Television programming continues to dominate more of the San Diego Comic-Con schedule each year, with panels drawing massive crowds, and some Ballroom 20 lines rivaling even those for Hall H. As TV’s presence at the con grows, so does the excitement — and the wait — for official panel announcements from networks and Comic-Con International.
While we wait, we’re diving into some educated speculation about which series we think could appear at SDCC this year. We’re breaking it down into three parts: Cable & Streaming Networks (which you can read below), followed by Broadcast Networks (coming next week). You can also find our Movie speculation over here.
So, what might you expect from the world of cable and streaming at San Diego Comic-Con this summer? Let’s take a look.
Adult Swim
Adult Swim has scaled back their panel presence over the last few years, focusing mostly on their offsite (which typically includes meet and greets, comedy shows, music, giveaways, games, and more).
On the panel side of things, we think they’ll go big on Rick and Morty, always a favorite at the con. It should be airing the final episode of its eighth season during Comic-Con, making it prime time for promotion at the con.
Outside of that… Adult Swim is always hard to predict, as their release schedule typically isn’t announced very far in advance, so it all just depends on how far along animation production is on their various series. We could get a look at the new season of My Adventures with Superman, or Smiling Friends, or something else entirely.
Then there’s Robot Chicken, which was a staple at the con for many years. It’s getting a big 20th anniversary celebration set to air this summer, and we could definitely see that series make a triumphant return to Comic-Con.
Basically anything at all is possible here, including something not on this list.
Amazon Prime Video
While it doesn’t yet have a release date yet, we think Prime Video will give a push for the second season of Gen V. It’s slated to premiere sometime this year, and Prime has shown they know San Diego Comic-Con is the perfect audience for the world of The Boys. Speaking of that series — it’s fate at San Diego Comic-Con in 2025 is less certain. While they’ve been busy filming, it’s not expected to be released until 2026, likely pushing it outside of the prime promotion time during the con. However, since it’s the final season, we could also see Prime giving it one last big push for a final hurrah at the con. Then again, maybe that’s exactly what last year’s big promotion was.
We also think the upcoming animated Bat-Family will get a big push, similar to last year’s Batman: Caped Crusader. We’d be shocked frankly if they didn’t show at least one episode of the series.
Outside of that, there are a few options — but it all just depends on how far along production is. As much as we would love Fallout to make an appearance at the con, it doesn’t release until December — which seems way too late for Comic-Con. Gone are the days when streaming or cable services would bring everything they had and the kitchen sink.
Hazbin Hotel has a very passionate fanbase, but we’re not sure how far off the third season is.
We’re not expecting a big push for Anansi Boys given the controversy around creator Neil Gaiman, and movement on the series has been very quiet. There have been rumblings that the final installment of Good Omens could come sooner than expected, and it’s done a better job of separating itself from Gaiman, but will Amazon want to do a big push and risk unwanted questions? We kind of doubt it.
We also fully expect The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power to skip this year, as filming just started late last month for season three, but we expect them to push hard for it again in 2026.
There are also new series, including Malice, an upcoming psychological thriller (with David Duchovny); Blade Runner 2099 (with Michelle Yeoh and Hunter Schafer) which wrapped filming in December; and Young Sherlock (with Hero Fiennes Tiffin and Joseph Fiennes) which has been busy filming. But all seem too far out to warrant anything at the con.
