While Black comic book writers, graphic artists as well as actors and producers have attended San Diego Comic-Con for decades, this year brought in an unprecedented number of Black talent featured in prominent roles and behind-the-scenes Among the celebrities who attended SDCC 2017 were the cast and crew behind Marvel’s Black Panther, who had some audiences camping outside for days just to see them and exclusive footage of the highly anticipated 2018 release. Costume designer Ruth E. Carter participated on a panel Costume Designing for Screen, as well as curated a display of the film’s outfits, including a Dora Milaje costume worn by Okoye (played by Danai Gurira). Panther’s production designer Hannah Beachler, who also worked on Moonlight and Beyoncé’s Lemonade, participated on the panel The Production Designer: Architect of Imagination.
Writer, Wilson Morales is the editor of blackfilm.com and he’s been attending Comic-Con since 2004.
01
Jason Lewis, Kellee Stewart, Monica Owusu-Breen and Bernardo Saracino
Another new series making its entrance at the festival was NBC’s “Midnight, Texas,” whose showrunner is Monica Owusu-Breen. Craig Robinson was in town talking up his upcoming supernatural Fox comedy series “Ghosted.”
NBC
02
Tessa Thompson
Tessa Thompson had double duty promoting two of her projects, Marvel’s “Thor: Ragnorok” — in theaters this November — and HBO’s “Westworld.” She was joined on stage with fellow Emmy nominated co-stars and Jeffrey Wright and Thandie Newton on the latter series.
Albert L. Ortega
03
Mike Colter
Girl Trip’s Mike Colter, a Comic-Con regular now thanks to his Netflix series Luke Cage, returned with the cast of The Defenders.
Randy Shropshire
04
Jacob Anderson and Nathalie Emmanuel
Also appearing at the festival promoting their upcoming seasons were Tori Kittles (“The Colony”), Kellita Smith (“Z-Nation”), Malcolm Goodwin (“iZombie”), Nathalie Emmanuel and Jacob Anderson (“Game of Thrones”), Colman Domingo (“Fear The Walking Dead”), Ruth Negga (“Preacher”).
FilmMagic
05
Sonequa Martin-Green
Sonequa Martin-Green, who has come down in previous years as a member of “The Walking Dead,” was back but center stage as the leads of CBS All Access new series “Star Trek Discovery.”
Mike Coppola
06
Will Smith
Will Smith was on hand to talk about his new Netflix sci-fi film Bright, which he says, “It’s a cross between Training Day and Lord of the Rings.”
Albert L. Ortega
07
Halle Berry
Halle Berry, who was there in support of her upcoming role in Kingsman: The Golden Circle, chugging down a glass of whiskey on stage during the film’s panel presentation.
Kevin Winter
08
LaKeith Stanfield
Atlanta’s LaKeith Stanfield made an appearance as a cast member of Netflix’s Death Note, which held a surprise screening.
Albert L. Ortega
09
Cast of ‘Black Lightning’
Dynamic duo Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil made their first Comic-Con presence as producers of their new series, The CW’s Black Lightning. Onstage they were joined by their cast Cress Williams, Christine Adams, Nafessa Williams, and China Anne McClain.
Robby Klein
10
Orlando Jones, Yvette Nicole Brown and Dulé Hill
Orlando Jones made another return but as a member of Starz’s American Gods along with co-star Ricky Whittle. Both have been here before with their former shows, Sleepy Hollow and The 100 respectively.
