Johnny Depp teased Comic-Con International attendees with his Ebenezer Scrooge character as he opened the nation’s largest pop culture convention on Thursday, emerging from a mini store in downtown San Diego with a snow-lined “Scrooge and Marley” sign.According to the Associated Press, the actor, wearing an overcoat and top hat, called out to the gathered crowd. “You have a job? You seem to have some free time. Why are you here?” As onlookers recorded on cellphones and shouted “Merry Christmas!”, Depp responded wryly, “All I can say is that you all are amazing people. Humbug!” before shuffling back inside the building.
Johnny Depp’s ‘Ebenezer’ marks the embattled star’s first studio film in eight years
‘Ebenezer’, which is set to release on November 13, represents the actor’s return to a major film production after a long absence from the screen. His appearance on the streets of the Gaslamp Quarter—outside of any official panels—reflects a more guerrilla-style marketing approach that some expo studios have adopted in recent years.
The actor greeted fans of the character at San Diego Comic-Con, marking one of his biggest public promotional appearances in recent years. Image credit (Instagram)
More than 120,000 people are expected at the four-day convention, which began in 1970 with the gathering of several hundred sci-fi and comic fans. The event has since evolved into a major platform for entertainment industry announcements and fan engagement.
Comic-Con will remain in San Diego until 2030
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria announced Wednesday that the convention will remain in the city until 2030, addressing earlier concerns that the city’s event and hotel space may not be enough to handle the growing number of people. Organizers previously floated moving to Los Angeles or another big city. Gloria said the announcement “shows our shared commitment to the fans, creators, businesses and workers who make Comic-Con unlike anything else in the world.“PJ Richardson, 44, drove cross-country from Orlando, Florida, with his family for his first Comic-Con International experience. “This is Mecca. It’s once in a lifetime, so we have to go. It’s a thousand times over,” he said, marveling at the scale of toys and collectibles on display at the bayfront expo.
ENHYPEN met the ‘Twilight’ cast at the Comic-Con vampire storytelling panel
K-pop group ENHYPEN joined Catherine Hardwicke, director of the first ‘Twilight’ film, and franchise actors Peter Facinelli and Ashley Greene on a panel Thursday discussing vampire storytelling. The moment featured the cross-pop culture exchanges that defined the convention experience.
ENHYPEN joins ‘Twilight’ director Catherine Hardwicke and actors Peter Facinelli and Ashley Greene for a special panel on vampire storytelling at Comic-Con 2026. Image credit (x)​
Comic-Con 2026. When cosplay and fandom collide
Cosplayers of all skill levels and fandoms unite in homemade costumes and photos. Brionna Slavalk, 27, traveled from Indiana dressed as the elf paladin Vaelus from ‘Critical Role’, a Dungeons & Dragons-themed web series, with her skin painted purple. “I’m partial to body paint. I think it looks really neat when people do that,” he said. “It was a blast.”
Hall H panels and big superhero announcements dominate the Comic-Con schedule
The superhero franchise used the convention to build hype for the December release of ‘Avengers. Doomsday’, with the ensemble set to return to Hall H on Saturday—the most anticipated hour of the four-day event. The presentation aims to chart a path forward as audience interest in superhero films wanes.
Comedy-horror ‘Widow’s Bay’ and ‘Spaceballs. The New One’ promotes prestige content
The actors of the comedy-horror series ‘Widow’s Bay’ are expected to visit the bayside convention center this Saturday to celebrate the success of the production and interact with fans.Comedy lovers will find updates on ‘Spaceballs. The New Ones’ at a panel on Friday, with the film set for release next year featuring Rick Moranis, Bill Pullman and 100-year-old Mel Brooks reprising their roles from Brooks’ 1987 parody, demonstrating Comic-Con’s continued role as a launching pad for great entertainment across genres and generations.