Supernatural, Aliens and High School Musical Reunions Bring the Buzz to Armageddon Expo 

Reunions of top film and television franchises are adding excitement for the Spring Armageddon Expo, happening at Auckland Showgrounds this Labour Weekend. 

With eight Supernatural stars, five Aliens performers and High School Musical’s Lucas Grabeel and Bart Johnson, this is a unique opportunity for fans to go deeper into their favourite shows and films with the people who made them.

And there is plenty to talk about with these franchises. Aliens turns 40 this year, High School Musical celebrates 20 years, and Supernatural’s 15 seasons give its cast and fans a considerable history to draw on. Alongside the reunions, a major gaming programme brings console free play, esports and some of gaming’s best-known actors to the Showgrounds.

Armageddon founder Bill Geradts says the reunions are a particular focus of this year’s event.

“When you bring several stars from a show together, they share the excitement of the journey, remember different things of what happened on set and give fans a much deeper insight into the show they love,” he says.

“And that’s important for the fans. Armageddon fans know the characters, the episodes, the jokes, and have questions they’re burning to ask. Getting quality time with a large cast is a big deal.”

Supernatural’s contingent is led by Jared Padalecki, who played Sam Winchester throughout the series’ 15-season run. Joining him are Samantha Smith, who played his mother Mary Winchester, Matt Cohen (young John Winchester), Felicia Day (Charlie Bradbury), Kim Rhodes (Jody Mills), Briana Buckmaster (Donna Hanscum), Alaina Huffman (Abaddon) and Osric Chau (Kevin Tran).

The line-up reaches across the Winchester family, fellow hunters, friends and enemies, giving fans plenty of scope to explore the series and the relationships that sustained it. Individual and paired panels, photographs and autograph sessions run across the weekend, with a full cast panel exclusively for Moose Pass holders.

For Aliens fans, the 40th anniversary reunion brings together Jenette Goldstein, who played Vasquez, Mark Rolston(Drake), Cynthia Scott (Dietrich), Daniel Kash (Spunkmeyer) and Carl Toop, who performed as one of the Aliens.

James Cameron’s 1986 film put its cast through a memorable encounter with one of cinema’s most feared creatures. Four decades on, the actors behind four Colonial Marines and one of their adversaries will share a stage in Auckland, revisiting the production with an audience that knows just how badly that mission went.

Their joint panel takes place on Saturday, with group photograph sessions also available over the weekend.

High School Musical fans have their own anniversary to celebrate. Twenty years after the first film, Lucas Grabeel and Bart Johnson will reunite with an audience that grew up watching Ryan Evans and Coach Bolton at East High.

Saturday morning’s sing-along gives that audience a chance to join in with the two stars. The pair will also appear together in a Monday panel, with duo photographs and autograph sessions available during the event.

The reunion line-up has some familiar voices for gamers too. Felicia Day played Veronica in Fallout: New Vegas and Tallis in Dragon Age II: Mark of the Assassin, while Mark Rolston plays Norman Osborn in the Marvel’s Spider-Man games and Deathstroke in Batman: Arkham Origins and Arkham Knight.

They join a gaming guest line-up that includes Christopher Judge, who plays Kratos in God of War, Erika Ishii from Ghost of Yōtei, David Bateson, the voice of Hitman’s Agent 47, and Baldur’s Gate III’s Andrew Wincott.

With gaming and esports on the show floor and performers on stage, fans can spend the weekend playing, watching competition and meeting the actors behind characters they know so well.

Geradts says that opportunity to get fully involved is central to Armageddon’s appeal.

“People come with friends, bring their families, dress as their favourite characters and make a weekend of it. You might have watched a film dozens of times at home, but hearing the cast talk about it in a room full of fans adds something you will remember every time you watch it.”

Across the Showgrounds, cosplay, comics, artists and merchandise give visitors plenty to explore between games and guest appearances. Fans can find artwork and collectables from their favourite franchises, meet the people who create them, and compare costumes with others who appreciate the work that went into them.

“That’s what we want people to come for: a whole weekend enjoying their fandom and being part of the whole immersive experience,” Geradts says.

Armageddon Expo opens at Auckland Showgrounds on Friday 23 October, with a preview evening from 6pm to 9pm. The main show runs from 10am to 5pm on Saturday 24, Sunday 25 and Monday 26 October.

