Lucas to Discuss Narrative Art Museum at Comic-Con

Comic-Con made its official debut on Wednesday in San Diego with tens of thousands of fans of pop culture from around the world attending this year—and, for the first time, legendary filmmaker George Lucas.

The filmmaker, whose “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” universes are Comic-Con staples, has never in the past participated in the annual mega-event that has become one of the largest celebrations of storytelling, movies, and fandom.

“This year’s Comic-Con features what’s probably our most notable Comic-Con no-show turned attendee of all time: George Lucas,” David Glanzer, Comic-Con’s Chief Communications and Strategy Officer, wrote in an email to AFP. “The choice to bring Lucas to Comic-Con this year felt very much like a true full-circle moment. After all, nearly 50 years ago, Star Wars premiered in one of its first public presentations at our convention, and at our booth was a giveaway of [comic book artist] Howard Chaykin’s now legendary Star Wars poster.”

Lucas will attend Comic-Con on Sunday for a moderated panel with Queen Latifah in which the legendary filmmaker, Mexican director Guillermo del Toro, and Oscar-winning designer Doug Chiang will talk about the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, set to open in Los Angeles next year.

Focusing on illustrated storytelling and narrative, the Lucas Museum will feature a vast collection of Lucas’s art, spanning his entire career, as well as an archive of the private collection. This collection is a “celebration of the art of movies, comic books and the wonder of story and concept art,” according to Lucas.

A Comic-Con History: From Comic Books to Pop Culture Supremo

Comic-Con began in 1970 as a convention primarily focused on comic books, but over the years, it has expanded and evolved into a highly anticipated mega-event that welcomes about 130,000 attendees from around the world.

Fans travel to San Diego every year to watch movie and TV sneak previews, see panel discussions, and take in world premieres for Hollywood’s hottest films and shows.

Sci-Fi Superheroes and Aliens Command the Stage

One of Comic-Con’s big announcements is the world premiere of a new series set in the world of the Alien universe, coming to streaming services in August.

Alien: Covenant, the prequel to Ridley Scott’s 1979 film Alien, is directed by Noah Hawley, the creator of the FX series Fargo and Legion. The new series will explore the sci-fi horror mythology of the franchise just a few years before the events of Scott’s movie. Alien: Earth will have its world premiere tomorrow in Hall H, the convention’s premier venue.

The latest film in the Predator franchise will also command attention at Comic-Con, a sci-fi titan with no plans to dim. Titled Predator: Badlands, the new chapter on the sci-fi franchise sees the notorious alien predator finally hunted. Prey director Dan Trachtenberg will be on the panel for the film along with Elle Fanning, and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, who plays the alien character Dek. We will find out what’s next for the franchise’s updated mythology.

Marvel Studios is significantly scaling back its presence at Comic-Con this year, making the decision not to return to Hall H for its typical mega-studio presentation.

According to Variety, Marvel skipped Hall H due to production on the upcoming Avengers movie being tied up in the UK, making it difficult for the studio to coordinate its usual Comic-Con presentation.

But Marvel’s absence is not putting a damper on the action at Comic-Con. Science fiction powerhouses are primed to step in and take center stage, with an action-packed weekend of programming in Hall H.

Ryan Gosling, Peacemaker, and Other Blockbusters

Also highly anticipated at Comic-Con 2024 is the showcase of Project Hail Mary, based on a book of the same name by Andy Weir, the author of The Martian. Coming to theaters next year, the sci-fi film stars Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace, a former schoolteacher who is the only person awake on a spaceship and learns that he is the last hope for the planet.

Gosling will be on hand at the panel on Saturday for the film, along with directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, known for their work on the Spider-Verse trilogy.

DC fans are also in for a treat with new information about the second season of the Peacemaker series. Creator James Gunn, who is now shepherding DC’s broader cinematic reboot starting with Superman, will be joined by the cast to talk about behind-the-scenes footage and what’s next for the show.