Wizard World Philadelphia is going to be huge! Starting tomorrow, Wizard World invades the Pennsylvania Convention Center for a four-day experience filled with celebrities, panels, cosplay, comic book retailers, publishers, artists, writers, and so much more!
The event runs from June 2nd – 5th. If you are in or around the Philly area, this is going to be an epic event filled with so much pop culture goodness, you won’t want to miss it!
Here’s a look at who you can expect to see:
Chris Evans (appearing Sat. & Sun.)
(Actor – Captain America: The First Avenger [Captain America/Steve Rogers]; The Avengers; Avengers: Age of Ultron; Captain America: The Winter Soldier; Captain America: Civil War; Fantastic 4 [Human Torch/Johnny Storm])
Chris Evans has emerged as one of Hollywood’s most in-demand actors for both big budget and independent features.
Evans can next be seen in Captain America: Civil War, the third installment of Marvel’s Captain America franchise. He also starred in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the sequel to the highly successful Captain America: The First Avenger which was released in 2011. In each film, Evans reprises his role as the famed Marvel Comics character, ‘Steve Rogers,’ who transforms into Captain America after volunteering for a top secret research project in hopes of defending America’s ideals. Both films grossed over $713 million each at box offices worldwide.
Chris Hemsworth (appearing Sat. & Sun.)
(Actor – The Avengers; The Avengers: Age of Ultron; Thor; Star Trek; Snow White and the Huntsman)
One of Hollywood’s fastest rising stars, Hemsworth was first introduced to US audiences in Star Trek in 2009. In addition to the Marvel movies, Hemsworth also starred in Snow White and the Huntsman for Universal, Rush directed by Ron Howard. In 2015, he reprised his role as Thor in The Avengers: Age of Ultron. Thor: Ragnarok is due in theaters in November, 2017
Hemsworth was born and raised in Australia. He supports the Australian Childhood Foundation.
Tom Hiddleston (appearing Sat. only)
(Actor – The Avengers [Loki]; Thor; Thor: The Dark World)
Tom is perhaps best known for his role as the villain Loki in Kenneth Branagh’s THOR for Marvel, a role that he reprised in the 2012 blockbuster hit Marvel movie THE AVENGERS. The film was received with positive reviews and set numerous box office records, including the biggest opening weekend in North America, tied the record for the fastest film to gross $1 billion worldwide and became the third highest-grossing film.
In October 2013, Tom returned to his role as Loki in THOR: THE DARK WORLD, alongside an all-star cast including Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman and Idris Elba. The film went to the top of the North American charts with an estimated $86.1m, producing the ninth biggest November debut in history. Tom received excellent personal reviews, with Dave Fawbert from Shortlist calling Tom “the star of the show” and The Hollywood Reporter’s Leslie Felperin, claiming that Tom “steal(s) the whole show.”
Tom will next be seen in Guillermo del Toro’s Gothic thriller; CRIMSON PEAK, where he stars alongside Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain, Mia Wasikowska and Charlie Hunnam. The film tells the story of an aspiring author who is torn between love for her childhood friend and the temptation of a mysterious outsider in the aftermath of a family tragedy, and will be released in October this year.
Michael J. Fox (appearing Sat. only)
5-TIME EMMY AWARD WINNER
(Actor – Back to the Future; Back to the Future II; Back to the Future III; Family Ties; Spin City; Teen Wolf)
When he was 18, Fox moved to Los Angeles. He had a series of bit parts, including one in CBS short-lived (yet critically acclaimed) Alex Haley/Norman Lear series Palmerstown USA before winning the role of lovable conservative Alex P. Keaton on NBC’s enormously popular Family Ties (1982-89). During Fox’s seven years on Ties, he earned three Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe, making him one of the country’s most prominent young actors.
Spin City reunited Fox with Family Ties creator/executive producer Gary David Goldberg. Together with Bill Lawrence, Goldberg created the series expressly for Fox, establishing it as a joint venture of Dreamworks SKG, Goldberg’s UBU Productions, and Lottery Hill Entertainment.
