This year’s San Diego Comic-Con panel for Voltron: Legendary Defender was full of goofs, character discussions, and news about the series’ upcoming seventh season, which will be released on Netflix on Aug. 10. The crew also revealed that the following seasons will return to a 13-episode format and that there are only 26 episodes remaining in the show. Currently, season eight does not have a set release date. Reminder, season 7 comes out August 10th on @netflix! Back to 13 episodes!! #Voltron #SDCC2018 — Voltron (@Voltron) July 20, 2018 In addition to information released at the panel, DreamWorks also released a trailer for the new season: The end of season six of Voltron: Legendary Defender seemed to shift gears a bit, bringing resolution to an arc that had been building since season three. The new season will focus on the Defenders’ return to Earth in search of blueprints to rebuild the Castle of Lions, which was destroyed in the sixth season. In addition, the season seven will shed light on the backstories of several characters, which, as fans noted at the panel, will include either flashbacks or an entire episode devoted to a time before the Kerberos mission, the event that marked the beginning of Voltron: Legendary Defender. Despite the fact that Voltron is moving into endgame, the new season will bring plenty of exciting content that will answer long standing fan questions including — minor spoiler! — LGBTQ representation in the series and the nature of some of the characters’ relationships. The first six seasons of Voltron: Legendary Defender are currently available to stream on Netflix. All 13 episodes of season seven will be available on Aug. 10.<doc-sep>“Voltron: Legendary Defender” has been fighting the forces of evil on Netflix for six seasons now, and Aug. 10, the battle will continue when Season 7 launches on the streaming service. The premiere date was announced Friday as part of the animated series’ Comic-Con panel. During the panel, those in attendance also got a first look at the season premiere, titled “A Little Adventure.” The episode finds our Paladin heroes dealing with their first bout of trouble as they try to find their way back home to Earth without the benefit of a wormhole-jumping spaceship. They still have their lions, but the lions need to power up. Also, during the episode, flashbacks reveal that team leader Shiro left behind his boyfriend, Adam, when he joined the military mission that put him on his current path. The panel following the screening included executive producers Joaquim Dos Santos and Lauren Montgomery, who were joined by voice actors Rhys Darby, Bex Taylor-Klaus and Jeremy Shada as well as story editor Josh Hamilton. Advertisement The Times was able to chat with Dos Santos separately to discuss the evolution of the show past its nostalgic roots and what he’s learned about “Voltron” fans. The Paladins of Voltron will be finally going home in the new season after losing their spaceship home for the last six seasons, the Castle of Lions. What problems will this present? The Castle of Lions was the team’s only means of “fast travel.” The ability to generate wormholes and skip across the universe in the blink of an eye is now gone, leaving the team exposed and extremely vulnerable to the ever-present dangers that exist out in the vastness of space. They’re going to have to get extremely creative as they make their way back home. You’ve expanded on the story of Voltron exponentially (to me and from what I remember). What was the story beat or moment that caught you by surprise in terms of your own storytelling? Now that we are this deep into the series, more than any “one moment” I think seeing how these characters have evolved over the course of the series is what’s been most surprising. Each writer, each director, designer, story artist, actor, animator, etc. has contributed to that evolution and had an impact on the characters arcs, and therefore the overall story arc. We of course had loose parameters of where we wanted things to go but it’s been really interesting to see how the characters have almost taken on a life of their own in that regard. Full coverage of Comic-Con 2018 » The room that has presented the “Voltron” panel has grown since your first appearance [at Comic-Con]. Entering the seventh season of “Voltron,” what have you learned about the audience for your show? That they are extremely passionate, extremely creative and extremely loyal. It’s amazing to think about where we were ... where Voltron was when “Legendary Defender” first began streaming. Obviously there was an entrenched pop culture/brand recognition for Voltron going back to the ’84 series but it had been quite a while since its heyday. By and large it was males who were now in their 30s and 40s who would share nostalgic memories of racing home to catch the show after school let out. Cut to present day and we’ve now got this amazingly dedicated and diverse fan base