- calendar_today August 8, 2025
Legendary Debuts and First Looks as Comic-Con 2025 Begins
SAN DIEGO — 24 July 2022 by AFP -We love it when a plan comes together. San Diego Comic-Con, the celebration of storytelling, cinema, and fandom that attracts tens of thousands of visitors from around the world to the annual event, has announced its official schedule of events. And while it would not be Comic-Con without the thrill of the big (and sometimes secret) announcements from Hollywood’s biggest blockbuster franchises and upcoming movies and TV shows, longtime fans will also be buzzing about one particular new attendee at this year’s event.
Sci-Fi legend George Lucas will be attending Comic-Con for the very first time. The famed director and filmmaker is no stranger to the convention’s history and, as the man responsible for both Star Wars and Indiana Jones, is no stranger to comic books either. Comic-Con made the announcement Thursday, highlighting this fact as a major reason fans should get excited. “His influence on world-building and visual storytelling has been undeniable,” the press release continued.
Comic-Con has featured these two massive franchises over the years, but Lucas has never attended the event. In an official statement, David Glanzer, Chief Communications and Strategy Officer, said this year marks a truly “full-circle moment” with Lucas attending the 2022 event. “Nearly five decades ago, Star Wars made one of its earliest public appearances at our convention, alongside a booth offering [comic book artist] Howard Chaykin’s now legendary Star Wars poster as a promotional giveaway,” he said. “Now we welcome George Lucas in person to Comic-Con for the first time.”
As part of the event, Lucas will be participating in a special Sunday panel moderated by Queen Latifah. The focus of the conversation is the upcoming Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles. Lucas will join Mexican director Guillermo del Toro and Oscar-winning artist Doug Chiang to discuss the museum’s opening next year. In addition to Lucas and del Toro, Chiang has been an integral designer in the Star Wars galaxy for several decades. The trio will be discussing the role the museum will play in the celebration of illustrated narratives and storytelling, as well as the wide range of media it will cover, including film, comics, and concept art. Lucas’s archive, including his collection, will be a part of the museum.
Comic-Con: From Origins to Megafandom
Comic-Con started out as a small convention that first took place in 1970 with only 100 comic book fans in attendance. It has grown significantly over the last few decades to become one of the largest pop culture events in the world. This year, Comic-Con is expecting around 130,000 attendees. Visitors come for a variety of reasons, from cosplay and collecting to a rare chance to catch sneak peeks of or entire panels and world premieres from some of the most buzzy movies and TV series in Hollywood.
Welcome to the Alien and Predator Saga
One of the Comic-Con exclusive sneak peeks comes from a familiar name in the realm of iconic space sagas: Alien: Earth, a series that serves as a prequel to Ridley Scott’s 1979 Alien, will be getting its world premiere at Comic-Con. Starring Noah Hawley, the series producer and director, Alien: Earth dives deeper into the world of franchise mythos and will be set just a few years before the film’s events. The series will premiere tomorrow in Hall H (the most coveted room of the convention) with a release on streaming platforms in August.
Predator: Badlands is another sci-fi series that is earning a major look from fans and attendees this year. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, who helmed 2022’s Prey and gave the series a major reboot, the new iteration on this classic action franchise will place the fan-favorite Predator in the lead, making him the hunted for the first time. Trachtenberg will be joined on the panel by star Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, who plays the role of the alien Dek. Fans will also get to know a little more about what they can expect from this wild new twist on the franchise.
Scaling Back Marvel, Sci-Fi Takes the Helm
Marvel Studios will be downsizing their presence this year, with a focus on just one appearance that will not be in Hall H. The news comes as Marvel will forgo the traditional Hall H panel due to recent changes in the development of the upcoming Avengers film. As Variety notes, Marvel Studios experienced many logistical issues due to a block on UK productions, making this year’s announcement a no-brainer.
For many Sci-Fi fans, the Marvel absence hasn’t made a dent in their excitement to take in the latest buzz this year from their favorite genre. Hall H, despite a few empty slots, promises to be an absolute thrill-a-minute showcase for fans this weekend, as some of the biggest science fiction franchises and big-name creators take center stage to reveal everything from sneak peeks to world premieres.
Stay close for Gosling, Peacemaker, and more.
On top of Alien and Predator, one of the buzz-worthy panels of the weekend also includes a Star Trek titan. Star Trek: Section 31 will be sharing a look at the series and upcoming second season with fans, complete with behind-the-scenes clips and sneak peeks. The audience will also get to learn about the Star Trek story heading into season 2. Alongside executive producers Akiva Goldsman and co-showrunners Chris Silber and Christopher Monfette, will be cast members Blu del Barrio, Michelle Hurd, Kenneth Mitchell, Fiona Vroom, Renoto, and more.
It’s also a major look for Project Hail Mary, the feature film adaptation of the eponymous novel by Andy Weir (author of The Martian). Set to hit theaters next year, the film stars Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace, a former schoolteacher who wakes up from cryosleep on a spaceship, alone. It turns out the last person on Earth may also be the last person who can save it, and he must find a way to get home before time runs out. Director duo Phil Lord and Christopher Miller will also be on the panel with Gosling to talk all things Project Hail Mary.
Fans of the DC universe will also see James Gunn on a panel to discuss Peacemaker, the second season of the successful series with the same name. Gunn, who, in addition to this Comic-Con appearance, will also be in attendance to welcome fans for a first look, will also be serving as head of DC’s larger cinematic reboot this year, with Superman getting the full treatment, alongside some of his fellow heroes. In addition to Gunn, Peacemaker will include the full cast, sharing behind-the-scenes looks and exclusive previews of the upcoming season.
And of course, these panels are just a tiny fraction of everything to expect and explore during Comic-Con. Attendees will also be combing the venue for exclusive merch, live demos, a comic convention marketplace, and more. In addition, thousands of fans will also take to the streets, dressed as their favorite heroes, princesses, warriors, and aliens. The event will continue through Sunday, July 27.
