Final "Ender's Game" Poster to Be Unveiled in 2 Days!

The Ender's Game movie Twitter surprised us today by announcing that the final poster will be unveiled in just two days by IGN!

I.F. SECURE TRANSMISSION: In 2 DAYS, tune-in to @IGN for the final #EndersGame poster reveal! pic.twitter.com/6Oyp0ANeIs
— Ender's Game (@EndersGameMovie) July 31, 2013

Check back this Friday to see what we hope to be an epic poster -- the last one before Ender's Game hits theaters November 1st.

Anyone care to speculate? Super unlikely but I'd love to see a Bugger. ;)

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Want to Be Involved? We Need a New EN Staffer!

This past week I've been super swamped: after spending the recommended 48 hours after Comic-Con cowering in the dark like post-Command School Ender, I had to focus on my job and personal life before I didn't have a job and personal life to focus on. Yikes!

And, of course, now that Comic-Con is behind us there have been loads of little interviews from the cast popping up all over the internet. They'd show up in my inbox, I'd squint, and in the words of Sweet Brown... well, you know.

So, here's what we need: an awesome person who has several hours a week to write our cast/crew column The Nets Report and other specific articles, as well as help us keep Facebook and possibly Tumblr up-to-date!

You should:

- be able to write coherently in English using semi-proper grammar and only the occasional 4-letter word. How you choose to use commas is irrelevant; I stink at that, too.
- have a Facebook account which you check regularly
- understand how sourcing works and that one cannot pilfer content from other news/fan sites without giving proper credit.
- possess a good sense of humor.

If you're interested in helping out, just send a quick email my way (endernews@gmail.com) and tell me a bit about yourself and why you'd be the best and most obvious choice.

And since it seems necessary to point this out: this is a volunteer position for a passionate fan of Ender's Game. If running a nerd fansite were lucrative I wouldn't need to put up this ad. :)

Email away!

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EnderCast at Comic-Con 2013: Interviews With the Cast of "Ender's Game!"

Crystal from EnderWiggin.net and I took our podcast to Comic-Con this year and had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with the cast of Ender's Game - in two separate episodes!

Episode with the "bullies" of Ender's Game Conor Carroll (Bernard) and Caleb Thaggard (Stilson)! Topics covered:

- What did they think about the Ender’s Game Experience?
- Both guys give us the lowdown on their casting process and how it felt to be cast in the movie
- We find out who got them to read Ender’s Game
- We also discover how weird it is that two of the nicest kids we’ve met are cast as bullies and villains all the time!

Huge group episode with Aramis Knight (Bean), Jimmy Jax Pinchak (Peter), Suraj Partha (Alai), Khylin Rhambo (Dink Meeker), Cameron Gaskins (Pol Slattery), Conor Carroll (Bean), Caleb Thaggard (Stilson), and Brandon Soo Hoo (Fly Molo)!

- Their thoughts on the Ender’s Game Experience
- Brief overview of each of their characters
- On working with Gavin Hood and the type of director he is
- Violence in the film

Huge, huge thanks to the cast members, their families, and everyone who made it possible for this episode to happen!

Don't forget to subscribe to us on iTunes so you can listen to EnderCast whenever and wherever you like.

Thanks for tuning in!

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News for Asa, Hailee and Abigail

Right after he returned from Comic-Con, Asa Butterfield (Ender) started filming on his new project 'X Plus Y', a British coming of age comedy/drama produced by Origin Pictures. Asa plays the lead character Nathan, a math genius on his "journey to embrace the irrational nature of love."

The film is inspired by the BAFTA nominated BBC documentary 'Beautiful Young Minds', and the studio describes it as an "original and heartwarming film [that] tracks the funny, complex relationship Nathan has with his mentor who ends up learning more from Nathan than he could ever teach him."

A second trailer has been released for Hailee Steinfeld's (Petra) next movie "Romeo & Juliet," the latest adaption of this classic Shakespeare story for the big screen. The film is set to open as a limited U.S. release on September 6, and can be seen in UK cinemas from October 11 on. Both these dates are earlier than Ender's Game's release date, so if you can't wait to see Hailee in a big role, watch this new trailer:



Abigail Breslin (Valentine) signed up for the title role in the zombie drama "Maggie," where she plays opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is also producing. Abigail, who also starred in 2009's comedy 'Zombieland', plays the zombie-virus infected daughter of Schwarzenegger's character in what looks more of an emotional drama than a typical Schwarzenegger action flic:

"Plagued with guilt and indecision, he [Schwarzenegger] decides to forego putting a bullet in her brain even as she slowly deteriorates, choosing instead to spend all the time she has left by her side." (Yahoo Movies)

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New Still: Graff Addresses the Launchies

Many of you may have seen this image on the desks at the Ender's Game fan experience at Comic-Con last week, but now we have it in beautiful hi-res!

