Comic-Con Preview: As TV Takes Over, Affleck, ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Hunger Games’ Make Splash

And for the first time this year, Amazon Instant Video will be introducing new series, Philip K. Dick’s “The Man in the High Castle” (from Frank Spotnitz and David Zucker) and “Hand of God” (from director Marc Forster) at Comic-Con (trailer below). PBS is promoting “Sherlock,” the Brit series that made new Academy member Benedict Cumberbatch a star. Netflix is showcasing the Wachowskis’ “Sense8.” And Seth Macfarlane, Anne Druyan and Neil deGrasse Tyson are participating on a “Cosmos” panel.

But this year more than usual, the Con (July 8-11) is leaning away even from the comic book movies that remain front and center in Hollywood. Yes, fans are excited about presentations on new “Star Wars” and “Hunger Games” installments, Fox’s Marvel franchises “X-Men” and “Fantastic Four,” Warner Bros./DC’s “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” –where Ben Affleck will make his first post-breakup appearance–and “Justice League,” Screen Gems’ long-awaited movie version of “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” and Legendary’s “Crimson Peak” and “Straight Outta Compton.”

And yes, cinephiles will get a peek at Quentin Tarantino’s “The Hateful Eight,” which is welcome news in a year when Marvel, Sony and Paramount are not doing Hall H panels, and Disney will be taking its non-“Star Wars” fare to D23 later this summer.