It’s the most wonderful time of the year, for sci-fi and superhero geeks, at least. That’s right, Comic-Con 2024 is finally here, and we’ve collated all the major SDCC announcements from the various movie and TV panels.
The SDCC schedule has been revealed, and we know which major franchises and titles will be heading down to Hall H to share news with us.
There are plenty of SDCC rumors to sift through before the big announcements drop, but we’re here to deal with the absolute facts from the convention.
So, what’s going on with Marvel’s Phase 6? What new sci-fi movies are on the way? And what diabolical things do The Boys have lined up next? Let’s see.
SDCC announcements on Thursday, July 25
Transformers One
The Transformers One panel offered lots of tidbits from director Josh Cooley and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura. They were joined by stars Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, and Keegan Michael-Key. And, we got a new trailer! Check it out below.
Di Bonaventura told the crowd this animated movie is “completely different” to what has come before in the franchise and promises “people will see the world in a new way.” He also highlighted the fact the team had a lot of freedom to create something fresh.
Meanwhile, Cooley claimed he had never seen a script like the one he was given for Transformers One. All the hype on stage surrounds Jon Hamm, who plays Sentinel Prime and is described as “amazing” and “fantastic” by Cooley.
The crowd was shown an intense sequence from the Iacon 5000 race, which introduces Sentinel Prime and a new trailer, too. In another clip, the Autobots are given the cogs that allow them to transform, but it doesn’t quite work out. You can watch the trailer above.
Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry took the stage and told the audience about the process of making the film. Apparently, the pair spent months together ahead of their voice work to help develop the friendship between Optimus Prime (Hemsworth) and Megatron (Henry).
Keegan Michael-Key, who voices Bumblebee in the new movie, said he loved that his character was given the chance to speak up and show some personality, as opposed to the muted version we have seen previously.
The comedy actor also got the crowd singing the original Transformers theme tune, though it was mainly just him giving it his all.
More from Hemsworth, too, as he praised the original Optimus Prime voice actor, Peter Cullen. But, Hemsworth insisted he was not here to try and imitate the “iconic” work Cullen did.
If you’ve been wondering what Steve Buscemi’s role in the movie will be, it’s now revealed he is voicing Starscream. In the past, Starscream has been Megatron’s closest ally, but we’ll likely see the pair build that dynamic in this origins movie.
Star Wars
Star Wars: Stories from a Galaxy Far, Far Away was a tale of two panels. The first half focused solely on Star Wars: Outlaws – the upcoming open-world game from Ubisoft that we’ve played a good chunk of already. Little news was revealed here beyond the fact that an art book is in the works with Dark Horse.
The second half of the panel did come with some announcements, however, as the High Republic era took center stage. Wayseeker, an adult book focusing on Vernestra – who recently made her live-action debut in The Acolyte – is now in the works. This novel from Justina Ireland is set 20 years prior to the events of the Disney+ show.
Another young adult novel is also in the works with a focus on Jecki and Yord, also from The Acolyte. Last but not least, Kelnacca, the walking carpet featured in the show, is set to appear in Marvel’s final run of High Republic-era comics starting in February 2025.
Deadpool & Wolverine
Beyond a brief appearance on stage by the main cast and Kevin Feige, there were very few SDCC announcements coming out of this panel. Instead, it served merely as an opportunity for those in attendance to actually watch Deadpool & Wolverine.
Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman were joined on stage by a number of high-profile actors who make cameos in Deadpool 3, but we won’t spoil those for you.
After the panel, Marvel sent drones into the air to tease Galactus and The Fantastic Four movie. There will be more from the MCU on Saturday, and we can’t wait to see what they’ve got in store for us next!
What else happened on Day 1?
Nothing else major to see here, really. If you’re a fan of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, you’ll be happy to know that a new animated series is coming in August, and it’ll bridge the gap between 2023’s brilliant movie Mutant Mayhem and the upcoming sequel.
Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will be on Paramount+ on August 9, 2024, and will consist of 12 episodes.
Meanwhile, the cast of Percy Jackson and the Olympians were on stage in Hall H, discussing their favorite memories from Season 1. They also teased what we can expect from Season 2.
