‘Everyone’s a fan’: If you geek out over Calgary Expo guest lists, know you’re not alone

This year’s Expo will feature four hobbits making the long trek to Calgary. (Courtesy Fan Expo/Bill Waters)

“Everyone’s a fan” at the Calgary Comics and Entertainment Expo.

You might think that wouldn’t include those who curate the show’s guest list.

You would be mistaken.

Even after spending months-if-not-a-year-if-not-longer aligning stars from all fandoms, Calgary Expo’s organizers get just as excited come convention time, when they arrive.

Same as the guests, says Andrew Moyes, FanExpoHQ vice-president.

“We do see it in the green room, too,” he said.

Maybe a hobbit grew up a fan of a certain protocol droid.

Or maybe a Goonie has waited years to be in the room when James T. Kirk beams down.

Moyes says for him, these days, it’s the hobbits.

For some time, Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan have been doing shows on the FanExpo circuit.

And each time, Moyes says, the four of them deliver something special.

“I look forward to every show they’re at,” he said.

Moyes also remembers “sitting in on a lot of Stan Lee’s panels, too.”

Moyes says he and his team are “super lucky,” given “some of the people who’ve walked through the doors of Calgary Expo.”

“These people are very entertaining,” he said.

“They’re great personalities, and they’re great storytellers.

“These people have had extraordinary lives, and they’ve had exposure to extraordinary opportunities.”

Reuniting Wood, Astin, Boyd and Monaghan on a semi-regular basis is among the more difficult feats show organizers pull off.

“To see the four hobbits together on stage, you need to understand what has gone into getting four major celebrities of that calibre from such a huge title together in that moment,” Moyes said.

The Calgary Comics and Entertainment Expo runs April 23-26 at the BMO Centre.

Guest announcements are still coming.

Full guest lists and more information are available at fanexpohq.com/calgaryexpo.

Tickets are available through that link as well.