We’ve loved Katherine Heigl for what seems like forever and we aren’t sure what’s taken her so long to come out this way!  The Emmy Award winner and star of successes Grey’s Anatomy, Knocked Up, 28 Dresses, New Year’s Eve and The Nut Job began work on season eight of acclaimed U.S.A. Network Series SUITS this past spring in Toronto.

While she’s been spotted on set in Financial District many times, we found her finally as she returned back to work after a week off in her beloved snowy Utah, which she called home before relocating here to work on the Series. In fact, she even got married there to husband, Country Crooner Josh Kelley.

Heigl has received warm reception for her role on SUITS in which she stars as Samantha Wheeler, a ruthless and hardworking lawyer joining Specter Litt and continues to work on the Production through November in the City.

Travelling solo today, she looked every bit the star despite being incognito in sunglasses and was extremely kind to stop for a moment to chat and snap Selfies with Billy and I before looking for a taxi. She was everything we had hoped and is just as gorgeous in person!

We’ll be the first to say that 2017’s delicious Thriller UNFORGETTABLE was so underrated. Love her.

See our Snap:

Heigl has been posting often about her Toronto favourites. Don’t forget to check-out her Blog, THOSE HEAVENLY DAYS here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

For a second week straight, VENOM takes the top of the Box Office. Earning $31.7 million in its second week out for Sony Pictures, its tally to date is $138.8 million.

Repeating the order again this weekend, A STAR IS BORN settles for second with a strong $29.6 million, bringing its two-week run to $95.7 million for Warner Bros.

FIRST MAN, seen as an early Oscar Contender debuts in third with $16.8 million for Universal Pictures, from 3,640 theatres. This latest, a Neil Armstrong Biopic from Oscar-winning Director Damien Chazelle, gets a B+ CinemaScore and an 88% on the Tomatometer.

GOOSEBUMPS 2: HAUNTED HALLOWEEN debuts in fourth with $15.7 million from 3,521 theatres, getting 43% on the Tomatometer and a B CinemaScore. Its 2015 Predecessor opened with $23.6 million.

Star-studded BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE opens in sixth with $7.9 million from 2,808 theatres for 20th Century Fox. It gets a B- CinemaScore and a 71% on the Tomatometer.

THE HATE U GIVE, also an Oscar Contender, debuts in ninth with $1.5 million from just 248 theatres in its second week of limited release for 20th Century Fox. 

Rounding-out the Top Ten is A SIMPLE FAVOR with $1.3 million for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films, a total $52 million over five weeks.

Fox Searchlight x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to see acclaimed TIFF ’18 selection, CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?

Screenings take place as follows:

TORONTO
Monday, October 22
7:00PM
Cineplex Varsity

VANCOUVER
Monday, October 29
7:00PM
Fifth Avenue

One lucky winner even wins a Prize Pack!

Synopsis:
Best-selling author Lee Israel (Melissa McCarthy), who wrote biographies of celebrities such as Tallulah Bankhead, Estée Lauder and Dorothy Kilgallen in the 1970s and ’80s, and profiles of other stars such as Katharine Hepburn, has fallen on hard times.

Turning to criminal life, she begins a lucrative scam with her loyal friend Jack (Richard E. Grant) by forging hundreds of letters purportedly written by luminaries as Dorothy Parker, Noël Coward and Lillian Hellman, then selling her “memorabilia” to dealers across the country.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate your City.

Fox Searchlight release CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME? Friday, October 26, 2018.

(Photo/video credit: Fox Searchlight)

Paramount Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Advance Passes to see OVERLORD, from Producer J. J. Abrams! The Screening takes place on Wednesday November 7, 2018 in Toronto and Montreal!

Synopsis:
On the eve of D-Day, a group of American paratroopers are dropped behind enemy lines to carry out a mission crucial to the invasion’s success. But as they approach their target, they begin to realize there is more going on in this Nazi-occupied village than a simple military operation.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Please remember to indicate your City!

Paramount Pictures Canada release OVERLORD Friday, November 9, 2018.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)

Contest open to legal residents of Canada aged 18 years or older at the time of entry, and closes Friday, October 26 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. One prize per household. Odds of winning are dependent on the total number of entries received. Winner(s) will be selected at random, and will be contacted via Facebook message. Should a winner be disqualified or fail to respond in a timely manner in cases where further information is required from him/her to redeem the prize, Mr. Will Wong reserves the right to draw another winner in his/her place. By participating in this contest, all entrants agree to be bound by these rules and regulations. Mr.Will Wong accepts no legal liability in relation to the operation of this contest.

She’s an Uptown Girl!  We’ve long admired Supermodel Christy Brinkley and you won’t believe how gorgeous she is still!  In Toronto to promote her organic, vegan sparkling wine, BELLISSIMA, Brinkley has the distinction of having appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue an unheard of three consecutive times. She also served 25 years as the face of Covergirl.

