San Diego Comic-Con 2020 may be running a little differently, but it's still jam-packed with trailers for new movies and TV shows. This year, San Diego Comic-Con has been forced to adapt to the current coronavirus pandemic and the associated lockdowns. Ordinarily, some 130,000 people head to San Diego to participate in the event, but mass gatherings like that are currently unsafe. Consequently, the annual fan convention canceled in-person celebrations.
But that doesn't mean SDCC 2020 is a damp squib. Organizers have set up a new event called Comic-Con@Home, with panels streaming online through social media. Unlike the normal convention, there is no cost associated with watching the panels, which means anyone can sit back and enjoy them. While it's true several major studios - notably Marvel - have decided to sit this one out, this is still sure to be one of the most important entertainment events of the year.
This year's SDCC will essentially be dominated by TV rather than film, with networks such as Amazon, HBO, and CBS running a number of high-profile panels. Here are all the trailers that have dropped throughout the event so far. (This article will be updated as SDCC 2020 unfolds.)
New Mutants: First Two Minutes & Extended Trailer
Disney released the first two minutes of the much-delayed New Mutants, along with an extended trailer. It can be viewed on the New Mutants Comic-Con@Home panel, running from around the 24:10 mark, but hasn't been released separately. Stylistically, it's a beautiful love-letter to the classic Chris Claremont/Bill Sienkiewicz run, and some of the casting choices - notably Anya Taylor-Joy's Magik, Blu Hunt's Dani Moonstar, and Maisie Williams' Wolfsbane - appear absolutely spot-on. Disney is currently sticking to an August 28 release date, but the panel itself acknowledged the probability this won't happen, with a "Fingers Crossed" comment. Even director Josh Boone has indicated he wouldn't mind this going straight to digital.
Antlers
Searchlight Pictures released the final trailer for their upcoming horror movie Antlers, produced by Guillermo del Toro and directed by Scott Cooper. Originally slated for a 2020 release, Antlers is one of a raft of movies pushed back in just the last week, and will now come out in February 2021. The plot has largely been kept under wraps, but it's clearly inspired by the legend of the Wendigo, and del Toro suggested this movie may still somehow fit into Pan's Labyrinth.
Bill & Ted Face The Music
The full-length trailer for Bill & Ted Face The Music will delight fans old and new, reuniting Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves in another fun adventure. Orion Pictures has chosen to push the film back a little, to September 1, but they're taking a sensible approach with the release. Like several other movies during the pandemic, Bill & Ted Face The Music will simultaneously release both in theaters and on digital. The film has been in development for decades, but clearly it's going to stick to the same irreverent humor, and Bill and Ted are as irrepressible as ever. The trailer prominently features their daughters, proving the craziness is being passed down to the next generation.
Fear The Walking Dead Season 6
AMC released a first trailer for Fear The Walking Dead, confirming the show will return in October. Season 5 ended with Morgan in a dangerous situation, but the trailer confirms he's still alive. Most of the footage has been seen before, but there are fresh glimpses of a mysterious figure in a cowboy hat who is seen with strange red eyes; he appears to have been tasked with hunting down Morgan.
Walking Dead: World Beyond
AMC debuted a first look trailer for their upcoming Walking Dead spinoff, The Walking Dead: World Beyond. This will focus on a new cast of younger characters who have grown up in the aftermath of the outbreak, and it is set in a new community with ties to the mysterious organization that kidnapped Rick Grimes and flew him away in a helicopter in The Walking Dead season 9. The series will premiere on October 4, immediately after the season 10 finale of The Walking Dead.
His Dark Materials Season 2
The first season of His Dark Materials was a hit for the BBC and HBO, and the new season 2 trailer shows Dafne Keen's Lyra continue to explore parallel worlds. This season is based on the second book of Philip Pullman's trilogy, and it will introduce Smallville alumni Terence Stamp as Giacomo Pardisi, bearer of the Subtle Knife. This mystical blade has the power to cut through reality itself, opening gateways between the worlds. Unfortunately for Lyra, the Magisterium is clearly still hot on her heels, meaning the tension should continue to build for this excellent fantasy series.