Tickets are available through iTicket. Full guest details, appearance days and schedules are at www.armageddonexpo.com. Photos and autographs carry additional charges. Guest appearances and schedules are subject to change.

FULL GUEST LIST

Current as at 13 October 2026.

Supernatural reunion

●      Jared Padalecki: Sam Winchester in Supernatural; Dean Forester in Gilmore Girls; Cordell Walker in Walker.

●      Samantha Smith: Mary Winchester in Supernatural.

●      Felicia Day: Charlie Bradbury in Supernatural; Codex in The Guild; Veronica in Fallout: New Vegas; Tallis in Dragon Age II: Mark of the Assassin.

●      Kim Rhodes: Jody Mills in Supernatural; Carey Martin in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.

●      Briana Buckmaster: Donna Hanscum in Supernatural.

●      Matt Cohen: Young John Winchester in Supernatural; Griffin Munro in General Hospital.

●      Alaina Huffman: Abaddon in Supernatural; Tamara Johansen in Stargate Universe; Black Canary in Smallville.

●      Osric Chau: Kevin Tran in Supernatural; Ryan Choi in the Arrowverse.

Aliens reunion

●      Jenette Goldstein: Vasquez in Aliens; Janelle Voight in Terminator 2: Judgment Day.

●      Mark Rolston: Drake in Aliens; Bogs Diamond in The Shawshank Redemption; Norman Osborn in the Marvel’s Spider-Man games; Deathstroke in Batman: Arkham Origins and Arkham Knight.

●      Cynthia Scott: Dietrich in Aliens.

●      Daniel Kash: Spunkmeyer in Aliens.

●      Carl Toop: Alien warrior in Aliens.

High School Musical reunion

●      Lucas Grabeel: Ryan Evans in the High School Musical films; Toby Kennish in Switched at Birth.

●      Bart Johnson: Coach Jack Bolton in the High School Musical films.

Additional film and television guests

●      Brandon Routh: Superman/Clark Kent in Superman Returns; Ray Palmer/The Atom in Arrow and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow.

●      Anson Mount: Captain Christopher Pike in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds; Cullen Bohannon in Hell on Wheels; Black Bolt in Inhumans.

●      Christopher Judge: Teal’c in Stargate SG-1; Kratos in God of War and God of War Ragnarök.

●      Charlie Bushnell: Luke Castellan in Percy Jackson and the Olympians; Bobby Cañero-Reed in Diary of a Future President.

●      Kirsten Vangsness: Penelope Garcia in Criminal Minds.

●      Christopher Lambert: Connor MacLeod in Highlander; Raiden in Mortal Kombat.

●      Sala Baker: Sauron in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

●      Tom Lenk: Andrew Wells in Buffy the Vampire Slayer; Ronald the intern in The Cabin in the Woods.

Gaming, animation and voice guests

●      Erika Ishii: Atsu in Ghost of Yōtei; a voice of Rook in Dragon Age: The Veilguard; Valkyrie in Apex Legends.

●      Christine Marie Cabanos: Madoka Kaname in Puella Magi Madoka Magica; Mako Mankanshoku in Kill la Kill; Chiaki Nanami in Danganronpa 2.

●      Faye Mata: Lulu in League of Legends; Aqua in KonoSuba; Petra Macneary in Fire Emblem: Three Houses.

●      Kayleigh McKee: Voice roles in Jujutsu Kaisen, Guilty Gear, Fionna and Cake and One Piece.

●      Kenny James: Bowser in Nintendo’s Super Mario games.

●      Carolina Ravassa: Sombra in Overwatch; Raze in Valorant.

●      Lucie Pohl: Mercy in Overwatch.

●      Andrew Wincott: Raphael in Baldur’s Gate III.

●      Jason Spisak: Silco in Arcane; Kid Flash in Young Justice; the Joker in Batman: Hush.

●      David Bateson: Agent 47 in the Hitman games.

●      Martin Copping: Mozzie in Rainbow Six Siege; Lucas Riggs in Call of Duty: Vanguard.

Creator and comic art guests

●      Hilly Hindi: Co-creator and performer in The Hillywood Show, known for its Supernatural and other screen parodies.

●      Arthur Suydam: Comic artist known for Marvel Zombies, Deadpool and Black Panther artwork.

Guest appearance days vary. Christopher Judge appears Saturday and Sunday only. Check the official schedules before booking.