The gorgeous Businesswoman was out doing the morning show circuit with appears on CP24 Breakfast and also CHFI 98.1 in support of her appearance and she was beautiful inside and out, stopping to pose for pics with a bottle of her Sparkling Wine!

You too can meet Brinkley at LCBO Summerhill 11:30 to 3:00 PM tomorrow as she signs bottles. It also will be an opportunity to taste her signature Vegan Prosecco! You can read and listen to her interview at CHFI (oddly, not KISS 92.5 too!) here.

See our Snap!

Learn more about it here.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

At long last! Here is your first sneak peek at Disney’s ALADDIN! Not much is given away but you get a taste of its aesthetic and mood!

Synopsis:
“Aladdin” is the exciting tale of the charming street rat Aladdin, the courageous and self-determined Princess Jasmine and the Genie who may be the key to their future. Directed by Guy Ritchie, who brings his singular flair for fast-paced, visceral action to the fictitious port city of Agrabah, the film is written by John August and Ritchie based on Disney’s “Aladdin.”

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada release ALADDIN Friday, May 24, 2019.

(Photo/video credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada)

The Reel Asian Film Festival is set to take place November 8 to 16, 2018 throughout the greater Toronto area once again. Canada’s top pan-Asian Festival is now in its 22nd year, announcing its lineup earlier today. Over 50% of the 62 Films at Reel Asian are from a diverse 16 regions this year, 50% directed by women.

In addition to some high-profile titles, Reel Asian introduces for the first time ever, a VR Installation. Homestay is brought to us by Creator Paisley Smith. It takes us right inside one family’s experience  with international students, looking at immersion, clash and what we can take away from it.

Canadian Director Min Sook Lee is spotlighted with her Film, Hogtown: The Politics of Policing returning to the screen after its award-winning debut at Hot Docs more than ten years ago. It takes another look how the Toronto Police Services Board stands today versus then. A panel discussion is to follow.

Some of the marquee Films at Reel Asian this year:

Opening Night Gala, eight-time Golden Horse Award nominee DEAR EX

RAMEN SHOP

Legendary Hong Kong Band Wynners’ Biopic, HOUSE OF THE RISING SONS

Closing Night Gala WISH YOU WERE HERE

Tickets are on sale now here.

(Photo/video credit: Reel Asian)

Disney Parks is showing its commitment to help develop the talent of tomorrow! 21 members (from 13 countries) from their GIRL UP Program, including twin sisters Maryam and Nivaal Rehman from Whitby, Ontario will have their Short Films featured in their #DREAMBIGPRINCESS Video Series. The Sisters are the only Canadians chosen. The GIRL UP Program is designed to empower the next generation by spotlighting young female trailblazers!

Every like or share these videos get, garners a $1 US donation from Disney Worldwide Services to GIRL UP, a United Nations Foundation program, in support of girls’ leadership and empowerment.

Some of the influencial women who are part of the #DREAMBIGPRINCESS Series:

· Asmaa Boujibar – Research scientist and the first Moroccan woman in history to join NASA Johnson Space Center.
· Ashima Narain – Photographer, filmmaker and former photo editor for National Geographic Traveler India.
· Blanca Treviño – President and CEO of Softtek, the leading IT services company in Latin America, champion for entrepreneurialism, IT and the role of women in business.
· Emily Blunt – Golden Globe Award-winning actress and star of upcoming Disney movies Mary Poppins Returns and Jungle Cruise.
· Celina Caesar-Chavannes – Canadian member of Parliament who served as Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister of Canada.
· Jennifer Lee – Chief creative officer at Walt Disney Animation Studios, writer and co-director of Disney’s Frozen for which she won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
· Jo Malone CBE – Founder and creative director of Jo Loves, responsible for creating some of the world’s most-loved fragrances, awarded a CBE in the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honors List for her services to the British Economy and the GREAT Britain campaign.
· Karen Jonz – Brazilian skateboarder, designer and musician who won the 2008 X Games women’s vertical and the World Cup Skateboarding Championship four times, first Brazilian to win the title of World Champion.
· Karen Walker – Designer with a global, multimillion-dollar eponymous fashion label, awarded the Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to fashion design in 2014.
· Kathleen Kennedy – Film producer and president of Lucasfilm, has produced more than 60 films, including three of the highest-grossing movies in motion picture history.
· Leia Mi – Art director for Shanghai Disneyland who creates concept designs and provides art direction for Shanghai Disney Resort, was a creative designer at Walt Disney Imagineering.
· Maria Teresa Ruiz – Chilean astronomer, the first woman to study astronomy at the University of Chile, the first female scientist to receive a PhD in astrophysics from Princeton University and the first woman to receive Chile’s National Prize for Exact Sciences.
· Martina Stoessel – Actress and singer who played the leading role on the internationally successful Disney Channel telenovela Violetta, first Argentine singer to reach one million views on YouTube in less than 24 hours for her single “Te Quiero Mas.”
· Monica Lopez Hidalgo – Accomplished professor and researcher of neuroscience, one of the winners of the L’Oréal Unesco Conacyt AMC 2017 Scholarships for Women in Science for her research on the deterioration of cognitive functions related to age.
· Dr. Ndifanji Namacha – Medical doctor and assistant lecturer of public health, Malaria No More UK youth ambassador, delivered a keynote speech at the 2018 Malaria Summit in London.
· Paola Carosella – Award-winning chef and restaurateur, opened her first restaurant in São Paulo, Brazil, in 2001, has appeared as a judge on MasterChef Brazil since 2014.
· Robin Roberts – Award-winning broadcaster and co-anchor of ABC’s Good Morning America.
· Susan Prescott – Vice president of product marketing at Apple with more than 25 years of experience in the computing industry.
· Virginie Delalande – Founder of Handicapower, first deaf person to become a lawyer in France.
· Victoria Arlen – Accomplished motivational speaker, actress, model and swimmer, won three Silver medals and a Gold medal from the London 2012 Paralympic Games, joined ESPN as one of the company’s youngest on-air talents.

