San Diego Comic-Con Releases Details on 2016 Panels, Celebrity Appearances

This year’s pop culture convention runs July 21 through July 24 in the heart of downtown San Diego

Hold on to your capes: San Diego Comic-Con International (SDCC) 2016 is in two weeks and fans are finally getting a glimpse of what to expect at this year’s pop culture spectacular.

The Comic-Con website has released programming schedules for the convention – Thursday, July 21 through Saturday, July 23 – providing details on panels, workshops and other activities happening at the extravaganza at the San Diego Convention Center downtown.

SDCC is expected to roll out the final programming details for July 24 this Sunday. The full schedules, as they become available, can be seen here.

For now, a few highlights from the Thursday, July 21 lineup include:

Snowden
11:45 a.m., Hall H
Iconic filmmaker Oliver Stone will make his San Diego Comic-Con debut in the biggest, most-visited room at the Convention Center: Hall H. Stone will unveil never-before-seen footage of his new movie, “Snowden,” which is based on the life of Edward Snowden. This panel is star-studded: in addition to Stone, fans can expect to see Shailene Woodley, Zachary Quinto, Scott Eastwood and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who plays Snowden in the film.

NBC’s The Good Place
3 p.m., Indigo Ballroom at Hilton San Diego Bayfront
NBC will introduce its new comedy, “The Good Place,” starring Kristen Bell with a 3 p.m. panel at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront hotel just steps from the San Diego. “The Good Place” follows a woman (Bell’s character) who, through some extraordinary events, enters the afterlife. In this realm, she’s determined to be a better person and is mentored by a wise character played by Ted Danson. Both Bell and Danson are expected to appear at this panel, along with executive producer Michael Schur and director Drew Goddard.

USA’s Mr. Robot
6 p.m., Room 6BCF
USA’s Golden Globe Award-winning series makes its Comic-Con debut with this panel featuring the cast: Christian Slater, Rami Malek, Portia Doubleday, Carly Chaikin and Grace Gummer. “Mr. Robot” follows a cyber-security engineer who, after being recruited by a mysterious leader, gets involved in an underground hacking group.

For Friday, July 22, you may just want to stay in Ballroom 20 or Hall H all day. Programming highlights in those rooms and beyond include:

Inside The Big Bang Theory’s Writing Room
10 a.m., Ballroom 20
Writers of the hit TV comedy, “The Big Bang Theory” return to Comic-Con to discuss the biggest moments of season 9 with this panel in busy Ballroom 20. After more than 200 episodes, the writers will discuss how they keep things fresh as they prepare to debut the show’s 10th season

Bones
10:25 a.m., Ballroom 20
“Bones” fans can bid farewell to the long-running show with the cast’s final Comic-Con panel. Join stars Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, TJ Thyne, Michaela Conlin, Tamara Taylor, and John Boyd, as well as executive producers Jonathan Collier and Michael Peterson for this session as they discuss the 12th and final season of “Bones.”

AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead
12 p.m., Hall H
“Fear the Walking Dead” actors Cliff Curtis, Kim Dickens, Frank Dillane, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Lorenzo James Henrie,Mercedes Mason, and Colman Domingo lead this panel, accompanied by executive producers and others who make the magic happen behind the scenes.

AMC’s The Walking Dead
1 p.m., Hall H
If you’re in Hall H already, stick around for “The Walking Dead” panel set to feature stars Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Steven Yeun, Lauren Cohan, Danai Gurira, Chandler Riggs, Sonequa Martin-Green, Michael Cudlitz, Josh McDermitt, Ross Marquand, Christian Serratos, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, among other panelists.

