27 must-see panels at San Diego Comic-Con
Comic-Con 2025 officially kicks off Thursday. More than 130,000 pop culture aficionados make the pilgrimage for the four-day extravaganza in and around the San Diego Convention Center. The event, which originally centered on comic books and their collectors, now encompasses a variety of media across television, film, games and more.
Activities for attendees include pop-ups, activations, autograph sessions and hours of programming. Here are select panels this reporter is looking forward to. (The full programming schedule is available at the Comic-Con International site.)
Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender 20th Anniversary10 - 11 a.m.Ballroom 20
The cast and creators of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' assemble to celebrate the show's 20th anniversary. Will it be just a lookback or will they reveal what's next for the franchise?
Percy Jackson and the Olympians11 a.m. - 12 p.m.Hall H
Your favorite young demigods hit Hall H to tease the upcoming second season of the fantasy TV series. Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries, Aryan Simhadri, Charlie Bushnell, Dior Goodjohn and Daniel Diemer are among those expected to appear.
Star Wars: Andor: From Resistance to Rebellion12 - 1 p.m.Grand 10 & 11, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
A deep dive into 'Andor' Season 2 with a panel of academics and authors discussing the show's themes including resisting authoritarianism and rebellion.
Robert Kirkman Live at SDCC1 - 2 p.m.Room 6BCF
The prolific comic book creator and Skybound Entertainment co-founder will be on hand to discuss what's next in the worlds of 'Invincible,' 'The Walking Dead' and more.
Critical Role: 10 Years and Still Rolling1:45 - 2:45 p.m.Ballroom 20
Critical Role founders and cast members Ashley Johnson, Marisha Ray, Taliesin Jaffe, Matthew Mercer, Laura Bailey, Travis Willingham, Sam Riegel and Liam O'Brien reflect on their journey so far. (Fans interested in their animated shows 'Vox Machina' and 'The Mighty Nein' can also catch the panel at the Indigo Ballroom of the Hilton Bayfront from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.)
Hallmark Hallstars1:45 - 2:45 p.m.Indigo Ballroom
The panel for those craving a dose of Hallmark Christmas movies in July. Hallmark film and series stars will be on hand to share sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes tea. (And if you also love procedurals, stick around for the 'NCIS: Tony & Ziva' panel right after.)
Blumhouse's 'Five Nights at Freddy's 2'4:15 - 5:15 p.m.Hall H
For horror movie buffs, the filmmakers and stars of the supernatural will take the stage to tease the upcoming sequel.
Comedy Central Adult Animation: South Park, Beavis & Butt-Head, and Digman!6:45 - 7:45 p.m.Hall H
The creative minds behind adult animated hits, including Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Mike Judge and Andy Samberg, hit Hall H to discuss their shows.
Cartoon Network Studios: Cartoon Cartoons Animated Shorts Showcase10 - 10:45 a.m.Indigo Ballroom
A screening and spotlight on Cartoon Network Studios' shorts program and its artists.
'Revival': From Comics to TV10:30 - 11:30 a.m.Room 6A
'Revival' comic book creators Tim Seeley and Mike Norton join the showrunners and cast of the TV adaptation on bringing the show to life.
'The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon' Season 312:15 - 1:15 p.m.Hall H
Is it really Comic-Con without 'The Walking Dead'? The presentation will include the show's cast, creatives and the debut of the Season 3 trailer.
The Wait is Over: FX's 'Alien: Earth' World Premiere and Q&A1:25pm - 2:50pmHall H
The cast and creatives (including creator Noah Hawley) of the upcoming 'Alien' prequel series will screen the pilot episode.
Collider's Inside Hollywood with Bob Odenkirk1:30 - 2:15 p.m.Ballroom 20
A one-on-one with the 'Breaking Bad' and 'Better Call Saul' star to look back at his career and tease his upcoming film 'Nobody 2.'
'King of the Hill'4 - 4:45 p.m.Indigo Ballroom
The world premiere of the 'King of the Hill' revival, with the show's co-creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels; showrunner Saladin Patterson; and cast members Pamela Adlon, Kathy Najimy, Lauren Tom and Toby Huss.
