Event Coverage: Walker Stalker Con London 2018
David Bronstein
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Thousands of fans from around Europe descended onto London’s Olympia venue for the third Walker Stalker Convention to hit England’s shores. London is one of nine Walker Stalker conventions for “The Walking Dead” that happen annually worldwide and is always one of the most anticipated of the year.
Throughout the two-day event fans were treated to the stars of the show and various stalls selling related memorabilia, comics, and signed prints; makeup booths; and you could even get a real tattoo of your favorite “Walking Dead” character there and then. There is as always a lot to take in, and Dread Central was there to do just that over the next 48 hours.
All Photos: David Bronstein
The first panel to kick off the convention was attended by two stars who were not able to make last year’s event, and they brought the house down. IronE Singelton may not be part of the show anymore, but if he wants to be a stand-up comic, then the advice is go for it. Quick-witted with dry humor, Singleton was able to make a room of a thousand people roar in laughter at some of his recollections and memories of his time on the show. It was also fun seeing the gorgeous Laurie Holden, who of course played Andrea, and she answered questions on why she sought to have a romantic fling with The Governor in Season 3. Joining them on the panel was Scott Wilson, still much missed as the wise Hershel Greene and a superb storyteller and veteran Hollywood actor.
The fun didn’t stop there when soon after King Ezekiel arrived in the form of Khary Payton, and like Singleton, Payton was full of fun too. He was clever to dodge fans’ questions about what will happen in the remainder of Season 8 and wore a t-shirt dedicated to his tiger, Shiva (RIP, Shiva, from all of us at Dread Central). Halfway through his panel the audience was treated to a surprise when his right-hand man from the show, Jerry played by Cooper Andrews, appeared. Immediately the two played off of one another and the chemistry inside ten minutes was enough to understand why the showrunners cast the two in their Kingdom roles. It was also a special day for Andrews as he was celebrating his 33rd birthday, and Payton, along with thousands of fans, sang him a happy birthday song.
The main room on the upper level was used for panels, but there was also a more intimate gathering downstairs, hosted by the great Dave Solo. Interviewees included Sarah Wayne Callies, Alanna Masterson, and Michael Rooker; and it was an opportunity for fans to get up-close and personal with their on-screen heroes. Rooker was welcomed with deafening cheers given that he had not been to London last year; host Solo told the waiting audience to expect the unexpected when Rooker arrives, and he wasn’t wrong. Wearing a baseball cap with shades, Rooker was an infectious, non-stop talker for his thirty-minute session, discussing everything from playing Merle to the 1986 classic Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer to his brilliant role in Guardians of the Galaxy.
Norman Reedus (Daryl) and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Negan) were inevitably snowed down in never-ending queues for their autographs and photo sessions, and this meant that the pair were unable to do any panels. Also at the 11th hour Andrew Lincoln (Rick) had to pull out of the show due to unforeseen circumstances but such is life and he will, as ever, be welcomed with open arms for 2019.
Walker Stalker Con London was rounded out by a very special guest who has indeed as yet not appeared on the show, but he was invited to the convention because he is the definition of cool and a horror god, right? Welcome to the one and only Bruce Campbell (give me some sugar, baby!). Campbell was in Europe and made a rare appearance in London to promote his new book Hail to the Chin‘, which is a follow-up to his 2001 autobiography, If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor. Campbell’s panel was hotly anticipated, and he didn’t disappoint. Highlights included Campbell using Negan’s bat and informing us that it was his idea back in the 80s to use a bat with barbed wire wrapped around it, telling a fan that Spider-Man 3 really wasn’t that good after refusing to accept a free Blu-ray of the movie and getting a fan from Wales mixed up as a German. Campbell was the perfect host to close out the convention and left everyone with a spring in their step, even though he admitted that the current season of Ash vs Evil Dead will most likely be the last.
The London Walker Stalker Con was a triumphant success, and we are already looking forward to 2019. If you can’t wait until then , here are many other Walker Stalker Cons taking place this year, which are listed below:
Chicago – April 7th-8th
Nashville – May 12th-13th
Orlando – August 11th-12th
Atlanta – October 26th-28th
San Jose – December 1st-2nd
New Jersey – December 8th-9th
Portland – January 5th-6th, 2019
You can find out more about the Walker Stalker Conventions and buy tickets by clicking here.
Categorized:News