Download hi-res version

What do you think he's telling them? Perhaps recounting the history of Mazer Rackham and the Formic Invasion similar to the Welcome to Battle School video?

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Gavin Hood and Bob Orci Reenact a Tender Scene from "Ender's Game"

Thursday after the Ender's Game panel at Comic-Con we had a lovely opportunity to sit down with a few of the panel guests for a fun round table interview. We had a great time, especially when director Gavin Hood and producer Bob Orci decided to show off their acting skills.

We were talking about the relationship between Ender and Petra when they decided to show us exactly how things between the two of them progressed:



Bob Orci makes an absolutely fantastic Petra, does he not? :)

Read more about what they had to say about the Ender/Petra relationship here.

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Ender News Gallery Updated

Visit our Ender News Gallery

...now updated with 100+ new pictures from Comic-Con in San Diego.

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Ender and Petra: Genuine Tenderness

This picture above, and a couple of others that emerged recently - such as the one where Ender and Petra are holding hands in the Battle Room gate - have led to hot discussions in the Ender's Game fandom if these two characters will have some kind of teen love story in the movie. We asked Hailee Steinfeld (Petra), Asa Butterfield, and director and writer Gavin Hood about the depth of the relationship between Ender and Petra, but before we get into what they had to say, here are a few things to consider:

We know that - for several plausible reasons that have been widely communicated - the age of the Battle School kids in the movie has been upped to about 12 or 13 years from 6 to 7 in the book. What you will see on screen is a rather lonely and isolated 13-year-old boy (Ender) confined to a boarding school-like environment in space. And he makes friends with a girl of his age. What kind of chemistry would you expect to see between these two characters to make Ender believable, to bond with him?

But rest assured, there is no teenage love story between Ender and Petra. However, both characters formed a very tight friendship with moments of 'genuine tenderness' as Gavin Hood explained.

[Hailee]: "What's so great about the relationship between them... Not only did I not really see it as a sort of romance thing, the characters don't either. I think they're looking for a friend, for somebody to trust and feel comfortable with. And that doesn't necessarily mean boyfriend/girlfriend or whatever."

[Gavin Hood]: "You expressed it pretty well. They are in this Battle School, which is pretty brutal, and there is genuine tenderness between these two characters at certain moments. And there are genuinely sweet moments, when she teaches him how to shoot... both exciting and really tender. But it's not "let's be cute-y". None of that! None of us wanted that.

But Petra really is a badass in the movie, and does amazingly badass things! But we are all not just one thing. And just because she kicks ass, is badass, doesn't mean there's not a need for friendship. And both of these characters [Ender and Petra] are isolated and tough because they are kind of outsiders, and there's a couple of really nice moments in the movie where they're gonna say "to hell with those other people. We're gonna go out in the Battle Room and train!" And there is something genuine about it! There's nothing cutesy about it, no "oh let's have a little love story", none of that. But there is something... dare I say 'certain romance' to that, which is beautiful, in a real way, and they play it in a real way."

What do you think? Doesn't it sound just perfectly right?

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Gavin Hood talks Ender's Game Details and Possible Sequels

Ender News staff members Kelly and Aidan had the opportunity to sit down with Ender's Game director Gavin Hood, producer Roberto Orci, and lead actors Hailee Steinfeld and Asa Butterfield, and talk for 30 minutes about those aspects of the movie that we thought were most interesting for all the fans. Also present at the meeting were our friends from Enderwiggin.net and Ender's Ansible.

I will intentionally leave out all the talk that I consider too spoilery, anything about Stilson or the shower scene, because even if you read the book multiple times, you want to see this in the theatre - believe me! We've learned a whole lot of new things in these 30 minutes which should be very interesting for all of you.

Director Gavin Hood said the editing work is about 95% done and the final cut will "probably be a little short of two hours" in length. When asked about possible sequels, Gavin confirmed that they've already talked about it, but wouldn't go into detail as the studio hasn't greenlighted any additional films from Ender's world at this point. As to be expected, the decision for or against a sequel depends on the first film's box office success, but there is definitely the chance for more than just one Ender's Game movie. Here's what Gavin had to say:

"This property is something that people wanted to make for a long time and didn't, couldn't, wouldn't... so everybody was a little bit shocked that we've actually made it. And now -- there might be a little bit more of shock in there, but shock in a good way -- the fans responded so well to what they saw. Which is right for me! So thank you, guys! [...] But the reason Bobby [Roberto Orci] is cautious [with talking about possible sequels to Ender's Game], and this is the boring business part of movies, is... there is a large amount of money at stake and we would need the approval of the studio to go ahead. The truth is, we just don't have the GO yet.

[...] Until we get some serious decision whether we do it, what exactly are we doing for the sequel? We talked about it, but... we don't wanna talk about it because they haven't agreed yet. [Bob Orci:] They wanna see if folks like this one, if there's an appetite for more."

What Parts Of The Book Will Make It On Screen?

