SDCC 2026: Guillermo del Toro, Doug Jones, Ivana Baquero, and Guillermo Navarro Celebrate 20 Years of ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ Ahead of Its 3D Re-Release

Twenty years after cementing its place as one of the defining films of the 21st century, Pan’s Labyrinth returned to San Diego Comic-Con, where Guillermo del Toro reunited with Doug Jones, Ivana Baquero, and Academy Award-winning cinematographer Guillermo Navarro to celebrate the film’s enduring legacy ahead of its upcoming 3D theatrical re-release.

Arriving in theaters on del Toro’s birthday, the new 3D presentation is much more than an anniversary release. Personally supervised by the visionary filmmaker, the restoration invites audiences to experience Pan’s Labyrinth in an entirely new way while preserving the artistry and craftsmanship that made the original so unforgettable.

Throughout the conversation, del Toro, Jones, Baquero, and Navarro reflected on the making of Pan’s Labyrinth, the film’s lasting impact over the past two decades, and the care that went into preparing it for a new generation of moviegoers.

For del Toro, the story has always been rooted in the relationship between Ofelia, a young girl with no real power, and Captain Vidal, a fascist who holds absolute authority yet possesses nothing within himself. Speaking about the importance of storytelling and imagination, he argued that “the sacredness of imagery and stories is something they want to take away from us because they make us more vulnerable, divided, and more stupid, and they want us that way.” It is precisely why, he said, “art and beauty and the human spirit are resilient.”

Long before audiences embraced Pan’s Labyrinth, however, those bringing it to life sensed they were creating something special.

Having already worked with del Toro, Jones knew there was no better filmmaker to bring the screenplay to life. As he wiped away tears after finishing the script, he realized he was reading something extraordinary, trusting that del Toro could transform its breathtaking vision into cinema.

Baquero’s experience was understandably different. Just eleven years old when she was cast as Ofelia, she admitted she barely remembers reading the screenplay herself. Instead, she remembers her father, an avid cinephile, immediately recognizing how special the project was. Looking back now through the lens of her own life and experiences, she shared that the film resonates differently today, revealing new emotions and themes that she couldn’t fully appreciate as a child.

That same care continues to shape Pan’s Labyrinth today. Del Toro drew one of the panel’s biggest laughs when he declared there was “no goddamn A.I.” involved in the restoration before explaining that preserving the film also meant protecting the craft behind it. Speaking about the lineage of art, he emphasized that artists learn by studying the work of those who came before them, adding that if that chain is broken, so too is the craftsmanship that defines cinema. Joking that there are “two ways to convert a movie into 3D,” he laughed, “I choose good,” before explaining that the fantasy world gains greater depth while the real world intentionally remains flatter, preserving the visual language at the heart of the film.

For Jones, one of the most meaningful parts of the past twenty years has been meeting fans who share how Pan’s Labyrinth helped them find their voice or offered comfort during difficult moments. Those encounters have become a reminder that the film continues to connect with audiences in deeply personal ways.

Twenty years after its original release, Pan’s Labyrinth is preparing to return to theaters not simply as a celebration of its past, but as an opportunity for a new generation to experience one of Guillermo del Toro’s most celebrated films on the big screen for the very first time.

Pan’s Labyrinth returns to theaters nationwide beginning October 9 in 4K, with 3D and HDR presentations personally supervised by Guillermo del Toro.

Check out our photos from the Pan’s Labyrinth 20th anniversary panel below.

Photos: Kevin Jan/Pop-Culturalist.com