Custom Experiential Activation – “Coca-Cola x Star Wars: Refresh Your Galaxy” Campaign
WHAT:
Fans can experience an out-of-this-world Star Wars experience at San Diego Comic-Con. Taking place throughout the entire convention weekend and located just steps from the convention center, the four-day custom activation built in partnership with Fandom, the world’s largest fan platform, invites fans into a galaxy far, far away called the HOLOCREATOR. The activation is in support of “Coca-Cola x Star Wars: Refresh Your Galaxy,” Coca-Cola’s latest campaign, celebrating the power of connection and fandom that brings us together through the iconic Star Wars universe.
Fans can experience the beloved Star Wars brand in real life by stepping inside a custom Coca-Cola-themed augmented reality (AR) experience - the HOLOCREATOR - to record their very own holographic message with memorable Star Wars inspired backdrops and bring to life galactic moments in a personalized way.
Attendees will also receive limited-edition Star Wars character design cans and bottles, available at the event while supplies last.
Fans will be able to share with family and friends at home uplifting messages of community and connection in the style of a Star Wars hologram transmission.
This Comic-Con takeover is a key moment in a broader, month-long North American collaboration between Fandom and Coca-Cola that includes experiential activations, custom content, social, and media across the U.S. and Canada.
WHAT: The Thunderbolts Treatz Truck is bringing brain freezes, surprise drops, and a taste of the chaos to San Diego Comic-Con. Fans of Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts* can stop by to snag FREE ice cream, exclusive swag, and Instagram worthy photo ops. Themed sundaes like “Strawberry Red Glory” inspired by Red Guardian make the perfect power-up for a Comic-Con cooldown. The Treatz Truck will be swirling up super scoops all weekend long.
Not attending Comic-Con? Fans across the country can still join the mission - check out the action, adventure and humor with Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts* now on Digital at retailers such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home. The film makes its explosive debut on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on July 29, 2025!
WHEN: July 24-26, 2025 – 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. July 27, 2025 – 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.
WHERE:
MLK Walkway behind the Omni Hotel directly across from the Convention Center
What happens when New York’s most iconic pizzeria collides with one of the internet’s biggest snack brands? A doughlicious Comic-Con exclusive that’s equal parts bold and indulgent: the Triple Chocolate Feast, a limited-edition dessert pizza crafted by Prince St. Pizza and MrBeast’s Feastables! Available only during San Diego Comic-Con, this sweet surprise marks Prince St.'s first-ever foray into dessert territory.
Crafted by the culinary teams at Prince St. Pizza and Feastables, Triple Chocolate Feast takes Prince St.’s iconic dough and transforms it into a rich Feastables cocoa crust. It’s loaded with dark chocolate sauce, chopped Feastables Cookies & Creme and Milk Chocolate Crunch bars, then finished with a caramel drizzle, Feastables’ signature blue and pink sprinkles, and edible white chocolate branded coins.
Feastables is on a mission to end child labor in the chocolate industry. Their cocoa is 100% Fairtrade Certified, ensuring farmers are paid a living income or the market price—whichever is higher. They only partner with farms committed to actively protecting children. And this is just the beginning.
Triple Chocolate Feast ($8) will be available in-store only, while supplies last, at Prince Street Pizza, 415 Market Street, from July 23 through July 27, 2025.
For more information, please visit @PrinceStreetPizza on Instagram.
Paramount Lodge returns for the third year! Admission is free, but on a reservation system. Sessions can be booked via this link. There will be a standby line daily if no reservations are available.
Dates and Times:
*Sessions rolling in 50 min intervals with 10 min breaks in-between:
July 23, 2025, 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.
July 24-27, 2025, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Activations include:
The DEXTER: RESURRECTION Vault: The Vault has reopened…and it remembers everything. Hidden behind the sleek facade of a wine cellar lies a mysterious Vault, an unsettling shrine to the darkest corners of human nature. Inside, guests will discover a chilling collection of relics, case files, and twisted keepsakes from some of history’s most notorious killers, all curated with cold precision in true Dexter fashion.
Experience STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS and STARFLEET ACADEMY:To celebrate the spirit of STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS season three, fans are invited to step inside an oversized Starfleet holodeck, a fully immersive sci-fi playground featuring a series of interactive vignettes, each inspired by specific episodes from the upcoming season. Guests can sip cosmic cocktails in the romantic ‘Intergalactic Love Lounge,’ or dive into a campus-inspired environment of the STAR TREK: STARFLEET ACADEMY space that features exclusive themed swag. Designed for free exploration, social sharing, and full-throttle fandom, this holodeck journey lets guests experience the series like never before.
