Subscribe now

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art and publisher TASCHEN are releasing a book exploring the images that have shaped how people imagine, remember and understand the world.

The project coincides with the museum’s inaugural exhibition, opening Sept. 22, 2026. It will be published in a two-volume edition as well as two smaller formats. The book traces the history of visual storytelling, connecting traditions of image-making across centuries, cultures and mediums.

The book includes texts by George Lucas and Guillermo del Toro and an introduction by Ryan Linkof. It features work by artists including Thomas Hart Benton, Jessie Willcox Smith, Frank Frazetta, Maxfield Parrish, Norman Rockwell and N.C. Wyeth, alongside other artists working in painting, illustration, photography, comics, children’s books and film. The book is organized thematically, drawing connections across artists, eras and forms.

A section on film examines the visual world of “Star Wars,” featuring original production art, concept paintings, costumes and vehicles that show the creative process behind the franchise.

The book will be led by a two-volume Classic edition, which TASCHEN describes as the definitive format. A more compact 45 edition will also be available, along with a Piccolo edition sold exclusively at Lucas Museum retail outlets.

Contributor Bios

George Lucas is a filmmaker, writer, producer, and co­founder of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. Best known as the creator of Star Wars and Indiana Jones, he has helped shape modern cinema through Lucasfilm and Industrial Light & Magic. His longstanding support of artists and visual storytelling is reflected in the publications he has contributed to and the Museum’s founding vision.

Guillermo del Toro is a filmmaker, writer, and producer known for blending fantasy, horror, and history in works such as Frankenstein (2025), The Shape of Water (2017), and Pan’s Labyrinth (2006). A prolific author, collector, and advocate for visual culture, he has long championed artists, narrative art, and imaginative storytelling.

Ryan Linkof is Senior Curator and Head of Film Programs at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. Previously, he served on the founding curatorial team of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and as a curator at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Southern California and is the author and editor of numerous publications on photography, film, and narrative art.

Jessica Hundley is an author, filmmaker, and journalist. She has written for publications including Vogue, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times and has written books on artists including Dennis Hopper, David Lynch, and Gram Parsons. Hundley often explores the counterculture in her work, with a focus on metaphysics, psychedelia, and magic.

Two childhood best friends, Maya and Anjali, join UCLA's competitive Bollywood-fusion dance team, only to discover that the road to winning the U.S. Championship is far more raucous and cutthroat than they ever imagined.

The cast consist of Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Priyanka Kedia, Ankur Rathee, Janina Gavankar, Chaneil Kular, Becky Alex, Shreya Navile, and Hasan Minhaj. It is directed by Lena Khan and written by Hasan Minhaj and Prashanth Venkataramanujam.

Subscribe now

Subscribe now

Advance tickets are available for purchase at Fandango or other ticket outlets ahead of the film’s Sept. 11 release. Limited IMAX Early Access Screenings will also be held in the United States and Canada on Wednesday, Sept. 9, with tickets for that engagement available separately.

Disney+ is presenting a theatrical run of the film, a Hulu original production, which will open in U.S. cinemas and select IMAX theaters Sept. 11. It will later stream exclusively on Disney+ internationally, and on Hulu and Disney+ in the U.S., later this year.

The documentary was produced by Magna Studios and Sony Music Vision. It was created by writer, producer and director Steven Knight, known for “Peaky Blinders” and “A Thousand Blows” and a BAFTA and Academy Award nominee. It was directed by Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace, whose previous credits include “Shut Up and Play the Hits” and “Meet Me in the Bathroom.”

The film follows Liam and Noel Gallagher during Oasis Live ‘25, the band’s reunion tour and one of the most closely watched rock comebacks in recent memory. It documents the tour and its impact on fans worldwide, drawing on rehearsal, backstage and onstage footage, along with what producers describe as the first joint interview with the Gallagher brothers in more than 20 years.

Producers said the film includes previously unreleased footage from the band’s sold-out world tour, along with material examining the tour’s cultural significance to audiences across generations.

