HBO MAX Returns To SDCC With An Impressive Lineup

This is awesome news as there are so many great things listed here.

HBO Max returns to San Diego this summer with a lineup of experiential activations, screenings, and talent panels celebrating new and returning series, including STUART FAILS TO SAVE THE UNIVERSE, from Warner Bros. Television (debuts July 23) and LANTERNS, from DC Studios and Warner Bros. Television (debuts August 16). Additionally, fans of HBO Original series HOUSE OF THE DRAGON will have the opportunity to attend a special advance screening of episode 6 of the third season.

Kicking off on Thursday, July 23, Max Original comedy series STUART FAILS TO SAVE THE UNIVERSE will invite fans to discover their hero archetypes through a playful, interactive activation set inside Stuart’s “The Comic Center of Pasadena.” By bringing the beloved comic shop fans know and love from THE BIG BANG THEORY, the experience unfolds as a narrative-driven journey through multiple realities, guiding fans through character-driven decisions that offer a deeper introduction to the new series’ humor, heart, and multiversal chaos.

Also starting on July 23, HBO Max will host an immersive experience for LANTERNS, inviting fans to prove they have what it takes to join the Green Lantern Corps at the “Lanterns Training Headquarters.” This interactive training camp activation puts fans to the test through hands‑on fearlessness challenges, offering an engaging first look at the upcoming debut season.

On Saturday, July 25, HOUSE OF THE DRAGON will bring the world of Westeros to San Diego with a special advanced fan screening of Season 3, Episode 6. 

Full Details for STUART FAILS TO SAVE THE UNIVERSE:

• Beginning Thursday, July 23 and open through Sunday, July 26, HBO Max will debut an immersive fan experience inspired by STUART FAILS TO SAVE THE UNIVERSE, inviting fans to step inside the series’ expanding multiverse. The activation brings Stuart’s “The Comic Center of Pasadena” to life, transforming the familiar comic shop from THE BIG BANG THEORY universe into a portal‑hopping journey through multiple worlds tied to the show. Designed as an interactive, story driven experience, guests will move through a series of in‑world touchpoints – beginning with a portal walkthrough and culminating in a reveal that challenges fans to discover their hero archetypes, with each path connected to a character from the series. Along the way, fans will encounter interactive moments, photo‑ops with a replica machine from the show, plus exclusive merch and a personalized collectible takeaway

STUART FAILS TO SAVE THE UNIVERSE | Sparks Gallery – 530 Sixth Ave, San Diego, CA

• Thursday, July 23: 11:00am – 7:00pm
• Friday, July 24: 11:00am – 7:00pm
• Saturday, July 25: 11:00am – 7:00pm
• Sunday, July 26: 11:00am – 3:00pm
   
• On Thursday, July 23, HBO Max will host the STUART FAILS TO SAVE THE UNIVERSE panel at the San Diego Convention Center in Hall H from 2:15pm – 3:15pm. The event will feature an exclusive advance screening of the highly anticipated Max Original spinoff of THE BIG BANG THEORY, followed by a must-see panel packed with surprises and featuring creators Chuck Lorre, Zak Penn, and Bill Prady, plus stars Kevin Sussman, Lauren Lapkus, John Ross Bowie, and Brian Posehn. Moderated by Felicia Day. Earlier in the day, the cast and creators will hit DC’s booth (#4544) for a signing session from 12:30pm – 1:00pm.

Full Details for LANTERNS:

• From Thursday, July 23 through Saturday, July 25, HBO Max will invite fans to prove their fearlessness at the “Lanterns Training Headquarters” experience. Inspired by the setting of Rushville, Nebraska, the activation unfolds as a guided training journey where fans will receive a briefing from the Guardians and will be evaluated through a series of interactive challenges designed to reveal if they have what it takes to wear the ring. Along the way, guests will move through hands-on experiences including target practice, trust-based challenges, maze navigation, and escape‑room style mystery scenarios set within in‑world environments like a Sheriff’s office and dive bar. The experience culminates for trainees with a custom Green Lantern ring to take home, an opportunity to simulate using a Green Lantern ring on a Snapchat powered interactive mirror and the opportunity to purchase exclusive LANTERNS merch from Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products.
   