Lovecraft County
Lovecraft County is an upcoming horror drama by Misha Green, due to premiere on HBO on August 16. It stars Atticus Black (Jonathan Majors) and friend Letitia Dandridge (Jurnee Smollett-Bell) as they go on a road-trip across the United States, battling racism and Lovecraftian monsters. The trailer is dark and atmospheric, promising one seriously spooky show.
Helstrom
Hulu released their first trailer for Helstrom, a dark supernatural horror loosely inspired by Marvel Television. The show will focus on siblings Ana (Sydney Lemmon) and Daimon (Tom Austen), the children of a serial killer rather the devil (as in the comics). Surprisingly, the trailer avoids any explicit reference to the comics, with no visible Easter eggs and no sign of the traditional Marvel logo. Given Kevin Feige's growing dominance at Marvel, it's clearly now considered too off-brand.
Wynonna Earp Season 4
Comic-Con@Home's Wynonna Earp panel gave eager fans a first look at season 4. The July 26th premiere comes nearly two years after the season 3 finale left Waverly Earp trapped in the Garden of Eden and the citizens of Purgatory missing in action; the trailer is full of action and more than a little humor, including tongue-in-cheek references to the show's uncertain future. Emily Andras revealed the scene was not the opening of the episode however, leaving viewers to wonder what may be coming.
NeXt Season 1 Trailer
Fox released a trailer for their upcoming sci-fi thriller, NeXt, a cyber-crime adventure in which an AI goes rogue and threatens the future of all humanity. It promises to be a deep, intense exploration of the risk of AI, genuinely believed by scientists to be an existential threat to the continued existence of the human race. The series stars John Slattery as a paranoid tech mogul who teams up with a Cyber Crime Task Force to save the day.
Phineas & Ferb The Movie: Candace Against The Universe
Disney+ released a clip from Phineas & Ferb The Movie: Candace Against The Universe, featuring Candace singing the wonderfully catchy song "Such A Beautiful Day," complete with unexpected head-banging interludes. This will premiere on Disney+ on August 28, and while it's sure to focus on Candace, it will hopefully answer some of the franchise's many mysteries.
Truth Seekers
Amazon Prime Video released their first teaser trailer for Truth Seekers, starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. This follows a group of paranormal investigators who uncover a major conspiracy, and presumably attempt to survive the experience. It promises a return to comedic form for Pegg and Frost, a fun adventure starring a group of misfits. Tonally, it's reminiscent of Taikia Waititi's What We Do In The Shadows.
Utopia
Amazon Prime Video released their first teaser trailer for Utopia, an upcoming conspiracy theory thriller. This is centered around a group of comic book fans who gradually realize their favorite comic predicts threats facing the real world, and they take it upon themselves to save the planet. The ensemble includes Jessica Rothe as Samantha, John Cusack as Dr. Kevin Christie, Rainn Wilson as Dr. Michael Stearns, and Sasha Lane as Jessica Hyde - the central character in the "Utopia" comics.
Archer Season 11
FXX debuted the season 11 trailer for Archer, confirming it will return on September 16. The popular animated comedy series follows Sterling Archer and his return to the spy world after a three-year coma. Although Sterling is determined to pick up where he left off, he's blissfully unaware the rest of the team have moved on with their lives. It's pleasing to see the delay for Archer season 11 won't be as long as some breaks due to the pandemic.
Wizards: Tales of Arcadia
Netflix has entered a partnership with Guillermo del Toro and Dreamworks Animation to launch a new animated series, Wizards: Tales of Arcadia. This sees a group of teenagers step up in defense of their California hometown, Arcadia Oaks; the trailer reveals their adventures take a surprising turn when they're blasted back in time to the days of Camelot, and wind up fighting to preserve the timeline.
For All Mankind Season 2
The first season of For All Mankind was one of the first shows to drop on the Apple+ streaming service in November, an action series set in an alternate timeline where Russia has gotten the lead in the Space Race. Season 1 was easily the best show on Apple+, focusing more on storytelling and filmmaking rather than on gimmicks, with an excellent blend of tragedy and comedy. The second season promises to continue in the same vein.
The Right Stuff
Disney+ and National Geographic unveiled their first trailer for The Right Stuff, based on Tom Wolfe's novel, which explores the U.S. Space Program. The first season will focus on the early days of NASA and the iconic "Mercury Seven" - America's first astronauts. The series is expected to serve as a celebration of America's accomplishments, with National Geographic hoping it will inspire further interest in space.