By David Baldwin and Mr. Will Wong
Now in its 19th year Toronto Comicon takes place at Metro Toronto Convention Centre this weekend bringing together fans of Sci-Fi, Anime, Cosplayers, Gaming, Comics and more in one extravaganza. Toronto Comicon year after year has given fans a chance to connect with their favourite idols with Panels, Autograph Signings and Photo Ops. Known as one of the most exciting events each spring in Toronto, the event this year was headlined by several stars including Ron Perlman (Hellboy), Dan Fogler (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them), Jaleel White (Family Matters), Tommy Flanagan (Sons of Anarchy), Jonathan Rhys-Davies (Lord of the Rings), Corbin Bernsen (The Punisher) and several more!
Funko Pop! vinyl collectibles, rare editions of comic books and the opportunity to get one-of-a-kind commissioned pieces by Artists, continue to be a huge draw at the three-day affair. Truly Toronto Comicon is a mecca of all things adored.
Our David Baldwin had the opportunity to sit-in on a couple high-profile Panels for Ron Perlman and Dan Fogler.
PERLMAN
Golden Globe Award winner Ron Perlman has had a celebrated career in Film and Television, including unforgettable performances on Television Series Beauty and the Beast and originating the titular role in a soon-to-be rebooted Hellboy. He delighted fans on Saturday afternoon with a lively Q&A session. He set the tone for the nearly hour-long discussion by taking the stage and immediately greeting the audience with “Sup motherfuckers?” He later apologized to everyone who brought their children with them, but did not change his casual demeanour. He says that “99% of the roles I’ve played, I’ve really loved” and likens that passion for his roles to his mantra of “Don’t say yes unless you really love the person you’re playing.”.
While he enjoyed talking about his popular roles (“Sons of Anarchy was larger than life”) and his close relationship with honourary Torontonian and Oscar-winning Director, Guillermo del Toro (going so far as to praise Pan’s Labyrinth as a “masterpiece” and calling it the “quintessential del Toro movie”), Perlman did not hesitate to get very candid with the audience. Upon hearing an audience question about his time on the ill-fated 1996 remake of The Island of Dr. Moreau, he flat-out said “We should have never made that movie,” and said that acclaimed Director Jean-Jacques Annaud saved his life and career more than once when he was “going to quit acting”. He also let the audience in on a very telling secret: “I’m not a big fan of watching my own stuff. I just do it and move on to the next thing.”.
Perlman next year can be seen in Paul W.S. Anderson‘s eagerly-awaited Monster Hunter.
FOGLER
Despite landing a breakout role in 2016’s blockbuster Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the first of a few slated Films in the Franchise, Dan Fogler long has been honing his craft. Fashionably-late for his own Panel today, he was exactly as animated and wild a personality as you might expect: “I like acting in front of people.” In his discussion, he detailed how much joy it brings him to get to play roles in the likes of Fanboys, the Fantastic Beasts series and The Walking Dead saying the roles “speak to the little nerd in me.” He even went so far as to say that his work on Fanboys specifically gave him the “invitation to act like a kid again.”.
Fogler went the extra mile during the Q&A portion, handing-out comic books and memorabilia to each audience member who asked a question (and in a rather wonderful touch, personally delivered memorabilia and hugged an audience member in a wheelchair). He riffed on his time working with Christopher Walken on Balls of Fury (telling the audience Walken’s method of dialogue delivery: “It’s all about slow, medium, fast”) and reminisced about his inspirations, saying that after discovering that Voice Actor Mel Blanc was playing and creating voices for multiple Looney Tunes characters, “I want to do that!”. Fogler even tried his hand at Sign Language, poorly attempting to sign-out “Say hello to my little friend” to his on-stage interpreter.
The Brooklyn native currently can be seen on AMC’s The Walking Dead as Luke.
Check-out some more sights of 2019 Toronto Comicon:
Ron Perlman
Dan Fogler
Jaleel White
Jonathan Rhys-Davies
Tommy Flanagan
Corbin Bernsen
John De Lancie
Cosplay
Cool, rare stuff
Also, CAPTIVE STATE is in theatres this weekend. Don’t forget to check-out this need little installation where you can star in your own Poster for the Film!
You still have one more day left to check-out 2019 Toronto Comicon as it wraps Sunday, March 17, 2019!
More here.
Missed it? Don’t worry, Fan Expo Canada is coming this Summer. More details here.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/David Baldwin)
By Siobhán Rich for Mr. Will Wong
On Tuesday night, the No-Majs of Toronto gathered in a rainy Yonge-Dundas Square to spot their favourite wizards from upcoming Warner Pictures Canada release Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Director David Yates and Producer David Heyman looked on as fans clamored for a chance to be close to stars Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterson, Alison Sudol, Dan Fogler and Ezra Miller.