International Day of the Girl is October 11, 2018.

More here on the campaign and also some of the selected videos!

(Photo credit: Disney)

By George Kozera for Mr. Will Wong

For the first time ever in Canada, Sony Centre for the Performing Arts will be the home to CASINO ROYALE IN CONCERT on October 11 and 12, 2018. The audience will be able to experience the James Bond experience accompanied by the power of a full symphony Orchestra performing live and in-sync with the Film. Best known as Daniel Craig’s debut as the heroic and dashing 007, this promises to be an exciting, not-to-be-missed opportunity. I had the great fortune to meet and chat with the Conductor, Evan Mitchell, who comes to the project with an impressive resume and credentials. Not only was he the Musical Director of the Kingston Symphony Association for three years, he also led orchestral collaborations with the Barenaked Ladies, Judy Collins and Pink Martini. Needless to say, my first question was how daunting it was to conduct an Orchestra as the Movie screens and how many times he’s watched CASINO ROYALE.

“You don’t want to know how many times I watched the Movie!”, Mitchell answered with a smile and went on to explain that it is the most time-consuming of the projects he takes-on and it took him a while to realize that he must “lose control” and “let the musicians play themselves”. He added, “The upside is that conducting a pre-established Score is consistent, but the downside is that it is relentless.”. He enjoyed the work and effort it took to ensure everything is in-sync. The more he watched the Movie, the more he saw when and where the live music goes “off-track”.

As to putting his own stamp on the Score, Mitchell explained that Action Movies are harder to work with as there is a constant drive and energy that must be addressed appropriately when compared to the more emotional, quieter sequences and narratives where the Music “can lag second or two behind.”. The many “smash cuts” in CASINO ROYALE made the experience daunting and rewarding. He loved the portions of the Movie that featured actress Eva Greene as the Music was more lyrical and she even had her own theme. “I had a little more room to play”, he explained.

When asked how different this Project was as opposed to his musical collaborations with artists, Mitchell explained, “With Artists like Judy Collins, Pink Martini and the Barenaked Ladies, you are there to support their visions and they are leading the charge. That said, there are adjustments all over the place. With Film, there are no adjustments. The inflexibility is more of a challenge, but also more rewarding.”.

I asked Mitchell what the audience should be expecting from this Concert. He says, “First of all, CASINO ROYALE is a great Film. It’s my favourite Bond movie starring Daniel Craig. They will see an excellent Film with an excellent Score and they will be drawn into the Music. It will heighten all of the action. You will also forget that there is a live Orchestra playing and that is the magic too.”.

I could not end our chat without asking what his favourite Bond movie. We talked about what a huge fan is he of Daniel Craig in all of his Movies and especially how “you can see in his eyes the turmoil he is going through” and how beautifully the relationship between Bond and M (played by Judi Dench) is portrayed. Whereas Mitchell confessed to not seeing all the Bond movies in the Series, he has a soft spot for GOLDENEYE (“It’s Brosnan’s best!”). He added that he believes that “Eva Greene is the best Actress to play a Bond girl, next to Rosamund Pike.”.

Mitchell’s enthusiasm for CASINO ROYALE IN CONCERT was infectious and I personally cannot wait to experience what promises to be an exciting and invigorating night at the theatre.

More on this and how to get tickets here.

Still recovering from seeing the first Adaptation when we were young. Check-out the new Poster for PET SEMATARY.

SYNOPSIS:

Based on the seminal horror novel by Stephen King, Pet Sematary follows Dr. Louis Creed (Jason Clarke), who, after relocating with his wife Rachel (Amy Seimetz) and their two young children from Boston to rural Maine, discovers a mysterious burial ground hidden deep in the woods near the family’s new home. When tragedy strikes, Louis turns to his unusual neighbor, Jud Crandall (John Lithgow), setting off a perilous chain reaction that unleashes an unfathomable evil with horrific consequences.

See the Artwork:

Trailer below:

PET SEMATARY is in theatres on Friday, April 5, 2019.

(Photo credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)