Comic-Con 2026: Johnny Depp promotes ‘Ebenezer’ and ENHYPEN members meet ‘Twilight’ cast
Comic Con 2026: Johnny Depp and ENHYPEN Steal the Show
Bharatmorningnews.com – Comic Con 2026 kicked off in San Diego with a star-studded celebration of pop culture. Johnny Depp captivated crowds in character as Ebenezer Scrooge, promoting his upcoming film while engaging directly with fans. The actor’s guerrilla-style appearance outside official panels highlighted the evolving marketing strategies at the nation’s premier convention.
Clad in an overcoat and top hat, Depp emerged from a faux snow-lined storefront bearing a “Scrooge and Marley” sign. “Do you have jobs? It seems as though you have so much spare time. Why are you here?” he asked the gathered crowd. Fans responded with enthusiastic “Merry Christmas!” calls as they recorded the moment on their cellphones.
Depp’s Return and Convention Growth
“Ebenezer,” set for release November 13, marks the embattled star’s first studio film in eight years. His street appearance in the Gaslamp Quarter exemplifies the more grassroots approach to promotion that Hollywood studios have embraced at Comic Con 2026 in recent years.
The four-day convention, which began in 1970 with a gathering of several hundred sci-fi and comics fans, is expected to draw more than 120,000 attendees. Comic Con International has grown significantly since its inception, when Marvel icon Jack Kirby made an in-person appearance at the modest gathering.
Organizers have said in recent years that San Diego’s event and hotel space may not be enough to hold growing crowds, and have floated moving to Los Angeles or another large city.
Despite these concerns, San Diego’s mayor Todd Gloria announced Wednesday that the expo would remain in the city through 2030. He stated the decision “reflects our shared commitment to the fans, creators, businesses and workers who make Comic-Con unlike anything else in the world.”
For attendees like PJ Richardson, 44, the journey was worth every mile. The Orlando resident drove cross-country with his family for his first Comic Con 2026 experience. “It’s the Mecca. It’s once-in-a-lifetime, so we had to come,” he said. “This was a thousand times more than the smaller convention I visited in my hometown.”
Cross-Fandom Connections at Comic Con 2026
K-pop group ENHYPEN joined Catherine Hardwicke, director of the first “Twilight” film, along with franchise actors Peter Facinelli and Ashley Greene at a Thursday panel exploring vampire storytelling. This marked one of many memorable cross-pop culture exchanges at Comic Con 2026.
Cosplay enthusiasts showcased their creativity throughout the convention. Brionna Slavalk, 27, traveled from Indiana dressed as Vaelus, the elf paladin from “Critical Role,” a Dungeons & Dragons-themed web series. Her purple-painted skin caught attention among attendees.
“Obviously I am partial to the body paint. I think it looks really neat when people do that,” Slavalk shared. “We just saw three Doctor Dooms over there! It’s a blast.”
Comic Con has expanded far beyond its comic book roots to include cosplay contests, autograph booths, obstacle courses, concerts, and panels covering everything from video games to movie poster art. New titles featuring Wolverine and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are among the attractions drawing fans.
Marvel Studios is building excitement for the December release of “Avengers: Doomsday” with a highly anticipated Hall H panel. The presentation represents the most-anticipated hour of Comic Con 2026, as the studio charts a path forward amid waning superhero film interest.
DC Studios, which skipped last year’s convention, will showcase its HBO “Lanterns” series with a “training headquarters” activation in the Gaslamp Quarter. A Friday panel featuring stars Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler will also take place in Hall H’s 6,500-person showcase.
Another prestige TV highlight includes actors from “Widow’s Bay” visiting the bayside convention center on Saturday. Apple TV is celebrating the comedy-horror series’ 19 Emmy nominations with the special appearance.
Comedy enthusiasts can look forward to updates on “Spaceballs: The New One” during a Friday panel. The upcoming film features Rick Moranis, Bill Pullman, and 100-year-old Mel Brooks reprising their roles from Brooks’ 1987 parody.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.