The LANDMAN Patch Café: Step into an authentic slice of Midland, Texas and kick back in a faithful recreation of the series’ favorite watering hole. Guests can order up signature drinks at the bar in a M*Tex souvenir mug.
Go off the grid with NCIS: TONY & ZIVA. Enter a world of espionage, romance, and high-stakes tension with this Parisian café with a twist. Inspired by Tony and Ziva’s journey, this space features a cozy exterior that hints at the quiet life they crave, while inside transports guests to a different world. Step inside a stripped-down safehouse, complete with easter eggs such as surveillance equipment, photos and passports.
Paramount Pictures invites fans to celebrate the legacy of theMISSION: IMPOSSIBLE franchise with an immersive experience that drops guests straight into the high-stakes world of Ethan Hunt. Die-hard fans and first-time agents alike will experience a one-of-a-kind photo opportunity in a recreation of the iconic scene from MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE (1996) where Ethan is lowered into a high-security vault. Guests can strike the legendary suspended pose for a personalized image to take home of their unforgettable IMF mission.
‘Pop’ by Pluto TV’s Popcorn Bar. For the first time ever, Pluto TV, the global leader in FAST and the complimentary free streaming service to Paramount+, will also be featured in The Lodge. This summer, Pluto TV is exploding with hundreds of fan-favorite blockbusters and cult-classics films – all for free. To celebrate the service's “Summer of Cinema” campaign, the Pluto TV activation will be bursting with free slushies, popcorn and a one-of-a-kind photo op.
Score a Touchdown at the CBS Sports Clubhouse, a stadium-inspired space repping all things THE NFL ON CBS. Fans can take a seat in the arena-style bleachers or check out a vibrant arc of all 32 jerseys, celebrating every team in the league. Down on the turf, guests can test their arm in a target practice challenge. The UEFA Champions League-themed sports bar is also the perfect spot to kick back and relax.
Fans will step into a post-apocalyptic world filled with bumper-to-bumper chaos at Peacock's Twisted Metal Bumper Battle.
Fans will be able to choose their ride, featuring the show’s most iconic vehicles reimagined as bumper cars, and take part in their own version of the Calypso hosted derby.
In addition to the bumper car experience, fans can expect epic photo ops, a display of some of the tournament cars featured in the series, surprise and delight moments, and pandemonium around every corner.
WHEN: July 24-26, 2025
HOURS: July 24 (12-4 p.m.), July 25-26 (12-6 p.m.)
WHERE: The Lot @ 1st & J Street - 450 2nd Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101
Event is free and open to the public. No badge required. Entry and bumper car participation are first-come, first-served, and not guaranteed. Waivers must be signed by all riders and passengers.
FX will transform the Hilton Bayfront lawn into “The Wreckage,” a uniquely immersive experience which allows guests to step into the terrifying world of Alien: Earth.
FX’s ALIEN: EARTH “THE WRECKAGE” ACTIVATION:
WHAT: Guests are invited to explore the mysterious debris of the USCSS Maginot to unearth new details from the highly anticipated upcoming series from creator Noah Hawley, inspired by the acclaimed feature film franchise. The experience will feature various interactive thrills and never-before-seen alien specimens. Guests can visit “The Wreckage” during the day to explore new areas of the USCSS Maginot or brave a terrifying mission at “The Wreckage: Code Red” once the sun goes down.
The activation will also feature:
An interactive Prodigy Corp Drop Site where fans can sign up to be an FX Insider to claim exclusive giveaways and get a first look at Alien: Earth VR experiences that will be available once the show premieres.
A vending machine stocked with a custom in-world beverage available exclusively at San Diego Comic-Con via a collaboration with Chain, the dining experience known for its reimagined takes on Pop-Cuisine staples.
A state-of-the-art Alien: Earth Podcast Studio, which will host various talent and influencers throughout the weekend.
WHERE: Hilton Bayfront Lawn (1 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101)
WHEN: July 24-27, 2025
The Wreckage: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.; The Wreckage: Code Red: 4:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Activation is open to the public ages 18+. Admission is free. Prodigy Corp Drop Site giveaways available during daytime hours only, while supplies last.
When a mysterious space vessel crash-lands on Earth, a young woman (Sydney Chandler) and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet’s greatest threat.
FX’s Alien: Earth makes impact August 12 on FX cable channel, Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S., and Disney+ internationally.
