San Diego certainly was the place to be this weekend as the San Diego Comic-Con took place, uniting hundreds of thousands of Fans together with Talent from upcoming Blockbusters of multiple genres.  Teasers were unveiled, Trailers were shown, crowds went ecstatic!  And to think how many of these Productions filmed right here on our home turf in Canada!

We’ve compiled a bunch of our favourite Snaps to come out of Comic-Con this weekend.  We wish we were there, we know that much!

SUICIDE SQUAD:

I love my squad!! #suicidesquad #comicon @jaicourtney @margotrobbie @caradelevingne #willsmith @jayhernandez001 @karenfukuhara

A photo posted by Joel Kinnaman (@joelkinnaman) on Jul 11, 2015 at 1:31pm PDT

See the official HQ Teaser! So exciting!!

 

#Regram @batmanvsuperman. Truce? #BatmanvSuperman #SDCC #HenryCavill #BenAffleck #AmyAdams #JesseEisenberg A photo posted by Warner Bros. Pictures Canada (@wbpicturescan) on Jul 11, 2015 at 8:43pm PDT

THE HATEFUL EIGHT:

Cast of #thehatefuleight on the #redcarpet outside of #hallh. #SDCC #quentintarantino

A photo posted by Cineplex (@cineplexmovies) on Jul 11, 2015 at 2:16pm PDT

#sdcc #sdcc2015 #sandiegocomiccon #comiccon #starwars #theforceawakens #lereveildelaforce #episodevii #film #movie #cinema A photo posted by The Bloggers Cinema Club (@thebloggerscinemaclub) on Jul 12, 2015 at 1:41am PDT

See the Behind-the Scenes Reel here!

MINORITY REPORT:

#Repost @meagangood ・・・ #MinorityReport @starkweather @wilmervalderrama @thelauraregan

A photo posted by spartantown (@spartantown) on Jul 11, 2015 at 8:26pm PDT

#HeroesReborn #sdcc2015 #comiccon A photo posted by Ryan Guzman Fans (@ryanaticz) on Jul 11, 2015 at 9:10pm PDT

20TH CENTURY FOX (X-MEN: APOCALPYSE, DEADPOOL, GAMBIT):

I protagonisti del panel della #20thCenturyFox al #ComicCon2015 #ComicCon #SDCC #XMenApocalypse #Wolverine #Deadpool #Gambit #MichaelFassbender #JamesMcAvoy #JenniferLawrence #HughJackman #RyanReynolds #ChanningTatum #StanLee

A photo posted by Superga Cinema (@supergacinema) on Jul 12, 2015 at 5:49am PDT

#comiccon2015 #crimsonpeak #miawasikowska #tomhiddleston #jessicachastain @chastainiac A photo posted by Holden Caulfield (@holdy_caulfild) on Jul 12, 2015 at 3:27am PDT

What are you most excited to see?

No doubt about it, North Americans are in love with MINIONS!  The third Film in the Despicable Me franchise was much the best at the Box Office this weekend, opening with a whopping $115 million for Universal Pictures, from 4,301 theatres.  By comparison this latest Film bests 2013’s Despicable Me by a wide margin, after opening with $83 million.

JURASSIC WORLD continues to motor-on in second with $$17.8 million, also for Universal Pictures, now tallying-in $590 million over five weeks domestically.

INSIDE OUT rates third with $17.2 million for Disney/Pixar, now in its fourth week out with $284 grossed.

TERMINATOR: GENISYS is in fourth with $13.5 million for Paramount Pictures, in its second week out. It has made about $68 million thus far in North America.

THE GALLOWS opens in fifth with $11 million.  The Horror from Warner Bros. plays in 2,720 theatres, garnering a 13% on the Tomatometer from Critics and a C CinemaScore.

SELF/LESS starring Ben Kingsley and Ryan Reynolds places seventh in its debut for Focus Features/VVS Films with $5.2 million. It earns a 20% on the Tomatometer and a much better B+ CinemaScore from Audiences.

MAX rounds-out the Top Ten with $3.2 million in its third week out for Warner Bros., surpassing the $70 million mark.

Australian Actor Daniel Webber is a bit of an intriguing sort. The young star who has an extensive Résumé including TIFF Selection Sleeping Beauty, just arrived in Toronto and is set to begin filming next week on eagerly-awaited Hulu Series 11-22-63, based upon the Novel of the same name by Stephen King. Starring James Franco, the Series is about a Time Traveler who tries to go back in time to stop the Kennedy assassination.

We spotted Webber after a visit to  the Wardrobe Department, his hair colour being prepped to replicate a young Lee Harvey Oswald (the Sniper who assassinated JFK) he will portray and he was lovely taking time to chat about his role, which will see him extremely busy these next few weeks! He found it amusing he even was asked for an Autograph and recognized, laughing “You guys are hilarious!”.

