There is just a little bit of anger in this NSFW red-band Trailer for THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI! You won’t believe your ears!

Synopsis:
THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI is a darkly comic drama from Academy Award winner Martin McDonagh (IN BRUGES). After months have passed without a culprit in her daughter’s murder case, Mildred Hayes (Academy Award winner Frances McDormand) makes a bold move, painting three signs leading into her town with a controversial message directed at William Willoughby (Academy Award nominee Woody Harrelson), the town’s revered chief of police. When his second-in-command Officer Dixon (Sam Rockwell), an immature mother’s boy with a penchant for violence, gets involved, the battle between Mildred and Ebbing‘s law enforcement is only exacerbated.

See the Trailer:

Re-imagining the wildly-popular ’90s children’s series from Saban Entertainment, the return to the big screen of upcoming blockbuster POWER RANGERS is an eagerly-awaited cinematic event for several fans, new and old. Helmed by second-time feature Director Dean Israelite (Project Almanac), the Action-Fantasy brings together a promising cast of new faces and familiar characters, add to that a dash of major star power with the likes of Elizabeth Banks, Bill Hader, Bryan Cranston, starring in the Film too.

In town to promote the Film earlier this month were a trio of emerging talent in Naomi Scott (Pink Ranger/Kimberly Scott), Ludi Lin (Black Ranger/Zack Taylor) and Dacre Montgomery (Red Ranger/Jason Lee Scott), all three who could see major stardom with the potential of several sequels to come from the Film, the first in its famed franchise this 21st Century. Montgomery already has been cast in the upcoming second season of Netflix‘s massively-popular Stranger Things.

This latest Film sees five teenagers brought together by coincidence, making them the latest in line of illustrious Power Rangers. They are pitted against powerful witch Rita Repulsa (Banks) who launches an assault, in full pursuit of the Zeo Crystal, a powerful object producing enormous amounts of energy.

We chat with the Trio on the very unconventional and international casting process which went the Film which ranged from auditioning on an iPhone to reading sides for other Power Rangers and more.  The Cast also tell us what Power Rangers meant to them growing-up and also what it was like to work with seasoned veterans like Banks (Scott tells us she’s “fierce”) and Cranston, the latter whom we learned actually was added late to the Film.

See our Chat below:

Our Snap with Scott, Lin and Montgomery:

Amazing morning chatting with the fun cast of upcoming Blockbuster #PowerRangers. Out 3.24. Interview coming late March! #NaomiScott (#PinkRanger) #LudiLin (#BlackRanger) #DacreMontgomery (#RedRanger)

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Mar 2, 2017 at 10:07am PST

See the Trailer for POWER RANGERS:

eOne Films release POWER RANGERS Friday, March 24, 2017.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/eOne Films)

By Siobhán Rich for Mr. Will Wong

Anyone with a passing acquaintance to this writer could tell you that the opportunity to spend 11 days in a series of darkened theatres watching nonfiction programming is one the highlights of my year which is why Hot Docs remains one of my favourite Toronto Film Festivals. This year’s Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival will feature 230 Films including 53 Canadian productions and co-productions. Filmmakers, 48% of whom are female, representing 58 countries will share stories on topics ranging from science to Syria and media to mermaids.

Hot Docs will open with the world premiere of Canadian Filmmaker Lana Šlezic’s Bee Nation, which follows students in Saskatchewan’s First Nations community as they compete in a provincial spelling bee and prepare to compete nationally. First Nations subjects will be front and centre this year with several strong titles including Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World, a music Documentary which shines the spotlight on First Nations musicians who helped shape popular music.

Some other titles to fit into your schedule include:

Algorithms seek to predict future crimes before they happen in the world premiere of Pre-Crime. Matthias Heeder and Monika Hielscher look at the frightening future of law enforcement as science fiction melds with modern technology.

Bill Nye: Science Guy looks at the man who helped generations of kids learn to love science. The Scotiabank Big Ideas screening of the Film on Tuesday, May 2nd will include a talk from Directors David Alvarado, Jason Sussberg, and Mr. Nye himself.

The Media are examined in several Films this year including Nobody Speak: Trials of the Free Press, City of Ghosts and Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower. These disparate Films are all part of the Scotiabank Big Ideas program and will feature in depth Q&As at specified screenings.