The film is a Magna Studios production presented by Sony Music Vision in association with Sony Music Entertainment UK. It was produced by Sam Bridger, whose credits include “Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now” and “Meet Me in the Bathroom,” and Guy Heeley, known for “Locke” and “Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man.”

Executive producers include Kate Shepherd, Marisa Clifford, Davud Karbassioun, Tom Mackay, Krista Wegener, Thomas Benski, Isabel Davis and Tim O’Shea.

The creative team also includes Academy Award-winning sound mixers James Mather, whose credits include “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Belfast,” and Tarn Willers, known for “The Zone of Interest”; cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos, whose work includes “Belfast” and “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”; and editors George Cragg and Martina Zamolo.

Subscribe now

The Darkest Light is one of those documentaries that will haunt you long after it’s over. It follows the problematic legacy of Rabbi and musician Shlomo Carlebach who rose to fame on a message of love and light, only to be posthumously accused of being a predator and pedophile. Director Simon Mendes and writer Aimee Lyde pull focus on Carlebach‘s daughter Neshama Carlebach who is forced to reconcile the father she knew with the human that he was. We also consider just how personal the process of trauma recovery is. There is no right answer, only a positive direction.

The Doc opens with footage of Carlebach sitting amongst his fans with a guitar. All of them young adults, transfixed by a message of compassion and forgiveness. He urges everyone to remain vigilant of their mistakes noting that the distance between a good man and a bad man is just a day. We learn of his history escaping on one of the last boats out of Germany before Nazi control, only to land in New York where he began his music career. Right away his songs catch on in the Jewish community, crossing orthodoxical barriers to become songs regularly sung during worship. Ironically, Carlebach also championed Women’s rights both in and out of the temple. With every explored we get a growing sense of unease, knowing that we will soon have to explore our own feelings on the matter.

Director Simon Mendes and writer Aimee Lyde craft a thought-provoking exploration of duality in mankind. There is a paradoxical motif throughout. Shlomo Carlebach did an immense amount of good for millions of people, not just Jews, yet he was also a monster. He was a loving father, but we discover he overlooked the abuse of one of his daughters. He pushed for women to have a greater role in the temple, yet he secretly took advantage of them. He had a habit of believing the best version of his fellow man overlooking faults big and small. It’s as if Carlebach was quietly asking for forgiveness by forgiving others freely.

Neshama Carlebach’s journey is also an endlessly fascinating one. As a Jewish woman and survivor of abuse she must decipher a kaleidoscope of emotions and opinions from multiple communities. Her journey is one of conflict and deep emotions. The present must hold the actions of the past accountable while the emotions attached, are sometimes at odds with the facts. The candor that Neshama give to the camera puts us in her shoes, we feel her conflict.

The Darkest Light is one of the most important documentaries of the year. It demands accountability. It looks at the process of healing as a distinctly individual journey. While forgiveness is noble and godly, it isn’t always the answer for some. At one point, one of Shlomo Carlebach‘s victims simply says that the only thing that matters is “now.” Mendes and Lyde leave us with a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions by the end of The Darkest Light then leave us to sit with our thoughts. The answer for healing is just to keep moving forward.

The Darkest Light - 7/10

Subscribe now

The trailer for A Different Worlds come back was released earlier today.

A Different World returns to Hillman College with a new class stepping onto campus — and beloved faces coming home. At the center is Deborah Wayne (Maleah Joi Moon), Whitley and Dwayne’s lovingly sheltered youngest daughter, a free spirit with a flair for the spotlight and a big heart who’s still figuring out her own path at Hillman.

