Pluto TV, the leading free ad-supported streaming television service, is providing South Park fans across the globe with a new way to enjoy the hit franchise, as the platform launches a special category dedicated to the legendary animated series.
Starting in April, Pluto TV will build on the franchise’s proven success on the platform, offering viewers an entire South Park category with multiple channels dedicated to the fan-favorite series in each market.
The “South Park” category will include a “South Park” Main Channel, available across all international markets where Pluto TV is present, as well as a series of South Park Themed Channels across Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Canada, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Latin America and Australia, featuring a selection of South Park episodes dedicated to the theme of the month. Themed channels will include launch with “South Park Armageddon!” in April. What’s more, these markets will feature a series of channels, individually dedicated to specific characters from the series.
In Canada specifically, the channels now streaming include:
South Park (current channel)
South Park: Armageddon! (themed pop-up channel)
South Park: Cartman Collection
South Park: Kenny Collection
South Park: Kyle Collection
South Park: Stan Collection
South Park FR (French channel)
The iconic animated series, co-created by Matt Stone and Trey Parker, has proven to be a key driver for Pluto TV across international markets. In 2023, South Park ranked consistently among the top 10 series in each Pluto TV market, ranking #1 in Canada, France, and Italy. During the second half of 2023, the franchise experienced massive growth in terms of Total Viewing Hours (TVH) on the platform across Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, and Spain, and continues to attract new audiences. In the UK, South Park launched at the end of 2023 and immediately joined the top 5 series in the region.
Kat Kowalski, Senior Vice President, International Content Strategy & Acquisitions at Pluto TV said: “At Pluto TV, we listen to our audience, and it’s our goal to provide them with content they love in a carefully curated viewing experience. This is exactly what we are doing with South Park. We know that this is one of Paramount’s fan-favorite franchises, and we are excited to offer viewers a new way to enjoy a series that, for the last 26 years, has entertained multiple generations with its funny and subversive world across the whole Paramount ecosystem.”
Building on MTV Entertainment Studios’ expansive deal with co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, South Park has been renewed on Comedy Central through 2027, taking cable’s longest-running scripted series through an unprecedented 30th season. The first six South Park original made-for-streaming events are now available to stream exclusively on Paramount+.
In other SOUTH PARK news, the classic SOUTH PARK: BIGGER, LONGER & UNCUT arrives on 4K Ultra HD on June 25, 2024 via Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment also! The Film celebrates its 25th anniversary with bonus features:
The 25th Anniversary 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray™ Combo includes legacy bonus content detailed below and—for the first time—the Sing-A-Long version of the film. Bonus content on Blu-ray is as follows:
Commentary by Matt Stone and Trey Parker
“What Would Brian Boitano Do?” Music Video
Theatrical Trailers
Sing-A-Long Version of the Film
Paramount Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win passes to an Advance Screening of IF!
Screenings take place Saturday, May 11, 2024 as follows:
TORONTO – Saturday, May 11th at 10:30 AM, Cineplex Cinemas Yonge & Eglinton
MONTREAL (ENG) – Saturday, May 11th at 11:00 AM, Cineplex Banque Scotia Montreal
MONTREAL (FRE) – Saturday, May 11th at 10:30 AM, Cineplex Cinemas StarCitĂ©
VANCOUVER – Saturday, May 11th at 10:30 AM, Cineplex Cinemas Metropolis
CALGARY – Saturday, May 11th at 10:30 AM, Scotiabank Theatre Chinook
Synopsis:
From writer and director John Krasinski, IF is about a girl who discovers that she can see everyone’s imaginary friends — and what she does with that superpower — as she embarks on a magical adventure to reconnect forgotten IFs with their kids. IF stars Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski, Fiona Shaw, and the voices of Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Gossett Jr. and Steve Carell alongside many more as the wonderfully unique characters that reflect the incredible power of a child’s imagination.
To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Please in the comments tell us which city you’re in. You also can enter from our IG and X accounts.
Rules and regulations here.
Paramount Pictures Canada release IF in theatres May 17, 2024.
(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)
Today, Booking.com releases new research, with insights gathered from more than 31,000 travellers across 34 countries and territories, exploring the latest consumer attitudes, priorities and influences related to sustainable travel. While the annual research reveals a continued sense of desire and awareness, with 78% of Canadian travellers confirming that sustainable travel is important to them, new insights show a sense of weariness could be emerging globally, fueled by the ongoing challenges experienced to make more sustainable travel choices.
The recent study shows that half (50%) of Canadian travellers feel travelling more sustainably is important, but not a primary consideration when planning or booking a trip, and 26% even report they are tired of hearing about climate change all the time. With this in mind, the opportunity for collective action is more pertinent than ever, in order to ensure that progress toward a more sustainable travel industry remains a priority.
