Comic-Con 2012: ‘Firefly,’ ‘The Walking Dead,’ and ‘Game of Thrones’

Fans had high hopes for the “Firefly” panel today at San Diego Comic-Con. It's an optimistic group, and we thought maybe we would hear something official about the sequel that Joss Whedon has talked about doing. Well, stop holding your breath, “Firefly” fans. Though the panel was full of the warm and fuzzy moments that the presence of fans and the ten-year anniversary bring up, that's all it was. For now, the focus is on the ten-year reunion special being filmed by the Science Channel.

Cast members such as Nathan Fillion, Alan Tudyk, Summer Glau, Sean Maher, and Adam Baldwin reminisced about moments on set with Joss and Tim Minear and Jose Molina. They shared anecdotes, discussed figuring out their characters, and expressed love for their fans. The room practically overflowed with emotion, and the applause at the end was deafening. It speaks volumes that fans are still so excited about a ten-year-old franchise that only had a single season and a movie.

Though no news for “Firefly,” other tidbits did drop at Comic-Con on Friday. The HBO hit “Game of Thrones” confirmed a season 3 release for March 31, 2013. The series is known for its expansive cast, and it's only getting bigger. Clive Russell, Richard Dormer, Ellie Kendrick, and more will be joining the cast next year. Series creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss were busy shooting the new season and couldn't attend the panel. However, George R.R. Martin, the author of the books the series is based on, attended and that more than made up for it.

In other news, “The Walking Dead” panel showed off a trailer for the highly anticipated third season to excited fans. The buzz about that series is apparent from just a short stroll around the convention; people seem to be zombie crazy. Also, during the panel for the upcoming “ParaNorman,” actor Christopher Mintz-Plasse says a sequel to “Kick-Ass” might be on the way and will probably start filming in September.