Along the way, she’s joined by a new generation that reflects the breadth of Black life on campus: Rashida Duvall (Alijah Kai), a first‑gen criminal justice major; Shaquille Johnson (Cornell Young IV), a five‑star athlete choosing legacy; Amir Rodale (Jordan Aaron Hall), a sharp psych major better at fixing everyone else’s problems than facing his own; Hazel Henry (Kennedi Reece), a church‑raised small‑town girl defining her own values; and Kojo Achebe (Chibuikem Uche), a Ghanaian‑Nigerian fashion entrepreneur finding the courage to follow his vision. Legacy favorites also return, including Whitley Gilbert (Jasmine Guy), Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison), Freddie Brooks (Cree Summer), and Ron Johnson (Darryl M. Bell).

Set against the rituals, humor, and contradictions of an HBCU, A Different World is a hopeful dramedy, full of heart and unapologetically centered on the richness and complexity of the Black experience.

The series is from showrunner, writer, and executive producer Felicia Pride, executive producer and director Debbie Allen, and executive producers Tom Werner, Reggie Rock Bythewood, Gina Prince-Bythewood, and Mandy Summers.

Subscribe now

Tickets are now on sale at Fandango (www.Fandango.com/AvengersDoomsday) or wherever tickets are sold, expanding beyond INFINITY VISION-certified Premium Large Format theaters to cinemas nationwide. A new poster for “Avengers: Doomsday” was also revealed earlier today.

Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Doomsday” is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo; produced by Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito and Jonathan Schwartz; and stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Pedro Pascal, Paul Rudd, Anthony Mackie, Florence Pugh, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Wyatt Russell, Channing Tatum, Simu Liu, Ian McKellen, Hayley Atwell, Tom Hiddleston, James Marsden, Patrick Stewart, Joseph Quinn, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Letitia Wright, Lewis Pullman, Kelsey Grammer, Kathryn Newton, Danny Ramirez, Winston Duke, Alan Cumming, Hannah John-Kamen, Rebecca Romijn, Mabel Cadena, with Tenoch Huerta Mejia.

In “Avengers: Doomsday,” beloved heroes from three distinct universes will be set on a deadly collision course and face an existential threat unlike anything they’ve ever encountered.

“Avengers: Doomsday” releases exclusively in theaters December 18, 2026.

Subscribe now

Subscribe now

Subscribe now

When the system fails, two men divided by nearly everything find common ground: The law has limits. They don’t.

Subscribe now

The event begins Thursday, Sept. 3, and runs select nights through Sunday, Nov. 1.

Among the new additions is “Terror Tram Starring Art the Clown,” which replaces previous hosts of the backlot tram experience with the killer clown character. In the attraction, Art the Clown hijacks the tram after mistaking the timing for a holiday celebration of his own. Metal band Ice Nine Kills composed new music for the experience, reworking classic Christmas songs with a darker edge. Guests may also encounter the character elsewhere in the theme park.

The event also brings back “Killer Klowns From Outer Space,” a haunted house based on the 1988 cult film that sends guests back to the 1980s to escape murderous alien clowns.

Two original houses round out the new offerings. “Dead, Deader, Deadest” takes guests through an abandoned funeral home with a disturbing history. “KILLceañera: Music by SLASH” follows a quinceañera that turns deadly as a 15-year-old girl named Lola seeks revenge on those who wronged her. Guitarist Slash composed an original score for the house, including a song titled “15 Candles.”

A new stunt show, “The Purge: Dangerous Waters,” returns to the WaterWorld venue with a fire-based performance themed around survival.

The park will also feature Nikki, the central character from the Focus Features film “Obsession,” directed by Curry Barker, appearing throughout the streets of the theme park.

New scare zones this year include “Hackerz,” featuring chainsaw-wielding performers; “Fortnitemares,” based on the in-game Fortnite event; and “El Circo de la Muerte,” a 1930s Mexican circus-themed zone tied to the “KILLceañera” house. A zone called “Blood Bog” will feature moss monster creatures.

Additional roaming encounters include “Murder of Crowz,” featuring a family of crow characters, and “Shriek of the Banshee,” centered on a carnival barker and a talking skeleton prop.

