Photo of “Vision Quest” portion of Marvel Television/Animation panel The Xavierite
Marvel Television and Animation made an appearance at NYCC (New York Comic Con), unveiling its slate for 2026. Announcements were made for every series, accompanied with first-look trailers. Here’s a recap of everything that happened at the Empire Stage.
“Wonder Man” Gets a January Release
“Wonder Man” was supposed to release on Disney+ this December, but has received a release date of Jan. 27. Host Brandon Davis brought Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Simon Williams/Wonder Man) and Sir Ben Kingsley (Trevor Slattery) onstage.
This dynamic duo spoke about their experiences of being actors and then getting the call to join the MCU. There was one thing that Yahya said which I found really interesting: “I want to play a character that eats a cheeseburger.”
I was so confused by this statement, but he clarified what it meant. He was tired of playing serious roles in films and television, although he loved being in them. All he wanted was to play something fun.
Kingsley spoke highly about his time in the MCU, and praised director Destin Daniel Cretton for bringing Trevor Slattery back. Although they didn’t reveal much, the duo decided it was time to show the audience a trailer.
“Daredevil: Born Again” Season 2 Brings New and Old Faces
One of the most anticipated parts of the panel was hearing news about “Daredevil: Born Again.” There were previous reports that Krysten Ritter (Jessica Jones) would be returning, and they ultimately were true. Ritter joined Charlie Cox (Daredevil) on stage to discuss the reunion of the two characters.
Ritter particularly mentioned that she looks forward to fans seeing the friendly banter between Jones and Daredevil. In previous shows the two characters, although allies, would rip each other apart.
Unexpectedly, a trailer was shown only to the Empire Stage attendees, and it contained so many exciting guest appearances. Not only was Jessica Jones back, but Elden Henson returned as Daredevil’s best friend Foggy Nelson in a flashback scene.
Additionally, a newcomer was shown for the first time. Matthew Lillard has joined the MCU as a mysterious character called Mr. Charles. This character is reported to be a political match for Wilson Fisk aka Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio).
The series was revealed to have a March 2026 release window.
“X-Men ‘97” Sees the Team Split in Time
“X-Men ‘97” ended its first season with a twist: the team is trapped in the past, present, and future. Head of Marvel Television and Animation Brad Winderbaum took the stage along with executive producers Eric and Julia Lewald to discuss the excitement of the story.
As it turns out, they were the original creators of “X-Men: The Animated Series.” They confirmed that “X-Men ‘97 season three is in development, along with plans for a fourth and fifth season. Winderbaum revealed it is the plan to air new seasons annually.
Eventually, a trailer was released, showcasing shots that perfectly mimicked comic frames. Shortly after, a release window was given: Summer 2026.
Familiar Faces are Coming to “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man”
“Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man” was the first series to be spoken about at the panel. There were a few major announcements made.
First and foremost, Gwen Stacy will be making her first appearance in the second season. It is unknown who will be portraying the character. However, she will have her Spider-Gwen powers.
Most importantly, though, the Venom symbiote exists in this universe. Before the trailer was privately screened to the audience, Winderbaum took the stage to reveal the surprise.
It appears, though, that Daredevil will be a large part of the story in season two. Charlie Cox confirmed that he will be returning to the role, and expressed his excitement.
The series will be returning in Fall 2026.
Tony Stark’s Creations Come to Life in “Vision Quest”
After years of development and rumors, Marvel finally announced “Vision Quest.” Along with the surprise announcement, Paul Bettany (Vision) came onstage to speak about the story.
He described it as a story about fathers and sons, which many believed was a nod to Ruaridh Mollica’s rumored casting as Tommy Shepherd/Speed. Within a few short minutes, the casting was confirmed to be true.
Although there is no set release date for “Vision Quest,” a trailer was shown to the crowd. Out of every series showcased, this one had the biggest audience response. Why, though? Because Ultron (James Spader) is back.
Part of the trailer appeared to take place within Vision’s mind, showing all of Tony Stark’s artificial intelligence as people, playing a part in Vision’s consciousness. However, Ultron lurks in the shadows of Vision’s brain, reminding him that he is both a ghost and a reminder of the mistakes made by the Scarlet Witch throughout “Wandavision.”
This massive future of Marvel television and animation received a standing ovation from attendees including myself. For me, I look forward to “Vision Quest” the most. What do you look forward to?