San Diego Comic-Con faces a tepid reception from some industry insiders this year, even with the highly anticipated return of Marvel Studios. The studio's Saturday night presentation in Hall H, featuring its upcoming "Avengers: Doomsday" film, is the most buzzed-about event on the schedule.

However, outside of Marvel's prominent appearance, a sense of lukewarm anticipation pervades. "I think the return of Marvel to Hall H on Saturday feels promising, but outside of that, it’s underwhelming," said one insider. The departure of "Abbott Elementary" from ABC's traditional panel and pop-up offerings is also seen as a potential negative indicator for both the show and the convention itself.

Insiders suggest that no major networks or streaming services appear poised for a breakout year at the event. "None of the networks and streamers seem primed for a breakout year," noted one observer.

A veteran attendee predicted that Marvel would likely deliver a significant surprise. "They’ll do some insane stunt and it’ll be the only thing people are talking about," the attendee speculated.

Not everyone is focused on the Marvel Cinematic Universe panel. One entertainment journalist plans to skip the MCU event to attend the panel for Prime Video's "Carrie," a series based on Stephen King's classic novel. This panel will mark the first appearance at the convention for acclaimed horror creator Mike Flanagan.

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Beyond Hall H, video game presentations for "Marvel's Wolverine" and "God of War Laufey" are generating excitement for some. These gaming panels arrive amidst controversy, following Sony's recent announcement to discontinue physical disc distribution for PlayStation in favor of digital-only releases. An insider questioned whether Sony might reconsider its decision due to fan backlash.

Several other panels are scheduled to feature prominent projects, including a "Big Bang Theory" spin-off titled "Stuart Fails to Save the Universe," Neon's "Hope," A24's "Onslaught," "The Vampire Lestat," and Amazon MGM's "Spaceballs."

The social scene at Comic-Con has also seen adjustments. While Fandom and IGN are hosting their annual Hard Rock events, Entertainment Weekly has canceled its traditional Saturday party. This move leaves a void in the social calendar for media attendees. "EW completely opting to skip their party this year feels the most upsetting, especially without someone to step in and take their place," commented one insider.