Luke Y. Thompson is contributing to Deadline’s Comic-Con coverage. This year’s event runs July 12-15.
Movie studios and TV networks have been trickling out their individual schedules for next month’s Comic-Con convention, but the official schedule for the first full day — Thursday, July 12 — is now out. And it includes a big name (literally): Arnold Schwarzenegger is making one of his first official appearances on the Hollywood scene since leaving the governor’s office. He will be part of Lionsgate‘s The Expendables 2 panel in the massive Hall H alongside co-stars Sylvester Stallone, Terry Crews, Randy Couture, Dolph Lundgren and Jean-Claude Van Damme.
Back in the pre-Hall H days of the convention, Schwarzenegger came to promote Terminator 3 as a surprise guest, and he promised he’d be back (but then, he always says that). The presumption is that fans, especially California ones, will be forgiving of Schwarzenegger’s politics and personal foibles. Comic-Con officials are expected to release Friday’s schedule tomorrow, Saturday’s on Saturday and Sunday’s on Sunday.
Related: Quentin Tarantino, ‘Iron Man 3′, ‘The Hobbit’, ‘Pacific Rim’ Juice Comic-Con Saturday
Kicking off Thursday’s slate is Summit‘s final panel (barring the inevitable reboots and spinoffs) for The Twilight Saga‘s last installment Breaking Dawn Part II, which will be released November 16. Other notable Thursday participants include Jackie Chan on a panel promoting his new movie CZ12. Disney also is well represented with a Frankenweenie panel featuring Tim Burton (though it feels obligatory as the studio had some stuff last year too). More actual footage of Sam Raimi’s Oz: The Great And Powerful should be interesting, and Wreck-It Ralph, which looks to do for video games what Toy Story did for action figures, is hugely anticipated by the geek community. Disney’s known for last-minute surprises, too, like two years ago when they had Guillermo del Toro talk Haunted Mansion, or last year when they didn’t show at all to try and bolster their own D23 fan convention. Would showing some John Carter footage at Comic-Con have helped that movie? Hard to be sure, but it might have gotten them a better read on the fanbase.
Related: ‘Elysium’ Brings Jodie Foster To Comic-Con As Movies Rub Elbows With TV Series
The first full day closes with a screening of the documentary Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope. Because you come to Comic-Con to watch a movie about other people coming to Comic-Con.


Forever Arnold! Arnold is Numero Uno!
No, it makes him officially lame. It’s over, Arnold, you had your run, now you’re just embarrassing yourself.
Are you crazy? For arnold its never over, his the best !
Arnold Schwarzenegger is pure awesome. And your comment makes Doves cry.
Don’t be such a pahty poopah.
Well, he did warn you that he would be back…
watch what you say!
He’s too old and, from another time. Arnold’s fans are retiring, good luck with that!
I’m 17 years old and I’m a big Arnold’s fan!
Arnold is the man. I can’t think of a recent action star that has as much charisma and presence.
Anything Arnold does will be fantastic!
Arnold’s new raft of movies will do fine. He’s had his miss-steps, sure, but there IS an appetite to see him on the big screen again. From Last Stand, The Tomb and Unknown Soldier, any and all could hit paydirt.
I think it’s great he’s coming back, he’s a lot nicer and funnier on common ground
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER IS THE BEST…HE IS ONE OF THE MOST TALENTED PERSON ON THE PLANET!!!
ATTILA KALMAR
Don’t be a Dick. He had his run but he can still do his thing. Sure he is older but it doesn’t even matter
I am glad Arnolds back,and you are never too old to be a hero
Arnold’s face in that picture above is the same face my grandfather makes when he mows the lawn.
WELCOME BACK !!!!!!!!!!!!
Arnold,he is the man of real fighter in hollywoow movie,he does,not smile in most of the movie i like him nice accter.
Arnold represents the best of action film, the expendables represents what was missing all of our old heros. he is the definition of a bad ass movie
Arnold!!! Best
…Arnold and the others may be getting old but isnt society fond of the expression ” 60 is the new 40 “?.Besides if you look at action films today you must ask yourself where are the action heroes?..Duh! there are none.They even tried Justin Timberlake in an actioner.Are these producers for real?None of the young actors today have the film presence, gravitas..and sense of humor that Arnold, Sly, Bruce, and Chuck provide.In fact only george Clooney would fit in among the the leading men of the golden age of Hollywood when men were men. ..I like Brad Pitt, but he’s close to fifty and still comes across as a teenager on screen. Woe is the fate of the action movie.
Dear Friends,
Hi! Arnold Schwarzeznegger has always embodied our dreams for justice and kind strength and I’m sure his cinema heroes and he personally are one in real life. We are not old but life -experienced and we’ll never give up!
Arnold looks amazing for his age and still has tons of charisma and humour. I think his newest films could be some of his best yet. With last stand, the tomb, ten, and unknown soldier he has some really interesting and different projects lined up. Welcome back I say, the studios missed him and so did the action audience.
Maria, come back! She means nussing to me! Bitte, liebchen! Ich kann nicht eine divorce afforden! YAAAAAGH!!!
Say what you will of Arnold’s personal life, but at the end of the day he’s a human being with flaws just like any of us. Beyond that, I can’t stand the people who deride him as some kind of brainless ’80s has-been or imply he’s unintelligent — anyone involved in the health and fitness world knows just how groundbreaking his impact was. The stuff he was doing back then — both in terms of developing routines and planning complicated diets — wasn’t just something a dumb kid could glean from a magazine. Times were different then, and he was doing stuff with his diet in particular that were leaps and bounds ahead of anyone else. To go from conquering that world to becoming an A-list movie star to becoming a politician? It’s not a lot of dumb luck. He’s a smart, charismatic, and yes, occasionally ruthless guy (from a business perspective, and perhaps a moral perspective too) and I’m happy to see him returning to films.
i’d love to see arnie live, but it’s a bit far away from me.
but i’m happy seeing him again in movies!
Might be a little older but still a global icon!
Arnie will live on for ever!!!!!
Arnold is an icon….he has entertained us for almost thirty years and has done a damn good job at it who gives a rats ass what he does in his personal life leave it alone…..
wow/ im only of Russia!!!
I WHILE BE BACK ???