• Sign-ups for the “Lanterns Training Headquarters” activation will open on Monday, July 13 at 9:00am PT at hbomax.com/lanternstraininghq. Reservations are limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. All guests must be 18 or older to attend. Follow @greenlantern on social media for more information and sign-up details.
   
• HBO Max will also partner with local businesses in the Gaslamp district for surprise swag giveaways in addition to a LANTERNS Recharge Station for fans to cool off and charge their phones using Lantern Batteries.

LANTERNS Training Headquarters | Venue 808 – 808 J St, San Diego, CA

• Thursday, July 23: 9:00am – 6:00pm
• Friday, July 24: 11:00am – 9:00pm
• Saturday, July 25: 11:00am – 9:00pm 

• On Friday, July 24, HBO Max will host the LANTERNS panel at the San Diego Convention Center in Hall H from 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm. Step into the world of the Green Lantern Corps as Kyle Chandler (Hal Jordan) and Aaron Pierre (John Stewart) unite with Garret Dillahunt (William Macon), Poorna Jagannathan (Zoe), and visionary co-creators Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King. Prepare for an epic deep dive into the highly anticipated new series with an exclusive first look with never‑before‑seen clips and behind‑the‑scenes insights.

Full Details for HOUSE OF THE DRAGON S3:
HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Season 3 Fan Screening | San Diego Convention Center, Room 6DE

• On Saturday, July 25 from 10:00-11:15 p.m. in San Diego Convention Center Hall Room 6DE, HBO Max will host a special advance fan screening of Season 3, Episode 6 featuring an introduction from co-creator and showrunner Ryan Condal.

ABOUT STUART FAILS TO SAVE THE UNIVERSE
Comic book store owner Stuart Bloom is tasked with restoring reality after he breaks a device built by Sheldon and Leonard, accidentally bringing about a multiverse Armageddon. Stuart is aided in this quest by his girlfriend Denise, geologist friend Bert, and quantum physicist/all-around pain in the ass Barry Kripke. Along the way, they meet alternate-universe versions of characters we’ve come to know and love from “The Big Bang Theory.” As the title implies, things don’t go well. The series stars Kevin Sussman (Stuart), Lauren Lapkus (Denise), Brian Posehn (Bert), and John Ross Bowie (Kripke). The series, from Chuck Lorre Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, is created, written, and executive produced by Chuck Lorre, Zak Penn, and Bill Prady. Kyle Newacheck is executive producer and directs multiple episodes.

ABOUT LANTERNS
Based on DC comic characters from “Green Lantern,” LANTERNS follows new recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery with cosmic ties as they investigate a murder in the American heartland. HBO in association with Warner Bros. Television and DC Studios. The LANTERNS pilot is co-written by Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King, who are co-creators for the series. Mundy serves as showrunner. The first two episodes are directed by James Hawes, with Stephen Williams, Geeta Vasant Patel and Alik Sakharov also tapped to direct. The series is executive produced by Mundy, Lindelof, James Gunn, Peter Safran, King, Ron Schmidt, and Hawes. Based on the DC comic characters from “Green Lantern.”

ABOUT HOUSE OF THE DRAGON S3
Based on George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood,” the series, set 200 years before the events of “Game of Thrones,” tells the story of House Targaryen. Season three cast includes Matt Smith, Emma D’Arcy, Olivia Cooke, Steve Toussaint, Rhys Ifans, Fabien Frankel, Ewan Mitchell, Tom Glynn-Carney, Sonoya Mizuno, Harry Collett, Bethany Antonia, Phoebe Campbell, Phia Saban, Jefferson Hall, Matthew Needham, James Norton, Tom Bennett, Kieran Bew, Kurt Egyiawan, Freddie Fox, Clinton Liberty, Gayle Rankin, and Abubakar Salim. Co-Creator/Showrunner/Executive Producer, Ryan Condal; Co-Creator/Executive Producer, George R.R. Martin; Executive Producers Sara Hess, Melissa Bernstein, Kevin de la Noy, Vince Gerardis, David Hancock, Philippa Goslett. Based on George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood.”