From Star Wars to Alien: Comic-Con Showcases Sci-Fi Royalty

Comic-Con officially opened its doors today in San Diego to tens of thousands of pop culture fans from around the world — but this year, there’s an especially historic guest who has longtime attendees eager for a chance to finally meet him in person.

For the first time, George Lucas will be in attendance at the convention. Comic-Con has deep roots in Lucas’s classic film franchises “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones,” but until now, the filmmaker has never attended the annual celebration of storytelling, movies, and fandom.

“In many ways, the convention’s history is interwoven with his own, as well as that of the myriad creative talent he has championed over the years,” Comic-Con’s Chief Communications and Strategy Officer David Glanzer said in a statement about Lucas. “Nearing half a century ago, Star Wars made one of its first public appearances at our convention, in a booth offering [comic book artist] Howard Chaykin’s now iconic Star Wars poster as a giveaway.” Glanzer described Lucas’s attendance as “truly a full-circle moment.”

Lucas will sit on a Sunday panel hosted by Queen Latifah about the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, which is set to open in Los Angeles next year. Filmmakers Guillermo del Toro and Oscar winner Doug Chiang will also appear on the panel, in which they’ll discuss their work with Lucas, the museum, and its focus on illustrated storytelling across film, comics, and concept art. Lucas has curated a collection that the museum will preserve and display to the public.

Comic-Con’s Story From Comic Book Show to Blockbuster Bonanza

San Diego Comic-Con started out as a small comic book convention in 1970, but it has since grown into a behemoth of fandom. Each year, the convention hosts around 130,000 fans and is as much about exploring pop culture’s past as it is its future. Fans attend Comic-Con not just for cosplay and comics, but for the rare opportunity to see some of Hollywood’s biggest movies and TV shows before they hit theaters and streaming services.

Alien and Predator Make Rare Appearances

One such announcement to look forward to is the world premiere of the prequel series “Alien: Earth,” which marks a return to the galaxy that Ridley Scott brought to life in 1979 with Alien. The series, directed by Noah Hawley, is set a few years before the events of the movie and will explore the Alien lore in new ways. The premiere will take place tomorrow in Hall H — the convention’s most popular venue — and the series is set to debut on streaming services in August.

Fans will also see the first footage of the upcoming sci-fi film Predator: Badlands, which takes a new spin on the long-running series by making the iconic Predator the hunted this time. Dan Trachtenberg, who previously gave the franchise a reboot of sorts with Prey last year, will head the panel with actors Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, who will be playing the alien Dek. Audience members can also expect to learn more about the future of this reimagined universe.

Marvel Studios Downsizes, and Sci-Fi Steps In

Marvel Studios has announced that it will be playing a reduced role at this year’s convention. The studio’s typical Hall H presentation was skipped this year due to shifts in plans for the next “Avengers” movie. As Variety reports, the decision was made because Marvel had ongoing production in the UK, making it difficult for the studio to deliver on its usual slate.

But fear not, Marvel fans — plenty of other science fiction behemoths have more than made up for the studio’s lighter presence at Comic-Con. Sci-fi favorites are stepping up to fill Hall H, and their programming looks sure to keep fans amped throughout the weekend.

Ryan Gosling, Peacemaker, and Other Fan Favorites

Attendees will also be able to see an early look at Project Hail Mary, the upcoming film based on the novel of the same name by Andy Weir, the author of The Martian. The movie, set to hit theaters next year, stars Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace, who was a high school physics teacher before waking up from a coma to find himself the sole passenger on a spaceship and humanity’s last hope for survival. Gosling will be on the panel on Saturday along with directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, known for the Spider-Verse trilogy.

DC fans can also expect to learn more about the second season of Peacemaker. Creator and director James Gunn, who recently took on more responsibilities at DC with his reboot of the Superman franchise, will be joined by the cast to share behind-the-scenes footage and clips from the new season.

Cosplay and Comics

Beyond movie and TV announcements and celebrity panels, Comic-Con is first and foremost a celebration of fandom. Thousands of attendees dressed as their favorite characters, from princesses and warriors to aliens and superheroes, are expected to descend on the convention center today, and the event will continue until Sunday, July 27.

Whether Comic-Con attendees come for George Lucas’s long-awaited debut, first looks at an alien-infested Earth, or just to delve into comics and cosplay, the annual pop culture convention is sure to be another chapter to remember in this summer’s blockbusters.