TAGGED AS: San Diego Comic-Con, streaming, television, TV
(Photo by AMC; Brendan Meadows/SYFY; Ed Araquel/Paramount Pictures)
Despite the fact Comic-Con International had to cancel a second in-person San Diego Comic Convention, they are putting on another Comic-Con@Home later this week. Like the name implies, the four(ish)-day event tries to approximate some of the feel of a traditional Comic-Con International: San Diego via a selection of panels focusing on comics, games, animation, and at least a few television shows and movies.
And although that means Marvel Studios and Warner Bros. are sitting out the event — Warner has its own DC FanDome event in October and Marvel typically takes several-year breaks from SDCC anyway — there are still a number of interesting-looking presentations coming via CCI’s YouTube channel. How do we know? We looked through the long list of panels to bring this guide to Comic-Con@Home. Take a look of the selections below and plan your virtual Con schedule.
The following four presentations really standout and, no doubt, would have created traffic jams at a physical SDCC. These are the virtual Hall H panels.
On Friday, July 23 at 12 p.m. PT, CCI will debut “Netflix Geeked: Masters of the Universe: Revelation.” The series, also debuting Friday on Netflix, takes the original He-Man and the Masters of the Universe series to the next level with one character learning a long-held secret about He-Man and Eternia itself. According to the panel description, “The cast and creators will discuss all of your questions about reviving this beloved franchise.” Considering that group features executive producer Kevin Smith and voice talent like Sarah Michelle Gellar, Chris Wood, Lena Heady and Mark Hamill, it should be pretty entertaining — even if you spent all morning watching Revelation before the panel.
The Walking Dead makes its customary appearance on Saturday, July 24 at 3 p.m. PT for a “moderated Q&A discussion” about filming the final season. It is unclear which members of the cast will appear, but we expect them to continue their Comic-Con tradition of dodging spoilers as ably as most of their characters avoid Walkers. Beyond behind-the-scenes anecdotes and a few planed teases, the hour will also feature a first-look trailer for the upcoming 11th and final season. Moderated by Chris Hardwick (Talking Dead), the panel will feature chief content officer of The Walking Dead Universe, Scott M. Gimple, showrunner and executive Producer Angela Kang, and cast members Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Lauren Cohan, Khary Payton, Christian Serratos, Josh McDermitt, Eleanor Matsuura and Michael James Shaw.
(Photo by Netflix)
And speaking of long running comic book adaptations nearing their final episodes, “Netflix Geeked: Lucifer” debuts the same day at 5 p.m. PT. Star Tom Ellis and executive producers Joe Henderson and Ildy Modrovich will chat about the program’s sixth and final (for now) season. And although the panel description makes no mention of a trailer or clip, there has to be at least one, right?
Don’t forget! Join Jodie, Mandip, John, Chris Chibnall, and a very special guest THIS SUNDAY, July 25 at #ComicCon at Home. #Series13 #DoctorWho #NoSpoilers pic.twitter.com/UIsSJaYYZf
— Doctor Who on BBC America (@DoctorWho_BBCA) July 20, 2021
Finally, Doctor Who returns to CCI, even if Hall H is unavailable, on Sunday, July 25 at 10 a.m. PT. The pre-recorded panel will feature stars Jodie Whittaker and Mandip Gill, new cast member John Bishop, showrunner Chris Chibnall, and “a very special surprise guest” as they talk about the upcoming 13th season of the revived program and present “special” content. That has to mean a trailer, right? Doctor Who panels at Comic-Con always come with some sort of trailer. At least this time, the official Doctor Who YouTube page will be able to deploy it before it gets leaked to the Internet, like what use to happen in the Matt Smith years.
Making the long weekend of video panels feel a little bit more like the real-deal SDCC, Comic-Con@Home actually starts Wednesday – the traditional preview day at the physical event – with a single hour of content: a look at the upcoming film, Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins. Featuring interviews with stars Henry Golding, Andrew Koji, Úrsula Corberó, Samara Weaving, Haruka Abe, Iko Uwais, Peter Mensah, Takehiro Hira, and legendary G.I. Joe comic books Larry Hama, there will also be a chance for some viewers to get access to early screenings of the movie later that night. The panel goes live July 21 at 1 p.m. PT.
(Photo by Eli Joshua Ade/HBO)
In a departure from an in-person SDCC and even last year’s @Home event, Thursday programing starts late with panels premiering only from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. PT. The bulk of them are devoted to the more educational and advocacy aspects of Comic-Con International’s mission, but one caught our attention.
