Today, Disney+ debuted the official trailer and key art for the Original limited series “Washington Black,” based on the bestselling novel of the same name and starring Sterling K. Brown, who also serves as an executive producer. The Hulu Original series, which filmed in Nova Scotia, will premiere with all eight episodes on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 on Disney+ in Canada.

See the Trailer here.

Based on the bestselling novel of the same name, which won the 2018 Scotiabank Giller Prize, “Washington Black” follows the 19th-century odyssey of George Washington “Wash” Black, an eleven-year-old boy born on a Barbados sugar plantation, whose prodigious scientific mind sets him on a path of unexpected destiny. When a harrowing incident forces Wash to flee, he is thrust into a globe-spanning adventure that challenges and reshapes his understanding of family, freedom and love. As he navigates uncharted lands and impossible odds, Wash finds the courage to imagine a future beyond the confines of the society he was born into.

The series stars Ernest Kingsley Jr., Rupert Graves, Iola Evans, Edward Bluemel, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Eddie Karanja, Tom Ellis and Sterling K. Brown.

“Washington Black” is produced by 20th Television Production in association with Indian Meadows Productions and The Gotham Group and executive produced by Selwyn Seyfu Hinds, Kimberly Ann Harrison, Sterling K. Brown, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Wanuri Kahiu, Mo Marable, Rob Seidenglanz, Jeremy Bell, Lindsay Williams, D.J. Goldberg, Jennifer Johnson and Anthony Hemingway. Hinds and Harrison are also showrunners for the series. Esi Edugyan is co-producer.

Robust parental controls ensure that Disney+ remains a suitable viewing experience for everyone in the family. Subscribers can set access limits on mature content and create PIN-protected profiles alongside the already existing Junior Mode profiles to give parents and guardians peace of mind.

Today, Disney+ announced the premiere date for the epic adventure limited series “Washington Black,” starring and executive produced by Sterling K. Brown. The Hulu Original series, which filmed in Nova Scotia, will premiere with all eight episodes on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 on Disney+ in Canada.

Based on the bestselling novel of the same name, which won the 2018 Scotiabank Giller Prize, “Washington Black” follows the 19th-century odyssey of George Washington “Wash” Black, an eleven-year-old boy born on a Barbados sugar plantation, whose prodigious scientific mind sets him on a path of unexpected destiny. When a harrowing incident forces Wash to flee, he is thrust into a globe-spanning adventure that challenges and reshapes his understanding of family, freedom and love. As he navigates uncharted lands and impossible odds, Wash finds the courage to imagine a future beyond the confines of the society he was born into.

The series stars Ernest Kingsley Jr., Rupert Graves, Iola Evans, Edward Bluemel, Sharon Duncan Brewster, Eddie Karanja, Tom Ellis and Sterling K. Brown.

“Washington Black” is produced by 20th Television in association with Indian Meadows Productions and The Gotham Group, and executive produced by Selwyn Hinds, Kim Harrison, Sterling K. Brown, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Wanuri Kahiu, Mo Marable, Rob Seidenglanz, Jeremy Bell, Lindsay Williams, D.J. Goldberg, Jennifer Johnson and Anthony Hemingway. Selwyn Hinds and Kim Harrison are also showrunners for the series. Canada’s Esi Edugyan is co-producer.

Robust parental controls ensure that Disney+ remains a suitable viewing experience for everyone in the family. Subscribers can set access limits on mature content and create PIN-protected profiles alongside the already existing Junior Mode profiles to give parents and guardians peace of mind.

Today, Disney+ announced that the Original drama series “Paradise,” which hails from 20th Television, has been renewed for a second season. The political thriller is from creator Dan Fogelman (“Only Murders in the Building,” “This Is Us”), and stars Sterling K. Brown (“This is Us,” “American Fiction”) as Agent Xavier Collins.

“Paradise” is set in a serene community inhabited by some of the world’s most prominent individuals. But this tranquility explodes when a shocking murder occurs, and a high-stakes investigation unfolds.

The first season stars Sterling K. Brown, James Marsden, Julianne Nicholson, Sarah Shahi, Nicole Brydon Bloom, Aliyah Mastin and Percy Daggs IV, and is executive produced by Dan Fogelman, Sterling K. Brown, John Requa, Glenn Ficarra, John Hoberg, Jess Rosenthal, and Steve Beers.

“Paradise” opened to an impressive 7M views in its first week across Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally, debuting as a smash hit, with praise from critics and audiences alike. The series is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

Season one is now streaming on Disney+. The penultimate episode will stream this Tuesday, with the season one finale on March 4, 2025.

Robust parental controls ensure that Disney+ remains a suitable viewing experience for everyone in the family. Subscribers can set access limits on mature content and create PIN-protected profiles alongside the already existing Junior Mode profiles to give parents and guardians peace of mind.

