Comic-Con International is once again upon us, and if you didn’t book your rooms, arrange your flights, or make your plans ahead of time then you’re gonna have a hard time ahead. Comic-Con simply isn’t built for the unprepared. You need to know where you’re going and when you’re going at all times, and there’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to get into everything that you want to do. That said, there’s a lot that you can do if you pick your battles and show up as early as possible.
This year, TV shows once again dominate the landscape at Comic-Con. It makes sense, because many of the major film studios have pulled back on their Comic-Con budgets, and the networks have stepped up to fill the void. That’s why Comic-Con is the only place that you’ll find cast members from Game of Thrones, Arrow, The Walking Dead, The Defenders, Legion, and so many others under one roof. It’s a truly special occasion, and you don’t want to be stuck watching the panels on YouTube when you could be in the same room as your favorite stars.
Ahead of this year’s con, CraveOnline has put together a list of the 15 most anticipated TV panels. But if there is something missing from our lineup, feel free to share your picks below!
Battlestar Galactica Reunion
Time: Thursday, July 20, 2:30 p.m.
Location: Ballroom 20
The Cylons may not have really had a plan, but the 2004 reboot of Battlestar Galactica paved the way for genre shows like Game of Thrones to be taken more seriously by the industry. Executive producers and writers Ron Moore and David Eick will be on hand as they welcome cast members Tricia Helfer, Marcy McDonnell, Grace Park, Michael Trucco, and Aaron Douglas back to San Diego in this retrospective.
Legion
Time: Thursday, July 20, 5:00 p.m.
Location: Ballroom 20
Prior to this year, X-Men fans who only knew the movies had no idea who David Heller was. That’s not the case any more. Noah Hawley’s take on Marvel’s Legion is one of the best superhero shows to come along in ages. Hawley will tease the second season at this year’s show, alongside cast members Dan Stevens, Rachel Keller, Aubrey Plaza, Jean Smart, Bill Irwin, Jeremie Harris, and Amber Midthunder.
Marvel’s Inhumans
Time: Thursday, July 20, 6:15 p.m.
Location: Ballroom 20
Marvel Studios never got around to making an Inhumans film, so Marvel TV is stepping up to fill the void. Cast members and creative team participants for this panel have not been announced, but we’d be shocked if they didn’t show up.
The Walking Dead
Time: Friday, July 21, 12:15 p.m.
Location: Hall H
Welcome back to Hell Hall. As before, many of this year’s best panels will require you to get into Hall H. That’s never easy, but it’s also the only way to see Andrew Lincoln, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Lauren Cohan, and more cast members as they offer up a preview of The Walking Dead season 8.
Game of Thrones
Time: Friday, July 21, 1:30 p.m.
Location: Hall H
Nobody puts on a panel like the cast of Game of Thrones. This is the first time that they’ve had a Comic-Con panel during the current season, so we may get a preview of next Sunday’s episode. One thing we know for sure is that the moderator will be “a special Westerosian guest.” The confirmed cast members for this year’s panel are Alfie Allen, Jacob Anderson, John Bradley, Gwendoline Christie, Liam Cunningham, Nathalie Emmanuel, Conleth Hill, Sophie Turner, and Isaac Hempstead Wright as Bran Stark.
Marvel’s The Defenders
Time: Friday, July 21, 5:15 p.m.
Location: Hall H
Get ready for Marvel’s TV equivalent of the Avengers! Before The Defenders drops on Netflix next month, the stars of Daredevil, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, and Iron Fist will assemble on stage and tease the upcoming miniseries event.
Star Trek: Discovery
Time: Saturday, July 22, 2:30 p.m.
Location: Ballroom 20
It’s been a long goddamned wait for a new Star Trek series, but the jury is still out on Star Trek: Discovery. We’re still not feeling the new Klingon designs, but perhaps cast members Sonequa Martin-Green, Jason Isaacs, and Shazad Latif will win us over. Bonus points: Rainn Wilson is moderating the panel!
Stranger Things
Time: Saturday, July 22, 3:00 p.m.
Location: Hall H
Netflix is going to turn our world upside down with its epic preview of the new season of Stranger Things. That Hall H placement is not a joke. This is easily one of the most popular shows at the convention, and it’s bound to have a trailer or two, as well as the young cast members on stage.
Supergirl, Black Lighting, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Arrow
Time: Saturday, July 22, 3:30 p.m.
Location: Ballroom 20
While we’ll miss the Hall H panels for the CW’s superhero shows, this year’s mega panel will bring together all of the top stars, including Melissa Benoist, Stephen Amell, Grant Gustin, Caity Lotz, and the Comic-Con debut of Black Lightning star Cress Williams.
Westworld
Time: Saturday, July 22, 4:15 p.m.
Location: Hall H
The future of sin is in! We may not be getting a new season of Westworld in 2017, but Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy are bringing almost everyone who isn’t Anthony Hopkins to Hall H. That includes Evan Rachel Wood, Ed Harris, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, James Marsden, Tessa Thompson, Jimmi Simpson, and more. It’s enough to make us freeze all motor functions!
The Orville
Time: Saturday, July 22, 4:15 p.m.
Location: Room 6A
Can’t get into Westworld? Or perhaps sci-fi comedy is more to your liking. Either way, Seth MacFarlane is bringing his Star Trek parody series to Comic-Con, alongside his fellow cast members Adrianne Palicki, Scott Grimes, Penny Johnson Jerald, Scott Grimes, Peter Macon, Halston Sage, J. Lee, Mark Jackson, and Chad Coleman.
Supernatural
Time: Sunday, July 23, 10:30 a.m.
Location: Hall H
Can you believe that Supernatural is entering its 13th season? Neither can Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles! But the Winchester brothers are back for another Comic-Con panel in Hall H, with the annual blooper reels and a look ahead at what will probably not be the final season.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Two Decades with Feeling A 20th Anniversary Celebration
Time: Sunday, July 23, 12:00 p.m.
Location: Room 7AB
She saved the world, a lot. Now, Edward Gross and Mark A. Altman are hosting a retrospective panel about the two decades of Buffy, including behind-the-scenes tales from their upcoming book: Slayers & Vampires. No cast members have been confirmed to appear, but we wouldn’t be surprised if they show up here.
Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency
Time: Sunday, July 23, 1:00 p.m.
Location: Hall H
This is going to be crazy panel for BBC’s quirky detective series. New cast members Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine will join Elijah Wood, Samuel Barnett, Hannah Marks, Jade Eshete , Fiona Dourif, and Mpho Koaho onstage with Max Landis and Robert Cooper, as Kevin Smith moderates the preview of season 2.
Doctor Who
Time: Sunday, July 23, 2:00 p.m.
Location: Hall H
This will be Peter Capaldi’s final Comic-Con as the Doctor, and he’s giving his farewell tour alongside outgoing showrunner Steven Moffat. Together, they will speak about their three season run together and preview the upcoming Christmas special. We’re sure that they will also address the recent casting of Jodie Whittaker as the next Doctor. Perhaps we will even see her in person!
