This weekend saw San Diego overtaken by hordes of pop culture aficionados as the city once again played host to Comic Con International. The annual event has long since shrugged off being soley focused on comic books though, and now showcases the biggest movies and TV shows the world has to offer.
While some studios haven’t (officially) made some of the juicier content shown to con-goers online yet — notably Fox, with the early footage of X-Men: Apocalypse and the adult-rated Deadpool trailer — there’s still plenty to enjoy even if you weren’t able to hop over to San Diego.
Here are WIRED.co.uk’s picks of the best teasers and trailers revealed at Comic Con, from upcoming blockbusters to niche but promising television.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Rather than another trailer, Lucasfilm got fans charged up with a behind the scenes reel reinforcing the credentials of JJ Abrams’ upcoming Episode VII. A focus on practical effects, prosthetics, and sets allays fears of a return to the prequel trilogy’s excessive CGI, and having Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill, say “everything’s changed, but nothing’s changed” is about the biggest piece of fanservice since Leia wore a gold bikini.
Vixen
Smash superhero TV series Arrow spawned The Flash, and now the small screen DC Comics universe expands again with a canonical animated spin-off. First announced in January, the web-first series features actors from the live-action shows reprising their roles, while establishing Vixen herself — who can channel the abilities of any animal thanks to her mystic totem — for future appearances.
Batman vs Superman
Over on the big screen, Warner Bros is busy setting up an entirely separate continuity for the DC heroes. The extended Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice trailer went down with fans a lot better than the overly grim original teaser, and it looks like director Zack Snyder has allowed a slightly brighter palette than in Man of Steel. It also gives us the first glimpse of Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman in action, and Jesse Eisenberg’s sneering, condescending Lex Luthor. It’s still a little dark though, particularly Ma Kent telling Clark “you don’t owe this world a thing”. Yikes.
Ash vs Evil Dead
Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell reunite for the next official chapter in the Evil Dead saga, this time on TV. Picking up where 1992’s Army of Darkness left off, Ash vs Evil Deadsees Campbell return as hapless hero Ash Williams, once more combatting the forces unleashed by the Necronomicon. Currently slated for a ten episode season, the show seems set for all the gore and gross-out comedy of the original films. Hail to the king, baby.
Fear the Walking Dead
If more serious takes on the undead are your thing, then this should be perfect viewing. The companion series to AMC’s The Walking Dead flashes back to explore how the zombie apocalypse first broke out. Telling original stories not adapted from Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard’s ongoing comic — though created by Kirkman and producer Dave Erickson — Fear the Walking Dead will fill in gaps and answer questions for long-time viewers.
Game of Thrones
Not even a snippet of footage from season six of the award-winning fantasy series (on the very good account of nothing being shot yet) but fans of Game of Thrones were treated to a blast from the past with an audition reel featuring some of the show’s most popular characters. Will it be enough to keep viewers’ satiated until next spring’s sixth season? Probably not, but it’s something at least.