See our Snap:

With #DanielWebber, who plays #LeeHarveyOswald in #StephenKing-adapted series #112263, alongside #JamesFranco.

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jul 11, 2015 at 5:10pm PDT

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

It’s  been a long while since we’ve seen Hayden Christensen, so we were extra happy to spot the Actor known best for playing young Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.  The Actor has a couple new Films lined-up including 90 Minutes in Heaven in which he stars opposite Kate Bosworth and rumour is he will be playing Marco Polo in an upcoming Film Adaptation of the story, perhaps its popularity revived with the recent Netflix Series of the same name?

See the new Trailer for 90 Minutes in Heaven:

Christensen was spotted arriving back in Toronto quietly and he still owns a farm in Uxbridge, possibly here to check-in on it.  Amazingly, when asking for a Snap, he knew my name right away, saying “Hi, Will!”.  How cool was that?  The Father of Briar Rose and partner of Actress Rachel Bilson, still looks great and was super low-key, travelling light with only a backpack.

See our Snap:

Total shock seeing #HaydenChristensen and he was like, “Hi Will!”.

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jul 10, 2015 at 2:08pm PDT

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Already a huge star in the U.K., Bradley James is about ready to make a splash stateside with upcoming A&E Series, DAMIEN.  The Merlin Star also recently got a boost with popular Rob Thomas (Veronica Mars) series iZOMBIE as Lowell Tracey, which you know we’ve actively been singing praises about these days!

Just returning from a few days in San Diego where he attended Comic-Con promoting DAMIEN, we caught-up with the private James who has been known to turn away Fans in the vicinity of his residence.  He was amazingly kind to stop for a couple Photos and although he was a bit busy trying to locate his transporation to head on-set in Hamilton, he put aside his phone for a quick minute, looking fresh-faced.

DAMIEN centers on a man who is haunted by his past, being the son of the Omen, and must come to grips with his true identity – he is the Anti-Christ.  The Series, which also stars Barbara Hershey, is based on the Film Series The Omen, continuing where they left-off, and films here till later this month.

See our Snap:

With #Merlin Star #BradleyJames of new series #Damien. This was not easy. At all.

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jul 10, 2015 at 1:07pm PDT

See the Trailer for DAMIEN:

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/A&E)

Couldn’t make San Diego Comic-Con? Neither could we! Check-out this awesome Reel which Fans got to see first earlier today!

See the Reel:

Fans at Hall H today got this special behind-the-scenes look of STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS from Director J.J. Abrams. Cast Members: Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, Gwendoline Christie, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford surprised some extremely lucky Fans on-stage!

Afterwards, 6,000 Fans were treated to a surprise Star Wars Fan Concert. The San Diego Symphony performed the classic Star Wars music from John Williams at the Embarcadero Marina Park South.

Amazing!

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada release STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS on Friday, December 18, 2015!

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

Willionaire$, it’s been a thrilling run and a great blast sharing some important tips these last few weeks for a zombie to survive a human world.  We hope you learned some practical and handy tips you can apply to your own lives and that you’ve embraced your own inner-zombie!

See our final installment of The Zombie’s Guide, Chapter 6.4 right here:

Thank you once again to everyone who shared their own Survival tips with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

In case you missed it, here is a summary of all Chapters 4-6 of The Zombie’s Guide below:

An Overview

Chapter 4.1

#TheZombiesGuide to Survival, Chapter 4.1 Beware of a propensity for zombie hands in public. Take one hand and force other hand in downward motion discretely when the urge strikes. Pick-up and carry on with what you were doing as if you simply were stretching your limbs. @shomicanada #shomi #iZombie

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jun 16, 2015 at 9:44am PDT

Chapter 4.2

#TheZombiesGuide to Survival, Chapter 4.2: Mentally accept that affection towards loved ones from your pre-zombie life could result in them becoming zombies too. They might even thank you for it. ❤️ @shomiCanada #iZombie #shomi A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jun 17, 2015 at 5:15am PDT

Chapter 4.3

#TheZombiesGuide to Survival, Chapter 4.3: #Selfietaking is a trademark behaviour of the human race. Enter public bathroom and angle camera lens towards face, then snap photograph. Common facial gestures include #Duckface (seen left) where humans try to mimic ducks. You also can steal hearts (although not literally) with a killer’s smile… err… a #killersmile (seen right). If you do something and don’t share it online, then you might as well not have done it at all. This is why Selfies are presence-defining. To accentuate #zombie features in said Selfie, use contrast feature at 100% and select #Lux feature on the Instagram, utilizing it at 100% also. To erase zombie features, select #Crema filter and adjust contrast to 0%. Note excessive use of #Hashtags. Humans love these. @shomiCanada #shomi #iZombie #Selfie

