San Diego Comic-Con announces 2020 virtual line up: The film and TV highlights to watch out for

The organisers of San Diego Comic-Con, the world’s leading pop culture fan convention, have announced the line up for Comic-Con@Home, its first ever virtual convention.

Its regular event, which was scheduled to kick off on 23 July, was cancelled earlier this year for the first time ever in the convention’s 50 year history due to the coronavirus pandemic. The live event will return in 2021, but to fill this year’s gap the organisers have lined up a full five-day schedule of online events to take place from Wednesday, 22 July to Sunday, 26 July.

It’s an action-packed line up featuring some huge names from the world of comics, television and movies. Best thing is: it’s all completely free.

Here’s our pick of the best panels to watch from the world of movies and television. All times are listed in PDT.

Thursday, 23 July

Star Trek Universe Virtual Panel

Thursday July 23, 2020 10:00am - 11:00am (6pm-7pm UK time)

Star Trek broke barriers when it first premiered more than 50 years ago, inspiring people of all walks of life by championing cultural diversity, scientific advancement, and the exploration of new frontiers. Today, this legacy carries on through the Star Trek series on CBS All Access, where Starfleet and new characters alike take on exciting missions and explore uncharted areas of the universe while keeping true to the ideals of “Star Trek” that society needs now more than ever. Join us as we virtually bring together the casts and producers from Star Trek: Discovery, new animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek: Picard.

Dominic Patten, Deadline’s senior editor, moderates the overall “Star Trek Universe” panels with an introduction and discussion with Secret Hideout Executive Producers Alex Kurtzman and Heather Kadin who give a glimpse of what’s ahead in the ever-expanding franchise.

The cast of Star Trek: Discovery reprises their roles in a virtual table read of the season two finale “Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2.”

Mike McMahan (Rick and Morty, Solar Opposites), creator, showrunner, and executive producer of the upcoming animated comedy series Star Trek: Lower Decks, which premieres Thursday, August 6 on CBS All Access, will debut an exclusive extended first look from the premiere episode. McMahan also moderates a fun discussion with the Starfleet crew residing in the “lower decks” of the U.S.S. Cerritos.

Patrick Stewart and the lively cast of the hit original series Star Trek: Picard, come together (virtually) for the first time post-finale to discuss the critically acclaimed first season.

Amazon Prime Video: Truth Seekers

Thursday July 23, 2020 12:00pm - 1:00pm (8pm-9pm UK time)

A new original supernatural horror comedy by Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead), Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz), James Serafinowicz (Sick Note), and Nat Saunders (Sick Note). Join as they discuss the making of the hilarious eight-episode series about a team of part-time paranormal investigators who team up to uncover and film ghost sightings across the UK, sharing their adventures on an online channel for all to see. Discussion and Q&A moderated by Empire magazine's Chris Hewitt.

A Look Inside Marvel's 616 on Disney+

Thursday July 23, 2020 1:00pm - 2:00pm (9pm-10pm UK time)

Marvel's 616 explores how Marvel's rich legacy of stories, characters and creators exist within the "world outside your window." Each documentary, helmed by a unique filmmaker, explores the intersections of storytelling, pop culture and fandom within the Marvel Universe. Join directors Gillian Jacobs, Paul Scheer, and executive producers Sarah Amos and Jason Sterman as they discuss the making of this Disney+ original anthology series with moderator Angélique Roché.

Amazon Prime Video: Utopia

Thursday July 23, 2020 1:00pm - 2:00pm (9pm-10pm UK time)

A twisted, eight-episode thriller about a group of young comic fans who discover the conspiracy in a graphic novel is real, and embark on a high-stakes adventure to save humanity from the end of the world. Join writer and executive producer Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl) and series stars John Cusack (High Fidelity), Rainn Wilson (The Office), Sasha Lane (American Honey), Ashleigh LaThrop (Fifty Shades Freed), Dan Byrd (Cougar Town), Desmin Borges (You're The Worst), Javon "Wanna" Walton (Euphoria), and Jessica Rothe (Happy Death Day) for a Q&A moderated by Entertainment Weekly's Christian Holub.

