Penny-pinching is keeping the big brands away from Comic-Con this year
The Wrap has a new report looking into the state of this year's Con, which will see Marvel and DC Studios both deciding not to bother with the Big Room, with the most that James Gunn's Warner Bros.-backed efforts willing to do is a panel on his soon-to-return TV series Peacemaker. Partly, this is a matter of pure timing: Both studios are releasing their big superhero tentpoles ahead of this year's SDCC, with Superman coming in two weeks before the Con's July 24 start date, while Marvel's Fantastic Four is opening at the same time as the convention itself. Having dispensed with the Four, Marvel genuinely doesn't seem to have much on tap to offer up as hype bait right now: There's a new Spider-Man movie out in a year, but Avengers: Doomsday has now been pushed to next fall; better, the thinking seems to be, to save some money and let anticipation grow, rather than drop several hundred thousand dollars to trot the casts out with no new footage to show.
As noted by The Wrap, DC probably could field something exciting for the Con, given that Gunn is sitting on hard drives full of footage of Craig Gillespie's Supergirl, due out next June. (The movie finished shooting back in May, right around the time it ditched its Woman Of Tomorrow subtitle.) But the studio is apparently holding back, possibly to launch an effort at a different Comic-Con later in the year. (And a little less far out from the movie's eventual release.)
Honestly, the whole thing can't help but feel like a symptom of the general wave of diminishing returns that seem to be afflicting superhero films as a whole over the last few years: Marvel had two different films (Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts*) both land in the sub-$500 million box office bracket, which has maybe made Disney a little less eager to pay stars (and their stylists, managers, and other various highly necessary associates) to trek out to San Diego to wave at the crowds. Marvel managed to summon up a bit of that old excitement last year, when it gave Hall H a full-court press that ended in the reveal that Robert Downey Jr. would be returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom, but you can only pull that ripcord so often; as is, it feels like the spectacle of the big superhero Comic-Con appearance is currently going the way of the big superhero movie as a whole.
More from A.V. Club
Duster's LaToya Morgan and Rachel Hilson on rooting a very '70s story in the here and now
Spoiler Space: Jurassic World Rebirth once again makes dinosaurs everyone's problem
Netflix is bringing back Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Solve the daily Crossword
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Hulk Hogan's Son Nick Breaks His Silence on Dad's Death, Details His Final Years: 'Thank You for Being My Best Friend'
The former pro-wrestling superstar was 71 when he died on Thursday, July 24 Nick Hogan is remembering his father Hulk Hogan as both his "best friend" and the "best dad in the world." On Saturday, July 26, the 35-year-old son of the late pro-wrestling star shared an emotional tribute to Instagram, two days after Hulk died at the age of 71. Alongside 20 photos of himself and his father, Nick posted a lengthy caption, thanking those who've reached out to him and calling Hulk's death "overwhelming and extremely difficult." "Hearing so many kind words and stories about my dad's life, interactions and experiences with everyone has been incredible and comforting," Nick wrote. "My dad was the most incredible person I've ever known and will always be my hero. He was the most kind, loving and amazing father anybody could ask for. I feel so blessed to have had the greatest dad in the world." "He was not only the best dad but also my mentor and my best friend. He always has been my best friend and I love him and miss him more than I could ever explain," he continued. "I thanked him for everything he has ever done for me and told him how much I loved him and hugged him every chance I got. I spent a lot of time with him the past few years after moving back to Florida to be closer to him and I am so grateful for those memories. They are the best moments in my life." Nick concluded his tribute by writing that he'd "do anything to have him back," before acknowledging Hulk is now "watching over" him. "I will always remember the lessons and advice he