We learned from Gavin that the movie will strictly focus on Ender, which means that many of the side plots won't be as substantial as they are in the novel, or will be omitted entirely. If you have ever seen a movie based on a well-established literary work, you know that this approach is perfectly normal, necessary even to win over that part of the audience that is not familiar with the book.

Gavin elaborated that some actors intentionally avoid reading the book because

"their feeling was to engage in conversations about scenes that are not in the movie isn't helpful. They need to know that what's in the script, which is gonna be on screen, has sufficient weight and substance and merit to give them fully rounded characters in the movie. So there's a lot of actors who don't want to read [the] books."

For Ender's Game this means that several of the supporting characters, including Bean and Ender's siblings Peter and Valentine, will play a smaller role in the movie than they do in the book:

We had to make a choice in this movie about what was gonna stay to fit into a two-hour movie and what we're gonna have to let go. And the main decision that we've made was that we would stick with Ender Wiggin and never do a scene without him. The only ones without him are a couple of scenes with Graff and Anderson where they talk about him, so that the audience was truly on Ender's journey in order to bond you visually and cinematically with this lead character and identify with him.

And so we haven't got a whole lot of ensemble pieces about Peter and Valentine together writing the blogs. That's what I'm gonna ask for forgiveness for. But also Bob and I thought that the blogging was so original in 1985, and it's not so original now, so it was the easiest part to shed with the least guilt. And so the only time you're gonna see Valentine and Peter is when they're interacting with Ender. Their roles are not that substantial, not as substantial as they were in the book.

Watch out for part two of this article where we will talk about the relationship between Ender and Petra in the movie. Including the hotly discussed topic if there is some kind of teen love story between them... will be posted in a few hours.

Video clips and lots of photos coming soon!

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Watch Asa, Hailee, and Gavin Walk Through the "Ender's Game" Experience

For those of you who haven't yet had the pleasure of walking through the Ender's Game experience at Comic-Con this year (which, if you are in the San Diego area get down here RIGHT NOW), Screen Slam has posted a great video of Asa Butterfield (Ender), Hailee Steinfeld (Petra) and director Gavin Hood exploring the massive 8-room exhibit currently set up outside the Hilton Gaslamp.

Check it out:



And don't worry, guys. Full write-ups of my experiences here and interviews with the cast and crew members are coming very soon -- plus a boatload of pictures. I've taken half the day off and am currently crashed at the Marriott, trying to ignore the crazy and get some writing done. Hard to do on about 8 combined hours of sleep in 3 days!

I'm having such a blast. Can't wait to tell you guys about it!

Thanks to Fernanda for the video tip. :)

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Ender's Game Stars Address Orson Scott Card Controversy

It certainly wasn't a surprise that the recent controversy about Ender's Game author Orson Scott Card and his anti-gay marriage views, came up quite frequently during and around the movie's Comic-Con panel last night in San Diego. As far as I can tell, no member of the film's cast or crew was shying away from answering questions and addressing the issue, despite the fact that the studio, Lionsgate, has already released an official statement last week.

As Ender News is not a political blog, I will leave the following quotes uncommented, just this much for the background of it all: as I have pointed out here, Mr. Card's involvement in the movie project is limited to contributing his original story. His work on the project ended when director Gavin Hood came on board, and that was in the very early stage of the Summit Entertainment project, as Gavin wrote an entirely new screenplay from scratch.

Here is an independent opinion from 'Milk' writer and gay civil rights campaigner Dustin Lance Black, as quoted by The Guardian, who also states that Orson Scott Card hasn't been involved "in decades":

"Boycotting a movie made by 99% LGBT equality folks in an LGBT equality industry is a waste of our collective energy. Making one phone call to a relative in the south who isn't quite there yet would be 1,000 times more effective. The homophobic novelist who wrote the book hasn't been involved in decades. Misguided boycott."

Here's what Harrison Ford and other Ender's Game stars had to say about the issue last night:

Harrison Ford (via StarPulse):

"He [Orson Scott Card] has written something that I think is of value to us all concerning moral responsibility. I think his views outside of those that we deal with in this film are not an issue for me to deal with and something I have really no opinion on. I am aware of his statements admitting that the question of gay marriage is a battle that he lost and he admits that he lost it. I think we all know that we've all won. That humanity has won. And I think that's the end of the story."

Harrison Ford (via Associated Press):

"No part of the story concerns Mr. Card's theories about society in terms of gay issues or homosexual issues. So I hold it completely separate. I think it's an imaginative and complex story. And I'm glad he told it. And I'm glad I had a chance to be a part of it. I think he has a right to his opinions and I think he has also made it clear that it was a battle that he fought and lost and would like to get on with the rest of life."

Roberto Orci (via The Los Angeles Times):

"The truth is you never want to court controversy, but we decided to use the attention on us to support Lionsgate's statement of support of LGBT rights. So rather than shy away, we are happy to embrace it and use the spotlight to say we support LGBT rights. I would hate to see the efforts of all the people who made this movie thwarted for the less than 1% of the people behind the movie, particularly because the message of the book and the movie is tolerance, compassion and empathy."