These additions join previously announced haunted houses based on “Sinners” from Warner Bros. Pictures, Netflix’s “Stranger Things,” “Hellraiser,” New Line Cinema’s “Evil Dead Burn” and a house themed around musician Ozzy Osbourne.

For the first time, the park will offer “Unmasking the Horror Tour Add-On,” a daytime, behind-the-scenes walking tour that provides guests a look at the production process behind the “Sinners” and “KILLceañera” houses, including designated photo areas.

Several daytime theme park attractions will remain open during the event, including Super Nintendo World, “Transformers: The Ride-3D,” “Revenge of the Mummy — The Ride” and “The Simpsons Ride.” Death Eater characters from the “Harry Potter” franchise will also appear in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter beginning in the early evening.

Ticket options for the event include General Admission, Universal Express, R.I.P. Tour, Day/Night and After 2 p.m. Day/Night tickets. An Early Access ticket allows entry to select haunted houses starting at 5:30 p.m., subject to change. Frequent Fear and Ultimate Fear season passes are also available.

Tickets and additional details are available at UniversalStudiosHollywood.com/Halloween.

MUSE TV News Michael Sandoval welcomes back Hamish Linklater to talk about Prime Video Batman: Caped Crusader at San Diego Comic-Con.

Welcome to Gotham City, where criminals run rampant and law-abiding citizens live in a constant state of fear. Forged in the fire of tragedy, wealthy socialite Bruce Wayne becomes something both more and less than human—the BATMAN. His one-man crusade for justice attracts unexpected allies within the GCPD and City Hall, but his heroic actions spawn deadly, unforeseen ramifications.

Watch Batman: Caped Crusader Season 2 on Prime Video here https://amzn.to/4huU0xC

Subscribe now

LONG BEACH - Halloween arrives early in Southern California as Midsummer Scream returns to the Long Beach Convention Center from Aug. 7-9. The annual event brings together haunted attractions, immersive experiences, artists, vendors and studios that transform imagination into unforgettable dreams — or nightmares.

This will be my first visit to Midsummer Scream since its inaugural event in 2016. What began as a relatively small convention featuring vendors and scare actors has grown into the world’s largest Halloween and horror convention.

This year’s event features more than 350 vendors, roaming scare actors and the fan-favorite Hall of Shadows, where guests can experience more than a dozen haunted attractions created by some of the industry’s most talented designers and haunt teams.

After looking through the panel schedule, I’m especially excited to see what Six Flags, Knott’s Berry Farm and Universal Studios have planned for this year’s Halloween events. I’m also looking forward to exploring the Hall of Shadows and seeing the incredible creativity that set designers, costume artists and scare actors bring to life. Their attention to detail is one of the highlights of the convention every year.

While horror is the main attraction, Midsummer Scream also offers family-friendly entertainment. Paranormal Pixie’s Pumpkin Patch gives younger guests a chance to enjoy Halloween with spooky crafts, interactive activities, book readings and live performances, making it a fun destination for the entire family.

Cosplay is another major part of the convention experience. Fans from across the country showcase impressive costumes inspired by horror, movies, television, comics and gaming. Their creativity adds another level of immersion to the event, and many cosplayers are happy to pose for photos and interact with attendees. Just remember to ask for permission before taking a photo.

Midsummer Scream officially opens at 6 p.m. Friday. While Saturday has already sold out, tickets for Friday evening and Sunday remain available.

We will be covering the convention throughout the weekend with updates, photos, videos and the biggest announcements, bringing you the best scares and Halloween news from the show floor.

Set in 1993, estranged Street Fighters Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken Masters (Noah Centineo) are thrown back into combat when the mysterious Chun-Li (Callina Liang) recruits them for the next World Warrior Tournament: a brutal clash of fists, fate, and fury. But behind this battle royale lies a deadly conspiracy that forces them to face off against each other and the demons of their past. And if they don’t, it’s GAME OVER!

Helmed by director Kitao Sakurai, Street Fighter is set to bring the battle from the arcade to the big screen with Hadoukens, roundhouses, and all your favorite characters.