Here’s what the panel schedule looked like for Day 1 of SDCC:
11:45am – 12:45pm — Transformers One (Hall H)1:00pm – 2:00pm — Celebrating 25 Years of SpongeBob Squarepants (Hall H)2:15pm – 3:15pm — Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Hall H)2:15pm – 3:15pm — Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Room 6BCF)3:00pm – 4:00pm — Behind the action of Peacock’s gladiator epic Those About to Die (Ballroom 20)3:30pm – 4:30pm — What We Do in the Shadows Farewell Kickoff (Hall H)4:15pm – 5:15pm — Star Wars: Stories from a Galaxy Far, Far Away (Ballroom 20)6:30pm – 7:30pm — Deadpool & Wolverine (Hall H)
SDCC announcements on Friday, July 26
The Boys
The Boys creator, Eric Kripke, teased that his panel was “gonna be really f**king epic,” so our expectations were high for this one, and thankfully he wasn’t lying.
Things started with a musical interlude brought to us by Vought’s finest, Jessie T. Usher and Lizze Broadway, who serenaded the audience with songs from Vought on Ice. Host Jeffrey Dean Morgan (who plays Billy Butcher’s dark alter-ego Kessler) and showrunner Eric Kripke then introduced the whole cast of The Boys on stage, and we got into the good stuff.
During the first few questions, Kripke admitted how much he enjoyed bringing the Starlight versus the Shapeshifter to life. Erin Moriarty clearly agreed with him, admitting she really enjoyed playing the sinister shapeshifter. According to Total Film, she said it was “the most fun” she’d ever had with a role.
Antony Starr, however, got a big laugh when he heard a baby crying and cracked a joke about how appropriate it was to bring a child to the event (We think he probably wanted to know if there was any milk on the go). Jack Quaid then brought a sense of dignity back to proceedings by waxing poetically about working with his hero, Simon Pegg.
As you can tell, the panel started off quite light-hearted, but there were some nicer, more serious moments as well, like when Usher admitted he found it refreshing that A-Train got a redemption of sorts (He’s not wrong. That’s one of the better parts of The Boys Season 4).
Karen Fukuhara also spoke about how excited she was that Kimiko finally got to speak, and it sounds like she expects the character to keep talking in Season 5, which is a surprise.
Prime also spoiled fans of The Boys watching the panel – and those hanging on with bated breath at home – by releasing a Season 4 blooper reel which you can watch below.
Other than that, we also learned that the writers have been working on The Boys Season 5 for the last few months, and Jensen Ackles made a surprise appearance where he confirmed that Soldier Boy will be back as a regular character for the final season. There was also an exclusive Gen V Season 2 trailer shown to the lucky fans in Hall H, and it was confirmed that the Guardians of Godolkin will return in 2025. Even better news, though, is that everyone’s favorite mollusk lover, The Deep, will be making a guest appearance.
Perhaps most excitingly, though, was the news of a new prequel spin-off show called Vought Rising, which will star Ackles as Soldier Boy and Aya Cash, who will once again play the nasty (or should that be Nazi) villain Stormfront. Now that’s f***in’ diabolical! Next up, The Rings of Power!
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
The Rings of Power was up next, and there must be something in the water (or at least the water at Prime Video’s HQ) because the panel kicked off with another musical performance. Don’t worry, it’s not Vought on Ice again; this time, it was epic Orcish war drums.
Charlie Vickers, Morfydd Clark, and Benjamin Walker then made their way on stage for a quick Q&A, during which Vickers claimed The Rings of Power Season 2 was all about Sauron (classic villainous ego), and Clark joked that Galadriel had learned not to trust handsome men.
A trailer that teases giant eagles, ents, and ginormous spiders (shudder) was then shown to the fans in Hall H, but don’t worry. You didn’t have to be in San Diego to see it! You can watch it below.
After that, the rest of the cast joined their co-stars on stage, and the panel kicked off in earnest! What was most interesting about the panel was Vickers and Joseph Mawle (who plays the warped elf Adar) talking about how Sauraon and Adar will face off in Season 2. It seems like, in between convincing Celebrimbor to forge the other Rings of Power, the Dark Lord will try to take Mordor and the Orcs for himself.
Daniel Weyman, who plays The Stranger (Aka ‘Is that Gandalf?’), also teased a little bit about his upcoming story with Tom Bombadil. According to Total Film, he said that the “tables turn” when he meets Bombadil, and the pair will apparently “spar and sing.” We’re guessing that means that it’s Bombadil who’ll help ‘Not-Gandalf’ get control of his powers in between rousing musical interludes.
Other than that, we learned that Rings of Power Season 2 will feature scarier monsters (there’s what seems to be a Balrog in the trailer, and Isildur will face off against Shelob the Great Spider) than the first, and everyone seems very happy that the Ents are going to appear.
