Three more international stars will greet fans at this year’s Middle East Film & Comic Con (MEFCC), organizers confirmed, as the pop culture festival prepares to take over Abu Dhabi’s ADNEC Centre from September 11 to 13.
Actor Pom Klementieff, best known as Mantis in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy films, headlines the new additions. A purple-belt in stunt work, she debuted the role in 2017’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and has since carried it through Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Thor: Love and Thunder and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Her filmography also spans Spike Lee’s Old Boy, Mission Impossible and Black Mirror, and she is set to reprise Mantis in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.
Also confirmed is Arden Cho, whose voice role as Rumi in KPop Demon Hunters brought her global recognition. The Netflix animated feature became the platform’s most-watched of all time, crossing 600 million views, holding a spot in the Global Top 10 for 52 straight weeks, and taking two Oscars in 2026. Cho’s earlier screen work includes Pretty Little Liars, Teen Wolf and Avatar: The Last Airbender, and outside acting she is a singer-songwriter, a taekwondo black belt, a model for brands such as Clinique and Nike, and a competitive poker player.
Rounding out the trio is Jacob Romero, who plays sniper Usopp in Netflix’s live-action One Piece alongside fellow guest Mackenyu. The American actor broke through on television in 2019 with the Oprah Winfrey Network series Greenleaf and has appeared in Grey’s Anatomy, All Rise and The Resident, along with several stage productions. He will meet attendees at the event’s Meet the Stars Zone.
The newcomers join a roster that already includes John Cena, Mackenyu and Joonas Suotamo. Show Director Loy Pinheiro said the September edition would bring together more of the fandoms fans love than any before it, crediting the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and the inD team for expanding the experience and drawing global talent closer to Middle East audiences.
Beyond the celebrity meet-and-greets, the three-day program features a Collector’s Gallery of rare memorabilia, commissioned work in Artist Alley, contests in the Gaming Arena, Japanese cultural offerings in the Otaku District and live acts at Festival Plaza. Ticket holders also have access to a free shuttle service running from four pickup points across Dubai and Sharjah to the venue, with registration open through September 2.
Entry passes begin at AED 160 and are available at www.mefcc.com.
