Big names from sci-fi and fantasy to invade Vancouver this October
By Brittney MacDonald, Life & Style Editor
Like me, you might be planning to attend Fan Expo Vancouver this coming October. I have been going to this convention since its inception and I can say, with certainty, that I have never seen a guest list quite as star-studded as this one promises to be. Just looking at those already announced to attend, there’s going to be a little something for everyone. Without further ado, here are some of the headliners you will be seeing from film and television.
Leading the pack, and one of the first guests announced, is Jason Momoa. He’s famous for his portrayal of Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones as well as his fan-favorite performance as Arthur Curry (better known as Aquaman) in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League—a role he will reprise this December in Aquaman, a feature film origin story for the character. Momoa is best known for being a lovable giant, despite his proclivities for playing movie and television badasses like Conan from the 2011 Conan the Barbarian remake, Stargate: Atlantis’s Ronon Dex, and Frontier’s Declan Harp.
Equally as lovable, and also a giant, is Ron Perlman! For me, I fell in love with Perlman when he played Vincent in the Beauty and the Beast television series that ran from 1987 to 1990. However, most people know Perlman as the titular red dude from Hellboy and Hellboy II: The Golden Army. He has also lent his unique voice to Transformers: Power of the Primes as Optimus Primal, and to Adventure Time where he played the Lich as well as a few other characters. He also has stakes in the Harry Potter franchise, playing Gnarlak in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
Not to be outdone, the ladies will also have representation as Fan Expo presents the original Buffy—Kristy Swanson! Swanson is best known for playing the titular protagonist from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the 1992 movie that inspired the television series starring Sarah Michelle Gellar. Swanson is also known for her portrayal of Simone Adamley in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and as Cathy in the 1987 thriller Flowers in the Attic.
It wouldn’t be Fan Expo without an homage to Power Rangers—and to satisfy that quota, we have Jason David Frank. Frank is not unfamiliar to the Fan Expo stage, but he is always a welcome addition to the guest list. His portrayal of Tommy Oliver in multiple installments of the Power Rangers franchise means that many young nerds have grown up with him as a household name. Outside of Power Rangers, Frank has accumulated an impressive list of credits, playing himself in 2014’s Nerd Love and the title character in 2011’s The Dragon Warrior. He also played real-life stuntman John Stewart in the biopic Fall Guy: The John Stewart Story.
Battlestar Galactica fans will be chomping at the bit to see one of their favorites, Katee Sackhoff. Sackhoff played quintessential captain Starbuck in the 2004 to 2009 television series. She also lent her talents to the Halloween franchise, playing Jen in 2002’s Halloween: Resurrection. Currently Sackhoff is set to play Niko in an upcoming television series titled Another Life, which will debut in 2019.
Marvel fans will be happy to know that Pom Klementieff—the Canadian-born French actress behind Mantis from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Avengers: Infinity War—will be attending. Though relatively unknown to English-speaking audiences, Klementieff does have a few titles under her belt: Haeng-Bok from the 2013 Oldboy remake and Loise in Hacker’s Game, to name a couple. Klementieff is set to reprise her role as Mantis in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in 2020, as well as her role of Loise in Hacker’s Gamer Redux to come out later this year.
Whether you’re there for the nostalgic feels or to celebrate one of many actors responsible for making one of your favorite characters come to life, I suggest reserving your ticket for Fan Expo Vancouver now. The convention will take place from October 12 to 14 at the Vancouver Convention Centre.