, Leonard Nimoy and Zachary Quinto. Also on hand so far have been various cast regulars from shows like “Battlestar Galactica,” “Lost” and “Heroes” with stints expected from the new crew of “Flash Gordon” and more.

“Iron Man’s” Robert Downey Jr. was available for autographs and shared his thoughts with a large audience. “The Fantastic Four” was represented by the beautiful Jessica Alba. Appearances by Nicolas Cage for “Ghost Rider” and the big angry green guy (The Hulk) showed up in the guise of his alter-ego - actor Edward Norton. “Children of Men” star Clive Owen mingled, as did Josh Hartnett and comedian-turned-actor Dane Cook.