AMC
While The Walking Dead universe is still one of AMC’s flagship offerings (and more on it below), we think they’ll continue to go heaviest on Anne Rice’s Immortal Universe. Of the three series now comprising the universe — Interview with the Vampire, Mayfair Witches, and the upcoming Talamasca — Interview certainly has the most passionate fanbase, and we think AMC knows that. As they should, because it’s amazing you guys, and you should all be watching it. Filming on the second season begins in June, meaning they could have something to still show off during the con. While normally being so early in filming would be a deterrent to appearing at the con, Interview rocked Ballroom 20 last year with a very early teaser, so we don’t think that will stop them from returning this year — plus they’ve already started sending press kits for season three, which means they’re clearly kicking off promotion very early. Comic-Con feels like the perfect place to really amp up the fervor for the new “The Vampire Lestat” season into high gear, and we hope the whole cast can make it. [Editor’s Note: I’d be lying if I said this wasn’t the thing I most want at the con this year, so if you’re listening AMC, Mark Johnson, Rolin Jones, whoever — please hear my cries]
We think Talamasca, the new series about the secretive organization that watches the supernatural beings in the Anne Rice Immortal Universe, will also get a big push. It’s slated for sometime in the fall, and SDCC could be the best place to really show off the new series to an eager crowd and get them excited. Mayfair Witches finished airing its second season earlier this year, and has a less intense fanbase, so we think this one is a toss-up. If we had to bet, we’d guess more of a split Interview x Talamasca panel, similar to last year’s Interview x Mayfair panel.
Then there’s The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. It just wouldn’t be SDCC without some form of The Walking Dead content, and while AMC has already announced they’ll be putting their biggest push into that world this Halloween as they celebrate the franchise’s 15th anniversary, we are fairly confident they’ll still bring out good ol’ Daryl to the con. While there’s currently no release date, it started filming in September of last year, so there should be plenty to show off for fans.
The Walking Dead: Dead City meanwhile will have finished airing its season in June, so we’d be surprised to see it appear at the con.
Apple TV+
Hey, Apple TV+ marketing team — you’ve been knocking it out of the park with Severance for months. And while, yeah okay, the second season is now finished, the first had also finished when you brought it to San Diego Comic-Con last time. So why not bring some of that marketing magic back to SDCC, to a core audience who has gone so hard for Severance?
Please? Pretty please?
(You could literally just bring back the exact same offsite from 2022, and no one would bat an eye. So please come back, Apple TV and Severance. We’re begging you.)
Other than that, Apple TV has proven to be a much more selective performer at the con. Last year, their sole entry was Silo — and with filming having started in October, it’s entirely possible we’ll get the first look at the next season again as well. They did not bring For All Mankind in 2023, but filming for the fifth season is currently underway, and it feels possible, even if not likely.
So far, Apple hasn’t shown any desire to premiere new series at the con, skipping out on Time Bandits last year, even though we think SDCC would have been the perfect place for some buzz.
There are some other series on their roster though with possibilities, including the Godzilla series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, which has wrapped filming on its second season. There’s also Murderbot, which follows a sentient security android who must mask the ability of free thought, and stars Alexander Skarsgård and David Dastmalchian. It will finish airing on July 11, but that hasn’t always been a barrier to entry for Apple.
But, let’s be honest… What the people want is Severance.
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network tends to be very generous in their offerings at San Diego Comic-Con, and we’re not expecting that to change anytime soon. For returning series, the most obvious answer is another big push for Batwheels, whose third season is set to begin sometime this summer. There’s also The Amazing World of Gumball, whose seventh season is due out sometime this year or next. The timing seems off for Tiny Toons Looniversity given the second season wraps up well ahead of the con.
On the new series front, Cartoon Network has some beloved properties finding new life, in the form of Adventure Time: Side Quests, a new J.G. Quintel Regular Show, and a Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends spin-off. The first two were huge hits at Comic-Con that got tons of promo, from themed booths on the show floor to giant inflatables atop the New Children’s Museum. It’s unclear how far off either of those are from airing, and it may be too soon to bring them to San Diego Comic-Con this year — but we fully expect both to be major players at the con for years to come.
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is another inconsistent Comic-Con network, often skipping years. They did appear last year for Everybody Still Hates Chris, which was originally ordered for 20 episodes, and only 10 of those episodes have hit airwaves. If the remaining episodes are airing close to the con, it could get another appearance.
Then there’s Beavis and Butt-Head, which did get a push back in 2022, ahead of the series’ return to TV screens. That was back when it was airing on Paramount+, but now in 2025, it’s moving to Comedy Central. Considering it hasn’t been back to the con, we kind of doubt it gets a dedicated panel again, but there’s a chance Comedy Central and parent company Paramount think the move warrants some marketing to let attendees know.