gave me and carry on in a way that I know would make him proud," he wrote. "Thank you for being the best dad in the world and thank you for being my best friend. I love you so much Big Dog and I will miss you forever." The emotional tribute featured photos of Nick and Hulk spanning three decades — from a screenshot of a WWE broadcast featuring the father-son duo wearing matching "Hulkamania" attire to a snap of them years later in matching white button-up shirts. In the photos, Nick and Hulk could also be seen working out together at the gym, smiling on a private jet, driving on a road trip and even behind a DJ booth — as the post wrapped with one final photo of Nick showing off his muscles next to his father. Several fans and friends shared their condolences with Nick in the post's comments section, with professional wrestler Nattie Neidhart recognizing his "beautiful words" and Lil Jon sharing some additional love. Nick's last post on the platform came just over a month prior to his father's death, when he wished Hulk a happy Father's Day, alongside a throwback snap of the duo striking a pose when he was a kid. The WWE confirmed the news of Hulk's death on Thursday in a statement shared with PEOPLE. First responders spent 30 minutes attempting to revive Hogan this week after being called to his home for a reported cardiac arrest at 9:51 a.m. on Thursday, before he was pronounced dead at a hospital. Beyond his accomplishments in wrestling throughout his lifetime, Hogan also faced multiple controversies in recent years, including backlash for his support of President Donald Trump at the 2024 Republican National Convention and a racist rant leaked in 2015 — which he later called "unacceptable" in an apology. Hulk, whose real name was Terry Bollea, shared both Nick and daughter Brooke with ex Linda Hogan, whom he was married to from 1983 until 2009. His wife, Sky Daily, also posted a tribute to the reality television star after his death this week, confirming that he 'had been dealing with" health issues. 'I wasn't ready for this…and my heart is in pieces,' Daily, his third wife, wrote on Friday. 'He had been dealing with some health issues, but I truly believed we would overcome them. I had so much faith in his strength. I thought we still had more time.' 'This loss is sudden and impossible to process,' she added. 'To the world, he was a legend… but to me, he was my Terry. The man I loved. My partner. My heart.' Read the original article on People
Tom's Guide
an hour ago
- Tom's Guide
New on HBO Max in August 2025 — all the new shows and movies to watch
HBO Max is back with another wave of new releases to keep you entertained throughout August. This month's batch includes new movies (including one with "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" star Pedro Pascal), plus plenty of library additions, documentaries, live sports and, of course, the very welcome return of a DC star: John Cena. Yes, after being away from our screens for far too long, "Peacemaker" season 2 is finally returning to the streaming service (after briefly popping up in James Gunn's "Superman"), for what looks to be another blast of fun. Below, you can find my top picks for the month, plus a comprehensive list of everything new on HBO Max in August 2025. And if you're not seeing much you want to watch, check out our best movies on HBO Max for more top streaming recommendations. Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck's "Freaky Tales" is an anthology movie all based on real events and real locations from Oakland, California, in 1987. Across one night, it sketches four scrappy stories about a variety of colorful characters — including an NBA star, a female rap duo, punk teens, and a career crook who wants to leave his criminal life behind, among others — with a genre movie feel and the odd shock of ultra-violence. "Freaky Tales" is fun, '80s-inflected stuff that some HBO Max subscribers are going to really get a kick out of. