Celebrity Panels at Winnipeg Comiccon 2026

Winnipeg Comiccon 2026 brought together an impressive collection of actors, voice performers, and entertainment personalities, giving fans plenty of opportunities to hear stories from behind the scenes of some of their favourite films, television series, and video games. While the convention floor offered plenty to explore, the celebrity panels provided some of the weekend's most entertaining moments, with conversations ranging from Hollywood productions and career-defining roles to personal relationships and unexpected industry revelations.

Among the standout appearances were Brandon Rogers, Veronica Taylor, Elizabeth Maxwell and Jason Liebrecht, the cast of Starship Troopers (Casper Van Dien, Jake Busey, and Dina Meyer), Steven Ogg, and Jodelle Ferland, each offering a different perspective on their experiences in the entertainment industry.

Brandon Rogers gave fans a glimpse into what he has been working on beyond his familiar online content, revealing that he had filmed a full-length movie over the summer and has several video game projects on the horizon. While details surrounding those upcoming projects remained limited, the conversation offered an exciting look at the next steps in his expanding entertainment career.

Voice acting was a major talking point during Veronica Taylor's panel. Best known for her extensive work in animation and anime, Taylor discussed the different approaches required when performing for animated productions compared to video games. The discussion highlighted how voice actors must adapt their techniques depending on the medium, particularly when it comes to performance, timing and bringing characters to life. It was an interesting look at a profession that audiences often take for granted despite the tremendous amount of skill involved.

Another popular conversation brought together voice actors Elizabeth Maxwell and Jason Liebrecht. The pair discussed how they first met and eventually became a couple, offering fans a personal glimpse into their relationship. They also spoke about their respective characters and experiences working on My Hero Academia, giving anime fans plenty to enjoy while balancing professional stories with some more personal anecdotes.

One of the biggest highlights of the weekend was the Starship Troopers reunion panel, featuring Casper Van Dien, Dina Meyer and Jake Busey. The trio revisited the 1997 science-fiction classic, discussing its production, unexpected longevity, and eventual transformation into a beloved cult favourite.

Among the more remarkable behind-the-scenes revelations was the film's Guinness World Record for the most blank ammunition used in a movie. The production reportedly spent approximately $1 million on blank ammunition alone, an extraordinary detail that offered some perspective on the scale of the film's action sequences. The cast also discussed how the movie has continued to find new audiences and maintain its reputation decades after its original release.

The conversation also touched on the film's tightly controlled script. Despite the personalities involved, the actors explained that they weren't permitted to ad-lib their dialogue, with Patrick Muldoon reportedly being the exception. It was an amusing insight into the production's approach and the discipline expected from the cast.

Busey also brought up his experience working on The Predator (2018), discussing how he landed the role and expressing frustration with changes made during the film's reshoots. In particular, he addressed how his father's political views became a factor in decisions surrounding changes to the production. It was an especially interesting detour from the Starship Troopers discussion, illustrating how decisions made behind the scenes can significantly affect an actor's experience on a major Hollywood production.

Steven Ogg offered another entertaining panel, reflecting on his memorable work in The Walking Dead and Grand Theft Auto V. His experiences across television and video games provided plenty of material for discussion, while he also touched on the less glamorous side of working in entertainment. Ogg spoke about losing roles in Werwulf and Digger, offering a reminder that even established performers aren't immune to the uncertainty and disappointments that come with the industry.

Jodelle Ferland's panel provided a particularly interesting look at a career that began at a remarkably young age. She reflected on growing up in the acting industry and discussed the unique challenges of playing two different characters in Silent Hill. She also spent considerable time revisiting her experience on the science-fiction series Dark Matter, sharing stories about the production and the dynamics of working on the show. For fans of her genre work, the discussion was a welcome opportunity to revisit several memorable chapters of her career.

Beyond these featured conversations, Winnipeg Comiccon 2026 welcomed an extensive roster of additional celebrity guests who also participated in panels throughout the weekend. The lineup included Mick Foley, Catherine Tate, Mark Sheppard, Richard Dean Anderson, Amanda Tapping, Emily Kinney, Eric Johnson, Erica Durance, Julian Richings, Laura Vandervoort, Lexa Doig, Michael Shanks, Nhut Le, and Robert Patrick.

With such a diverse collection of performers in attendance, the panels offered something for fans of practically every corner of pop culture. From science-fiction and horror classics to anime, video games, comedy, and television favourites, the weekend provided a rare opportunity to hear directly from the people behind some of entertainment's most recognizable characters.

Ultimately, the strength of Winnipeg Comiccon's 2026 panel programming came from the variety of stories being shared. The biggest revelations weren't necessarily about upcoming projects or major productions, but rather the personal experiences, unexpected challenges and behind-the-scenes details that audiences rarely get to hear. Whether revisiting a cult-classic film, discussing the technical side of voice acting or reflecting on a long career in television, the guests made the panels an entertaining and worthwhile part of the convention experience.

Photos by Samuel Stevens Photography.