Call The Doctor: Fan favorite David Tennant returning to FanX

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Allons-y! One of the most beloved Doctors will be returning to FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention this fall, the convention announced Thursday.

David Tennant, known for playing The Doctor in “Doctor Who”, is a returning guest who last was at the convention in 2018. During his prolific career, Tennant has played a long list of memorable characters, including Barty Crouch Jr. in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”, Crowley in “Good Omens”, and Kilgrave in “Jessica Jones.”

Chelsie Stoker, FanX marketing coordinator, said that Doctor Who and Harry Potter are some of the biggest fandoms in Utah, and Tennant is always a highly requested guest every year. She shared that in 2018, Tennant sold over 2,000 photo ops at the con, when the average typically can be within the hundreds.

“The fact that that many people showed up for him, I’m sure just meant a lot to him, and it meant a lot to the fans to be able to interact with him as well,” she said.

Just last week, Stoker said that FanX put out a poll to see which past guests fans would want the convention to bring back, and Tennant was among the top names.

Comments on Thursday’s social media post about his return echoed this sentiment, one commenter saying, “He’s been a dream guest of mine for years,” and another reading, “I met him a few years back! So glad he’s returning!”

This week’s announcements also included John Ratzenberger, who is known for playing Cliff Clavin in “Cheers”, Major Derlin in “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back”, as well as his roles in “Superman”, “House II” and “Motel Hell.” You’ll also recognize his voice in films such as “Cars”, “Coco”, “The Incredibles”, “Toy Story”, and “Bug’s Life.”

“John and David are loved by fans of all ages due to their prolific careers and the variety of roles they play,” said Dan Farr, FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention Founder and Show Producer. “While some may recognize John for his role as ‘Cliffy’ on Cheers, children that grew up over the last 30 years are likely to recognize his voice as some of the most believed Disney and Pixar characters of all time and between Doctor Who and Harry Potter, David has built an international following and is a fan favorite wherever he goes.”

Earlier this week, stars from the Emmy-nominated show “The Boys” were also announced. One of them is Jessie Usher, who plays “A-Train”, as well as Lyle on the series “Level Up”, and Cam Calloway on “Survivor’s Remorse.”

Along with Usher, Laz Alonso, who plays MM, is now set for the convention. In addition to his role in “The Boys”, Alonso is known for Tsu’tey in James Cameron’s “Avatar” and Fenix Calderon in “Fast & Furious.”

Stoker shared that ever since The Boys series started, fans have been requesting members of the cast. A few years ago, she said that Usher was slated to come, but had to cancel due to filming conflicts.

“We were extra excited to get him back this year,” Stoker said.

These actors are joining FanX’s star-studded guest list for 2025, which includes Michael Rooker (“Guardians of the Galaxy”, “The Walking Dead”), William Shatner (“Star Trek”), Doug Jones (“Hellboy”, “What We Do in The Shadows”), Thomas Lennon (“Reno 911!, “Santa Clarita Diet”, among several others.

“We try to hit as many different fandoms as we can to make sure that everyone has somebody they’re excited to see … It’s April, but we still have a lot of guests still to come with the different announcements, and you might even see more Doctor Who in the works,” she said.

Tickets for photo ops for Tennant, Ratzenberger, Usher, and Alonso will go on sale tomorrow, Friday, April 11, with autographs to be available at the convention on Celebrity Row.

Stoker said as FanX continues to prepare for September, the convention could see its largest guest list yet.

“Everybody wants to be a part of it because the energy in Salt Lake … is unlike anything else,” she said. “It’s really because of the people here and the culture and just how welcoming everybody is, how excited they are, and how much pop culture really is a part of Utah.”

FanX this year runs from Sept. 25 to 27, with tickets available for purchase online.