One of the most anticipated and electric panels at New York Comic Con 2026 undoubtedly belonged to Marvel, as executives and creators took over the main stage for the "Up Next From Marvel Television and Marvel Animation" showcase. Drawing thousands of passionate fans to the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, the studio delivered on massive expectations by announcing brand-new streaming series, offering deep-dive previews into upcoming seasons of fan-favorite shows, and even pulling off a jaw-dropping surprise by screening the entire first episode of the highly awaited series VisionQuest for everyone in attendance.
Brad Winderbaum, the head of Marvel Television and Marvel Animation, stepped up to the podium alongside moderator Brandon Davis to lead the presentation. What followed was a sweeping, ambitious roadmap of projects stretching all the way out to 2029. From unexpected espionage thrillers and dark, mature animated continuations to highly anticipated live-action superhero reunions, the panel cemented Marvel’s sprawling streaming future on Disney+.
Zodiac
Among the biggest surprises of the afternoon was Winderbaum’s reveal of a brand-new live-action spy thriller titled Zodiac, which has been officially slated for a 2028 release on Disney+. While Winderbaum kept plot details and official casting announcements tightly under wraps during the presentation, he did confirm that production on the series is scheduled to begin in London this coming spring.
Rather than offering immediate narrative spoilers, Winderbaum encouraged eagle-eyed fans to analyze the newly revealed title card. Pointing directly to the screen, he told the cheering crowd that anyone familiar with the source material from the comics would find plenty of subtle Easter eggs and clues hidden right inside the logo’s design, sparking immediate online speculation and detective work across fandom communities.
Marvel Zombies
Animation fans craving more of Marvel’s darker, bloodier side received some exceptionally thrilling news regarding the expansion of the Marvel Zombies universe. Winderbaum announced that audiences can look forward to three distinct new installments of the gory animated series over the next three years, with each project strategically timed to debut on Halloween.
The terrifying rollout begins in October 2027 with Marvel Zombies: The Winter Soldier, a chilling installment centered on the plight of Bucky Barnes. This will be followed in October 2028 by Marvel Zombies: The Fist of Khonshu, a title that heavily implies a dark, corrupted crossover with the mythology of Moon Knight. Finally, the horrific trilogy will round out in October 2029 with Marvel Zombies: The Last Guardian.
True to form, Winderbaum left the crowd hanging when discussing the concluding chapter. "I won’t tell you who the Last Guardian is, but it’s very, very exciting," he teased, leaving fans to endlessly debate the identity of the mysterious savior of the undead wasteland.
X-Men ’97
The animation celebration rolled right along with an extensive, action-packed teaser for the third season of X-Men ’97, a continuation that proved anti-mutant sentiment within the show’s continuity has reached a volatile all-time high.
The footage shown to the audience kicked off with a tense sequence following a young mutant attempting to cross a heavily militarized, heavily guarded border. She is abruptly denied entry due to lacking official documentation. As she searches desperately for an alternate, safer route around the checkpoint, she is ambushed and attacked by deadly Sentinels. Just as things look bleakest, she is rescued by an unexpected group of individuals who quickly reveal their affiliation: "We’re the Brotherhood," they tell her, setting up a complex ideological conflict for the upcoming episodes.
A lighter, yet equally significant, moment in the footage featured Professor X and Storm driving together through New York City to attend the lavish Central Park wedding of Rogue and Gambit. During their journey, the two mutants discuss the troubling political landscape, specifically calling out President Graydon Creed and the drastic, sweeping anti-mutant measures he has enacted that the X-Men will have to fight tooth and nail.
Fortunately, the tone shifted drastically to celebration during the wedding sequence itself. The reception scene was packed with delightful background cameos, featuring animated appearances from fan-favorite characters like Deadpool, She-Hulk, Daredevil, and numerous other familiar faces from across the broader Marvel landscape. Season 3 is officially set to premiere on Disney+ in 2027.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Season 2
No New York-centric Marvel panel would be complete without paying proper tribute to Queens’ most famous wall-crawler. Showrunner Jeff Trammell took to the stage to hype up the sophomore outing of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, telling the crowd that if the first season was primarily about "setting the board," then Season 2 is entirely about "playing the game."
