Fans of pop culture, comics, cosplay, fantasy, horror, anime and gaming will find one event to “rule them all” this weekend when MegaCon Orlando returns to Central Florida.
The event, to be held at the Orange County Convention Center, will feature a rare cast of “The Lord of the Rings” stars including Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan and Elijah Wood, as well as actors Orlando Bloom, Liv Tyler, Karl Urban, John Rhys-Davies and John Noble. This year’s competition will also feature Star Trek icons William Shatner, Walter Koenig, Brent Spiner, Gates McFadden and Jonathan Flack.
Other headliners at this year’s show include K-Pop Demon Hunters’ Yoo Ji-young, John Cena, Alec Baldwin, Diego Luna, Brendan Fraser and Mr. T, who will be making their first appearance at the convention. The celebrity lineup includes something for fans of every interest, including Harry Potter, Star Wars, Stranger Things, The X-Files, Lost, The Goonies and Hocus Pocus.
Mr. T said in an interview that he values the opportunity to meet with fans and listen to their stories.
“Some of them cried because they wanted to cut their hair like a Mohawk but their mothers wouldn’t let them,” he says. “I try to take the time to hug each person. They thank me for coming, and I thank them for waiting in line…I’m here to lift people’s spirits, make them smile, and have a good time.”
This will also be the first time Alec Baldwin will appear at the convention alongside his older brother Stephen Baldwin, as the youngest of the Baldwin brothers went on to have an acting career of his own with roles in The Usual Suspects and Biodome.
Other movie and TV icons appearing at MegaCon Orlando include:
Heather Graham (Austin Powers, The Hangover) Frank Grillo (Marvel Cinematic Universe) Mike Colter (Marvel Universe) Josh Holloway (Lost) Henry Ian Cusick (Lost) Calabuono (Gladiator, Stranger Things) Cedric Yarbrough (Reno 911) Christian Borle (Something Rotten!) Colin O’Donoghue (Once Upon a Time, The Light) Corey Feldman (The Goonies, The Lost Boys) Robert Davi (The Goonies) Dafne Keene (Deadpool & Wolverine, Logan, The Acolyte) Dean Cundy (Honey, I Shrunk the Children) Dean Norris (Breaking Bad) Giancarlo Esposito (The Mandalorian) Gillian Anderson (The X-Files) Helen Hunt (Twister) Jake Connelly (Stranger Things) James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) Jamison Newlander (The Lost Boys) Jason Marsden (The Goofy Movie, Hocus Pocus) Jennifer Beals (Flashdance) Jodie Whittaker (The Deception) Thomas Lennon (Reno 911!) Joe Pantoliano (The Goonies, The Matrix) John Boyega (Star Wars) Martha Plimpton (The Goonies) Matt Lanter (Timeless, 90210) Omri Katz (Hocus Pocus) Peggy the Dog, Holly & Luke (Deadpool) Ron Perlman (Hellboy) Vinessa Shaw (Hocus Pocus) Nick Castle (Halloween) Tommy Lee Wallace (Halloween) John Carpenter (The Thing, Halloween) PJ Soles (Halloween)
The event will feature voice actors from the world of anime and animation, as well as gaming talent.
In addition to celebrity autographs, panels, and special events, the estimated 180,000 MegaCon attendees will experience cosplay contests, games, workshops, interactive experiences, and visual artists.
The competition also includes the Masters of Cosplay Grand Finale, which brings cosplayers from across North America to compete for a $10,000 first prize. New this year is Comics Xplosion, a live art battle that spotlights the best in comics production.
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If you go
MegaCon Orlando returns in March. 19-22 at 9899 International Drive in Orlando. Tickets are available starting at $33 for a one-day pass and $159 for a four-day pass. Additional fees apply for autographs, photos and some special events. More information: fanexpohq.com
