eOne Films x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Run-of-Engagement Passes to see KIN!

Synopsis:
Follows a recently released ex-con (Jack Reynor) and his adopted younger brother (Myles Truitt) who are forced to go on the run. Chased by a vengeful criminal (James Franco), the feds and a cadre of otherworldly soldiers, their only protection is a found weapon of mysterious ancestry.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

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

eOne Films release KIN Friday, August 31, 2018.

(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)

It’s a new era! With audiences embracing inclusion and diversity more and more, CRAZY RICH ASIANS is the Movie of the Now, taking the top of the Box Office with $21.6 million from 3,384 theatres for Warner Bros. Not only are Critics in love with the Kevin Kwan Bestseller Adaptation, it gets an A CinemaScore from Audiences which should be enough to propel it in coming weeks with word of mouth. Directed by Jon M. Chu, it opened Wednesday  night, for a total $31 million over five days.

THE MEG continues to take a bit at the competition in second with $20 million from 4,118 theatres making it a Warner Bros. Top-Two. Over two weeks the shark Action-Thriller has made $82.6 million.

In third is MILE 22 with $14.3 million from 3,250 theatres for STX Entertainment/VVS Films.  The fourth collaboration between Director Peter Berg and star Mark Wahlberg, gets 20% on the Tomatometer and a B- CinemaScore.

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT is in fourth with $10.9 million for Paramount Pictures, a total $181 million over four weeks.

ALPHA debuts in sixth with $9.4 million from 2,719 theatres for Sony Pictures. The story about the first friendship between man and wolf, gets 84% on the Tomatometer and a B+ CinemaScore.

MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN is in ninth with $3.5 million for Universal Pictures in in its fifth a week, a tally of $111.3 million made domestically.

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3: SUMMER VACATION gets $3.4 million for Sony Pictures, a total $153 million over six weeks.

Alfonso Cuarón is back after the masterpiece known as GRAVITY, with TIFF ’18 selection ROMA!

Synopsis:
ROMA chronicles a turbulent year in the lives of a middle-class family in 1970s Mexico City. Cuarón, inspired by the women from his childhood, delivers an artful ode to the matriarchy that shaped his world.

A vivid portrayal of domestic strife and social hierarchy amidst political turmoil, ROMA follows a young domestic worker Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio) from Mixteco heritage descent and her co-worker Adela (Nancy García), also Mixteca, who work for a small family in the middle-class neighborhood of Roma. Mother of four, Sofia (Marina de Tavira), copes with the extended absence of her husband, Cleo faces her own devastating news that threatens to distract her from caring for Sofia’s children, whom she loves as her own. While trying to construct a new sense of love and solidarity in a context of a social hierarchy where class and race are perversely intertwined, Cleo and Sofia quietly wrestle with changes infiltrating the family home in a country facing confrontation between a government-backed militia and student demonstrators.

See the Trailer:

Netflix Canada stream ROMA later this year.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix Canada)

20th Century Fox Canada x Mr. Will want to take Readers to an Advance Screening of TIFF ’18 selection, THE PREDATOR! Screenings take place in Toronto, Montreal (English, French) and Vancouver as follows:

TORONTO
Monday, September 10
7:00PM
Silvercity Yonge + Eglinton

MONTREAL – ENGLISH
Monday, September 10
7:00PM
Cinema Banque Scotia

MONTREAL – FRENCH
Wednesday, September 12
7:00PM
Cinema Starcite Montreal

VANCOUVER
Monday, September 10
7:00PM
Scotiabank Vancouver

Synopsis:
A sequel to the 1987 sci-fi hit Predator, in which a team on a mission in a Central American jungle find themselves relentlessly hunted by a terrifying extraterrestrial warrior.

In the sequel, a young boy named Rory McKenna (Jacob Tremblay) plays with the wrong “toys” and accidentally summons the deadly Predators to his small town. Rory’s father, Quinn McKenna (Boyd Holbrook), puts together a team of ex-soldiers to protect the human race from these threats to mankind.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate your City. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet via @mrwillw for an extra chance!

20th Century Fox Canada release THE PREDATOR Friday, September 14, 2018.

(Photo/video credit: 20th Century Fox Canada)

Sony Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers in Toronto a chance to see SEARCHING. Screening takes place on Thursday, August 23, 7PM @ Cineplex Cinemas Yonge & Eglinton.

Synopsis:
After David Kim (John Cho)’s 16-year-old daughter goes missing, a local investigation is opened and a detective is assigned to the case. But 37 hours later and without a single lead, David decides to search the one place no one has looked yet, where all secrets are kept today: his daughter’s laptop. In a hyper-modern thriller told via the technology devices we use every day to communicate, David must trace his daughter’s digital footprints before she disappears forever.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate your City. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet via @mrwillw for an extra chance!

Sony Pictures Canada release SEARCHING Friday, August 31, 2018.

