A certain adorable robot and a couple of comic-book superheroes stole the show at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles over the weekend as Spike TV presented its Scream 2008 awards ceremony. Filmmaker George Lucas made a rare appearance at the third annual event honoring the best in fantasy, sci-fi, comics and horror. The kudo fest will be televised on Spike TV on Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 9 p.m. (ET/PT).
Lucas surprised the audience, walking on stage flanked by Stormtroopers to accept the Comic-Con Icon Award. Tim Burton received the Scream Immortal Award for his unique interpretation of horror and fantasy, and Wes Craven collected the Scream Mastermind Award for his terrifying and iconic work in the world of horror. Spike TV also recognized the genre work of actor Sir Anthony Hopkins with the Legend Award.
Other highlights included never-before-seen footage from several highly anticipated theatrical releases including Warner Bros.’ adaptation of the Alan Moore graphic novel Watchmen. Those tuning in Tuesday will also see appearances by Kate Beckinsale, Kristen Bell, Rosario Dawson, the cast of Dexter, Jon Favreau, the cast of Hellboy 2: The Golden Army, Samuel L. Jackson, Milla Jovovich, Stan Lee, Gary Oldman, the Osbournes, Seth Rogen, Winona Ryder, Kevin Smith and Liv Tyler, among many others.
The CG-animated star of Disney/Pixar’s WALL’E made his animators proud by taking the award for Breakout Performance. However, Batman turned out to be the evening’s big winner as The Dark Knight claimed a whopping 12 awards, including The Ultimate Scream. Stars Christian Bale, the late Heath Ledger and Gary Oldman were also recognized with their own awards. Bale took home Best Superhero and Oldman Best Supporting Actor, while Ledger was named both Best Fantasy Actor and Best Villain for his portrayal of the Joker. Director Christopher Nolan took Best Director and shared Best Screamplay with Jonathan Nolan and David S. Goyer.
Iron Man, the summer’s other superhero blockbuster, was also represented. The Marvel Studios production was awarded Best Science-Fiction Movie, and star Robert Downey Jr. accepted the Best Actor in a Science Fiction Movie or TV Show award from the London set of director Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes.
Scream 2008 Winners:
THE ULTIMATE SCREAM
The Dark Knight
BEST HORROR MOVIE
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
BEST SCIENCE FICTION MOVIE
Iron Man
BEST FANTASY MOVIE
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
BEST TV SHOW
Dexter
BEST SUPERHERO
Christian Bale as Batman in The Dark Knight
BEST ACTOR IN A FANTASY MOVIE OR TV SHOW
Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight
BEST ACTOR IN A HORROR MOVIE OR TV SHOW
Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE
WALL’E in WALL’E
BEST ACTRESS IN A HORROR MOVIE OR TV SHOW
Liv Tyler in The Strangers
BEST VILLAIN
Heath Ledger as The Joker in The Dark Knight
BEST ACTRESS IN A FANTASY MOVIE OR TV SHOW
Angelina Jolie in Wanted
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE
Gary Oldman in The Dark Knight
THE HOLY S***! SCENE OF THE YEAR
The big rig flips over in The Dark Knight
MOST MEMORABLE MUTILATION
Bitten by Vagina with Teeth in Teeth
BEST SCREAMPLAY
The Dark Knight by Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan & David S. Goyer
BEST SCREAM-TO-COMIC ADAPTATION
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season Eight
BEST SEQUEL
The Dark Knight
BEST DIRECTOR
Christopher Nolan for The Dark Knight
BEST REMAKE
Halloween
BEST ACTOR IN A SCIENCE FICTION MOVIE OR TV SHOW
Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man
BEST ACTRESS IN A SCIENCE FICTION MOVIE OR TV SHOW
Milla Jovovich in Resident Evil: Extinction
BEST F/X
The Dark Knight
BEST COMIC BOOK
Y: The Last Man
BEST COMIC BOOK MOVIE
The Dark Knight
BEST COMIC BOOK ARTIST
Gabriel Ba for The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite
BEST COMIC BOOK WRITER
Grant Morrison for Batman, Final Crisis
MOST SHOCKING COMIC BOOK PLOT TWIST
The X-Men disband after Professor X is shot in the head by Bishop; X-Men
BEST LINE
‘I believe whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stranger’
-The Joker in The Dark Knight