Studios Bailing on Comic-Con This Year Include Marvel, Netflix, Disney, Sony, HBO, and Universal
Damn… this is gonna be another rough year for Comic-Con International. A list of big Hollywood studios are bailing on the event this year. We already reported that Marvel Studios will be a no-show, but now we’ve learned that Netflix, Sony, HBO, and Universal will not be showing up.
This seems like it will be a big blow to the biggest annual fan convention in North America. The event came roaring last year after two years of being shut down due to the COVID pandemic. But with all of these studio bailing Hall H is going to be looking pretty bare.
Things we won’t be seeing at Comic-Con this year include upcoming projects such as The Marvels, Loki Season 2, Ahsoka, Haunted Mansion, True Detective Season 4, House of the Dragon Season 2, Gran Turismo, Kraven the Hunter, Last Voyage of the Demeter, Strays, The Exorcist, and One Piece, just to name a few.
You know what, though? It’s not all doom and gloom. I’m actually looking forward to a light and stress-free year at Comic-Con this year! No spending the night in lines for any big panels! I’ll be able to attend some of the other smaller panels that I never get to go to because I’m always trapped in Hall H covering the big stuff, but this year… there’s not a lot of big stuff! So while a lot of studios aren’t showing up, my time will be open to do other things, and I’m excited about that!
So, why are all the studios bailing? There’s the ongoing writer’s strike and then the actor might be going on Strike at the end of the month. It’s explained by Variety: “If SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP cannot come to terms by the June 30 contract deadline and the guild goes on strike, actors will almost certainly join writers and showrunners in sitting out promotional events like Comic-Con, leaving studios with almost no one to populate panels in front of thousands of expectant fans.”
As for Warner Bros., they are in a wait-and-see holding pattern. If they do show up, they will show off Blue Beetle, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, and a few other things.
Paramount Pictures is expected to hold a panel for the animated feature Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, but Paramount+, has yet to commit to panels for its Star Trek shows and other projects.
Amazon Studios are said to be in attendance and will have panels for The Wheel of Time Season 2, The Boys: Gen V, and The Boys Season 4.
Comic-Con spokesperson David Glanzer said in a statement: “With regard to the strike and its possible effects on Comic-Con, we tend to refrain from speculation or forecasting. I will say, our hope is for a speedy resolution that will prove beneficial to all parties and allow everyone to continue the work they love. Until then, we continue to diligently work on our summer event in the hopes of making it as fun, educational, and celebratory as in years past.”
What are your thoughts all these studio bailing this year?