Perhaps most excitingly, though, the showrunners have said that we will see Galadirel’s missing husband, Glorfindel, at some point, and they’ll reveal who Theo’s dad is (although it might not be in season 2).
Doctor Who
Russell T Davies, Ncuti Gatwa, and Millie Gibson led the Doctor Who panel in Hall H. During the event, Millie revealed that The Little Mermaid star Jonah Hauer-King will appear in Doctor Who Season 15 and play a major role in Ruby Sunday’s story.
Fans were then shown a clip of the upcoming Doctor Who Christmas special (which we’ve embedded above), where they were introduced to Nicola Coughlan’s new character, Joy, who’ll be joining the Doctor in the TARDIS as he battles Silurians this festive season. Oh, and if you’re curious about Mrs Flood, don’t worry! Davies has said there’ll be plenty more of her next season.
The biggest news from Hall H, though, was the announcement of The War Between The Land And The Sea, a five-part spin-off series led by Russell Tovey, Jemma Redgrave, Alexander Devrient, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw. This long-rumored series will see UNIT battling a race of aquatic aliens who’ve marched out of the oceans to conquer the Earth. Yes, the Sea Devils are back!
Invincible
During Prime Video’s Adult Animation panel, we got our first look at Invincible Season 3. The dramatic poster shows off Mark’s new black-and-blue suit, which will give those who’ve read the Invincible comics a good idea of what to expect in the third season.
During the Q&A, Invincible creator Robert Kirkman said that things would start to get very dark in season 3, and judging by the familiar shadow in the promo image, we have a good idea of which villain will be darkening Mark’s door. I guess the old expression is true: you really are your own worst enemy.
Even more excitingly, Prime officially announced that Invincible Season 4 was in the works (we’ll probably see it in 2029 if they keep up the current production schedule).
Hazbin Hotel seasons 3 and 4
The animation news didn’t stop there, though. The devilishly delightful Hazbin Hotel has been greenlit for another two seasons. No, this isn’t a Satanic trick; we’re really getting Hazbin Hotel Season 3 and 4! What a time to be a fan of cartoons set in Hell (it’s a bit niche, I know). We also got a few details about Hazbin Hotel Season 2 (but no release date, unfortunately). Most notably, the show’s creator, Vivienne Medrano, claimed that Vox would be the big bad in the second season.
The Walking Dead – Dead City
The zombies shuffled back into Hall H this Friday as well. First up was the Dead City cast who were there to promote their upcoming second season. Luckily for you, you don’t have to risk being infected by a Hall H ghoul (those poor creatures). You can just watch the trailer below!
Fans are already excited to see Negan and Maggie return to the small screen, but what’s even more exciting is that Lucille is back! Why are people excited to see a baseball bat wrapped in razor wire again? I don’t know, but I’m happy they’re happy, and I don’t want to upset them, to be honest. They scare me.
During the panel, Lauren Cohan, who plays Maggie, spoke about taking on the challenge of directing this season telling the moderator that working with a group of such “intensely talented individuals” was “one of the most humbling experiences” of her life.
We also learned that Keir Gilchrist, Dascha Polanco, Jack Weary, and Pooya Mohseni are all going to join the show as well.
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Jeffrey Dean Morgan, meanwhile, spoke about how his character’s relationship with Maggie has changed, Negan’s relationship with children, and he even cracked a joke about using Lucille for good (tell that to Glenn’s head!). So when can you expect to see Negan and Maggie back on your screens? Unfortunately, not until 2025.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol
Did you think we were done with The Walking Dead? Think again. It’s Daryl and Carol’s turn now, and they kicked off their panel with a new trailer for the upcoming show The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol.
If the trailer doesn’t impress you, well, that’s not the end of the good news. During the panel it was confirmed that The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon had been renewed for a third season! This time, Daryl and Carol are swapping the high culture of post-apocalyptic France for the rugged plains of post-apocalyptic Spain.
“We pick up where we left off. It’s interesting shooting this show outside of Georgia,” Norman Reedus explained [via Total Film]. “To watch Melissa come to Europe to kick as I’ve been waiting. As far as the production side I’m involved.”
Alien: Romulus
We gained insight into space horror’s latest installment during the official Alien: Romulus panel, which saw Fede Alvarez reveal various approaches undertaken to expand the franchise and a sneak peek into what was to come.
Promised many easter eggs and a story that still stands by itself, lucky fans in Hall H were treated to some exclusive footage from the movie – as well as a chest-burster scene performed live on stage. Overall, plenty of body horror, blood, and practical effects all around.
