San Diego Comic-Con takes place this week, July 19 – 23. It’s been a weird few years for the Con, which had to pivot to a “Comic-Con At Home” format for July 2020 and July 2021 because of the pandemic and held a smaller, in-person “Comic-Con Special Edition” event in November 2021. At the end of June, we learned that Universal, Sony, HBO, Netflix, and Disney were pulling out while other big studios were still on the fence. Now, the SAG-AFTRA strike has organizers again scrambling for Plans B, C, and D, as it’s looking like the SAG-AFTRA strike will affect one of showbiz’a biggest promotional weeks because actors cannot promote any of their current or future projects.
San Diego Comic-Con is going to look pretty different this year, as SAG-AFTRA has officially begun its strike. As the actors join the writers on the picket lines for better pay, conditions, and benefits, much of the industry has come to a halt without many of its key people. With the SAG-AFTRA strike now happening, it means actors cannot promote their current or future projects – including anything that was originally planned for Comic-Con. Thus, panels are already being cancelled for the event happening next week.
The first round of SDCC panel cancellations came through earlier today, with shows including Prime Video’s Good Omens, ABC’s The Rookie, and That ’70s Show being affected. Good Omens has pivoted from a panel and signing event into a screening of the Season 2 premiere episode. It will give fans an early look at the new season premiering July 28. The Rookie has cancelled its planned signing. The crime procedural recently concluded its fifth season and will return for Season 6. That ’70s Show rounds off the initial cancellations, no longer holding its anniversary panel. Earlier this year, Netflix debuted its That ’70s Show continuation That ’90s Show, which follows Eric and Donna’s daughter Leia.
Along with the mentioned shows, SDCC’s schedule is packed with panels for currently running shows, several of which may potentially cancel in the coming days. Some of the included panels include Abbott Elementary, currently on hold for Season 3 following the start of the writers’ stike; Futurama, which is set to return on July 24; The Wheel of Time, returning for Season 2 on September 1; What We Do in the Shadows, which premieres Season 5 on July 13; and several more. Additionally, the SDCC schedule does include other panels revolving around industry professionals, comics, and more beyond film and television.
With the exception of the two pandemic years, I’ve attended all but one Comic-Con since 2007. I’m actually writing this post from my hotel room in San Diego, overlooking the Convention Center. While I’m not an old school attendee, I remember when tickets were still $75 and you could buy next year’s passes in person. I was a part of that group that probably ruined Hall H lines for forever by lining up to see the LOST panels at 2:00 a.m. I remember when actors still roamed the floors without fear, when a fan was tragically hit by a car carrying Robert Pattinson, Zachary Levi partying with us vaccinated folx at Nerd HQ, and the infamous pen-stabbing. Oh, and my husband once accidentally Sharpie’d Robert Downey Jr’s hand while crossing the street. His security wasn’t happy, but RDJ brushed them off and went, “I didn’t expect to get out of here clean.” Comic-Con is wild.
I’ve been refreshing the SDCC Blog, and as of right now, panels involving William Shatner, Kevin Smith, and Seth Rogan are still listed as happening. Other panels for shows like Ghosts, What We Do in the Shadows, and The Walking Dead Universe have very vague descriptions, like, “Fans are in for a treat!” Honestly, I’m perfectly okay with whatever happens. I stand with the WGA and SAG-AFTRA. Comic-Con is about more than just the chance to have your Sharpie run into Iron Man’s arm or seeing George R.R. Martin in a hotel bar (happened!). It’s about appreciating the art that all of these talent people created for us to enjoy and showing them support. The TV & film stuff is only one part of Comic-Con. The Exhibit Hall floor, the Sails Pavilion, and the off-set locations are bursting with vendors and authors promoting their creations. If all of the major studios and actors have to bow out, I’ll still support the smaller artists and venues. Mr. Rosie, my friends, and I have all met and/or become fans of authors, artists, and vendors who were there to promote themselves without big money backing. Let Comic-Con get back to its roots, and pay the writers and actors the living wage they deserve.
interesting. One of the UK cons, Starfury said it doesnt affect any of the planned ones as it’s a private event and signings and photo ops etc are allowed for private cons and where the actors are not there to specifically promote their film or tv show.
They do a lot of DC / Marvel TV shows and stuff like Supernatural and CW tv shows etc..
also a lot of shows like Legends of Tomorrow or Lux ended, so I guess that helps too.
There are workarounds. I asked some friends yesterday and there’s apparently a gray area where Kevin Smith and Seth Rogan can possibly appear in their roles as producers of MOTU Revolution and TMNT: Mutant Mayhem, respectively. I’m not sure how controversial that is behind-the-scenes though, especially since I’m pretty sure Smith is WGA and SAG as well. Shatter can probably get around it by talking about old projects.
Thanks I also saw a tweet saying that privately owned cons with no press presence are not affected as does not count as promotion. I guess SDCC is affected due to press junkets etc
Given that the negotiation “talks” extension between the studio execs and SAG-AFTRA (that extended talks for two weeks after the initial June 30 deadline) seemed to be in good faith on behalf of SAG-AFTRA to try to strike a deal, and in bad faith for the studios, who just wanted big summer movies & shows like MI, Barbie & Oppenheimer to be able to continue their promotions, it seems like any Con participation benefits the studios (it’s promo) more than the actors and writers.
Supporting the smaller artists at these cons like Rosie suggests is a great idea, but I’d be wary of striking guild members using workarounds and technicalities to continue promoting anything at these events (even if it’s unofficial promotion), because that benefits the studios more than anyone else.
DK – I’m totally in support of the strikes and the cons in the Uk are also in support. I just find the small details interesting on what is allowed and what isnt, more than it being ‘workaround’
The cons like Starfury are smaller and more around the actors getting extra money from the fanbase via photos and autos and fan meets, than any promotion. For example Legends which had its final season has its first dedicated con this year because fans kept asking for it.
They are very much fans and not studios driven
Tysm for this post & for attending Rosie, very cool
Hope you enjoy your time in San Diego! It’ll be interesting to see how Comic-Con plays out this year.
I suggest going to see the Spirituality and Pop Culture workshop! (My friend is running it) There are a ton of great panels that don’t involve big stars.
Thanks for the tip, Enis! I’ll add it to my list to check out!
SAG-AFTRA has also added guidance about cosplaying that attendees who support the strike should be aware of.
I went to the SDCC way back in 1995. It was a completely different experience back then. Stan Lee and Neil Gaiman were the only “speakers” of note. It really was about comics and games – LARPing, Magic: The Gathering, and the like. The cosplay was truly something to behold.