The Walker Stalker convention returns for a second round in Atlanta this weekend with the existing cast of "The Walking Dead" and many past cast members as well. As a bonus, two leads of "The Vampire Diaries" will show up on Sunday as well.
It's a three-day event but all current cast members will be there Saturday or Saturday and Sunday. Friday will feature only former cast members so I expect attendance will be lightest that day. All the VIP tickets, which provide access to special parties, are now sold out (ranging in price from $200 to $1,200.) Specific VIP access for individual actors are gone, too.
Three-day general admission tickets are $100 with other single day or weekend combos available at lower costs.
Given how popular the AMC show is, I expect the convention will be even more crowded than last year, when 10,5000 showed up. While there were some line issues with fans trying to meet Lincoln, the organizers said they have addressed issues such as those with more volunteers and better preparation.
Founder Eric Nordhoff said advance sales are four times greater than they were a year ago and he expects 30,000 people this time around.
Last year, almost the entire cast showed up, including Andrew Lincoln (Rick Grimes), Norman Reedus (Daryl Dixon) and Steven Yeun (Glenn Rhee).
This year, those three are back, as well as Atlanta actor Melissa McBride (Carol), fellow local Chandler Riggs (Carl), Chad Coleman (Tyreese), Josh McDermitt (Eugene), Emily Kinney (Beth), Lauren Cohan (Maggie), Andrew J. West (Gareth), Danai Gurira (Michonne), Sonequa Martin-Green (Sasha), Michael Cudlitz (Abraham), Lawrence Gilliard Jr. (Bob) and Alanna Masterson (Tara).
I'm hard pressed to find any no shows of note from the current cast. Many past cast members will be there as well including Michael Rooker (Merle ), , Jeffrey DeMunn (Dale), Scott Wilson (Herschel), Laurie Holden (Andrea), Brighton Sharbino (Lizzie), Kyla Kennedy (Mika), Jose Pablo Cantillo (Martinez), IronE Singleton (T-Dog) and Denise Crosby (Mary).
The two major "Vampire Diaries' characters showing up Sunday for a panel are Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley. Mackenzie Lintz, a local actress from "Under the Dome," will be there. Jason Momoa, shooting "The Red Road" and known for his role on "Game of Thrones" is scheduled to be there Saturday and Sunday. Members of Syfy's new "Z Nation" will be there as well.
Four former "Walking Dead" actors had to cancel due to other commitments (probably new acting jobs): David Morrissey (The Governor), Sarah Wayne Callies (Lori), Emma Bell (Amy) and Jon Bernthal (Shane).
Personally, I thought the convention was extremely well run last year, especially given it was their first year. Nashville residents James Frazier and Nordhoff started a "Walking Dead" podcast and enjoyed it so much, they decided last year to start the conventions. So far, it's been a rousing success and they are planning five more in other cities this coming year, turning the convention into full-time jobs. (And given how popular the show is, this could be a lucrative business for years to come.)
They tripled the space at AmericasMart as well and the main panel room will handle 3,000 people, double last year.
There will be panel discussions with most of the major actors in different combinations. On Saturday, for instance, there's a "bromance panel" with Lincoln and Reedus and a buddy panel with Riggs and Guerira. McBride and Coleman discuss the classic "Look at the Flowers" episode that day, too. Abraham's trio will do a separate panel as well. Yeun will be there Sunday, riding solo, along with the Greene family together again.
IronE Singleton is hosting a one-man show about his life Friday night and singer Emily Kinney will again hold a concert on Saturday night as she did last year.
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