Gavin Hood (via Associated Press):

"My view is, I've been a member of the Courage Campaign for many years and I'm a little distressed by his point of view on gay marriage. However, the book is not about that issue, so 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."

Asa Butterfield (via Associated Press):

"I agree with rights for everybody. You can't blame a work for its author."

Okay, I know I just said I wouldn't, but let me close this with a personal comment anyway. No matter what your position might be regarding Orson Scott Card's opinions, what he chooses to campaign for, how he chooses to use his personal money and all those things... Mr. Card wrote an outstanding piece of Sci-Fi literature; a wonderful, imaginative and moving story that is cherished by so many, with defining virtues as compassion and tolerance that should be at the core of our modern society. And he deserves praise for that. No matter what you think about any of the other issues. Period.

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Gavin Hood on Violence in Ender's Game

Anyone who read the novel knows that Ender's Game is not exactly free of violence, yet the producers are clearly aiming for a PG-13 rating and most of the cast is also very young.

But the elements of threat and fear are a very important part of the story, so it would be terrible if we got to see a movie that is toned down too much, just for the benefit of potentially reaching a wider audience. Just think about that famous shower scene with Bonzo Madrid, everyone is eager to see how they transferred it to the big screen...

Business Insider's Kelly West discussed this subject last night with Ender's Game director Gavin Hood, and here's what he had to say about the handling of violence in the movie:

I think that all those elements of bullying, which is a great theme in the world right now, and how kids deal with being bullied, which we know is so powerful in the book, that's in the movie. But what I try to do as a filmmaker in terms of handling questions of violence, is I don't believe in showing violence for violence's sake and repetitive violence.

For me, what I have found is an act of violence can be so sudden, what's more interesting is the aftermath. And so, our movie is not, I hope, in any way, really violent. I don't want it to be a violent film, but the effect of the moment of violence on the psyche of the protagonist and the people around him is profound as it is in the book. It has to be, and so those key scenes in the book - Bonzo in the shower are absolutely in the movie, and they shock in their suddenness, but they are not in any way indulgent.

I'm not interested in showing blood flying around the room or any of, none of that. What's more important is to see how these young character handle it and that's why I think it's an important film.

As a parent, I want my kids to go to a movie and not be spoken down to, deal with difficult themes, but be able to talk about it, not celebrate that, just talk about it.

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Meet Our Launchies Kelly and Aidan in the Battle Room

This is more of an internal Ender News update than actual "news", but I am a bit jealous that I have to stay here in the office while most of our staff is having a blast over at Comic-Con in San Diego. But hey, look at this fantastic picture: Our very own Aidan (right) and Kelly taking over the Battle Room:



As you can see from the labels on that photo, it is a somewhat "official" image taken at the Ender's Game Experience which you can find across from the Hilton Gas Lamp in San Diego.

So if you are in the area, if you are lucky (and patient) enough to actually get in there and see all the original set pieces and movie props with your very own eyes, make sure not to miss the opportunity to get your own Battle Room picture taken.

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Three New Stills

Now that Comic-Con in San Diego had its preview night, we got to see some new footage from the movie - fully expecting to see even more until the weekend. Here are three stills with some more detail about how Battle School will look on the big screen:

Ender's Desk



Orbital Mechanics Class



Launchie Briefing with Graff and Dap

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Welcome To Battle School! (New Video)

A new video has debuted on Yahoo! Movies where Colonel Graff (Harrison Ford) recounts the history of the first Formic invasion. Enjoy the video with some new footage and battle scenes.

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Six New Ender's Game Character Banners

Enjoy!

The images have debuted on Moviefone and Fandango

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Battle School Recruitment Video + Aptitude Test

Here's your first item from a collection of new and exciting Ender's Game features that will debut at Comic-Con over the next few days:

The International Fleet is looking for you:



You can join the International Fleet Now!

Lionsgate/Summit have launched a new interactive website for Ender's Game.
Check it out at https://www.lionsgatesocial.com/endersgame/

Congratulations! Your admittance to Battle School has been granted by the International Fleet Recruitment Center.

Take this aptitude test to determine how your strategic thinking skills will best serve our fight to protect Earth from the Next Invasion. Your results will determine which Army you’ll be enrolled in.

Do you have what it takes to join the Fleet's elite ranks?

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Orson Scott Card Clarifies his Co-Producer Status, and more...

In an interview, published today on The Daily Universe, the student-produced online news site at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, Ender's Game author clarified some issues that have been discussed quite frequently in recent weeks.

You can read the entire, extensive interview over at their website, but here are the most relevant parts:

On his status as a Co-Producer of the Ender's Game movie:

"My work as co-producer was all done in the early stages. Once Gavin Hood took over, my help was no longer required."

