Mark Hamill is having a big year. J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: The Force Awakens pulverized the box office, grossing over $900 million during its 168-day domestic run in theaters. Just three weeks after its release, the film (which, besides being a stellar money-maker, delivered the kind of nostalgic fun fans have been waiting for since the original trilogy) already experienced the highest-grossing domestic release of all time. Despite the fact that Luke Skywalker (Hamill) only shows up, without a word, at the very end, the character is the life-blood of the film; having brought balance to the Force, his popularity precedes him, and the old Jedi’s absence is what propels the plot forward as both good guys and bad race to recover a map with his galactic whereabouts.
While Hamill may have had a small (in terms of screen time) role to play in The Force Awakens, the 64-year old actor will be headlining the guest list for Fan Expo Canada over Labor Day weekend, ensuring that there will be plenty of Luke Skywalker to go around. Significantly, this marks Hamill’s first appearance in the country. Canada’s largest comics, sci-fi, and gaming event – and the third largest pop culture convention in North America – Fan Expo Canada, now in its 22nd year, will run from September 1 to 4.
Hamill joins an already impressive guest of television, movie, and comic celebrities, including Haylee Atwell (Agent Carter), John Cusack, Charlie Cox (Daredevil), Jack Gleeson (the malicious former King Joffrey on Game of Thrones), Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter franchise), Orange is the New Black star Kate Mulgrew, and Adam West and Burt Ward (Batman and Robin, respectively, in the original 1960s live-action television series).
Also joining Hamill is William Shatner, Star Trek‘s Captain Kirk, who will appear alongside cast members George Takei and Nichelle Nichols as the (other) iconic sci-fi franchise marks its 50th anniversary. Notably, Fan Expo Canada will mark Marvel Comics visionary Stan Lee’s final Canadian convention appearance.
The scope of Hamill’s work in the pop culture arena makes him an ideal headliner for the convention. In addition to his iconic portrayal of Luke Skywalker in Star Wars (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Return of the Jedi (1983), and Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2016), Hamill is an extensive voice actor best known for lending his menacing vocals to the Joker, a long-standing role that began with Batman: The Animated Series (1992).
We won’t hope to see many bombshells concerning Episode VII dropped, since production is locked down tight. But with such a high-profile role in one of Hollywood’s hottest properties, anything Hamill has to offer will be must-hear for fans.
Source: Fan Expo Canada
Toronto, Ontario's 2016 , scheduled for September 1–4, includes farewells to some  icons, and the debut of a new work by a Canadian icon. The first batch of programming was announced in a media release late last week.

File photo of The Expo floor in 2015. 
Saturday, September 3, acclaimed Canadian author  is to launch her graphic novel ''Angel Catbird'', with illustrator Johnnie Christmas. The panel includes a question and answer session and an opportunity to purchase the book before its general release date. Other recent firsts from the 76-year-old -winning Atwood include a chamber opera that debuted in 2014, participating in the  Fiction Festival in 2015, and being the first writer included in the , her ''Scribbler Moon'' not to be read until 2114.

, now 93, is in the midst of what he claims to be his final convention tour. As first announced in February, the ''Spider-Man'', '''', and '''' creator is to make his final Canadian convention appearance at Fan Expo. Also bidding adieu to the convention circuit are  and , from the original '''' television series, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

The remainder of the announced schedule includes various programs for the 50th anniversary of ''Star Trek'', including appearances by actors , , and , the four day long ''Geekfest Film Festival'', and a live script reading of '''' by voice acting legends , , , and . Panels include ''The Dark Knight III'' team, including a rare appearance by , the cast of '''', and an exclusive panel of  and .

The 750,000 square foot event projects "over 140,000" attendees this year to Toronto's .