Dragon Con 2023 kicked off on Thursday, August 31st. And by Friday night, things were in full swing with not only incredible cosplay, but also celebrity panels, fun fan events, a crazy awesome vendor hall, the Walk of Fame (where you can get autographs from your favorite celebs), and just the overall nerd party that we all love so much!
Much like every year, this year is not disappointing when it comes to incredible (and witty) cosplay. From the Star Wars: Rebels series to iconic Barbie characters, here are some of the standout cosplays from Friday night!
Star Wars: Rebels Cosplay
Fans of the beloved animated series, Star Wars: Rebels, brought fan-favorite characters to life on Friday night! The Ghost crew, including Ezra Bridger, Kanan Jarrus, Sabine Wren, and Hera Syndulla, could be seen roaming the convention floor. And there was even a Chopper rolling around in the droid section of the Marriott Marquis.
Star Wars: Rebel Ghost Crew Cosplay / Photo Credit: FanBolt
Ezra and Chopper / Star Wars: Rebels / Photo Credit: FanBolt
Ezra Cosplay from ‘Star Wars: Rebels’ / Photo Credit: FanBolt
Straight off the massive box office success of this summer’s Barbie, Barbies and Kens flooded Dragon Con on Friday night. There were even some wonderful takes on Alan. And while there’s been a shocking lack of Barbenheimer (the crossover between Barbie and Oppenheimer) so far, the constant echo of “Hi, Barbie,” “Hi, Ken,” more than makes up for it.
While Wednesday debuted on Netflix a little too late last year (November 23, 2022) to be one of the popular cosplays of Dragon Con 2022, it’s certainly one of the more popular cosplays for 2023. Out of all the Wednesdays we’ve seen thus far, this was our favorite – and what a wonderful way to make it a couple’s cosplay (no clue if they were actually a couple)!
Wednesday Cosplay / Photo Credit: FanBolt
Wednesday Cosplay / Photo Credit: FanBolt
The Last of Us Cosplay
While most would expect to see Joels and Ellies when it comes to The Last of Us cosplay, we found a unique one that was a hell of impressive – Bill and the Clickers. (Though, this could also be a Joel from the video game – we’re not 100% sure.) But, this gentleman could perfectly cosplay as Ron Swanson as well. He pulls off a great Nick Offerman!
The Last of Us Cosplay / Photo Credit: FanBolt
What We Do in the Shadows Cosplay
FX’s What We Do in the Shadows has become an increasingly popular cosplay at Dragon Con over the last few years. Whether it’s the full cast (such a great group costume) or a solo cosplay (we’ve seen so many Nadjas and The Guides this year), it still feels niche enough that, if you’re a fan, you freak out when you see it.
What We Do in the Shadows Cosplay / Photo Credit: FanBolt
Below is the best Nadja we’ve ever seen. And the doll… perfection. (For those wondering about the doll, she 3-D printed the face and assembled everything herself!)
Nadja Cosplay from What We Do in the Shadows / Photo Credit: FanBolt
Pop Culture Mashups
Every year, Dragon Con is known for its witty cosplay mashups, where fans combine characters from different fandoms to create something entirely new – and often very punny. This year was no different. See for yourself below.
Barbie Meets Star Wars Cosplay / Photo Credit: FanBolt
Honorable Mentions
Dorothy – the truck from ‘Twister’ / Photo Credit: FanBolt
Microsoft Word ClipArt Cosplay / Photo Credit: FanBolt
Dragon Con continues throughout the weekend. And we’ll be back down at the convention tonight, capturing even more cosplay! Be sure to watch for the Nerd Herd Live group cosplaying as the cast of What We Do in the Shadows. We won’t have a Nadja doll as amazing as the one above. But we still have some fun accessories that we’re excited to debut!
Stay tuned for more updates on the weekend highlights as we bring you the latest from Dragon Con 2023!
Emma Loggins Sprinkle is the Founder and Editor in Chief of FanBolt. Frequently referred to as the "Geek Girl," Emma has been writing about the entertainment industry, geek culture, and pop culture for more than 20 years, with her work appearing on FanBolt, CNN, Autotrader, and a number of other publications. She's also done on-camera host and media personality work for numerous fan and comic conventions. Additionally, she can be seen in the documentary Rise of the Superheroes, where she was featured as an expert on the evolution of comic book and geek culture.
Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Emma covers the latest entertainment news, her opinions on current happenings in the media, movie reviews, screening/filming opportunities, inside scoops, and more on FanBolt.
As a big film nerd, Emma is also an active member of multiple film critics associations, including the Critics Choice Association, Southeastern Film Critics Association, Atlanta Film Critics Circle, and Georgia Film Critics Association.
In addition to her love of writing and the entertainment industry, Emma also loves to travel, having spent considerable time in the UK, Italy, and Egypt.
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Dragon Con 2023 Friday Cosplay Highlights: 'Star Wars: Rebels,' 'Barbie,' and More
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