Paramount Ditches Comic-Con

What's this? A major studio is avoiding the largest gathering of geeks in North America? According to director JJ Abrams, in an interview posted on SCI FI Wire, it appears to be true. Fanboys and girls at this year's Comic-Con International in San Diego will have to slake their thirst for geek film without Paramount.

Asked if he would sneak preview his upcoming Star Trek film at the convention, Abrams expressed disappointment that the studio had decided not to make an appearance.

"[T]hey're not going to take anything," Abrams said. "G.I. Joe's not going. Transformers 2's not going. ... I would have been psyched just to show some of the stuff that's about the people. Because it's not really about the visual effects. But with so little done ... And this was a big kind of strategic decision on [Paramount's] part. So I was disappointed."

In recent years, Comic-Con has become something of a cult phenomenon, attracting filmmakers and studios eager to show off their upcoming films to the built-in audience of comic book, science fiction and fantasy fans. The convention, to be held July 24-27, will include previews and panels on the films The Spirit, Watchmen, Twilight and The Day the Earth Stood Still and the TV series Fringe, Lost, Heroes and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.