20 Stars We’re Excited to See at Fan Expo San Francisco

FAN EXPO San Francisco is almost here, and the convention’s roster of celebrity guests is one of the most exciting things to look forward to in the festivities. The FAN EXPO convention circuit has become a pop culture titan in recent years, with an impressive schedule of events in major cities across the continental United States, although FAN EXPO Canada has expanded the brand’s premise even further. FAN EXPO San Francisco will be held from November 29th to December 1st at the titular city’s Moscone Center West.

The event will attract an exciting circle of celebrity guests, with stars from Star WarsMarvel Cinematic Universe movie regulars and many more preparing to attend. Some faces and names will be familiar to dedicated FAN EXPO attendees, with several celebrity guests who have appeared at FAN EXPO Canada and FAN EXPO Chicago, most recently returning for FAN EXPO San Francisco. As the event gets closer and closer, the desire to see these big Hollywood names mingle with fans becomes impossible to contain.

20

Hayden Christensen

Known for Star Wars

One of the most anticipated celebrity appearances at FAN EXPO San Francisco is easily Hayden Christensen. The Canadian actor received acclaim for his performances in films such as Broken glass and jumper, but it was his turn as Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars prequels that catapulted him to geek stardom. Christensen will appear on Saturday, where eager Star Wars fans will be able to get photos and autographs of all kinds, even on special items like replica lightsabers or helmets.

19

Jose Quinn

Known for Stranger Things

A rising star in recent years, Joseph Quinn has gone from relative unknown to a pop culture icon in a short space of time. The English actor first gained recognition as the short-lived Eddie Munson in Strange things, but has since gained praise in A peaceful place: first day. Most notably, Quinn will be among the cast of The Fantastic Four: Getting Started as Johnny Storm, aka The Human Torch, making his soon-to-be-available autographs even more valuable with the film’s release.

18

Andy Serkis

Known for The Lord of the Rings

Few artists can attest to the same legendary status as Andy Serkis. Known for his motion capture work portraying non-human characters of all types, Serkis is acclaimed for his time as Gollum in the film Lord of the Rings trilogy and Caesar in Planet of the Apes previous films. As a traditional live-action actor, he is also quite talented on the comic book movie circuit, playing Ulysses Klaue in the MCU and Alfred in Matt Reeves. The Batman.

17

Bruce Campbell

Known for Evil Dead

Another legacy celebrity with deep roots in the world of geek culture, Bruce Campbell is a legendary name in the horror genre. Although he gained attention in less appreciated roles in Burn notice and Bubba Ho-Tep, Campbell is omnipresent with his character Ash Williams, the dim-witted hero of evil Dead series. Most recently, Campbell reprized the role in the spin-off show Ash vs Evil Deadwhich ended in 2018.

16

Charlie Cox

Known as Daredevil

Charlie Cox is another fast-rising titan in the comic book movie space, whose performance as Matthew Murdock was so good that the MCU had no choice but to bring him back after the Netflix continuity ended. Although the English actor has been great in films like The theory of everything and Stardustdidn’t make it to Netflix Reckless that he’s actually become a household name in comic book movie circles. Cox has made cameo appearances as the character in a variety of MCU projects and will soon lead his own show with the upcoming Daredevil: Born Again.

15

Grant Gustin

Known as Flash

Veterans of the Marvel shows aren’t the only big TV names to expect at FAN EXPO San Francisco, with Grant Gustin also set to join in on the excitement. A dedicated TV actor, Grant Gustin achieved celebrity status as Barry Allen in the CW film. Flash, a key component of the overarching Arrowverse. Gustin closed the franchise with the end of The Flash recently in 2023, leaving him open to appearing at more events like FAN EXPO San Francisco.

14

Danny Trejo

Known for Machete

FAN EXPO regular Danny Trejo has a well-deserved reverence as one of the coolest action stars to ever grace the screen. Best known as Robert Rodriguez Machete series, Trejo has also been a staple in violent action films and TV shows with a strong Latin twist, such as From Dusk Till Dawn, Breaking Bad, and Predators. These days, Trejo is most often seen as a voice actor in surprisingly kid-friendly content, a hilarious and stark contrast to his more famous work.

13

Priscilla Presley

Known as Naked Gun

Although Priscilla Presley is perhaps most famous for her marriage to the king himself, Elvis Presley, she has become an impressively established actress with a plethora of credits. Some of his most famous works include the Naked Weapon spy parody franchise and the long-running TV series Dallas. In 2023, she played a version of herself in Agent Elvis, an animated action comedy that features her late husband as a secret super spy.

12

Giancarlo Esposito

Known for Breaking Bad

Giancarlo Esposito began acting by playing goofy secondary characters in projects such as Do the right thing and Maximum Overdrive. However, in recent years, Esposito’s smooth-talking performance as the terrifying drug kingpin Gus Fring in Breaking Bad and Better call Saul left him typecast in a variety of similar antagonistic mentor roles, including Moff Gideon from The Mandalorian. Continuing this trend, Giancarlo Esposito should soon play the supervillain Sidewinder in the cast of Captain America: Brave New World.

