SDCC 2025: Winners and Losers

San Diego Comedian-Con 2025 is officially in the books, and it was a novel yr, to say the least. With out Marvel or DC to anchor the popular culture pleasure, the sphere was broad open for a lot of smaller properties to steal the highlight. Some took full advantage, constructing loopy buzz. Others did not. Right here’s our rundown of the winners and losers of Comedian-Con 2025.

Winners

Aliens and Predators

The legendary sci-fi enemies took heart stage at Comedian-Con 2025 and introduced main pleasure to each franchises. Alien: Earth, the brand new FX present, screened an entire episode, which followers appeared to like, and had one of many greatest, most ambitious activations on the total conference. Predator: Badlands, the upcoming theatrical launch, confidently confirmed an unfinished first quarter-hour of the movie, which have been each incredibly awesome and hugely emotional. There was additionally a major activation and even a brand-new, canon-changing ending revealed for Predator: Killer of Killers that brings again the characters performed by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny Glover. Plus, there might be another crossover sooner or later? Followers of each franchises had an excellent Comedian-Con teasing an much more thrilling future.

Wile E. Coyote

After having his film Coyote vs. Acme unceremoniously canceled by a sure company, the Highway Runner-obsessed Coyote selected Comedian-Con because the place to unveil the movie in its new type. Now, the movie has a launch date, hilarious footage was shown, and audiences in every single place are poised to take pleasure in one animal’s quest to take down the foremost company that has failed him at each flip.

Undertaking Hail Mary

Longtime attendees of Comedian-Con know one thing particular is coming when a studio spends the cash to make the most of the large screens that engulf Corridor H to venture content material throughout its panel. This yr, it happened with Undertaking Hail Mary, the March 2026 movie starring Ryan Gosling, primarily based on the ebook by Andy Weir, and directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller. The gang was all there (in addition to author Drew Goddard) to speak in regards to the epic sci-fi journey and display virtually quarter-hour of the film. Fifteen minutes virtually eight months out from launch? That’s an enormous swing. And it labored.

Lego

Each firm with a sales space at Comedian-Con desires to place one thing unbelievable on show. One thing to usher in the followers and get them speaking. This yr, one sales space did that to such a level, it was virtually unfair to everybody else. That sales space was Lego, which centered round a large mannequin of San Diego Comedian-Con itself. It had the Conference Heart, the present ground, all of the cosplayers, and extra. It was constructed with over 200,000 bricks, took over 1,500 hours to design and construct, and was populated by over 8,000 mini-figures. It was really an unforgettable sight.

George Lucas

George Lucas displaying as much as the final day of SDCC was not on our bingo playing cards earlier than it was introduced. So when the maker took the conference stage for the primary time to a packed Hall H on a Sunday, it was like church. He bought a full-on standing ovation, and it was so superior to see him be stunned on the response. Together with Guillermo del Toro, Doug Chiang, and Queen Latifah, Lucas held courtroom to introduce his Lucas Museum as a temple to enshrine the ability of mythology. The dialogue targeted on the museum’s intention to maintain artwork accessible to the plenty in a time the place propaganda seeks to erase historical past, and the decision to motion was so extremely shifting. The panel felt just like the crown jewel of this yr’s conference that actually spoke to why we have been all there, celebrating the popular culture we love and that evokes us.

Pennywise the Clown

Although It: Welcome to Derry didn’t get a full-on panel, it did get a hell of a showcase, with co-developers Andy and Barbara Muschietti taking the stage to share the opening scenes of the first episode. The footage exceeded our expectations for the Stephen King spin-off, promising a deeply disturbing (in all the very best methods) sequence that’ll additional the creepy spirit of the films, full with stomach-turning particular results and everybody’s favourite sewer-lurking clown. The truth that the Welcome to Derry showcase befell after 9 p.m. on Saturday night time made us groan once we first noticed it on the SDCC schedule—nevertheless it really made the second really feel extra unique, and because it was held in a smaller room, extra intimate too.

Peacemaker

James Gunn introduced Peacemaker to the con for a enjoyable panel that gave some perception as to how the previous DCU present may cross over to the present DC Studios period. Star John Cena confirmed up wearing his costume and mentioned the character’s interior disaster. Off-site, Peacemaker had a unbelievable immersive activation, which held timed rock reveals for followers. It was actually neat to see clues about how the present will connect with Superman—and as you exited, Peacemaker got here on display to kick you out, with the phrases beneath him warning that the dimension was deteriorating. So we guess that is how James Gunn blows up the DCU, eh? He’s a legend for getting that remaining dig in at SDCC.

