( CNN ) -- Metallica appeared at Comic-Con in San Diego on Friday to promote their upcoming 3-D IMAX concert film `` Metallica Through the Never . '' The band debuted footage from the movie to a crowd of fans in the Convention Center 's Hall H and later rocked an intimate crowd at a secret show . `` Metallica Through the Never '' was directed by Nimrod Antal ( `` Predators '' ) and intersperses live Metallica concert footage with a fictional narrative about a young roadie named Trip who is sent on a mission during the show . Actor Dane DeHaan ( `` The Amazing Spider-Man 2 '' ) plays Trip in the film . There is a distinct storyline woven through the concert footage , but singer/guitarist James Hetfield confirmed that there is no dialogue involved . The front man would n't elaborate on the plot any further , but did say that a lot of thought went into creating the exact right film for Metallica . `` People have done live concerts , '' Hetfield told CNN before the band 's Comic-Con panel . `` We 've done live concerts and DVDs . If we 're going to invest a lot of time and money and effort into something , let 's make it unique . That 's what we 've always done . We had a ton of ideas for this thing . You get really creative with something way out of your budget and then you shrink it down . Some of the best ideas hang on and end up in the film . We wanted animation , we wanted CGI -- you name it ! But I think the narrative is extremely potent and multilayered . There 's a lot of dynamics going on at once . It 's a couple movies in one . '' Another can of `` Kick-Ass '' `` Through the Never , '' which opens September 27 , has been rated R , which should give fans a sense of what 's to come from the film . The footage revealed Friday during the panel included people rioting in the streets , a public hanging , bloody handprints and giant coffins dangling above the stage . The actual concert footage showcases a massive stage with extensive visual effects , including pyrotechnics . Hetfield hinted during the panel that Metallica may eventually bring that stage setup on tour . Following the panel , Metallica played the 1,500-capacity venue Spreckels , performing crowd pleasers like `` Seek and Destroy , '' `` Enter Sandman '' and even the `` Star Wars '' theme and `` Darth Vader 's Imperial March . '' Actor Bradley Cooper and football player Drew Brees were in attendance . Batman and Superman : Is the screen big enough ? Although the focus for the band is on promoting the film , they are slowly still working on a new album as well , which would be Metallica 's first since 2008 's `` Death Magnetic . '' Hetfield was hesitant to offer any details about the music , however . `` Right now we 're doing the movie , '' he said . `` When we 're able to focus [ on our album ] we 'll do that . ''
Metallica appeared at Comic-Con to promote new film . ` ` Through the Never '' is not traditional concert movie . It's a documentary about Metallica's career, and how they got started in metal music.