By Mike Lera
Los Angeles. From its famous Hollywood sign to its brisk Malibu beaches, L.A. has always been a centerpiece for cinematic history, diversity, culinary arts and, oh yes, pop culture cons and icons!
Like its city, L.A. Comic Con 2025 teemed with excitement, vibrance and all things entertainment at the Los Angeles Convention Center Sep. 26-28, a portal for sci-fi, fantasy and horror fans alike!
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art took center stage at L.A.C.C., where director Robert Rodriguez, actress Jessica Alba, comic book writer/artist Frank Miller and painter Kadir Nelson discussed the highly anticipated “first-of-its-kind” facility with George Lucas groupies, set to open in 2026 at Exposition Park in Los Angeles.
Founded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson, the Lucas Museum will be dedicated to the exploration and celebration of illustrated and visual storytelling and will encompass different eras, cultures and media – from ancient cave drawings and children’s books to comics and digital media. The institution will not only feature works from famous painters and cartoonists, but will also contain rare models, props, concept art and costumes throughout Lucas’s 55-year-old career and other filmmakers as well.
“This museum is a dedication to cultural fantasy, which gives the kind of voice that we would call ‘popular art’, which we live with every day,” Lucas stated in a special “sneak peek” video of the museum and its exhibits at the show.
As creators and stars of the classic noir film Sin City, Rodriguez, Miller and Alba indulged S.C. fans on the numerous art pieces from the cult movie that will be featured at the Lucas Museum.
“A lot of times, illustrative art is not considered fine art, which is why the popular art that we all know, love and consume can’t be found in a traditional museum,” Rodriguez pointed out. “George had always been aware of what we all love, and so he created a place to let you have your own connection – whether pop, myth or pulp – and that should be celebrated.”
And speaking of George Lucas, Bryce Dallas Howard appeared for a one-on-one interview and talked about her involvement as a director for Star Wars’ upcoming Ahsoka, season 2 (slated for 2026). “It is adventurous. It is romantic. It’s all the things you would want in an epic story. I adore [executive producer] Dave Filoni and would do anything for him. He’s an extraordinary leader and visionary – the guy knows what he’s talking about.”
Howard also spoke on the late, great Robert Redford, whom she starred with in the 2016 film Pete’s Dragon. “It was enlightening to have worked with him, because we often think of famous people like Bob as ‘Gods’, and when you spend time with him, you realize everything he did came straight from his heart and his love for something. Whether it was his love for emerging storytellers and artists, his love for the environment and the planet, or his love for building community.”
In other panels, Marvel devotees were delighted to see Charlie “Daredevil” Cox, Vincent “Kingpin” D’Onofrio, Wilson “Bullseye” Bethel and Elden “Foggy” Henson gather for a Daredevil: Born Again discussion, sharing perspectives over the upcoming season 2 (March 2026) and how each of their intense roles has affected them.
“By far, this has been the longest job I’ve ever had, having immersed myself into this character for ten years now,” Cox commented. “When I meet adults who were children when they first watched the show and they say how it has impacted them throughout their lives, that itself spurs me on to continue to do the best work I can.”
D’Onofrio was, of course, asked about his memorable performance as “Private Pyle” in the late Stanley Kubrick’s award-winning Full Metal Jacket. “Kubrick would never direct you – he was very quiet. If he saw that the scene wasn’t working, he would just say, ‘You have to do it better,’” D’Onofrio recalled. “The night before that one heavy scene where I kill the drill instructor and myself, he said to me, ‘That scene has to be big… Lon Chaney big!’ I just happened to have a couple of Lon Chaney films at home that I had been watching, and the next day after my performance, he said ‘You’re on the right track’!”
Original Scream cast members Matthew Lillard, Skeet Ulrich and Jamie Kennedy engaged with audience members in a super active Q & A session, and in the spirit of Ghostface’s infamous question, Lillard was asked (by a “Shaggy” cosplayer) what his favorite scary movie is, to which the actor surprisingly replied while scratching his head, “I… actually don’t watch scary movies. Zoinks!”
For fright fans familiar with Creep I.E. Con, MidSummer Scream and Monsterpalooza, L.A.C.C. facilitated its first separate “horror hall” exclusively for scare junkies, including a cold, disturbing atmosphere of pitch black mazes, roaming zombies, an ultra cool Jaws 50th display and a mini fright fair aptly named “CarnEvil of Souls”.
For video footage of the panels and celebs mentioned in this article, visit Mike Lera’s YouTube channel @MikeLera.