11

Cameron Monaghan

Known for Shameless

Cameron Monaghan was born in California and began his career as a child actor, appearing in children’s films such as Small Stuart and Winnie the Pooh. As an adult, Monaghan proved himself to be a true TV star, hosting series such as Shameless like Ian or providing a frightening antagonist like Jerome/Jeremiah in Gotham. Monaghan also voiced protagonist Cal Kestis in the recent Star Wars Jedi series. It would be exciting to see Monaghan join the live-action series as his video game character in the flesh.

10

Manny Jacinto

Known as The Acolyte

Manny Jacinto is a great example of a talented actor’s ability to pivot his career into a major franchise. Originally, Jacinto became quietly popular thanks to his portrayal of Jason in The good place, a hard-headed Floridian trapped in a tortuous afterlife. Since then, Jacinto has gained even more praise from fans as The Stranger in The Acolyte. He is also notable for appearances in films such as Top Gun: Maverick and I want you Back.

9

Dolph Lundgren

Known for Rocky IV

Another hugely successful name gracing FAN EXPO San Francisco is none other than Ivan Drago himself, Dolph Lundgren. One of the big action stars of the 80s, Lundgren is an iconic actor known for his menacing portrayal of the fearsome Russian fighter, returning to the role recently in Creed II. Lundgren is also notable as Frank Castle in The Punisher, Andrew Scott in Universal Soldier, and the heroic barbarian He-Man in Masters of the Universe. He took his place alongside other regulars of the ’80s action on Mercenaries series too.

8

John Rhys-Davies

Known for Raiders of the Lost Ark

A quietly popular actor, John Rhys-Davies may not exactly be a household name, but he’s found his way into some of the most iconic franchises in pop culture history. Many FAN EXPO San Francisco attendees will recognize Rhys-Davies as Sallah in both Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the dial of destiny. He is also known as the dwarf warrior Gimli in Peter Jackson’s film Lord of the Rings series. Most recently, Rhys-Davies lent his husky voice to the Brine King in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.

7

Eli Roth

Known as Inglourious Basterds

Not every big name that appears at FAN EXPO San Francisco is necessarily a dedicated actor. Eli Roth is best known for his work behind the camera, directing macabre and delightful horror films like Thanksgiving, Cabin Fever, and the first two Hostel films. However, he’s also quite entertaining as an actor, as demonstrated by his performance as Donny “The Bear Jew” Donowitz in Quentin Tarantino’s World War II pulp action film. Inglourious Basterds. Truly a talented name to keep an eye on at this year’s convention.

6

Randy Quaid

Known for National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Another beloved star from yesteryear, Randy Quaid is a comic book legend who is still surprisingly active in film. Quaid is best known for his hilarious performances in comedies such as National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Kingpin, and Vacation, although he occasionally serves as comic relief in blockbusters such as Independence Day. Randy Quaid still produces funny and devastating comedies today, such as The Christmas Letter and Balls out: Gary, the tennis coach.

5

Kate Mulgrew

Known for Star Trek: Voyager

Of course, no FAN EXPO would be complete without something for the Trekkies, and FAN EXPO San Francisco aims to please with the participation of Kate Mulgrew. Mulgrew is a Star Trek veteran, appearing for the first time in the cast of Star Trek: Voyagerlater returning as Captain Kathryn Janeway in Star Trek: Nemesis and the video game Star Trek: Elite Force. Mulgrew has also attracted a new crop of fans thanks to her time as Galina “Red” Reznikov on the Netflix prison drama Orange is the new black.

4

Richard Dreyfus

Known for jaws

Few actors participating in FAN EXPO San Francisco can boast the same cinematic pedigree as names like Richard Dreyfus. A regular collaborator with Stephen Spielberg, Dreyfus first came to attention on the big screen as the vigilante Hooper in Jaws, joining forces with Spielberg again as Roy in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. These days, Richard Dreyfus finds a wide variety of work in exciting historical dramas such as Freshwater and cozy holiday dishes for the whole family, like Save Christmas.

3

Tyler Hoechlin

Known for Superman and Lois

One of the most underrated actors to play Superman in live-action, Tyler Hoechlin has become a fan favorite in recent times. Originally making a name for himself on the drama series Teen Wolf, Tyler Hoechlin lends a calm, imposing presence to Clark Kent in the excellent DC adaptation Superman and Lois. Hoechlin is no slouch in the filmmaking department either, leaving memorable impressions in films like Palm Springs and Path to Perdition.

2

Bitsie Tulloch

Known for Superman and Lois

Starring alongside Tyler Hoechlin’s Clark Kent in Superman and Lois is none other than Bitsie Tulloch, who portrays Superman’s iconic better half with grace and poise. Like Hoechlin, Tulloch is no one-hit wonder, having already been well-established thanks to her time as Juliette SIlverton/Eve on the dark supernatural fantasy series Grimm. She can also claim to be a strong figure in the highly Oscar-winning silent film. The Artist, in which she plays Norma.

1

Butch Hartman

Known for The Fairly OddParents

A unique case among a vast list of actors, Butch Hartman is a genius cartoonist, writer and artist whose name is recognized despite his work taking place far from a live-action camera. Hartman rose to fame on Nickelodeon as the mind behind both Phantom Danny and The Fairly OddParents, two of the biggest hitters in the net. The critically praised follow-up series Fairly OddParents: A New Wish lends itself favorably to Hartman’s work, making it a valuable addition to the FAN EXPO San Francisco.