San Diego Comic-Con took place over the weekend (July 25-28) and a number of long-running franchises used the event to make huge announcements.
Alongside the high-profile panels, impressive cosplay costumes and a string of actual comic book announcements, SDCC gave Marvel fans a better look at the MCU’s next couple of while Jame Gunn unveiled plans for his DCU 2.0. There were also a number of Star Trek announcements, plus Amazon’s Prime Video showcasing a number of new projects.
Below you’ll find a list of everything properly important that went down…
Robert Downey Jr. is back in the MCU
Marvel made a number of huge announcements at SDCC but the biggest was the return of Robert Downey Jr. Since Iron Man sacrificed himself at the end of 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, there have been constant rumours that Downey Jr. was set to return in some capacity, but not many fans were expecting it to happen like this.
Presenting Victor Von Doom.
Robert Downey Jr. stars in Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday, in theaters May 2026. #SDCC pic.twitter.com/xWQx9owZjG
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 28, 2024
Avengers: Doomsday, previously titled The Kang Dynasty, is due for release in 2026 and will feature Downey Jr. as the iconic Fantastic Four villain Doctor Doom. “New mask, same task,” he said onstage at SDCC’s Hall H.
The next three years of the MCU were mapped out
It was also confirmed that Joe and Anthony Russo, the legendary director duo behind some of Marvel’s most lucrative titles, will be returning to the MCU to direct Avengers: Doomsday and 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars. Both films will be penned by the Russos’ Endgame co-screenwriter Stephen Mcfeely, so there’s a lot to live up to.
Just announced in Hall H:
The Russo Brothers return to direct Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday, starring Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom. Only in theaters May 2026. #SDCC pic.twitter.com/oqnSwWKnYn— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 28, 2024
Both movies will follow on from Fantastic Four: First Steps, which is due to hit cinemas July 25, 2025. At SDCC, it was confirmed their origin story will be set in an alternative timeline to the main MCU, with the 1960s film taking place in a retro-future version of New York.
Just announced in Hall H:
Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps begins production on Tuesday. Only in theaters July 25, 2025. #SDCC pic.twitter.com/iPAlXlajnr— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 28, 2024
Fans also got a better look at Thunderbolts and Captain America: Brave New World with Harrison Ford saying he joined the MCU as General Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross because he wanted a “piece of the action”. He then did some questionable imitations of the Red Hulk, who also turns up in the film.
Harrison Ford walks onto the Hall H stage doing Red Hulk mannerisms. pic.twitter.com/0qGXVOWLft
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) July 28, 2024
It was also confirmed that Giancarlo Esposito will be playing Seth Voelker, AKA Sidewinder, who is King Of The Serpent Society, despite rumours the Serpent Society had been cut from the movie during reshoots. Captain America: Brave New World is out February 2025 while Thunderbolts releases in May 2025. Just in time for the new Avengers film.
The Red Guardian (aka @DavidKHarbour) suited up for for Hall H.#Thunderbolts#SDCC pic.twitter.com/yJ10Jrjtn0
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 28, 2024
The Boys is getting a prequel
Season five may be scheduled as the final season of superhero smash The Boys but Amazon Prime Video isn’t done with their fav-favourite franchise just yet. As well as teenage spin-off Gen-V (season two is out 2025), The Boys is also getting a prequel series.
Vought Rising will star Jensen Ackles as Soldier Boy and Aya Cash as Stormfront, with the series set 70 years before the events of The Boys. “It’s a twisted murder mystery about the origins of Vought in the 1950s, the early exploits of Soldier Boy, and the diabolical manoeuvres of a Supe known to fans as Stormfront, who was then going by the name Clara Vought,” said Vought Rising showrunner Paul Grellong and The Boys’ showrunner Eric Kripke, who is also involved in the project. “We cannot wait to blow your minds and trouble your souls with this salacious, grisly saga drenched in blood and Compound V.”
