Fan Expo Chicago: Disney, Marvel, Star Wars highlights
We’re just a few days out from the start of Fan Expo Chicago, so what’s on tap for Disney, Star Wars, and Marvel fans? We’ve gone through the schedule and picked out our favourites.
Donald E. Stephens Convention Centre will host the annual celebration in just five days, from August 16 to 18.
Daily
Check the Fan Expo Chicago website’s guest list for exact dates and times.
Celebrity guests include Mark Hamill, Hayden Christensen, Rosario Dawson, Charlie Cox, Marisa Tomei, Temuera Morrison, Gina Carano, Alan Tudyk, Giancarlo Esposito, Sean Gunn, Cole Sprouse, Joonas Suotamo, Eman Esfandi, Diana Lee Inosanto, Corbin Bleu, and Lucas Grabeel.
While many of the celebrities also have voice actor credits, there’s also Jim Cummings (Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Darkwing Duck), Maurice LaMarche (Zootopia, House of Mouse), Rob Paulsen (Adventures of the Gummi Bears, Lilo & Stitch), and X-Men 97 voices Diane Pershing, Cal Dodd, and Catherine Disher. The latter three will be appearing at the Unknown Comics booth.
Featured comic creators include Dan Slott (Spider-Man, Spider-Boy), Bill Morrison (The Simpsons, Futurama), Guy Gilchrist (The Muppets), E. M. Gist (Star Wars cover artist), Angel Medina (Spider-Man, Venom), and Don Rosa (The Life & Times of Scrooge McDuck). Star Wars Jedi video game actor Cameron Monaghan also will appear.
501st Midwest Garrison will be set up in the Community Groups area.
Friday
- Let the Wookie Win with Joonas Suotamo, 4 pm, Theatre 2
- Hyperspacial Star Wars Art with Joe Corroney and Heather Antos, 5 pm, Theatre 3: Corroney is a Lucasfilm artist, and Anto is the former Marvel Comics Star Wars editor.
- Star Wars Cosplay Meetup, 5 pm, Cosplay Photo Park
- Previously on X-Men with Producer/Director Larry F. Houston, 6 pm, Theatre 3
- Star Wars Make and Take: with Chicago Force, 6 pm, Kids Zone
- Jim Henson, The Muppets and Guy Gilchrist, 7 pm, Theatre 3: Guy was the cartoonist behind The Muppets comic strip, 1981 to 1986.
- Mark Hamill Live, 8 pm, Main Theatre: In the main theatre, Hamill will share stories and take questions.
Saturday
- Legends of Animation, 10:15 am, Theatre 2: Meet the voices behind your fave characters with Jim Cummings (Winnie the Pooh, Curious George), Rob Paulsen (Pinky and the Brain), Maurice LaMarche (Pinky and the Brain, Futurama), Fred Tatasciore (Family Guy, American Dad), and Grey DeLisle (Scooby-Doo, Avatar: The Last Airbender) Also included is Butch Hartman, creator of Fairly Odd Parents and Danny Phantom.
- Marvel Cosplay Meetup, 11 am, Cosplay Photo Park
- Meet Aunt May Parker: Spotlight on Marisa Tomei, 12:15 pm, Theatre 2
- The Many Characters of Alan Tudyk, 12:45 pm, Main Theatre
- Star Wars Cosplay Meetup, 3 pm, Cosplay Photo Park
- Storytelling through the Music of Star Wars, 3:15 pm, Fan Panels Room 4
- The Suite Life of Cole Sprouse, 3:45 pm, Main Theatre
- “To Me, My X-Men”: The Social Context of X-Men 97, 4:15 pm, Fan Panels Room 4
- A Seasoned Warrior: Meet Gina Carano, 5:15 pm, Theatre 2
- All About Ahsoka with Eman Esfandi and Diana Lee Inostanto, 6:15 pm, Theatre 2
- Fan Expo Chicago Cosmic Celebration, 8 pm, Main Theatre: The dance party’s music will include selections from Star Wars and Guardians of the Galaxy, among others. Other features include RSVLTS giveaways.
Sunday
- From Clone Troopers to Bounty Hunters with Temuera Morrison, 10:45 pm, Main Theatre
- Famous Storytellers of History, 11 am, Kids’ Zone: Have you ever wanted to meet famous figures who created great works that stood the test of time? Come and meet famous figures like Walt Disney, Jim Henson, Stan Lee, and more to hear some of their wonderful stories!
- Disney/DreamWorks Cosplay Meetup, 12 pm, Cosplay Photo Park
- Kids Cosplay Red Carpet, 12:30 pm, Cosplay Red Carpet
- Cosplay Red Carpet, 1:30 pm, Cosplay Red Carpet
- From the Hundred Acre Wood to a Galaxy Far, Far Away: The Many Voices of Jim Cummings, 2 pm, Theatre 3
- Becoming Ahsoka with Rosario Dawson, 3:45 pm, Main Theatre