Godzilla at 70: Seven Decades of the King of the Monsters4:15pm - 5:15pmRoom 6DE
'Shin Godzilla' director Shinji Higuchi will be among those that take the stage for this celebration of the iconic kaiju. Experts will also talk Godzilla collectibles, comics and more.
'Predator: Badlands'4:15pm - 5:15pmHall H
Director Dan Trachtenberg and stars Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi will take the stage to share sneak peeks and tease their upcoming standalone 'Predator' film.
Bob's Burgers10 - 10:45 a.m.Ballroom 20
'Bob's Burgers' is approaching its 300th episode. The cast and creatives behind one of the best TV families will take the stage to share news, sneak peeks and more. (Fans of 'Futurama' and 'The Simpsons' might want to stick around for those panels right after.)
ABC's Abbott Elementary11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.Indigo Ballroom
School is almost back in session. Stars Quinta Brunson, Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Chris Perfetti, Lisa Ann Walter, William Stanford Davis and Sheryl Lee Ralph will be among those on hand to talk about the show after a screening of a fan-favorite Season 4 episode.
Star Trek Universe12:30 - 2:00 p.m.Hall H
A supersize presentation featuring panels for 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' and the upcoming 'Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.' Cast members Rebecca Romijn, Ethan Peck, Jess Bush, Christina Chong and Paul Wesley will be among those gathered to talk 'Strange New Worlds.' The 'Starfleet Academy' team will include Holly Hunter, Sandro Rosta, Karim Diané, Kerrice Brooks, George Hawkins and Bella Shepard. 'Voyager' alum and 'Starfeet Academy' cast member Robert Picardo will be on hand to moderate.
'Ghosts'3:30 - 4:15 p.m.Ballroom 20
For those of us who like our ghosts to be a little less scary. Cast members Utkarsh Ambudkar, Danielle Pinnock, Asher Grodman and Devan Chandler Long will hit the stage along with executive producers Joe Port and Joe Wiseman.
'Peacemaker' Sneak Peek and Panel3:30 - 4:30 p.m.Hall H
DC Studios co-chief James Gunn will be joined by 'Peacemaker' cast members John Cena, Danielle Brooks, Jennifer Holland, Freddie Stroma, Steve Agee, Frank Grillo, Sol Rodriguez and Tim Meadows to talk Season 2. Yes, there will be footage.
Anne Rice Immortal Universe: Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire and Anne Rice's Talamasca4:30 - 6:00 p.m.Ballroom 20
A shared panel for the shared Anne Rice universe. The casts and creatives of 'Interview With the Vampire' and the upcoming 'Talamasca' will discuss each of their corners of their supernatural world.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle5:45 - 6:45 p.m.Hall H
'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle' has already shattered Japanese box-office records. The first film in a trilogy spanning the final arc of a hit anime series might not be the best place to start for those new to the franchise, but fans won't want to miss this panel that will feature guests from Japan.
'IT: Welcome to Derry'9:15 - 9:45 p.m.Room 6DE
A sneak peek of the upcoming prequel TV series with executive producers Andy Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti.
Explore Disney's 'Amphibia' with Matt Braly10:30 - 11:30 a.m.Room 6A
'Amphibia' creator Matt Braly and friends will discuss the animated show and the upcoming graphic novel continuation.
Sneak Peek: Lucas Museum of Narrative Art11 a.m. - 12 p.m.Hall H
George Lucas joins director Guillermo del Toro and artist Doug Chiang to discuss the power of illustrated storytelling and to tease his museum, in a conversation moderated by Queen Latifah.