On the screenplay he wrote, and his contribution to the script that was used:

"I realized that to work, the script had to make the audience want to have Ender as their leader — not because he was so smart, but because they could trust him completely. But that is not the script that was filmed. The director, Gavin Hood, shot the script he wrote himself, without reference to mine. [...] The screenplay you see on the screen was 100 percent Gavin Hood. None of my writing was used. That was the decision that Odd Lot and Summit made; it was their money at risk, and they invested in the writer they believed in. I have no complaints."

That means in summary that Card's involvement in the movie project is limited to contributing his brilliant, original story. His co-production work ended with Gavin Hood taking over, and Gavin wrote an entirely new script "without any reference" to the one Card wrote.

Despite that fact, Card seems to be pleased with the finished movie, judging from the rough cut he has seen already. Here's what he has to say about how Gavin Hood turned his story into a big budget Hollywood movie:

"I've seen a rough cut, and while there are changes that will annoy some fans, it's a sharp, tight, emotional movie that contains much of what works in Ender's Game. Best of all, the movie doesn't erase a single word of the book. So people who first encounter the story in the movie can always turn to the book to get the whole thing. And those who see only the movie will still have had a good time in the theater. Harrison Ford, Asa Butterfield, Ben Kingsley, and all the other kids and adults do a fine job in their roles, and the designs look great.

I think the special effects and acrobatic teams did the Battle Room as well as it can possibly be done. Good thing, too, because the kids about killed themselves learning how to make the moves on wires that the Cirque de Soleil professionals taught them to do. I bet they wished more than once that there had been a way to really film it in freefall.

Thanks to Enderwiggin.net for pointing us to the interview.

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Leave Your "Ender's Game" Comic-Con Questions Here!

Hey, Launchies! As you all have probably heard, I'm leaving for Comic-Con on Wednesday to hang out with Crystal from EnderWiggin.net and to do my best to keep track of all the awesome Ender shenanigans that willl be taking place over the course of the week. It's going to be a blast and you can be sure I will be reporting back here with every tiny tidbit!

Adding to the fun, it is definitely possible that, sometime during those 5 crazy days, I have the opportunity to chat with a few Ender's Game cast/crew members -- that is, if my nerd stalking skills and trails of Pop Tart crumbs serve me well. And since this is a fan site ran FOR fans and BY fans, I would love to hear what sort of questions you guys would ask a member of Ender's jeesh (or Ender himself!) if you ran into them at the convention.

Throw some questions my way! What are you guys dying to know? Who would you love to talk to, and what would you ask? What about the Ender's Game film are you most excited to hear about?

I'll leave this open for questions throughout the con and you can reach me while I'm there by tweeting @EnderNews or sending an email to endernews@gmail.com -- I can't promise to reply to each and every message but they will all be read!

This is the part of the show where I ask you to do my job for me, guys. Don't let me down! :)

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Two New Petra and Ender Stills - Two Kinds of Training

Collider

Entertainment Weekly

A lot of people have been expressing concern recently that Ender and Petra seem to be "more than friends" in the photos that are being released. While I understand the fear, I'm not really seeing it in these stills. There is obviously a close friendship here, a camaraderie, but it looks more like two young people using each other as anchors than anything romantic. What do you guys think?

We will try to get hi-res versions for you guys soon!

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Lionsgate to Host Benefit "Ender's Game" Premiere to Support LGBT Causes

So, Ender's Game fans have had a tough week. Our inboxes, which usually contain exciting Ender updates, have been flooded with articles about boycotts, intolerance, and vitriol -- from both sides of the argument.

Today, Lionsgate addressed the ongoing debate surrounding Ender's Game and the controversial views of its author, Orson Scott Card.

As proud longtime supporters of the LGBT community, champions of films ranging from "Gods and Monsters" to "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" and a company that is proud to have recognized same-sex unions and domestic partnerships within its employee benefits policies for many years, we obviously do not agree with the personal views of Orson Scott Card and those of the National Organization for Marriage. However, they are completely irrelevant to a discussion of "Ender’s Game." The simple fact is that neither the underlying book nor the film itself reflect these views in any way, shape or form. On the contrary, the film not only transports viewers to an entertaining and action-filled world, but it does so with positive and inspiring characters who ultimately deliver an ennobling and life-affirming message. Lionsgate will continue its longstanding commitment to the LGBT community by exploring new ways we can support LGBT causes and, as part of this ongoing process, will host a benefit premiere for "Ender’s Game." (New York Times)

I have always been determined not to cover this topic here on Ender News for various reasons, mostly because I don't feel it has anything to do with Ender's Game. I also feel like I made my opinion quite clear on our episode of EnderCast which covered the subject.

That being said, I've never met Orson Scott Card, though I would love to have the opportunity. I therefore can't possibly have any idea of what sort of person he is or isn't. That we disagree on what is probably a vast variety of sociopolitical topics doesn't change the fact that he is the author of the story that has moved me more than any other I've ever read and for that I hold him in respect.