Fans of the Festival always turn out in droves for the Nightvision selections. 78/52 looks at the iconic shower scene in Hitchcock’s Psycho. Florian Habicht’s Spookers will be the Movie of choice for horror lovers as it looks at a former psychiatric hospital turned “scare park” in New Zealand where zombies and chainsaw toting clowns are the main attraction.

Deadheads are sure to be thrilled with Amir Bar-Lev’s Documentary Long Strange Trip, which looks at rock icons the Grateful Dead through the lens of archival footage, and rarely seen live performances.

Long before Beyoncé was declared Queen, Whiney Houston was thrilling fans around the world with her incredible voice. Whitney “Can I Be Me” looks at the rise and tragic fall of this brilliant star.

Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival will run from Thursday, April 27th through Sunday, May 7th. Tickets are already on sale. Ticketing and schedule information can be found on Hot Docs website, https://www.hotdocs.ca.

Now in its 20th successful year, Toronto ComiCon took place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre South Building this weekend. The three day affair brought together over 25,000 Sci-Fi enthusiasts, Cosplayers and Artists together to celebrate their love of entertainment and comic book culture.  Among the names to appear at Toronto ComiCon this year were the likes of Star Trek‘s Robert Picardo, Bones’ Michaela Conlin and T.J. Thyne, The Walking Dead‘s Laurie Holden, The Big Bang Theory‘s Kevin Sussman, Gotham‘s David Mazouz and Sean Pertwee, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Brett Dalton and wrestling icons Bret Hart and Mick Foley.  Fans were delighted also to hear that some of the original cast of Degrassi including Pat Mastroianni, Stefan Brogen, Dan Woods, Stacie Mistysyn and Kirsten  Bourne would reunite for their 30th anniversary too, giving fans a chance to partake in the super-rare opportunity!

As is the case every spring, we love that Toronto ComiCon brings out some of the most innovative Cosplayers to our City and more than ever this year, we saw almighty Disney front and center among many with costumes ranging from Moana to Beauty and the Beast‘s Belle to a BB-8-inspired dress!

Upcoming Films The Ghost in the Shell (Paramount Pictures Canada), Valerian and Power Rangers (the latter two eOne Films) also had interactive installations set-up allowing fans a chance to be a integrated into the set or witness up-close Film props.

See some highlights and click the right arrow the navigate the slideshows!

DAY 1 SLIDESHOW

 

(Swipe left!) Siobhán Rich (@mstypo) does an amazing job capturing some highlights at #TOCC17 today! See you tomorrow? #TorontoComicon #StarTrek #PowerRangers #StarWars #RobertPicardo #Moana #Rey #PinkRanger #Tinkerbell #PeterPan #DrWho #Dalek #Cosplay #CosplayIsNotConsent

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Mar 17, 2017 at 8:54pm PDT

DAY 2 SLIDESHOW

(Swipe left!) Lots more cool stuff to see Day 2 at #TOCC17 including that long-awaited #Degrassi Reunion! #TorontoComicon #Valerian #BeautyandtheBeast #Belle #BeOurGuest #StarWars #BB8 #BATB #GhostintheShell #Cosplay #CosplayIsNotConsent

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Mar 18, 2017 at 8:35am PDT

DAY 3 SLIDESHOW

(Swipe left!) More awesome Snaps from Siobhán Rich from Day 3 of #TOCC17! #TorontoComicon #MickFoley #NoelleFoley #TJThyne #MichaelaConlin #Pokemon #WonderWoman #BeautyandtheBeast #Belle #StarWars #Alf

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Mar 19, 2017 at 6:58pm PDT

Siobhán Rich and Justin Waldman from our Team had the pleasure of sitting on on some of Toronto ComiCon 2017′s hottest panels and they give us some of that insider’s scoop:

ROBERT PICARDO

Robert Picardo revealed at his panel that he was at Yale pre-med when he went to Vienna at 19-years-old to perform in a Leonard Bernstein production. Bernstein himself told Picardo‘s mother than her son should be an actor rather than a doctor.

Many years later, he got the call to audition for the role of a “computer generated hologram who was colourless and humourless” on the that would be Star Trek: Voyager. He breathed life into that character even during the casting process where he channeled the original Star Trek doctor, Bones McCoy, ending his audition with the ad-libbed line, “I’m a doctor, not a nightlight.”