Dexter: Original Sin
A brand-new exclusive teaser for Original Sin has been unveiled, but don’t worry if you missed it at the SDCC panel, you can check it out below.
Dexter fans can also rejoice as the panel brought news of a sequel series in the works that is expected to be released next summer. Taking place after New Blood, the upcoming show, Dexter: Resurrection will be set in the present day and see Michael C. Hall return as the titular character.
Hall will also be lending his voiceover to narrate Original Sin, and joined cast members Christian Slater, Patrick Gibson, Molly Brown, and Sarah Michelle Gellar on the panel. Additional cast members include James Martinez, Christina Milian, Alex Shimizu, and Reno Wilson.
What else happened during SDCC Day 2?
The Boys and Invincible weren’t the only superheroes to get some love at SDCC this Friday. Prime also dropped a new Batman: Caped Crusader trailer as well, which you can watch below.
It was also confirmed that Sausage Party: Foodtopia was getting a second season, which will delight our Deputy TV & Movies Editor. DC Studios meanwhile debuted its new logo, which is a fun throwback to the one designed by artist Milton Glaser and used by DC Comics until 2005.
Yes, I know it’s not the most exciting news, but James Gunn’s busy with Superman, and it’s not like he’s got anything else to show us… or does he? Well, Gunn must have heard my keyboard clattering because DC used SDCC to launch the first trailer for their upcoming animated show, Creature Commandos.
The series is the first official project from the DCU, and it will see Amanda Waller using a team of supernatural creatures to battle threats to Earth. It looks pretty good, in a deliberately weird kind of way, and it’ll be available to stream this December.
Creature Commandos wasn’t the only cartoon to get a trailer. Hulu dropped the teaser for Solar Opposites Season 5 during a panel about our favorite Shlorpians, and it was announced that the show had been renewed for a sixth season. Wooh!
For those keeping their eyes peeled for updates on Like a Dragon: Yakuza, the new live-action series based on the video game, it was a good day. Prime Video dropped the first real trailer for the upcoming TV show, which is set to debut on the platform in October 24.
Check it out for yourself below and catch a glimpse of the plentiful action to come!
Here’s the full SDCC schedule for Friday:
10am – 11am — The Boys (Hall H)11:05am – 12:15pm — The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (Hall H)1pm — Adapting Fan Favorites: A Conversation with Prime Video’s Adult Animation Creators (Indigo Ballroom)12:30pm – 1:30pm — Doctor Who1:45pm – 2:45pm The Walking Dead: Dead City Panel (Hall H)2:45pm – 3:45pm The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol Panel on Friday (Hall H)2:30pm — Like a Dragon: Yakuza (Room 5AB)5:15 pm – 6:15pm — Alien: Romulus (Hall H)5:45pm – 6:45pm — Dexter: Original Sin (Ballroom 20)8:15pm – 9:15pm — Harley Quinn & Kite Man: Hell Yeah! Panel (Room 6BCF)
SDCC announcements for Saturday, July 27
And, for the penultimate and biggest day of SDCC announcements, all eyes are on Marvel. We expect a load of clarification and progress reports on Phase 6 projects.
My Adventures with Superman
Early in the morning there was a My Adventures with Superman panel where it was confirmed that Superboy would be introduced during season 3. A few new villains were teased as well, including Hank Henshaw (better known as Cyborg Superman), a Kryptonian who may or may not be Zod, and most excitingly bald Lex Luthor (Yes, I know he’s not a new villain, but which MAWS fan hasn’t been waiting for Lex to lose his orange mop.
Everybody Hates Chris
Chris Rock is bringing back the show about his childhood years, but this time in animated form. Everybody Still Hates Chris is a reboot, and Terry Crews returns as the family patriarch, with Rock coming back as narrator and producer.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 first look
The first teaser for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 puts the crew in an odd situation by transforming them into Vulcans. They take a serum designed to cause a temporary change, and the results are about what you expect. Captain Pike handles it well, whereas Pelia becomes disappointed, because she appears to be immune. Boo!
Meanwhile, Cillian O’Sullivan has been added to the case of Strange New Worlds, as Dr. Roger Korby. Elsewhere in the Federation, Lower Decks Season 5 is confirmed to premiere on October 24, 2024.
Glen Powell joins Family Guy’s first Halloween special for Hulu
Fresh off Twisters and Hit Man, Glen Powell’s throwing in a guest starring role for Family Guy in the show’s first Halloween special on Hulu (yeah, we’re surprised too). He’s Quahog’s defending champion of pumpkin carving – Peter probably has something to say about that.