Fox also had time during his busy TV work to become an international film star, appearing in over a dozen features showcasing his keen ability to shift between comedy and drama. These include the Back to the Future trilogy, The Hard Way, Doc Hollywood, The Secret of My Success, Bright Lights, Big City, Light of Day, Teen Wolf, Casualties of War, Life With Mikey, For Love or Money, The American President, Greedy, The Frighteners, and Mars Attacks!
David Duchovny (appearing Sat. & Sun.)
EMMY AWARD NOMINEE
(Actor – The X-Files [Fox Mulder]; Californication [Hank Moody]; Aquarius, Musician – Hell or Highwater)
Duchovny emerged to become one of the most highly acclaimed actors in Hollywood. The star of Fox Television’s international monster hit “The X-Files,” David was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series, he was nominated for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his highly acclaimed and some say risqué appearances on THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW. In January 1997, David won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series. He has been nominated for a total of three Golden Globes, three Screen Actors Guild and a TV Critic’s Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series. The press and the public both agree that Duchovny brings a fierce intellect, a quiet intensity and an acerbic wit to his roles on both the small screen and the silver screen.
Duchovny’s passion for renegade films has brought him critical acclaim for his performances in the feature films KALIFORNIA, in which he costarred opposite Brad Pitt; THE RAPTURE, the controversial film directed by Michael Tolkin in which Duchovny starred opposite Mimi Rogers; and JULIA HAS TWO LOVERS, in which he turned in a much heralded performance as a telephone hustler. Duchovny played Roland “Rollie” Totheroh, Charlie Chaplin’s longtime confidante and cameraman in the Sir Richard Attenborough directed CHAPLIN, which starred Robert Downey, Jr. in the title role; and starred in the smash hit BEETHOVEN, opposite Charles Grodin and Bonnie Hunt, as the evil yuppie determined to take over Charles Grodin’s company.
Norman Reedus (appearing Sat. & Sun.)
(Actor – The Walking Dead [Daryl Dixon]; Boondock Saints I & II; Blade II)
Norman Reedus is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal as Murphy MacManus in the 1999 film The Boondock Saints and as Daryl Dixon on AMC’s The Walking Dead. He has also directed several videos and modeled for various fashion designers.
Reedus was born in Hollywood, Florida and months later moved to Los Angeles, California. Leaving home at the age of twelve, he has lived in many countries including England, Spain and Japan. He was first discovered at a party in Los Angeles. While in Los Angeles, he worked at a Harley Davidson shop in Venice and at the same time contributed artwork to various shows as a painter, photographer, sculptor, and video artist. He got his first taste of acting in the play Maps for Drowners at the Tiffany Theater on Sunset Boulevard. He has modeled for Prada, Alessandro DellAcqua, and Durban. Reedus is best known for playing the role of Murphy MacManus in the cult movie The Boondock Saints, written and directed by Troy Duffy and starring opposite Sean Patrick Flanery and Willem Dafoe. He starred opposite Flanery in the sequel The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day, which started filming in the summer of 2008 and was released on All Saints Day (Nov. 1st) of 2009. He has had roles in Floating, Six Ways to Sunday, Deuces Wild, Blade II, Gossip, Mimic, 8mm, American Gangster, Hero Wanted and Moscow Chill. In 2008 he starred in the film Red Canyon as the character of Mac.
Sebastian Stan (appearing Sat. & Sun.)
(Actor – Captain America: The Winter Soldier [Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier]; Captain America: The First Avenger; Once Upon a Time; Black Swan; Gossip Girl)
Sebastian Stan is quickly becoming one of Hollywood’s most sought after young actors.
Stan was last seen on USA Network’s buzzed about mini-series POLITICAL ANIMALS. Stan also appeared on ABC’s hit fantasy series ONCE UPON A TIME with for a seven-episode arc.