South Park hasn’t been at the con since 2019 for its 20th anniversary, and given it skipped its 25th anniversary, we doubt we’ll see it for the 26th.
Disney+ / The Disney Channel
Marvel didn’t just return to San Diego Comic-Con in 2024 — they stole the whole dang show, proving that they still know how to rock Hall H like no one else. They’ve got plenty to show off in 2025, and we have every belief they’ll be back. The Marvel TV series are typically part of the overall Marvel Hall H presentation panel, and there are plenty of series to showcase this year. Ironheart should still be airing during the con, and the animated Eyes of Wakanda premieres almost immediately after (August 6). There’s also the animated Marvel Zombies set for October, and Wonder Man coming later this year. They’ve also got Vision Quest, which is currently filming, and should have plenty to tease or announce at the con.
On the Star Wars side of things, it’s been several years now since Disney has brought any of their Star Wars films or TV series to the con, and we don’t think that’s a trend that’s going to change any time soon. So sorry, fans hoping for any of the Star Wars TV series.
And then there’s Doctor Who. The streamer went big on the series in 2024, bringing out Russell T. Davies and star Ncuti Gatwa (as well as Millie Gibson) for a big splashy Hall H panel, a more intimate podcast recording, and even a fun offsite in conjunction with Star Trek. A lot has changed in the world of Who since then, including what appears to be its fate to remain on Disney+. The series’ current season will finish airing by the end of May, making the timing off anyway — so we really think they’ll be skipping the con this year.
On the non-Marvel animated side of things, we do think we’ll see something big: Phineas and Ferb, which has been revived for a fifth season, set to start airing in June. The timing also looks like it could work out for Big City Greens — but given the way animation works, something else could totally sneak in if they’re far enough along in production.
FX/FXX
FX would have to be completely insane not to focus most of their promo on Alien: Earth, the upcoming entry into the Alien franchise from Noah Hawley, starring Sydney Chandler and Timothy Olyphant. Like, seriously, what else do you need to know? We’d wager it gets a Hall H panel and prime placement in the annual Hilton Bayfront lawn offsite (likely very similar to the current activation in Vegas).
Shōgun hasn’t yet started filming season two, which makes it way too early to bring to the con — and even then, the first season only got an appearance at the offsite. And likewise, Ryan Murphy’s The Beauty (about an STD that causes aesthetic but lethal effects) is still busy filming, and it’s been a few years since any of Murphy’s FX series attended the con — so we’d count that one out as well, except for maybe a section of the offsite.
It’s been a very long time since the gang at Paddy’s Pub checked in at San Diego Comic-Con (since 2011, in fact) — but the new season does kick off on July 9, which means they’ll be airing in the middle of the con. That hasn’t happened since 2006, but even in years when the series started in the fall, they skipped, so we think this particular episode is likely titled “The Gang Doesn’t Go to Comic-Con (Again)”.
The smart money here is definitely on Alien. Because in Hall H, no one can hear you scream.
HBO / HBO Max
HBO and HBO Max (the Warner Bros. streaming platform) can be a bit hot or cold at San Diego Comic-Con depending on if they think they have anything coming out soon enough to promote at the con — and while this feels like a lighter year, there are definitely some fun options.
Let’s start with Peacemaker, which stars airing its second season just a month after the con (August 21). Creator James Gunn has been a vocal supporter of San Diego Comic-Con, and the series even made an appearance at Comic-Con: Special Edition, the SDCC-lite con that happened back in 2021, in the form of an offsite and star John Cena making a surprise guest appearance. That definitely shows us that Warner Bros. knows Comic-Con is very much the Peacemaker crowd, and we think SDCC is the perfect place to give the new season some love.
Then there’s the Game of Thrones of it all. House of the Dragon airs every other year, and since its second season aired in 2024, it won’t be coming back in 2025 (and it also literally just started filming). The upcoming A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a Game of Thrones prequel focused on George R.R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg, also feels unlikely. It’s set to release sometime in early 2026, likely putting it out of HBO/WB’s July promotional schedule, as increasingly the studio has only focused on series releasing closer to the con.