Star Trek announces new comedy show
Star Trek is going White Lotus with a comedy set on a resort planet, where the staff come to realize their part of a reality TV show. There’s no title yet, but Justin Simien, creator of Dear White People and director of Haunted Mansion, and Trondy Newman, star of Lower Decks and writer on Starfleet Academy, are co-creators.
Robert Picardo is returning to Star Trek
The doctor is in! Robert Picardo, who portrayed the EMH on Voyager, is joining Star Trek: Starfleet Academy as the good doctor. Tig Nataro will also be a regular next season, and Paul Giamatti, holly Hunter, Oded Fehr and Mary Wiseman will have guest features.
New trailer for Star Trek: Section 31
Section 31, the Star Trek movie starring Michelle Yeoh, gets a new trailer. The film will arrive exclusively on Paramount Plus in 2025.
The Penguin
The Penguin cast were the next to gather in Hall H, with Colin Farrell dialling in to join the fun. During the panel, we learned that the show actually began life as a story idea for The Batman 2 before it ultimately evolved into the HBO series [via Neil Vagg].
More excitingly, though, it was revealed that The Penguin will be released on September 19 on HBO, and we got a new trailer.
Marvel
During the Marvel Studios panel in Hall H, Giancarlo Esposito‘s character in Captain America: Brave New World was revealed to be Sidewinder, The King of the Serpent Society.
The movie will also introduce Adamantium, the indestructible steel alloy that makes up Wolverine’s skeleton and claws, into the MCU as the Eternals’ Celestials will be revealed to be made up of the material.
Those lucky enough to be in the audience were treated to the trailer for Thunderbolts, which included a sweet moment between Yelena Belova and Red Guardian along with an explanation of how the team came together.
Lewis Pullman, best known for his role in Top Gun: Maverick, was amongst the cast on stage. His character’s name was revealed to ‘Bob’ and it’s heavily implied he will be playing the role of Sentry, one of the most powerful heroes in the world with a dark side.
Marvel also announced The Fantastic Four movie will have the subtitle ‘First Steps,’ which only seems to further the theory that the movie will be the team’s origin story.
After a long search for a director, Avengers 5 finally found their leaders in the Russo Brothers. It will mark the directors return to the MCU after heading up the end of the Infinity War saga.
And the movie now has a new name as it will no longer be titled Avengers: Secret Wars and will now be known as Avengers: Doomsday. Avengers: Secret Wars will act as the second part of the Phase 6 Avengers films.
A few Doctor Doom cosplayers took the stage along with this announcement, confirming the Avengers will be facing off against the Fantastic Four villain.
In the biggest news of the panel, Marvel confirmed that Robert Downey Jr. will be returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom!
Downey himself turned up to the panel in costume and told the crowd that he took the role because he “likes playing complicated characters.”
Avengers: Doomsday will premiere in May 2026 with Avengers: Secret Wars following it a year later in May 2027.
From
Cast and producers from the show From made their way to SDCC to give fans a very special treat indeed. The trailer for From Season 3 was shared, and the release date was finally announced.
You can watch From Season 3 from Sunday, September 22, 2024. Check out the trailer for yourself below.
Alongside this, it was also announced that Robert Joy and Samantha Brown would be joining the cast as Henry and Acosta, respectively.
Everything else we learned this Saturday at SDCC
Great news if you’re a fan of watching people live in a giant tin tube, we finally know the Silo Season 2 release date. Juliette will be back on Friday, November 15, and Steven Zahn will also be joining the show.
Here’s the full SDCC schedule for Saturday:
10:00am – 10:45am — Ghosts (Ballroom 20)10:00am – 11:00am — My Adventures With Superman (Indigo Ballroom)11:15am – 12:15pm — Everybody Still Hates Chris (Indigo Ballroom)11:15am – 12:15pm — Superman & Lois (Hall H)1:45pm – 3:15pm — The Star Trek Universe (Hall H)2:45pm – 3:45pm — Batman: Caped Crusader (Room 6BCF)4:45pm – 5:45pm — The Penguin Panel (Hall H)6:00pm – 7:00pm — Marvel Studios (Hall H)6:45pm — From (Indigo Ballroom)
You could also keep up with everything from SDCC by following the official social media channels.
And that’s your lot for SDCC announcements for another year. Until next time, dive into our list of the best superhero movies of all time, or see who we rank as the best supervillain ever. You can also check out our ranking of the Star Wars shows, or explore the most shocking moments from The Boys Season 4.