On the big screen, Stan is best known for his role as Bucky Barnes in Marvel’s box office smash CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER. Stan will reprise his role in the sequel, CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER due out April 2014.
Other film credits include Summit Entertainment’s GONE, Darren Aranofsky’s BLACK SWAN, RACHEL GETTING MARRIED, SPREAD, HOT TUB TIME MACHINE, THE EDUCATION OF CHARLIE BANKS, THE ARCHITECT and THE COVENANT.
In 2007, Stan made his Broadway debut opposite Liev Schreiber in Eric Bogosian’s TALK RADIO. In 2013 Stan returned to Broadway in Sam Gold’s revival of PICNIC.
Anthony Mackie (appearing Sat. & Sun.)
(Actor – Captain America: Civil War [Sam Wilson/Falcon]; Avengers: Age of Ultron; Ant-Man; Captain America: The Winter Soldier; The Hurt Locker; The Night Before)
Mackie is a member of the Marvel Comics family. He made his Marvel debut as Sam Wilson/The Falcon in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” The film, released on April 4th, 2014, opened #1, earning over 96 million dollars, breaking the record for an April release. Mackie starred alongside Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, and Sebastian Stan in the second installment of the franchise. Mackie’s Falcon made an appearance in the recently released “Avengers: Age of Ultron” as well as “Ant-Man.” He recently wrapped “Captain America: Civil War” the third installment in the Captain America franchise, set to be released May 6, 2016.
This year he has been seen on the big screen in “Black or White” opposite Kevin Costner and Octavia Spencer, “Playing it Cool” with Chris Evans and Michelle Monaghan, as well as “Our Brand is Crisis” opposite Sandra Bullock. His film “Shelter,” with Jennifer Connelly, premiered at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival and was recently released nationwide on November 13, 2015. Additionally, he stars in the Holiday film “Love the Coopers” with a terrific ensemble cast including Marisa Tomei, Diane Keaton and Amanda Seyfried. He will star opposite Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon Levitt in Seth Rogen’s “The Night Before,” set for release on November 20, 2015. In 2016 he will star in “Triple 9” opposite Woody Harrelson and Kate Winslet set for release February 19, 2016.
Christopher Lloyd (appearing Fri., Sat. & Sun.)
3-TIME EMMY AWARD WINNER
(Actor – Back to the Future; Taxi; The Addams Family; Star Trek III: The Search for Spock; One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest; Roger Rabbit)
Christopher Allen Lloyd is an American actor. He is best known for playing Doc Brown in the Back to the Future trilogy, Uncle Fester in The Addams Family films, and Judge Doom in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. He played Reverend Jim Ignatowski in the television series Taxi and most recently Mr. Goodman in Piranha 3D. He also starred in the short-lived television series Deadly Games, and also was a regular in the short-lived TV series Stacked, in the mid-2000s.
Lloyd has used his vocal talents in animation, frequently voicing villains. He currently voices the character Hacker on the animated PBS series Cyberchase. Lloyd has won three Primetime Emmy Awards and an Independent Spirit Award, and has been nominated for two Saturn Awards and a Daytime Emmy Award.
Dominic Cooper (appearing Sat. & Sun.)
(Actor – Agent Carter [Howard Stark]; Captain America: The First Avenger; Preacher [Jesse Custer]; Warcraft [King Llane Wrynn])
Dominic Edward Cooper is an English actor. He has worked in television, film, theatre and radio, in productions including Mamma Mia!, The Duchess, The History Boys, The Devil’s Double, Captain America: The First Avenger, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and Dracula Untold.
Stanley Tucci (appearing Sat. & Sun.)
ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEE
2-TIME EMMY AWARD WINNER
(Actor – Captain America: The First Avenger [Dr. Abraham Erskine]; The Hunger Games; The Lovely Bones; The Devil Wears Prada)
Academy Award nominee Stanley Tucci has appeared in over 50 films and countless television shows. He has appeared in more than a dozen plays, on and off Broadway, and has been behind the camera working as a writer, director, and producer.