Introducing the next deranged entry into the world of The Boys: VOUGHT RISING, starring Jensen Ackles and Aya Cash. Set in the 1950s, exploring the early exploits of Soldier Boy and a supe you know as Stormfront. Only advice for now is keep your hands off the fucking shield. pic.twitter.com/Ss9lqnnbP3
— THE BOYS (@TheBoysTV) July 26, 2024
Michael C. Hall is back in Dexter (again)
You can’t keep a good serial killer down. Despite the ending of 2021’s Dexter: New Blood, Michael C. Hall announced at SDCC that he will be returning as Dexter in sequel series Resurrection, which is expected to air in 2025. He will also be voicing the inner monologue of Patrick Gibson’s take on the character for prequel series Dexter: Original Sin, which is due out later this year.
At #SDCC Clyde Phillips revealed that Michael C. Hall will return to his role as Dexter Morgan in the new series #DexterResurrection. Hall then threw a donut on stage in excitement https://t.co/mX6S3i3NPn pic.twitter.com/8G4k4jhC0g
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) July 27, 2024
A Star Trek comedy?
SDCC’s Star Trek panel featured plenty of announcements. As well as giving fans a look at series three of Star Trek: New Worlds and the final season of the animated Lower Decks, Trekkies were given an update on Michelle Yeoh’s Discovery spin-off Section 31. First announced five years ago, Section 31 is due for release later this year on Paramount+. There’s even a trailer.
Perhaps the most surprising update though was that a live-action comedy series set in the 25th century of the Star Trek universe is being developed by actor Tawny Newsome and director Justin Simien. “Federation outsiders serving a gleaming resort planet find out their day-to-day exploits are being broadcast to the entire quadrant,” reads the description.
The first proper look at James Gunn’s DC reboot
James Gunn and Peter Safran took over as heads of the DC Cinematic Universe towards the end of 2022 and have been drip-feeding fans information ever since. At SDCC, they finally revealed the first-look at their first project: Creature Commandos. Coming to streaming service Max later this year, the animated show sees Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller return and introduces Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr.. The show will make-up chapter one of the new DCU, which is known as Gods And Monsters.
DC Studios’ #CreatureCommandos, the new Max Original Series, premieres this December exclusively on @StreamOnMax. pic.twitter.com/byFbxVEFpP
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) July 26, 2024
Following the news that The Batman sequel Part 2 has been delayed by an entire year, HBO Max confirmed at SDCC that Colin Farrel’s The Penguin series will finally be premiering in September.
Tear down the empire from the inside out.
Academy Award nominee Colin Farrell is #ThePenguin in the new @HBO Original Limited Series, premiering September 19 on Max. pic.twitter.com/vVp5mgleng
— Max (@StreamOnMax) July 28, 2024
Like A Dragon: Yakuza looks to continue the ‘very good video game adaptation’ trend
Prime Video used SDCC to give fans a first look at their take on the popular Like A Dragon video game series.
“The series depicts the lives of fierce yet passionate gangsters and people living in a huge entertainment district, Kamurochō, a fictional district modelled after the violent Shinjuku ward’s Kabukichō, that acts as the backdrop of the gameplay,” reads the description. “Like a Dragon: Yakuza showcases modern Japan and the dramatic stories of these intense characters, such as the legendary Kazuma Kiryu.” It’s due for release October 24.
Mark Hamill joins SpongeBob SquarePants
It’s the crossover no one saw coming but Mark Hamill, AKA Luke Skywalker, is set to star in the upcoming SpongeBob SquarePants movie, The SpongeBob Movie: Search For SquarePants. He’ll play the villainous Flying Dutchman after previously voicing occasional antagonist The Moth in the long-running animated series.
Mark Hamill reveals he will play The Flying Dutchman in the next SpongeBob movie. pic.twitter.com/1SiwX9MKYF
— Katcy Stephan @ SDCC! (@katcystephan) July 25, 2024