Lionsgate today announced that the record-breaking web series Con Man, executive produced by the science fiction dream team of Alan Tudyk (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Firefly, Frozen), Nathan Fillion (Castle, Firefly, Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog) and author PJ Haarsma, will call Comic-Con HQ home. Comic-Con HQ is the new subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) destination that will extend the experience of San Diego Comic-Con into a year-round event.
Season one of Con Man will be exclusively available for streaming on Comic-Con HQ when the platform launches this summer. Comic-Con HQ will also produce a second season of the series which will debut on the service later this year.
Created by Tudyk and produced with Haarsma and Fillion, Con Man has been fan-driven from inception. The series was funded via Indiegogo, resulting in a record-breaking $3.2 million. With the support of over 46,000 fans from around the world, Con Man now stands as one of the highest funded film campaigns on any crowdfunding platform ever.
The first season drew appearances by Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica), Amy Acker (Angel, Person of Interest), Gina Torres (Firefly, Suits), Sean Maher (Firefly, Eastsiders), Felicia Day (Buffy The Vampire Slayer), Seth Green (Family Guy, Robot Chicken), Mindy Sterling (Austin Powers), Jewel Staite (Firefly), Summer Glau (Firefly, Terminator: SCC), Sean Astin (Lord of The Rings) and filmmakers James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Joss Whedon (Avengers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer).
“Comic-Con HQ is all about capturing the spirit of the fan community, and in its own way, so is Con Man. Alan uniquely understands all sides of the fan experience and he’s captured it in such a farcical way that it’s as much parody as it is commentary around the power of fandom,” said Seth Laderman, EVP and General Manager, Comic-Con HQ.
“We are thrilled to be a part of the Comic-Con HQ family,” said Tudyk. “For a series that was born out of a passion for the genre and support from the fans, we couldn’t think of a better way to connect with our community.”
Loosely based on Tudyk’s and Fillion’s experiences starring in Firefly, Con Man centers on the post-show life of Wray Nerely (Tudyk), the co-star of “Spectrum,” a sci-fi TV series canceled before its time that later became a cult classic beloved by fans. Wray’s best friend, Jack Moore (Fillion) starred as the series’ Captain and has gone on to become a major celebrity, while Wray continues to struggle to find his big break. While Jack enjoys the life of an A-lister, Wray is the begrudging guest of sci-fi conventions, comic book store appearances and different pop culture events. The series explores these events and all the crazy and real things that happen behind the scenes in the world of fandom.
The second season of Con Man, premiering in late 2016, focuses on Wray’s attempt to propel himself from B-movie sci-fi actor to esteemed mainstream leading man, while maintaining the respect of his Spectrum fans, former co-stars and Jack in the process. Tudyk and Fillion reprise their roles as Wray and Jack, with several other familiar faces to be announced.
Season 1 will be available via Comic-Con HQ next month, following the platform’s beta launch on May 7th, Free Comic Book Day. Fans who join Comic-Con HQ during the first two weeks of beta launch will be entered to win an all-expenses paid trip to San Diego Comic-Con 2016. For more details and to sign up for free beta access, visit Comic-ConHQ.com