He famously knew nothing about Star Trek before joining the Trek family, but now embraces the global fandom thanks to devout Trekkies.

BRET HART

Still known as one of the most iconic wrestlers of our time, Bret Hart spoke to fans at his panel.  He told fans that it was his father Stu Hart, who inspired him to be a wrestler and originally he thought to himself “There’s gotta be a better way to make money”, after going through the daily grind in his 20s as a construction worker. “I took wrestling very serious”. He reveals also that he is quite the avid Table Hockey player!

Commenting on his famous match against Shawn Michaels (The Heartbreak Kid) as part of the 1997 Survivor Series, known widely as one of the most shocking moments in wrestling history, Hart calls out his opponent by saying “You were a real asshole throughout the whole thing!”. If you might recall, Hart was placed in a submission hold and the bell rang immediately, pronouncing his defeat.

MICK + NOELLE FOLEY

The father daughter duo took questions from an enthusiastic and raucous crowd of fans. Mick is a two-time New York Times bestselling author who has been known as Dude Love, Cactus Jack and Mankind in the wrestling ring. The hardcore legend’s 23-year-old daughter, Noelle, looks to follow dad’s footsteps.

When asked about his daughter’s chosen profession Mick commented, “Noelle has a beautiful swan neck and it’s not meant to go to Suplex city.” Saying the pain he experienced was worth it “some days,” Mick proceeded to share stories about the unusual origins of his famous “Mandible Claw” move, who he would come back to fight if his health wasn’t a concern, and the long difficulties his youngest son has believing in his championship career.

BONES (TJ THYNE & MICHAELA CONLIN)

In their first ever Toronto ComiCon appearance Michaela Conlin and TJ Thyne thrilled fans of the hit Fox show Bones from they moment they arrived on stage. Angela Montenegro and Dr. Jack Hodgins, as they are better known on TV, spent an hour fielding questions ranging from favourite memories to the series finale which will air later this month.

Thyne, who plays “bug guy,” admitted with a laugh that he is not a fan of creatures that creep, crawl, or slither. In testament to the great chemistry the pair have on the show, they shared quick banter and affectionate barbs back and forth. When asked about his favourite moment on the show, Thyne laughed, “Kissing Michaela Conlin! That’s easy” “I paid him to say that,” she replied. “I was paid to kiss you!” came the quick rejoinder.

DEGRASSI

You know it’s a Canadian con when one of the most anticipated panels of the convention is for the five stars of the iconic series Degrassi Jr. High. Long before anyone had ever heard of Drake, Pat Mastroianni, Stefan Brogren, Stacie Mistysyn, Kirsten Bourne and Dan Woods helped define what it means to be a teenager during their tenures on Kids of Degrassi Street, Degrassi Jr. High, and Degrassi High. Toronto fans turned out in droves to cheer on five people who are still referred to more often by their characters’ names than their own. During the discussion, the stars discussed costars, plotlines, and what they’ve been doing in the years since graduation. And naturally, the gang all broke out into song to sing the Zit Remedy’s greatest hit!​

Missed Toronto ComiCon 2017? Learn more about it for next year here.

And don’t stress, Fan Expo Canada will be here in the blink of an eye. More here.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Justin Waldman/Siobhán Rich)

They’ve got us all talking! Selena Gomez after a few blissful days in Toronto which included renting out a VIP Theatre to watch a Movie, Ripley’s Aquarium, grub at The Diner (Thompson Hotel) and shopping in Yorkville with boyfriend, Toronto’s pride and joy The Weeknd, quietly left the City this evening with her bodyguard by her side. Checking-in quietly at the Toronto Pearson International Airport – she flies first-class of course – she quietly queued the Nexus line.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST lives up to expectations, debuting at the Box Office this weekend for Disney with a stellar $173.5 million from 4,210 theatres, toppling previous March record-holder BATMAN V. SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE’s opening last year of $166 million. Simultaneously it becomes the highest-opening for a Film ever pre-summer. While Critics were lukewarm about the live action adaptation starring Emma Watson and Dan Stevens with a 71% on the Tomatometer, audiences resoundingly were positive in their feedback giving it an A CinemaScore. If there were ever any doubt about Watson‘s bankability as a star, this is her highest opening ever, just ahead of 2011’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 and its $169.1 million opening.