who come from every walk of life who more often than not were not yet alive or just being born when the original show was airing. They had little to no ties with the original series. They’ve created and cultivated a massive online community around the show, produce incredibly intricate costumes based on the characters, share all manner of Voltron-related art, stories and fan theories online... It’s humbling to see how much talent, creativity and passion there is out there. You had memories of “Voltron” coming into the project. You’re creating memories for a new generation, so what would you want a 10-year-old to remember about your show? We recognize how positive an impact animation had on imaginations in those formative years and to think that this show could be doing that for a kid out there watching now.... It’s just incredibly humbling that’s really the only word to describe it. If there is one takeaway that we’d like to see from our show I’d say it’s for any kid watching to just be the best version themselves. Be comfortable and proud of who they are and what they have to contribute to the greater good. Hunk, Pidge, Romelle, Coran and Lance in “Voltron: Legendary Defender.” (DreamWorks / Netflix) Advertisement Everyone should’ve known that Lotor was evil, but the writers and AJ [LoCascio, who voices Lotor] did a great job throwing us off (just for a bit). Any hints for the coming season? We can’t say much... But what we can say is with the conclusion of Season 6 we’ve crossed a pretty massive hurdle. A few of our bigger story/character arcs have come to their natural conclusions and with that, the story and tone will now shift as our crew now enters this new phase of their adventure. jevon.phillips@latimes.com Follow me on Twitter: @Storiz<doc-sep>We’re in the midst of San Diego Comic-Con 2018, and the oncoming onslaught of debuts, reveals, and media morsels can feel almost as overwhelming as being on the convention floor itself. Who’s ready for some Aquaman? The lastest show from the team who brought us Avatar: The Last Airbender? Get ready for the weekend at SDCC. While last year’s convention schedule was jam-packed (Infinity War! Black Panther! Westworld! ), SDCC 2018’s programming slate feels considerably more fan-friendly. With no major Marvel Studios panel scheduled this year (and thus no new Captain Marvel or Avengers 4 information), no giant Game of Thrones surprises planned, and a number of obvious suspects sitting out the proceedings, SDCC 2018 feels a bit lighter than usual. Which isn’t to say that this year’s convention won’t be equal parts exhilaration and exhaustion — we still have four days full of announcements and trailers that’ll have people talking. Polygon will be covering all things Comic-Con over the next four days, but to keep up with everything, here are our picks for panels most likely to produce the biggest announcements of this year’s convention. Note: All panel descriptions appear as listed on the official San Diego Comic-Con 2018 schedule. Saturday, July 21 Steven Universe 10:00 a.m., Indigo Ballroom Did you hear that Cartoon Network is bringing Steven Universe back to Comic-Con? You’d better believe it! Estelle (Garnet), Michaela Dietz (Amethyst), Deedee Magno Hall (Pearl), Zach Callison (Steven), and the true diamond authority series creator Rebecca Sugar will share insights about the show and make epic announcements. Even more exciting: Rebecca is bringing her ukulele! Warner Brothers Theatrical 10:30 a.m., Hall H Get a first look at the studio’s highly anticipated future releases. Films and special panelists TBA. Black Lightning Special Video Presentation and Q&A 11:00 a.m., Ballroom 20 Jefferson Pierce (Cress Williams) made his choice: He hung up the suit and his secret identity years ago. But with crime and corruption spreading like wildfire, and those he cares about in the crosshairs of the menacing local gang The One Hundred, he must return as Black Lightning to save not only his family but also the soul of his community. Series stars and producers give an electrifying look at season 2! In addition to Williams, the supercharged series stars China Anne McClain, Nafessa Williams, Christine Adams, Marvin “Krondon” Jones III, Damon Gupton, and James Remar. Based on the characters from DC, Black Lightning is from Berlanti Productions and Akil Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti, Salim Akil, Mara Brock Akil, and Sarah Schechter. Black Lightning returns this fall to The CW on Tuesdays (9/8c). NBC’s The Good Place 11:00 a.m., Indigo Ballroom From creator Michael Schur and Universal Television comes the critically acclaimed and unique afterlife comedy series about what it means to be a good person. Stars Ted Danson, Kristen Bell, William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil,D’Arcy Carden, and Manny Jacinto and executive producers Michael Schur, Morgan Sackett, and Drew Goddard will hold a forking great