The New Mutants

Thursday July 23, 2020 1:00pm - 2:00pm (9pm-10pm UK time)

His Dark Materials Virtual Panel and Q&A Session

Thursday July 23, 2020 1:00pm - 2:00pm (9pm-10pm UK time)

Adapting Philip Pullman's award-winning trilogy of the same name, which is considered a modern masterpiece of imaginative fiction, HBO/BBC's His Dark Materials concluded its debut season in December. Join executive producers Jane Tranter and Jack Thorne, as well as cast members Dafne Keen (Lyra), Ruth Wilson (Mrs. Coulter), Ariyon Bakare (Lord Boreal), Amir Wilson (Will Parry), Andrew Scott (John Parry), and Lin-Manuel Miranda (Lee Scoresby) in a virtual panel discussion about the hit drama series which will be moderated by award-winning journalist Stacey Wilson Hunt.

Amazon Prime Video: Upload

Thursday July 23, 2020 2:00pm - 3:00pm (10pm-11pm UK time)

Creator, executive producer and director Greg Daniels (The Office, Parks and Recreation) and stars Robbie Amell (Code 8), Andy Allo (Pitch Perfect 3), Kevin Bigley (Undone), Allegra Edwards (New Girl), and Zainab Johnson (American Koko) discuss how they brought this futuristic comedy to life, share behind-the-scenes details from season one, and tease what fans can expect in season two. The panel will be moderated by Engadget's Cherlynn Low. Upload season one is a ten-episode, half-hour, sci-fi comedy that takes place in the near future, where people can be "Uploaded" into a virtual afterlife of their choice.

Collider: Directors on Directing

Thursday July 23, 2020 2:00pm - 3:00pm (10pm-11pm UK time)

Robert Rodriguez (Alita: Battle Angel), Colin Trevorrow (Jurassic World: Dominion), and Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick) take part in a wide-ranging and in-depth discussion about the craft of directing and projects past, present, and future. Moderated by Collider's editor-in-chief Steven Weintraub.

The Boys Season 2

Thursday July 23, 2020 3:00pm - 4:00pm (11pm-12am UK time)

Join executive producer Eric Kripke, along with series stars Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty, Jessie T. Usher, Laz Alonso, Chace Crawford, Tomer Capon, Karen Fukuhara, and Aya Cash, with moderator Aisha Tyler, for a behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming second season of The Boys. Executive producers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg will also make a special appearance. Based on The New York Times best-selling comic by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, The Boys is a fun and irreverent take on what happens when superheroes - who are as popular as celebrities - abuse their superpowers rather than use them for good. The even more intense, more insane season two finds The Boys on the run from the law, hunted by the Supes, and desperately trying to regroup and fight back against Vought.

Friday, 24 July

Charlize Theron: Evolution of a Badass - An Action Hero Career Retrospective

Friday July 24, 2020 10:00am - 11:00am (6pm-7pm UK time)

Actress and producer Charlize Theron reflects on portraying over two decades of action heroes, from Æon Flux to The Old Guard's Andromache, Mad Max: Fury Road's Furiosa to Atomic Blonde's Lorraine Broughton. In a lengthy retrospective Q&A moderated by IGN's Terri Schwartz, Theron discusses the evolution of the modern female action hero, the roles that inspired her and what drives her to constantly push her limits with fight training.

AMC's The Walking Dead

Friday July 24, 2020 1:00pm - 2:00pm (9pm-10pm UK time)

The Walking Dead will make its 11th San Diego Comic-Con appearance with a panel spotlighting "A Certain Doom, " which will air as a standalone episode later this year. Moderated by Chris Hardwick (Talking Dead), the panel will feature TWDU chief content officer Scott M. Gimple, showrunner and executive producer Angela Kang, executive producer Greg Nicotero, who directed the episode, and cast members Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Lauren Cohan, Josh McDermitt, Seth Gilliam, Ross Marquand, Khary Payton, and Paola Lazaro. In The Walking Dead episode 1016, "A Certain Doom, " Beta engages the final battle of the Whisperer War.