(Photo/video credit: Sony Pictures Canada)

Universal Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers in Toronto a chance to see NIGHT SCHOOL. Screening takes place on Wednesday, September 26, 2018 – Cineplex Yonge & Dundas, 7 PM

Synopsis:
Star Kevin Hart and producer Will Packer, who partnered for the hit Ride Along and Think Like a Man series, bring their signature style to Night School. The Comedy from Director Malcolm D. Lee (Girls Trip) follows a group of misfits who are forced to attend adult classes in the longshot chance they’ll pass the GED exam.

Co-stars Tiffany Haddish, Rob Riggle, Taran Killam and Romany Malco join Hart on-screen for the film that Hart produces for his Hartbeat Productions, and Packer via his Will Packer Productions.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate your City. Tell us in the comments there which course you’d do over if you had to go back to school. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet via @mrwillw for an extra chance!

Universal Pictures Canada release NIGHT SCHOOL Friday, September 28, 2018.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

Success has happened quickly for lovelytheband. The Los Angeles Trio formed a couple years back meeting at a club and less than two years later, they find themselves atop the charts with their breakout hit in Broken. The catchy Pop tune simultaneously has found success on Alternative radio and to promote their debut Disc Finding It Hard to Smile, they just have embarked on a 30-city Tour beginning in Toronto last night at a sold-out Velvet Underground.

lovelytheband are: Mitchy Collins (lead vocals, guitar), Jordan Greenwald (guitar) and Sam Price (drums).

Check-out BROKEN!

The boys spent their time in Toronto wisely doing lots of Press including The Edge, KISS 92.5, Entertainment Tonight Canada and more. They even went to support their friends All Time Low at their show Tuesday night and Low member Jack Barakat returned the favour, coming out to enjoy their show.

See our Snaps. Hover cursor left and right to navigate slideshow:

Their hit #Broken can be heard everywhere! Loved meeting L.A.’s #lovelytheband tonight and special guest, #Alltimelow’s #JackBarakat!

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Aug 15, 2018 at 9:04pm PDT

lovelytheband support 5 Seconds of Summer this fall on tour.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Sony Music Entertainment)

Taraji P. Henson knows what men want! Check-out this hot new Trailer for WHAT MEN WANT starring the Golden Globe winner!

Synopsis:
Ali Davis (Taraji P. Henson) is a successful sports agent who’s constantly boxed out by her male colleagues. When Ali is passed up for a well-deserved promotion, she questions what else she needs to do to succeed in a man’s world… until she gains the ability to hear men’s thoughts! With her newfound power, Ali looks to outsmart her colleagues as she races to sign the next basketball superstar, but the lengths she has to go to will put her relationship with her best friends and a potential new love interest (Aldis Hodge) to the test. WHAT MEN WANT is the latest comedy from director Adam Shankman (HAIRSPRAY) and producers Will Packer and James Lopez (GIRLS TRIP), co-starring Tracy Morgan, Richard Roundtree, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Josh Brener, Tamala Jones, Phoebe Robinson, Max Greenfield, Jason Jones, Brian Bosworth, Chris Witaske and Erykah Badu.

See the Trailer:

Paramount Pictures Canada release WHAT MEN WANT Friday, January 11, 2019.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures)

Puppeteer Jim Henson and his creations have left an indelible mark on the world and continue to this day to speak to generations well beyond his all too short a time here. You’d be hard-pressed to find a child of Generation X, Y or Z, who hasn’t been touched deeply by The Muppets or Sesame Street, firm proof that his legacy still continues on to this day thanks to The Jim Henson Company and his surviving children.

Among them, eldest son Brian Henson is priming the release of his much-talk-about upcoming feature THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS. The Dark-Comedy/Mystery is set in a world where humans and puppets co-exist together, although the latter are made to feel inferior. Disgraced ex-cop-turned-investigator puppet Phil Phillips (Bill Barretta) loses his brother and is in hot pursuit of his murderer who next is out to get Cast of popular ’80s TV Series The Happytime Gang and also his ex-flame Jenny (Elizabeth Banks). We’ve got a puppet killer on the loose and we’re about to find out who did it.

The Film, directed by Henson and written by Todd Berger, stars Melissa McCarthy as Connie Edwards, Phil’s ex-partner and also Maya Rudolph as Bubbles, his secretary. Joel McHale stars too as Agent Campbell, a stern FBI agent.

In Toronto for a packed day of promotion which saw him do the rounds on television, radio, print and digital, Henson spoke to us at his hotel about The Happytime Murders and what he finds funny.

(NSFW)

The Happytime Murders is wacky, twisted and out there. What inspires your sense of humour?

Henson: “I like it when it’s unexpected and a little naughty. I like it when it’s naughty and innocent at the same time. For instance, like when we did the sex scene in the Trailer, the idea that we did a graphically-sexual sequence, but then we used Silly String. What makes it really funny is that the puppet ejaculates silly string. So right when you’ve taken the scene too far and the audience is gonna go, ‘No! Don’t get to there. That’s too far!’, you do it with an innocent kinda stupid choice which is what makes it really funny. The same goes with the pornography scene where we reveal an explicit pornographic sequence in this puppet world, but it turns out only to be an octopus milking a cow – which is the most innocent thing!”.