Debuting at 6 p.m., “GeekED Rewind 20-21: The True American Horror of Lovecraft Country” will take a look back at the series with an emphasis on how the series changed college learning across the year when education occurred at home. Panelists Jada Anderson (assistant resident director at UCLA), Alfred Day (associate dean of students at UC Berkeley), Dr. Andrea Letamendi (director of student resilience at UCLA and host of The Arkham Sessions Podcast), and Dr. David Surratt (vice president and dean of students at the University of Oklahoma) will look at how “numerous courses, lesson plans, and campus conversations emerged from Lovecraft Country, which served as both an analogy and an outlet for college students and educators alike.” They will also reflect on “the impact this story had on their experiences, the impact of Black horror and sci-fi, and the power of telling our own story.”
Friday sets the new Comic-Con@Home standard with panels debuting between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. PT. The long day also means more simultaneous content to enjoy, so pay particular attention to the times. Of course, as panels will remain available on CCI’s YouTube page afterward, you can always watch later on. All times bellow are Pacific.
10 AM: Heels
It might be virtual, but Stephen Amell makes his return to Comic-Con in support of Heels, his series about small-town pro wrestling. Joining him in the virtual conventions space will be series creator and executive producer Michael Waldron, showrunner and executive producer Mike O’Malley, and fellow castmates Alexander Ludwig Alison Luff, Mary McCormack, Kelli Berglund, Allen Maldonado, James Harrison and, Chris Bauer.
10 AM: Paramount+: Peak Animation with the Star Trek Universe, The Harper House, and Stephen Colbert Presents Tooning Out The News
We’ll be honest, while the hour will present an overview of all the Paramount+ animated programs, the chief draw here is the Star Trek content. Jerry O’Connell will moderate Q&As with the cast of Star Trek: Lower Decks and the upcoming Star Trek: Prodigy, featuring Kate Mulgrew, Brett Gray, Ella Purnell, Angus Imrie, Rylee Alazraqui, Dee Bradley Baker, and Jason Mantzoukas, executive producers Kevin Hageman and Dan Hageman, and director/co-executive producer Ben Hibon. Clips and trailers for all the shows presented are expected.
11 AM: Amazon Panel
(Photo by Amazon Studios)
Amazon Prime Video and IMDb TV promise “something extraordinary for every Comic-Con@Home attendee” as Tim Kash spends some time with The Wheel of Time showrunner Rafe Judkins, Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time’s Hideaki Anno, S.O.Z’s Nico Entel, I Know What You Did Last Summer’s Sara Goodman, and Leverage: Redemption stars and directors Beth Riesgraf and Noah Wyle. We’ll be honest, we’re mainly interested in The Wheel of Time. Hopefully, a trailer for the series will emerge during the discussion with Judkins.
12 PM: Netflix Geeked: Masters of the Universe: Revelation (see “Highlights” above)
2 PM: Motherland: Fort Salem – A Look Into Season Two
(Photo by Freeform/Jeff Petry)
Motherland: Fort Salem creator Eliot Laurence and castmembers Taylor Hickson, Ashley Nicole Williams, Jessica Sutton, Demetria McKinney, Amalia Holm, and Lyne Renee gather to preview the program’s second season.
2 PM: Teenage Euthanasia
Adult Swim’s new coming-of-all-ages comedy series claims it focuses on “death, family, and accidental resurrection.” That’s enough to at least get us to take a look at the panel, which will feature creators Alyson Levy and Alissa Nutting, Scott Adsit, who serves as a co-director and co-executive producer, and voice actors Maria Bamford, Jo Firestone, Bebe Neuwirth.
3 PM: Duncanville
Executive producers Mike Scully and Julie Thacker-Scully, executive producer and star Amy Poehler, and stars Ty Burrell, Riki Lindhome, Joy Osmanski, Yassir Lester, and Betsy Sodaro gather to tease the rest of the season of Duncanville.
4 PM: Rick and Morty
(Photo by Adult Swim)
Co-creator and executive producer Dan Harmon looks back on season 5 of Rick and Morty with showrunner Scott Marder and actors Chris Parnell, Sarah Chalke, Spencer Grammer, and other special guests.
4 PM: Todd McFarlane Takes Over the Universe!
While mainly a look at McFarlane’s varied endeavors in publishing and toys, we expect there will be at least some mention of the upcoming Sam and Twitch television series.
Read more: Spawn Movie Is Still On and Sam and Twitch Will Become Series, Comic Creator Todd McFarlane Reveals
5 PM: Blade Runner: Black Lotus
(Photo by Adult Swim)
Co-directors Shinji Aramaki and Kenji Kamiyama, executive producer Joseph Chou, voice director Wes Gleason and star Jessica Henwick gather to discuss the first Blade Runner animated series, coming to Adult Swim and Crunchyroll later this year. Honestly, we’re quite intrigued by the prospect of Blade Runner continuing in any form and this presentation will be Black Lotus‘s chance to truly sell us on the premise.