The other big option is It: Welcome to Derry, which is slated for sometime in 2025, and got an upgrade from streaming only to HBO proper. The prequel series is set before the 2017/2019 films, and sees actor Bill Skarsgård return as Pennywise the Clown. WB hasn’t typically gone super hard on It at the con (though they have done a small offsite and a screening), but this feels like ripe material for a bigger push and something their marketing team could have a lot of fun with… if WB is willing to spend the money.
We also would be surprised if we didn’t get some kind of presence for Harley Quinn, the (awesome) animated series. It’s been at the con basically every year, and the sixth season is currently in development.
Everything else just feels too early to appear at the con. Dune: Prophecy was renewed, but won’t start filming until later this year. The animated Creature Commandos is also just too soon, with its first season having just finished airing a few months ago. The Last of Us will have finished airing its second season long before the con, and again, this is not the WB who used to bring its series for a victory lap.
Hulu
Just like last year, we think Hulu will bet big on animation, with the revival of King of the Hill starting this summer, and the new season of Futurama expected sometime in 2025. Both are an easy sell to attendees. Less certain is Hulu’s other animated series, Solar Opposites, which has one more season premiering later this year, but it’s already been announced as its final season, so will Hulu want to promote that?
We say this every year, and Hulu continues to ignore our pleas — but we still say Only Murders in the Building would positively kill at San Diego Comic-Con. Parent company Disney has dipped their toes into the waters in the past with OMITB, with elevator wraps and a very lowkey offsite, but we would love to see something more full-blown at the con. The newest season only started filming in March, but the same was true for the fourth season, and it still managed to premiere in August. So the timing working out for SDCC is definitely not outside the realm of possibilities.
Even more of a dark horse than that is Chad Powers, about a quarterback whose career has gone so far south that he disguises himself as “Chad Powers”. Now, football + Comic-Con isn’t exactly a proven match, but it might be when the title character is played by Glen Powell (who could possibly also be in town for The Running Man). And, this is a comedy, with some heavy hitters involved, including Steve Zahn and Toby Huss (where are my Halt and Catch Fire fans at?). Hulu hasn’t shown it’s willing to embrace its comedy side at the con (see the aforementioned OMITB), so we don’t think this is likely, but it’s not impossible.
MGM
Last year was MGM’s first appearance at the con (we think?), and they made some waves — sponsoring a party at the IMDboat, and bringing along the cast of their sleeper hit From. This year, it’s a bit more up in the air, as From won’t start filming until this summer in Nova Scotia, but it certainly wouldn’t be the first time a cast traveled in for the con. Still, with the new season further out, it may just not be in the cards for 2025.
For new series, there’s The Institute, adapted from the Stephen King novel of the same name, and starring Ben Barnes and Mary Louise-Parker. It’s set to air sometime this year, and the Stephen King IP may be enough of a reason to bring it to SDCC.
They’ve also got a retelling of Robin Hood, starring Jack Patten and Sean Bean, but it doesn’t finish filming until July, and that’s likely just too early for a promotional push.
Netflix
If we could predict Netflix’s marketing strategy on any given year at San Diego Comic-Con, we’d be rich. It’s been a few years since the streamer has shown a strong interest in San Diego Comic-Con (though they did turn up in 2022 with The Gray Man with a panel and an offsite!), focusing mostly on their own branded conventions and events, and we think that’s likely to be a trend that continues.
If they bring anything, we think there are two frontrunners. The first of which is Wednesday. The Addams Family series returns with the first half of its season two run on August 6, which is just days after the convention — and on the occasions when Netflix has shown up, it’s typically for something coming out very soon. That release date sure feels like the perfect timing for San Diego Comic-Con.
They’ve also got Tremors, releasing also in August 2025. The eight episode reboot (or sequel? it’s very unclear!) sees Kevin Bacon returning to the franchise, and given the original Tremors film is a cult classic, this feels like such an easy slam dunk for the Comic-Con crowd. As always, if Netflix wants to tee it up. Sometimes they don’t.