Subscribe now

SAN DIEGO – Sixty years after Star Trek first debuted on television, the franchise returned to Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con for a celebration of its legacy and the message that has defined Gene Roddenberry’s universe for generations.

The panel opened with an emotional speech from Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry, the son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and actress Majel Roddenberry. He reflected on the philosophy behind IDIC, or “Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations,” explaining that the concept has always encouraged people to embrace different perspectives while recognizing the strength found in diversity.

The anniversary celebration brought together performers from nearly every era of the franchise, including George Takei (Star Trek: The Original Series), Michael Dorn (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Robert Picardo (Star Trek: Voyager), Cirroc Lofton (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), Dominic Keating (Star Trek: Enterprise), Doug Jones (Star Trek: Discovery), Michelle Hurd (Star Trek: Picard), Jerry O’Connell (Star Trek: Lower Decks), Christina Chong (Star Trek: Strange New Worlds) and Karim Diané (Star Trek: Starfleet Academy).

Takei reflected on the franchise’s unlikely journey from cancellation to becoming one of the most influential science fiction franchises in television history.

“What television was low-rated when we started. Not only lasted three seasons, and were canceled. But because of all the people like you and your parents and grandparents,” Takei said. “Because of their intelligence, their sensitivity, and their vision, supported Star Trek to the extent that we have lived long and endured for 60 years and going. That is an extraordinary television phenomenon.”

Many of the panelists credited Roddenberry’s vision for helping Star Trek remain relevant six decades later. Since premiering in 1966, the series introduced audiences to one of television’s first truly diverse bridge crews, presenting an optimistic vision of humanity’s future.

“To see Uhura on the bridge. To see this strong, beautiful, chocolate brown woman with urgency, with purpose, with intelligence, with grace leading the way,” Michelle Hurd said. “To be sitting next to this man over here,” she added while gesturing toward Takei, “it’s such an honor.”

For many actors, joining Star Trek meant becoming part of something much larger than another television series.

Doug Jones, known for his performances in Hocus Pocus, Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water, said he had always hoped to join a long-running television series before finally being cast as Saru in Star Trek: Discovery.

For Jerry O’Connell, becoming part of the franchise was made even more meaningful by a welcome message from fellow actor Wil Wheaton, who portrayed Wesley Crusher in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

“My wife was already on Discovery, and you would have thought my wife would have said, ‘Hey, congrats on that. Welcome to the family,’” O’Connell said. “The first text I got was from Wesley Crusher that said, ‘Welcome to Starfleet, Commander.’ I knew I was part of something bigger than myself, and I never take any of this for granted.”

Karim Diané said he didn’t fully understand the passion of the Star Trek fan community until someone sent him a direct message showing a tattoo of his Starfleet Academy character.

As the discussion came to a close, moderators asked Takei what he believed was the most important part of Roddenberry’s vision. His answer returned to the same message that opened the panel: IDIC.

Takei said the philosophy reminds people that while individuals may come from different backgrounds and experiences, those differences are what strengthen humanity.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Season 4

The celebration continued with a panel featuring the cast of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, who offered fans a preview of what’s ahead aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise.

Rebecca Romijn said she has enjoyed seeing Number One evolve beyond the limited role established in the original series, giving audiences the opportunity to learn more about the character’s personal journey.

Melissa Navia teased more interactions between Erica Ortegas and Scotty, continuing Star Trek’s long-running tradition of playful rivalries between pilots and engineers.

Celia Rose Gooding said she is excited for fans to continue watching Uhura grow into the confident officer audiences know from The Original Series, while Ethan Peck spoke about the responsibility of portraying one of the franchise’s most iconic characters in Spock.

New episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds premiere Thursdays on Paramount+ through Sept. 24.

Panel Experience

Sixty years after Gene Roddenberry first introduced audiences to a hopeful vision of the future, Star Trek continues to evolve across television, animation, publishing, podcasts and interactive experiences.

