We’ll likely never get a The Office reunion on TV, but guests of L.A. Comic-Con got a live one, along with appearances from Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith, Elijah Wood, and a smattering of other beloved stars.
While L.A. Comic-Con can never truly compete with its southern counterpart in San Diego, the event buzzed with excitement and was packed as throngs of cosplayers ping-ponged along the aisles.
Attendees got the drop on some big announcements in entertainment.
The Office
Over six years since the American version of The Office aired its last episode on NBC, there’s still plenty of buzz around the beloved comedy series.
For one, actresses Jenna Fischer (Pam Beesley) and Angela Kinsey (Angela Martin) debuted their new podcast Office Ladies on Earwolf last week. On it, Fischer and Kinsey embark on rewatching the full series and sharing their commentary on the episodes with listeners.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7w1l0-NyzE
At L.A. Comic-Con, a number of others from the ensemble cast graced the stage to field audience questions. Brian Baumgartner (Kevin Malone) illuminated how many takes it took for him to catch the opener when he spills his homemade chili all over the office floor (it was one). Kate Flannery (Meredith Palmer) speculated as to what her character would be up to over six years down the road.
Leslie David Baker (Stanley Hudson) encouraged fans to write NBC to try and get a The Office Christmas special together (it’s not going to happen). Oscar Nunez (Oscar Martin), Creed Bratton (whose character has the same name), and Phyllis Smith (Phyllis Vance) were there as well.
“Snoochy Boochies” Back on The Big Screen
Filmmaker Kevin Smith and actor Jason Mewes captivated the crowd with what felt more like a stand-up comedy special than an appearance at Comic-Con. The two were there promoting their new movie Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, which officially released last week.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ycr_3IBxQU
As part of the release, the two are embarking on a nationwide tour they dub the Jay and Silent Bob Reboot Roadshow, wherein viewers watch the film and have the opportunity for a Q&A with Smith and Mewes afterward, as well as a meet and greet.
Fittingly enough, Smith and Mewes had the honor of adding their handprints to the Hollywood Walk of Fame last Monday. In addition to playing the comic character of Jay (Mewes) and Silent Bob (Smith), Smith has seen lasting success in Hollywood as a writer, director, and producer.
At L.A. Comic-Con, Smith dropped the big news that they are working on producing Clerks 3 and Mallrats 2 movies in the near future.
Lord of the Horrors
Those only familiar with Elijah Wood’s acting career would not take him for one to be a genre filmmaker, especially not horror. Yet Wood was in attendance with director Daniel Noah and producer Lisa Whalen representing their production company SpectreVision.
To date, the company has most notably produced the critically acclaimed horror film Mandy, starring Nicolas Cage and Andrea Riseborough.
At L.A. Comic-Con, they came to promote their new film that has been making its rounds at festivals around the world: Daniel Isn’t Real. With its festival screenings behind it, the film is set for a limited release in theaters nationwide on Dec. 6th.
Wood and company also teased a new horror film project titled Color Out of Space, based on the short of the same name by famous author H.P. Lovecraft. Nicolas Cage stars again — whose performance Woods and Noah both praised — along with Joely Richardson, Tommy Chong, and Q’orianka Kilcher.
Check out Grit Daily for more entertainment news and the Grit Daily Podcast for insightful discussions on entertainment, innovation, and brands.