Positive intentions meeting new challenges
Looking ahead, a reassuring 70% of Canadian travellers say that they want to travel more sustainably over the next 12 months, and (40%) would feel guilty making less sustainable travel choices. When it comes to motivators among those who want to travel more sustainably, (41%) want to do so because they believe it’s the right thing to do.
However, a sense of disillusion towards making more sustainable travel choices may be counteracting those intentions. New areas of exploration researched for the first time this year reveal that some Canadian travellers don’t recognize the importance of being more mindful of their impact, as one-third (29%) feel that the damage already done is irreversible and that the travel choices they make are not going to change that. In fact, a quarter (26%) don’t believe climate change is as severe as people make it out to be – a dismissal of the issue which may well be impacting travel plans.
Moreover, feel their time spent travelling is too precious to put sustainability at the top of their decision-making list (28%). Not seeing sustainability in action is also contributing to the sense of powerlessness; a third (32%) of Canadians believe that being more sustainable in a destination that is not implementing sustainability practices itself feels pointless.
Shared responsibility and the critical opportunity for industry-wide enablement
The role travellers feel they can play in tackling the negative impacts of travel also highlights their expectations around collaboration. A noteworthy 73% of Canadian travellers say they want to leave the places they visit better than when they arrived (up from 64% last year), and this year’s additional research shows 49% think they themselves have the potential to counteract the social impacts of travel. On the other hand, 43% think governments hold the most potential for countering the economic effects, and 41% believe travel service providers hold the key to addressing environmental factors. Furthermore, 43% believe that governments are responsible for educating people on the impacts of travel and tourism.
Responsibilities extend to how consumers are being supported to fulfill their intentions. Coming across an accommodation labeled as more sustainable is more appealing to almost half of Canadian travellers (41%) and consistency of certification standards is critical to identifying these options with 66% agreeing that all travel booking sites should use the same sustainable certifications or labels. However, those interested to learn more about why the accommodation was given this label is down 15 percentage points (at 52%) when compared with the same time last year, indicating a need for simple, clear communication that enables easy decision-making regardless of priorities.
Sustainable silver linings
Despite the emerging frustrations, travellers who say they are making more mindful choices also feel that more sustainable travel experiences are actually adding value to their trips. New areas of research in this year’s report found that 59% of Canadian travellers recognize that they are the best version of themselves when they travel more sustainably and consequently take home this positivity, just as 65% feel that witnessing sustainable practices while travelling inspires them to be more sustainable in their everyday life. Of those who adopted sustainable behaviors on their travels, it was seen as an enhancement for 96% who did tours or activities for authentic, local, and cultural experiences, 96% who shopped at small, independent stores, and 90% who planned their trips so that they could walk, bike, or take public transport.
“While many travellers have retained a sense of optimism and a desire to have a more positive impact, there is a critical opportunity for the industry to accelerate efforts to make those choices easier for everyone,” said Danielle D’Silva, Head of Sustainability at Booking.com. “It’s important that we continue ensuring that more sustainable options are not only readily available, but also easy to trust and understand. That’s where we believe further education, clear and consistent standards and credible third-party certification of legitimate sustainable practices across the travel experience can really help. While the signals of consumer frustration should be a concern, it’s also a reminder to maintain our focus on the impactful work we know can make a difference not only for travellers, but for communities and destinations everywhere.”
From producer M. Night Shyamalan comes “The Watchers,” written and directed by Ishana Night Shyamalan and based on the novel by A.M. Shine. The film follows Mina, a 28-year-old artist, who gets stranded in an expansive, untouched forest in western Ireland. When Mina finds shelter, she unknowingly becomes trapped alongside three strangers who are watched and stalked by mysterious creatures each night. You can’t see them, but they see everything.
“The Watchers” stars Dakota Fanning (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” “Ocean’s Eight”), Georgina Campbell (“Barbarian,” “Suspicion”), Oliver Finnegan (“Creeped Out,” “Outlander”) and Olwen Fouere (“The Northman,” “The Tourist”). The film is produced by M. Night Shyamalan, Ashwin Rajan and Nimitt Mankad. The executive producers are Jo Homewood and Stephen Dembitzer.
Joining writer/director Shyamalan behind-the-camera are director of photography Eli Arenson (“Lamb,” “Hospitality”), production designer Ferdia Murphy (“Lola,” “Finding You”), editor Job ter Burg (“Benedetta,” “Elle”) and costume design by Frank Gallacher (“Sebastian,” “Aftersun”). The music is by Abel Korzeniowski (“Till,” “The Nun”).New Line Cinema presents “The Watchers,” set to open in theatres in Canada on June 7, 2024; it will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.
The Roast of Tom Brady, scheduled for May 5, 2024 at 5pm PT as part of Netflix is a Joke Fest, will now be streamed LIVE on Netflix from the Kia Forum in Los Angeles.
Kevin Hart will host the Greatest Roast Of All Time.
This is the first ever roast that will be telecast live, unedited.
