Last Updated on August 5, 2021
Next week, JoBlo.com will be dispatching a crew to cover the 50th annual San Diego Comic Con. Like previous years, expect reviews, reactions, and exclusive news as it happens here and on social media including YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter. Since we plan to bring you a lot of stuff, here is our list of the most anticipated things we are looking forward to seeing at SDCC aside from the awesome cosplay and convention floor elements. If you think we missed something or want to make sure we keep our eyes peeled, let us know in the comments below!
Marvel Studios
After taking a year off from SDCC, Marvel Studios is back with a full panel. While Kevin Feige teased that we would not learn about the next slate of films until after SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME, this pretty much confirms we are going to learn about “Phase 4” next week. Expected to be revealed are the cast of THE ETERNALS as well as potential leases for SHANG-CHI, BLACK WIDOW, and the upcoming Disney+ series Hawkeye, Falcon and Winter Soldier, and WandaVision. Who knows what else could be in store but know that this will be the biggest panel of the weekend.
Premieres of Pennyworth, The Boys, and Batwoman
On top of providing sneak peaks at new films and TV shows, San Diego Comic Con has been home to numerous premieres and early screenings of films ranging from STAR TREK BEYOND and ATOMIC BLONDE to Netflix's The Defenders. Each SDCC has a night teasing multiple pilot episodes of shows and this year will be no exception. Along with the debut of Epix's series Pennyworth and The CW's Batwoman, Comic Con will play host to the red carpet premiere of Amazon Prime's anticipated The Boys.
SDCC Hall of Fame Induction
For their first annual induction of a comic book character to the Comic Con Hall of Fame, SDCC will be honoring Batman. With a massive exhibit chronicling the history of the Dark Knight, this is sure to be a museum display that will entertain and inform young and old. With looks at his roots in DC Comics through his big screen adventures, this will be something very special for the comic book fans in attendance.
HBO Panels for His Dark Materials, Westworld, and Game of Thrones
HBO has an interesting mix of panels this year. Game of Thrones will have their grand send-off to wrap up their presence at the convention but there could also be surprise looks at the currently filming prequel series. Westworld is still a year away from the third season, but that Aaron Paul teaser from earlier this year could portend a new glimpse at what is to come in 2020. Finally, there is HBO and the BBC's joint venture, His Dark Materials, starring James McAvoy, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and LOGAN's Dafne Keen. All three should be stellar experiences with a lot of material to share.
Netflix’s The Witcher and The Dark Crystal
While they only have two panels at this year's SDCC, Netflix is bringing the big guns with two highly anticipated shows. First is The Witcher starring Henry Cavill. Based on the video game of the same name, this is a Game of Thrones level project for Netflix that brings one of the biggest movie stars around to the small screen. Then there is the return of Jim Henson's cult classic THE DARK CRYSTAL in a new series that looks ripped straight from the 1980s with a stellar voice cast. Nostalgia will be running high for that panel as well as the first looks at footage from both new shows.
Shudder’s Creepshow
The Year of Stephen King continues with the return of the author's CREEPSHOW series. Previously a pair of films that were developed by King and George Romero, the new series from Shudder has some top notch talent including King's son, Joe Hill, serving as the basis for the stories. With episodes helmed by FX legends Tom Savini and Greg Nicotero and a cast including David Arquette, Adrienne Barbeau, Tobin Bell, Giancarlo Esposito, Tricia Helfer, and Dana Gould, this new Creepshow could be the perfect sucessor to Tales from the Crypt!
CBS’ Star Trek Discovery and Picard
While presentations will include looks at what is to come in Star Trek Discovery's third season as well as the upcoming animated series, everyone is waiting to see what Picard holds. The return of Patrick Stewart as the legendary Jean-Luc Picard for a new series and one shrouded in plot mysteries is alone enough to make it must see TV, but the chance to see some actual scenes from the show makes this a mandatory panel.
Scary Stories to Tell In The Dark
While director Andre Ovredal may have helmed the movie, Guillermo Del Toro's long time inclusion with the film version of SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK makes him the ideal person to headline a panel for the film. I would expect footage from the movie to be shown along with some cast surprises, but it will be cool just to hear Del Toro share his experiences with the books and their journey to the screen.
Snowpiercer
TBS continues their push into dramatic TV with an adaptation of the acclaimed film SNOWPIERCER. This new series is already renewed for a second season and isn't even debuting until 2020. Despite production nightmares that have kept it developing for three years, it will be interesting to see how the series starring Daveed Diggs and Jennifer Connelly holds up compared to the astounding feature film.
Outdoor presentations and more!
SDCC is known not only for the convention floor and the iconic Hall H panels but also for how networks and studios transform the surrounding outdoor area into marketing behemoths for their shows and movies. This year, there will be the annual American Horror Story experience as well as ones for Pennyworth, IT: CHAPTER TWO, NBC shows like The Good Place and Brooklyn 99. The biggest presence will be Amazon Studios who are bringing a half dozen series including The Boys, The Man in the High Castle and The Expanse and will be building a multi story tower which will include the chance to step inside new series like Carnival Row.
Follow the JOBLO MOVIE NETWORK
Follow us on YOUTUBE
Follow ARROW IN THE HEAD
Follow AITH on YOUTUBE