Collider assembles three major directing voices for its "Directors on Directing" panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2026. Zach Cregger, Jonathan Goldstein, and John Francis Daley will sit down to discuss their craft and careers.
Cregger brings momentum from "Longlegs," his 2024 horror thriller that became a breakout success for Osgood Company and Blumhouse Productions. The film's atmospheric scares and genre credibility established Cregger as a serious directorial force beyond his earlier work as a sketch comedian and "Whitest Kids U Know" co-creator.
Goldstein and Daley come paired from their work directing "Spider-Man: Homecoming" and its sequel, "Spider-Man: Far From Home," both massive MCU tentpoles that helped define Tom Holland's web-slinging era. Their ability to balance franchise spectacle with character-driven storytelling made them architects of Marvel's street-level Spider-Man renaissance. The duo also directed "Game Night," the 2018 mystery-comedy that proved their range beyond superhero fare.
The panel taps into SDCC's core audience appetite for filmmaking process conversations. Comic-Con attendees care deeply about the technical and creative decisions that shape the films and franchises they love. A panel featuring directors who've navigated both indie horror hits and billion-dollar studio franchises covers the full spectrum of modern filmmaking.
Cregger's ascent particularly matters for horror evangelists at the con. "Longlegs" demonstrated that original horror concepts can still break through marketplace noise when they combine craft with genre authenticity. His participation signals Collider's understanding that horror fans represent a substantial subset of Comic-Con's demo.
Goldstein and Daley's continued relevance speaks to their proven ability to