An Afternoon with George Takei1:30 - 2:30 p.m.Room 6A
Actor, author and icon George Takei will discuss his latest memoir, 'It Rhymes With Takei'; his award-winning graphic novel, 'They Called Us Enemy'; and more.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
The biggest news out of Comic-Con, from 'South Park' to 'Peacemaker'
Love movies? Live for TV? USA TODAY's Watch Party newsletter has all the best recommendations, delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now and be one of the cool kids. No Marvel? No problem. The Avengers and their cinematic universe skipped Comic-Con this year – they're off fighting Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom in the UK or something. But John Cena was there, dressed as his DC superhero Peacemaker. Ryan Gosling was there, giving us a taste of his alien bestie Rocky in "Project Hail Mary." Even "South Park" guys Trey Parker and Matt Stone were there, a day after lampooning the sitting president of the United States. The San Diego pop-culture fest didn't have the same heat as last year or in previous editions. The grand stage of Hall H was full but not crazy-packed, and without any big "event" panels, many movies and TV series were able to show their newest wares to their own fandoms but also to newcomers giving things a try. I'm not an "NCIS" guy by any means, yet it was cool to see how into "Tony & Ziva" their die-hards are. With my 14th Comic-Con officially in the books, here are my favorite things from this year's iteration: 'South Park' creators play it cool with mainstream controversy It didn't take too long during their appearance at Comic-Con for "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone to weigh in on the kerfuffle of their Season 27 premiere, which drew ire from the White House. (Depicting President Donald Trump nude with Satan will do that.) Their response was true to form: "We're terribly sorry," Parker said, tongue fully in cheek. But that animation panel, which also featured "Beavis and Butthead" honcho Mike Judge and "Digman!" creator Andy Samberg, was a fascinating mutual admiration society. Parker and Stone told Judge how much his show meant to them in college, and the "South Park" guys were very honest about having to now compete with talented kids on TikTok when it comes to topical comedy. "We have a great gig but I'm jealous," Stone said. Superman who? John Cena's 'Peacemaker' takes DC's superhero baton James Gunn got a victory lap of sorts at Comic-Con, getting a standing ovation for how much of a hit the new "Superman" has been. But if you dig that movie, then gird your loins for "Peacemaker." The second season hits Aug. 21, and a new Comic-Con trailer gave us a look at the show's humor, insanity and, yes, even some emotion – all set to a lot of catchy sleaze metal. What makes the show special is John Cena's portrayal of a complex antihero with a traumatic past who can save the day (barely) but can't get out of his own way. It's the one role that has really let Cena's talents shine. When Gunn says Cena's performance in the new season is "really something to see," best believe him. Ryan Gosling's astronaut Everyman fuels 'Project Hail Mary' The best thing about the long wait until Ryan Gosling's sci-fi epic "Project Hail Mary"? You have some time to read Andy Weir's brilliant book before going on this epic space adventure. With so many franchises taking up space at Comic-Con, the "Hail Mary" panel delivered refreshing humor and stunning visuals to a psyched Hall H crowd. Gosling plays a middle-school teacher launched into space – very reluctantly – in a last-ditch effort to find a new home for mankind. Everything they've shown so far is top notch, including the first five minutes where Gosling's character is an amnesiac mess who gradually figures out he's alone in the middle of space. He does find a friend, and a first look at the alien Rocky, just showing his little rock hands, was the most adorable thing outside of the Hello Kitty booth. Get ready, because "Project Hail Mary" is going to be a thing in 2026. 'It: Welcome to Derry' is a best bet to be your Halloween obsession It's a huge year for Stephen King movies and TV shows, and the freakiest of the bunch looks to be "It: Welcome to Derry." A prequel to the hit "It" movies, the series mines more of King's seminal horror novel and its first season is set in 1962. Jovan Adepo and Taylour Paige star as a couple who've moved their family to the cursed Maine town of Derry and soon learn that things ain't right. At all. Bill Skarsgård is back as Pennywise, which is scary enough, but a Comic-Con peek at the opening of "Derry" hints at so much more chilling stuff than just an evil clown who comes back every 27 years. A woman giving birth in a car, rather graphically, to a demon baby with wings and two heads who then goes bat-nuts crazy in said vehicle? October can't come soon enough. Even more Comic-Con goodness to check out! Got thoughts, questions, ideas, concerns, compliments or maybe even some recs for me? Email btruitt@ and follow me on the socials: I'm @briantruitt on Bluesky, Instagram and Threads.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Fans react as George Lucas makes first-ever appearance at Comic-Con
