Fans of pop culture, comics, cosplay, fantasy, horror, anime and gaming will find one event to “rule them all” this weekend as MegaCon Orlando returns to Central Florida.
The event at Orange County Convention Center includes a rare cast reunion from “Lord of the Rings” hobbits Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan and Elijah Wood, plus actors Orlando Bloom, Liv Tyler, Karl Urban, John Rhys-Davies and John Noble. This year’s convention also features “Star Trek” icons William Shatner, Walter Koenig, Brent Spiner, Gates McFadden and Jonathan Frak.
Other headliners of this year’s show include Ji-Young Yoo of K-Pop Demon Hunters making her debut convention appearance, John Cena, Alec Baldwin, Diego Luna, Brendan Fraser and Mr. T. The celebrity lineup includes something for fans of all interests with representation from “Harry Potter,” “Star Wars,” “Stranger Things,” “The X-Files,” “Lost,” “The Goonies,” “Hocus Pocus” and many more.
Mr. T said in an interview that he treasures the opportunity to meet with fans and hear their stories.
“Some of them tell me they wanted to cut their hair off like a mohawk, and they cried because their mother wouldn’t let them,” he said. “I try to take time for each person and hug them. They thank me for coming, I thank them for waiting in line … I’m coming to lift people’s spirits, to make them smile and make it a good time.”
This event also represents the first time that Alec Baldwin will appear alongside his brother Stephen Baldwin at a convention, as the youngest of the Baldwin brothers had an acting career of his own with “The Usual Suspects” and “Bio-Dome.”
Other film 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”)
- Cara Buono (“Gladiator,” “Stranger Things”)
- Cedric Yarbrough (“Reno 911′)
- Christian Borle (“Something Rotten!”)
- Colin O’Donoghue (“Once Upon A Time,” “The Rite”)
- Corey Feldman (“The Goonies,” “The Lost Boys”)
- Robert Davi (“The Goonies”)
- Dafne Keen (“Deadpool & Wolverine,” “Logan,” “The Acolyte”)
- Dean Cundey (“Honey, I Shrunk The Kids”)
- 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 (“Lost Boys”)
- Jason Marsden (“The Goofy Movie,” “Hocus Pocus”)
- Jennifer Beals (“Flashdance”)
- Jodie Whittaker (“Frauds”)
- Thomas Lennon (“Reno 911!”)
- Joe Pantoliano (“The Goonies,” “Matrix”)
- John Boyega (“Star Wars”)
- Martha Plimpton (“The Goonies”)
- Matt Lanter (“Timeless,” “90210”)
- Omri Katz (“Hocus Pocus”)
- Peggy The Dog and Holly & Luke (“Deadpool”)
- Ron Perlman (“Hellboy”)
- Vinessa Shaw (“Hocus Pocus”)
- Nick Castle (“Halloween”)
- Tommy Lee Wallace (Halloween)
- John Carpenter (“The Thing,” “Halloween”)
- P.J. Soles (“Halloween”)
The event also includes voice actors from the worlds of anime and animation, plus gaming talent.
Beyond celebrity autographs, panels and special events, the estimated 180,000 MegaCon attendees can experience cosplay competitions, gaming, workshops, interactive experiences and visual artists.
The convention also includes the Masters of Cosplay Grand Finale, bringing in cosplayers from across North America to compete for a grand prize of $10,000. New for this year is Comics Xplosion, a live art battle that puts the spotlight on the best in comic creation.
Find me @PConnPie on Instagram or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com. Stay up to date with our latest travel, arts and events coverage by subscribing to our newsletters at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters.
If you go
MegaCon Orlando returns March. 19-22 at 9899 International Drive in Orlando. Tickets are available starting at $33 for a single day and $159 for a four-day pass. Autographs, photo ops and some special events cost extra. More information: fanexpohq.com
