Convention - SDCC 2025 : Directors on Directing Panel Delivers Storytelling Gold in Hall H

By Mulder, San Diego, Convention Center, Hall H, 24 july 2025

The return of Collider’s now-traditional Directors on Directing panel to San Diego Comic-Con 2025 once again transformed Hall H into a cinematic classroom unlike any other. Taking place on Thursday, July 24, 2025 at 2:45 p.m., the panel brought together two legendary filmmakers, Rob Reiner and Paul Feig, under the guidance of Collider’s Editor-in-Chief Steve Weintraub. Rather than leaning on flashy spectacle or marketing gimmicks, the discussion stood as a rare, unfiltered exploration of the craft of directing—spanning decades of Hollywood history, hard-earned lessons, and humorous detours that only seasoned storytellers could deliver. From the moment the lights dimmed and the first anecdotes began, it was clear this was less a press event and more a masterclass, where career-defining choices, industry shifts, and the joy of creative risks took center stage.

Rob Reiner, whose filmography reads like a condensed history of late 20th-century classics—This Is Spinal Tap, Stand by Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, Misery—quickly became the focal point of nostalgia and excitement. The veteran director came bearing a gift for the packed Hall H audience: the first public trailer for Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, his long-awaited sequel to the iconic 1984 mockumentary. In a blend of absurdity and affectionate parody, the footage revealed the hilariously misaligned post-band lives of Nigel, David, and Derek—one now dabbling as a cryptocurrency dealer, another in full mariachi regalia, and the third operating a cheese-shop-pub hybrid—before a bizarre twist of fate brings them together again for a reunion gig in New Orleans. The comedic awkwardness, the aged-but-unbroken rock-star egos, and the sharp satirical bite all signaled that Rob Reiner hasn’t lost a step in delivering the kind of timeless, self-aware humor that made the original a cult phenomenon. Judging by the audience’s reaction—equal parts laughter and applause—Hall H had just witnessed one of SDCC 2025’s most instantly memorable reveals.

Seated alongside him, Paul Feig brought a different but equally vital energy to the conversation. Having begun his career in front of the camera before creating the beloved TV series Freaks and Geeks and later directing hits like Bridesmaids, Spy, and A Simple Favor, Feig offered a sharp perspective on how a director’s early experiences in other creative roles shape their visual and tonal sensibilities. But perhaps his most striking moment came when he took a passionate detour to champion the importance of physical media in the streaming era. Paul Feig urged fans to keep buying DVDs, Blu-rays, and any other tangible format—not for nostalgia’s sake, but to preserve the rich extras that often vanish in the digital void. He reminded the audience that director’s commentaries, blooper reels, and alternate cuts are more than just perks—they’re essential archives of the filmmaking process, now at risk of being lost as studios increasingly prioritize algorithm-driven distribution over archival integrity. In an age where so much entertainment is consumed and forgotten, his rallying cry felt like both a warning and a call to action.

The panel was also rich with behind-the-scenes confessions and turning-point anecdotes that gave the audience rare insight into the personal decisions that shape film history. One standout story saw Rob Reiner reveal that he once turned down the chance to direct Rain Man in favor of making When Harry Met Sally. It was a choice, he admitted, that could have drastically altered the trajectory of his career, but one he never regretted because it aligned with his instincts and storytelling passions. This candid reflection underscored a recurring theme in the panel: that directing, at its best, is as much about knowing when to say no as it is about seizing opportunities. Paul Feig echoed this sentiment, noting that some of his most rewarding projects were ones that others didn’t immediately understand or champion, and that sometimes the riskiest choices—the ones that scare you—are the ones worth making.

What made this Directors on Directing session so memorable wasn’t just the star power or the exclusive footage, but the way Steve Weintraub allowed the conversation to flow between the professional and the personal, the technical and the philosophical. It was a panel that reminded attendees that directing is not merely about technical mastery or industry clout—it’s about vision, resilience, and the ability to translate personal truths into universal experiences. The tradition of past years’ panels—featuring names like Antoine Fuqua, Roland Emmerich, Jon Watts, Tim Miller, Gareth Edwards, Radio Silence, and David Leitch—was proudly upheld here, with 2025’s edition striking an especially resonant balance between entertainment and education. By the time the discussion wrapped, attendees left Hall H with more than just sneak peeks and quotable soundbites—they left with the kind of hard-won creative wisdom that could inspire the next generation of filmmakers, or at the very least, make them watch This Is Spinal Tap again with fresh appreciation.

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Photos and video : Boris Colletier / Mulderville