San Diego Comic-Con Malaga 2026 experienced one of its most intense days this Saturday, with Disney taking center stage in Hall M and an appearance no one expected: Anthony Mackie took the stage alongside David Harbour and Winston Duke during the presentation of Avengers: Doomsday, one of the most anticipated films of the coming year.
The moment occurred during the third day of the convention, which once again filled the FYCMA venue from early morning with a program that combined film, comics, video games, voice acting, and cosplay. The event, which grew significantly compared to its previous edition, closed on Saturday with Hall M overflowing for both the Marvel block and the cosplay contest.
Disney headlined Hall M with its upcoming releases
The Walt Disney Studios brought together more than 3,000 people for a presentation that showcased exclusive material from several titles. The block kicked off with animation, featuring previews of Spellbound, Ice Age: Adventures of Buck Wild, and Gatto, three projects with which the company seeks to bolster its calendar between late 2026 and early 2027.
Spellbound will hit theaters on November 27, 2026, and follows Billie, a teenager who discovers magical powers that lead her to a kingdom of witches. Ice Age: Adventures of Buck Wild, scheduled for February 5, 2027, will bring back characters such as Manny, Sid, Diego, Ellie, Buck, and Scrat. Meanwhile, Gatto, the new Pixar production directed by Enrico Casarosa, showed two previously unseen scenes from a story set in Venice and starring a black cat named Nero.
Josh Brolin presented Whalefall alongside Austin Abrams and Brian Duffield
Josh Brolin, whose presence had already been announced, took the stage alongside actor Austin Abrams and director Brian Duffield to present Whalefall, the upcoming release from 20th Century Studios. The film follows Jay Gardiner, played by Abrams, a young man who dives off the coast of California in search of the remains of his father, played by Brolin.
The plot thickens when the protagonist is swallowed by a sperm whale and trapped inside with barely an hour of oxygen. During the panel, a clip and an exclusive montage were screened, reinforcing the extreme survival tone of the film, which will hit theaters on October 16.
Paul Bettany showed the first minutes of VisionQuest
Marvel Television also had its space with VisionQuest, the series starring Paul Bettany that will conclude the trilogy started by WandaVision and continued with Agatha All Along. Bettany presented an exclusive montage and the first 22 minutes of the opening episode.
The series picks up with Vision after being rebooted and escaping those who sought to use him as a weapon. From there, the character interacts with different artificial intelligences from his programming, including F.R.I.D.A.Y., E.D.I.T.H., J.A.R.V.I.S., and Ultron, before being forced to flee with Thomas Shepherd, a young man with a possible connection to his past.
VisionQuest will premiere on Disney+ on October 14, with a cast that includes James Spader, Ruaridh Mollica, Todd Stashwick, T'Nia Miller, Emily Hampshire, and James D'Arcy.
The arrival of Anthony Mackie, the big surprise
The most talked-about moment of the afternoon came after a recorded greeting from Anthony and Joe Russo, directors of Avengers: Doomsday. After the video, Anthony Mackie appeared without prior notice, accompanied by David Harbour and Winston Duke.
The three actors, who play Sam Wilson, Alexei Shostakov, and M'Baku respectively, talked about the film before the screening of a montage prepared especially for the convention. Unlike Harbour and Duke, Mackie's presence had not been previously announced, making his appearance one of the most celebrated moments of the day.
Avengers: Doomsday moves up its release in Spain
During the panel, it was confirmed that Avengers: Doomsday will hit Spanish theaters on Thursday, December 17, 2026, moving up its release in the country. Ticket pre-sales will begin on Monday, October 6.
The film will bring together characters from different sagas of the Marvel universe with a cast led by Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Pedro Pascal, Paul Rudd, Anthony Mackie, Florence Pugh, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Simu Liu, Ian McKellen, Hayley Atwell, Tom Hiddleston, James Marsden, Patrick Stewart, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Letitia Wright, Kelsey Grammer, Winston Duke, and Rebecca Romijn, among others.