The biggest party of the year is coming up this week! Comic-Con will take place on July 23-27, 2025 at the San Diego Convention Center, surrounding hotels and adjacent areas around Gaslamp Quarters.
No badge? No worries! You can still take advantage of all kinds of FREE activities outside. Events, activations, themed restaurant/bar crawl and costumed people-watching.
For a list of no-badge, FREE activities, click here.
For a blast from the past (stories and star sightings), click here.
Superman. A superhero with no need for introduction.
A story that has been told so many times yet there's always more to the story. A new creative direction. An origin, an alien in the real world, a team-up of superheroes, a superhero with a family of his own.
Although arguably, there's still unexplored story about Cavill's Superman and he could have carried on splendidly. Corenswet makes Superman his own, however, a brighter one brimming with warmth, humanity and humor, coming out of the darker, grittier superhero era.
Director James Gunn took a wise approach in not repeating Superman's origin story. Instead, the movie opens with a prologue that monsters and metahumans have been living among humans for three hundred years, although Superman has just made his appearance known three years ago.
What is Superman's true purpose on earth? Have you ever thought what actually would happen if Superman's life-saving business gets in the mix of political affairs?
For the first time, Superman has lost a fight. His nemesis is called the Hammer of Boravia and there's far more than meets the robotic eye. It's no secret that Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult; “The Menu,” “X-Men” series) has always been Superman's archenemy, but here he's utterly unhinged in his malicious masterminding mode.
You wouldn't guess how exactly the Hammer of Boravia has been able to beat Superman. Lex also has his powerful tentacles over international relations, national security and social media. His obsession in getting rid of Superman is breathtakingly brutal.
After Lex's vile media campaign going viral and his right-hand the Engineer (Maria Gabriela de Faria) and secret, masked meta-henchman are after Superman, the Justice Gang – Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion), Hawkgirl (Isabella Merced), Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi) – show up to lend their superpowered hands to Superman.
The best aspect here is the quixotic relationship between Superman/Clark Kent and Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan). Not only Corenswet and Brosnahan have an electric chemistry, their characters' contrasting personalities make a lively dynamic. Brosnahan nails the role perfectly as the whip-smart, spitfire question-everything journalist, against Corenswet's trust-everyone, idealistic do-gooder. Lois's on-the-spot, challenging interview of Clark as Superman is argumentatively engaging.
The central conflict is Superman believes that he represents himself and himself only, and as a Godlike being, why couldn't he just use his superpowers for good, to stop wars and save people? We're talking about human lives here. Why should he consult with world leaders? Sounds simple, right?
Well, the world is not black or white. Beyond moral obligations, there's also politics. Simply stopping wars, while saving lives, will not stop the root cause of the escalated conflict. It may stop the loss of human lives in that point in time, but it will not stop people from killing one another in the future. And what if it's a war to defend one's country from being attacked or gaining independence? Who's to judge that country is wrong? Many nations were built on bloodshed.
The other theme explored is Superman's true purpose on earth. Is Superman the way he is because of his heritage, a baby alien sent to earth with a noble mission from his Kryptonian's patrician parents? Superman is Superman and all that is good because of his choices and actions. He may be an alien, but Superman's impassioned speech, heartfeltly delivered by Corenswet, is quintessentially human.
Gunn's version has a very busy story, often chaotic and overstuffed with all the metahumans (along with Krypto the super dog, Kaiju and robots), and thus lack of character development, but this version offers something new. It's got an intriguing premise, a central conflict and unexpected twists.
“Superman” is decidedly different from Zack Snyder's straightforward, dramatic version. It's somewhat too silly for my taste, especially as someone who absolutely adored “Man of Steel." But there's also something refreshing here. And it never gets old seeing Superman soaring into the skies and flying over icescapes. The iconic score soars with optimism.
"Superman" is unabashedly comic-booky. A colorful scattershot and entertainingly exuberant in its silliness, it also brings a renewed hope and joy for what's next.
***
San Diego celebrated "Superman" in style... with a sandcastle, true to its beach roots, and complete with its own Superman and Krypto.
What is Superman's true purpose on earth? Have you ever thought what would happen if Superman's life-saving business get in the mix of political affairs? It's a busy story, often chaotic and overstuffed with all the metahumans, and James Gunn's style is typically a bit out there for me, but this version offers something new. It's got intriguing premise and central conflict, along with twists. Lex Luthor is terrifying in his masterminding mode. Superman remains all that is good because of his choices and actions.