Tucci reached his widest audience yet in the role of Caesar Flickerman in THE HUNGER GAMES franchise. A box office sensation and critical success, the fourth and final installment of the series (MOCKING JAY) which released on November 20, 2015.
Next up for Tucci is FINAL PORTRAIT, the highly anticipated drama he is directing and has written, which stars Geoffrey Rush, Armie Hammer, & Tony Shalhoub. The film shows the relationship between the legendary Swiss painter Alberto Giacometti American art critic James Lord and the. The script is based on A Giacometti Portrait.
Tucci recently completed production of Bill Condon’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, alongside Emma Watson, Ewan McGregor, Luke Evans, Dan Stevens, Emma Thompson and Ian McKellen, set for release in 2017. Other projects for Tucci include PETER & WENDY, a two-hour drama where he played Captain Hook alongside Laura Fraser and Paloma Faith, released on ITV in 2015; and PATIENT ZERO alongside Natalie Dormer, set to release in 2016.
Lea Thompson (appearing Sat. & Sun.)
(Actress – Back to the Future; Back to the Future II; Back to the Future III; Switched at Birth; Caroline in the City; Howard the Duck; Some Kind of Wonderful)
Lea Katherine Thompson is an American actress, television director, and television producer. She is best known for her role as Lorraine Baines in the Back to the Future trilogy and as the title character in the 1990s NBC sitcom Caroline in the City. Other films she is known for include All the Right Moves, The Beverly Hillbillies, Howard the Duck, Jaws 3-D, Red Dawn, and Some Kind of Wonderful. Since 2011 she has co-starred as Kathryn Kennish in the ABC Family series Switched at Birth.
Hayley Atwell (appearing Sat. & Sun.)
(Actress – Agent Carter; Captain America: The First Avenger; Avengers: Age of Ultron)
Hayley’s impressive body of work has established her as one of the finest actresses of her generation. She can currently be seen in Marvel’s ‘Agent Carter’, in which she reprises her role yet again as the feisty ‘Agent Peggy Carter’. The show picks up a year after the events of ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’, and follows Peggy Carter’s blossoming career as a secret agent.
She will next be seen in the Kenneth Branagh directed ‘Cinderella’, in which she stars alongside Richard Madden, Cate Blanchett and Lily James. The film is set for release in March 2015 and is a live-action retelling of the classic fairy tale. Following this Hayley will be seen reprising her role as Peggy Carter yet again, in ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’. The film is set for US release in May and will see her Star alongside Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth and Robert Downey Jr. Hayley has most recently been seen as the lead female role in the John Ridley directed, Jimi Hendrix biopic ‘Jimi: All Is By My Side’, alongside Imogen Poots and Andre 3000.
Frank Grillo (appearing Sat. & Sun.)
(Actor – Captain America: The Winter Soldier [Brock Rumlow]; Captain America: Civil War [Brock Rumlow/Crossbones]; Warrior; The Grey)
The oldest of three children, Frank Grillo was born in New York City, to an Italian-American family. He grew up in upstate New York, and got his first taste of acting in high school where he was in many plays. Frank was also a gifted athlete and his dream was to play sports professionally. Frank graduated from New York University with a business degree.
Stephen Amell (appearing Fri., Sat. & Sun.)
(Actor – Arrow [Oliver Queen/Arrow], Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 [Casey Jones])
Stephen Amell plays the title character in the CW’s hit series Arrow, based on the famous DC Comics superhero, The Green Arrow. Known by day as Oliver Queen, the spoiled heir to his tycoon father’s empire, he moonlights as a crime-fighting vigilante, utilizing skills he gained while shipwrecked on a remote island for five years. Arrow’s premiere drew over 4 million viewers, making it the CW’s most watched program in over three years. Throughout its first season, the show continued to be a ratings and critical success.