KONG: SKULL ISLAND slips to second with $25.7 million from 3,846 theatres in its second week out for Warner Bros., earning a total $107 million already domestically.

LOGAN in its third weekend out for 20th Century Fox still is going strong with $17 million, tallying-in a total $184 million already in North America.

GET OUT continues to be the little engine that could, motoring home with a solid $12.8 million now in its third week out for Universal Pictures. It has made $132 million thus far.

THE BELKO EXPERIMENT debuts in seventh with $3.4 million from 1,336 theatres for High Top Releasing. It has not yet been released in Canada. The office-Horror starring Tony Goldwyn gets a 49% on the Tomatometer from Critics

BEFORE I FALL rounds-out the Top Ten with $958k in its third week out, totaling $11.2 million thus far.

This song is everything.  British trio Clean Bandit since their Grammy winning success with Rather Be (ft. Jess Glynne) are back and already are dominating our airwaves with the smash hit Rockabye (ft. Anne-Marie and Sean Paul).  They are back again with another banger, Symphony (ft. Zara Larsson) which the two pop forces almost certainly will perform at their upcoming Toronto show at The Phoenix in April.

Check out the visceral Video for this masterpiece below directed by members Grace Chatto and Jack Patterson:

Download or stream the Track here.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Music)

The legacy of Anne of Green Gables is unparalleled. With over 50 million copies of Lucy Montgomery‘s novel being sold and fans spanning the globe, CBC is ready to unveil a new seven-episode television adaptation of the beloved story, known simply as ANNE. Its sights are set high working with a substantial budget, comparable to that of a U.S. cable television series (and it certainly looks it), and it already has secured global distribution via leading internet television service Netflix. Acclaimed Filmmaker Niki Caro (Whale Rider, McFarland, USA) signed-on to direct the two-hour premiere. Fans old and new can expect this to be a darker take, exploring deeper some of the aspects of the story previous Films and Mini-Series had not, speaking to an audience of now.

At the center of it all is fresh-faced and well-spoken 15-year-old actress Amybeth McNulty whom while being part-Canadian (her mother is from Calgary), resides in and is home-schooled in Ireland. McNulty, whose background primarily has been in theatre, starred in 2016 Thriller Morgan as the ten-year-old version of the titular character. She takes on the ambitious task in Anne of portraying the iconic talkative red-haired orphan and does so more than ably.

We sit down and chat with McNulty at the CBC Headquarters coincidentally on St. Patrick’s Day, about becoming Anne and winning the coveted role over 1,800 young actresses in an international search just last year. On what we can expect from the Series, she tells us “It really shows a lot more of her abuse and the trauma. It shows with full brutal honesty what she and a lot of orphans went through back then.”.

McNulty, who actually is a natural blonde, tells us about filming in P.E.I. where the story is set in the late 1800s. “I live in Ireland myself, so it reminds me a lot of Ireland with its rolling hills and those beautiful cliffsides.”. She even went to the actual Anne of Green Gables Store (it actually exists!) and shares an awkward but humorous anecdote. “I went down to the Anne shop when I had just got my red hair done and the people there were like, ‘Oh, you’d make a great Anne!’ she laughs. “And I was like ‘thank you’ and then I just quickly left!”.

While being a huge fan of Lucy Maud Montgomery‘s books, the Series’ source material, she admits never to having watched the previous Mini-Series and Films which followed. “It wasn’t really a conscious decision”, she says. “I didn’t really want to be affected. I wanted my portrayal really to come from me and Moira (Walley-Beckett, Series Writer) and the rest of the team.”.

Spending much of her spare time dancing and singing, working on Anne also has taught McNulty a thing or two about filmmaking, developing her own YouTube channel, chronicling her life and travels.  “I learned a lot about filming and editing through the crew and I use it in filming vlogs.”. Check it out here.

“I think anyone living in P.E.I. is going to be very proud of their hometown and how beautiful it looks”, McNulty leaves us on a parting note as she gets ready to head out to do a live hit on TV downstairs – a face that soon will be familiar around the world.

Our Chat:

Some Snaps:

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Loved chatting with #AmybethMcNulty, star of new series #ANNE, premiering Sunday on CBC and coming soon to Netflix! 🍀 #AnneofGreenGables #AnneTheSeries.

