San Diego Comic-Con 2026: 'Spaceballs: The New One' Panel Parodies Marvel Events, Rick Moranis Gets Standing Ovation, Johnny Depp Promotes 'Ebenezer,' and First Immersive STEAM Experience Launches

San Diego Comic-Con 2026 kicked off with Preview Night appearances from Keke Palmer, Tom DeLonge, and Adria Arjona.

San Diego Comic-Con 2026 is in full swing at the San Diego Convention Center, with celebrity appearances, major product reveals, and panel announcements dominating coverage. Actor Johnny Depp is attending the event to promote a project called 'Ebenezer,' while K-pop group ENHYPEN joined Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke at a Thursday panel exploring vampire storytelling. Rick Moranis, 73, made his first-ever Comic-Con appearance to promote a Spaceballs sequel, receiving a standing ovation from fans. Moranis confirmed he will reprise his role as Dark Helmet in 'Spaceballs: The New One,' the long-awaited follow-up to Mel Brooks' 1987 cult classic. The panel itself reportedly parodied Marvel panels, echoing the film's tradition of large-scale comedic spectacle — a nod to the original movie's famous long opening spaceship take. Moranis joked that he never actually 'retired' from Hollywood; he had stepped away from the industry in 1997 to care for his two children following the death of his wife in 1991. Other notable celebrity attendees include singer and actress Keke Palmer, actress Adria Arjona, and Blink-182 co-founder Tom DeLonge. On the show floor, Hasbro unveiled a new line of 6-inch action figures based on The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, featuring Link, Ganondorf, and Zelda, as well as a $600 Ultimate Grogu animatronic capable of hundreds of movements and expressions. Marvel Tōkon revealed Phoenix Cyclops as its newest playable character, voiced by Ray Chase. A new survival horror film adaptation of Resident Evil, directed by Zach Cregger and starring Austin Abrams, was also highlighted at the convention. LEGO showcased Pokémon and Donkey Kong sets at their booth, and Lenovo promoted its Legion 7A laptop and Legion Go 2 handheld at a gaming lounge hosting Marvel Rivals and Avatar Legends tournaments. Beyond the main convention floor, If/Then Ambassadors launched Mission Control, Comic-Con's first immersive STEAM experience, at the Marriott Hotel, offering attendees hands-on activities in science, technology, engineering, art, and math. The cosplay scene and exhibit hall atmosphere continue to draw widespread attention from attendees and media outlets alike.

Why it matters

Comic-Con International in San Diego remains one of the largest pop culture conventions in the world, drawing hundreds of thousands of attendees and serving as a major platform for film, television, and entertainment announcements.

What's next

Full programming days follow Preview Night, with panels, screenings, and major studio announcements expected throughout the remainder of the convention.

Key facts

Bias & framing notes

Coverage was thin across both sources — the Union-Tribune focused on celebrity sightings with minimal detail, while Bleeding Cool provided visual documentation of the show floor but little reportorial substance. Neither source offered event figures, attendance data, or programming details. The Bleeding Cool framing ('Full FOMO') was promotional in tone rather than journalistic.

NewsClear — neutral news & congressional tracking · Bill of the Week