The Book of Life, Kingsman lead Fox’s eclectic Comic Con peeks

(From left) Executive producer Vaun Wilmott, actor Alan Dale, actor Christopher Egan, actress Roxanne McKee, actor Anthony Head, and actor Tom Wisdom attend the Dominion Press Line during Comic-Con International 2014 at Hilton Bayfront in San Diego,
(From left) Executive producer Vaun Wilmott, actor Alan Dale, actor Christopher Egan, actress Roxanne McKee, actor Anthony Head, and actor Tom Wisdom attend the Dominion Press Line during Comic-Con International 2014 at Hilton Bayfront in San Diego, California on July 25, 2014. -- PHOTO: AFP
Attendees wearing Oculus Rift virtual reality headsets view a 3-dimensional video for the Pacific Rim: Jaeger Pilot video game during the 2014 Comic-Con International Convention in San Diego, California on July 25, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Attendees have their photo taken next to people dressed as the Power Rangers during the 2014 Comic-Con International Convention in San Diego, California on July 25, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A Transformers statue stands on display at the Hasbro booth during the 2014 Comic-Con International Convention in San Diego, California on July 25, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Lyndsay and Don Smith have their photo taken next to a man dressed as a zombie at a booth for The Walking Dead during the 2014 Comic-Con International Convention in San Diego, California on July 25, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
(From left) Actor Alexander Ludwig, actress Katheryn Winnick, producer Michael Hirst, actor Travis Fimmel and actor Clive Standen attend the Vikings press line during Comic-Con International 2014 at Hilton Bayfront in San Diego, California on July 25, 2014. -- PHOTO: AFP
Actors from TV series Resurrection Devin Kelly (left), Omar Epps (centre) and Frances Fisher take a "selfie" before an autograph signing session at the ABC Castle booth, during the 2014 Comic-Con International Convention in San Diego, California on July 25, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Actor Zachary Quinto attends the press line for 20th Century Fox's Hitman: Agent 47, on the second day of the 45th annual Comic-Con, in San Diego, California on July 25, 2014. -- PHOTO: AFP
Actors Christina Applegate (left) and Ron Perlman attend the press line for 20th Century Fox's The Book Of Life, on the second day of the 45th annual Comic-Con, in San Diego, California on July 25, 2014. -- PHOTO: AFP
Acttress Christina Applegate attends the press line for 20th Century Fox's The Book Of Life, on the second day of the 45th annual Comic-Con, in San Diego, California on July 25, 2014. -- PHOTO: AFP
Actor Channing Tatum attends the press line for 20th Century Fox's The Book Of Life, on the second day of the 45th annual Comic-Con, in San Diego, California on July 25, 2014. -- PHOTO: AFP
Actors Christina Applegate (left) and Ron Perlman attend the press line for 20th Century Fox's The Book Of Life, on the second day of the 45th annual Comic-Con, in San Diego, California on July 25, 2014. -- PHOTO: AFP

SAN DIEGO (REUTERS) - Action, comedy, animation and dystopia made up an eclectic slate of upcoming films that 20th Century Fox presented at Comic Con on Friday, hoping to engage the convention's avid fan base.

Channing Tatum, Christina Applegate, Ron Perlman lent some star power to the presentation, introducing clips from The Book of Life, an intricately designed animated film based around the Mexican Day of the Dead holiday.

"The Day of the Dead is very dear and near to my heart, I got married on that day because one of my best friends had passed away and I wanted him to be there and that was the day he would be," director Jorge Gutierrez said.

Executive producer Guillermo Del Toro, a fan favorite at Comic Con, said he became involved with The Book of Life because he felt it "needed me", describing it as "a gorgeous and magical movie." Tatum, who stars in his first leading animated role in The Book of Life, said: "I jumped at it right away, it seemed so punk rock to do a film with this backdrop."

The film features contemporary music from bands such as Radiohead and Mumford & Sons, not usually the music featured in animated films. Rapper Biz Markie came out on stage and performed Just a Friend, one of the songs featured in the film, spurring an impromptu dance party among the cast on stage.

"I grew up in Tijuana, so all the American music, I saw it go south and it became the soundtrack of my life," he said."Creep (by Radiohead) was one of the songs I grew up with." Laughs were provided by clips of comedies Let's Be Cops, a goofy bromance with two men who pretend to be police, and Kingsman: The Secret Service, a comedy spinning a twist on the classic British spy genres defined by the James Bond franchise. Kingsman, which stars Mark Hamill, Colin Firth and Samuel L. Jackson, is based on the comic of the same name and follows a young man recruited by an elite secret service agency.

One lucky audience member was selected to be flown to London to appear in one of the remaining scenes still to be shot before the film is released in October.

Other films showcased included The Maze Runner, based on James Dashner's young adult book of the same name. The film follows a group of boys trapped in a dystopian land where the only way out is through a giant concrete maze. "We think this could be a really cool saga to tell in multiple movies," director Wes Ball said, asking the audience to spread the word to build buzz for a sequel.

Fans were treated to the first look of the film's second trailer, and a clip that showed the film's lead, Thomas (played by Dylan O'Brien), as he comes face to face with a deadly creature known as a Griever in the maze.

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