Trammell unveiled both a striking new promotional poster and an extended clip that immediately grabbed the audience’s attention. The scene set the stage at a high-society gala attended by Harry Osborn. Attendees watched as Harry first runs into gossip reporter Eddie Brock—who harbors his own monstrous alter ego, Venom—before being taken hostage by the brilliant and unhinged Dr. Otto Octavius, better known as Doctor Octopus.
Naturally, Spider-Man swings in shortly thereafter, resulting in a classic, quippy confrontation that shatters through the gala windows and spills out into a dynamic acrobatic fight across the New York City skyline. Following the clip, a fast-paced trailer showcased glimpses of Gwen Stacy and Daredevil, along with a shocking sequence teasing Peter Parker falling under the influence of the notorious alien symbiote. Season 2 of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is slated to premiere on Disney+ on January 13.
Daredevil: Born Again Season 3
Another iconic New York hero took center stage as Charlie Cox arrived to thunderous applause to promote the third and final season of Daredevil: Born Again.
Cox did not take the stage alone, turning the panel into a nostalgic and exciting reunion for Marvel’s classic street-level team, The Defenders. Krysten Ritter, celebrated for her portrayal of the cynical private investigator Jessica Jones, and Finn Jones, known as Danny Rand, the Immortal Iron Fist, joined Cox under the spotlight to discuss their involvement in the upcoming season. While Mike Colter, who plays Luke Cage, was unable to make the trip to New York City, it was confirmed that he will also reprise his role in the season.
The trio unveiled a gripping trailer for Season 3, offering an intense, gritty look at Matt Murdock’s time behind bars. In one particularly brutal and standout set piece, Murdock is seen tearing apart his own prison jumpsuit to fashion a makeshift mask before laying waste to every hostile inmate in his immediate vicinity, signaling that the show’s signature martial arts choreography is as sharp as ever.
When moderator Brandon Davis asked Cox what he ultimately hoped fans would take away from these final episodes, the actor offered a wry smile and a nod to television history. "All I’ll say is that I imagine the Save Daredevil campaign will be gearing up for round 2," he remarked. Seasons 1 and 2 are currently available on Disney+, with Season 3 scheduled for a 2027 release.
VisionQuest
Marvel brought its major panel to a grand finale by diving deep into VisionQuest, the high-profile series that serves as the definitive conclusion to the trilogy that began with WandaVision and continued through Agatha All Along.
Showrunner Terry Matalas was joined by series stars Paul Bettany, James Spader, Emily Hampshire, and Ruaridh Mollica to discuss the mind-bending narrative. The story finds the synthezoid Vision, played by Bettany, grappling with a profound identity crisis. The series also marks the dramatic return of Avengers: Age of Ultron antagonist Ultron, portrayed once again by Spader, who this time around takes physical form through a human avatar.
Reflecting on his return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe after all these years, Spader offered a characteristically succinct description of the experience: "Fun."
Meanwhile, Mollica discussed the emotional weight of stepping into the role of Tommy Maximoff, one of Vision and Wanda Maximoff’s magically born twin sons. "Tommy Maximoff finally reunites with his father—and his grandfather!" Mollica joked, playfully jabbing at Spader.
When pressed on whether the series would finally provide closure to the lingering mysteries left behind by WandaVision, Matalas offered a reassuring promise to the fans. "Pretty much all of them," he confirmed.
After treating the audience to an exclusive trailer, the studio dropped its final, ultimate bomb. Instead of just showing clips, Marvel surprised everyone in the room by screening the entire first episode of VisionQuest right then and there. VisionQuest officially premieres on Disney+ on October 14.
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