After sitting out the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, conventions are BACK. This year, Marvel Studios will have a big presence San Diego Comic Con (July 20th-24th) with two panels. The first of which will focus on animated projects, and the other on live-action.
Friday, July 22, 11:45am-1:15pm - Marvel Studios Animation
The 90-minute panel is listed as covering What If...? Season 2, X-Men '97, and Marvel Zombies. I'm betting on dates or time frames for those three in particular. Our bet is that What If...? could be premiering within this year's the Holiday months to run into early 2023, and Marvel Zombies feeling like a good fit for for Halloween season of 2023.
It's also a reasonable assumption that this panel could have news for Spider-Man: Freshman Year, or give us a first look at the I Am Groot shorts that are dropping in August.
Saturday July 23, 5-6pm - Marvel Studios
Fans hoping for "a full Phase 5 reveal" will no doubt be disappointed since it's only an hour-long panel, but that doesn't mean Marvel can't bring some goods.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
The next (new) film in the MCU getting the biggest push seems very likely. We wouldn't be surprised by a cast appearance, a teaser trailer for the film, and likely a teary-eyed tribute to late T'Challa actor Chadwick Boseman, given this is their first major convention since his passing. All in, I'd bet on this being a full quarter or third of the panel.
She-Hulk
The next MCU show is coming a little under a month from the event. We'd expect a few members of the cast to appear or Zoom into the panel, with a new trailer or clip... if only for the in-attendance crowd.
Spider-Man and Daredevil
If Marvel's going to talk about Spidey at a con this Summer, it has to be here, since D23 is more Disney-specific. At minimum, we suspect something will be talked about in regards to the extended cut of Spider-Man: No Way Home, considering it's Marvel's next theatrical release. (Releasing September 2nd in the US.)
If they are so inclined, we could see them using that as an opening to tease future Spidey plans, or even segue into talking about Daredevil plans, given Charlie Cox's appearance in NWH as Matt Murdock.
Further Down the Road...
We're expecting first looks or announcements regarding the studios' Halloween and Guardians Holiday specials to round out their coverage of 2022, a quick rundown of the 2023 slate (including a Blade date announcement) and capping the panel with an announcement or two regarding the 2024 films.
And that's it.
These predictions could be totally off, but we'll all find out during the convention this weekend.
If you agree or disagree with these choices, feel free to comment at the MarvelWatch Twitter Account.
