After a 2025 edition to marvel at, Fan Expo Chicago returns to the Chicago area on August 14-16, 2026 with fandom descending upon the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill. during that weekend of comics, entertainment, and genre entertainment. Much like the 2024 edition, the Hollywood Snitch coverage of the 2025 edition was a family affair with my son joining his father in growing interest of such fandom. Check our photos below (Photos by Matt Sheehan and William Unhock).

This year's Chicago edition brings a grand debut.

Veteran, legendary actor Kurt Russell will make his convention debut at the Fan Expo Chicago event. The actor known for notable genre and cult films like The Thing, Big Trouble in Little China and Escape from New York will appear alongside his famed director of those films John Carpenter for panels and fan opportunities. Russell's The Thing co-star and fellow Carpenter stablemate Keith David will be bringing the style and talent to the convention hall, too.

Carpenter's Halloween cast members PJ Soles, Tommy Lee Wallace and Nick Castle also are set to see something they like--fans of their Michael Myers classic horror flick.

Fellow notable director Sam Raimi--no stranger to works popular among the Fan Expo crowd like the original Spider-Man series and the Evil Dead franchise--will also be appearing for photo ops and autographs.

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Fellowship of the Ring's film release, there is a reunion of that film franchises actors, including Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, John Rhys-Davies, John Noble and Karl Urban.

LOTR isn't the only reunion--THe Goonies never say die and they are there, including Astin, Corey Feldman, Martha Plimpton, and Joe Pantoliano, among a few others.

Urban has crossover appeal, having starred in Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, Dredd, Thor Ragnarok, and TV's The Boys. Speaking of that Amazon series, Urban and multiple castmates will join forces for their fervent fans.

The Boys isn't the only TV show with cast appearing for their fans. You can find stars from Lost; grow with Young Sheldon cast members; and seek out the spooks and demons from Supernatural.

Many other stars of past and present will be joining this growing list:
- Academy award winning director/actor Mel Gibson pairs with his Lethal Weapon co-star Danny Glover
- Fresh off the recent Masters of the Universe reboot, original big-screen He-Man Dolph Lundgren will be on-site
- Hollywood legend William Shatner brings his longtime con appeal with warp speed

For a full list of all guests and panels, see: ​https://fanexpohq.com/fanexpochicago/

The Chicago Critics Film Festival finished off it's 2025 edition with "A Little Prayer" as the closing night film. To help cap off a another year at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago, the film's director Angus MacLachlan and star Jane Levy were in attendance to help present the film (co-star David Strathairn was originally announced to attend but unfortunately had to cancel). Prior to the film's presentation and subsequent Q&A with CFCA Board Member Steve Prokopy, the pair walked the red carpet inside the famed north side movie palace and spoke with the press, including this lucky Snitch.

Q: My first question for Mr. MacLachlan. What I really appreciate about the film is the simplicity of it all with its complex subject matters. How did you approach that execution while keeping the film timely and relevant?
​MacLachlan: I don't know how I can actually answer that. In the way it was shot, we had a very short shooting schedule, and I really love actors. So I think just putting the camera on two actors is fascinating and you don't have to do a lot of cross cutting, so you it makes it more simpler. But in terms of the storytelling, I worked on it for a long, long time. I come from the theater where the text is set when you actually do a play. And I feel that way about screenplays too. There's almost no improv in the film: the text is set. So a lot of thought goes into that.

Q: For Ms. Levy, you've made this great mark on the horror genre and for me, horror is always about the reality that's around the corner, trying to avoid it while also still curious and being pulled towards it. This film has a lot of reality that the characters are trying to approach, but then also avoid. Did you bring anything from your experience in your horror performances to this work here? 
Levy: You have such a beautifully worded question, but I don't really think that my experiences as an actor in a horror had anything to do with this. It's interesting hearing you ask the first question to Angus. I find it hard to talk about the process of making this film because in some ways it was so simple. It was just the script and then my job is to be a vessel for the words. So you don't often get to work with a play that's this full of nuance and humanity. This job, I had to show up and fill what Angus had written.

Q: David Strathairn is one of my favorite character actors, from The Firm, LA Confidential and my personal favorite Sneakers. What's your memory for each of you working with the veteran actor?
​MacLachlan: He's everything you imagine him to be. He's the greatest and such a mench. He was available to everybody. He really thinks of himself as a journeyman actor. He really is there to do the work. And we had to have these actors who could create lifelong relationships, a family, and they all, everybody sort of did that. It's a testament to them. 

