HBO Max is giving fans more than panels and previews at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con. The streaming platform has transformed locations throughout the Gaslamp District into immersive experiences inspired by two of its upcoming and current series: “Lanterns” and “Stuart Fails to Save the Universe.”
The activations are designed to put fans directly inside the worlds of the shows, combining interactive challenges, themed environments, photo opportunities, exclusive merchandise and collectible takeaways.
For Lanterns, the “Lanterns Training Headquarters” experience ran July 23 through July 25, inviting Comic-Con attendees to imagine themselves as recruits for the Green Lantern Corps.
Set within the fictional world of Rushville, Nebraska, the activation challenged visitors to complete hands-on training exercises and investigate mysteries inspired by the series. Fans who successfully completed the experience had the opportunity to earn a custom Lantern ring.
The experience also attracted members of the Lanterns cast and creative team. Kyle Chandler, Aaron Pierre, Garret Dillahunt and Poorna Jagannathan, along with creators and writers Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof and Tom King, stopped by to participate in the challenges and see whether they could prove themselves worthy of the ring.
Meanwhile, “Stuart Fails to Save the Universe” is taking fans on a journey through the multiverse.
“The Comic Center of Pasadena” runs through July 26 and is inspired by Stuart Bloom’s fictional comic book store. Visitors move through a series of alternate realities while exploring environments based on the comedy series and discovering their own hero archetypes.
The experience also includes personalized collectible keepsakes, exclusive merchandise and photo opportunities, giving fans plenty of ways to document their trip through the Stuart multiverse.
The cast and creative team also got in on the action. Creators Chuck Lorre, Zak Penn and Bill Prady, along with stars Kevin Sussman, Lauren Lapkus, John Ross Bowie and Brian Posehn, visited the activation to experience it firsthand.
HBO Max also brought the two series to Comic-Con through dedicated panels. Stuart Fails to Save the Universe featured an advance screening and conversation with its creators and stars, while Lanterns took over Hall H for a panel featuring cast and creative talent, an exclusive first look and previously unseen footage.
The Comic-Con festivities also include an advance screening of House of the Dragon Season 3, Episode 6, introduced by co-creator and showrunner Ryan Condal.
“Lanterns” premiered August 16 on HBO and HBO Max. “Stuart Fails to Save the Universe” premiered July 23, with new episodes debuting Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET. “House of the Dragon Season 3” is also streaming with new episodes arriving Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.
For HBO Max, the activations demonstrate how streaming entertainment is increasingly extending beyond the screen, giving fans the opportunity to step directly into the fictional worlds they love.