While Paramount has yet to announce what comes next beyond Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and the upcoming second season of Starfleet Academy, Saturday’s Hall H celebration made one thing clear: the people behind Star Trek remain committed to carrying Roddenberry’s message of optimism, curiosity and infinite diversity into the franchise’s next chapter.

MUSE TV News Michael Sandoval talks with the legendary MeTV star Svengoolie at this years San Diego Comic-Con.

Svengoolie has been the premier horror show icon of Chicago, since multiple Emmy award winner Rich Koz became the hand-picked successor to the original Svengoolie back in the late '70s. He has appeared on a national basis on MeTV since April 2011 - and generations of viewers have become fans of the monstrous mirth and movies that this video vampire dispenses every week over the airwaves.

Svengoolie brings you the classic Universal horror films and more, many of which have not been seen on broadcast television in years. Svengoolie has been voted "Favorite Horror Host" multiple times in the national Rondo horror awards - and been acknowledged by even the most famous horror hosts as a peer. Svengoolie reigns as the king of horror hilarity on MeTV!

Subscribe now

SAN DIEGO - Marvel Studios made its highly anticipated return to Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday, bringing exclusive footage, surprise celebrity appearances and major Marvel Cinematic Universe announcements that had thousands of fans cheering throughout the presentation.

Marvel Studios President and Producer Kevin Feige set the tone early, telling fans the presentation would focus primarily on the studio’s upcoming films.

“Today, we’re mainly going to talk about movies,” Feige said. “We’re mainly going to talk about movies because that is what brings us together in the world.”

From Ryan Gosling’s long-awaited arrival as Ghost Rider to Robert Downey Jr.’s return as Victor von Doom, here’s everything announced during Marvel Studios’ Hall H presentation.

Avengers: Endgame

Before Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters this December, Marvel Studios is bringing Avengers: Endgame back to theaters beginning Sept. 25. The rerelease will include brand-new footage designed to set the stage for what’s ahead in Doomsday.

“2019 was a very long time ago,” Feige told the crowd. “The world’s a different place. But reminding all of us what it was like to be in that theater, cheering along and enjoying that crazy enthusiasm, is why we’re rereleasing Avengers: Endgame on Sept. 25.”

Ghost Rider

One of the biggest surprises of the afternoon came when Feige confirmed that a new Ghost Rider film is in development. The film is scheduled to hit theaters in 2028 and will star Ryan Gosling as the iconic motorcycle-riding antihero, with Shawn Levy (Deadpool & Wolverine) directing.

Feige joked that he had been asked countless times when Ghost Rider and Gosling would finally join the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Hall H erupted in applause as Gosling walked onto the stage.

“Wow, is this really happening?” Gosling asked the crowd. “As you know, this is a character I’ve wanted to play for a very long time.”

The actor then welcomed Levy to the stage, calling him the only director who could bring Ghost Rider to life. Levy said the two spent countless hours while working on Star Wars: Starfighter talking about Ghost Rider and imagining what the character could become on screen.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Jon Bernthal made a surprise appearance to join Feige in introducing an exclusive first look at Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

The footage showcased Frank Castle, also known as The Punisher, teaming up with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man as they face off against Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day swings into theaters on July 31, 2027.

Avengers: Doomsday

Joe and Anthony Russo joined Feige on stage to unveil an exclusive look at Avengers: Doomsday before surprising Hall H with an appearance by the film’s massive ensemble cast.

Actors emerged from multiple stages positioned throughout Hall H before gathering on the main stage. The lineup included Rebecca Romijn, Kelsey Grammer, James Marsden, Lewis Pullman, Tenoch Huerta, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Simu Liu, Danny Ramirez, Anthony Mackie, Paul Rudd, Pedro Pascal, Hayley Atwell, Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr.

Before Downey took the stage, attendees were handed Doom masks and green capes. Moments later, Hall H glowed green as the actor addressed the crowd.

