San Diego Comic-Con, one of the biggest events in the entertainment industry has been struggling ever since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, causing almost everything to shut down in 2020. Now, the event is facing another challenge. Many of the big studios that we are used to seeing at San Diego Comic-Con every year will be absent for San Diego Comic-Con 2023. According to Variety, Disney’s Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm, HBO, Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures, and Netflix are all skipping the event this year. Warner Bros. hasn’t made an official announcement yet, and NBC is waiting on rumors of an impending actors’ strike, Variety notes. The only studios that have confirmed their presence are Paramount and Amazon.
The absence of these studios is causing confusion among fans, who are wondering why they are missing out on the event. One of the apparent reasons is the ongoing writers’ strike and the rumored potential strike by the Screen Actors Guild. While both strikes affect these studios, an actors’ strike would be disastrous as it is impossible to get actors on stage to talk about their upcoming projects when they are busy holding a picket line for fair pay. This could also be the reason why studios aren’t making plans for a bunch of actor-filled panels if they think the actors might not be there.
Advertising Directly to Viewers
Another reason why studios are skipping the event is that they are choosing to advertise directly to viewers. Netflix just held one of its Tudum events in Brazil, and Star Wars fans can get their fix at the annual Star Wars Celebration events. In 2020 and 2021, DC Studios held its Fandome events, but it canceled it for 2022. However, with a new boss and a bunch of new projects in the works, Warner Bros. may be looking to bring back the event or something similar.
The studios’ decision to advertise directly to viewers is a major shift from the traditional way of advertising. Studios are now investing in their own events to showcase their upcoming projects, which means that they get to control the narrative and the content that gets released. This approach has proven to be successful, especially for streaming platforms like Netflix and Disney+. By holding their own events, they can keep their subscribers engaged and interested in their upcoming projects.
Before SDCC became the place to go to see all of your favorite genre movie stars in one place, it was just a massive comic convention. With the absence of major studios, the event may be forced to return to its roots. It may be an opportunity for smaller studios and independent creators to showcase their projects and gain more visibility.
San Diego Comic-Con 2023 will be quite different from previous years. The absence of major studios is a significant loss, but it may be a chance for the event to return to its roots. The studios’ decision to advertise directly to viewers is a game-changer, and it will be interesting to see how it affects the future of the event.
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