The Best Trailers From SDCC 2022
Marvel returned to roaring crowds at the 2022 San Diego Comic-Con showcasing upcoming installments of their ever-expanding cinematic universe. The studio treated eager audiences to a stunning first look at "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" as well as the new Disney+ series "She-Hulk: Attorney at Law," with improved CGI for its titular star. DC also debuted impressive new looks at Dwayne Johnson's "Black Adam" and the sequel "Shazam! Fury of the Gods" with our first glimpse at Helen Mirren as the vengeful god Hespera.
The convention featured trailers galore, and Lionsgate gifted us new footage of their next neon blood-soaked adventure, "John Wick: Chapter 4." The latest installment follows Keanu Reeves' unstoppable assassin grappling with the aftermath of Parabellum and facing off with a deadly new enemy, Marquis (Bill Skarsgård). The Pennywise actor already looks menacing and terrifying in his scene-stealing trailer moments.
There were plenty of new TV projects on display as well, with new looks at returning series "Chucky," "Atlanta," and the series finale of "The Walking Dead." We also witnessed the suspenseful full trailer for the upcoming episodic anthology series "Tales of the Walking Dead" starring Olivia Munn, Terry Crews, Jillian Bell, and Samantha Morton. Additionally, fantasy epics "The House of the Dragon" and "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" premiered dueling new trailers loaded with fire, dragons, and thrilling battle sequences. Here are the best trailers from the 2022 San Diego Comic-Con.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
The glorious first look at "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" immediately addresses the tragic death of Chadwick Boseman with a beautiful and fitting tribute. Shuri (Letitia Wright) steps up as a leader of Wakanda and notably recreates the heartwarming dap-up scene with Ironheart (Dominique Thorne). The trailer also confirms that the villain for the upcoming film will be the aquatic Illuminati member Namor the Sub-Mariner. The jam-packed panel even informed us that this will cap off Marvel's Phase 4 and Phase 5 will begin with "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania."
The moving trailer for "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" exhibits Ryan Coogler's distinctive director style with gorgeous scenic wide shots and emotional character close-ups. Angela Bassett, as Ramonda, delivers an immensely powerful speech, M'Baku (Winston Duke) shines in a larger action-packed role, and the stunning first look at Michaela Coel's Aneka easily made "Wakanda Forever" the best trailer shown at San Diego Comic-Con 2022.
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
Marvel released a new trailer for the upcoming 30-minute comedy series "She-Hulk: Attorney at Law" with plenty of guest stars and hero cameos. This fresh look at the upcoming series delivers on the promised comedic tone with a hilarious opening scene of Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) testing his cousin's new Hulk abilities. We also see the return of Abomination (Tim Roth), who was last seen in "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings," fighting Wong (Benedict Wong), who will also be a formidable ally in the new series.
Fans who are still reeling from the Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) cameo in "Spider-Man: No Way Home" were blown away by the trailer's return of Daredevil in all his costumed glory. She-Hulk (Tatiana Maslany) will need the help of her fellow super-powered attorney to better navigate the new lawful representation of "eccentric super humans."
The trailer also suggests that viewers can look forward to a fourth wall breaking style similar to "Deadpool" where She-Hulk will address the audience directly. A brief exchange between She-Hulk and Bruce Banner suggests that other characters may pick up on her odd behavior, which further embodies the series' comedic elements.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods
Shazam (Zachary Levi) zaps back onto screens with his ensemble of super friends in this fun and explosive sequel. The old gods have returned with a fierce vengeance as Hespera (Helen Mirren) and Kalypso (Lucy Liu) vow to take the godly powers back from the super-powered children. The gods then wreak havoc on the city and it's up to Billy (Asher Angel) and his siblings to save the day.
"Shazam!" is a much more lighthearted film than its other DC counterparts, and that tone continues in the new trailer. At one point, the hero even inappropriately laments such to his pediatrician (P.J. Byrne) while doubting his place in the Justice League and even within his own family. His confidence resurges with a timely "Fast & Furious" reference (poking fun at "Fast & Furious" star Helen Mirren in the process) and a rousing pep talk from his mother (Caroline Palmer). The family rejoins forces and engages in a monumental battle with the old gods promising a fresh new start for the DC Universe.