Today, Disney+ released a thrilling second trailer for Dan Fogelman’s upcoming original drama series “Paradise,” starring Sterling K. Brown, James Marsden and Julianne Nicholson. The series premieres Tuesday, January 28, 2025 on Disney+ in Canada, with three episodes at launch, then streams weekly. Trailer here.

“Paradise” is set in a serene community inhabited by some of the world’s most prominent individuals. But this tranquility explodes when a shocking murder occurs and a high-stakes investigation unfolds.

The series stars Sterling K. Brown, James Marsden, Julianne Nicholson, Sarah Shahi, Nicole Brydon Bloom, Aliyah Mastin and Percy Daggs IV. “Paradise” is executive produced by Dan Fogelman, Sterling K. Brown, John Requa, Glenn Ficarra, John Hoberg, Jess Rosenthal, and Steve Beers. The series is a 20th Television production.

Robust parental controls ensure that Disney+ remains a suitable viewing experience for everyone in the family. Subscribers can set access limits on mature content and create PIN-protected profiles alongside the already existing Junior Mode profiles to give parents and guardians peace of mind.

After its Premiere at Sundance, HONK FOR JESUS. SAVE YOUR SOUL is set to hit theatres this Summer.

Synopsis:

Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. is a satirical comedy starring Regina Hall as Trinitie Childs – the proud first lady of a Southern Baptist megachurch, who together with her husband Pastor Lee-Curtis Childs (Sterling K. Brown), once served a congregation in the tens of thousands. But after a scandal forces their church to temporarily close, Trinitie and Lee-Curtis must reopen their church and rebuild their congregation to make the biggest comeback that commodified religion has ever seen

Universal Pictures Canada & Focus Features will release HONK FOR JESUS. SAVE YOUR SOUL. in theaters on Friday, September 2, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

By Amanda Gilmore

First Lady Trinitie Childs (Regina Hall) and her husband Pastor Lee-Curtis Childs (Sterling K. Brown) are planning to reopen their Southern Baptist megachurch Wander To Greater Paths. The church was forced to close temporarily after they were disgraced after a scandal broke involving Lee-Curtis. They’re riding their hopes on a big comeback, but will their congregation return?

In their Feature debut, the Ebo Twins (Writer/Director Adamma Ebo, Producer Adanne Ebo) bring us a Dramedy that’s partially shot like a faux Documentary. Using changes in aspect ratio, audiences can identify what is and isn’t Mockumentary footage. In the first-half, this blending of on and off-camera makes the Film watch like a biting satire on for-profit religious organizations. We witness the over-the-top luxurious, extravagant world in which the couple live. Their walk-in closet is loaded with Prada and they have drive the flashiest cars.

This unique style of Filmmaking allows our talented leads some space to deliver some “divine” performances. The Comedy here comes in witnessing how drastic the couple’s on and off-camera personas are. One moment they’re preaching the gospel, one moment they’re alone shouting Gangsta Rap. Hall and Brown are great at capturing their characters’ desperation and desire for an image overhaul. Hall is “almighty” as a woman trying to save face and reclaim the spot on the stage she once stood on. Brown has never-ending endurance as an exuberant Pastor and is just delusional.

The second-half pivots, placing its focus on the sexual misconduct scandal surrounding Lee-Curtis. In doing so, the Film becomes more of a dramatic character study of our two leads. Brown continues to excel at exposing Lee-Childs’ narcissism and hypocrisy. However, he never seems to learn from his actions and we were hoping we’d get a bit of growth. The story also sets-up a competition between the Childs and an emerging younger couple, but doesn’t quite deliver the tension and rivalry we were hoping for. It is Trinitie who is given the real character arch and Hall nails it making us feel for this woman trapped in a marriage out of obligation.

Honk For Jesus, Save Your Soul screens virtually at Sundance:
Premiere: Jan. 23 at 1:45PM EST

Second Screening: Jan. 25 at 10AM EST (available for 24hrs)

Review by Mr. Will Wong

Tyler (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) seems to be on the verge of greatness under the persistent urging of his father (Sterling K. Brown). While everything seems fine initially, things take a drastic turn for the worse after his girlfriend Alexis (Alexa Demie) finds out she is pregnant with his child and his world crumbles. In the face of a tragedy, which threatens to tear Tyler’s family apart, his father, mother (Renée Elise Goldberry) and sister (Taylor Russell) are left to pick-up the pieces and find themselves again.

Filmmaker Trey Edward Shults’ (Krisha, It Comes at Night) hits you like a tidal wave in its first act but calms into a ripples in the second. While dialogue is sparse and the Film takes a nuanced tone, this is where Waves finds its flow in its meditation on grief.

Harrison delivers pure intensity in a performance which solified him a TIFF ‘19 Rising Star, while Russell shows a quiet maturity in her ability to express a deep undercurrent of emotion with little dialogue. Shults gets the honour of a Score by Academy Award winners Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross which intensifies the Film. Drew Daniels‘ Cinematography is breathtaking, whether it be his gorgeous captures of the Florida waters or çloseups that bring us up-close and intimate to these characters, particularly Harrison in his panic.

