Hemsworth, Lee, 'Star Trek' Captains Q&A's Highlight Wizard World Philadelphia Programming

Online, May 16, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Interactive Q&A sessions with top stars like Chris Hemsworth, Stan Lee, William Shatner and three other "Star Trek" captains, WWE® Superstar CM Punk™ and more than a dozen others, movie screenings, evening parties, kids activities, comedy and costume contests are among the wide variety of programming offerings at Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con, May 31 - June 3 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Panels are scheduled for all four days, spanning the entire pop culture spectrum.

Highlight programming at Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con includes:

· Individual celebrity Q&A's featuring Hemsworth, Lee, WWE® Superstar CM Punk™, Sam Witwer, Hayden Panettiere, Bruce Campbell, Jeri Ryan, Dean Cain and more
· Four "Star Trek" captains reunite as Shatner ("Captain Kirk"), Scott Bakula ("Captain Archer"), Avery Brooks ("Captain Sisko"), and Kate Mulgrew ("Captain Janeway") compare stories of their respective times at the command
· James Marsters and Juliet Landau, known to most of the geek world as "Spike" and "Drusilla" from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel," share the stage in an entertaining discussion of their Joss Whedon experiences and other roles
· The Boondock Saints trio of Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus and David Della Rocco rekindle memories of the popular 1999 cult movie and sequel 10 years later
· Screenings of the 2009 film The Loved Ones and last year's Lloyd the Conqueror
· Party with fellow Wizard World revelers at the Drink & Draw on Friday at the Convention Center and the GeekNation Launch party at The Field House (1150 Filbert St.)
· Love is in the air with Sci-Fi Speed Dating, for those looking to "Terminate" their single lives
· Kids Day on Sunday, with a full slate of activities specially designed for the youngsters
· Laugh out loud (but hide the kids from this one) when Jackie "The Joke Man" Martling brings his unique brand of comedy - forged by many years on "The Howard Stern Show" and "Jackie's Joke Hunt" on Sirius XM Radio
· It wouldn't be Wizard World Comic Con without cosplay and costume contests - adults on Saturday night, kids on Sunday

Unless noted, programming events take place in designated rooms at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Many are included as part of standard Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con admission; VIP tickets or additional costs may apply to ensure access to select activities. Seating for panels is strictly limited and available on a first come first serve basis and each room will be cleared between panels. Programming subject to change; attendees should check the schedule board on site for updates.

Programming at Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con is available at http://www.wizardworld.com/programming-pa.html, and scheduled as follows:

Thursday 5/31
5-9 p.m.: Superhero Pub Crawl
7-8:30 p.m.: Jedi Lightsaber Master Class (Show Arena - Show Floor)

Friday 6/1
Noon-12:45 p.m.: How To Fail In Comics: Big City Comics (Room A)
Chalk Talk With Mike Deodato Jr (Room B)
Noon-1:30 p.m.: Jedi Lightsaber Master Class (Show Arena - Show Floor)
Noon-8 p.m.: Superhero Pub Crawl
1-1:45 p.m.: Batman And Psychology: A Dark And Stormy Knight (Room A)
James Hong (Room B)
2-2:45 p.m.: Funky Winkerbean's 40th Anniversary (Room A)
Dean Cain Q&A
2-3:30 p.m.: Jedi Lightsaber Master Class (Show Arena - Show Floor)
3-3:45 p.m.: Vampire Lore And Other Urban Myths And Legends (Room A)
Star Wars Q&A (Room B)
4-4:45 p.m.: James Marsters And Juliet Landau Q&A (Room A)
Philadelphia Ghostbusters (Room B)
Knife Demonstration (Show Arena - Show Floor)
5-5:45 p.m.: Sam Trammell Q&A (Room A)
Sci-Fi Speed Dating (Room C)
Behind The Magic With Jeff Menges, Winona Nelson And Phil Foglio (Room B)
6-6:45 p.m.: Sam Witwer Q&A (Room B)
6-6:45 p.m.: Stan Lee Meet & Greet (Room C) * Paid Event
Cosplaying Costuming And Fan Films (Room A)
7-7:45 p.m.: Wizard World Cosplay Photo Shoot Meet Outside Of Room A
The Dos And Don'ts Of A Career In Comics (Room B)
7-9 p.m.: The Loved Ones Screening (Room A)
8-11 p.m.: Wizard World Drink & Draw (Room B)

