Middle East Film & Comic Con (MEFCC), the region’s largest pop culture festival, has announced three new additions to its guest line-up of celebrities, voice actors and comic creators who will be making their way to Abu Dhabi next month.
Olivier-nominated actor Taz Skylar is the latest name to join the all-star line-up at MEFCC, which is being held from 9-11 February 2024 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). Taz portrays “Black Leg” Sanji in the hit Netflix series One Piece, which was one of the biggest trending shows on global streaming in 2023. He will be joining his co-star Iñaki Godoy at MEFCC, who plays Monkey D. Luffy in the live-action adaptation of the anime about the Straw Hat Pirates searching for the One Piece treasure.
Born in the Canary Islands to an Arab father and British mother, 28-year-old Taz wears three hats as an actor, writer, and producer. Prior to starring in One Piece, Taz made his feature film debut as Dawes in The Kill Team, directed by two-time Oscar nominated Dan Krauss. In 2020, he was nominated for an Olivier Award, which recognizes excellence in professional theatre in London, for his play Warheads, which he wrote and starred in.
Taz joins an illustrious celebrity guest line-up for the 2024 edition of MEFCC, including the lovable Mantis from Guardians of the Galaxy, Pom Klementieff; Harry Potter’s mischievous Weasley twins, James and Oliver Phelps; iconic Star Wars actor Temuera Morrison; Troy Baker, the American voice actor and musician, best known for his role as Joel in The Last of Us; and the previously mentioned Iñaki Godoy.
Show Hayami joins voice actor line-up
MEFCC will also welcome the Japanese actor, voice actor and singer Show Hayami to the UAE capital. Born in 1958 in Takasago, Hyogo, Japan, Show is mainly known for his smooth, deep voice. He has played a wide range of characters throughout his career spanning over 40 years, portraying everything from kind-hearted heroes (Father Remington, Maximilian Jenius, Nicholas D. Wolfwood) to twisted sociopaths (Sōsuke Aizen, Muraki Kazutaka, Enrico Maxwell, and League of Legends champion Jhin).
Show joins the line-up of voice actors at MEFCC which also includes Frank Welker, the voice behind Transformers’ Megatron, Garfield and Scooby Doo, as well as Peter Cullen, the voice actor behind Optimus Prime, the protagonist of Transformers.
Ivan Reis joins comic creator line-up
Fans at MEFCC will also get the chance to meet legendary Brazilian comic creator Ivan Reis. Recognized as one of the industry’s greatest and most admired artists, Ivan has worked exclusively with DC Comics for nearly two decades. He is behind a number of iconic titles including Green Lantern, Aquaman, Superman, Blackest Night, Brightest Day, and Justice League.Ivan recently became the tenth creator to join the Ghost Machine Collective, which publishes creator-owned comics through Image Comics.
Comic book fans will be able to meet Ivan at MEFCC alongside other acclaimed comic creators, including Mark Brooks, Carlo Pagulayan, Stephen Segovia, Steve McNiven, and Kode Abdo, also known as BossLogic.
Ultimate fan experience at MEFCC
Boasting a 12-year legacy of celebrating film, TV, sci-fi, anime, manga, gaming, comics and collectibles, MEFCC is being held in strategic partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi).
This year, MEFCC aims to create the ultimate fan experience in the capital with attendees spoilt by an abundance of attractions – ranging from Meet the Stars, where visitors can meet celebrities and create memories of a lifetime; the Comic Creators Club, where avid fans can get their own unique commissions; the Artist Alley featuring local and regional emerging and established artists showcasing and selling their latest work; and the Gaming Arena, where enthusiasts can level up with the latest challenges.
The Main Stage at MEFCC will host celebrity panels, interviews, community sessions and fan screenings, while the Festival Plaza is where visitors will get to enjoy live entertainment, music, activities, and lip-smacking food and beverages. Making its debut at MEFCC this year is the Japanese Village that brings a taste of the Land of the Rising Sun to Abu Dhabi with traditional experiences including Yukata tryouts, origami, calligraphy, and live performances.
For more information about MEFCC and to purchase tickets, visit www.mefcc.com and follow @mefcc to stay connected.