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — On the final day of Comic-Con, fans in San Diego were treated to a moment that was truly historic. For the first time in the convention's history, Star Wars creator George Lucas appeared onstage at the iconic pop culture event. Lucas joined fellow Oscar winners Guillermo del Toro and Doug Chiang for a Sunday morning panel that filled Hall H to capacity. Jerry Vanderstelt is known for his fine art reproductions and original Star Wars-themed work. He's been a regular at Comic-Con for nearly two decades and says the event has had a profound impact on his life. 'Some of the best things that have ever happened in my career were because of San Diego Comic-Con,' he said. George Lucas, Guillermo del Toro give first look at narrative art museum at Comic-Con On Sunday, things came full circle for Vanderstelt as Lucas took the stage, marking his first-ever Comic-Con panel appearance. 'It's wonderful that he participates in the pop culture of today, especially as the man who created a movie that changed film forever,' Vanderstelt said. Over at booth 2135, illustrator and fan Russell Walks reflected on Lucas's influence. Years ago, Walks pitched a trading card series based on Joseph Campbell's 'Hero's Journey' to Lucasfilm. He was initially turned down, but he didn't give up. Instead, he wrote a letter directly to Lucas. 'I get goosebumps when I talk about it,' Walks said. 'A month or so later, I got a phone call from Lucasfilm. It was George's secretary, and she read a note he had left her to read to me. It just said, 'I love the artwork you sent. I like the note even more. We're going to give you permission to do this story.'' During the panel, Lucas and Del Toro teased the upcoming Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, a project that's quickly becoming a must-see for fans. 'My favorite part was actually hearing the stories between George and Guillermo del Toro,' one fan said. 'They talked about the importance of narrative art, and how it's something we borrow for a time, then pass along to the next generation.' For artists like Walks, the moment was about more than nostalgia. 'To persevere, and to realize that Star Wars in general is more than just lightsabers and laser blasts, it's about redemption and finding what you're made to do, and doing it,' he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
The most exciting Comic-Con announcements and wildest moments from SDCC 2025
Marvel stayed at home, but that doesn't mean this year's Comic-Con was lacking in big announcements. Add to that the small matter of George Lucas in the hosue. Comic-Con remains a highlight of the geek calendar. SDCC encourages the big names from the worlds of movies, TV, and comic books to peddle their wares in front of an adoring crowd. Last year, for example, Marvel used the famous Hall H stage to announce that Robert Downey Jr. would be returning to the MCU — as the villainous Doctor Doom rather than Tony Stark. There were fewer fireworks in California this year with a more muted event. Marvel sat out entirely, while competitor DC mostly let its recently released Superman movie do the talking. But that's not to say that there weren't any big moments and notable announcements for fans to enjoy. Here's a round-up of the most important things that happened at Comic-Con over the weekend, from new trailers to appearances from pop culture legends. James Gunn finally unveiled Peacemaker season 2 There might have been a shortage of big superhero movie news out of Comic-Con this year, but that's not to say DC was completely quiet. James Gunn might have been busy kicking off a whole new superhero universe, but he still had time for John Cena's bizarre vigilante Peacemaker. The trailer for season two teases lots of silliness, as well as the tantalising idea of portals between dimensions — perhaps a nod to the very confusing DCU chronology since Gunn's takeover. Read more: The Superman movies ranked worst to best according to fans (Yahoo Entertainment, 6 min read) Gunn also got something of a hero's welcome at this year's SDCC as those in attendance thanked him for shepherding Superman back to the big screen. "The reason I'm so happy to be here with you guys, is because this is the real fans here," he said on stage. Avengers: Doomsday might not have a finished script Marvel didn't have an actual presence in San Diego this year, but that didn't stop the upcoming team-up movie Avengers: Doomsday from grabbing some headlines. Rebecca Romijn — aka the original Mystique in the X-Men movies — was at Comic-Con promoting Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, but she gave an intriguing answer when asked whether she had finished shooting her scenes for Doomsday. "[I'm] not quite sure. The script hasn't — they haven't finished writing it. It's been very, very fun, and we don't know yet. They keep everything very close to the vest themselves in an effort to keep everything under wraps," she said according to The Hollywood Reporter. Just over a year away from the release of Marvel's first Avengers