San Diego Comic-Con’s Best Panels: ‘Avengers: Doomsday,’ ‘Lanterns,’ ‘Percy Jackson’ and More

Saturday, July 25, 5:30 pm — Hall H

The last time Marvel hosted a Hall H presentation, the studio rocked the fandom with the reveal that Robert Downey Jr. would return to the MCU — not as Iron Man (he died in “Endgame,” after all) but as the über-villain Doctor Doom. Two years later, Marvel returns with the promised film, “Avengers: Doomsday,” directed by the Russo brothers. December’s clash of superheroes features Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, the Fantastic Four, warring factions led by Anthony Mackie’s Captain America and Florence Pugh’s New Avengers (aka the Thunderbolts), the MCU debut of the original X-Men and the shocking return of Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers. Before that, the studio (and Sony) must promote Tom Holland’s fourth solo Spider-Man outing, “Brand New Day,” which hits theaters on July 31. Both movies are potential blockbusters and hopeful indicators of the future as Marvel prepares for Phase 7, following December 2027’s “Avengers: Secret Wars.”

Friday, July 24, 1:30 pm — Hall H

Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre lead DC Studios’ new twist on the “Green Lantern” comics, with a detective story largely set in rural Nebraska, a dusty backdrop that infuses the HBO series with dread. From creators Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof and Tom King, the so-called superheroes of “Lanterns” are flawed men who have their own agendas, and with a supporting cast that includes Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt and Nathan Fillion, the show feels like it’s in a different galaxy from the 2011 “Green Lantern” movie that starred Ryan Reynolds. The ambitious drama premieres on Aug. 16 and is wisely using the convention floor as a massive launchpad. 

Saturday, July 25, 7:30 pm — Fan Screening at AMC Mission Valley

Last year, the team behind the beleaguered Looney Tunes legal comedy “Coyote vs. Acme,” which was infamously shelved by Warner Bros. Discovery for a tax write-off and ultimately rescued by scrappy indie Ketchup Entertainment, used its Hall H panel to announce an August 2026 release date. Now, the live-action/animated movie — which follows Wile E. Coyote’s legal fight against Acme Corp., whose products repeatedly malfunctioned during his pursuit of the Road Runner — returns for a victory lap ahead of its theatrical debut. Star Will Forte showed up for last year’s panel, and his co-star Lana Condor will be on hand this time. Fingers crossed that the lone protester who braved a rainstorm to picket the movie’s cancellation (dressed as the cartoon coyote) will also be in attendance. 

Thursday, July 23, 6 pm — Hall H

For more than 30 years — even before “The Iron Giant” — Oscar-winning director Brad Bird has been batting around an idea for an animated movie that blends sci-fi with detective noir. The result: Netflix’s “Ray Gunn,” a retro-futuristic caper starring Sam Rockwell as Raymond Gunn, a small-time private eye, and Scarlett Johansson as Venus Nova, the world’s most famous pop star, whose secrets are at the center of the plot. Bird says his elevator pitch for the movie, streaming Dec. 18, is “‘The Maltese Falcon’ meets ‘Buck Rogers.’” 

Friday, July 24, 10 am — Ballroom 20

Before the DreamWorks movie launches in theaters on Sept. 25, its stars will descend on Comic-Con. Set in the 1990s, the Filipino folklore-tinged animated tale stars H.E.R. and Liza Soberano as Jo and Raissa, best friends who embark on one last adventure after their high school graduation. Their journey takes them into a night filled with shape-shifters, demons and witches, testing their friendship as they fight to find a magical portal and return home. The movie also stars Dave Franco and Tony winner Lea Salonga as the story’s villain. 

Friday, July 24, 10 am PT — Hall H

In the works at Amazon since 2022, this new entry in Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner” universe —from showrunner Silka Luisa (“Shining Girls”) — revolves around characters in distress. Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh plays Olwen, a Replicant at the end of her life, who teams up with Hunter Schafer’s Cora in the Los Angeles of the future. Undoubtedly, they’ll all face the existential question of what it means to be human that Scott’s been posing since the original “Blade Runner” film in 1982. 

Saturday, July 25, 4:45 p.m. — Ballroom 20

Stephen King’s first novel has been adapted into films, a Broadway production and a very special, peculiar episode of “Riverdale.” Now, “Carrie” will become a miniseries, debuting this fall on Prime Video. Created by horror filmmaker Mike Flanagan — the first project under his new Amazon deal — the show features newcomer Summer H. Howell in the lead role of Carrie White and Samantha Sloyan as Carrie’s domineering mother, Margaret White, with whom she’s lived a life of seclusion. After her father’s death, Carrie goes to school for the first time, only to be met with a harsh bullying scandal. The all-star cast features Siena Agudong, Matthew Lillard, Alison Thornton and Amber Midthunder. As with every Flanagan project, expect twists, turns, jump scares and a good amount of blood. Cue the prom queen. 

Saturday, July 25, 3:30 p.m. — Ballroom 20

Just weeks before the Season 4 debut of “Reacher,” the cast is heading to San Diego not only to tease what’s to come on the Prime Video action drama, but also to introduce the world expansion. Alan Ritchson will guest star on “Neagley,” the spinoff drama set to premiere in September, which follows private investigator Frances Neagley (played by Maria Sten), a former military protégé of Jack Reacher. Greyston Holt, Adeline Rudolph, Jasper Jones, Matthew Del Negro and Damon Herriman also star. 

Friday, July 24, 4 pm — Hall H

Your father’s brother’s nephew’s cousin’s former roommate is coming to San Diego. The team behind “Spaceballs: The New One,” with Rick Moranis returning to acting after a long hiatus to play Lord Dark Helmet, will celebrate the sci-fi spoof movie’s 40th anniversary and preview the long-awaited sequel. Comedy legend Mel Brooks, who just turned 100, also returns for the film, which riffs on “Star Wars” lightsaber fights, the “Avatar” and “Harry Potter” franchises and Hollywood’s merger madness. Josh Greenbaum directs the film from a script by Josh Gad, Benji Samit and Dan Hernandez. Gad is among the new stars joining returning actors George Wyner, Daphne Zuniga and Bill Pullman. Keke Palmer, Lewis Pullman (Bill’s son) and Anthony Carrigan are also newbies.  

Friday, July 24, 1:30 pm — Ballroom 20

“Ghosts” has been a staple at San Diego Comic-Con for years, so it’s no surprise that the CBS comedy, adapted for the U.S. by Joe Port and Joe Wiseman, will be back to promote the sixth season. Plus, “the Joes” are debuting a brand-new title this year, “Eternally Yours.” The family comedy follows a vampire couple (played by Ed Weeks and Allegra Edwards) who, after 500 years together, feel like they’re stuck in a rut. Then their daughter brings home a human boyfriend, and that shakes everything up. Per usual, expect the living, the dead and a whole lot of laughter. 

Saturday, July 25, 2 pm — Hall H (as part of the Apple TV panel)

Comic-Con is a one-stop shop for collectibles, but Apple Original Films is bringing a limited-edition item in the form of “Matchbox the Movie.” John Cena stars in the action adventure inspired by Mattel’s popular die-cast toy vehicles. Cena plays an undercover CIA agent who returns to his small town and unwittingly enlists his childhood friends in a globe-trotting mission to save the world. Jessica Biel, Sam Richardson, Arturo Castro, Teyonah Parris, Corey Stoll, Bill Camp, Golshifteh Farahani and Danai Gurira round out the stellar cast. The movie, directed by “Extraction” filmmaker Sam Hargrave, begins streaming on Oct. 9.