6 PM: Flesh & Blood
Showrunner Ian Carpenter and creator Aaron Martin join cast members David Cronenberg, Rachael Crawford, and Paula Brancati to discuss the upcoming anthology series and share a first look trailer. Cronenberg’s decision to spend more time acting of late is intriguing. And we imagine that it will be the draw to this panel for some of you as well.
11 AM: Simpsons Season 33 and Beyond
Lisa Simpson voice Yeardley Smith will guide the production team in a special look at the upcoming thirty-third(!) season of the longest-running primetime animated series in history. You have to respect The Simpsons’ longevity even if you haven’t watched it in a while.
11 AM: Ultra City Smiths
Based on the description of the series alone — a stop-motion program using repurposed baby dolls to tell the story of fictional magnate’s mysterious disappearance — we’re inclined to give the Ultra City Smiths panel a look. Series creator, writer, co-director and showrunner Steve Conrad and co-director David Brooks will be joined by cast members Jimmi Simpson, Debra Winger, Luis Guzmán, Hana Mae Lee, Tim Heidecker, and Chris Conrad to offer some insight into the unusual AMC+ program.
12 PM: Robert Kirkman @ Home
(Photo by Amazon Studios)
Like Friday’s McFarlane panel, we expect Kirkman will talk about his various projects in comic books, merchandise, film, and television. Hopefully, he’ll have some update on Invincible’s second season. Although we imagine for some Walking Dead fans, this will be the beginning of a whole afternoon of Walking Dead panels.
1 PM: Fear The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead Universe boss Scott M. Gimple, showrunners Andrew Chambliss and Ian Goldberg, and Fear the Walking Dead cast members Lennie James, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Colman Domingo, Danay Garcia, Jenna Elfman, Karen David, Mo Collins, and Christine Evangelista gather to tease the upcoming season. Since this is a Walking Dead series, we expect those teases to be oddly vague – at least until the sizzle reel plays.
1 PM: HBO Max and Warner Bros. Animation: Jellystone!
HBO Max is reviving the Hanna-Barbara wacky animal characters for a new generation, and we’re intrigued for one reason only: Jabberjaw is part of the group this time. The Jellystone! panel will feature showrunner and executive producer C.H. Greenblatt, Ian Wasseluk, Yogi Bear voice Jeff Bergman, Grace Helbig, and Niccole Thurman (the new voice of Jabberjaw) as they preview this new take on Yogi’s Jellystone.
2 PM: The Walking Dead World Beyond
A first-look clip from the second and final season of World Beyond will be part of the proceedings as cast and producers assemble to discuss the challenges in making the first Walking Dead limited series.
3 PM: The Walking Dead (see “Highlights” above)
3 PM: Netflix Geeked: The Last Mercenary
Jean-Claude Van Damme and director David Charhon are your pitchmen for upcoming Netflix action film The Last Mercenary. And as it is one of the few features at a Comic-Con more devoted to comics and television, we have to take a look.
3 PM: Roswell, New Mexico Cast Conversation and Sneak Peek
Roswell, New Mexico stars Jeanine Mason, Nathan Dean, Michael Vlamis, Lily Cowles, Tyler Blackburn, Heather Hemmens, Michael Trevino, and executive producer Christopher Hollier will gather for an at-home Q&A while they also preview upcoming events on the series.
4 PM Family Guy
Celebrate 20(!) years of Family Guy with Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Mila Kunis, Seth Green, Arif Zahir, and executive producers Rich Appel and Alec Sulkin. The group will face a trivia contest which will no doubt reveal how little they remember about the last 20 years.
4 PM: Horror Noire
Writers Tananarive Due, Steven Barnes, Shernold Edwards, and Victor LaValle will preview the upcoming Shudder original anthology series, a showcase of Black horror from Black directors and screenwriters.
5 PM: Netflix Geeked: Lucifer (see “Hightlights” above)
6 PM: gen:LOCK Season 2
Michael B. Jordan, Dakota Fanning, and showrunner/lead writer Daniel Dominguez take a look at the new gen:LOCK season and present a clip of the first episode.
6 PM: Stargate Atlantis Reunion
Cast members David Hewlett, Torri Higginson, Rachel Luttrell, Paul McGillion, Rainbow Sun Francks, David Nykl, and Robert Picardo take look back on the second Stargate television series, which ended its run 11 years ago. Considering how Comic-Con usually features a number of nostalgic reunions like these, it is remarkable that Stargate Atlantis is the only show producing one this year.
