It's so powerful. … Fantasy and the artwork and the literature and movies, they're shaping our culture. – Josh Patel
SALT LAKE CITY — The creators behind the inaugural Fantasy Con hope to transform the Salt Palace into more than just a cool convention this summer. They want to build Salt Lake's own fantasy realm.
It will have fire. And working blacksmiths. And battle arenas. And a three-story dragon.
"It's so powerful. … Fantasy and the artwork and the literature and movies, they're shaping our culture," Josh Patel said Wednesday at a news event for his upcoming Fantasy Con, which will be staged at the Salt Palace July 3-5.
"There are over 600 conventions out there that love what we love, but the one thing they all have in common is there's not a lot of interactivity," Patel said. "What gets the smiles on (fans') faces? It's interacting. It's immersing themselves. It's being a part of that world."
Patel promised Fantasy Con guests will also get a chance to interact with attending celebrities. He made Wednesday's announcement flanked by two large screens where Royd Tolkien, the great-grandson of J.R.R. Tolkien, and Jed Brophy, who played the dwarf Nori in several of Peter Jackson's "Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings" films, were Skyping in from across the world.
Both will be at Fantasy Con, allegedly looking for dance partners.
"We enjoy interacting a lot more than sitting behind the booth," Brophy said.
Royd Tolkien agreed, adding that if he were to attend a convention with stars from his favorite fantasy stories, he'd want to meet them.
Patel announced that actor Simon Pegg, known for his roles in "Shaun of the Dead," "Mission Impossible" and "Star Trek," will be making his first-ever convention appearance to headline Fantasy Con this summer.
For Fantasy Con program director Larry Curtis, it all started with J.R.R. Tolkien, and Fantasy Con aims to unite the largest gathering for "Lord of the Rings" actors in Utah, Curtis said.
Fantasy Con's celebrity lineup includes Sean Astin and Billy Boyd, who played Hobbits Samwise Gamgee and Peregrin Took in the movies, and John Rhys-Davies, who played the dwarf Gimli.
Joining Brophy are Adam Brown, Graham McTavish, John Callen, Peter Hambleton, Ken Stott, William Kircher and Sylvester McCoy, who played the dwarves Bifur, Ori, Dwalin, Oin, Gloin, Balin and Bifur, respectively.
Fantasy Con, an event more than five years in the making, will also emphasize showcasing the artists and authors who bring fantasy to life and making it all affordable.
Email: mromero@deseretnews.com, Twitter: McKenzieRomero