However! I am 110% pro-LGBT rights, pro-everyone's rights, and Lionsgate's position on this thrills me to no end. It is exactly how I feel, and I'm so pleased to hear that they will be hosting a benefit premiere to support LGBT causes this October!

We will update this post with more information on the premiere as it comes in.

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Win Preview Night Tickets to the "Ender's Game" Fan Experience!

Hey Launchies! We have an AWESOME opportunity for those of you attending San Diego Comic-Con this year -- or those in the San Diego area! Summit Entertainment has generously supplied us with 25 admit-two tickets to an invite-only showing of the Ender's Game experience to give away to our readers.

Yes, that means you -- and a guest -- will check out the experience on preview night: Wednesday, July 17, 2013.

Here's a description of the event:

Exclusive Fan Experience - Attendees will be able to visit an elaborate, specially constructed ENDER'S GAME exhibit outside of the Hilton Gaslamp, featuring 8 unique rooms representing the most iconic environments of Ender's world, complete with original film props and set pieces used in the movie.  Throughout the experience, attendees will be able to see exclusive film footage on LED screens, interact with new digital content, integrate photos of themselves into the highly anticipated Battle Room, and register to win a home make over.

Here's how to enter:  Simply send Jane an email at jane@endernews.com and let her know why you'd LOVE to attend and check out all the awesome Ender's Game set pieces and props before the rest of the public! The first 25 legitimate responses received will win the tickets -- super easy!

Please keep in mind: this giveaway is open to ONLY those who will be attending Comic-Con this year or are in the San-Diego area. While I know each and every one of you would love to go, please don't email me unless you will be available to attend on Wednesday!

It's also best to make sure that you use an email address you check frequently -- if winners don't reply to me by Sunday, July 14th (7 pm EST), they will forfeit their tickets and someone else will be chosen. So keep checking your email! :)

Huge thanks to Summit for making this happen -- we can't wait!

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Cast Autograph Signing at Comic-Con: Here's the schedule!

As we've been reporting, loads of the Ender's Game cast members are scheduled to sign autographs next week at Comic-Con in San Diego. Now the schedule is up, plus we have a new face showing up: Cameron Gaskins (Pol Slattery)!

Comic-Con 2013

So, if you're interested in meeting these guys and having a poster or your copy of Ender's Game signed, make sure you head to the autograph area at 9 a.m. Saturday and try to grab a ticket!

Big thanks to Jen for the heads up!

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Entertainment Weekly Special Ender's Game Cover

Look at this fantastic Ender's Game cover:

This is one of the three bonus covers for this week's Comic-Con edition of Entertainment Weekly, and it should make a nice collector's item for all of us. We don't know yet what's inside the magazine, but the announcement sounds very promising:

"We have previews of some of the coolest entries at the festival, including exclusive looks at Ender's Game!"

And here's a brand new image of Petra and Ender from the article!

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Smart Pop Books "Ender's Game" Freebies at SDCC!

Smart Pop Books

Hey guys! Smart Pop Books reached out to let us know that they'll be attending Comic-Con again this year (in the same booth!) and will have a selection of freebies for fellow Launchies roaming the halls. Check it out:

- Dragon Army and Third Ender’s World buttons -- for the former, you just have to stop by; the latter's only available through a prize wheel.

- Booth visitors can enter to win all five of Smart Pop Books' movie tie-in titles, including a copy of Ender’s World. To enter just ask them to scan your badge!

- A copy of their free 144-page preview volume of Ender's World which features Neal Shusterman’s full essay from the book, along with some of Orson Scott Card's answers to reader-submitted questions not included in the print edition will be available both at the booth and the freebie table while supplies last.

Make sure to also check out the full rundown of their SDCC activities; some of their non-Ender's Game freebies and happenings are great as well! And if swag isn't your thing, just stop by to say hello and tell them how much you enjoyed Ender's World. 

See you guys there!

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Set Visit Reports Rolling Out - Starting Wednesday, July 10th!

Hey Launchies! Do you remember back 411 long days ago when the Ender's Game fan site owners all flew to New Orleans to tour the set, touch flash suits, and spend the day chatting with the cast and crew? Do you remember how frustrating it was for you (and us!) that we couldn't share anything and all the waiting and teasing that's been going on since then?

Well, the wait is over! This Wednesday, July 10th, Ender News and the other 3 sites who participated in the tour last May will be releasing the first part of our series of set visit reports. And we can't wait to share!

(UPDATE: The studio has asked that we hold on posting our set visit reports for the time being; we will update as soon as we're back on!)

The day of the set visit! Can you find all 4 of us?

We'll be answering many of the questions we know you guys have been dying to ask, including:

- Was the Mind Game filmed?
- What do the buggers look like?
- What's up with the braille on the soldier's name tags?
- Exactly how many Jeesh members are needed to take Nonso Anozie down?