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Stream on HBO Max from August 8 If you're looking for some family entertainment this month, Isaiah Saxon's fantasy adventure "The Legend of Ochi" seems a solid choice. This wondrous watch from A24 whisks us off to a small village on the island of Carpathia, where we meet Yuri (Helena Zengel), a young girl who is raised to fear creatures known as "the Ochi." When she encounters a lost baby, Ochi, she embarks on a journey to take him back home. It wasn't universally loved (it's 75% on Rotten Tomatoes) and drew criticism for having a slightness in the character/story departments, but for its impressive visuals and brilliant puppetry values, I think "The Legend of Ochi" warrants a watch. Stream on HBO Max from August 15 "Peacemaker" exploded onto the scene in 2022 as a raucous action comedy spinoff from James Gunn's pre-DCU 2021 hit, "The Suicide Squad" that gave John Cena's jingoistic antihero the limelight. The result? An utterly hilarious, hugely entertaining blood-soaked romp. Season 2 sees him discovering an alternate world where life is everything that Chris Smith/Peacemaker could want. The problem is, that discovery also forces him to face his own traumatic past. Judging by the teaser we've seen, that same winning vibe's been preserved, and then some, and I can't wait to see Peacemaker and his pals back in action. Stream on HBO Max from August 21 AUGUST 1 Alien: Covenant Barbershop (2002) Barbershop 2: Back in Business Couples Retreat (2009) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul Enter the Warrior's Gate Get a Job (2016) Gremlins 2: The New Batch House Hunters International: Volume 9, Season 203 (HGTV) House Hunters: Volume 10, Season 244 (HGTV) It Happened in Brooklyn It's Always Fair Weather Jamboree! Kung Fu Panda 2 Let's Go Bananas, Season 1A Lili Macao Madame Bovary (1949) Madame Curie Marc Maron: Panicked (HBO Original, 2025) Martha Marcy May Marlene Millie Miss Pinkerton Mogambo Mr. Skeffington Mrs. Miniver (1942) Mrs. Parkington My Favorite Wife Neptune's Daughter (1949) New Moon (1940) Pride and Prejudice (1940) Quo Vadis (1951) Random Harvest Roughshod Rules Don't Apply Smarty Stonewall Storm over Wyoming Survive the Night (2020) The Last Time I Saw Paris The Life of Vergie Winters The Long, Long Trailer The Nun (2018) The Peanut Butter Falcon The Racket (1951) The Reluctant Debutante The Water Diviner Three on a Match Till the End of Time Two Weeks with Love (1950) Union Depot Unlocked (2017) War on Everyone Waterloo Bridge (1940) Where Danger Lives Yogi Bear (Movie) You Hurt My Feelings AUGUST 2 Deadliest Catch, Season 21 (Discovery) AUGUST 3 The Yogurt Shop Murders (HBO Original) AUGUST 4 Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (2020) The Great Food Truck Race, Season 18 (FOOD Network) AUGUST 5 Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Buffalo Bills (HBO Original) 'The Case Against Diddy,' The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper (CNN Original) 'The Idaho Murders,' The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper (CNN Original) AUGUST 6 Extreme Detailing (Discovery) Red Bull Soapbox Race, Season 1 (Discovery) See No Evil, Season 14 (ID) AUGUST 7 Mysteries of the Abandoned: Hidden America, Season 4 (Discovery) AUGUST 8 Freaky Tales (Lionsgate) AUGUST 11 Marooned with Ed Stafford, Season 3 (Discovery) AUGUST 12 The Bus Driver: Britain's Cocaine King (discovery+, 2025) AUGUST 13 A Body in the Basement, Season 2 (ID) Chef Grudge Match, Season 1 (FOOD Network) The Woman King AUGUST 14 Hop, Season 1D (Max Original) Marcial Maciel: The Wolf of God (Max Original) AUGUST 15 Stand Up To Cancer The Legend of Ochi (A24) The Prince, Season 2 (Max Original, Turkey) AUGUST 17 Mammals, Season 1 (BBC) The House (HBO, 2017) The Serial Killer's Apprentice (ID, 2025) AUGUST 18 Women Wearing Shoulder Pads, Season 1 (Adult Swim) AUGUST 19 'Climate Change Amplified: Live Music and the Climate Crisis,' The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper (CNN Original) AUGUST 21 Bargain Block, Season 5 (HGTV) Peacemaker, Season 2 (Max Original) Peacemaker: The Official Podcast with James Gunn (Season 2 Companion Podcast) AUGUST 22 The Heritage, Season 1 (Max Original) AUGUST 23 Abbott Elementary, Season 4 The Cleaning Lady, Season 4 AUGUST 24 Toad and Friends, Season 1C (Cartoon Network) AUGUST 28 Bitchin' Rides: Road to Ridler, Season 1 August 29 Horses & Hangmen (Max Original) Silly Sundays, Season 1C (Cartoon Network) August 31 Iyanu, Season 1B (Cartoon Network) MLB AUGUST 5 Cincinnati Reds vs Chicago Cubs, 8 p.m. ET AUGUST 12, 19, 25 TBD vs TBD @ TBD p.m. NASCAR - Driver Cam AUGUST 3 Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol, 3.30 p.m. ET AUGUST 10 Go Bowling at The Glen, 2 p.m. ET AUGUST 16 Cook Out 400, 7.30 p.m. ET AUGUST 23 Coke Zero Sugar 400, 7.30 p.m. ET AUGUST 31 Cook Out Southern 500, 6 p.m. NASCAR - Practices & Qualifying AUGUST 2 Iowa Speedway (Newton, Iowa), 1.30 p.m. ET AUGUST 9 Watkins Glen Internatinal (Watkins Glen, NY), Noon AUGUST 15 Richmond Raceway (Richmond, Virginia), 4.30 p.m. ET AUGUST 22 Daytona International Speedway (Daytona Beach, Florida), 5 p.m. ET AUGUST 30 Darlington Raceway (Darlington, South Carolina), 9 a.m. ET COLLEGE FOOTBALL - BIG 12 AUGUST 30 Hawaii vs Arizona, 9.30 p.m. AEW AUGUST 6 AEW Dynamite, 8 p.m. ET AUGUST 9 AEW Collision, 8 p.m. ET AUGUST 13 AEW Dynamite, 8 p.m. ET AUGUST 16 AEW Collision, 8 p.m. ET AUGUST 20 AEW Dynamite, 8 p.m. ET AUGUST 23 AEW Collision, 8 p.m. ET AUGUST 27 AEW Dynamite, 8 p.m. ET AUGUST 29 Relive Kenny Omega's historic World Championship reign, as AEW Dynamite kicks off 2021 from our Jacksonville home! AUGUST 30 AEW Collision, 8 p.m. ET Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Vogue
an hour ago
- Vogue
Ty Haney Is Ready to Give Outdoor Voices Another Go
It's likely to at least catch the attention of current and former fans of the brand; Haney's challenge now is to successfully introduce the OV aesthetic — heavily associated with millennials — to Gen Z women. To do so, she's updated her go-to-market strategy. Outdoor Voices was part of the direct-to-consumer (DTC) retail gold rush of the 2010s, flush with VC cash, which she says eventually diluted her business to the point where she lost control. Gone are the days where a brand's trajectory could be supercharged thanks to Facebook and Instagram arbitrage. Haney now has a new trick up her sleeve thanks to Try Your Best (or TYB), the community rewards platform she launched in 2022 during the Web3 boom, which raised $11 million last month from investors including Offline Ventures and Strobe Ventures. The concept behind TYB is that brands can build fan channels and reward subscribers with early launches, discounts and more, while using the community to gauge new ideas, get feedback and build brand loyalty. Haney's CBD brand Joggy was one of the first to launch on TYB, while other brands on the platform include Glossier, Rare Beauty and Poppi. Outdoor Voices will go live on TYB this week with the product launch, giving those that join early access on 4 August. 'Really, TYB was a direct reaction to what worked and what didn't at OV. It came from understanding the power of community,' she says. With all Outdoor Voices stores closed, the focus is on e-commerce, though Haney says they're in talks with some select retail partners. Some collaborations that will hit on new categories are in line for spring. The Sun Shirt. Photo: Outdoor Voices The Sugar Cardigan. Photo: Outdoor Voices It's clear speaking to Haney that she's back in her element. She says TYB, Joggy and Outdoor Voices are three pieces of the brand world she's building. She has big ambitions, saying that she wants Outdoor Voices to be the next Patagonia (a brand more reflective of her current time spent between her hometown of Boulder, CO, and San Francisco). When she left in 2020, Outdoor Voices was at around $90 million in annual sales; the plan is to hit a new revenue high in the next 12 to 18 months. But she says she's not thinking about growth targets so much as she is building something that lasts, and she says the partners that she has in place this time feel like ones she can trust, ones that she had time to vet and get to know before deciding to return. She's stepping back in as a part owner of the company she started, which was a non-negotiable. 'Ownership matters a lot to me,' Haney says. 'How we fund the company, what the expectations are. That matters.' What happened with her first run at Outdoor Voices feels present. While she initially says she's 'put a bow on those eight years, and I'm very kind and grateful to them', she later addresses how difficult the period was. 'I'm an optimistic person. I think I blocked out those years.' Haney is not the only female founder of her era that left her company in a blaze of allegations of mismanagement and workplace toxicity. Is it vindicating to return? 'From a founder perspective, challenges are par for the course,' she says. 'But I don't think that era where there were so many takedowns was good for women wanting to be founders. So at the end of the day, I couldn't be more excited for this to be a model to show what's possible, and I hope that there's a wake of new interest from young women, to see what's possible in the brand and business-building world.'