10 AM: Housebroken
Voice actors Lisa Kudrow, Nat Faxon, Will Forte, Tony Hale, Sharon Horgan, Jason Mantzoukas, Sam Richardson gather alongside Housebroken co-creator, executive producer, and voice actor Clea DuVall — and co-creators, executive producers, and showrunners Gabrielle Allan and Jen Crittenden — for a Q&A centered on their upcoming series about a therapy group composed of “neighborhood pets and stray animals.”
10 AM: Doctor Who (see “Highlights” above)
11 AM: Day of the Dead: Adapting a Legend
Showrunners Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas, director Steven Kostanski, and cast members Keenan Tracey and Natalie Malaika discuss the difficulties in adapting George A. Romero’s beloved zombie film into a SYFY original series.
11 AM: The Mysterious Benedict Society
Take an hour with the cast and creators of Disney+’s The Mysterious Benedict Society as stars Tony Hale, Kristen Schaal, MaameYaa Baofo, Ryan Hurst, and Gia Sandhu — and executive producers and writers Phil Hay, Matt Manfredi, Darren Swimmer, and Todd Slavkin — discuss what’s transpired so far and tease some of what’s to come. Our memory of last year’s @Home content is a little fuzzy, but we’re pretty sure this is the first Disney+ panel at Comic-Con, which is sort of historic in some small way.
12 PM: DC’s Legends of Tomorrow Cast Conversation and Sneak Peek
Caity Lotz, Tala Ashe, Jes Macallan, Olivia Swann, Adam Tsekhman, Shayan Sobhian, Lisseth Chavez, Nick Zano, Matt Ryan, and executive producers Phil Klemmer and Keto Shimizu, get on Zoom to discuss the hijinks the season has offered so far and to tease what’s yet to come. Even if producing the show in the middle of a pandemic has made its weaknesses more apparent, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow is still a fun one to watch — due in no small part to this great cast.
1 PM: Dexter
Like so many other revivals before it, Dexter is returning later this fall. But what could ever call Dexter Morgan back from his life as a lumberjack? Star (and executive producer) Michael C. Hall will offer some clarity on the matter with help from showrunner and executive producer Clyde Phillips, executive producer Scott Reynolds, director Marcos Siega, and new cast member Julia Jones. The group will also present a trailer which may also shed light on Dexter’s return to duty. Well, provided you can call what he does “duty.”
1 PM: Meet the Creators and Cast of Netflix’s Norsemen
Norsemen stars Kåre Conradi, Trond Fausa, Nils Jørgen Kaalstad, Øystein Martinsen, Marian Ottesen, and series producers Jonas Torgersen and Jon Iver Helgaker take part in a Q&A one hopes will shed some light on its final season.
2 PM: Netflix Geeked: Army of Thieves
Netflix continues to build on the world of Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead with the prequel film Army of Thieves. Snyder, along with fellow producers Deborah Snyder, Wesley Coller, director and star Matthias Schweighöfer, and star Nathalie Emmanuel take a look at the upcoming film, which reveals the hiest which put Dieter on the road to Las Vegas.
2 PM: The Legacy of Chucky
Child’s Play creator Don Mancini, Brad Dourif, Jennifer Tilly, Fiona Dourif, Alex Vincent, and Christine Elise take a look back at 30 years of Chucky rampages and take a look at the upcoming Chucky television series. There’s definitely some fun to be had here as both Dourifs are fun interviews. Also, if the panel maintains some of the energy of a Child’s Play or Chucky movie, it could be the best of Sunday.
3 PM: Bob’s Burgers
As is tradition, the Bob’s Burgers cast and producers will present an hour of info on the new season, show some rare material, and answer fan questions. Sure, it all needs to be done over Zoom, but that awkwardness is part of the fun, right? Creator and executive producer Loren Bouchard, executive producer Nora Smith, H. Jon Benjamin, and voice actors John Roberts, Kristen Schaal, Eugene Mirman, Dan Mintz, and Larry Murphy take part in the festivities.
4 PM: A Conversation with the Cast & Executive Producers of EPIX’s Chapelwaite
Stars Adrien Brody and Emily Hampshire take a look at their upcoming adaptation of Stephen King’s short story Jerusalem’s Lot. What mysteries will Brody’s character, Captain Boone, uncover when he relocates his family to Preacher’s Corners, Maine after his wife dies at sea? Perhaps this preview of the series will convince us Chapelwaite is a project to keep an eye on.
Watching Comic-Con@Home
The video presentations are available via the Convention schedule page or CCI’s YouTube Channel. And though there is some push to watch the videos as they become available, they will be available on the YouTube Channel for the foreseeable future.
