SAN DIEGO– Marvel Studios returns to San Diego Comic-Con for its iconic Saturday night panel, which is expected to feature big announcements and surprise guests.
After Marvel skipped last year’s convention due to Hollywood strikes that prevented writers and actors from speaking on panels, anticipation for the session in Comic-Con’s famed Hall H is palpable among fans.
The studio is expected to announce news teasing their upcoming titles in the “Phase 5” plan and beyond, with Marvel President Kevin Feige as the only confirmed speaker. He will be joined by a number of special guests, which may include stars from upcoming Marvel titles such as ‘Captain America: Brave New World’, ‘Thunderbolts(asterisk)’ and ‘The Fantastic Four’.
Fans are speculating that Marvel will confirm cast members and show clips or trailers for upcoming films and Disney+ series.
Marvel already took over Hall H on Thursday with an electrical panel in honor of ‘Deadpool’ & Wolverine,” in which the audience was treated to a full-length screening and surprise guests joined stars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman on stage.
The growing enthusiasm for the film at Comic-Con was echoed across the country as fans rushed to see the film in theaters, making the film the new record holder for Thursday preview for an R-rated film. The comic book movie sold an estimated $38.5 million in movie tickets on Thursday.
The “Deadpool & The success of Wolverine made for a sleepy year for Marvel and eased concerns about box office underperformance in late 2023. The superhero factory bottomed out in November with the launch of ‘The Marvels,’ which opened with just $47 million .
Ahead of the studio’s latest opening, which is on track to break more records, the idea of ”superhero fatigue” became a popular talking point in the movie world.
“Deadpool & Wolverine” and Thursday’s packed panel dampened the discussion about audience apathy for comic book movies.
