EDMONTON – Don’t be surprised if you see superheroes or comic book legends marching around the city over the next few days; the Edmonton Comic & Entertainment Expo has arrived for another year.
Now in its third year, the pop culture extravaganza draws in tens of thousands of people. And this year, it’s bring in even bigger numbers thanks to some big names from the entertainment world.
Mayor Don Iveson, who was dressed in his Star Trek finest, caught up with a couple of stars from the hit comedy series ‘The Big Bang Theory’ while speaking at the Edmonton Expo Saturday.
Other big names attending this weekend include Dean Cain, from ‘Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,’ Burn Gorman, best known for his role in the HBO series ‘Game of Thrones,’ and Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen, who is known for his villainous roles, starring in Casino Royale and Hannibal.
“It’s so interesting to me, the questions and the way they dress up and what kind of an impact it’s had on their life. It’s just very interesting to me,” said Mikkelsen.
“It’s a very, very relaxed atmosphere. It’s good fun, is the main thing,” Gorman said in an appearance on Friday’s Morning News.
Watch below: Game of Thrones’ Burn Gorman appears on the Morning News
An estimated 35,000 people are expected to take in the Edmonton Expo this weekend, and more than 50 per cent of those are women.
“This is a great culture here in Edmonton,” said Iveson, who was asked to speak at the event about the evolving future of the city.
“The people who are here at this event are naturally curious, they like to see the world through different lenses, but they’re still curious citizens, too,” he added. “I think they are super bright people too, so they ask brilliant questions.”
A big Star Trek fan himself, Iveson says his love of the show helps him in his day-to-day life.
“Star Trek asks tough questions about how we get along as a species and even with diversity. And I think a lot of the questions that get asked in Star Trek, and the working together that people do to solve them, is the same kind of stuff that faces Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, the world, about how we get along, how we solve problems together, and how we make ethical decision.”