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jun 18, 2015 at 6:07am PDT

Chapter 5.1

#TheZombiesGuide to Survival, Chapter 5.1: Finding the perfect zombie job is key. There are only a few jobs that could cover your zombie status. Good jobs: Coroner, stunt double, magician. Bad jobs: Brain surgeon, organ donor, tanning salon worker. I like option 3. Which would you choose? #Shomi @shomicanada A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jun 23, 2015 at 1:02pm PDT

Chapter 5.2

#TheZombiesGuide to Survival, Chapter 5.2: Zombie nutrition is key to survival. A human fav, #MacNCheese… with a giant portion of brain. You might even experience “visions” after… Zombies have few functioning taste buds, so a heaping amount of #hotsauce is a necessity. What would you eat as a side with #brains? @shomicanada #shomi

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jun 23, 2015 at 2:25pm PDT

Chapter 5.3

#TheZombiesGuide to Survival, Chapter 5.3: Humans love staring at screens for hours, aka #movies… To blend in like the other humans, bring #popcorn so that you can focus on the task at hand and enjoy the show. How would you sneak some brain into the movies? @shomicanada #shomi A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jun 24, 2015 at 1:20pm PDT

Chapter 5.4

#TheZombiesGuide to Survival, Chapter 5.4: Humans attach themselves to social causes. #PrideTO is here, as is equality. Have some type of rainbow paraphernalia for the occasion! How will you celebrate your Pride? @shomicanada #shomi #Pride #zombie #lovewins

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jun 26, 2015 at 9:50am PDT

Chapter 5.5

#TheZombiesGuide, Chapter 5.5: Humans recharge and caffeinate at upwards of $5 a pop. Always ask for the #SecretMenu. What’s on your Secret Menu? #shomi @shomicanada #zombie A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jun 27, 2015 at 8:36am PDT

Chapter 6.1

#TheZombiesGuide‬, Chapter 6.1: Rejuvenating dead skin cells. Enjoy the sun and poolsides in limited doses. Many humans use fake tans and so do I. How do you rejuvenate your dead appearance? @shomicanada ‪#shomi‬

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jul 7, 2015 at 1:16pm PDT

Chapter 6.2

‪#‎TheZombiesGuide‬, Chapter 6.2: Masking that zombie odour. Humans chew a lot of gum. While purchasing a stockpile at the convenience store, I ran into a member of #NSync who had no idea I was a zombie at all! Do you think he could tell?! ‪#‎shomi‬ A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jul 8, 2015 at 8:53am PDT

Chapter 6.3

‪#TheZombiesGuide, Chapter 6.3: Surviving the stress of being undead can be hard, try watching #Baseball as a relaxing form of leisure. Even if you haven’t a clue like me, overcompensate by writing bold statements on your face and wearing official team swag. How do you de-compress in stressful times? @shomicanada ‪#‎shomi‬ #BlueJays #Jays #Toronto #TheJays #TorontoBlueJays

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jul 9, 2015 at 8:24am PDT

Which Chapters were your favourites?  Don’t forget to throw a “like”!

Don’t forget to stream the amazing iZOMBIE on shomi, available throughout Canada this summer! Details here.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

The buzz is feverish for upcoming Boxing Drama SOUTHPAW and Toronto was luckiest of all to host the official Canadian Premiere for the Film.  In for the night were Stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Hometown Sweetheart Rachel McAdams and a surprise appearance by Boxing Legend Lennox Lewis.   Fans lined a specially set-up Fan Pit outside Scotiabank Theatre and quite a few were lucky to be on the receiving-end of graciousness from the Stars, but in all honesty, many were just happy to be in the presence of the A-List talent.

SOUTHPAW, directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day), tells the story of a Boxer named Billy Hope (Gyllenhaal), who has seen better days.  At the urging of his wife Maureen (McAdams) and daughter Leila (Oona Laurence) to spend more time at home, he decides to retire.  Upon receiving honours at his retirement gala, tragedy would strike – only the beginning of a downward spiral that would see him lose everything.  With the help of a no-nonsense Trainer in Tick (Forest Whitaker), we see a former Champion on a valiant quest for redemption, to regain back what is his and any remnants of what he had left.

We had the opportunity to chat with McAdams, who looked absolutely stunning in pink Dior, and a dapper-suited Gyllenhaal.  McAdams plays Maureen, a woman to fight for and Billy‘s reason to live again after she dies prematurely in Southpaw.  I ask her about the Women in her life who are worth fighting for and she tells me, “My mom and my sister are at the top of my list.  I used to be a figure skater, so definitely Elizabeth Manley.”.  We wouldn’t expect a less patriotic answer from the proudly-Canadian Actress who chose consciously Toronto over Hollywood as her home.

I ask her about getting into Maureen‘s headspace and preparation required for the memorable role, which had her working out of Pittsburgh.  “I got to spend a bit of time at facilities Billy and her would’ve grown up at” she explains, “I spent time with Boxers and the Boxers’ families and got to know the Sport and how much people give to it, the sacrifices they make and the difficult paths they take to get there.”.