Previously, Stephen appeared as a series regular on the 3rd season of HBO’s Hung. He played “Jason,” an attractive young busboy who gets recruited into the world of Detroit gigolos. At the same time, Stephen had recurring roles on Fox’s comedy New Girl opposite Zooey Deschanel, as well as a romantic arc with Amy Brenneman as EMT “Scottie” on ABC’s Private Practice.
In 2011, Amell played the role of Joran Van Der Sloot in Lifetime’s Justice for Natalee Holloway, which told the story of Beth Holloway’s quest to bring Joran, the presumed killer of her daughter, to justice. Stephen received praise for his chilling performance as the Dutch sociopath. Other notable appearances include guest-starring roles on CSI: Miami, NCIS:LA, Vampire Diaries, and 90210. In the fall of 2007, Stephen won a Gemini Award for Best Actor in a Guest-Starring Role for his work in Regenesis, a dramatic series on Canada’s The Movie Network.
Georges St-Pierre (Appearing Sunday only)
(Actor – Captain America: The Winter Soldier [Georges Batroc], 3-Time UFC Welterweight Champion)
Often referred to by experts and fans alike as one of the best pound-for-pound MMA fighters today, Georges “Rush” St-Pierre, also known as “GSP,” is a Canadian professional mixed martial artist and UFC world champion who holds black belts in both Kyokushin karate and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
As a child St. Pierre was bullied for years by older schoolmates leading his father to introduce him to Kyokushin karate at age 7, “but life isn’t like a movie,” according to St. Pierre. “You can do all the karate you want, when you’re eight or nine-years-old and they’re 12, when you’re alone and there’s three of them, you can’t do anything. That’s the reality.”
Already a 2nd dan Kyokushin karate black belt at 12, St. Pierre dedicated himself to martial arts and training throughout his teen years. After seeing Royce Gracie fight in 1993 at UFC 1, St. Pierre knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life and how he was going to reach those goals. By investing all his energy and all his time at becoming a better version of himself, St. Pierre discovered a simple truth: never stopping helps reach goals.
St. Pierre grew as a person and as a fighter as he added fighting disciplines such as boxing, wrestling, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to his karate background and competed in his first amateur bout at age 16. He won that match, and continued his steady improvement. In 2006 he became the UFC Welterweight Champion. He lost the title in 2007 but subsequently regained it in front of his hometown fans of Montreal in 2008.
Along his career, St. Pierre accomplished numerous firsts and awards including: the all-time most consecutive welterweight title defenses, three-time consecutive Canadian Athlete of the Year Awards (‘08– ‘10) by Rogers Sportsnet, Fighter of the Year Awards (‘09) by Sports Illustrated, World MMA Awards, MMAPayout, Inside MMA and MMAJunkie, the “Most Dangerous Man of the Year “by the Spike Guys Choice Awards (‘10) and the MMA Fighter of the Year Award (‘08) by Black Belt Magazine.
St. Pierre is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Way of the Fight. Released in 2013, the book shares the lessons he’s learned on the way to the top.
Later that year, St. Pierre officially announced that he had decided to vacate the title and take some time off from MMA. He has not ruled out a return to the ring in the future. GSP is based in Montreal.
Plus Billy Boyd, Sean Patrick Flanery, William B. Davis, Mitch Pileggi and more! This year’s Wizard World Philadelphia is not to be missed!
Here is the official press release courtesy of Wizard World (note: yesterday’s press release preceded the announcement of actor Tom Hiddleston):
Marvel Stars Unite in Philadelphia!