“It’s not easy being green,” Downey joked. “I need a lot of help. I need this whole family around me to finally assist me in being an arch-enemy, which is daunting.”

Downey also reflected on last year’s Hall H appearance, when his casting as Victor von Doom was first announced.

“When y’all had faith in me two years ago, you lifted me up, and I think we made something real special,” he said. “But decisions will have to be made. Perhaps you’re on the side of the good guys, or perhaps you’ll have to consider the alternative.”

Later, Ryan Reynolds made a surprise appearance dressed as a blue-tinted Deadpool, jokingly asking the cast if there was still room for him in the film before learning production had already wrapped.

Avengers: Doomsday opens in theaters Dec. 18, 2026.

Black Panther 3

Marvel closed the Hall H presentation with another major announcement as Feige welcomed Academy Award-winning filmmaker Ryan Coogler (Black Panther, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Sinners) to the stage.

Joined by Letitia Wright and Winston Duke, Coogler announced that David Jonsson (Alien: Romulus, The Long Walk) will portray the new Black Panther. Jonsson will play the son of T’Challa, portrayed by the late Chadwick Boseman, as the character comes of age.

“I want to say thank you so much,” Jonsson told the audience. “Thank you Ryan, thank you Kevin, thank you to this amazing family that I have the honor and the privilege and the blessing to join. I actually don’t want to say too much because I want to let the screen do the talking. But believe me, the honor is entirely mine.”

Black Panther 3 is scheduled to open in theaters on Dec. 15, 2028.

With films now mapped out through 2028, Marvel Studios used its return to Hall H to kick off the next chapter of the Marvel Cinematic Universe while delivering the surprise-filled presentation Comic-Con fans have come to expect.

SAN DIEGO - Brad Bird took the stage in Hall H on Thursday for Brad Bird: My Cinematic Journey, where he reflected on the films that have defined his career and gave fans an exclusive first look at his upcoming animated feature, Ray Gunn.

Moderated by Collider editor-in-chief Steven Weintraub, the conversation covered Bird’s work on The Iron Giant, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, and Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol. Along the way, Bird shared behind-the-scenes stories, talked about the creative decisions that shaped those films, and reflected on what he’s learned throughout his career.

One of the more memorable stories came from the making of Ratatouille. Bird revealed that another actor had originally been cast as Remy and had already recorded dialogue for the role. After hearing the performance, he realized it wasn’t the right fit and suggested Patton Oswalt instead. The change gave the character the voice audiences know today.

Fans also got an exclusive seven-minute preview of Ray Gunn, Bird’s upcoming animated feature from Skydance Animation and Netflix. The project has been in development for more than 30 years, with Bird describing it as a blend of classic science fiction and 1940s detective films. He has previously summed it up as “The Maltese Falcon meets Buck Rogers.”

Bird also shared that he is currently working on The Incredibles 3 while finishing Ray Gunn. He didn’t reveal new details about the sequel, but confirmed the project is moving forward.

Throughout the panel, Bird reflected on the highs and challenges of his career, sharing stories from behind the scenes and the storytelling philosophy that has guided his work for decades.

SAN DIEGO – Hall H was filled with laughs Friday as Amazon MGM Studios gave fans their first look at Spaceballs: The New One during San Diego Comic-Con.

Before the cast even took the stage, fans were treated to a video message from comedy legend Mel Brooks, setting the tone for a panel that celebrated the original 1987 cult classic while looking ahead to its long-awaited sequel.

Moderator Kevin Smith welcomed director Josh Greenbaum, screenwriters Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit, along with stars Daphne Zuniga, Keke Palmer, Lewis Pullman and Josh Gad.

But the biggest surprise of the panel came before the conversation even got underway.

As Spaceballs Troopers “combed” the audience for fans dressed as Dark Helmet, they “discovered” Rick Moranis sitting among the crowd in full costume. The reveal brought Hall H to its feet as fans gave Moranis a standing ovation, marking his return as Dark Helmet for the first time in nearly four decades.

