Paramount+ debuted a first look and official title for the highly anticipated espionage thriller SPECIAL OPS: LIONESS (previously titled “Lioness”). From Academy Award® nominee Taylor Sheridan, the original series stars series lead and executive producer Zoe Saldaña, Academy Award winner and executive producer Nicole Kidman, Canadian Laysla De Oliveira, and Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman. SPECIAL OPS: LIONESS is produced by MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios exclusively for Paramount+.
SPECIAL OPS: LIONESS is based on a real-life program and follows Cruz Manuelos (De Oliveira), a rough-around-the-edges but passionate young Marine recruited to join the Lioness Engagement Team to help bring down a terrorist organization from within. Saldaña will play Joe, the station chief of the Lioness program tasked with training, managing and leading her female undercover operatives.
SPECIAL OPS: LIONESS will also star series regulars Dave Annable, Jill Wagner, LaMonica Garrett, James Jordan, Austin Hébert, Jonah Wharton, Stephanie Nur and Hannah Love Lanier with Emmy Award® Nominee Michael Kelly in a recurring role. The series is executive produced by Taylor Sheridan, David C. Glasser, Zoe Saldaña, Nicole Kidman, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, David Hutkin, Jill Wagner, Geyer Kosinski, Michael Malone and John Hillcoat.
The series is the latest addition to Sheridan’s growing slate on Paramount+, which includes 1923, 1883, MAYOR OF KINGSTOWN, and TULSA KING as well as the upcoming series LAWMEN: BASS REEVES and LAND MAN.
For more information about Paramount+ and SPECIAL OPS: LIONESS, please visit www.paramountplus.com and follow @ParamountPlusCA and @SpecialOpsLioness on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok and @SpecOpsLioness on Twitter.
Canadian cinema visionary Atom Egoyan is back with GUEST OF HONOUR. A new Trailer has surfaced.
Synopsis:
JIM (David Thewlis) and his daughter VERONICA (Laysla De Oliveira), a young high-school music teacher, attempt to unravel their complicated histories and intertwined secrets in Guest of Honour, a film that weaves through time exploring perception and penance, memory and forgiveness.
David Thewlis, Laysla De Oliveira, Rossif Sutherland, Luke Wilson and Alexandre Bourgeois star.
See the Trailer:
Elevation Pictures release GUEST OF HONOUR, coming soon.
(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)
Filmed right here in Toronto, LOCKE & KEY is set to premiere next month on Netflix!
Synopsis:
Based on the best-selling graphic novels, Locke & Key follows 3 siblings who, after the murder of their father, move to their ancestral home only to find the house has magical keys that give them a vast array of powers and abilities.
See the Trailer:
LOCKE & KEY Season 1 premieres on Netflix Friday, February 7, 2020.
(Photo/video credit: Netflix)
The Red Carpet was rolled out last night at TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX in Toronto for the Premiere of Toronto Filmmaker Natty Zavitz‘s ACQUAINTED. The Drama centers on two former high school classmates who cross paths again one day at a bar and the sparks ignite. Reluctantly, they reveal to one another that they are in committed relationships and what unfolds is a refreshing conversation set against a Toronto backdrop, about shifting views on monogamy and generational identity. The story is semi-autobiographical and stars a Cast filled with accomplished Toronto talent including Giacomo Gianniotti (Grey’s Anatomy), Laysla de Oliveira (Locke & Key), Rachel Skarsten (Batwoman), Jonathan Keltz (Entourage), Raymond Ablack (Narcos) and more. The stars came out to fete the Film’s premiere with a Q&A moderated by George Stroumboulopoulos, followed by an Afterparty at the Maverick Condos VIP Registration Event Space.
A who’s-who of Toronto Entertainment were present including Tyrone Edwards (E! News), DVSN, Aaron Poole (Salvation), Dillon Casey (Remedy), Paula Brancati (Degrassi: The Next Generation), Dalmar Abuzeid (Anne with an E) and several more.
See the Trailer:
Zavitz tells the audience about his love for the City and how his Film is a reflection of such. “Toronto’s the best and I love being Torontonian”, he says. “I feel like I haven’t seen Toronto on-screen like the way I experienced it. This whole Cast is Torontonian. The Soundtrack is as well (with contributions from Daniel Caesar, Charlotte Day Wilson and DVSN). Most of Cast lives in L.A., works in L.A. and came home to make a story about our City.”. On whether or not he feels the Film is “Canadian” Zavitz states, “It feels more Torontonian than Canadian I think.”.
Giannotti who currently is working in L.A., has made a point of supporting this Film to the fullest, flying-in between filming to both make the Movie and promote it. To him, the Film is a statement of what it means to be a person. “We have a lot of pressures as human beings on this planet to be relationships and to think of ourselves in a certain way. So we thought this Film beautifully explores all that and how you process that. It’s about being a human being.”. Giannotti, along with his friend Keltz not only star in the Film, but also serve as Producers.
See some Snaps from the night, including the Afterparty sponsored by Nobis. Stars also sipped on George Clooney‘s Casamigos Tequila.
A71 Films release ACQUAINTED Friday, April 5, 2019 in Toronto and Vancouver.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/A71 Films)
Productions are in flight again around Toronto, utilizing our snowy conditions. Taking advantage of a snow-free afternoon, several stars in town working enjoyed milder weather for once.
LET IT SNOW
Filming for Netflix Feature Let it Snow has been underway and it stars a talented, young up-and-coming Cast including Odeya Rush, Kiernan Shipka, Liv Hewson, Shameik Moore and Isabela Moner. Based on the Book by John Green, Lauren Myracle and Maureen Johnson, the Romantic-Comedy centers on a group of people brought together by a snowstorm on Christmas Eve.
We spotted Matthew Noszka (Star), Moner (seen next in Dora The Explorer), Shipka (The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), Rush (Lady Bird) and Moore (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) out and about.
The Production wraps end of March.
SPINNING OUT
Spinning Out centers on a figure skater on the comeback trail as a Pairs skater, after sustaining an injury. The Netflix Series wraps in May and we spotted stars Willow Shields (The Hunger Games) and Evan Roderick (Arrow) earlier out and about. The Series stars Kaya Scodelario (The Maze Runner) and January Jones (Mad Men) also.
LOCKE AND KEY
This Netflix Series based on Joe Hill’s Comic Book Series, is about three siblings brought together after their father’s gruesome murder. They discover a set of keys which must be used against an evil creature looking to hold power and possess the keys. Connor Jessup (American Crime), Jackson Robert Scott (It) and Emilia Jones (Brimstone) star. We spotted Laysla de Olivera out, and she appears next in Toronto-made Code 8 starring cousins Robbie and Stephen Amell, which also is set to stream on Netflix. Executive Producer Andy Muschietti (It, It: Chapter Two) is no stranger to Toronto having directed both Blockbusters here.
Production wraps in June.
FALLING
Green Book star Viggo Mortensen makes his directorial debut in Falling, which sees a conservative father who moves in with his gay son and his family in Los Angeles. Veteran Actor Lance Henriksen has been at work in Toronto, being greeted personally by his Co-Star and Director at the airport upon arrival.
The Production wraps late April.
THE HANDMAID’S TALE
Golden Globe and Primetime EMMY winner Elisabeth Moss certainly is a busy woman, currently filming season three of dystopian Drama THE HANDMAID’S TALE till April. Moss was just at SXSW in Austin promoting Jordan Peele‘s upcoming Film, US.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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