It's so exciting to finally be able to share our experience with all of you!  Check back on Wednesday - you won't be disappointed!

(UPDATE: The studio has asked that we hold on posting our set visit reports for the time being; we will update as soon as we're back on!)

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Ender's Game Alive: The Full Cast Audioplay

Exciting news! This fall, Skyboat Media is releasing an audioplay based on the Ender's Game novel and, according to Amazon, the upcoming movie adaptation. From their announcement:

We have just announced that we will be producing ENDER’S GAME ALIVE: THE FULL CAST AUDIOPLAY written by Orson Scott Card, based on Ender’s Game. Production begins mid-July here at Skyboat, and we will be updating this page with features from the production. The audioplay will be released in late October 2013, will have a cast of over 40 actors playing over 100 roles. The production will be originally scored with full sound effects. It will be directed by Gabrielle de Cuir and produced here at Skyboat by Stefan Rudnicki. All this brought to you by publisher Audible.com.

Orson Scott Card at round table project discussion

In their teaser post, they called he work "revolutionary in nature," as they will be working with Orson Scott Card (who wrote the script!) and "a cast of over 40 actors reading over 80 characters in over 100 scenes to create a full-radio style drama recording with Foley effects and a musical score that goes into production on July 9th."

Some of Skyboat Media's recent tweets:

"We're talking six hours of audiodrama gold; written by OSC himself; 40 actors; 80+ characters and over 130 scenes. A candy store of goodies." (Source)

"Casting now for ENDER'S GAME ALIVE. 40+actors; 100+roles. We start recording Tues. Yikes! Break out the Mexican Coke!" (Source)

We're doing full cast audioplay written by OSC of EG. 6 hours. Sound effects. Should make for intrsting [sic] comparisons come fall. (Source)

We're a little short on details regarding the project at the moment as casting just completed and is being announced today (make sure you check back this evening!) but we will keep you updated as more information rolls in!

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... and Brandon Soo Hoo and Caleb Thaggard!

I think it would have been much easier to just make a list of Ender's Game cast members who are not coming to Comic-Con this year!

Also scheduled to hang out in the Summit booth and sign autographs on Saturday, July 20th (tentative) are Brandon Soo Hoo (Fly Molo) and Caleb Thaggard (Stilson)!

Keep in mind, while the guests themselves are confirmed, dates and definitely times may be subject to change. We will be updating our SDCC Guide with all the information as it comes in!

See you guys there!

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More Comic-Con Guests: Khylin Rhambo and Aramis Knight!

So everyone who has been following these two on Twitter know they are nearly inseparable these days, so we're excited to announce that they will both be attending Comic-Con in San Diego this month!

Instagram

We're still a little iffy on exact details, but they are both tentatively scheduled to be around on Saturday, July 20th -- same as the other confirmed supporting cast members. Comic-Con is shaping up to be a real Ender's Game cast reunion.

See you guys in (less than) two weeks!

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"Ender's Game" Panel: Thursday, 3:50 pm in Hall H

Comic Con International unveiled Thursday's schedule today and Ender's Game is officially set for 3:50 pm on Thursday, July 18th in Hall H -- right alongside Summit's other huge YA adaptation Divergent.

It's curious that two highly anticipated films are sharing an hour time slot when the rest of the day seems fairly empty, especially with Harrison Ford there to promote Ender's Game. They're going to have to shove a lot of action into their time allotment -- we'll have to make sure we're buckled in tight.

Make sure you check out our SDCC guide to stay up-to-date with all the Ender going-ons at Comic-Con this year -- many cast members who aren't participating in the panel will be in the Summit booth signing autographs or simply enjoying the convention themselves!

Read the full Thursday line-up here. 13 days to go!

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Shoot Straight - Chapter 5: Games

An Ender's Game reread

From here on out there is a huge spoiler warning: do not keep reading if you haven't read the book and are afraid of having something ruined for you. Go finish the novel! Then come back and chat with us. :)

New Characters:

What Happens

International Fleet: I think this may be my favorite conversation between Graff and Anderson because it's the only real time Colonel Hyrum Graff seems sheepish. Kindergartener broke his arm! Whoops. Apparently Graff had been listening to the entire incident behind the curtain and was waiting for Ender to call for help which, as Major Anderson rightly points out -- and I now picture Viola Davis rolling her eyes at Harrison Ford -- is exactly what Graff claimed to love about the kid in the first place: he settles his own problems.

They both admit they are sort-of losers and have messed up, possibly "losing" Ender already. Let's find out how they get him unlost!

Ender: All the other kids are in the barracks with their beds already chosen, leaving Ender what they think is the worst spot but what ends up being the bed they usually bunk the chief officer -- ha ha. Ender ruffles through his locker and finds a bunch of jumpsuits, his desk, his flash suit, and what I always assume is a bunch of kiddo space-themed underwear, toothbrushes, pajamas, etc.