McAdams filmed an intriguing Movie titled Spotlight in the City last Fall, just one of several she’s made in her native Toronto. She sheds some light on it, hinting “It likely will do the Festival Circuit maybe – but it’s not announced”. “It’s great to shoot here.  Tom McCarthy (Director) is the best and I love him to bits”.  She explains,  “It’s an important story that hasn’t been told enough about the Church – a new side, which has an investigatory crew at The Boston Globe and there’s four of them. I got to play the one woman on the team.”.  McAdams adds, “She’s just incredible and my hero – generous and gracious with her time, taking me under her wing.”.  Spotlight is due in theatres this November, with a likelihood of premiering at TIFF ’15.

Although there wasn’t much time for Gyllenhaal to speak to Digital Media, we were able to sit-in on a couple questions he fielded about his role as Billy Hope and his new perspective on Professional Fighting since making Southpaw.  “The Mayweather-Pacquiao fight – I was in rapture for the first four rounds”, he recalls.  “Now I think ‘Ooh, what punch is thrown and who’s getting knocked-out.’. I’m watching technique and what the Trainer is up to.”.  Gyllenhaal is devastatingly-good, transforming physically and mentally into Billy Hope completely for the Film, just one of a few great Films he’s made these past couple years. A Career Renaissance if you will.

With an inspired interest in Boxing, Gyllenhaal states, “When you become a fan of the Sport, you become a fan of the people in the Sport and it becomes about the story about the particular athlete.”.  On his greatest inspiration building Billy‘s character he says, “My most motivating Fighter was Miguel Cotto.  He’s so devoted to his family and been in the ring so many times. So many odd things have happened.”. “The Movie’s all about Family. He was my inspiration.”.

eOne Films release SOUTHPAW on Friday, July 24, 2015.

Review to come soon.

More Snaps below:

#RachelMcAdams + #JakeGyllenhaal at the Canadian #Southpaw Premiere.

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jul 9, 2015 at 5:20pm PDT

  #JakeGyllenhaal + #RachelMcAdams catching-up at the Canadian #Southpaw Premiere.   A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jul 9, 2015 at 5:19pm PDT

#JakeGyllenhaal and a surprise appearance by #LennoxLewis at the Canadian #Southpaw Premiere.

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jul 9, 2015 at 5:14pm PDT

  “You sneakin’ a pic of me?”, #LennoxLewis at the Canadian #Southpaw Premiere. #Boxing   A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jul 9, 2015 at 5:15pm PDT

#RachelMcAdams just glowing at the Canadian #Southpaw Premiere. Had a lovely chat with her.

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jul 9, 2015 at 5:18pm PDT

Video of our Chat:

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Christina Miguel)

We know you’re excited about GOOSEBUMPS and we’re thrilled this new two-and-a-half minute Trailer delivers on the promise of these great Novels by R.L. Stine.

Official Synopsis:
Teenager Zach Cooper (Dylan Minnette) isn’t thrilled about moving from a big city to the small town of Greendale, Maryland. However, all that changes when he runs into a beautiful girl named Hannah (Odeya Rush) who happens to live next door.

Hannah’s father, R.L. Stine (Jack Black), author of the Goosebumps series, keeps all the ghosts and monsters locked in his books. When Zach inadvertently releases the creatures, the three must team up to send them back where they came from before it’s too late.

See the Trailer:

Sony Pictures Canada release GOOSEBUMPS on Friday, October 17, 2015.

(Photo/video credit: Sony Pictures Canada)

Pacific Northwest Pictures + Mr. Will want you to win a copy of OCTOBER GALE on DVD!

Official Synopsis:
A killer stalks a remote island in this edge-of-your-seat thriller starring Patricia Clarkson, Scott Speedman, and Tim Roth. Helen (Clarkson), a recently widowed doctor, returns home to her isolated cottage off the Canadian coast to find a stranger with a gunshot wound (Speedman) hiding out from two men intent on killing him. As an ominous storm brews outside, trapping the pair on the island, they must join forces to survive a harrowing night of terror, while navigating the mounting attraction growing between them. Full of hairpin plot twists and unrelenting tension, October Gale is a grippingly suspenseful spine-chiller.

Watch the Trailer:

Patricia Clarkson + Mr. Will:

#PatriciaClarkson at #TIFF14 for #OctoberGale. #NikonD3300

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 11, 2014 at 5:33pm PDT

#ScottSpeedman at #TIFF14 for #OctoberGale. #NikonD3300 A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 11, 2014 at 5:35pm PDT

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

Pacific Northwest Pictures release OCTOBER GALE on DVD, now in stores!

Order a copy here.

(Photo/video credit: Pacific Northwest Pictures)