Besides that, we think it’s likely a loss. Does Netflix have other things they could bring if they wanted? Sure! One of their biggest series, Stranger Things, returns later this year, and would have plenty they could show off. The second season of One Piece doesn’t yet have a release date, but it did wrap filming already. Maybe Warner Bros. will splurge and go halfsies with Netflix again to bring the second season of The Sandman (after all, the second set of season two episodes premieres during San Diego Comic-Con) — but similarly to Prime Video, there’s the “Neil Gaiman” of it all, and the fact that the series has already been cancelled, so that feels unlikely.
For new series, they’ve got Wayward, “a thriller that will explore the dark underbelly of the troubled teen industry” — but it doesn’t seem genre enough or like the big, splashy IP Netflix prefers to tout at the con (even though one year, we will get Patrick J. Adams at this con if it kills me).
So basically: Netflix has other things… They just have to want to be at San Diego Comic-Con. And if they do want, we think it’s going to be Wednesday or Tremors all the way.
The one thing we think you can count on is The Dragon Prince, which returns every year to a loyal fanbase, thanks to Wonderstorm.
Honestly, this one is still a toss up.
Nickelodeon
Is it even Comic-Con without a panel for Nickelodeon’s longest-running series, SpongeBob SquarePants? Given how hard they went for the series last year for its big 25th anniversary, we can’t imagine they won’t feature a certain sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea this year.
We also bet we’ll see something for The Loud House, which has plenty of episodes left to air. For new series, there’s Wylde Pak, about a Korean American family. It’s set to start in airing in early June, which could put it in prime position for some San Diego Comic-Con promotion.
The big wildcard here though is Avatar: Seven Havens, set after the events of The Legend of Korra. There’s no release date, but rumblings seem to indicate it’s not likely to start airing until 2026. However, we already know Avatar: The Last Airbender will be celebrating its 20th anniversary at San Diego Comic-Con with “immersive fan experiences” (which surely include The Lodge). If we had to guess, we would bet that we’ll get some sort of anniversary panel as well for the original series, and possibly a first look at the new Seven Havens series as well, to ensure existing fans tune in.
Paramount+
Paramount+ has gone from having five Star Trek series on the air, to having just two. But we still expect them to go big for Strange New Worlds this year, as the third season premieres on July 17, which is perfect timing for Comic-Con. We’d also expect to see some kind of push for the new kid on the block — Starfleet Academy. The first season wrapped earlier this year, and while there’s no official release date, there should be lots to tease and show off at the con. We just can’t imagine Paramount is going to go to San Diego Comic-Con and not promote Star Trek.
On the animated front, we expect to see Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It’s a total no-brainer for the con, and the second season is premiering sometime in 2025. If they felt like bringing along a second series, there’s Ark: The Animated Series, based on the video game, whose second part is set to premiere sometime in 2025. The first half of the season fell outside of normal SDCC promotional timelines, but maybe the second won’t.
Peacock
Peacock really surprised us last year, going all out for the Roman chariots series, Those About to Die. The fact that that series doesn’t make immediate sense for the con is, honestly, a big sign that Peacock still believes SDCC is a great launching ground for their new series.
If we had to guess, though, we think we’ll get somewhere in between. We might get a bit of a do-over on 2023, when the strikes meant there were no actors at the con — so we could finally get the proper fanfare for Twisted Metal, the Anthony Mackie series which sees him as a delivery driver with amnesia. The second season kicks off on July 31 (perfect timing!), and considering how hard Peacock went for the series two years ago, it makes sense to us to try again, with its star in tow. The same goes for Ted, which has wrapped filming, and could make an appearance at the con.
On the “new series” front, they’ve got Copenhagen, a sci-fi spy thriller with Simu Liu and Melissa Barrera. Those are both Comic-Con darlings, and feel like an easy sell to attendees for a panel.
Less likely, but not impossible in our opinions, is also The Burbs, based on the (terrific) Tom Hanks 1989 dark comedy. The new iteration stars Jack Whitehall, Mark Proksch, Paula Pell, and others — and while Peacock hasn’t shown as much desire to push their comedies at the con, sister-company NBC has. And that may be just enough of a beloved movie to warrant a little extra push with this crowd.