Dap shows up and gives Ender the flash suit 411 and introduces himself to the other boys as their "mom" -- the only one up there who's paid to be nice to them.

<--- You know, this guy.

Keep your jumpsuit on. Just a little movies-are-not-books joke. Let's carry on!

Dap is a genial fellow, making lots of jokes as he talks about opening the wrong door and being sucked outside, children killing each other,etc -- murder is strictly against the rules, Ender. By the time Dap leaves, he's won every boy over and yet they all seem to be near tears. He's just like a real mom.

Dinnertime doesn't really improve Ender's day as all of the other boys have decided to eat somewhere out of arm reach. An older student, Mick comes by and makes a fool out of himself, trying to give the younger boy advice when he himself claims he's "a fart in the air conditioning." Self-awareness is always a good thing.

On their second day, Dap takes the kids to visit the game room. The older boys don't really give the Launchies a chance at any of them so Ender stands to the side and watches them play, figuring out how the controls work and learning from the other boys' mistakes. He is initially blown off when he asks a boy to play him a round, but talks him into a 2 out of 3. Ender loses the first game but wins the others, which assures the boy he's not out of his league but sort of makes the reader wonder if the rest of the school is filled with assorted Micks.

Meanwhile, back in the barracks, Bernard is tormenting some of the other kids, particularly a young boy named Shen who they call Worm  because he's small and wiggles his bum when he walks. Charming. Ender effectively ends Bernard's reign over the rest of the Launchies when he comes to Shen's defense, breaking into the system and sending out desk messages with Bernard's name:

COVER YOUR BUTT. BERNARD IS WATCHING.
—GOD

I LOVE YOUR BUTT. LET ME KISS IT.
—BERNARD

Funny kid. Anyway, everyone knows it was Ender but there's no proof and Dap only thinks it's hilarious. Shen starts sitting with him at lunch, super thankful, and becomes Ender's first real Battle School friend.

Thoughts

-- Is the term "chief officer" ever used again in Battle School? Is this like the commander of a certain Launchie group?

-- How long does it take a broken arm to heal in the future? Bernard certainly doesn't seem out-of-commission very long. Perhaps they have Skele-Gro!

-- Two chapters ago, Graff said "[N]one of our boys who makes it through the first year has ever failed to receive a commission as an officer. And none has retired from a position of lower rank than chief executive officer of an interplanetary vessel." Do we think that's true of Mick? ;)

Favorite Quotes

I will not be the bugger of my group, Ender thought. I didn't leave Valentine and Mother and Father to come here just to get iced.

 

Dap came to the door that night and moved quietly among the beds, touching a hand here, a forehead there. Where he went there was more crying, not less. The touch of kindness in this frightening place was enough to push some over the edge into tears. Not Ender, though. When Dap came, his face was dry. It was the lying face he presented to Mother and Father, when Peter had been cruel to him and he dare not let it show. Thank you for this, Peter. For dry eyes and silent weeping. You taught me how to hide everything I felt. More than ever, I need that now.

"Yesterday someone sent a message that was signed GOD," Bernard said.
"Really?" said Dap. I didn't know he was signed onto the system." Dap turned and left, and the room was filled with laughter.

 

* * *

 

 « Chapter 4: Launch | Index | Chapter 6: The Giant's Drink »

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"Ender's Game" Comic-Con Swag: First Look at Army Logos!

Check out the items that will be available at the Summit booth at Comic-Con this year.

You guys.

Lapel Pins

Poster Bag

Static Clings

Dog Tags (Only available at the EG experience!)

I have no words for any of this. So excited! I'm loving everything. Thoughts?

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Another Confirmed Comic-Con Guest: Bernard Actor Conor Carroll!

Hoorah! Comic-Con just got MORE exciting.

Conor Carroll is officially attending SDCC on Saturday, July 20 -- he will also be in the Summit booth handing out autographs to lucky Launchies attending the convention.

Seriously, we are thrilled about how this is turning out. Looks like everyone is showing up on the west coast to celebrate and promote this awesome story. It's going to be an epic weekend.

Can't wait to share it with you guys. :)

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Jimmy Jax Pinchak Attending Comic-Con -- Stop by for an autograph!

Hoorah! Another confirmation!

Jimmy Jax Pinchak will be making an appearance at Comic-Con this year, stopping by the Summit booth on Saturday, July 20th to sign autographs and represent Ender's Game.

Exciting! This month is looking like more fun every day with more and more Ender cast members coming out of the woodwork and admitting that they will be popping in to the Con. It's shaping up to be a great Launchie party!

Who else is coming? We know there are more of you! Join our event and let us know you'll be there for the fun!

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Win a collection of Ender books plus some "Ender’s Game" swag!

Sign up for the Tor/Forge Newsletter for a chance to win a collection of Ender Quintet books, plus Ender’s Game swag!

Enter here. Good luck, Launchies!

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