HBO Max Hosting Comic-Con Fan Experiences for ‘Peacemaker’ and ‘It: Welcome to Derry’
July 13, 2025
HBO Max at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con will be promoting the upcoming second season of “Peacemaker” and the new original series “It: Welcome to Derry” with panels and fan experiences.
Beginning Thursday, July 24, HBO Max will host Peacefest, an immersive fan experience inspired by Peacemaker’s chaotic, glam rock–fueled world. The festivities will continue with a panel in Hall H, where showrunner/writer/director and co-head of DC Studios James Gunn and the cast of “Peacemaker” will share details about the upcoming season and premiere the global trailer for season two.
Based on DC Comics characters, “Peacemaker” follows a vigilante played by John Cena in a world of superheroes.
Peacefest will run from July 24 to 26 at Nova San Diego nightclub (454 Sixth Ave.), where fans will enter through the Quantum Unfolding Chamber to experience an immersive 1980s glam rock bar featuring all of Peacemaker’s favorite things, including exclusive fan access to the Peacecycle from season two and a limited opportunity for select fans to meet Peacemaker’s sidekick Eagly, in partnership with the American Eagle Foundation. Throughout the experience, fans can rock out to live musical performances, grab drinks and play themed games at Harcourt’s KO Corner Bar or visit Vigilante’s merch shop for exclusive products. Peacefest will also feature interactive character themed booths like Adebayo’s Hero Test Photo Booth and Economos’ Ops Mortal Kombat gaming station. Fans can register at Peacefest2025.com on a first-come-first-served basis. Participants will be selected for the Eagly meet-and-greet while waiting for entry to Peacefest during their reserved time. All guests must be 21 or older to attend.
Hours of 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. July 24-25, and 1-2 p.m. July 26. A limited number of fans will also be randomly selected to attend a VIP party from 7 to 10 p.m. July 26 featuring appearances by the “Peacemaker” cast, executive producers, DC talent, and headlining live musical performances by Foxy Shazam and Steel Panther.
The “Peacemaker” panel will take place July 26 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Hall H of the San Diego Convention center. Panelists will include James Gunn, John Cena, Danielle Brooks, Jennifer Holland, Freddie Stroma, Steve Agee, Frank Grillo, Sol Rodriguez and Tim Meadows. The panel will be moderated by Josh Horowitz, host of MTV and the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast.
Season two of “Peacemaker” premieres Aug. 21 on HBO Max.
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The streamer will also bring “It: Welcome to Derry” to downtown San Diego with eerie in-world pop-ups, including Pennywise-inspired pedicabs, a special sneak peek of the upcoming series and the debut of a new teaser trailer, presented by special guests Andy and Barbara Muschietti.
The series is a prequel to the “It” films based on the Stephen King novel of the same name.
July 25 and 26, the Pennywise pedicabs will offer free rides and brand ambassadors handing out chilling sweets throughout the San Diego Convention Center, Gaslamp Quarter and Harbor areas.
On Saturday, July 26, fans will get an exclusive, early sneak peek of the upcoming series with first look footage from the premiere episode presented by special guests Andy and Barbara Muschietti. Free ice cream will be served during the event. Attendance is first-come, first-served; no advance registration required.
The preview for “It: Welcome to Derry,” which premieres in October, will take place July 26 from 9:15 to 9:45 p.m. in Room 6DE of the convention center.
“We’re always looking for new ways to bring fans closer to the series they love, and these immersive experiences for “Peacemaker” and “It: Welcome to Derry” do just that,” said Pia Barlow, EVP of originals marketing for HBO and HBO Max. “From the wild, unapologetic chaos of Peacefest to the chilling pop-ups we have in store tied to “It: Welcome to Derry,” we’re excited to give fans a small taste of what’s to come.”