Black Adam
Speaking of fresh starts for the DC universe, a new look at Dwayne Johnson's iteration of "Black Adam" teases his volatile confrontation with the Justice Society of America. The hooded juggernaut states he's no hero and his actions prove just that as he faces off with Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell), Doctor Fate (Pierce Brosnan), and effortlessly flings Hawkman (Aldis Hodge) away with electrifying results. The seemingly unstoppable antihero is hellbent on revenge and decimates anything that gets in his way — will that include various members of the JSA?
Before the convention, rumors circulated that Henry Cavill would make a surprise guest appearance and announce a highly anticipated showdown between the Man of Steel and Black Adam. Unfortunately, this wasn't the case. However, after seeing the destructive force of Johnson's unleashed titan, fans desperately crave a legendary battle between the two. Thankfully, the trailer does shine a light on the possible future of "Black Adam" and the inclusion of the Justice Society of America.
John Wick: Chapter 4
The latest entry in the "John Wick" franchise follows the events of "John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum" with Wick (Keanu Reeves) surrounded by enemies on all sides. The trailer hauntingly teases greater challenges for the skilled warrior with a chilling voice stating, "No one — not even you — can kill everyone." Will John finally succumb to the extreme efforts of his enemies?
The teaser trailer promises more elegant and ambitious fight sequences flaunting the assassin's prowess with any weapon in his possession. Bill Skarsgård makes a striking debut as the mysterious Marquis at a meeting in Paris. He later stabs a man through the hand and deliciously revels in his suffering. This frightening impression promises a disturbing new enemy that will further push Wick past his limits. With Laurence Fishburne, Ian McShane, and Lance Reddick all returning, "John Wick: Chapter 4" is shaping up to be a supreme successor, judging by the gripping new teaser.
Tales of the Walking Dead
The newest edition of "The Walking Dead" franchise promises another bloodthirsty entry for this sprawling saga of flesh eaters. The episodic anthology follows six diverse stories centering on new characters exploring new settings in the familiar walker filled world. Six contained stories will surely offer fresh perspectives and eye-opening reactions to the early days of the infectious outbreak.
The disturbing trailer teases horrifying new dangers to be faced by unique characters such as a severely unhinged mother, a doomsday survivalist, and a hopeless materialist. This new look at "Tales of the Walking Dead" serves up plenty of scares with mangled walkers as they roam and consume any living thing they can get their rotting hands on. The innovative approach to "The Walking Dead" universe promises to craft a unique and intriguing new set of challenges for our six new protagonists to overcome or fall prey to.
House of the Dragon
Ahead of the news that a decimating 17 dragons will be soaring over Westeros, HBO dropped an extended look at the upcoming "Game of Thrones" prequel "The House of the Dragon." The jaw-dropping trailer highlights the devastating Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons while giving a very brief glance at what might be the notorious dragon giant Balerion the Black Dread.
This preview fully unleashes fire and blood as Daemon Targaryen's (Matt Smith) dragon Caraxes brandishes a fresh coat of armor (something that greatly would've benefited Daenerys' dragons in the original series), Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) soaring on the back of her dragon Syrax, and King Viserys (Paddy Considine) sitting staunchly atop the Iron Throne.
A thundering new score by Ramin Djawadi accompanies the trailer, which conjures memories of Daenerys setting the world ablaze. The series will surely make a scorching mark when it debuts that will hopefully result in the hasty renewal that HBO is already anticipating (via The Hollywood Reporter).
Chucky
Though Chucky had to skip Comic-Con (to either charge his nonexistent batteries, further split his soul, or just plain stab someone), USA and Syfy still released a brutal yet hilarious teaser trailer for the upcoming sequel season. The trailer picks off right where we left off in Season 1, with Jake (Zackary Arthur), Devon (Bjorgvin Arnarson), and Lexy (Alyvia Alyn Lind) still reeling from the vicious traumatic attacks by the deadly doll, Chucky (Brad Dourif). Our heroic trio is grappling the best they can, but without the guidance of experienced Chucky exterminators Andy (Alex Vincent) and Kyle (Christine Elise), can they survive Chucky's army of psychotic Good Guy dolls?
