More powerful than a locomotive and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, Wonder Con 2024 swung into action once again at the Anaheim Convention Center (Anaheim, CA) March 29-31, catering to the legions of comic book fans and offering tons of cool, pop culture “eggs” throughout the Easter weekend.
A “little brother” to San Diego Comic Con, Wonder Con was lavished with its usual elaborate cosplay and aisles and piles of artwork, collectibles, retro toys and, oh yes, comics!
Horror junkies were especially delighted to attend panels of their favorite shows and films, including the popular Chucky series, featuring its entire cast with actress Jennifer Tilly (Bride of Chucky/Seed of Chucky) and writer/producer/director Don Mancini (Child’s Play movie franchise/Chucky) at the forefront. As production for the series’ third season was halted midway last year due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, a preview/screening of season 3’s “2nd half” episodes was unveiled at the panel, entailing the iconic blue-eyed/blue overalled naughty doll coloring the White House “red”. The five-minute trailer also displayed Fiona Dourif (as young Charles Lee Ray) in scenes with her off-screen dad, Brad Dourif, aka “Chucky”.
The panelists engaged in a fun, interactive “Chucky trivia” battle with the barrage of “Good Guy” fans before them, as well as discoursing over their behind-the-scenes “Chuck-anigans”.
“I like to lay in bed and eat doughnuts and don’t like to act that hard,” confessed Jennifer Tilly in one of her signature, high-pitched raves during the panel. “And so I feel like I have the best character on the show, because Tiffany just kinda comes in with her fabulous outfit, says something snarky, smokes a cigarette, and leaves! Then I get the full-size paycheck for that teeny, tiny part!”
In sharing just a liiittle about the new episodes, Mancini stated, “Brad [Dourif] plays the ghost of Chucky, and it was amazing to have him on the set for the first time in 10 years since Curse of Chucky, and so there’s all kinds of Brad Dourif-focused stuff to come.”
On other panels just down the corridor, horror film directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (Scream V, VI, Ready Or Not) discussed their upcoming Abigail, and renowned VFX supervisor Marshall Krasser (Titanic, The Walking Dead) talked on designing and integrating visual effects for the hit series The Fall of the House of Usher.
For those wishing to visit Wonder Con’s bigger sibling, San Diego Comic Con International, the massive event will take place July 25-28 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA. Miss it not!
All photos below are credited to Mike Lera