In addition, the film will feature INFINITY VISION, a new certification for Premium Large Format theaters with which Marvel and Disney seek to offer a large-format experience for one of the most anticipated releases of the year.
The Lord of the Rings reunited its most beloved actors
The day also offered one of the most emotional meetings for fans of The Lord of the Rings. Elijah Wood and Sean Astin were received with great enthusiasm at their signing sessions, where attendees brought posters, figures, and replicas to be signed.
Later, John Rhys-Davies joined them, completing a particularly significant meeting for those who grew up with Peter Jackson's trilogy, with simultaneous representation of Frodo, Sam, and Gimli at the convention.
Nostalgia with Christopher Lambert and Richard Dean Anderson
Christopher Lambert and Richard Dean Anderson held solo panels focused on the characters that defined their careers. Lambert spoke about Highlander and, when asked what he would do if he could live forever, he replied that he would like to see what the world is like in a hundred years.
Richard Dean Anderson, for his part, maintained the approachable tone that characterizes his relationship with MacGyver fans, joking about the Malaga heat during his meeting with the public.
Recognition for Dave Jones for his contribution to video games
The world of video games also had its space with the presence of Dave Jones, one of the creators of Grand Theft Auto. During the day, he received an honorary recognition from the Iris Games Awards of the Television and Audiovisual Arts and Sciences Academy, in a ceremony with institutional representatives and members of Comic-Con International.
A space for visual effects and Spanish dubbing
Carolina Jiménez, Myriam S. Castillo, and Virginie Bourdin participated in a meeting focused on the work of women in visual effects, with careers linked to productions such as The Hobbit, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Game of Thrones, The Mandalorian, Harry Potter, or X-Men. The three agreed that the best visual effect is usually one that the viewer does not perceive as such.
Spanish dubbing also had its moment in the Dubbing Show, with the participation of Juan Antonio Bernal, Mar Bordallo, Miguel Ángel Jenner, José Posada, Luis Posada, Claudio Serrano, Sergio Zamora, and Nuria Mediavilla, who shared professional anecdotes and read an unreleased script with characters such as Daffy Duck, Pumbaa, Fiona, Jack Sparrow, and Batman.
Cosplay closed the day with a full Hall M
The BBVA Cosplay Contest 2026 ended Saturday with more than thirty participants before an international jury composed of Kamui Cosplay, Ayuru Cosplay, Sabaku Cosplay, and Like Linda, winner of the previous edition. Hermione Cosplay won the Best in Show award, Àrtica Creations took home Best Workmanship, and Vemu Cosplay was recognized with Best Re-Creation.
A full day before the end of the edition
Between Marvel, Whalefall, The Lord of the Rings, television legends, video games, dubbing, and cosplay, the third day of San Diego Comic-Con Malaga 2026 established itself as one of the most complete of the edition. The convention now faces its final day after a Saturday that reflected the event's growth in both the number of guests and the variety of content.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Anthony Mackie’s appearance at Comic-Con Malaga a surprise?
Because his presence had not been previously announced, unlike David Harbour and Winston Duke, who were part of the confirmed lineup for the Avengers: Doomsday panel.
When does Avengers: Doomsday premiere in Spain?
The film will hit Spanish theaters on Thursday, December 17, 2026, with ticket pre-sales starting on Monday, October 6.
What characters do Mackie, Harbour, and Duke play in the Marvel saga?
Anthony Mackie plays Sam Wilson, David Harbour plays Alexei Shostakov, and Winston Duke plays M'Baku.
What is INFINITY VISION?
It is a new certification for Premium Large Format theaters with which Marvel and Disney seek to offer a large-format experience for the release of Avengers: Doomsday.
When does Whalefall, the film presented by Josh Brolin, premiere?
Whalefall will hit theaters on October 16, starring Josh Brolin and Austin Abrams under the direction of Brian Duffield.
Which actors from The Lord of the Rings attended Comic-Con Malaga?
Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, and John Rhys-Davies participated in meetings and signing sessions during the third day of the convention.
