Wondercon 2022 returned to Anaheim Convention Center with a vengeance–from April 1-3, 2022. Not since 2019, has the event come back in person. Needless to say, most fans were not that thrilled with the “at-home” virtual event in recent years. Cosplayers, shoppers, and fans were eager to return to an in-person event. Of course, masks proof of vaccination, or a negative Covid test were required to gain entrance.
There were panels on film, TV, comic book, and graphic novel releases. The exhibit floor featured a full array of artists, press, and vendors. Also present were several amazing Black writers, artists, and creators showcasing their projects. The iconic marvel properties of X-Men drew legions of fans and supportive creators.
Drawing huge numbers of fans were five TV panels featuring talented pros who work in a variety of roles within the entertainment industry:
TV Guide Magazine’s 2022 “Fan Favorites: Warner Bros. Television Showrunners Edition” brought multiple showrunners together for insights and behind-the-scenes looks at how shows are brought to life on screen.
The “Behind the Scenes of The Quest” panel brought insights and a fresh look at Disney+ series, The Quest. The immersive reality series follows eight teens through an epic quest in the fictional world of Everealm. The fantasy realm of epic adventure and intertwining scripted and unscripted storylines are brought to life in the series.
The “Stranger Things: The Dungeons & Dragons of Life” panel revealed how Dungeons & Dragons themes play a role in the show. Panelists addressed the “psychology and philosophy of the Upside-Down” and the “relationship between choice and chance” in the series.
The “Ted Lasso: The Hero to Believe In” panel was hosted by Jessica Tseang and included a discussion with therapists, hosts, writers, artists, and TV critics to “explore what makes this series stand out above others.”
The “Taking a Behind-the-Scenes Look into TV’s Top Sci-Fi/Fantasy Shows” panel addressed the visual and special effects in post-production. Included were filmmakers from the VFX studio Crafty Apes, who have worked on shows like Upload, What We Do In The Shadows, Foundation, and more.
In the Score for Keeps press room, I caught up with Star Trek Discovery’s Mary Chieffo and chatted a bit about her role as the Klingon Commander turned Chancellor L’Rell on the award-winning Paramount+ series.
In the UNDONE press room, I caught up with Rosa Salazar, Constance Marie & Angelique Cabral–stars of Prime video’s breakthrough series UNDONE. We talked about their roles and what fans can expect in Season 2.
Outside, I ran into Nelita Villezon, Jan Luis Castellanos, and Felix Avitia. We talked about their roles in Breakwater, a new Snap Original mini-series by Retrofit. Set in a futuristic world of climate refugees struggling in the dangerous coastal slums outside the Los Angeles seawall, each new episode immerses viewers in an augmented reality experience. The series consists of 10 episodes, which will be rolled out every 48 hours.
In The Quest press room, I ran into Quest producers Jane Fleming and Mark Ordesky who detailed the inner workings of this bold new immersive reality series, which intertwines scripted and unscripted storylines with eager teen participants.
I returned to the Scores for Keeps presser for one-on-ones with some very talented music composers. It was indeed a pleasure to chat with Joseph Shirley (Disney+’s The Book of Boba Fett), Kurt Farquhar (Disney+’s The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, CW’s Black Lightning), Dominic Lewis (Sony Pictures’ Bullet Train and 20th Century Studios’ The King’s Man (co-composer), and Sherri Chung (CW’s Kung Fu, HBO Max’s Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai).
Stay tuned for the granddaddy of cons–Comic-Con July 20th to 24th, live in San Diego!
Alex A. Kecskes is a published author of "Healer a Novel" and "The Search for Dr. Noble"—both now available on Amazon. He has written hundreds of film reviews and celebrity interviews for a wide variety of online and print outlets. He has covered red carpet premieres and Comic-Con events for major films and independent releases.