HBO’s Game of Thrones
2:15 p.m., Hall H
This year’s “Game of Thrones” panel in Hall H includes cast members: John Bradley, as Samwell Tarly, Liam Cunningham as Davos Seaworth, Nathalie Emmanuel as Missandei, Conleth Hill as Varys, Faye Marsay as The Waif, Hannah Murray as Gilly, Kristian Nairn as Hodor, Iwan Rheon as Ramsay Bolton, Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark, and Isaac Hempstead Wright as Bran Stark. After their Comic-Con panel, the “Game of Thrones” cast is set to head over to a taping of Conan O’Brien’s talk show at the Spreckels Theater on Broadway 

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
3 p.m., Ballroom 20
Cast members from “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” – Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Chloe Bennet, Henry Simmons, Elizabeth Henstridge, and Iain De Caestecker – join creators and executive producers for this panel, also in Ballroom 20 Friday.

Bates Motel on A&E
3:30 p.m., Room 6A
“Bates Motel” returns to San Diego Comic-Con with this panel Friday featuring stars Vera Famiga, Freddie Highmore, Max Thieriot and Nestor Carbonell.

TV Guide Magazine’s Fan Favorites
4:15 p.m., Ballroom 20
“TV Guide Magazine’s” annual fan favorites panel usually boasts lots of surprise guests from TV’s hottest shows. We’re intrigued.

Archer
5 p.m., Indigo Ballroom at Hilton San Diego Bayfront
The voices behind the animated series “Archer” head this panel at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Friday evening, including actorsH. Jon Benjamin (Sterling Archer),Aisha Tyler (Lana Kane), Jessica Walter (Malory Archer), Chris Parnell (Cyril Figgis),Judy Greer (Cheryl/Carol Tunt), Amber Nash (Pam Poovey), and Lucky Yates (Dr. Algernop Krieger).

Scream Queens
6:45 p.m., Ballroom 20
The cast of TV’s “Scream Queens” talk about their killer show at this panel, set to feature stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Emma Roberts, Lea Michele, and others.

Sharknado: The 4th Awakens
7:15 p.m., Room 6A
It’s baaack: the fourth installment of the campy “Sharnado” flicks returns to Comic-Con with this panel featuring the cast: Ian Ziering, Tara Reid, Ryan Newman, Stacey Dash, Cody Linley, Masiela Lusha and director Anthony Ferrante. The made-for-TV movie premieres July 31 on SyFy.

The biggest day of Comic-Con – Saturday, July 23 – will bring a slew of stars to the Convention Center. Again, the most high-profile panels are happening in Hall H and Ballroom 20. Here are some highlights from Comic-Con Saturday:

The Vampire Diaries
11 a.m., Ballroom 20
The cast and creative team behind “The Vampire Diaries” return to San Diego for this fun Q&A session and screening.

Back to the ‘90s: Nickelodeon’s Reunion
11:15 a.m., Room 6A
It’ll feel like time warp back to the 1990s in Room 6A Saturday at Nickelodeon’s “All That” and “Legends of the Hidden Temple” reunion. Some familiar faces that you haven’t seen in a while are set to join this panel, including “All That” alums Josh Server, Danny Tamberelli, Lori Beth Denberg and Kel Mitchell.

Warner Bros. Pictures
11:30 a.m., Hall H
Warner Bros. Pictures will take over Hall H with a sneak peek at the studio’s upcoming releases. Rumor has it this session could include the cast of the new Warner Bros. movie, “Suicide Squad,” which stars Will Smith, Jared Leto, Cara Delevingne and Viola Davis, among others. The “Suicide Squad” cast is set to tape Conan O’Brien’s talk show on Saturday, so it is likely they will make their way to the San Diego Convention Center too.

Blindspot
12 p.m., Indigo Ballroom at Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel
NBC’s popular “Blindspot” series returns to Comic-Con, with the cast and crew set to discuss their exciting show. Panelists will include series stars Sullivan Stapleton, Jaimie Alexander, Rob Brown, Audrey Esparza, Ashley Johnson, and writer/executive producer Martin Gero. “Blindspot” returns to NBC this September.

Star Trek
2 p.m., Hall H
Join William Shatner, Scott Bakula, Michael Dorn, Jeri Ryan, and Brent Spiner for this panel marking the 50th anniversary of “Star Trek’s” first broadcast. This conversation will be moderated by Bryan Fuller, executive producer of the new “Star Trek” television series set to air next year.