Levy: Really, most of the actors you meet, they suck some of the air out of the room, and that's what makes them so talented and charming and and attractive and fun. But David is a true human person. He doesn't seem like an actor at all. He's just so lovely. [ 3m 19s ]

Fan Expo 2025 makes it's return to Chicago, emanating from the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill. from August 15-17, 2025. Formerly known at Wizard World Comic-Con, Fan Expo is making it's fourth appearance under the brand. Hollywood Snitch had the pleasure of attending last year's event, making it a family affair with my son! See the photos below from the 2024 edition of Fan Expo Chicago!

For 2025, the convention is pulling out the stops on all things genre and fandom entertainment.

Following last year's success of 'Star Wars' legend Mark Hamill, the prequel generation will see Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen appear for autographs, panels and photos ops. Plus, Ming-Na Wen from the recent 'The Mandalorian' and 'Book of Boba Fett' series will appear. Those shows aren't her first foray into genre work as her past credits include 'Agents of SHIELD' for Marvel.

​Speaking of Marvel, 'Guardians of the Galaxy' will be well-represented with Michael Rooker, Sean Gunn, and Pom Klementieff appearing.

Nostalgia is always a part of genre art, so Fan Expo will be welcoming a reunion of 1999's 'The Mummy," including recent Oscar-winner Brendan Fraser set to attend. To get even more nostalgic, the Griswold family will be taking the holiday road thru the convention, with Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo and Randy Quaid in attendance with Anthony Michael Hall, Juliette Lewis, and Dana Barron. Several members form the cast of 'Aliens' round out the blasts from the past.

Curretn Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena, no stranger to genre works with 'The Peacemaker,' continues his retirement tour outside the ring to meet and greet fans for autographs and photos.

Fact: Dwight himself will be in attendance, as Rain Wilson will also be appearing on Saturday. He said  'R' is one of the most menacing of sounds, but what about arrrrrrgh, as Orlando loom from 'Pirates of the Caribbean' and 'Lord of the Rings' will also be at the convention.

Many more attendees are set to appear, but keep an eye on the official Fan Expo website for up-to-date details on all things Fan Expo Chciago.

We are excited to partner with Focus Features to give away TWO digital codes for the acclaimed coming-of-age DÌDI (弟弟), winner of the U.S. Dramatic Audience Award and the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble Cast at this year's Sundance Film Festival!
​
​See below and head over to our Twitter/X page @hollywoodsnitch to enter!

The convention formerly known as Wizard World makes it's return to Chicago at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill. for it's third episode with a plethora of appearances, events, and panels. The show opens Friday, August 16, 2024 thru Sunday, August 18, 2024.

Headlining the event is Luke Skywalker himself--Mark Hamill will be in attendance for the full event for professional photo ops, autographs and special panels. Other "Star Wars" attendees include Luke's father (well, in canon) Hayden Christiansen, who played Anakin Skywalker in the prequels. "Star Wars" films aren't the only options for fun from those in a galaxy far, far away. The latest TV incarnations of the galaxy far, far away will also be represented with "The Mandalorian" stars Giancarlo Esposito and Gina Carano in attendance, along Temura Morrison from "Book of Boba Fett." Even Ahsoka herself Rosario Dawson will be there, know for other genre properties such as "Sin City" and "Clerks II." 

If comic book entertainment is your cup of tea, fret not. Academy Award-winner Marisa Tomei will be on-hand representing her work in the MCU as Peter Parker's Aunt May of Spider-Man fame. Tomei also notably appeared on "Seinfeld," and there is a reunion from the show about nothing with Patrick Warburton, Wayne Knight, Phil Morris, and Larry Thomas for Fan Expo.

Those of a certain generation grew up with a select batch of 90's high schoolers--stars from "Saved by the Bell" Mario Lopez and Elizabeth Berkley will be in the halls to greet fans of the seminal show.

Don't "Scream" too hard, but it's scary cool that Jamie Kennedy, Matthew Lillard, and Chicago's own Laurie Metcalf will be here for fans of Wes Craven's beloved slasher franchise. 

This list of celebs are only the tip of the convention iceberg, with celebrity Q&As, discussion panels, cosplay, and family friendly events.

As someone who has covered Wizard World of the past, our first experience with Fan Expo will be this year 2024.

​Keep an eye on our website here and social media feeds (facebook.com/hollywoodsnitch and x.com/hollywoodsnitch) for instant photos and coverage!

For a full list of celebrity appearances, events, panels and more, visit: ​https://fanexpohq.com/fanexpochicago/