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Mar 17, 2017 at 7:31am PDT

CBC premieres ANNE Sunday, March 19, 2017 at 8 PM. It streams globally on Netflix this May.

Photos taken on the NIKON D3300, Selfie taken on the Samsung S7.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Mongrel Media x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Run-of-Engagement Passes in Canada to see PERSONAL SHOPPER starring Kristen Stewart.  The TIFF ’16 selection was one of our favourites of the Festival.

Synopsis:
Kristen Stewart reunites with director Olivier Assayas (Clouds of Sils Maria) for this artful ghost story about a young woman trying to reconnect with the spirit of her departed brother.

Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook.

Mongrel Media release PERSONAL SHOPPER in select cities Friday, March 24, 2017.

(Photo/video credit: Mongrel Media)

An intimate audience at TIFF Bell Lightbox tonight at a special advance screening of AMC‘s new 10-episode saga THE SON, were in for a huge surprise tonight. The series’ star, legendary Irish-born, London-trained actor Pierce Brosnan appeared post-screening for a Q&A after a busy day of press in the city. Brosnan last visited Toronto TIFF 2014 for comedy The Love Punch. Since gracing the big screen in memorable roles in blockbusters like Mamma Mia!, The Thomas Crown Affair and his time as iconic James Bond, The Son marks his formal return to television after some  30 years away.

Also appearing at the Q&A were series producer Kevin Murphy and author/producer Philipp Meyer, whose best-selling novel provides the source material for the new series.

Synopsis:
The ten-episode, one-hour drama traces the transformation of Eli McCullough (Brosnan) from good-natured innocent to calculating killer. He loses everything on the wild frontier, setting him on the path to building a ranching-and-oil dynasty of unsurpassed wealth and privilege. The series deftly explores how Eli’s ruthlessness and quest for power triggers consequences that span generations, as the McCulloughs’ rise to become one the most powerful family dynasties in Texas.

See the Trailer:

The Son sees Brosnan  back in fine form as Eli McCullough, who can be kind and gentle as a grandfather, at once governing his home and business with an iron fist. Multi-dimensional, we also see him unflinchingly ruthless and violent to anyone who impedes on his domain.We cannot help but want to know about Eli‘s rise as the story cuts to his tragic earlier life (played by Jacob Lofland) where he is separated from his family to a life of captivity, to the present where his family is on the verge of an oil fortune – but at what cost this will come at remains to be seen.

While admittedly a bit of a slow burn, the series explores racial tensions between white society, Mexicans and Native Indians and the brutal, all-consuming battle for supremacy. All at once we see familial tensions between Brosnan‘s Eli and his two sons Peter (Henry Garrett) and Phineas (David Wilson Barnes), intrigued where the imminent rise of their empire will take them next.

Sipping on a glass of wine (he prefers red, by the way) on-stage, Brosnan in the Q&A moderated by Maclean‘s Elio Iannucci, talks to his experience filming in Texas in a role that was cast to Sam Neill. Brosnan says “It is like a 10-hour film. I read the book when it first came in 2013 and was bedazzled by the writing and glorious prose of Philipp.”. “I came into this role at the 11th hour so to speak. There was a certain image and reflection of what Texas was about but I was totally enamoured by the people there and totally intoxicated by playing the role of Eli in the company of these actors.”.

On The Son‘s parallels to the current political climate, he states “We certainly are in a turbulent time in history which is most unsettling. Yet as moviemakers and people doing entertainment, it is quite serendipitous and wonderful that we have story like The Son which reflects the times of 1915 and the prejudice and racism that happened then, which still continues to this day.”.

On the United States and President Trump he adds, “Politically, we have to have some grace under pressure and some humor although it is very difficult to hear what is being torn apart and pulled asunder by such a man.”.

Some images from the evening:

Brosnan x Team Mr. Will

#PierceBrosnan in #Toronto for brand new 10-episode saga #TheSon on AMC. Premieres 4.8.17.

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Mar 15, 2017 at 6:47pm PDT

AMC premiere THE SON on Friday, April 8, 2017.

All photos taken on the Nikon D3300, Selfie on the SAMSUNG S7.

More on THE SON here.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/AMC)