This year’s Comic-Con was bigger and better than ever! More than 135,000 attendees filled the convention center over its four-day run, thanks in part to the actors and writers strikes finally coming to a close.
Special Guests for 2024 included Charles Ardai, Rodney Barnes, Daniel Clowes, Gerry Conway, Naomi Novik, and Julia Wertz. Also present were Will Ferrell, Lisa Kudrow, Jennifer Coolidge, Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman and Jason Derulo. Exhibitors included Marvel, Lionsgate, Lucasfilm, Boom! Studios, IDW Publishing and Image Comics.
Pressers throughout the event in halls and neighboring hotels introduced a number of new films and TV series. Among these was 20th Century Studios’ Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes directed by Wes Ball and written by Josh Friedman. The film introduces the fourth installment in the Planet of the Apes reboot film series and the tenth film overall. The standalone sequel takes place 300 years after the events of War and follows Noa (Owen Teague), a young chimpanzee who joins Mae (Freya Allan), a human who attempts to influence the future for apes and humans. The film also includes Peter Macon as Raka and Kevin Durand as Proximus.

Check out this interview with Peter Macon (Raka) and Kevin Durand (Proximus Caesar):
Also check out this in-depth interview with Visual Effects Director Casey Pyke, known for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014), War for the Planet of the Apes (2017), and the current Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes:
Next was a visit to the press room of The Tower, a novel idea from the creative mind of Adam Sigal, who wrote and directed the sci-fi fantasy drama. The story unfolds as Billy (Jack Kilmer) responds to the siren call of a beautiful mermaid played by Bella Thorne, who has been trapped in a water tower and forgotten for years in a small southern town. Check out this interview with creator Adam Sigal:
Here, actor Jack Kilmer (Billy) talks about his role in The Tower:
And here, Cam Gigandet (who plays a control-obsessed cop) talks about his role in The Tower:
Next, we (my plus 1 and I) were off to a media event on the shoreline of San Diego. Having previously interviewed some of the cast, I was invited to the FROM media party on the IMDB Boat, where I spent time talking to Harold Perrineau (Boyd), Elizabeth Saunders (Donna), Eion Bailey (Jim Matthews), and writer/executive producer John Griffin.
Harold Perrineau (Boyd) and Elizabeth Saunders (Donna) on the IMDB Boat Party
Later, I treated my plus 1 to the Her Universe Fashion Show. We both liked this stunning gown:
But there were other creative gowns as you can see in this wrap-up video at the end of the show:
See you next year for Comic-Con ’25!