The Film arrives finally after being in the works for 10 years. It has an interesting mix of Hollywood A-List talent and also seasoned professional Puppeteers, tell us about the casting process.

Henson: “It took ten years, but to get it produced, six years. There were different approaches how to cast and write it. In the end we casted around Melissa for our human Cast.  Half the core Cast is puppets, half is human. Once we had Melissa in, it was figuring out the rest of the Cast. Most of them are working opposite puppets.  Melissa is working mostly with Bill as are Mya and Elizabeth. Joel, none of us really knew him, but he really wanted to do an audition and he did really good.”.

Much has been said about the Film, including a lawsuit filed by the organization behind Sesame Street, citing their fear of it smearing their reputation. While the case was rejected ultimately, it is important to note that The Happytime Murders sees itself more as a separate entity which honours its Henson heritage. Can you talk to this?

Henson: “This is a new Franchise, it’s neither The Muppets nor Sesame Street. As a Company we’ve always been irreverent, a little bit naughty and this is in that tradition. This is exclusively for adults. I believe that this Film should have no repercussions on The Muppets or Sesame Street.  This is exclusively for adults and the idea is that kids who wanna watch Sesame Street or Muppets, still can. I could’ve done it PG, but then it would’ve been a little uncomfortable if a younger audience was seeing it. Instead, it’s a hard R-rating.”.

Who do you identify with more, people or puppets?

Henson: “People I identify with more. Once I put them in a movie, sometimes I feel that a puppet can more sincerely be itself than a person because a person is usually an actor and they have begun making new choices and developing themselves a little different from their last movie. For me in real life, puppets was what my dad did at work. It wasn’t what happened at home, it was work. It was an art form I appreciated greatly and I’d go to the workshops and studios where it was happening. For me, puppets are less alive than they are for other people because I’ve always been behind the scenes.”.

Sugar is a drug-like vice for the puppets (namely unforgettable male prostitute puppet Goofer) in this Film, what is your vice?

Henson: “Nicotine. I find myself chewing Nicotine Gum all the time. I try to fight my vices.”.

The Film looks a remarkably technical feat. What was your greatest challenge?

Henson: “Definitely the technical process of mixing people and puppets together in one scene. Floors needed to be taken out underneath the puppets, although I’m pretty experienced at that.  I have this Improv Puppetry Show called PUPPET UP! which largely is why I made this Movie. It’s a very R-rated live show which I’m loving, and I wanted to do the Movie in this vein.  Normally with puppets, every line is worked out in advance and we don’t improvise – it’s planned carefully, whereas here, I wanted to take Melissa, Mya, Elizabeth and Joel and do some improvising. For me, the most challenging thing was incorporating Improvisational Comedy into this.”.

What’s next?

Henson: “I’m always developing lots of different things and not sure which is gonna be next. The Company is making a Prequel to The Dark Crystal, a ten-part Series with Netflix. It’s gorgeous and almost done after nine months of shooting.”.

Loved chatting with #BrianHenson, son of #JimHenson, responsible for our beloved #Muppets and #SesameStreet. His for-adults-only #TheHappytimeMurders is in theatres later this month. He tells me about growing-up a Henson, casting the likes of #MelissaMcCarthy, #ElizabethBanks and #MayaRudolph, plus all about his naughty puppet Comedy. Chat will be up on Blog soo n!

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Aug 13, 2018 at 2:46pm PDT

VVS Films release THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS Friday, August 24, 2018.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/STX Entertainment | Video credit: VVS Films)

Great news! Disney’s live-action MULAN, directed by Niki Caro, officially is in production now between China and New Zealand. Check-out the above new promo photo!

Synopsis:
“Mulan” is the epic adventure of a fearless young woman who masquerades as a man in order to fight Northern Invaders attacking China. The eldest daughter of an honored warrior, Hua Mulan is spirited, determined and quick on her feet. When the Emperor issues a decree that one man per family must serve in the Imperial Army, she steps in to take the place of her ailing father as Hua Jun, becoming one of China’s greatest warriors ever.

Liu Yifei (“The Forbidden Kingdom,” “Once Upon a Time”) was cast as Hua Mulan following a year-long global casting search. Joining her in the film are: Donnie Yen (“Star Wars: Rogue One”); Jason Scott Lee (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny”); Yoson An (“The Meg”); Utkarsh Ambudkar (“Pitch Perfect”); Ron Yuan (“Marco Polo”); Tzi Ma (“Arrival”); Rosalind Chao (“Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”); Cheng Pei-Pei (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”); Nelson Lee; Chum Ehelepola; with Gong Li (“Memoirs of a Geisha,” “Raise the Red Lantern”) and Jet Li (“Shaolin Temple,” “Lethal Weapon 4”).

Walt Disney Motion Studios Motion Pictures Canada release MULAN Friday, March 27, 2020.

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