Fans who suspected that Marvel Studios might have had nothing left for D23 Expo 2022 after their blockbuster Comic-Con International: San Diego panel were likely ecstatic to be proven wrong, with this weekend’s panel unveiling the Thunderbolts, teasing new footage from upcoming projects on the big screen and the streaming screen, and confirming at least one much-anticipated announcement. (You were following along live with Popverse’s liveblog of the whole thing, right?) Let’s break down what happened, shall we?

Rogers: The Musical, For Real

Ever since Hawkeye teased the idea of an in-world musical based on the life of Steve Rogers, fans have wanted to see more. Those at D23 Expo got the chance with the panel opening with a full performance of 'Save The City' from the fictional musical. It was completely over the top and entirely indulgent, and the best way for Marvel to announce that it was time for everyone to sit up and pay attention.

https://twitter.com/Marvel/status/1568668646905364481/

Teases, Teases Everywhere

While the session might not have broken any big news in terms of naming new projects, there were plenty of opportunities for cast members to tease upcoming releases. The casts of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantummania, Loki season 2, Echo, and more appeared on stage to talk about what fans should expect over the next couple of years in the MCU, including some revealing some fun new information in the process: Samuel Sterns will return after more than a decade in the next Captain America movie, for example, or that the untitled Halloween special on Disney+ really is a Werewolf by Night show. Sometimes, it’s the details that can make all the difference.

Sights Unseen Anywhere Else

Of course, if learning new information and seeing beloved cast members wasn’t enough, Marvel had more in story for D23 Expo attendees: exclusive footage from — deep breath — Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Ironheart, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantummania, Loki Season 2, Echo, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, and The Marvels, in addition to premieres for trailers for Marvel’s Special Presentation: Werewolf by Night and Secret Invasion that were released online to coincide with the session. Really, there was a lot for fans to watch.

The Big Reveal

You’ve got to admire a well-done feint. Fans had been getting excited about a rumored reveal of the cast for the upcoming Fantastic Four movie, and although there was an update on that project — Matt Sakman was confirmed as the new director on the movie — it was an entirely different team that came to Anaheim to meet the fans: the Thunderbolts.

Not only were fans not expecting to meet the cast on stage, they certainly weren’t expecting the cast that walked out to say hello: in addition to the rumored Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Wyatt Russell, David Harbour, and Hannah Jon-Kamen — as well as a video appearance from the new Black Widow herself, Florence Pugh — there were two surprise additions to the line-up, with Black Widow’s Olga Kerleynko and none other than Sebastian Stan showing up. It was a convention moment that those present will remember fondly — especially when Thunderbolts shows up in theaters in July 2024.

All in all, it was a packed morning for D23 Expo attendees. One could even say it was… Marvelous. (Too much? I’ll get my coat.)

Catch up on this and all the big news, reports, interviews, and galleries of the weekend with Popverse's D23 Expo 2022 coverage round-up.

In some ways, D23 Expo is a three-day live version of Disney's streaming service Disney+. TV shows, movies, and specials from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Studios, National Geographic, and more are on the streaming service.