San Diego Comic-Con 2024 was about as near the Comedian-Con of previous because it may presumably be. Final yr, the writers’ and actors’ strikes put a bit of a damper on a number of the occasion’s status, however that was again and extra in 2024. Huge drone shows, major movie premieres, massive celebrities, and big-time information had been all again on the menu—and that was simply from Marvel Studios.
Beneath, learn concerning the properties, folks, experiences, and extra that basically popped out of Comedian-Con 2024—and some that missed the mark.
Winners
Kevin Feige
It’s all the time a great weekend to be Kevin Feige however this weekend was particularly good. His first R-rated movie, Deadpool & Wolverine, grew to become the sixth greatest opener ever, he acquired a star on the Hollywood Stroll of Fame, and he pulled off the coup of the century getting not simply the Russo Brothers, however Robert Downey Jr. himself, to return again to the MCU. Not unhealthy for 3 days.
DC Universe
Going into Comedian-Con, there was some disappointment that James Gunn wasn’t bringing Superman and his different upcoming DC tasks to the conference. Solely, that wasn’t precisely proper. As a substitute of 1 huge, central occasion, Gunn quietly revealed the studio’s new brand, its first trailer transferring ahead (for Creature Commandos), after which acquired some actually robust buzz for the Batman spinoff present, The Penguin, due to a trailer and in-person activations. The conference ended with an actual sense of DC having endurance and goal.
Fallout
The Prime Video present is between seasons now, so there wasn’t a panel or something, however you couldn’t transfer by the streets or conference middle with out seeing somebody cosplaying as a Vault dweller. They had been all over the place. There have been even some folks in full Energy Armor. The present clearly had an affect and followers cherished it.
Interview With the Vampire
Interview might have solely simply wrapped up its second season, however that didn’t cease AMC from providing a killer new tease for the most important leap the present is taking for season three. Framed round a less-than-glamorous interview with Lestat, now a glam rock music star, it gave followers Sam Reid in tremendous, haunting type, and was an effective way to indicate how the vibe is altering within the upcoming season.
Followers in Individual
After a couple of unusual years for SDCC, between the covid-19 pandemic and final yr’s Hollywood strikes, 2024 felt like the primary time in awhile the con was really again. And fortunately, it was: the expertise on the present flooring this yr was nice for attendees in-person, not simply by way of loads of unique sneak peeks and pictures from the most important panels that was particularly for folks on the present, however nice in-panel moments as properly, from Marvel’s Corridor H Deadpool choir to Alien: Romulus’ “dwell” facehugger assault.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy
After season one ended with a little bit of a “that was it?” thud, Amazon’s Lord of the Rings prequel had lots to show coming into its splashy Corridor H panel. It talked an enormous discuss of constructing on the teachings realized from season one, and now it needed to present it: and present it Prime Video did, with what was arguably the most effective trailers of all SDCC, and an incredible, enjoyable panel that acquired followers within the temper for season two subsequent month.
Lionsgate
Lionsgate got here to Comedian-Con this yr to advertise two huge upcoming motion pictures: Borderlands and The Crow. However neither movie had a panel or any main presence on the ground. As a substitute, actors selling each had been scattered throughout the conference middle space, interacting with followers and handing out swag—and, as a result of everybody has to enter or exit the occasion, it made each movies arguably extra seen than in the event that they’d a presence within the conference itself. A lot of that was additionally exterior a bigger, Borderlands activation which had a line each single day. It proved there are methods to do Comedian-Con with out really doing Comedian-Con.
Deadpool
Marvel made its conventional Comedian-Con splash, however one character dominated a lot of the weekend that he deserves his personal spot within the winner’s circle. Deadpool & Wolverine had a star-studded Corridor H screening the night time earlier than the film’s record-setting opening, and fan pleasure for the Merc With a Mouth’s newest journey was very clearly telegraphed by the sheer quantity of cosplay. Deadpools, Deadpools, Deadpools, all over the place you appeared!
Animated TV exhibits
The thrill for small-screen animation unfold throughout totally different networks and streamers, with Prime Video exhibits (Invincible, The Legend of Vox Machina, Hazbin Resort, and Sausage Social gathering: Footopia) asserting renewals and updates at a panel shared by their creators; long-running collection like Futurama (Hulu) and Bob’s Burgers (Fox) internet hosting packed panels that confirmed their vitality continues to be sky-high; and Hulu’s Photo voltaic Opposites asserting a renewal and a brand new Halloween particular. Even with no Rick and Morty panel, there was nonetheless a palpable Rick and Morty presence, due to the upcoming anime spin-off and Grownup Swim’s “Pirate Parrrty” carnival positioned simply exterior the conference middle.
What We Do within the Shadows
Although it was bittersweet, since FX’s beloved vampire comedy is heading into its sixth and remaining season, the What We Do within the Shadows Corridor H panel was pure delight. With a number of cosplayers in the home (heavy on the Nadjas), followers acquired to see the season six premiere, in addition to a panel that includes a hilarious, apparently spontaneous bit through which solid member Kayvan Novak joined the dialogue by way of Zoom in character as Nandor—fangs included.
Losers
Dr. Doom
Inside Corridor H, the reveal of Robert Downey Jr.’s return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Physician Doom was some of the exhilarating moments in Marvel Comedian-Con historical past. And there are been lots. However as soon as that shock and pleasure wore off, you can inform everybody was confused. How was Downey again? Which character is he enjoying? Is Marvel actually doing Physician Doom like this? Why not simply recast Kang? The transfer created extra questions and fear than real anticipation. However, hopefully, that flips within the coming years.
Silo
After our preliminary pleasure over Silo having a panel at Comedian-Con, that it ended with information of its launch date (November 15) and never a trailer for everybody to get pleasure from was an actual bummer. The season is finished filming. Why the wait? It felt like a drop of the ball.
Unusual New Worlds
Unusual New Worlds has historically been an enormous hit at SDCC, bringing a lot of enjoyable bulletins and surprises. Provided that season three solely simply began filming, followers weren’t certain simply what the present may carry this yr, however nobody may’ve anticipated such a bizarre prolonged clip. An odd scene that noticed Spock change into the quick butt of jokes and harassment after Pike, Uhura, La’an, and Chapel wanted to be genetically reworked into Vulcans themselves for a mission, it performed Vulcan’s culturally racist view of bi-racial beings as bizarrely genetic trait, resulting in an ungainly, overplayed gag. Out of context it was not an incredible first exhibiting for the brand new season.
The Physician Who/Star Trek Crossover Panel
There was plenty of buzz going into the Star Trek and Physician Who “Intergalactic Friendship Panel,” as a result of why would there be an official crossover panel if there wasn’t going to be some information connected? Seems, there wasn’t. The panel was nice in attending to see showrunners Alex Kurtzman and Russell T Davies geek out collectively, however build up a lot expectation prematurely (the panel had an accompanying activation with Trek and Who props) to shrug shoulders and provide a cell sport occasion in return was weird.
Sony’s Spider-Man Universe
San Diego Comedian-Con is a celebration of comedian books and the popular culture that they encourage. And whereas there have been a couple of whispers of Madame Internet on the wind (Isabela Merced couldn’t escape no less than one fan query about it on the Alien: Romulus panel), there was completely zero presence for Kraven the Hunter or Venom: The Final Dance, each of that are releasing earlier than the tip of 2024.
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