The cast was all smiles braving the rain and cold as they paused to sign autographs and snap Selfies with hundreds of devoted Muggles.
On Wednesday, November 9, 2016 for one day only, the public will be able visit the Wizarding World by stopping by Yonge-Dundas Square. Bought to us by Audi and IMAX, the Experience includes the following:
• Fans will be able to see costumes and props from the production including the iconic Newt suitcase!
• Fans will be able to participate in exciting activations including VR and gaming demos
• Fans will be able to win exciting prizes including special advance screening passes, signed posters and gift bags.
• Be one of the first to arrive in your wizard inspired costume for your chance to receive a collectable wand (while supplies last)
Scripted by the Queen of the Wizarding World herself, JK Rowling, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will be released on Friday, November 18, 2016.
See some Snaps of the fun!
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
See the Trailer for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them:
(Photo/video credit: Siobhán Rich for Mr. Will Wong/Warner Bros.)
‘Fantastic’ news! Literally! Fans of J.K. Rowling’s FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM will be overjoyed that Toronto not only hosts an amazing one-day only Fan Experience, but major talent also will be coming to town to ring-in the festivities the night before, Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
EDDIE REDMAYNE. EZRA MILLER. KATHERINE WATERSTON. ALISON SUDOL. DAN FOGLER. DIRECTOR DAVID YATES. These are just some of the marquee names expected in the City for the celebration at the Red Carpet celebration.
Brought to us by Audi and IMAX, the Experience takes place Yonge & Dundas Square Wednesday, November 9, 2016 10 AM – 9 PM, giving Fans unparalleled access to special memorabilia from the major motion picture event!
• Fans will be able to see costumes and props from the production including the iconic Newt suitcase!
• Fans will be able to participate in exciting activations including VR and gaming demos
• Fans will be able to win exciting prizes including special advance screening passes, signed posters and gift bags.
• Be one of the first to arrive in your wizard inspired costume for your chance to receive a collectable wand (while supplies last)
Also, don’t forget to use the official Hashtag, #FANTASTICBEASTSTO to share your excitement! We’ll be there to deliver that Red Carpet excitement! Stay tuned!
Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM on Friday, November 18, 2016.
(Photo credit: Warner Bros.)
By Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong
Yesterday afternoon, Fans around the world were privileged enough to be part of the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Global Fan Event at participating cinemas or through Facebook Live and YouTube for those unable to make it out to the sold-out affair. This celebration showed some exclusive new footage as well as questions answered by select cast members of the Film including Colin Farrell, Jon Voight, Dan Fogler, Katherine Waterston, Alison Sodul and of course Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne. Director David Yates and Producer David Heyman also joined the fun.
The Event itself offered some interesting insight on what to expect and what we can expect from the newest installment and wizarding world we have all come to fall in love with, but the real excitement came at the very end when David Yates made a very exciting announcement regarding the future of Newt. After Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, we can expect Newt in a new adventure somewhere other than New York.
No Harry Potter universe event would be complete if J.K Rowling did not make an appearance, and the massive bombshell news she dropped made it even more exciting. Rowling announced that there will be FIVE Fantastic Beasts Movies, and no one knew of this news from the Cast. The best reaction to this news came from Newt himself, Eddie Redmayne, who was just over the moon joyous and happy from the news.
Now the real meat of the experience, something that was privileged to the audiences in theatres the new footage from the Film. We saw the first five minutes of the Film then snippets from throughout the Film. Without giving anything away, it looks incredible and possesses the same magic and adventure as the Harry Potter Films have. It is truly going to be an amazing experience. Also after the presentation, audiences for the first time were able to see Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone for the first time in IMAX and that was truly something magical. Currently there is a week-long promotion in IMAX showing all eight Harry Potter Films, visit www.cineplex.com for more details on that. As well tickets for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them are currently on-sale!
Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM in theatres on Friday November 18, 2016, with special advance previews on Thursday November 17, 2016.
Some of you might recognize him by face, some of you might recognize him by voice. TONY Award-winning Actor Dan Fogler was spotted heading to the Convenience Store after a long day on the set of NBC‘s upcoming Series Hannibal tonight.
Fogler has starred in popular Films like Good Luck Chuck, Balls of Fury and Fanboys, while he has provided Voice Work on smashes like Horton Hears a Who, Kung Fu Panda and also upcoming Thanksgiving-themed Animated Feature Turkeys, alongside Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson.
The Funnyman was nice enough to stop for a Snap despite the freezing cold, humbly introducing himself just as “Dan“, with a handshake. Hannibal also stars Mads Mikkelsen, Hugh Dancy, Gilliand Anderson, Laurence Fishburne and Gina Torres (the latter two Husband and Wife), wrapping in about a month’s time. Its Premiere Date still has yet to be confirmed. Anxiously awaiting…
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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