Kevin Smith regaled the crowd in the closing night slot on day two of Comic-Con with the world premiere trailer of Tusk and a heartfelt account of how he walked on to the Millennium Falcon on the set of Star Wars: Episode VII.
The film-maker presented the first-look of his upcoming horror-comedy, which marked his return to moviemaking after nearly turning his back on the business in 2011 following a post-premiere anti-Hollywood outburst after the Sundance screening of Red State.
“I realised if I scaled budgets back I could say whatever I want,” Smith said, adding that the inspiration for Tusk came during the 259th edition of his SModcast.
During that show he discussed an ad placed by a British man who pledged to provide free lodging to the person who agreed to live with him dressed as a walrus.
“Six months after I got the inspiration on that podcast I was sitting on a set shouting ‘Action’ and Justin Long was dressed up as a walrus. I proudly share with you a trailer for what I feel is like the best movie I ever made.”
The footage showed Justin Long as a podcaster who visits a creepy old man played by Michael Parks, who portrayed the maniacal preacher in Red State. The old man plots to drug his visitor and turn him into a walrus. Meanwhile the unfortunate young man's girlfriend and podcast partner race to find him. Genesis Rodriguez and Haley Joel Osment also star.
Tusk will be the first in a trilogy of horror movies. Next up is Yoga-Hosers, which Smith intends to shoot later this year, followed by Moose Jaws.
He started the session with a rambling, often hilarious account of how JJ Abrams invited him to visit the set of Episode VII in England. The highlight came when Smith was ushered to Stage M and allowed to walk on to the Millennium Falcon.
“I was hit with an emotional gut punch,” he said. “If [Abrams] captured one per cent of what I went through on the Millennium Falcon it will make a gazillion bucks… because it’s a direct doorway to our childhood.”
Smith also said that he planned to shot Clerks 3 in 2015 and touched on working with Bruce Willis on 2010 action comedy Cop Out, which he has spoken of before as a difficult situation.
"I don't wish him poorly or anything like that but I just don't want to be near him ever again."
