“Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever | Official Teaser” (Marvel Entertainment/YouTube)
We’re back with Comic-Con 2022 highlights! Everything you want, need, and probably should know about, bite-sized to take in with a cup of coffee ☕
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever came in strong with the first trailer! The powerful and emotional teaser contained not only a homage paid to Chadwick Boseman, but also hints that T’Challa has passed in the MCU as well. Have you noticed the writing on the walls here? According to Omniglot’s translation of Wakandan alphabet created by Hannah Beachler, it says “Rest in power King T’Challa, our hero. It was an honor. Wakanda Forever”.
We also got a look at the new hero/villain, Namor, Prince of Atlantis – a land long in conflict with Wakanda, and Riri, soon to become Ironheart – but contrary to her comics origins, MCU’s Williams hails from Wakanda. And then, AND THEN, in the very last seconds, we can see someone in the Black Panther costume and the iconic claws coming out! Who donned the suit? Shuri? We’re yet to find out.
Aside from Black Panther, Marvel had many more gasp-worthy announcements during #SDCC. Phase 4 will end this year with She-Hulk and Wakanda Forever, with Kang the Conqueror likely taking the main baddie mantle for Phases 5 and 6. The new MCU chapter will kick off with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania in February 2023, and consist of 12 movies and TV shows!
Marvel Phase 5 release dates look like this:
“Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” – Feb 17, 2023
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” – May 5, 2023
“Secret Invasion” – Spring 2023
“Echo” – Summer 2023
“The Marvels” – Jul 28, 2023
“Loki” Season 2 – Summer 2023
“Blade” – Nov 3, 2023
“Ironheart” – Fall 2023
“Agatha: Coven of Chaos” – Winter 2023
“Captain America: New World Order” – May 3, 2024
“Daredevil: Born Again” – Spring 2024
“Thunderbolts” – Jul 26, 2024
For now, Kevin Feige revealed three movies for Phase 6: Fantastic Four (Nov 8, 2024), Avengers: The Kang Dynasty (May 2, 2025), and Avengers: Secret Wars (Nov 7, 2025). And if we’re going off of the Secret Wars comics (most likely the 2015 version), those two Avengers movies may aim to dwarf Infinity Wars & Endgame in the magnitude of the conflict and amounts of characters involved.
And if you have $25 million to spare (don’t we all), get the real-life Infinity Stones.
Whew! Let’s step away from Marvel for a moment. AMC showed a trailer for its upcoming series based on Anne Rice’s iconic book, Interview With a Vampire; the show has big shoes to fill after the movie with Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise, but so far it looks amazing!
Also on AMC: release date for the final episodes of the main TWD series, plus another TWD spinoff, starring Andrew Lincoln's Rick Grimes and Danai Gurira's Michonne.
Another adaptation we can’t wait for is Neil Gaiman’s Sandman. If you haven’t read the comics, we recommend you take a peek before the series premieres on Netflix on August 5! During #SDCC, on top of some new clips and a poster, Gaiman shared he had brought David McKean, the artist behind the OG comics, from retirement to “do something” – and so McKean drew unique pieces for end credits for each episode.
House of the Dragon, a Game of Thrones spinoff series, won’t see a George R. R. Martin presence in any way, shape, or form. "You may not know this, but there’s this book I’m writing and it’s a little late. So I won’t be doing any acting until I finish," Martin said on the GoT prequel panel. Long-time A Song of Ice and Fire fans, try not to giggle at that quote.
Swinging back to a superhero universe, The Rock, playing the titular role in the DC movie Black Adam, showed up at Comic-Con in his character’s full attire. We also got treated to a new trailer, in which Black Adam faces off against Atom Smasher, Doctor Fate, Cyclone, and Hawkman.
Fan of a sassy kid who gets to do what we all wanted to in preteens, namely – become a superhero? DC revealed the first teaser for Shazam: Fury of the Gods. Unfortunately, no news on other upcoming movies – like Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom or Wonder Woman 3 – has been provided.
And that wraps up San Diego Comic-Con highlights! Want to stay in the spirit for a little bit longer? Check out the best of cosplay or take a stroll down memory lane with the most unforgettable Comic-Con panels ever!