Every Major Movie Reveal From San Diego Comic-Con 2025: Tron, Friday the 13th, Predator, and More
San Diego Comic-Con 2025 may have been light on Marvel, but the movie slate still delivered in full force. From long-awaited sequels and unexpected franchise revivals to gritty horror and ambitious sci-fi, this year’s presentations gave fans plenty to be excited about. So with that in mind, here’s a full breakdown of the biggest theatrical movie news from the iconic pop culture convention.
Tron: Ares Explores Fresh Terrain
Disney lit up Hall H with exclusive footage from Tron: Ares, the third installment in the franchise starring Jared Leto as the AI-born program invading the real world. And, much to fans’ excitement, Jeff Bridges made a surprise appearance, reprising Kevin Flynn and delighting fans with the line, “The Grid abides.” The panel also featured director Joachim Rønning and an ensemble cast that includes Greta Lee, Evan Peters, and Gillian Anderson, each hyping the film’s upcoming theatrical release.
The footage teased an assortment of sleek light-cycle combat (between new characters Ares, Athena, and Eve), neon battles spilling over into reality, and a new, more grounded technological threat. Scored entirely by Nine Inch Nails, Tron: Ares is officially set to hit theaters on October 10, 2025, delivering nostalgia and bold sci-fi spectacle. Count us in!
Project Hail Mary Teases Quirky Sci-Fi
Ryan Gosling introduced exclusive SDCC footage from Project Hail Mary, based on Andy Weir's novel. His character Ryland Grace wakes up in space inside a "placenta onesie"—dubbed by Gosling as a “space caveman.” The footage showcased Grace’s lonely awakening and introduced Rocky, an alien created through a blend of practical puppetry and CGI by The Jim Henson Company.
Joined onstage by directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, screenwriter Drew Goddard, and Weir himself, the panel emphasized the film’s emotional core, scientific accuracy, and unlikely interspecies friendship. Theatrical release is currently slated for March 20, 2026.
Predator: Badlands Gets Bloody
20th Century Studios debuted the first 15 minutes of Predator: Badlands during Hall H, giving fans a surprising look at the franchise through a new lens—this time, from the Predator’s perspective. The footage follows Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), a young Yautja warrior undergoing a brutal initiation ritual. He climbs a desolate cliff to duel his brother inside a massive cave, but the fight doesn’t go his way—he fails the test.
To redeem himself, Dek vows to hunt a terrifying creature feared across the galaxy—one so dangerous even his father hesitates to speak its name. But when Dek’s father learns of the plan, he reveals he never believed in Dek at all and ordered his death. What follows is betrayal, sacrifice, and an emotional escape sequence that ends with Dek hurtling off-world—exiled or worse. All of this unfolds in the Predator’s native language, with subtitles, offering a raw and immersive new angle on the mythology. Predator: Badlands hits theaters November 7, 2025.
A New Look at The Toxic Avenger
Fans witnessed the first official reveal of The Toxic Avenger Unrated, the long‑delayed reboot directed by Macon Blair and starring Peter Dinklage—with a panel featuring Dinklage alongside co-stars Elijah Wood, Taylour Paige, Jacob Tremblay, and original creator Lloyd Kaufman. The group showed exclusive footage from the unrated version—promising over‑the‑top gore, slapstick violence, and satirical moral themes rooted in environmentalism and anti‑corporate justice.
In the film, Dinklage plays Winston Gooze, a down-on-his-luck janitor who is transformed into the mutant hero Toxie after exposure to toxic waste. While Dinklage provides the voice and initial on-screen performance, most of the physical transformation is performed by stunt double Luisa Guerriero in a full prosthetic suit. Cineverse and Iconic Events Releasing officially confirmed an unrated wide theatrical release on August 29, 2025.
Coyote vs. Acme Earns a Release
Originally developed by Warner Bros. as a live-action/animated hybrid starring Wile E. Coyote, the project was shelved in 2023—just months after completion—as a tax write-off by Warner Bros. Discovery. It had already completed production, including principal photography in New Mexico in 2022, and featured a cast including Will Forte, John Cena, Lana Condor, and others. In March 2025, rights were acquired by Ketchup Entertainment, reviving the project for global theatrical distribution. Now, during SDCC 2025, Hall H officially confirmed Coyote vs. Acme will release theatrically on August 28, 2026.
Will Forte, alongside director Dave Green, voice actor Eric Bauza, and co-stars Martha Kelly and P.J. Byrne, presented the film’s tumultuous journey—from being shelved to its eventual rescue by fans and indie distributor Ketchup. Exclusive footage shown at the panel included a punchy courtroom sequence: Wile E. Coyote (animated) sues Acme Corporation over malfunctioning gadgets, with Forte as his nervous lawyer and John Cena playing Acme’s smooth defense attorney. The teaser played Johnny Cash’s “Hurt” over a montage of the Coyote’s failed antics before he first sees the ad that leads him to hire Forte’s character to sue the corporation. Bugs Bunny makes a surprise cameo, offering aid via phone. The sequence emphasized a clever mix of live-action actors with animated characters—blended through puppetry and CG—and showcased the comedic tone and nostalgic spirit fans had hoped for.
During the panel, comedian Paul Scheer, serving as host, playfully mocked Acme by introducing P.J. Byrne dressed as a corporate goon to boo and chase off the audience—symbolizing Acme's past efforts to bury the film. The event celebrated the movie’s rebirth and positioned it as a unique courtroom satire wrapped in Looney Tunes absurdity.
a Friday the 13th Sequel is Still Coming
While details remain minimal, SDCC 2025 brought official confirmation that a new Friday the 13th film is in active development under the recently launched Jason Universe banner. Though previously described as a top priority for the company following the long-awaited resolution of the franchise’s rights issues, this marked the first formal acknowledgment of a theatrical return for Jason Voorhees.
During the panel, the team emphasized their commitment to reviving the franchise in a way that honors its legacy while reintroducing the hockey-masked slasher to a new generation. No director, cast, or release date has been announced yet—but the message was clear: Jason is coming back. Now, if only someone would resurrect that F13 multiplayer game, too…
