The cast of Doctor Who will join Hollywood stars Matt Damon, Keanu Reeves and Kate Beckinsale at this year’s New York Comic Con.

The four-day event in Manhattan is set to attract tens of thousands of people, many dressed as their favourite fictional character, and will preview a host of forthcoming films and television shows.

Doctor Who star Peter Capaldi will make his first appearance at the convention ahead of the show’s Christmas special and a new series airing next year.

He will be joined by Pearl Mackie, who plays the Doctor’s new companion Bill, writer Steven Moffat and actor Matt Lucas, while former Doctor Who star Matt Smith and his ex-cast mates Jenna Coleman and Alex Kingston will take part in a panel called Tales From The TARDIS.

The BBC will also preview the new Doctor Who spin-off series Class, set in Shoreditch, east London, and Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency starring Lord Of The Rings actor Elijah Wood.

Last year’s New York Comic Con reportedly attracted more than 167,000 fans and the event, now in its 11th year, is vying with San Diego Comic Con for the title of the world’s most popular comic convention.

A host of Hollywood stars are appearing at this year’s event including Damon, who will discuss his forthcoming fantasy movie The Great Wall. Reeves will take part in a panel on his new film John Wick: Chapter 2, a follow-up to the 2014 film in which he plays a retired hitman.Blue Billywig Video Player

Beckinsale will bring the fifth instalment in the Underworld film series, entitled Underworld: Blood Wars, as she returns in her role as the werewolf-hunting vampire Selene.

Former Downton Abbey star Dan Stevens will showcase his new X-Men spin-off TV series Legion. There will also be a panel on Sky Atlantic’s sci-fi thriller Westworld – based on Michael Crichton’s 1973 film – featuring Thandie Newton and writers Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy.

One of the weekend’s most popular panels will see British actor Andrew Lincoln appear with his cast mates from the zombie drama The Walking Dead.

Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu will discuss the return of Sky series Elementary, in which they play Sherlock Holmes and Joan Watson in a contemporary take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous characters.

Geena Davis will appear at the convention to talk about the television reboot of The Exorcist, while Ethan Hawke will discuss his graphic novel Indeh: A Story Of The Apache Wars.

The new film War For The Planet Of The Apes is also expected to be previewed by director Matt Reeves and actor Andy Serkis, according to Deadline.

Former Marvel Comics boss Stan Lee, whose creations include Spider-Man, Captain America and X- Men, is making his last appearance at New York Comic Con at the age of 93.

Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher and Jack Gleeson, who played Joffrey Baratheon in Game Of Thrones, are also expected to attend.

New York Comic Con events are being held this year at Manhattan’s Javits Centre, the Hammerstein Ballroom and Madison Square Garden.