7 must-meet celebs at Fan Expo Boston

Entertainment

Fan Expo Boston will be at the Boston Convention Center from Aug. 8 to 10.

What do “The White Lotus,” “Star Wars,” “Twister” and “Breaking Bad” have in common? 

They’re all part of my cross-over screenplay. We open with Jesse Pinkman and Han Solo aboard a luxury yacht. In the distance: a tornado … What’s that? This is neither the time nor place for my “unwatchable” movie pitch? 

Welp, luckily there’s another acceptable answer: Stars from all of ‘em are headed to Boston this weekend. 

Yup, it’s Fan Expo Boston, baby. The A-listers. Billed as a  “three-day pop culture extravaganza,” you’ll find some 100 creators and actors from a smorgasbord of hits, from “Harry Potter” and “Lord Of the Rings,” to “Hacks” and “The Office.” 

Here are seven you won’t want to miss at the Boston Convention Center Aug. 8-10. (GA adult admission starts at $44.)

JASON ISAACS

Don’t drink anything this guy puts in a blender. But an autograph seems safe enough. Isaacs, who crushed the role of the stressed-to-the-max, verge-of-breaking-down obnoxiously rich dad Timothy Ratliff in season 3 of HBO’s “The White Lotus” — possibly the most memed single season of any HBO drama — will be there Aug. 9 and 10 in Boston. 

“Harry Potter” fans, meanwhile, will know the English-born actor as another obnoxiously wealthy dad with issues, Lucius Malfoy. Though you might also remember the Emmy nominee as Captain Hook from 2003’s “Peter Pan,”  or from “Armageddon,” “The Patriot,” or “Black Hawk Down.” 

Details and schedule here. More roles here.  

JOHN CENA

The West Newbury native is a 16-time WWE world wrestling champ, actor — and the best “Best Costume Design” Oscar presenter ever. 

A rare instance of a pro athlete who can ham it up, he brought laughs to FX’s “The Bear,” and DC’s “Suicide Squad.” Fun-fact:  The quick and Furious alum holds multiple Guinness Book World Records, including “Longest WWE Face Run Before Turning Heel.” (It’s apparently a category, folks) and “Most wishes granted through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.” (I’m not tearing up, just cutting onions.) 

Catch him immediately on DC’s “Peacemaker” — Season 2 starts streaming Aug. 21 on HBO Max — or in his home state at the Expo Aug. 9.

Details and schedule here. More roles here.

EWAN MCGREGOR

Star Wars fans know him as Obi-Wan Kenobi. But you may also know the Scottish actor from blockbusters “Moulin Rouge,” “Big Fish,” “Trainspotting,” his Emmy-winning role in the 2021 miniseries “Halston,” the 2019 adaption of Stephen King’s “Doctor Sleep,” FX’s “Fargo,” or more recently, the titular gentleman in the Paramount+ miniseries “A Gentleman in Moscow.” 

I can’t wait to see him play British mountain climber George Mallory in Doug Liman’s upcoming “Everest.” But I also loved him playing, well, himself: Check out his “Long Way” series, riding his motorcycle ‘round the world with pal Charley Boorman. It started in ’04 with “Long Way Round.” The new installment, the seven-episode “Long Way Home,”  just banger Apple+.  Meet him Aug. 9 in Boston.

Event details here. More roles here.

HAYDEN CHRISTENSEN

The force is strong in Boston this weekend. We’ve also got Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader in the house.

… Aaaand I just lost all the “Star Wars” fans. They’re all waiting in line at the Boston Convention Center. Catch Christensen Aug. 9 at various times, including a “Jedi Double-Feature Panel” with McGregor at 7:30 p.m. 

Details and schedule here. More roles here.

HELEN HUNT

She’s fantastic as the cold network bigwig Winnie Landell on HBO’s Emmy-winner “Hacks.” I only wish there’d been more pickleball games against Kayla and Jimmy. 

A household name, you likely know Hunt from ‘90s NBC banger “Mad About You” or from any number of blockbusters: a stormchaser with Bill Paxton in “Twister,” Haley Joel Osment’s mom in “Pay It Forward,” Jack Nicholson’s love interest in “As Good As It Gets” — for which she took home a Best Actress Oscar — or Tom Hanks’s pining partner in “Castaway.” Meet the Oscar winner Aug 9. 

Details and schedule here. More roles here.

GIANCARLO ESPOSITO

He plays your favorite bad guy. All of ‘em.

Gus Fring on “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul.” Stan Edgar on “The Boys.” Sidewinder in Marvel’s “Captain America: Brave New World.” Moff Gideon on “The Mandalorian,” to name a few.

But before the former New Englander broke through on “Breaking Bad” in 2009, Esposito was at a low point. Living in Connecticut, the father of four kids, he says he considered hiring a hitman to kill him so his family could have insurance money.

“I did think that may be a way out,” the Emmy nominee told me in our recent interview. “I was well-insured. Things dried up — I went bankrupt again. That was embarrassing and shameful.”

The six-time Emmy nominee’s story is pure inspiration. And he’s bringing his message to Boston this weekend.  “One of my favorite things to do at these cons is my Q&A. I think the expectation is: actors answer questions about their shows — which I do. But people don’t expect someone to empower them,” Esposito, 67, told me. “My Q&A’s inspire people to succeed, to be happy, to have fun, to enjoy life.”

Full interview here. Event details here.

CATHERINE TATE

“Doctor Who” fans will know the British actor as Donna — but she’ll always be Nellie to “The Office” fans like me. She learned about tacos from Darryl, and rivaled Andy in Dunder Mifflin office politics. But reportedly — and this is a good Q to ask if you meet her — Tate was set to take over as Steve Carell’s (Michael Scott’s) replacement on NBC banger, but had a scheduling conflict.  

Event details here. More roles here.

AND MORE!

I promised seven, and I’ll stick to my word. But if could name 10?

SIMON PEGG. homie’s got a cult following. 

JOHN RHYS-DAVIES.  “The Lord Of The Rings” and “Indiana Jones” fans: unite.

CHRISTOPHER MINTZ-PLASSE. McLovin from Superbad. Enough said.

Lauren Daley can be reached at [email protected]. She tweets @laurendaley1, and Instagram at @laurendaley1. Read more stories on Facebook here.

Lauren Daley is a longtime culture journalist. As a regular contributor to Boston.com, she interviews A-list musicians, actors, authors and other major artists.