I went to my first-ever panel in San Diego Comic-Con's famous Hall H, and the energy in the event's biggest room was unlike anything I've ever experienced
- I'm a senior entertainment reporter who attended San Diego Comic-Con for the first time.
- Hall H is SDCC's most well-known room, reserved for the biggest and most buzzworthy panels.
On Thursday, I finally got to attend San Diego Comic-Con for the first time and experience the pure excitement of being inside its famous Hall H.
Due to the pandemic, SDCC has been virtual-only for two years, with a scaled-down special edition held in November. Now, the iconic Comic-Con is back in full force and I had the opportunity to fly from New York to California to witness the chaos as a senior entertainment reporter for Insider.
I had high hopes for my experience inside Hall H, the largest room at SDCC that hosts the biggest and buzziest panels. Here's what it was like.
Hall H is SDCC's famous room where stars gather to discuss their latest projects, announce major castings or other key details, and unveil exclusive first looks
Basically, if you're attending San Diego Comic-Con, you're going to want to get into Hall H at least once. And it's so difficult to get into the space that Marvel fans literally camp out days in advance so they can get attend the studio's usual Saturday evening slot.
People who have been lucky to be inside Hall H often rave about the room's unrivaled energy, so I was curious to see what my reaction would be once I got confirmed for the "Teen Wolf: The Movie" panel on day one of the convention, Thursday at 1:30 p.m.
This year's Hall H lineup includes the upcoming Paramount+ film "Teen Wolf: The Movie," HBO's forthcoming "Game of Thrones" spin-off series "House of the Dragon," and the final season of AMC's "The Walking Dead."
As a fan of MTV's "Teen Wolf" series that ran for six seasons between 2011 and 2017, I was elated to have the opportunity to check out the panel for their new movie, and it didn't disappoint.
Upon walking into the room, I felt chills — perhaps a result of the air conditioning on full blast and my own nerves about being inside Hall H after years of seeing videos and photos. The chatter in the room increased as more eager fans filed into the space.
As a member of the press with a reserved seat, I was able to secure a spot approximately 10 rows away from the stage, which undoubtedly contributed to my positive experience.
Thunderous applause echoed through the 6,500-capacity room when 'Teen Wolf' creator Jeff Davis and actors Tyler Posey and Tyler Hoechlin took the stage
It seemed like the stars were just as elated as the fans to be back at SDCC, particularly Posey, who was the most vocal supporter of a "Teen Wolf" continuation project, which is set for release on Paramount+ sometime this year.
During the panel, Davis spilled new details about the new movie, Posey and Hoechlin (who play Scott McCall and Derek Hale, respectively) talked about their bromance, and fans had the opportunity to ask questions.
The energy reached a new level when the first trailer for "Teen Wolf: The Movie" was unveiled at SDCC.
Each time a returning cast member showed up on the big screen in the center of Hall H, fans screamed, squealed, or gasped.
When the trailer concluded by showing the return of "Teen Wolf" star Crystal Reed as Allison with flames behind her and her signature archery quiver strapped to her back, people straight-up shrieked.
In true Hall H fashion, the panel saved its biggest reveal for the very end
Given the room's history of featuring big surprises, I hoped something unexpected would happen. Many wished it would be "Teen Wolf" fan-favorite Dylan O'Brien, who has repeatedly stated that he's not reprising his role as Stiles Stilinski.
O'Brien didn't show up at Hall H, but a '90s and early 2000s icon did: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" alum Sarah Michelle Geller, who announced that she'll star in Davis' upcoming "Teen Wolf" spinoff series "Wolf Pack."
The video that I captured of Geller taking the stage doesn't even encapsulate the feeling of being in that room and witnessing a moment like that first-hand.
The stars' genuine passion, love for each, and appreciation for the fans were all palpable throughout the panel — especially when, at the conclusion, Posey removed the three name cards from the table and gave them to lucky attendees as a keepsake.
I was a high schooler when "Teen Wolf" premiered and a college grad the year that it ended.
Being in Hall H for the first time ever for the "Teen Wolf: The Movie" panel, now as a senior entertainment reporter, was a fulfilling, full-circle moment for me that I'll never forget.
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