Convention - Paris Manga & Sci-Fi Show 38: a memorable afternoon panel with Evanna Lynch, Corin Nemec, Joe Flanigan & Manu Bennett

By Mulder, Villepinte, Parc des expositions, 04 october 2025

That afternoon of October 4, 2025, in Hall 5 at Paris Nord Villepinte, audiences were treated to a rare convergence: Evanna Lynch, Corin Nemec, Joe Flanigan, and Manu Bennett all present together for a joint panel. The energy was electric from the moment they stepped on stage — the kind of shared presence that can only happen when four stars with deep and differing fanbases come together in the same room.

From the start, Evanna Lynch radiated a gentle gravitas. She referenced her hesitation in doing conventions in recent years, noting that while she once felt protective of her privacy, she had come to see these gatherings as bridges — ways to meet people who love her through the lens of Luna Lovegood. A fan asked if Luna still surprises her; she smiled and said yes, that after all these years she sees interpretations of Luna she never imagined, and that humbles her. The crowd’s reaction was soft but charged — many seemed to feel the weight of that connection between actor and role.

Corin Nemec followed, threading the line between resilience and vulnerability. He touched on the aftermath of his 2013 accident, where injuries and long recovery tested both body and spirit — a story well documented in public records. On stage, he admitted that there were nights he wasn’t sure how he’d continue, but that a message from a fan or a small creative opportunity would pull him forward. He spoke of gratitude for having a second chance at purpose. When someone asked what kept him going, he answered simply: “Because I wanted to try, again, to tell stories.”

Joe Flanigan brought levity and rootedness. He shared tales from Stargate Atlantis sets: missing props, last-minute script tweaks, and how improvisation often filled technical gaps. He confessed he still wrestles with dense sci-fi jargon and sometimes goes back to the script to see what he actually said. A fan asked whether he ever feels pressure to “get it right” for the fandom; he nodded and said yes — that awareness pushes him to care for consistency, but also to acknowledge mistakes. His self-deprecation and warmth made the audience laugh, breathe, and lean in.

Manu Bennett spoke about giving humanity to characters who, to many, may appear purely monstrous — Azog, Deathstroke, Crixus. He described long hours in motion capture suits, the constraints, the fatigue, and the psychological balancing act of making a fearsome character also speak to someone’s inner turmoil. When asked whether he ever fears being trapped in villain roles, he replied that he fears nothing more than a part that doesn’t demand anything of him — emotionally, physically, morally.

One particularly poignant moment: audience members asked all four to name a role they’d decline and why. Evanna Lynch said she couldn’t do a part that felt like a betrayal to her values; Nemec said he’d decline roles devoid of redemption; Flanigan joked he avoids scripts with no room for depth; Bennett paused, then said he avoids roles that feel hollow. The responses drew genuine applause, as though fans recognized that actors hold agency — not just playing characters, but choosing what stories to carry.

The panel ran longer than scheduled, a testament to how willing both the speakers and the audience were to linger in conversation. After the official Q&A ended, some fans remained, trying to squeeze in one more question. Evanna Lynch stayed near the front rail, smiling and shaking hands. Corin Nemec quietly acknowledged people saying a few words. Joe Flanigan cracked jokes with staff and lingerers. Manu Bennett bowed slightly as he departed, acknowledging the room’s energy.

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Photos and video : Boris Colletier / Mulderville