FanX adds Chuck Norris, Tom Welling to celebrity guest lineup

FanX adds Chuck Norris, Tom Welling to celebrity guest lineup

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SALT LAKE CITY — They say when the boogeyman goes to sleep, he checks under his bed for Chuck Norris.

Well, the monster can rest easy in early September because Chuck Norris will be far away from wherever the boogeyman sleeps — as long as it’s not Salt Lake City.

The legendary action man will join over 20 other celebrity guests for FanX, an entertainment and comic convention formerly known as Salt Lake Comic Con, according to convention officials.

Pop culture fans will gather Sept. 6-8 at the Salt Palace Convention Center to meet not only Chuck Norris, but other popular figures including “Stranger Things” actor Gaten Matarazzo, “Once Upon a Time’s” Jennifer Morrison, “Ant-Man” star Evangeline Lilly and “Smallville” lead Tom Welling.

FanX founder Dan Farr said the convention might also welcome some other big names in the near future for what he believes will be the biggest FanX yet.

Farr told KSL.com that actor and director Ben Affleck was at a fan convention in Dallas recently and loved the experience. When he asked his managers if there were any other shows he should do, they both suggested Salt Lake City.

“If his schedule works, we’ll get him,” Farr said.

Jeff Goldblum might also be a possibility, and the convention is always trying to secure any of the Avengers, he added.

The convention often tries to book guests that are personable with fans, Farr said. They also look at Google Analytics to see which celebrities might be trending in Utah.

“Utah trends in things like 'Harry Potter' and 'The Hobbit' and 'Lord of the Rings' and 'Star Wars,'” he said. “Utah leads the nation trending in those areas.“

Thanks to the Beehive State’s wholehearted embrace of pop culture, FanX has gained a top-tier reputation, and celebrity talent is often eager to visit the city, Farr said.

“I ran into Cary Elwes (from “The Princess Bride”) and … he said, ‘So, are you having me back this year?’" Farr said, laughing. "I should have said, ‘As you wish!’”

The complete list of FanX guests can be found here.

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