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Media A Roundup Of Television And Streaming News From San Diego Comic-Con By Rick Ellis ,
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. The global media business, from streaming to linear TV Follow Author Jul 28, 2026, 09:25am EDT Jul 28, 2026, 09:37am EDT --:-- / --:-- This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . Summary San Diego Comic-Con brought a wave of exciting news for fans. Apple TV+ unveiled the "Dark Matter" season two trailer, premiering August 28th, continuing Jason Dessen's multiversal struggle for his family. They also teased "Neuromancer," a new sci-fi series based on William Gibson's novel, arriving January 22, 2027, and announced "Matchbox The Movie" starring John Cena and Jessica Biel for October 8th. Hulu revealed the "Futurama" season 14 trailer and greenlit three specials, including a 2027 Xmas episode. "Family Guy" is getting exclusive Halloween and Holiday specials on Hulu, with Kieran Culkin as the Devil, while "Bob's Burgers" will have a new holiday short. The Star Trek Universe panel celebrated its 60th anniversary, announced a new cadet for "Starfleet Academy," showed a "Strange New Worlds" season four teaser, and confirmed "Star Trek: Scouts" season two for September 8th.
There was a time when the San Diego Comic-Con felt as if it were the center of the pop culture universe. Every studio and network presented panels for their ongoing and future productions, and there was so much news being released that entertainment industry web sites had crews of up to a dozen covering the multiple events and celebrity appearances.
In 2026, Comic-Con still has the buzz, but there is a lot less news being made. Aside from the Marvel Universe projects, most of the major studios and franchises have opted to skip things entirely.
And while the television side is still generating a lot of interest from the industry and fans, the weekend is a lot less special that it was back when The CW’s superhero shows dominated the conversation from fans.
Still, there was plenty of news made over the three days of Comic-Con, even if most of it was along the lines of trailer releases and premiere date announcements.
Here is a round-up of television industry highlights from this year’s Comic-Con, in no particular order:
In San Diego Comic-Con’s Hall H, the stars and creative team behind Apple TV’s sci-fi thriller Dark Matter unveiled the trailer for the upcoming 10-episode second season of the show, which premieres globally on Friday, August 28th. The series is based on the New York Times bestselling book written by Blake Crouch, who is also the showrunner of the series.
Dark Matter stars Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Connelly. Here is the official logline for the series: “In season one, the series followed Jason Dessen (Joel Edgerton), a physicist, professor and family man who — one night while walking home on the streets of Chicago — is abducted into an alternate version of his life. Wonder quickly turns to nightmare when he tries to return to his reality amid the mind-bending landscape of lives he could have lived. Season two picks up with the Dessens as they settle into a quiet life in a world that finally seems safe until the unimaginable forces them to run once again. As Jason’s obsession with the Box deepens, Daniela’s (Jennifer Connelly) growing paranoia pushes her to the brink, and their son Charlie (Oakes Fegley) starves for a sense of stability as their family is threatened. Elsewhere, Amanda (Alice Braga) and Ryan (Jimmi Simpson) join forces in a desperate attempt to find their way home. With Blair (Amanda Brugel) determined to stop him, Leighton (Deyo Okeniyi) relentlessly chases his grand vision of creating a perfect world.”
At the Futurama panel, Hulu unveiled the trailer for the upcoming season of the series. The streamer also announced that it has greenlit three extended-length Futurama specials, which are currently under production.
First up is a Christmas themed episode that will premiere in 2027. There were no other details on that special or the other two upcoming specials.
At the Family Guy San Diego Comic-Con panel, executive producer and showrunner Rich Appel revealed that Family Guy Halloween and Holiday specials are coming to Hulu this year. Appel was joined on the panel by Family Guy stars Alex Borstein, Arif Zahir, Jennifer Tilly and co-executive producer & supervising director Peter Shin.
Appel also shared a first look image of guest star Kieran Culkin, who joins the Halloween special as the Devil. In the Halloween special, “Happy Hell-o-ween,” Brian and Stewie find themselves in Hell, paying for 24 seasons’ worth of bad behavior. When they manage to annoy even the Devil (played by Kieran Culkin), they end up in charge. In the Holiday special, “The Peter Clause,” it’s Christmas in Quahog, and Peter and the guys compete to become the town’s official Santa. Peter loses, and he processes his disappointment in a not-so-mature manner. Both specials will exclusively stream internationally on Disney+ in most markets. Season 25 of Family Guy returns to Fox in 2027.
I have to admit that I am a sucker for dumb movies built around a game or toy. Yes, I am the person who seen the Battleship movie at least a dozen times.
So at least based on the trailer for Matchbox The Movie that was unveiled at Comic-Con, the film has the potential of being a classic big, dumb action film. And it’s helped by the fact that it stars John Cena, the Kenneth Branaugh of dumb action films. Along with Cena, the film also stars Jessica Biel and it will premiere Friday, October 8th on Apple TV.
Here is the official logline: “Inspired by the iconic Mattel toys, “Matchbox The Movie” is an action-packed, globetrotting adventure about a group of friends since childhood who have their lives upended when undercover CIA agent Sean (John Cena), their long-absent former leader, returns to their small town and...
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