conversation. Avatar’s Head Writer Reveals New Series 11:00 a.m., Room 25ABC From Aaron Ehasz (head writer of Avatar: The Last Airbender) comes an all-new original animated series, The Dragon Prince. Aaron, along with co-creator Justin Richmond (Uncharted game director) and executive producer Giancarlo Volpe (ATLA director), will give a sneak peek and an inside look into this new epic fantasy tale, coming as a Netflix original series in September. Audience Q&A session will follow. The Simpsons 12:00 p.m., Ballroom 20 The Simpsons’ team looks ahead to their 30th(!) season with creator Matt Groening, executive producer Al Jean, legendary director David Silverman,actress Tress MacNeille, and moderator Johnathan Fernandez. Warning: There will be prizes! Krypton 12:00 p.m., Indigo Ballroom After a mind-blowing season 1 finale that saw Krypton’s history drastically rewritten, the future of Superman has never been in greater jeopardy. The cast and creators of SYFY’s hit series discuss the many surprises of the first season and give an inside look into what fans can expect in season 2. Big Hero 6: The Series Heroes Return 12:30 p.m., Room 6A Executive producers and cast of Disney Channel’s animated superhero comedy series discuss Big Hero 6: The Series. Executive producers Mark McCorkle, Robert Schooley, and Nick Filippi (Kim Possible, Penguins of Madagascar) will be joined by the original actors from the feature film who have joined the show, including Scott Adsit (Veep, 30 Rock), Ryan Potter (Titans, Big Hero 6), Jamie Chung (The Gifted, Gotham, The Hangover 2, Suckerpunch), Genesis Rodriguez (Run All Night, Identity Theft, Man on a Ledge, Tusk, Casa de Mi Padre), plus new cast members Brooks Wheelan (Saturday Night Live, Comedy Central’s The Half Hour) and Khary Payton (The Walking Dead, Teen Titans Go!, Transformers: Robots in Disguise, Young Justice). Panelists will discuss bringing the feature film to life for TV, introduce you to exciting new characters, and play never-before-seen footage from the series. Lara Croft’s Defining Moment: Shadow of the Tomb Raider 12:30 p.m., Room 5AB The creative team and cast behind Shadow of the Tomb Raider share new details about Lara Croft’s newest adventure, in which Lara must become the Tomb Raider she is meant to be. Jill Murray (lead writer), Heath Smith (lead game designer), Rich Briggs (senior brand director), and panelists Camilla Luddington(performance artist for Lara Croft) and Early Baylon (performance artist for Jonah Maiava) will be joining moderator Andrea Rene. Expanding Sea of Thieves 1:30 p.m., Room 5AB Joe Neate (executive producer) and other members of the development team discuss the future of Sea of Thieves, including content updates and the expanded universe in the form of comics, novels, and collectibles. Joe and the team have exclusive new details to reveal about coming game content, as well as an exclusive giveaway for fans. The Adventure Zone Graphic Novel 2:00 p.m., Room 28DE Guess what? Your favorite fantasy and comedy podcast where the three McElroy brothers (Disclosure: Justin and Griffin McElroy are Polygon co-founders) play Dungeons & Dragons with their dad is now a graphic novel, and you can hear all about it at this program! Join co-creators of The Adventure Zone and co-adapters Travis McElroy and Clint McElroy as well as co-adapter and illustrator Carey Pietsch to learn more about The Adventure Zone: Here There Be Gerblins, which is now available wherever books are sold. This event will be moderated by Jackie Jennings (host, SYFY channel). The Gifted 2:30 p.m., Ballroom 20 From 20th Century Fox Television in association with Marvel Television, season 2 of The Gifted picks up after the explosion of the Atlanta Station. The Mutant Underground search for their friends and family who left with The Inner Circle. Having tracked them outside of Washington, D.C., they must contend with new groups with extreme ideologies, both human and mutant alike, to stave off a brewing conflict. Executive producers Matt Nix and Jeph Loeb and stars Stephen Moyer, Sean Teale, Jamie Chung, Emma Dumont, Blair Redford,Natalie Alyn Lind, and Skyler Samuels show an exclusive first look at the upcoming season. Returning Tuesdays this fall on FOX. See an extended season 2 sneak peek! Midnight, Texas Season 2 2:45 p.m., Room 6BCF Universal Television presents the return of NBC’s supernatural thriller Midnight, Texas to Comic-Con. Welcome back to a place where being normal is strange and only outsiders fit in. Based on the bestselling book series by Charlaine Harris (author of the novels that inspired True Blood) comes a journey into a remote Texas town where nothing is what it seems. Home to a psychic, vampire, witch, angel, and hitwoman, Midnight is a mysterious safe haven for those who are different-a perfect place for anyone looking to hide from the outside world. After defeating the demon Colconnar, the residents of Midnight try to go back to life as it was, but the balance they thought they were regaining becomes threatened with the opening of a mysterious new hotel in town.<doc-sep>
