Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
San Diego, Convention center, Hall H, July 23 2026
Hall H is usually the stage for blockbuster announcements, surprise celebrity appearances and exclusive footage, but one of San Diego Comic-Con 2026's most engaging presentations focused instead on the creative process behind modern filmmaking. During Collider's annual Directors on Directing panel, moderator Steven Weintraub welcomed Zach Cregger, Jonathan Goldstein, and John Francis Daley for a wide-ranging conversation exploring storytelling, directing, collaboration and the challenges of bringing ambitious projects to the screen. Rather than promoting upcoming releases, the discussion offered a genuine masterclass on filmmaking that resonated with both aspiring directors and longtime movie fans.
The conversation opened with Zach Cregger reflecting on his unexpected evolution from sketch comedy with The Whitest Kids U' Know to becoming one of Hollywood's most exciting horror filmmakers following the success of Barbarian. He explained that every new project is an opportunity to challenge himself creatively rather than simply increase the scale of his productions. According to Cregger, horror only succeeds when audiences first develop an emotional connection with the characters, making empathy and atmosphere far more important than shocking imagery alone.
Discussing Weapons, which he described as the most ambitious film of his career, Cregger emphasized that suspense is created through believable situations, careful pacing and emotional storytelling. He also highlighted the importance of practical effects, arguing that actors deliver stronger performances when reacting to tangible elements rather than relying entirely on digital effects. Editing, he added, often becomes the final stage of writing a film, where rhythm and emotional emphasis can completely reshape a scene after production has wrapped.
Naturally, the discussion shifted toward Cregger's highly anticipated Resident Evil reboot. Without revealing plot details, the filmmaker reassured fans that his adaptation will embrace the survival-horror atmosphere that made Capcom's original games so influential. Instead of focusing on explosive action sequences, his goal is to recreate the constant tension, vulnerability and psychological dread that defined the franchise's earliest entries, a statement that earned one of the biggest audience reactions of the afternoon.
Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley then discussed the creative partnership that has produced films including Game Night and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. They explained that every screenplay benefits from constant debate, with each idea challenged before reaching production. Their approach extends to directing, where meticulous preparation is balanced by allowing actors the freedom to discover authentic emotional or comedic moments on set, provided they always remain true to the story and its characters.
One of the panel's biggest announcements concerned the next Star Trek feature film. Goldstein and Daley confirmed that development is actively underway and revealed that the story will introduce an entirely new generation of characters set further into the future, providing audiences with a fresh starting point while remaining faithful to the optimistic spirit that has defined the franchise for decades. They also briefly discussed Mayday, their upcoming Apple Original Films production starring Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh, once again stressing that memorable characters always take priority over visual spectacle.
As the discussion continued, all three filmmakers found themselves agreeing on many aspects of their craft. Extensive script development before production, the importance of editing, trusting creative instinct over market expectations, and maintaining emotional authenticity emerged as recurring themes throughout the panel. During the audience Q&A, they also reflected on the filmmakers who inspired them, the realities of working with major studios, and the value of creative collaboration, even joking about what a film directed by all three of them might look like.
Hall H still delivered a classic Comic-Con surprise when Johnny Depp, appearing entirely in character as Ebenezer Scrooge, unexpectedly introduced the first trailer for Ebenezer, generating one of the convention's loudest ovations. Before the session concluded, attendees were also treated to an exclusive sequence from Resident Evil, featuring Austin Abrams desperately fleeing an infected creature through a snowy landscape. Cregger accompanied the footage with a humorous behind-the-scenes story about filming elaborate practical effects involving massive blood-filled stunt dummies, illustrating the physical commitment behind the production.
The panel concluded with all three directors reaffirming that compelling characters remain the foundation of great cinema regardless of genre, budget or technology.
San Diego, Convention center, Hall H, July 23 2026
Hall H is usually the stage for blockbuster announcements, surprise celebrity appearances and exclusive footage, but one of San Diego Comic-Con 2026's most engaging presentations focused instead on the creative process behind modern filmmaking. During Collider's annual Directors on Directing panel, moderator Steven Weintraub welcomed Zach Cregger, Jonathan Goldstein, and John Francis Daley for a wide-ranging conversation exploring storytelling, directing, collaboration and the challenges of bringing ambitious projects to the screen. Rather than promoting upcoming releases, the discussion offered a genuine masterclass on filmmaking that resonated with both aspiring directors and longtime movie fans.
The conversation opened with Zach Cregger reflecting on his unexpected evolution from sketch comedy with The Whitest Kids U' Know to becoming one of Hollywood's most exciting horror filmmakers following the success of Barbarian. He explained that every new project is an opportunity to challenge himself creatively rather than simply increase the scale of his productions. According to Cregger, horror only succeeds when audiences first develop an emotional connection with the characters, making empathy and atmosphere far more important than shocking imagery alone.
Discussing Weapons, which he described as the most ambitious film of his career, Cregger emphasized that suspense is created through believable situations, careful pacing and emotional storytelling. He also highlighted the importance of practical effects, arguing that actors deliver stronger performances when reacting to tangible elements rather than relying entirely on digital effects. Editing, he added, often becomes the final stage of writing a film, where rhythm and emotional emphasis can completely reshape a scene after production has wrapped.
Naturally, the discussion shifted toward Cregger's highly anticipated Resident Evil reboot. Without revealing plot details, the filmmaker reassured fans that his adaptation will embrace the survival-horror atmosphere that made Capcom's original games so influential. Instead of focusing on explosive action sequences, his goal is to recreate the constant tension, vulnerability and psychological dread that defined the franchise's earliest entries, a statement that earned one of the biggest audience reactions of the afternoon.
Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley then discussed the creative partnership that has produced films including Game Night and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. They explained that every screenplay benefits from constant debate, with each idea challenged before reaching production. Their approach extends to directing, where meticulous preparation is balanced by allowing actors the freedom to discover authentic emotional or comedic moments on set, provided they always remain true to the story and its characters.
One of the panel's biggest announcements concerned the next Star Trek feature film. Goldstein and Daley confirmed that development is actively underway and revealed that the story will introduce an entirely new generation of characters set further into the future, providing audiences with a fresh starting point while remaining faithful to the optimistic spirit that has defined the franchise for decades. They also briefly discussed Mayday, their upcoming Apple Original Films production starring Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh, once again stressing that memorable characters always take priority over visual spectacle.
As the discussion continued, all three filmmakers found themselves agreeing on many aspects of their craft. Extensive script development before production, the importance of editing, trusting creative instinct over market expectations, and maintaining emotional authenticity emerged as recurring themes throughout the panel. During the audience Q&A, they also reflected on the filmmakers who inspired them, the realities of working with major studios, and the value of creative collaboration, even joking about what a film directed by all three of them might look like.
Hall H still delivered a classic Comic-Con surprise when Johnny Depp, appearing entirely in character as Ebenezer Scrooge, unexpectedly introduced the first trailer for Ebenezer, generating one of the convention's loudest ovations. Before the session concluded, attendees were also treated to an exclusive sequence from Resident Evil, featuring Austin Abrams desperately fleeing an infected creature through a snowy landscape. Cregger accompanied the footage with a humorous behind-the-scenes story about filming elaborate practical effects involving massive blood-filled stunt dummies, illustrating the physical commitment behind the production.
The panel concluded with all three directors reaffirming that compelling characters remain the foundation of great cinema regardless of genre, budget or technology.
