Rapper and actor Ice-T will be in Providence for Comic Con. [AP, file / David Goldman] ▲ Dylan McDermott, of "American Horror Story" and "The Practice," will make an appearance at Rhode Island Comic Con. [CBS] ▲ Morena Baccarin, of "Deadpool," is scheduled to appear. [Twentieth Century Fox] ▲ Tom Welling, left, as Clark Kent and Michael Rosenbaum as Lex Luthor in "Smallville." The two actors will be joined by Laura Vandervoort for a "Smallville" reunion. [The CW] ▲ Michael Rooker, of "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "The Walking Dead," is among the celebrities coming to Rhode Island Comic Con. [AMC] ▲

Comic Con is so big it will occupy three venues, as it did last year: The Rhode Island Convention Center, the Dunkin' Donuts Center and part of the Omni Providence Hotel.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Probably the biggest event of the fall season is the annual Rhode Island Comic Con, held this year Nov. 2-4 in downtown Providence, which draws tens of thousands of fans to downtown Providence.

Comic Con is so big it will occupy three venues, as it did last year: The Rhode Island Convention Center, the Dunkin' Donuts Center and part of the Omni Providence Hotel.

The enormous smorgasbord of celebrity guests includes actors, musicians, pro wrestlers, vendors, comic book artists, video gamers, pirates, tattoo artists, "Star Wars" stormtroopers (that would be the New England Chapter of the 501st Legion), aliens, superheroes and more. There will also be a film festival, called Geekfest, with screenings, panels and awards.

This year's Comic Con is a week earlier than the past two years. Altered Reality Entertainment, the producer of Comic Con, prefers the earlier weekend, said Susan Soares, press relations manager. The earlier date offers a better chance of more pleasant weather, she said, and it's also closer to Halloween.

Comic Con, which always features hundreds of people in elaborate costumes, has a close affinity to Halloween.

"People are still in a Halloween mood on Nov. 2," Soares said, adding that the Comic Con's costume contest is one of the highlights of the weekend. "People really go all out."

The guest stars are one of the key components of Comic Con. By late August, Comic Con had already announced a slew of appearances, which Soares said would continue well into October. "We are nowhere near done," she said. Among the stars coming to Rhode Island are Ron Perlman of "Hellboy" and "Sons of Anarchy," rapper and actor Ice-T, and Dylan McDermott of "The Practice" and "American Horror Story."

For fans of Stephen King's "It," Rhode Island Comic Con will have Tim Curry, who played the malevolent Pennywise the Clown in the original 1990 TV miniseries. Then, from the 2017 movie version, Comic Con will have four of the kids who confronted Pennywise: Sophia Lillis, Jaeden Lieberher, Jeremy Rae Taylor and Wyatt Oleff.

Soares is a big fan of the TV show "Smallville" (2001-2011), about the young Superman, and is excited to have three key cast members at Comic Con: Tom Welling, Michael Rosenbaum and Laura Vandervoort. "That one's been on my bucket list," she said.

There's also a "Deadpool" movie contingent that includes Morena Baccarin, Stefan Kapicic, Brianna Hildebrand and Rob Liefeld, who co-created the Deadpool character in the comic books.

Also among the celebrities due at Comic Con is Michael Rooker, who has had roles in two huge franchises, "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "The Walking Dead." Other "Walking Dead" actors scheduled for Comic Con include Jeremy Palko, Laurie Holden, Cooper Andrews and Lennie James, who has moved to the spinoff show, "Fear the Walking Dead."

Last year, Comic Con promised a large "Walking Dead" contingent, led by Norman Reedus, everyone's favorite zombie-killing-redneck with a heart of gold. But production delays during shooting "The Walking Dead" season finale meant that many of the most coveted stars couldn't make it to Rhode Island.

"There was nothing we could do," said Soares, noting that actors' contractual obligations to "The Walking Dead" trumped their commitments to Comic Con. "I know the fans were disappointed, but we were disappointed, too."

What: Rhode Island Comic Con

When: Friday, Nov. 2, from 3 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 3, from 10 a.m to 7 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 4, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Dunkin' Donuts Center, Rhode Island Convention Center, Omni Providence Hotel, Providence

Information: ricomiccon.com