The big Doctor Who panel at Comic-Con may have come and gone, but the convention itself presses on. Today brings us several panels that should be of interest to Doctor Who fans, starting with former Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith premiering the first footage from his two new films.
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Screen Gems hosted a panel in Hall H today in support of two upcoming releases: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Patient Zero, both of which just happen to star Matt Smith. First up was the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies panel with Smith, Lily James, Sam Riley, Bella Heathcote, Douglas Booth, Jack Huston, director Burr Steers, and author Seth Grahame-Smith.
Related: Matt Smith to Star as Prince Philip in Netflix’s The Crown
The film is based on Grahame-Smith’s book of the same name, which is obviously a supernatural take on the classic Jane Austen novel. Matt Smith’s real-life girlfriend, Downton Abbey actress Lily James stars as Elizabeth Bennet, whom James described today as more “fierce” than her classic Austen counterpart.
Ironically, Smith has one of the smaller roles in the film, but as a pre-established geek star, he was the center of attention at the panel, dropping a number of humorous quips, such as how he would kill zombies in real life: “I’d make poisonous muffins and invite them for tea.”
#MattSmith leads the cast of #PPZ on stage at #SDCC.#DoctorWho #PridePrejudiceZombies #HallH pic.twitter.com/0OTfrEtLMC
— Nerd Fu (@TheNerdFu) July 11, 2015
When asked if there were any similarities between Smith and his character, Mr. Collins, Smith quipped:
"“I hope not. Because he keeps getting rejected. But he’s quite kind and he likes muffins. And I like to think I’m quite kind, and I like muffins.”"
Apparently, Matt Smith has a thing for muffins.
Of course, the highlight of the panel was the first trailer for Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, which we’ll post when and if it’s eventually distributed online.
Smith stuck around as the panel was switched up and his Patient Zero cohorts took the stage: co-stars Natalie Dormer, Clive Standen, and John Bradley, director Stefan Ruzowitzky, and screenwriter Mike Le. Once again, Smith was the focal point of the panel, although there was plenty of love for Game of Thrones stars Dormer and Bradley.
Related: First Pics From Matt Smith’s New Zombie Film, Patient Zero
Patient Zero stars Smith as Morgan, a man desperate to find a cure for his wife (Dormer) after she and most of humanity are infected by a viral pandemic that turns them into rabid murderers known as The Infected.
Panel #PatientZero #SDCC pic.twitter.com/UWh0gj9lV5
— NatalieDormerFrance (@FRNatalieDormer) July 11, 2015
Smith revealed that in the movie, Morgan tortures The Infected with music, which was one of the things that attracted him to the role:
"“I’m a big music fan. Morgan owned a record store, and I buy quite a lot of vinyl myself.”"
No trailer yet for Patient Zero, but there was a highlight reel released, showing the first rough footage from the film. Again, if and when it’s distributed online, we’ll update our article to bring you that footage.
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies hits theaters in February 2016, while Patient Zero will be released sometime later next year.
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What do you think? Are you looking forward to seeing Matt Smith in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Patient Zero? Sound off in the comments below!
Next: Comic-Con 2015: Watch the Full Doctor Who Panel Online!