AMC's The Walking Dead: World Beyond

Friday July 24, 2020 2:00pm - 3:00pm (10pm-11pm UK time)

The Walking Dead: World Beyond makes its Comic-Con International debut as the third series in wildly successful The Walking Dead Universe. Moderated by Chris Hardwick, the series' panel will feature TWDU chief content officer Scott M. Gimple, showrunner and executive producer Matt Negrete and cast members Aliyah Royale, Alexa Mansour, Hal Cumpston, Nicholas Cantu, Nico Tortorella, Julia Ormond, and Joe Holt. The Walking Dead: World Beyond delves into a new mythology and story that follows the first generation raised in a surviving civilisation of the post-apocalyptic world. Two sisters along with two friends leave a place of safety and comfort to brave dangers, known and unknown, living and undead on an important quest. Pursued by those who wish to protect them and those who wish to harm them, a tale of growing up and transformation unfurls across dangerous terrain, challenging everything they know about the world, themselves and each other. Some will become heroes. Some will become villains. But all of them will find the truths they seek.

A Zoom with Joss Whedon

Friday July 24, 2020 5:00pm - 6:00pm (1am-2am UK time)

YouTube: https://youtu.be/ibEPlm5FkHE

Deep Blue Sea 3: The Panel!

Friday July 24, 2020 5:00pm - 6:00pm (1am-2am UK time)

New discoveries and dangerous predators emerge in the middle of the ocean in Warner Bros. Home Entertainment's highly anticipated feature film, Deep Blue Sea 3. The follow-up to the breakout success of Deep Blue Sea 2 (itself a sequel to the 1999 cult hit Deep Blue Sea), Deep Blue Sea 3 will be the hot topic of discussion between an esteemed group of panelists, including actors Tania Raymonde (Lost, Goliath), Nathaniel Buzolic (The Vampire Diaries, Hacksaw Ridge), Emerson Brooks (MacGyver), Bren Foster (The Last Ship), and Japanese star Reina Aoi, and director John Pogue (The Quiet Ones) and screenwriter Dirk Blackman (Outlander). Sharknado franchise director Anthony Ferrante will moderate the panel, which will include tantalising clips from the upcoming film.

Saturday

The Simpsons @ Home

Saturday July 25, 2020 11:00am - 12:00pm (7pm-8pm UK time)

They'll never stop the Simpsons!. . .from appearing at Comic-con; this time on zoom. Join Al Jean, Matt Selman, David Silverman, Carolyn Omine, Mike B. Anderson, and moderator Yeardley Smith. Find out how the show has surmounted social distancing and turbulent times en route to Season 32!

Constantine: 15th Anniversary Reunion

Saturday July 25, 2020 12:00pm - 1:00pm (8pm-9pm UK time)

Keanu Reeves, director Francis Lawrence, and producer Akiva Goldsman reunite to reflect on the making of the 2005 DC Comics adaptation. Moderated by Collider's editor-in-chief Steven Weintraub.

Blast Off with Disney+'s The Right Stuff

Saturday July 25, 2020 1:00pm - 2:00pm (9pm-10pm UK time)

From Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way and Warner Horizon Scripted Television, The Right Stuff is the first scripted Disney+ original series from National Geographic. The series takes a clear-eyed look at the early days of the US space program. The series follows seven of the military's best pilots become astronauts for the newly-formed NASA at the height of the Cold War. Competing to be the first in space, these ordinary men achieve the extraordinary, inspiring America to turn towards a new horizon of ambition and hope. In this 45-minute panel moderated by former NASA Astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison, you will hear from the cast and crew about making this compelling and cinematically extraordinary series, PLUS an exclusive first look will be revealed!

Guillermo del Toro and Scott Cooper on Antlers and Filmmaking

Saturday July 25, 2020 1:00pm - 2:00pm (9pm-10pm UK time)

Family Guy

Saturday July 25, 2020 2:00pm - 3:00pm (10pm-11pm UK time)

Cast members Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Mila Kunis, Seth Green, and executive producers Rich Appel, Alec Sulkin, and Kara Vallow from FOX's hit animated comedy Family Guy celebrates 350 episodes with a virtual table read! After, they'll take a look back at some of their favourite moments from the last 18 seasons, plus a special sneak peek at the hilarity and hi-jinx coming up in their 19th season premiering this fall on FOX!

For All Mankind

Saturday July 25, 2020 2:00pm - 3:00pm (10pm-11pm UK time)

Cast members Joel Kinnaman, Michael Dorman, Sarah Jones, Shantel VanSanten, Jodi Balfour, Wrenn Schmidt, Sonya Walger, and Krys Marshall gather for a thoughtful conversation looking back on season one of the Apple TV+ drama For All Mankind. Hosted by series creators and executive producers Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert, and Ben Nedivi, the discussion will explore highlights from season one and feature an exclusive first look at the highly anticipated second season of this critically acclaimed series.