The panel also revealed how the long-awaited sequel finally became a reality. Josh Gad recalled working with Rick Moranis on a planned Honey, I Shrunk the Kids sequel when he introduced the actor’s films to his daughter. After watching the original Spaceballs, she asked when they could watch part two. Gad told her there wasn’t one, despite the promise at the end of the film.

“The weird little alien guy said there’s going to be a part two,” she told him.

Gad laughed, replying, “Oh, sweetie, that’s called a joke.” When she asked why there had never been a sequel, he realized she had a point. That night, he went to bed thinking about what a sequel could be and eventually picked up the phone to call Mel Brooks.

“I don’t know what gave me the balls to do this, but I called up Mel Brooks,” Gad said. He spent 40 minutes passionately pitching his vision while Brooks listened quietly. When he finally finished, Brooks responded, “Josh, it sounds like you really have a finger on the pulse. I don’t know half of what you’re talking about, but I really like it.”

So, in a way, we have Olaf to thank for finally getting a Spaceballs sequel.

Daphne Zuniga said she wasn’t surprised it took this long for a sequel to happen. She recalled auditioning for the role of Princess Vespa and said Mel Brooks told her, “You’re my princess.” Even so, it took more than a month before she officially landed the role of Princess Vespa.

Now returning as Queen Vespa, Zuniga joked that she’s enjoying ruling over her own “queen-dom.”

Rick Moranis also reflected on returning to Dark Helmet after nearly four decades.

“I had to pinch myself because I would look at Daphne, Bill and George Wyner, ‘Colonel Sanders,’ and then there were all these young people. Then I realized I was their age 39 years ago when we made this, and here we are now. My kids are the age of this cast. I felt like I was in a time warp,” Moranis said.

“But I was in that outfit wearing the helmet, and it felt very strange, to be honest. But it started to feel really good, and I started to love it. Who knows, it might be the beginning of many.”

Newcomer Keke Palmer said she couldn’t stop laughing when she first read the script, making it an easy decision to sign on.

“That was the thing. It’s doing stuff that brings you joy, and I think we can all use a little more joy and laughter. So the way it made me feel, I immediately knew I had to do it,” Palmer said.

When asked about her character Destiny, Palmer wasn’t sharing any details.

Lewis Pullman also reflected on following in the footsteps of his father, Bill Pullman, who originated the role of Lone Starr. He admitted he initially hesitated about taking on the legacy but changed his mind after reading the script.

“Me and Pop had... he didn’t want to make the decision, and I didn’t want to step into his shoes. But once I read it, I was like, this is one of the funniest scripts I’ve ever read,” Pullman said. “I was laughing out loud, and I rarely laugh out loud when reading scripts. I then looked at the team, and I was like, I would be a fool. I would be weird if I didn’t do it.”

Although Bill Pullman wasn’t able to attend the panel, he still made an appearance through a special video message for the Hall H audience.

Josh Gad also made it clear that he isn’t stepping into John Candy’s beloved role as Barf. Instead, he’ll play another Mawg, though he wouldn’t reveal any additional details about the character.

“I am not stepping into the role of Barf,” Gad said. “Barf can only be played by one person.”

Gad then took a moment to honor the late John Candy, calling him the heart and soul of the original Spaceballs. The tribute was one of the panel’s more heartfelt moments, reminding fans why the first film continues to resonate nearly 40 years later.

Before the panel wrapped, Hall H fans were treated to an exclusive first look at the trailer for Spaceballs: The New One, giving attendees their first glimpse of the long-awaited sequel before it arrives in theaters next year.

Between Mel Brooks’ opening message, Rick Moranis’ surprise return, behind-the-scenes stories from the cast and the exclusive trailer debut, Hall H celebrated everything fans have loved about Spaceballs for nearly four decades while proving there’s still plenty of Schwartz left.

Spaceballs: The New One arrives exclusively in theaters in April 2027.