Hollywood and Comic-Con: Love affair over?

Last year, just about every major Hollywood release (and quite a few minor ones) that had anything remotely to do with the genres of science fiction, fantasy or horror showed up to San Diego Comic-Con - the annual gathering of hardcore fans, self-described geeks and "cosplayers" - with panels, never-before-seen footage, "immersive experiences," and just about anything else that could be used to get Con-goers' attention.

One of the big moments of 2010 was Robert Downey, Jr.'s introduction of the cast of "Marvel's The Avengers," set for release next year.
So, more than a few people were puzzled, to say the least when it was announced that "Avengers" (along with "The Dark Knight Rises" and "Hunger Games") would not have a panel at the annual convention this year.
"At the moment, it seems as though Hollywood is re-thinking the 'go-all-out' approach to Comic-Con campaigning, in favor of more strategic and focused marketing campaigns," said Kofi Outlaw of Screenrant.com. "It'll be interesting to see if the change in tactics works."
Articles like the one the New York Times published back in June, wondered if the heyday of Comic-Con, as far as being the place to promote the next big film, was over.
"Hollywood has had to learn the hard way that a strong reception from the geek crowd at Comic-Con doesn't necessarily mean a project will be successful with mainstream audiences," said Outlaw. " Movies like 'Sucker Punch' and 'Scott Pilgrim vs. The World' made major impressions at Comic-Con 2010, but went on to have relatively weak box office runs."
This isn't to say that three films likely to make an enormous impact among fans won't be completely absent from the convention. "The Avengers" and "The Dark Knight Rises" are rumored to have some kind of viral marketing campaign (the trailer for the latter, following along with the viral campaign online, was released on Friday). "The Hunger Games," based on the popular novel series, will have a "major presence" on the convention floor, according to EW.com.
All three films are still in production, which likely has a lot to do with their toned-down, fiscally restrained presence as well.
Major studio releases, especially for films coming out in the next few weeks, still have big Comic-Con plans. "Cowboys & Aliens" will have its world premiere at Comic-Con, and its poster already graces the side of a nearby hotel. "Captain America: The First Avenger," "Fright Night" and "Attack the Block" all have screenings planned.
There are also two film behemoths hoping to make big  splashes. The first footage of "The Amazing Spider-Man" will likely be unveiled at the convention, and, after a one-year absence, "Twilight: Breaking Dawn, Part 1" will hold a panel that people might very well be lined up for as you're reading this.
"Hollywood still sees Comic-Con as a major event to utilize for promoting certain types of films," said Gitesh Pandya of Boxofficeguru.com. "The sheer number of bodies that attend and the power that their opinions hold are too valuable to ignore."
About "The Dark Knight Rises" and even "Spider-Man," Pandya points out that they "don't need this type of promotion as much since they are already well-established brands. On the other hand, it was important last year for Thor to have a presence to get people hyped up for the release the following May."
Movie studios may be reassessing how to approach Comic-Con, TV networks are showing no signs of letting up. From the highest anticipated new shows of the fall, "Terra Nova" and "Once Upon a Time," to fan favorites like "True Blood," "The Walking Dead" and "Glee," to shows like "Shameless" that are pretty far removed from "genre" entertainment, many shows seem to want to build their audience at Comic-Con.
Whether the emphasis at Comic-Con is shifting over to the small screen, or the movie studios end up putting on more panels for major releases next year, remains to be seen. One thing is for sure, with at least 125,000 expected to show up in downtown San Diego, there will continue to be lots of interest in getting the attention of that captive audience.