Saturday 6/2
11-11:45 a.m.: Stan Lee Q&A (Theater Room)
Greg Capullo Workshop (Room A)
Torchwood Q&A (Room B)
Noon-12:45 p.m.: Hayden Panettiere Q&A (Room A)
Troma Entertainment (Room B)
Noon-1:30 p.m.: Jedi Lightsaber Master Class (Show Arena - Show Floor)
1-1:45 p.m.: How To Create Comics - Breaking In With Dave Campiti (Room B)
Dualing Superheros (Show Arena - Show Floor)
1:15-1:45 p.m.: Chris Hemsworth Q&A (Theater Room)
2:00-2:45 p.m.: The Vampire Diaries Q&A (Room A)
Comic Con Costuming With The 501st (Room B)
Stan Lee Meet & Greet (Room C) *Paid Event
2-3:30 p.m.: Jedi Lightsaber Master Class (Show Arena - Show Floor)
3-3:45 p.m.: Bruce Campbell Q&A (Room A)
Comics To Ca$H With Mile High Comics (Room B)
Knife Demonstration (Show Arena - Show Floor)
4-4:45 p.m.: Star Trek Captains Q&A (Theater Room)
Evil Dead Q&A (Room B)
4-5 p.m.: Cosplay Photoshoot Meet Outside Of Room A
5-5:45 p.m.: Breaking Into Comics: International Invasion (Room B)
Boondock Saints Q&A (Room A)
Sci-Fi Speed Dating (Room C)
5:30-6 p.m.: WWE® Superstar Cm Punk® Q&A (Room B)
6:30-9 p.m.: Wizard World Adult Costume Contest (Room A)
9:30-11 p.m.: Jackie "the Joke Man" Martling Comedy Show (Room B)
9 p.m.: Geeknation Launch Party Presented By Wizard World (Field House)

Sunday 6/3
10-10:45 a.m.: Georgia Ball Strawberry Shortcake Reading (Room A)
Shannon Elizabeth Q&A (Room B)
11-11:45 a.m.: Jeri Ryan Q&A (Room A)
Theater Group (Roomb)
Noon-12:45 p.m.: Buffyfest 20th Anniversary Q&A (Room A)
Red Rocket Farms (Room B)
Noon-1:30 p.m.: Jedi Lightsaber Master Class (Show Arena - Show Floor)
1-1:45 p.m.: Quantum Leap Q&A (Room A)
Wizard World Kids Costume Contest (Room B)
2-2:45 p.m.: Melissa Joan Hart & Joey Lawrence Q&A (Room A)
Writing And Editing In Comics (Room B)
2-3:30 p.m.: Jedi Lightsaber Master Class (Show Arena - Show Floor)
3-3:45 p.m.: Spartacus And Legends Of The Seeker Q&A (Room A)
3-4 p.m.: Sci-Fi Speed Dating (Room C)
3-3:15 p.m.: Federation Fitness(Room B)
3:15-4 p.m.: Wrestling Panel (Room B)

Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con, produced by Wizard World, Inc. (WIZD.PK), will bring together thousands of fans of all ages and dozens of celebrities and industry professionals to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, comics, toys, video gaming, television, sci-fi, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more.

For more on the event, including hours, celebrities, creators, vendors, VIP and photo opportunities, programming schedules, evening entertainment, autographs, sponsorship and volunteer information and more, visit http://www.wizardworld.com/home-pa.html.

About Wizard World:
Wizard World produces Comic Cons and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate graphic novels, comic books, movies, TV shows, gaming, technology, toys and social networking. The events often feature celebrities from movies and TV, artists and writers, and events such as premieres, gaming tournaments, panels, and costume contests.

The full event schedule can be found at www.wizardworld.com.

***** SAVE THE 2012-13 DATES *****
May 31 - June 3 - Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con
August 9-12 - Wizard World Chicago Comic Con
September 29-30 - Wizard World Ohio Comic Con
October 26-28 - Wizard World Austin Comic Con
November 30 - December 2 - Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con
TBD 2013 - Wizard World Toronto Comic Con