Rockets Star's Pixar Love

When it comes to movies, Rockets star Dwight Howard is a real shark

Seems like Dwight Howard is a big movie fan — particularly when it comes to Pixar films.

The Houston Rockets center joined Fandango and Relativity Sports to host a screening of the animated smash, Inside Out, for children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston at Santikos Palladium theaters in Richmond on Sunday afternoon.

Howard mingled with fans, passed out popcorn before the movie began and seemed excited to get lost in the movies after the Rockets season came to an abrupt end in the NBA Western Conference finals last month.

"When you don't win you get grumpy. I don't want to be a grumpy old man, so think these movies really mellow me out," he said.

He also harbors film ambitions, with hopes of one day being a voice in a Pixar film. "I'm a big kid trapped in a big man's body," said Howard, who towers nearly 7 feet tall. "You only have one life. You have to live it to the fullest."

He currently guest stars in Fandango’s original video series, “I Love Movies,” explaining his love for another Pixar film, Finding Nemo, which he says has seen more than 200 times since it was released in 2003.

In the first episode of the Fandango web series, Howard explains how he relates to the father-son relationship in Nemo, finding parallels to his own dealings with his dad, and does a great Bruce the Shark impersonation.

On Twitter, Howard recently also gave props to the new movie, Dope, an independent film in theaters now that was a big hit at the Sundance Film Festival in January.

Jus saw this movie. Didn't get Alotta pub. But it was really good.well written and The message was… https://t.co/cuuHBvdORt

— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) June 19, 2015

Watch Dwight Howard express his Nemo love:

Dwight Howard has express a whole lotta love for the 2003 Pixar film, Finding Nemo.

Courtesy photo

Dwight Howard has express a whole lotta love for the 2003 Pixar film, Finding Nemo.

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Star Wars actor Hayden Christensen flies into Houston for Comicpalooza

Stormtroopers and more at Houston's largest comic convention

Photo by Amil Velasquez

Star Wars fans pose at Comicpalooza

Crank the "Imperial March" and may the Force be with you. Comicpalooza announced this week that Hayden Christensen, famous for playing Darth Vader in multiple Star Wars projects, will be in attendance at the 2025 convention, which takes place June 20-22 at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

“Our first round of guest announcements covers a wide range of fandoms and is indicative of the diverse interests of Comicpalooza attendees. From rising stars like Sosie Bacon to beloved luminaries like Hayden Christensen, we are thrilled to bring these icons to Houston to meet their devoted Space City fans,” said Aimée McCurtain, a senior vice president with Comicpalozza organizer Houston First Corporation.

Christensen first stepped into the role of the pre-Vader Anakin Skywalker in 2002's Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. Though his performance was initially met with mixed reactions alongside much of the prequel trilogy, he has since become a beloved part of a galaxy far, far away. Fans praised Christensen's return to the role for the Disney+ shows Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ahsoka, as well as rumors that's he part of future Star Wars projects.

Alongside Christensen, Comicpalooza announced several other guests. These include Adam Savage of MythBusters, Sosie Bacon from Smile, Patton Oswalt (Sandman, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), and Alicia Witt from The Walking Dead. More celebrities are expected to be announced in the coming months.

The comic convention circuit has become a common place for professional wrestlers such as Ric Flair to make appearances out of the ring. This year, Comicpalooza has WWE Hall of Famer Charles Wright headlining the wrestling track. He appeared under many guises such as Papa Shango and Kama Mustafa, but is best remembered as the light-hearted wrestling pimp The Godfather and his evil arch-conservative version, The Goodfather. Two women's wrestling icons, Torrie Wilson and Lisa Marie "Victoria" Varon, are also scheduled to appear.

As always, Comicpalooza brings some of the best literary talent in genre fiction. Paul Tremblay is currently one of the biggest names in horror fiction, having huge hits with Horror Movie and The Cabin at the End of the World (Later adapted to film as Knock at the Cabin). Fantasy fiction is well-represented with Andrea Stewart, author of The Drowning Empire and The Gods Below.

Comicpalooza is Houston's largest comic and fan convention, drawing between 40,000 and 50,000 people per year. Tickets can be purchased at the official site.