Wizard World Assembles Five Captains and The Avengers

Patrick Stewart, known to millions of fans as “Captain Jean-Luc Picard” on the television series “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” and “Professor Charles Xavier” in the X-Men film series, will attend Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con, Stewart and Wizard World, Inc. announced today.  He joins William Shatner (“Captain Kirk”), Avery Brooks (“Captain Sisko”), Kate Mulgrew (“Captain Janeway”) and Scott Bakula (“Captain Archer”) as captains of their respective series in the iconic franchise who will be special guests at the event, set for Thursday, May 31, through Sunday, June 3 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.  Stewart will appear at the event on Saturday.

The Emmy-nominated actor, who has performed in more than 100 television and film roles, is one of several actors to appear in all three “X-Men” films: X-Men (2000), X2 (2003) and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006). His role as Picard, which started on “Next Generation,” placed him in four Star Trek films: Generations (1994), First Contact (1996), Insurrection (1998) and Nemesis (2002). He also served as the voice of numerous animated characters in movies like Chicken Little and Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, as well as popular TV shows such as “Family Guy” and “American Dad.”

“Bringing together the five Captains from the iconic ‘Star Trek’ series, capped with the addition of the legendary Sir Patrick Stewart, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our fans,” said John Macaluso, Wizard World CEO.  “They and other standout guests like Chris Hemsworth, William Shatner and Stan Lee make Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con a can’t-miss event.”

Joining the five captains at Wizard World are a group of actors and creators responsible for pop culture’s hottest team,“The Avengers.” Fans can meet Chris Hemsworth, who plays Thor, Stan Lee, co-creator of the franchise and its characters, and more than a dozen comic book artists who have worked on numerous titles.  Hemsworth, who also stars as the ‘Huntsman’ in Universal’s big revisionist fairy tale SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN opposite Charlize Theron and Kristen Stewart this summer, will attend the event on Saturday, June 2, while Lee will be on hand from Friday, June 1, through Sunday, June 3.  Lee is simply one of the most influential leaders in the comics industry, as he has been for decades.  Both will meet fans, be available for photo ops, sign autographs and discuss their respective roles in the franchise’s success.

But it doesn’t stop there.  Lou Ferrigno, known to millions as “The Incredible Hulk” from the 1977-82 hit TV series and provided the voice for The Hulk in the current film, will also be on hand from Friday through Sunday, June 1-3.

And at least 15 creators, whose credits in addition to the flagship “Avengers” include popular titles such as “Ultimate Avengers vs. New Ultimates,” “Avengers Assemble,” “Mighty Avengers” and  “Avengers Academy,” will have Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con Artist Alley tables, featuring their “Avengers” work and sketching for fans.  Among the talented artists are Carlo Pagulayan, Stephen Segovia, Harvey Tolibao, Ariel Olivetti, Kate Bradley, Jim Calafiore, Mike Lilly, Khoi Pham, Tom Raney, Mark Stegbauer, Miguel Sepulveda, Tom Raney, Jamal Igle, Alitha E. Martinez and Rodney Ramos.

Highlight programming at Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con includes:

• Individual celebrity Q&A’s featuring Hemsworth, Lee, WWE® Superstar CM Punk™, Sam Witwer, Hayden Panettiere, Bruce Campbell, Jeri Ryan, Dean Cain and more
• Four “Star Trek” captains reunite as Shatner (“Captain Kirk”) Scott Bakula (“Captain Archer”), Avery Brooks (“Captain Sisko”), and Kate Mulgrew (“Captain Janeway”) compare stories of their respective times at the command

• James Marsters and Juliet Landau, known to most of the geek world as “Spike” and “Drusilla” from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel,” share the stage in an entertaining discussion of  their Joss Whedon experiences and other roles

• The Boondock Saints trio of Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus and David Della Rocco rekindle memories of the popular 1999 cult movie and sequel 10 years later
• Screenings of the 2009 film The Loved Ones and last year’s Lloyd the Conqueror
• Party with fellow Wizard World revelers at the Drink & Draw on Friday at the Convention Center and the GeekNation Launch party at The Field House (1150 Filbert St.)
• Love is in the air with Sci-Fi Speed Dating, for those looking to “Terminate” their single lives
• Kids Day on Sunday, with a full slate of activities specially designed for the youngsters
• Laugh out loud (but hide the kids from this one) when Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling brings his unique brand of comedy – forged by many years on “The Howard Stern Show” and “Jackie’s Joke Hunt” on Sirius XM Radio
• It wouldn’t be Wizard World Comic Con without cosplay and costume contests – adults on Saturday night, kids on Sunday

  Programming at Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con is available at http://www.wizardworld.com/programming-pa.html.