The Poisonous Avenger

Keep in mind that unhappy second in historical past when cult-movie followers thought Macon Blair’s Poisonous Avenger reimagining won’t really get launched? We’re in a completely irradiated interval of pleasure now, with the film hitting theaters on the finish of August and Toxie and firm getting a splashy presence at San Diego Comic-Con. Fan screenings befell outdoors the conference itself, whereas the director and forged (together with Peter Dinklage and Elijah Wooden, in addition to legendary Troma founder Lloyd Kaufman) took the stage at Corridor H to unfold the gospel of splatter.

Interview with the Vampire

The Vampire Lestat could also be a yr away, however followers of the Anne Rice Immortal Universe have been handled to a primary look that rocked the con. Sam Reid embodies the rock star Lestat with sheer charisma and menace within the footage we noticed. We additionally bought to seek out out who else is becoming a member of the forged alongside Reid, Jacob Anderson, and Eric Bogosian—the title Delainey Hayles ought to ring a bell nevertheless it’s not identified if she’ll be taking part in a ghost Claudia or another person. As for the Queen of the Damned, Akasha? Showrunner Rolin Jones teases that a suggestion has been made to an actress however remains to be conserving us in the dead of night about simply who it’s.

Clown in a Cornfield

An indie horror film that already hit theaters wouldn’t normally get a splashy activation simply to have a good time its upcoming streaming debut—however Clown in a Cornfield is a really enjoyable film, and it made sense that Shudder and AMC wished to attract extra consideration to it. Whereas there was no devoted Clown panel, creator Adam Cesare hit the conference to signal copies of his source-material novel, and simply throughout the road from the conference heart, fans could walk through an activation that introduced the story to life, full with a genuinely spooky haunted corn maze.

Losers

Comedian ebook film followers

Over the previous 20 years, San Diego Comedian-Con has been floor zero for the most recent and best in comedian ebook film information. However, in 2025, it was principally abandoned. Sure, two very cool movies are at present in theaters (Superman and The Improbable 4: First Steps) however outdoors of a lot of cosplay for each, you wouldn’t actually realize it. DC Studios president James Gunn was readily available for Peacemaker however didn’t discuss his present movie or any future movies. And Marvel, after screening its massive summer season 2024 launch Deadpool & Wolverine on the conference final yr, all however ignored Improbable 4. There was a sales space, certain, however nowhere for anybody on the conference to see the film (with out driving quarter-hour out of the way in which).

And sure, we all know each studios are in an off time by way of releases, with the following DC film 11 months away and the following Marvel Studios film 17 months away, however it might have been superior to see or study one thing. Something.

Acme

In your face, Acme! You tried to get the panel for Coyote vs. Acme shut down. You even tried to ship in a few of your high-priced legal professionals to usher everybody off stage. But it surely didn’t work. Footage was performed, and pleasure was piqued. Think about being an organization that wouldn’t wish to launch a film that appears so humorous, good, and interesting? Oh, Acme.

Tron: Ares

It is a bizarre one as a result of, on the floor, the Tron: Ares panel had it all. Large stars, unbelievable results, and a few actually enjoyable footage. There was even a sales space on the ground with some of the desired exclusives of the whole conference. However as soon as the lights got here on after the panel, followers had realized virtually nothing in regards to the film. What’s it about? Who’re the characters? It was all very floor, which, after the earlier, rather more informative and heartfelt panel for Predator: Badlands, felt like an enormous distinction. Plus, whereas the footage seemed lovely, it simply appeared just a little flat? We’re holding out hope, particularly with the sure-to-be unbelievable 9 Inch Nails soundtrack, however the panel left us wanting a bit an excessive amount of.

Jason Voorhees

Whereas it’s thrilling to know that there’s contemporary power behind the Friday the thirteenth franchise, the Jason Universe panel was possibly one that would have been held till a later date. There simply wasn’t a lot to share past teases. Followers bought a fast trailer for Candy Revege, an upcoming brief movie that includes Jason’s first cinematic look on this new period, in addition to a really transient behind-the-scenes peek at Peacock sequence Crystal Lake, which is just too early in its manufacturing to disclose a lot. Maybe subsequent SDCC, there’ll be a sequel panel with extra gory particulars to share?

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