Lucas Brings Star Wars Full Circle at Comic-Con

Comic-Con officially opened in San Diego on Thursday, and while tens of thousands of geeks from around the world are descending on the city for the pop culture celebration, a single attendee in particular is lighting up social media for longtime fans.

Filmmaker George Lucas is attending the comic book and science fiction extravaganza for the very first time. The convention has long been intertwined with his “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” franchises, yet Lucas has never participated in Comic-Con, one of the largest events dedicated to storytelling, movies, and fandom.

This year’s event, however, is full of the “Star Wars” director’s influence and what’s being called a true “full-circle moment.” “Nearly 50 years ago, Star Wars made one of its first public appearances at our convention, with a booth that included [comic book artist] Howard Chaykin’s now legendary Star Wars poster as a promotional giveaway,” David Glanzer, the organization’s Chief Communications and Strategy Officer, said in a statement. “This year, we welcome Mr. George Lucas, whose impact on world-building and visual effects will continue to resonate through narrative, film, comic, and beyond. We’re thrilled to have him with us, and it’s a true full-circle moment.”

Lucas will take part in a panel on Sunday moderated by Queen Latifah about the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, a museum in Los Angeles that will open next year. He will be joined by Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro and Oscar-winning artist Doug Chiang, who has designed sets, props, and characters that helped build Star Wars over the last four decades.

On the panel, the trio will discuss the Lucas Museum, which aims to “celebrate the power of the illustrated narrative and the art of storytelling” with an emphasis on film, comics, and concept art. Lucas’s archives will also be on display in the museum.

The Evolution of Comic-Con in San Diego

Comic-Con started in 1970, and back then it was a one-day event with about 100 comic book enthusiasts in attendance. Since then, the San Diego convention has blossomed into an entertainment and pop culture juggernaut. It’s grown to an annual average of 130,000 fans, collectors, movie buffs, celebrities, and creatives from all over the world. Those who gather in San Diego, though, aren’t just there to dress up, buy collectibles, and cosplay.

Comic-Con is a chance to see trailers, panel discussions, and exclusive world premieres for some of Hollywood’s most buzzed-about film, television, and video game projects. It’s the place fans travel to for a chance to see the first glimpses of their favorite sci-fi or action movies.

Alien Invades

In what is likely to be a highlight of this year’s event, the world premiere of “Alien: Earth” will take place on Friday. The series, from the mythology of Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic film “Alien,” will be executive-produced by Noah Hawley and also executive-produced by 20th Television.

The new series, which is set to debut on streaming services in August, will explore the franchise’s lore with a story that takes place just a few years before Scott’s original movie. It will premiere tomorrow in Hall H, the convention’s largest and most popular venue.

The Predator Is No Longer a Predator

For the first time, the alien predator, who made his debut in the 1987 film “Predator,” will be on the opposite side of the hunt in the feature “Predator: Badlands.” Trained by both the military and a secret society to battle the game, Issa, the sole survivor of a local tribe, crosses paths with a predatory hunting group.

The 2022 film “Prey” successfully rebooted the franchise, and now director Dan Trachtenberg is back to return it to its science fiction roots with this new take on the story. He will be on the panel at Comic-Con with actors Elle Fanning, as Mal, and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, who plays the alien Dek.

The Marvel Absence

Marvel Studios has announced that it will not be taking part in Comic-Con 2024 as it usually does, and instead will be forgoing its typical Hall H appearance. According to Variety, production of the next “Avengers” film in the UK made it challenging for the studio to participate.

There is no need for alarm, though, because without Marvel leading the way, Comic-Con 2024 will instead be marked by sci-fi icons ready to step up to the plate to make this year’s programming in Hall H one for the history books.

Sci-Fi Heroes, Gosling, Peacemaker, and More

Project Hail Mary, the new film adaptation of Andy Weir’s book of the same name (Weir also wrote The Martian), is set to open in theaters next year. On Saturday’s panel, Gosling will be joined by directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Spider-Verse trilogy) to discuss their new film.

Fans of the DC universe can also get a look at Peacemaker and what’s in store for season 2 of the series. James Gunn, who has taken the reins on DC’s upcoming wider reboot of its cinematic universe with Superman, will be on the panel along with the cast, who will share first-look footage and exclusive sneak peeks of the next installment.

Comic-Con Isn’t Just Celebrity Panels and Previews

Comic-Con is a place where you can expect to see thousands of people dressed in costumes as their favorite princess, warrior, alien, or hero. And with events going on around the clock throughout the weekend, there’s lots to see and explore at Comic-Con, which runs through Sunday, July 27.