We’ll believe the long-maligned Crystal Lake — the Friday the 13th TV series that originally was announced as a Bryan Fuller series back in 2022, though he’s since left the project — is really happening when we see it. But until then, there are no signs it’s actually started filming, so it’s too early for this to appear at the con.
Similarly, the Community movie still hasn’t started filming, thanks to its cast being just too darn employed to get together. But maybe next year!
Showtime
Look, as much as we would love Yellowjackets at the con (or I don’t know, maybe we wouldn’t after that lackluster third season?), it hasn’t been renewed yet — and even if it had, it won’t have started filming. So it’s got less chance of attending than Shauna does of having a good day.
Similarly, Dexter: Original Sin won’t have started filming its second season, so it just won’t have anything to show off. Instead though, we think Showtime could be looking to make a killer comeback with Dexter: Resurrection, the upcoming series which follows Dexter: New Blood, and sees the return of Michael C. Hall as the title character (plus Peter Dinklage also stars). It’s set to air later this year, and Showtime has a long history of promoting Dexter at the con (including just last year!), so we think this one has a very good chance of getting some fun promo.
Starz
Starz has been an inconsistent performer at San Diego Comic-Con at best. Their most frequent Comic-Con entry, Outlander, has a run of eight final episodes still yet to air, but no release date has been announced yet.
But don’t count Starz out just yet. Their Outlander prequel series, Outlander: Blood of My Blood, is premiering on August 8 this year. While we’re sure a large portion of the Outlander fanbase will follow along for the ride, the fact that it’s a new series and that the release date is so close to the con may just give Starz a reason to return to San Diego. And if you’re bothering to do that, Starz, why not pair it with the original series to use it as a launching pad, saying goodbye to the “old” and hello to the “new”? We’re just sayin’.
And really, Starz has another franchise which it could bring to the con this year, as there’s also Spartacus: House of Ashur. The series, a sequel to the original Spartacus series, doesn’t have a release date, but it had enough footage ready to go for Starz to show off a teaser trailer earlier this year. The original Spartacus was a consistent performer at SDCC, and we’d love to see the franchise return home.
This is the first year in a long time we’d put the odds more in the “likely” than “unlikely” column for Starz to attend, but it’s definitely not a lock.
Syfy
We miss the good ol’ days when Syfy dominated at the con, with karaoke buses, Sharknado parades, oversized bags, and fun fan parties. These days though, we’re lucky if they bring a panel or two.
We think this year’s honor will go to Revival, a horror series based on the Image Comics series by Tim Seeley, which is set in a rural Wisconsin town in which the dead have been suddenly resurrected. It stars Melanie Scrofano of Wynonna Earp fame, and that alone is enough to pack Indigo Ballroom (plus the series also features CM Punk). It premieres on June 12, which would put its release schedule in the middle of Comic-Con, and seems like perfect timing.
For Syfy’s only other two series, the timelines just don’t match up. The Ark was only renewed earlier this year and won’t have anything to show off, and likewise, SurrealEstate will have just finished airing its third season.
As for Resident Alien, it’s moving over to USA Network for its final season, so more on that below.
USA Network
Ah, USA Network. The reason this writer first attended San Diego Comic-Con. The network has moved far, far away from its former “Blue Sky” programming model, and as such, it’s been a long time since it’s graced this list. We think that’s likely to change this year, as Resident Alien, which as mentioned above, is moving from Syfy to USA Network for its fourth and final season — which drops starting June 6, so Comic-Con should still make sense before it finishes its run completely. USA Network could also decide though that with the series almost completely over, it’s not worth bringing out.
Each year, we also look at the series with some tie to the con who are no longer around, either due a planned series ending or due to being canceled. Join us next week as we break down Broadcast TV and Family TV networks!
TV Graveyard
Chucky (Syfy)
Clone High (Max)
Halo (Paramount+)
Mythic Quest (Apple TV+)
Reginald the Vampire (Syfy)
What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
