It is here and all of your planning is finally coming to a head: San Diego Comic-Con. For those lucky enough to have preview night access we wish you the best of luck in claiming the first pick of convention exclusives and grabbing some sweet swag. We’ve got an event lineup for you below in case you want to take a break from the main floor.
If you didn’t get Wednesday passes never fear! We’ve got you. We’ll have daily highlights pointing out some gems in the midst of chaos all week and we are going to start with Thursday. Traditionally a day where fans could ease into the swing of things, Thursday has come out strong this year with a slate of fantastic panels and the start of a number of offsite events.
San Diego Comic-Con wastes absolutely no time in inundating us with geeky awesomeness.
In San Diego but without passes for preview night and Thursday? Maybe take some time to check out San Diego as a city. There’s a lot to do and it is one of the best cities in Southern California to spend some time in as a tourist.
Preview Night
Manifest World Premiere and Special Sneak Peek Screenings
6:00 PM – 10:00 PM @ Ballroom 20
Warner Bros television is starting strong and has taken over Ballroom 20 with an exclusive pilot screening of its new series Manifest. As a bonus, fans also get a chance to sit through an advance screening of the following week’s episode of The 100. Finally, Warner Bros will be showing off brand new episodes from season two of Freedom Fighters: The Ray. Whether you’re a fan of the shows, interested in checking out Manifest, or are just looking for a place to chill out, Ballroom 20 is where you’ll want to be.
New Line Cinema’s “Scarediego”
9:30 PM – 10:30 PM @ Horton Grand Theatre
This one requires a separate ticket along with your Comic-Con badge since it is offsite, but if you managed to grab a ticket then you can be one of the first to see footage from New Line Cinema’s 2018-2019 horror films. This might be a good panel for anyone wanting to forego sleep in order to make it to the Hall H line first thing in the morning.
Thursday
From the Bridge
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM @ Ballroom 20
Director Spencer F. Lee has brought together some of the best and brightest from science fiction to talk about the evolution of the genre in his documentary From the Bridge. In it, fans will get the chance to hear from Nichelle Nichols, Rod Roddenberry, Kerry O’Quinn, and others who have had the chance to watch the genres which are a huge part of their careers fade only to blossom into a “multi-billion-dollar explosion of fandom”.
Legion M: How Fandom is Changing Hollywood
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM @ Room 5AB
Legion M brands itself as the “world’s first fan-owned entertainment company”, its model built on fan-as-stock-holder. It is an interesting model of producing film and television and has been involved with films like Bad Samaritan from Dean Devlin’s Electric Entertainment, Colossal, Mandy, and others. At this panel CEO Paul Scanlan is joined by other heads of Legion M to discuss their business model and how fans can get involved.
20th Century Fox: The Predator
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM @ Hall H
Get up bright and early and come to hang out with director Shane Black along with the cast of The Predator in Hall H as they discuss Fox’s upcoming take on the franchise we all know and love.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles For All!
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM @ Room 38DE
Whether you started reading TMNT as a kid or are brand new to the series, this panel has a little of everything. Three eras of the Ninja Turtles come together into one room to discuss the past, present, and future of our pizza-loving, sewer-dwelling heroes. There will be trivia and a chance to win prizes so don’t miss out!
Podcast Advocates and the Podcast Gathering
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM @ Neil Morgan Auditorium, San Diego Central Library
Take a break from the convention center and wander over to the San Diego Central Library for an awesome group of panelist discussing anything and everything podcasts. Do you have questions about creating one? Growing your audience? Networking? A team of expert podcasters have come together to help you out and you might even get the chance to pitch your podcast in the back half of the panel.
Charmed Exclusive Screening and Panel
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM @ Ballroom 20
If you grew up watching Charmed like I did, then this is probably going to be an exciting panel. The CW is reviving the long gone story of three sisters who happen to discover they are powerful witches. Set with a brand new cast in a new town, Charmed is sure to win over fans with a viewing of the first episode followed by a chat with the cast.
Doctor Who: BBC America’s Official Panel
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM @ Hall H
It is here! The new season of Doctor Who is soon to be upon us and The Doctor has a new face! Jodie Whittaker, the first female to ever take over the role of the ever-changing Doctor, will be joining a panel of her co-stars to talk about the upcoming season. Fans attending this panel will be the first to see the new cast in all of their glory and this is a can’t-miss for all the Whovians out there.
Exclusive First Look at New YouTube Originals Sci-Fi Thriller: Origins
1:00 PM – 1:50 PM @ Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
It is no secret that everyone is trying to get a piece of the streaming pie, and YouTube has a new series called Origins that just might snag a big piece of it for them. Fans will get to see never-before-seen footage and hang out with stars like Tom Felton and Natalia Tena as they discuss the series. In Origin, a group of outsiders seek a new start on another planet but end up stranded after an asteroid collides with their spaceship. You’ll have to attend the panel to find out the rest.
Amazing Tabletop RPGs for Beginners
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM @ Grand 1 & 2, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
Your friends keep talking about Dungeons and Dragons but you have no clue what’s going on. That’s okay, this panel will probably have some answers for you. Tabletop RPGs have made a huge comeback the past few years and a bunch of nerdy gaming experts have got you covered. Get all the information and advice you could ever want about breaking into the world of Tabletop RPGs, then stick around afterward for a gaming session in Room 21 of the Marriott Marquis.
Spotlight on Jeff Lemire
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM @ Room 25ABC
Descender remains one of my all time favorite comics, and Jeff Lemire’s brilliant mind is behind it and a number of other amazingly rich comic stories. Join him, comic book editor Will Dennis, and artist Dustin Nguyen as they discuss past work and preview their upcoming projects Family Tree and Ascender!
We Wrote Your Childhood
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM @ Room 7AB
Children of the 90’s, this one is for you. This panel focuses in on the writers behind some of our childhood classics like Rugrats, Recess, Hey Arnold, Pepper Ann, Ah! Real Monsters! and more. Take a few minutes and enjoy the chance to thank them for their work, as well as revel in the nostalgia that is bound to be heavy in the room as all these writers talk about the work they did on these shows.
Representation in Gaming: From the Comic Shop to the Tabletop
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM @ Room 32AB
We’re rounding out our day with this final panel from the minds at Lion Forge. Excited to roll out their new tabletop themed comic anthology and RPG magazine, Rolled & Told, Lion Forge has brought together some of the greatest minds in tabletop gaming to discuss how the industry can be inclusive as it continues to grow in its resurgence. Join D20 Dames co-host Jen Caughn and Christina “Steenz” Stewart, Satine Phoenix, Max Bare, Shing Yin Khor, and writer Josh Trujillo as they discuss the current state of tabletop gaming.
Not interested in hanging out at the convention center? Tired of the stuffy air? Step outside and enjoy the San Diego breeze as you check out a number of off-site events. For a full list, check out the Unofficial San Diego Comic Con blog’s calendar.
On our radar for Wednesday is Good Plates – The Good Place Takeover, LAIKA live, and the Say Yes: Keep Comic-Con in San Diego Rally.
For Thursday we’re excited about the Adult Swim State Park pop-up, Amazon’s Fast Forward to the Future, Cartman’s Escape Room, Nerdist House, the Pinball Lounge, The Good Place activation, and so, so much more.
If you want to take advantage of the night life on Thursday you can check out any number of parties happening around town. First, the Alpha Book Club Happy Hour, then party like it is 2000 with the Neopets Comic-Con After Party.
Try not to stay out too late though because Friday is bound to be another day packed with awesome nerd-fun for all.
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