We also caught up with Chucky's ex-girlfriend Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly) and her new love interest Nica Pierce (who also inhabits a bit of Chucky's soul, fittingly played by Brad Dourif's daughter, Fiona Dourif), who are in an entirely different kind of delusional limbo. The teaser trailer even gave Chucky fans our first glimpse at Chucky and Tiffany's offspring and queer icon Glen and Glenda, played by newcomer Lachlan Watson. The fan-favorite has been notably absent from the franchise since their debut in 2004's "Seed of Chucky," and viewers are ecstatic for their return.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
One of 2022's most exciting new series revisits a beloved universe filled with fearsome enemies and malevolent forces. The newest trailer for Amazon's "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" previewed impressive and daring new footage of the upcoming epic. The prequel series will chronicle Sauron's terrible rise to power and the forging of the titular Rings of Power, as seen at the beginning of "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring."
Fans of the original series will also recognize the powerful elf Galadriel (Morfydd Clark), who was played by Cate Blanchett in the original series. This unstoppable heroine will have to gather allies from all across Middle-Earth to defeat the fearsome Sauron and the dreaded one ring to rule them all. The trailer delivered on the much anticipated battle sequences that fans first fell in love with in Peter Jackson's saga, as well as shots of new heroes and compelling adversaries.
I Am Groot
The adorable new series "I Am Groot" features the fan-favorite tree of few words in a starring role. The series follows baby Groot (Vin Diesel) in five mischievous shorts where he encounters cute and cuddly new creatures from all over the universe — including a colorful blob-like version of himself. The heartfelt new series will also get viewers in the mood for James Gunn's upcoming "The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. "
Groot's infectious spirit spreads warmth and cheer throughout the universe where ever his cosmic adventures take him. The gentle critter's joyful nature promises an easy viewing experience for Marvel fans needing a break from the madness of the multiverse. It's already clear from this quick peek that wherever Groot goes, he leaves it better and happier than when he found it. Though some viewers may miss other notable members of the Guardians of the Galaxy, rest assured that Marvel's next leading twig will certainly take us on some unforgettable adventures this summer.
Atlanta
The trippy teaser for the last season of FX's Emmy darling "Atlanta" promises a homecoming return to Georgia for the grand finale. After a season of wacky misadventures overseas in Paris, we find our quartet returning to their roots with more than a few lingering questions. Will Paper Boi find steady success in his rap career? After getting his phone stolen and dealing with sketchy concert venue managers, it's possible he may end up throwing in the towel.
Donald Glover's masterful series will surely subvert audience expectations and leave far more questions than it answers — but that's the authentic nature of the series and life itself. The unconventional hit was never one to sacrifice character development for the sake of the plot, which helps the characters remain nuanced and multifaceted. What's for certain is that we cannot wait for the "Atlanta" to take its final bow this September on FX.
The Walking Dead
Another emotional trailer from San Diego Comic-Con 2022 previews the ending of AMC's groundbreaking series "The Walking Dead." The Season 11 finale trailer begins with a montage that evokes intense nostalgia for the series' early days while simultaneously celebrating how far the series and its tireless characters have come. The trailer was loaded with Easter eggs like a Michonne-like katana and Rick's revolver. These details come on the heels of the news that Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira are reprising their roles in a new series after the original concludes this fall.
The horror drama series has had an undeniably impressive run with over 12 years on the air and will tap out with a massive total of 177 episodes. The final eight episodes are set to premiere in October and run through November 2022. If this trailer inspired you to return to the world of the undead, you can also check some of the franchise's many spin-off series, such as "Fear the Walking Dead" and "The Walking Dead: World Beyond."
The Sandman
Netflix's newest mystical series adapts the beloved graphic novel horror series "The Sandman" written by Neil Gaiman, whose novels "American Gods" and "Good Omens" have previously been brought to TV. The full trailer showed off chilling extended looks at the black winged Lucifer (Gwendoline Christie), Dream (Tom Sturridge), and Death (Kirby Howell-Baptiste). We also saw glimpses of beloved British talents like familiar faces Jenna Coleman, Charles Dance, and David Thewlis rounding out this already exceptional cast.
This nightmare-inducing preview captures the terrifying essence of Gaiman's original supernatural story with beautiful directing. The juxtaposition of these two elements elevates the horror to something akin to other prestige Netflix horror like "The Haunting of Hill House." If you're unfamiliar with the bewildering dream-filled world of "The Sandman," let these extraordinary actors and eerie trailer tempt you to tune in when the dark and dangerous series premieres on August 5 on Netflix.