Women Rocking Hollywood 2020: Supporting Female-Helmed Film and TV

Saturday July 25, 2020 2:00pm - 3:00pm (10pm-11pm UK time)

What is so great about working as executive producer and director on a Frank Miller/Tom Wheeler project? What is it like to direct Charlize Theron and Kiki Layne in complicated fight scenes? How does working with women above and below the line make a film with Kelvin Harrison Jr, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Dakota Johnson more nuanced and believable? What does a producing director on Queen Sugar do? Find out all this and more, including why supporting women in film is so vital to equality for all, and how fans can make a difference, on this exciting female filmmaker-focused panel. Watch Nisha Ganatra (director: Late Night, The High Note), Lauren Wolkstein (director: Cloak & Dagger, supervising director: Queen Sugar), Gina Prince-Bythewood (writer/director: Love and Basketball, director: The Old Guard), Zetna Fuentes (director: Jessica Jones, executive producer/director: Cursed), and Alison Emilio (director of ReFrame) as they share their experiences and insights. Moderated by Leslie Combemale (creator: Women Rocking Hollywood, freelance writer: AWFJ.org).

Bill & Ted Face the Music

Saturday July 25, 2020 3:00pm - 4:00pm (11pm-12am UK time)

Cast Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, Samara Weaving, Brigette Lundy-Paine, William Sadler, director Dean Parisot alongside writers Ed Solomon and Chris Matheson gather for a lively panel moderated by filmmaker and fan Kevin Smith.

Peacock Original Series: Brave New World

Saturday July 25, 2020 3:00pm - 4:00pm (11pm-12am UK time)

Based on Aldous Huxley’s groundbreaking novel, Brave New World imagines a utopian society that has achieved peace and stability through the prohibition of monogamy, privacy, money, family, and history itself. Join creator and showrunner David Wiener (Homecoming, The Killing) and cast members Alden Ehrenreich (Solo: A Star Wars Story, Hail, Caesar!), Jessica Brown Findlay (Winter’s Tale, Downton Abbey), Harry Lloyd (Game of Thrones, The Theory of Everything), Hannah John-Kamen (Ant-Man and the Wasp), Nina Sosanya (Killing Eve), Kylie Bunbury (When They See Us), and Joseph Morgan (The Originals) for an in-depth behind-the-scenes look at the making of Peacock’s highly anticipated new series.

HBO's Lovecraft Country

Saturday July 25, 2020 4:00pm - 5:00pm (12am-1am UK time)

From showrunner and executive producer Misha Green, the new drama series Lovecraft Country follows the thrilling journeys of Atticus Freeman (Jonathan Majors), his friend Letitia (Jurnee Smollett) and his Uncle George (Courtney B. Vance) across 1950s Jim Crow America as they overcome the racist terrors and terrifying monsters ripped from an H.P. Lovecraft novel. Join cast members, Jurnee Smollett, Jonathan Majors, Michael Kenneth Williams, Aunjanue Ellis, Wunmi Mosaku, Abbey Lee, and Courtney B. Vance in a conversation moderated by Sarah Rodman, executive editor of Entertainment Weekly.

What We Do In The Shadows

Saturday July 25, 2020 5:00pm - 6:00pm (1am-2am UK time)

Named "TV's best comedy" by the Hollywood Reporter, What We Do in the Shadows is a documentary-style look into the lives of four vampires and their loyal familiar who, in a surprising twist, is a descendant of famed vampire slayer Van Helsing. Join us in raising a glass of regular human alcohol beer to the sharp-toothed cast--Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, Kayvan Novak, Mark Proksch, and Harvey Guillén--and the creative team for a spirited discussion hosted by special guest, Haley Joel Osment.

AMC's NOS4A2

Saturday July 25, 2020 6:00pm - 7:00pm (2am-3am UK time)

NOS4A2 returns to Comic-Con for its second season, which kicked off on Sunday, June 21 and airs through August 23. Moderated by Entertainment Weekly's Clark Collis, the panel will feature showrunner and executive producer Jami O'Brien, executive producer Joe Hill and cast member Zachary Quinto. NOS4A2's second season picks up eight years after the events of season one. Vic McQueen (Ashleigh Cummings) remains more determined than ever to destroy Charlie Manx (Quinto). Charlie, having faced his own mortality, emerges desperate for revenge against Vic. This time, he sets his sights on the person who means most to Vic - her eight-year-old son Wayne. The race for Wayne's soul sends Vic and Charlie on a high-speed collision course, forcing both to confront the mistakes of their pasts in order to secure a hold on Wayne's future.