While Waves’ unevenness might not be for all, it is an ambitious effort even if it asks for your patience. It screens at TIFF Tue, Sep 10 at Ryerson Theatre, 8:45pm, Wed, Sep 11, Scotiabank Theatre, 6pm and Sun, Sep 15 at Ryerson Theatre, 2:45pm.

It’s been a relief getting a breather finally and we actually are finding time to see some movies! We saw Joker which filled two theatres completely at an industry screening and it was enthralling seeing Joaquin Phoenix go all in! While it does a number on you, it is well worth getting shaken for.

Less sightings today, but here are a few we had. Hover cursor right on each album to navigate.

JUDY – Premiere

HARRIET – Afterparty

Also, a huge congratulations to Mike, who won our TIFF ’19 Tenth Anniversary Prize Pack!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

By Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

We are on Day Three of the SXSW Festival and the majority of our day was spent walking around some pretty great installations.

The first one we attended was a fan art installation for Jordan Peele‘s Us. The moment you walk in, you’re faced with the costumes the Actors wore and the soon to be iconic scissors they use. You are then given a card that gets you one free download for the Soundtrack of the Film. They also treat guests to two drinks as they walk around the Exhibit. The Art is stunning to look and even more amazing considering it is Fan Art based on its Trailer alone.

Then we headed to Amazon Prime Video’s Good Omens exhibit, taking place over an entire outdoor parking lot, and had quite the queue to get in. Once inside, you are given a free umbrella and tote bag that displays the Show’s title. As you walk around, Top 40 music is blared from Drake, Ariana Grande, Cardi B as you are treated to free chicken and pork, drinks, beers and wines. There is an area for people to get their hair and nails done, once again for complimentary, and a huge floor chess board for people to use. However, one of the greatest parts for us was getting to see the adorable puppies they had for guests to pet and swoon over! It is hands down one of the best times I’ve experienced so far this SXSW. It’s also certainly put the new show Good Omens, starring David Tennant and Martin Sheen, on our must-see list with all its hype. Check out the Trailer if you don’t believe us!

When it came to the evening, the Premieres started down at the Stateside and Paramount Theatres. The first of the evening was Netflix‘s The Highwaymen, starring Woody Harrelson and Kevin Costner. Word has it that Willie Nelson and Matthew McConaughey came to the Premiere also.

Next was Adopt A Highway, it’s a Blumhouse Production and stars Ethan Hawke, Betty Gabriel and more. While fans were waiting to catch a glimpse of Hawke from outside the theatre, they were surprised by two actors who were waiting to go in. Both André Holland (Moonlight) and Sterling K. Brown (This is Us) were outside Stateside Theatre talking on the sidewalk. When fans noticed it was them, they formed a crowd circling around them. Both were very patient and took Selfies with any fans who asked.

The final Premiere of the night was Booksmart, which is the directorial debut for Olivia Wilde. Nearly everyone in the Cast was on-stage for the affair. When they arrived at the Red Carpet, many were friendly with the fans, but none more so than Wilde and her partner, Jason Sudeikis who stars in the Film too. Both came over immediately from exiting their vehicle and took time with fans. It was an extra special night for Wilde as she was celebrating her birthday. When she came on-stage to intro the Film, the SXSW team surprised her with a cake and the entire audience serenaded her with Happy Birthday. When the Film was over, the audience gave a standing audience with loud cheers. It’s true, Wilde‘s first Feature is a beautiful and near-perfect coming-of-age story. Review here.

There are no signs of SXSW slowing down as there are even more Red Carpet Premieres are taking place tomorrow. There will also be some Panels consisting of Jason Blum, Ethan Hawke, Aidy Bryant and Elizabeth Banks. So stay tuned!

(Photo credit: Amanda Gilmore)

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

Nearly 32 years after the Predator landed on Earth, Co-Writer/Director Shane Black has returned to his roots and brought TIFF along for the World Premiere. A group of soldiers haunted by their PTSD must fight off the Predator after he crash lands on Earth, avoiding the massive government cover up along the way.

The Predator is the very definition of a mixed bag. I went in with a fair amount of hype and trepidation, but was ultimately left cold. The Film has the trademark Shane Black-written wit and laughs, and is also rather viciously violent with its gore. The beast delightfully murders anyone he crosses paths with in increasingly more inventive ways. And while there are plenty of arguments to be made about the right balance between CGI and practical make-up effects, The Predator’s biggest issue is its editing. It distracts in some instances with how choppy it is (and how some scenes feel completely tacked on), and in others, does away with some characters entirely. But the Film’s MVP is without a doubt, Sterling K. Brown. He has a blast hamming it up for the camera, leaving smouldering ash in his wake.

The Predator screens on Thursday, September 6 at 11:59 PM at Ryerson Theatre [World Premiere], Friday, September 7 at 9:30PM at Scotiabank Theatre and Tuesday, September 11 at 9:45 PM at Scotiabank Theatre.