Playing offense will be a surprise team of roasters from the comedy, sports and entertainment world. No interference.
Executive produced by: Tom Brady, Casey Patterson, Jeff Ross, Kevin Hart and Jeff Clanagan for Hartbeat.
Today, Marvel Studios debuted a brand-new trailer for its highly anticipated feature film “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
Shawn Levy directs “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which stars Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Karan Soni, and Matthew Macfadyen.
Kevin Feige, Ryan Reynolds, Shawn Levy and Lauren Shuler Donner produce with Louis D’Esposito, Wendy Jacobson, Mary McLaglen, Josh McLaglen, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, George Dewey and Simon Kinberg serving as executive producers. “Deadpool & Wolverine” is written by Ryan Reynolds & Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick & Zeb Wells & Shawn Levy.
Marvel Studios’ “Deadpool & Wolverine” delivers the ultimate team-up throwdown on July 26, 2024.
By Mr. Will Wong
It’s smutty, fearless and everything it should be. OUTtv‘s SUGAR HIGHS is back for a second season and we reunite with roommates Bud (Adam Fox), Tab (Joey Beni) and Mickey (Samuel Dickinson) whom decidedly after not being able to make rent – yes the economy is rough – sought-out sugar daddies, selling their companionship to make ends meet.
Every episode is a new adventure in a way that is a little like Confessions of a Call Girl in that we meet an ecclectic mix of new people throughout with a diverse array of sexual needs, but also a little like Sex and the City in its comedic elements. At once, it also is a little reminiscent of Queer as Folk in that our three leads’ lives are complicatedly intertwined with mixed emotions of jealousy, competition, but an underlying bond.
Common themes in this second season is inter-generational romantic relationships and unresolved feelings. Bud is navigating his ex Early (Scott Thompson), who currently is dating someone Bud goes to school with. Bud also is on the verge of what could be a serious relationship with Clark (Michael Ayres), though the former just might self-sabotage that. Mickey is involved in a throuple with a male-female couple, while one of Tab‘s older clients wants to loop him into a relationship.
Though Writer/Producer/Director Thom Fitzgerald leans on common gay tropes that gay relationships have to be sexually charged and that the characters have to be sassy and confrontational, that is not to say this doesn’t make for juicy entertainment. There is an audience for this.
SUGAR HIGHS Season Two airs on OUTtv, with new episodes every Wednesday till May 15, 2024.
CIVIL WAR takes top spot once again at the Box Office with $11 million from 3,929 theatres for A24/Elevation Pictures. This takes it to $44 million over two weekends.
Horror ABIGAIL just gets edged-out at the Box Office this weekend with $10 million from 3,300 theatres across North America, a debut in second. It gets 82% on the Tomatometer.
Third is THE MINISTRY OF UNGENTLEMANLY WARFARE with $9 million for Lionsgate. This latest effort from Guy Ritchie gets 92% on the Tomatometer.
In fourth we have GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE with $8.5 million from 3,658 theatres for Warner Bros. In tallies in at $170.6 million in its fourth weekend.
Rounding things off is SPY X FAMILY CODE: WHITE with $5 million, getting 96% on the Tomatometer for Sony/Crunchyroll.
DYLAN is ready to make a huge splash globally! The English Singer-Songwriter truly is the real deal, exuding showmanship, musical talent and great songcraft! She’s in Toronto, wrapping-up her Rebel Child World Tour, in advance of her upcoming album to be released domestically by Universal Music Canada.
We had the joy of seeing her blow the roof off at UMUSIC Live, a showcase which takes place at Universal Music Canada‘s head office in Toronto. A select group got to witness her performance ahead of her show at The AXIS Club. She possesses this magnetic energy, with songs big enough to fill an arena.
She’s already supported and collaborated with some of Pop Music’s greats like Ed Sheeran, Bastille, Gayle and Tate McRae. If that’s not a sign, I don’t know what is. Her debut Mixtape The Greatest Thing I’ll Never Learn already has won her much acclaim from some top publications.
Check out some highlights from her amazing Showcase. So impressed. What a force!
Be sure to follow DYLAN on IG and also Universal Music Canada as well.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
After making a splash on the Festival circuit, BACKSPOT arrives in theatres May 31, 2024 via levelFILM. Today, we get a new Trailer.
Director: D.W. Waterson
Screenplay: Joanne Sarazen
Executive Producers: Elliot Page, Matt Jordan Smith, J.C. Davidson, Katisha Shaw
Producers: Alona Metzer, D.W. Waterson, Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs, Martin Katz
Cast: Devery Jacobs, Evan Rachel Wood, Shannyn Sossamon, Kudakwashe Rutendo, Thomas Antony Olajide and Wendy Crewson
Logline:A driven cheerleader (Devery Jacobs) struggles to handle the pressure when she and her girlfriend are both selected for an elite cheer squad, in D.W. Waterson’s feature directorial debut.
(Photo/video credit: levelFILM)
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