An Evening with Kevin Smith

Saturday July 25, 2020 6:00pm - 7:00pm (2am-3am UK time)

YouTube: https://youtu.be/scc4gW94XxE

An Evening with Kevin Smith - Kevin Smith talks Son-In-Lockdown, unveils a new Funko Pop, and drops the first look at his new film Killroy Was Here. Plus, Kevin chats about a new podcast he created with his daughter, Harley Quinn Smith, and reveals how to get your very own Mooby's Cow Tipper.

Sunday, 26 July

First TMNT Film 30th Anniversary

Sunday July 26, 2020 10:00am - 11:00am (6pm-7pm UK time)

YouTube: https://youtu.be/TF28DuRmAbk

Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle movie presents a bit of history of the making of this iconic film with panel guests producer Kim Dawson, writer and ex-offico producer Bobby Herbeck, and moderated by The Old Turtle Den's creator Chris Castaneda.

Hoops

Sunday July 26, 2020 10:00am - 11:00am (6pm-7pm UK time)

YouTube: https://youtu.be/biftX95uMPA

The star-studded voice cast of Hoops, a new adult animated series for Netflix launching this summer from 20th Century Fox Television (The Simpsons, Family Guy, Bob's Burgers), gathered for an irreverent-in-the-best-way conversation about coming together to make this show that follows a foul-mouthed high school basketball coach who is sure he'll hit the big leagues if he can only turn his terrible team around. Voice stars Jake Johnson, Rob Riggle, Ron Funches, Natasha Leggero, Cleo King, and A.D. Miles join creator and executive producer Ben Hoffman and moderator/ guest voice star Max Greenfield (Johnson's former New Girl co-star) for a truly wild and hilarious Q&A. Fans will be treated to an exclusive first look at footage from the premiere episode. Hoops comes from writer-comedian Ben Hoffman (The Late Late Show with James Corden, Archer), Phil Lord and Chris Miller (The Lego Movie), with animation produced by Bento Box (Bob's Burgers).

Next

Sunday July 26, 2020 11:00am - 12:00pm (7pm-8pm UK time)

YouTube: https://youtu.be/ELqvyONmkow

Coming to FOX in Fall 2020, Next arrives at Comic-Con@Home with a sneak peek of the thrilling opening scene of the propulsive, fact-based thriller about the emergence of a deadly, rogue artificial intelligence that combines pulse-pounding action with an examination of how technology is invading our lives and transforming us in ways we don't yet understand. Next stars John Slattery (Mad Men) as a Silicon Valley pioneer, who teams with cybercrime agent Fernanda Andrade (The First), to fight a villain unlike anything we've ever seen. Panelists will include creator and executive producer Manny Coto (24), John Slattery, Fernanda Andrade, Michael Mosley, Jason Butler Harner, and Eve Harlow (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) for a fascinating conversation about the new series and how AI and technology infiltrates all of our lives, moderated by Thrillist's Esther Zuckerman.

Red Dwarf: The Promised Land

Sunday July 26, 2020 1:00pm - 2:00pm (9pm-10pm UK time))

YouTube: https://youtu.be/3hFhUk6DbJ8

Chris Barrie (Lara Croft: Tomb Raider), Craig Charles (Coronation Street), Robert Llewellyn (MI: High), and creator/director Doug Naylor (Spitting Image) discuss all things Red Dwarf including the upcoming Red Dwarf: The Promised Land launching on BritBox July 26, in a Q&A moderated by Kyle Anderson (senior editor) from The Nerdist.

A Conversation with Nathan Fillion

Sunday July 26, 2020 2:00pm - 3:00pm (10pm-11pm)

YouTube: https://youtu.be/iJJJ-z18Pyg

Showrunner Alexi Hawley (The Rookie) talks with Nathan Fillion (Firefly, Castle, The Rookie) about his career in film and television. With special appearances by Joss Whedon, Alan Tudyk, Gina Torres, Mekia Cox, Molly Quinn, Seamus Dever, and Jon Huertas.