Evans, Hemsworth, Stan Among Wizard World Guests
Marvel Universe Standouts Anthony Mackie, Hayley Atwell, Dominic Cooper, Stanley Tucci, Frank Grillo Also To Appear At Pennsylvania Convention Center
PHILADELPHIA, March 1, 2016 – Marvel blockbuster films such as Captain America: The First Avenger, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, The Avengers and Thor and hit TV programs such as “Agent Carter” and “Agents of “S.H.I.E.L.D” have attracted millions of fans, with megastars Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth and Sebastian Stan among the main attractions. Now, those three plus popular supporting actors Anthony Mackie, Hayley Atwell, Dominic Cooper, Stanley Tucci and Frank Grillo will gather for the first time at Wizard World Philadelphia on Saturday and Sunday, June 4–5 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, it was announced today by Wizard World, producer of the largest comic con and pop culture convention series.
All are scheduled to appear on both weekend days. Each of the eight will greet fans, sign autographs, pose for photo ops (solo and in several different themed combinations) and conduct interactive Q&A panels.
“This will be the greatest collection of Marvel stars in one convention setting,” said John Macaluso , Wizard World CEO. “Having Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth and Sebastian Stan return to the Tour is a huge coup for fans. When you combine that with Michael J. Fox, David Duchovny, Stephen Amell and Norman Reedus, among the many others already attending, this will be one show fans won’t want to miss.”
A wide variety of VIP admission packages for individual and groups of the Marvel stars are now available. Fans can visit wizd.me/PhiladelphiaPR for options.
Evans, who has emerged as one of Hollywood’s most in-demand actors for both big budget and independent features, can next be seen in Captain America: Civil War , the third installment of Marvel’s Captain America franchise. In each film, Evans, who attended his first Wizard World event in New Orleans in January, reprises his role as the famed Marvel Comics character, “Steve Rogers,” who transforms into Captain America after volunteering for a top secret research project in hopes of defending America’s ideals. Both films grossed over $713 million each at box offices worldwide.
Hemsworth, a big hit at last weekend’s Wizard World Cleveland show, was first introduced to U.S. audiences in Star Trek in 2009. Three years later, Hemsworth also starred in Universal’s big revisionist fairy tale Snow White And The Huntsman opposite Charlize Theron and Kristen Stewart and in the horror feature The Cabin in the Woods. As prolific as 2012 was for the Melbourne, Australia, native, 2015 was even bigger, with four feature films including The Avengers: Age of Ultron, In the Heart of the Sea, Vacation and Blackhat. He also will play the lead in the sequel The Huntsman Winter’s War and a key role in the reboot of Ghostbusters, both scheduled for release this year.
Stan, who plays “Bucky” Barnes in both Winter Soldier and the 2011 Cap hit The First Avenger, has also had recurring roles on the TV series “Once Upon a Time” and “Gossip Girl” and has a Broadway track record that includes stints on hits “Talk Radio” and “Picnic.”
The Marvel stars join an already standout Wizard World Philadelphia celebrity field which includes David Duchovny (“The X-Files“), the Back to the Future trio of Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd and Lea Thompson and “The Walking Dead” standout Norman Reedus, with many more to be announced.
Wizard World comic con and gaming events bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, cosplay, comics, television, sci-fi, toys, video gaming, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more.
Philadelphia show hours are:
Thursday, June 2, 3-8 p.m.
Friday, June 3, noon-7 p.m.
Saturday, June 4, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Sunday, June 5, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
For more on the 2016 Wizard World Philadelphia, visit http://wizd.me/PhiladelphiaPR .
About Wizard World (OTCBB: WIZD)
Wizard World, Inc. (www.wizardworld.com ) produces comic cons and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, television, cosplay, comics, graphic novels, toys, video gaming, sci-fi, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more. A first-class lineup of topical programming takes place at each event, with celebrity Q&A’s, comics-themed sessions, costume contests, movie screenings, evening parties and more. Wizard World has also launched Wizard World Store (www.shopwizardworld.com), CONtv, a digital media channel in partnership with leading independent content distributor Cinedigm™ (NASDAQ: CIDM), and ComicConBox™ ( www.comicconbox.com), a premium subscription-based monthly box service. Fans can interact with Wizard World on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and other social media services.