Grimm
2:30 p.m., Ballroom 20
Ballroom 20 hosts this appearance by the cast and crew of NBC’s hit series, “Grimm.” The panelists include stars David Giuntoli, Russell Hornsby, Bitsie Tulloch, Silas Weir Mitchell, Reggie Lee, Sasha Roiz, Bree Turner, Claire Coffee, and executive producers/writers Jim Kouf and David Greenwalt.

Aliens: 30th Anniversary
3:15 p.m., Hall H
As the iconic sci-fi flick “Aliens” celebrates its 30th anniversary, some big names are headed to Hall H for this panel: Writer/director James Cameron and producer Gale Anne Hurd, plus stars Sigourney Weaver, Bill Paxton, Lance Henriksen, Michael Biehn and Paul Reiser.

Entertainment Weekly: Women Who Kick Ass
4:30 p.m., Hall H
Fierce, fearless actresses will lead this popular panel, including “Gotham” star Morena Baccarin (Gotham), “Supergirl’s” Melissa Benoist, Lucy Lawless (Ash vs Evil Dead), Tatian Maslany and Connie Nielsen.

Marvel Studios
5:30 p.m., Hall H
Marvel Studios president and producer Kevin Feige and special guests give an inside glimpse at Marvel’s newest projects.

Kevin Smith
7 p.m., Hall H
Comic-Con staple Kevin Smith geeks out at this Hall H panel Saturday night, sure to include lots of laughs.

Comic-Con International Masquerade
8:30 p.m., Ballroom 20
Each year, the Ballroom 20 stage lights up with the Comic-Con Masquerade – a colorful display of costumes and skits created by fervent fanboys and fangirls. This show is the quintessential Comic-Con experience; typically, there’s not a single seat left in the house.

The final day of Comic-Con - Sunday, July 24 - will bring some of the week's most anticipated panels to the Convention Center. Here are some of the highlights: 

Sherlock
10 a.m., Hall H
Go behind-the-scenes of the beloved and popular cult classic on BBC, Sherlock, with this panel, featuring the executive producers and actors. Executive producers and co-creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gattis will attend, along with actress Amanda Abbington and producer Sue Vertue. The panel will be moderated by Chris Hardwick. 

FOX's Action Showcase: Prison Break and 24: Legacy
12:30 p.m., Hall H
Get a sneak peak at some of the footage for two of FOX's exciting new productions. The creators and producers, as well as some of the cast, for these upcoming new series will give fans a look inside the shows. 

The 50-Year Mission: Star Trek Then, Now and Beyond
1 p.m., Room 25ABC
Authorts Mark A. Altman and Edward Gross will sit down with Access Hollywood's Scott Manz to talk about the bestselling two-volume book series. 

Anything Goes with John Barrowman
2 p.m., Room 6BCF
Funnyman, entertainer and actor John Barrowman, from Doctor Who and Arrow, will be responding to fan questions. Stop by and ask him anything. 

Buffy Musical: Once More with Feeling: An Interactive Whedon Musical
3:15 p.m., Room 6BCF
Buffy fans will not want to miss this interactive screening of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer musical episode, complete with singing, shouting and dancing. Juliet Landeu will join in on the fun. 

Comic-Con Talk Back
3:30 p.m., Room 23ABC 
Have you ever wanted to voice your comments or concerns about Comic-Con? John Rodgers, on the Comic-Con Board of Directors, will hold this talk-back to hear from attendees. 

Comic-Con was born in 1970 in the basement of the U.S. Grant Hotel in the heart of San Diego. Over the decades, the “little event that could” has grown into a behemoth, taking over the Convention Center, neighboring hotels and downtown San Diego for a long weekend each summer.

Comic-Con’s fervent fans typically attend the convention in elaborate costumes, transforming the city into a metropolis straight out of the pages of fantasy and science fiction. The event has also become famous for sneak peeks of major studio movies and popular TV shows, as well as a steady stream of celebrity sightings.

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