We’re not sure what to make of this: James Gunn has stated in a Facebook post that Marvel will be skipping the San Diego Comic-Con 2015.
Update: James Gunn wants sceptical fans to know that he has not given them false information:
“@starglooms: @JamesGunn @DrunkenShots guys, he could be lying” I have never lied about anything to the fans, ever.
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) March 7, 2015
Superhero panels are one of the core pillars of the San Diego Comic-Con, an annual gathering which brings together geeks from all walks of life (and which, incidentally, started out as a comic book convention). Yet it seems that Marvel Studios might be skipping the 2015 festivities.
During an impromptu Facebook Q&A, James Gunn was asked whether he and his Guardians of the Galaxy team would be attending this year, to promote the highly anticipated Guardians of the Galaxy 2:
“I’m not sure,” Gunn says in the Facebook post. “Marvel isn’t going so I’m not sure I will either.”
This is the first we’ve heard of Marvel’s plans for SDCC 2015. If this isn’t a case of miscommunication, it’s obviously big news: Marvel is one of the two biggest superhero studios (the other being DC Comics), and its presence at Comic-Con would be sorely missed.
Related: Guardians of the Galaxy blooper reel: Cast is as hilarious as imagined
Last year, Comic-Con hosted a wildly popular Avengers: Age of Ultron panel, as well as a Marvel Studios panel, the Women of Marvel panel, and many more.
As ComicBook.com points out, Gunn is probably referring to Marvel Studios, not Marvel Entertainment as a whole, but it’s still a huge absence and will give DC the opportunity to take the spotlight.
The website also speculates that Marvel may be skipping the ever-growing, hyped SDCC in favor of D23, the Disney expo in August. D23 is held every other year in Anaheim, California and is a Comic-Con of sorts exclusively for Disney properties.
San Diego Comic-Con takes place July 9-12, 2015. Hypable will be there!