Comic-Con Kicks Off With 'Snowden,' 'Valerian,' Cartoon Network Costume Ball

SAN DIEGO, CA — Controversial filmmaker Oliver Stone and French film director Luc Besson made appearances at Comic-Con International Thursday as the annual celebration of the popular arts got under way at the San Diego Convention Center.

It was Stone’s debut at Comic-Con International, where he showed clips of his latest film, "Snowden," in Hall H and took part in a question-and-answer session with actors Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley and Zachary Quinto. Gordon-Levitt plays title character Edward Snowden, the whistleblower who divulged U.S. National Security Agency secrets before fleeing to Russia.

"Snowden" is scheduled to open in theaters Sept. 16.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Stone was also expected to conduct a secret screening of the film for invited guests.

Besson returned to Comic-Con to show new exclusive footage for his upcoming film “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.” The event in Hall H had actors Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne, and producer Viginie Besson-Silla on hand for a question-and-answer session.

DeHaan and Delevigne star as Valerian and Laureline, respectively, who are special operatives for the government of the human territories charged with maintaining order throughout the universe.

Other first-day highlights were expected to include a world-premiere screening of the USA series "Falling Water," the 75th anniversary of Captain America, the 19th annual Superhero Kung Fu Extravaganza and the Cartoon Network Costume Ball.

Comic-Con puts the cap on a big month for San Diego tourism, in which thousands of visitors were lured to town by the July 4 holiday weekend, baseball's All-Star Game, the Over-the-Line Tournament and the San Diego Pride Parade and Festival.

Officials are urging the use of public transit because of the huge crowds of attendees and gawkers expected in downtown San Diego over the next few days. The Metropolitan Transit System will run Blue and Green line trolleys every 7 1/2 minutes during peak periods, with the last trains leaving downtown after midnight. The Convention Center and Gaslamp stops provide access to the venue.

The MTS has also printed a limited quantity of commemorative Comic-Con day passes.

North County Transit District officials said they will add a northbound Coaster train Saturday that will leave the Santa Fe Depot in downtown San Diego at 9:15 p.m. Amtrak will not accept Rail-to-Rail service with Coaster fares during Comic-Con.

For those who don't attend, this is the first year for Comic-Con HQ, a video on-demand service in partnership with Lionsgate that will remain free through Monday. During the four days of the event, the service will include airings of select panels, access to the convention floor, the masquerade ball and the Eisner Awards, according to Comic-Con officials.

The ad-free streaming service is available at Comic-conhq.com/landing for computers and iOS/Android devices.

— City News Service and Beau Behan, Film Critic, contributed to this report.

(Photo/Barbara Henderson Photography)