movie since Endgame, the script apparently isn't complete. That could be a warning sign or just yet another symptom of Marvel's bizarre secrecy. The fact Romijn doesn't know of a finished script doesn't mean that there isn't one. George Lucas was in the house Until this year, George Lucas had never taken to the stage at Comic-Con. The Star Wars creator, however, broke his duck this year by sitting down with Guillermo del Toro for a panel discussing the new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. The museum will house lots of Star Wars pieces, as well as other art including early Flash Gordon drawings and paintings by Frida Kahlo. Read more: George Lucas says perseverance is key to filmmaking: 'I fought for all my films' (PA Media, 3 min read) '[Art] is more about a connection and emotional connection with the work, not how much it cost or what celebrity did it," said Lucas. "I don't think it's anything that anybody else can tell you. If you have emotional connection, it's art. If you don't, just move onto the next painting." Star Wars fans also got a glimpse of Eman Esfandi as Ezra Bridger in the currently filming second season of Ahsoka. As for any concrete updates on that show, they were in short supply. Five Nights at Freddy's 2 is going much bigger Five Nights at Freddy's managed to parlay its video game success to the big screen in 2023, with the movie adaptation of the creepy game earning a massive $291m (£217m) worldwide. Returning director Emma Tammi unveiled a trailer and also promised that the new movie would feature 'more than three times as many animatronics' as its predecessor, praising the Jim Henson Company for realising the critters as practically as possible. Among those new animatronics will be Mangle and The Marionette, who will be very recognisable to fans of the games. Based on how many of those fans turned up to buy a ticket first time around, catering squarely to their tastes seems like a very smart move. Coyote vs. Acme saga gets a happy ending Two years ago, Warner Bros announced that it was chucking a completed movie in the bin. Coyote vs. Acme, which is a live-action and animation hybrid featuring Looney Tunes characters, was scrapped in favour of a tax write-off. After a fervent campaign online, though, the studio reversed course and allowed Ketchup Entertainment to nab the rights to the movie earlier this year. Read more: Will Forte debuts first 'Coyote vs. Acme' footage, calls initial Warner Bros. cancellation 'devastating' (Entertainment Weekly, 4 min read) At Comic-Con, Ketchup announced that the film will land in US cinemas on 28 August 2026 and also revealed that Bugs Bunny is in line for a cameo appearance. That's more than enough to whet the appetite of fans who have been following this long-running rollercoaster of a story. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds goes Jim Henson The Jim Henson Company got a major shout-out during the Five Nights at Freddy's panel, but that wasn't the only time the world of the Muppets graced Hall H this year. In a short preview clip for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 4, fans saw Anson Mount's character Captain Pike in the form of one of the Henson Company's puppets. That's set to be a memorable episode indeed. Predator franchise unveils Arnold Schwarzenegger cameo It's a big year for the Predator franchise, with animated movie Predator: Killer of Killers already streaming and live-action adventure Predator: Badlands on the way very soon. Dan Trachtenberg, who directed both projects, appeared at Comic-Con armed with the first 15 minutes of Badlands and a very interesting additional detail for Killer of Killers. 'Unfortunately, some bits of Killer of Killers were left on the cutting room floor, but recently we were able to sneak it back in," said Trachtenberg. He then played a changed version of the animated movie's epilogue, revealing Danny Glover's Lt. Mike Harrigan and Arnold Schwarzenegger's Dutch from the original 1987 Predator movie as warriors captured by the creatures this time around. That footage will be added to the existing streaming release this week. Read more: Predator: Badlands makes the monstrous hunter a hero. Here's what to know about the sequel (Business Insider, 3 min read) Trachtenberg said of meeting Schwarzenegger to discuss the cameo: "We talked a lot about the things we could make together and he was very kind to approve his cameo in this. And we can now continue to cook up things that may be in store for that guy.' Spinal Tap II: The End Continues The comedic rockers of Spinal Tap are back, with Rob Reiner returning to direct a sequel to the classic 1980s mockumentary. Reiner appeared at Comic-Con to debut a packed trailer for the movie, which features A-list music biz cameos from Paul McCartney and Elton John. It's almost certainly the only trailer this year to feature a Beatle and a Taskmaster star, in Kerry Godliman. Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer all return to their famous roles in the sequel and Reiner, for his part, praised the celebs who popped up. 'I was surprised at how good Paul McCartney was at improv,' said the filmmaker.