“Jurassic World Dominion” did the impossible with dinosaurs co-living with humans in modern times and it’s as if all the stories have been told From the original invention birthed by “Jurassic Park” more than three decades ago to the opening of the surreal theme park in “Jurassic World." 'Dominion's' point-of-no-return didn't end things and there's more story to tell, which surprisingly seems plausible from a creative viewpoint.
Five years after ‘Dominion,’ the earth’s ecosystem has been largely inhospitable to the revived dinosaurs. Those who survive mostly remain near the equator, where the environment resembles the prehistoric period from 65 million years ago.
ParkerGenix, a pharmaceutical company hungry for unlimited profit recruits mercenary Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson; the “Avengers” series, “Hail, Caesar!,” “Her”) and paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey, “Wicked”) to collect DNA samples from the largest living dinosaurs in order to develop a cure for heart disease. The blood and muscle tissues need to come from the largest dinosaur, each living in the ocean, on land and in the skies.
Martin Krebs (Rupert Friend) is the evil face of ParkerGenix, a man who puts profit above all else, including human lives around him, which is shown later in his abominable actions. Zora needs and wants money to secure her for life, but she has a good head on her shoulder. She connects with a longtime friend and boat captain Duncan Kinkaid (Mahershala Ali) and a few crew members.
Henry is a true dino-loving fan, who truly loves his work, and gets onboard to see these larger-than-life animals in the wild and for an expedition with an eventual life-saving mission. Although he's conflicted about the end goal. If it's truly a cure, shouldn't everyone have access to a life-saving medication and not a select few who can afford it?
Conveniently, all three largest dinosaurs are now living in the Ille Saint-Hubert island, where a large swath of the areas is forbidden and no longer patrolled by the government due to the extreme hazard.
Parallel to the dino-hunting boat trek, a family on a sailing vacation – sisters Theresa (Luna Blaise) and Isabella (Audrina Miranda) with their dad, Reuben Delgado (Manel Garcia-Rulfo) and Theresa’s boyfriend, Xavier Dobbs (David Iacono) – gets stranded on water when their boat capsized. The ragtag team ends up rescuing the family, although their sense of safety is short-lived when they spot a monstrous Mosasaurus approaching, which is exactly what the team is looking for.
The extended action sequence begins on a splashy note. It’s thrilling to see the giant sea creature flipping through the air and seeing how exactly the sample extraction works. It’s not as breezy as throwing a dart gun and have it launched back into their hands. When a group of scary Spinosaurus circle the boat, the thrill turns into terror. Even crashing into the island doesn’t guarantee their safety either since they are amphibious. The group gets separated and there are multiple close calls and body counts.
Even more anxiety-inducing, the waterfall-filled jungle island turns out to be an experimental laboratory where InGen, the defunct theme park's former operator, experimented with cross-breeding dinosaurs for the park's newest attractions. Those genetically engineered that were malformed and most dangerous were abandoned on this island.
You’d never know what’s lurking behind those lush vegetations, in the river, up in the air, outside of the cave, or what could get inside the underground bunker or tunnel. It never gets old to jump scared or see hapless humans cornered in tight spaces with unpredictable danger all around. A mysterious movement could be a cute baby dino, menacing Mutadon, terrifying T-Rex or ravenous Raptor mutant.
The land mission is one moment of genuine amazement though. It pays homage to the first Jurassic where you looked up and saw the first, beautiful Brachiosaurus for the very first time. While the land portion is a walk in the park, the sky is trickier by nature.
Rappelling down sheer rock face where you could fall to your death or get snatched away at any point by flying, frightening predators while having to figure out how to get the DNA sample is no easy task.
Even after all the samples are collected, the group still needs to find ways to get off the island and fast. As in other Jurassic movies, there comes a moment where the biggest baddie shows up. If you think you've seen all the big bads, Distortus (aka D-Rex) is something else. Alien-like, distorted monster, it doesn't even look like a real dinosaur, and maybe that's the point, considering this is the most disastrous hybrid.
The original river raft scene, cut from “Jurassic Park” all those years ago appears here, and is excellently executed. Another standout scene with a kid in peril is situationally humorous. The movie milks the tension and emotional moments. There's one particular character where you feel they might die heroically. The ending, which doesn't exactly go out with a bang, may divide fans.
When movies typically go bigger with each sequel, 'Rebirth' goes small. It excels in the low and slow mode, predators quietly stalking and creeping up before the pursuits turn relentless and escapes may or may not be possible. While the movie is created as a standalone story, 'Rebirth' gives birth to another Jurassic world of possibilities.
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To learn more about all the dinosaurs and their mutated counterparts that appear on 'Rebirth,' check out:
