Press Release
For a half-century, TV viewers across the world have been captivated by Doctor Who, the longest running and most successful sci-fi series ever. In collaboration with BBC AMERICA, Wizard World Austin Comic Con fans will enjoy the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Celebration Event on Saturday, November 23. The event is part of the international celebration in which, for the first time ever, the series’ 50th Anniversary special, Doctor Who: The Day of The Doctor, will be simulcast on BBC AMERICA and to millions of fans in over 75 countries.
The Wizard World Austin Comic Con Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Celebration Event will begin on Saturday, November 23 with a fan meetup at 1:00pm CT followed by the simulcast screening at 1:50pm CT in Ballroom D at the Austin Convention Center. The Celebration is open to all Austin Comic Con attendees, with space limited to the capacity of the hall.
The centerpiece of BBC AMERICA’s Doctor Who 50th Anniversary celebrations is the global simulcast of Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor, written by Steven Moffat. BBC AMERICA is celebrating the anniversary this month with new programming including specials and marathons. For broadcast times, visit BBCAmerica.com. In the anniversary special, The Doctors (Matt Smith, David Tennant) embark on their greatest adventure across space and time. In 2013, something terrible is awakening in London’s National Gallery; in 1562, a murderous plot is afoot in Elizabethan England; and somewhere in space an ancient battle reaches its devastating conclusion. All of reality is at stake as the Doctor’s own dangerous past comes back to haunt him. The special stars Matt Smith, David Tennant, Jenna Coleman, with Billie Piper and John Hurt. Watch trailer here.
“We are incredibly excited to be working with BBC AMERICA in bringing the simulcast screening of the 50th Anniversary special, Doctor Who: The Day of The Doctor, to the fans at Austin Comic Con,” said John Macaluso, Wizard World Chairman & CEO. “Our attendees have loved Doctor Who for so many years, and this remarkable screening is just the sort of high-quality programming we strive to deliver.”
Doctor Who is BBC AMERICA’s highest rated series and received an Institutional Peabody Award earlier this year. Since 1963, Doctor Who has been one of the best loved dramas and certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the most successful sci-fi series ever.
Eisner Award Hall of Famer Stan Lee, Norman Reedus of “The Walking Dead,” WWE® Superstar John Cena® and “Star Trek” captains William Shatner and Scott Bakula are among the top celebrities scheduled to attend Wizard World Austin Comic Con, November 22-24 at the Austin Convention Center Center. The standout roster will also include Bruce Campbell of Evil Dead, Erica Durance of “Smallville” and “Saving Hope,” Jewel Staite of “Firefly,” The Karate Kid Ralph Macchio, “Machete Kills” director Robert Rodriguez and many others. It is the eighth and final event in the 2013 series produced by Wizard World, Inc. (OTCBB: WIZD) and will also feature a top-drawer collection of well-known artists and writers and a variety of activities, exhibitors and special attractions.
Superstar comics creators scheduled to attend include Eisner Award Hall of Famer Neal Adams (“Batman,” “Green Lantern”), Greg Capullo (“Batman,” “Spawn”), Mark Bagley (“Fantastic Four,” “Utimate Spider-Man”), Kenneth Rocafort (“Superman,” “Action Comics”) and Mike Grell (“Green Arrow,” “Green Lantern”).
Wizard World Comic Con events bring together thousands of fans of all ages 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. Wizard World Austin Comic Con show hours are Friday, November 22, 3-8 p.m.; Saturday, November 23, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Sunday, November 24, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
A first-class lineup of topical programming takes place all three days at the event, with celebrity Q&A’s, comics-themed sessions, costume contest, movie screenings, evening parties and more. Sunday, Nov. 24, is also Kids Day, with an array of activities and programming specially designed for the younger Wizard World fans.
Austin Comic Con is also the place for cosplay, with fans young and old showing off their best costumes throughout the event. Fans dressed as every imaginable character – and some never before dreamed – will roam the convention floor, often stopping by the Cosplay Stage, the ideal place to see and be seen.
For more on the 2013 Wizard World Austin Comic Con, visit http://www.wizardworld.com/home-tx.html.
About Wizard World:
Wizard World (OTCBB: WIZD) 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.
About BBC AMERICA
BBC AMERICA delivers U.S. audiences high-quality, innovative and intelligent programming. Established in 1998, it has been the launch pad for talent embraced by American mainstream pop culture, including Ricky Gervais, Gordon Ramsay, Graham Norton, and successful programming formats including ground-breaking non-scripted television like Top Gear and top-rated science-fiction like Doctor Who. Owned by BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, BBC AMERICA has attracted both critical acclaim and major awards including two Emmys®, five Golden Globes® and eleven Peabody Awards. The channel attracts one of cable’s most affluent and educated audiences and is available on cable and satellite TV in 80 million homes. It broadcasts in both standard and high-definition, with content available On Demand across all major digital platforms. Online, www.bbcamerica.com is the place to go to dig deeper into pop culture with a British twist. Find out more by visiting www.press.bbcamerica.com or follow us on www.twitter.com/bbcamerica.
Wizard World 2013 Schedule
November 22-24 – Wizard World Austin Comic Con
Wizard World 2014 Schedule
January 24-26 – Wizard World Portland Comic Con
February 7-9 – Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con
March 7-9 – Wizard World Sacramento Comic Con
March 28-30 – Wizard World Louisville Comic Con
April 4-6 – Wizard World St. Louis Comic Con
May 2-4 – Wizard World Minneapolis Comic Con
May 30-June 1 – Wizard World Atlanta Comic Con
June 19-22 – Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con
August 1-3 – Wizard World San Antonio Comic Con
August 21-24 – Wizard World Chicago Comic Con
September 12-14 – Wizard World Richmond Comic Con
September 26-28 – Wizard World Nashville Comic Con
October 11-12 – Wizard World Austin Comic Con
October 31-November 2 – Wizard World Ohio Comic Con
November 7-9 – Wizard World Tulsa Comic Con
