Another year at San Diego Comic-con, another Tom Cruise epic sci-fi thriller. Following his role in this year’s Oblivion, Tom Cruise stars in the upcoming Edge of Tomorrow, this time for director Doug Liman (Bourne Identity), who brought the panel to Hall H on Saturday. Stars Cruise and Emily Blunt led the panel, along with director Liman, writer Chris McQuarrie, and producer Ewrin Stoff. The Legendary panel was moderated by Chris Hardwick.

Cruise and Blunt strolled to the stage to roars of cheers from the crowd. Cruise mentioned to Hardwick that they have something in common, having both played the character of Stacee Jax in different productions of Rock of Ages (this led to a mini sing-off between the two on Foreigner’s “I Want To Know What Love Is,” which features in Rock Of Ages). Not surprising, Hardwick went all fanboy, but in a highly humorous way that entertained the audience greatly (the obligatory post-panel photo session saw Hardwick and Cruise photobombing each other).

Liman described Edge of Tomorrow (which was changed from the original title, All You Need Is KillGroundhog Day-style, but during a day when a critical battle against an alien invasion is being fought.

For Blunt, it was the hardest physical training she’s had to do, learning Krav Maga and gymnastics in order to stay fit for the heavy battle suits they had to wear. As soon as the actors donned the suits, it soured their mood on-set immediately.

Cruise said he’d always wanted to work with Liman, and praised McQuarrie’s script. Since the alien invasion film has become so much a trope, it’s an opportunity to drill down into character studies in the genre. The book was written by Hiroshi Sakurazaka, who was in the audience. Cruise praised Blunt’s physical training in order to bring emotion to her character, along with the fighting.

Co-star Bill Paxton then joined the panel from the Comic-Con audience. He said he thought the producers brought him on the film to give it a Colonial Marines-vibe (from his role in Aliens). He then quoted his famous line, “Game over, man,” to raucous cheers from the Comic-Con crowd.

Cruise described his character as a PR guy working to promote the military’s part in the war when he, through circumstances, ends up in battle, in an exosuit. His character begins as a coward, to which Liman praised his performance. Paxton said the film has a perverse humor, but also a lot of heart. His character, a drill sergeant, has the role of putting Cruise’s PR guy through grueling tests.

Cruise said first and foremost he’s a cinephile, wanting to be taken on a great journey, and McQuarrie’s script reflects that desire. The narrative structure for Cruise was fun, in that his character remembers each return back in time, while for Blunt’s character, each meeting with Cruise is new.

Cruise was asked if he drew on any previous characters for the role, to which he replied he approached this character fresh, discovering it through the process of the script. A fan praised Tom’s commitment to doing his own stunt work, to which Tom said he just wants to entertain the audience, and he’s motivated by what he thinks the audience would like to see. He noted getting whacked a few times by the 150 lb. suits, and having to learn how to take spills in the suits. Liman praised Cruise for always wanting to push himself harder and further physically for each stunt.

Panel Photos

Edge of Tomorrow will be released in 3D and IMAX 3D on June 6, 2014.

You can check out some photos of the suit from the movie in our SDCC 2013: Preview Night Photo Gallery.

Also, be sure to follow Geeks of Doom’s Comic-Con coverage here at the site and through our Facebook and Twitter.

All photos by Dave3 for Geeks of Doom