San Diego Comic-Con 2018 begins this week, so the next couple of days will be filled with a whirlwind of trailers for upcoming films, panels, cosplay, interactive experiences, and more. There will be panels from Warner Bros. about its upcoming slate of DC films, and we’re expecting new looks at The Predator, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Star Trek: Discovery, The Walking Dead, and more. The Verge will be at the convention to bring you the latest news from San Diego. Here’s what to look out for. (All times are Pacific.) Thursday, July 19th 20th Century Fox: The Predator (10:30AM–11:30AM, Hall H) 20th Century Fox is one of the biggest studios attending the show this year, but it will really only show off one film: The Predator. Director Shane Black will be there, along with Olivia Munn, Sterling K. Brown, Keegan-Michael Key, Trevante Rhodes, Jake Busey, Yvonne Strahovski, Thomas Jane, and Augusto Aguilera. We’ll probably see a new trailer, too. Doctor Who: BBC America’s Official Panel (11:45AM–12:45PM, Hall H) BBC America will be back with a look at what’s ahead for Doctor Who. The 13th Doctor, played by Jodie Whittaker, will be there, along with Tosin Cole, Mandip Gill, showrunner Chris Chibnall, and producer Matt Stevens. Celebrate the 10-Year Anniversary of Star Wars: The Clone Wars (11:45AM–12:45PM, Room 6BCF) Lucasfilm’s animated show The Clone Wars premiered a decade ago, and creator Dave Filoni and others will look back on the legacy of the show. Brand New Action-Thriller from YouTube Originals: Impulse (12PM–12:50PM, Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront) YouTube’s original series Impulse premiered in June, and producers Doug Liman, Gene Klein, and David Bartis, showrunner Lauren LeFranc, and stars Maddie Hasson and Missi Pyle will discuss the show and preview some scenes. 2001: A Space Odyssey 50th Anniversary Panel (12:30PM–1:30PM, Room 6A) Warner Bros. is teaming up with the Arthur C. Clarke Society, the film’s actors Keir Dullea and Gary Lockwood, and a panel of experts to look back on the film and its legacy. Exclusive First Look at New YouTube Originals Sci-Fi Thriller: Origin (1PM–1:50PM, Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront) YouTube will preview its new sci-fi thriller Origin. Stars Tom Felton, Natalia Tena, Nora Arnezeder, and Sen Mitsuji along with writer / creator / executive producer Mika Watkins and director Paul W. S. Anderson will show off some new footage. Syfy’s Nightflyers (3PM–3:50PM, Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront) Syfy’s next big science fiction show is an adaptation of George R. R. Martin’s space horror story Nightflyers. Show producers Jeff Buhler, Gene Klein, and David Bartis, stars Eoin Macken, Gretchen Mol, David Ajala, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Angus Sampson will talk about what to expect and likely show off a trailer. Breaking Bad 10th Anniversary Celebration (4:30PM–5:30PM, Hall H) AMC’s Breaking Bad turned 10 years old in 2018, and cast members Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn, Dean Norris, Betsy Brandt, R. J. Mitte, Bob Odenkirk, and Giancarlo Esposito and creator Vince Gilligan will be on hand to chat about the show’s legacy. Friday, July 20th Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog Reunion (10AM–11AM, Hall H) 2008 also marked the launch of a weird digital media project from Joss Whedon: Dr. Horrible’s Singalong Blog, which followed Neil Patrick Harris’ Dr. Horrible as he aspired to become a supervillain. With this year’s anniversary, Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon, Nathan Fillion, Felicia Day, and Maurissa Tancharoen will be on hand to talk about the project. DreamWorks Voltron Legendary Defender: A Netflix Original Series (10:15AM–11:15AM, Room 6BCF) Netflix seems to have a fairly low profile at this year’s show, but it will show off a new look at the upcoming season of its animated Voltron Legendary Defender. AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead (11:15AM–12:15PM, Hall H) The cast and crew of AMC’s The Walking Dead spinoff, Fear the Walking Dead, will be at SDCC to chat about where the show left off midway through season 4 and what to expect when it returns in August. Actors Alycia Debnam-Carey, Colman Domingo, Lennie James, Danay Garcia, Jenna Elfman, Maggie Grace, and Garret Dillahunt, executive producers and showrunners Andrew Chambliss and Ian Goldberg, executive producers Scott M. Gimple, Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, and Dave Alpert, and special effects makeup supervisor and executive producer Greg Nicotero will all attend the panel. AMC’s The Walking Dead (12:15PM–1:15PM, Hall H) Following Fear the Walking Dead’s panel, AMC will launch right into its original zombie show The Walking Dead.