'Ender's Game' Releases Two Teasers And Talks Controversy at Comic Con Panel

The Ender's Game panel premiered a new, exclusive trailer at Comic Con and marked the second appearance at the famous convention for star Harrison Ford.

The panel discussion was permeated with comments and questions about Ford's roles as Han Solo and Indiana Jones, though Ford still managed to discuss the film at hand, telling the fans that he was drawn to the project because of its moral complexities, a statement echoed by director Gavin Hood.

"I love the book for two reasons: the technical challenges behind the action and [the fact that the plot] isn't good versus evil. Visual effects don't do it anymore, we need a story and this is a great, complex, story," Hood reportedly told the crowd when touching on the importance of the original sci-fi novel.

Executive producer Roberto Orci also adressed the growing controversy over author Orson Scott Card's statements on same-sex marriage – in short, Card does not support equal rights for the LGBTQ community.

"Obviously, we were first concerned by anyone who might be hurt by anything that comes up with anything that we're associated with, but we decided to use the attention on us to completely and unequivocally support Lionsgate/Summit's statement in defense of LGBT rights and all human rights. A lot of people worked on this movie, and a lot more people are working to get this movie out and to market it. I would hate to see the efforts of all these people thwarted by the opinions of less than a percentage of people behind this movie, particularly because the message of the book and the movie is tolerance, compassion, empathy," Orci said according to Vulture when asked about Card's role in the making of the film.

Hood echoed Orci's statements, saying, "…I hope people can still appreciate the book because I think he wrote a great book, and the themes and ideas in the book, I think, are universal and timeless and applicable, and I hope the book will still be appreciated as a great work of art, even though I don't agree with the author. I optioned the book, not an author, and I love what the author said in that book."

The new trailer shown at Comic Con has not yet been released; however, Summit Entertainment has unleashed a new viral campaign available to fans everywhere.

They released recruitment videos, ‘Battle School Needs You!’ and ‘Mazer Rackham’s Run’ – both heavily featuring nerd royalty, Ford.

The videos also link to an Ender's Game International Fleet Strategic Aptitude Test that you can take to see if you have what it takes to enter Battle School!

Ender's Game opens November 1, and stars other panel-attendees Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin and Asa Butterfield.

Olivia Truffaut-Wong

uInterview

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