Grammy Award-winning Black Eyed Peas member Apl.de.Ap and acclaimed Filipino actress Janine Gutierrez are coming to Nathan Phillips Square this August as the headliners of the Mabuhay Philippines Festival, Toronto’s longest-running Filipino festival.

Presented by the Philippine Independence Day Council (PIDC), this year’s festival promises its biggest celebration yet, bringing together internationally recognized performers, award-winning culinary experiences, immersive cultural programming, and some of the country’s most talented Filipino artists and creators for two unforgettable days in the heart of downtown Toronto.

“For generations, the Mabuhay Philippines Festival has brought people together to celebrate Filipino heritage while welcoming everyone to experience our culture,” said Tom Tan, President of the Philippine Independence Day Council (PIDC). “This year, we’re proud to present one of our strongest festivals yet, featuring internationally recognized artists, incredible local talent, authentic Filipino cuisine, and cultural experiences that showcase the very best of our community. We look forward to welcoming everyone to Nathan Phillips Square this August.”

Festival highlights include:
-Live performances by Grammy Award-winning artist Apl.de.Ap and acclaimed Filipino actress Janine Gutierrez
-The return of BB’s Lounge, an expanded culinary and entertainment experience presented by Michelin Guide-recognized restaurant BB’s
-Kalamansi Chats, presented by Kalamansi Collective, featuring a live conversation with Filipino creators, entrepreneurs, artists, and community leaders
-A fashion showcase by internationally renowned Filipino designer Aandrei David
-A curated Filipino Art Festival featuring artists from OCAD University alongside members of the Philippine Artists Group
-Live performances by Big Norm, Russell, and an electrifying a Filipino drag showcase
-Interactive cultural experiences where visitors can learn the art of parol making, Filipino weaving, and meet Filipino tattoo artists preserving traditional techniques
-An expanded lineup of Filipino food vendors serving regional favourites and beloved classics
-Continuous live performances from Filipino musicians, dancers, and cultural groups throughout the weekend

Whether visitors are reconnecting with their Filipino roots or experiencing the culture for the first time, the Mabuhay Philippines Festival offers something for everyone. From world-class entertainment and award-winning cuisine to hands-on cultural workshops and inspiring conversations, the festival continues to celebrate the stories, traditions, and creativity that have made it Toronto’s longest-running Filipino festival.

Admission is free and open to the public.

For the latest festival schedule and updates, visit www.PIDCMabuhay.com or follow @Mabuhay_TO on social media.

About the Philippine Independence Day Council (PIDC)
The Philippine Independence Day Council (PIDC) is a volunteer-led, non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating Filipino heritage and fostering cultural pride through community events and programs. Its annual Mabuhay Philippines Festival is Toronto’s longest-running Filipino festival and one of the city’s premier multicultural celebrations.

Universal Pictures Canada x Mr. Will are thrilled to give readers a chance to attend an Advance 70mm Screening of this Summer’s most anticipated cinematic moment, Christopher Nolan‘s THE ODYSSEY.

Screenings take place Monday, July 13, 2026 in:

TORONTO

MONTREAL

VANCOUVER

Synopsis:

Christopher Nolan’s next film, The Odyssey, is a mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX®film technology. The film brings Homer’s foundational saga to IMAX® film screens for the first time and opens in theaters everywhere on July 17, 2026.

The Odyssey stars Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson and Lupita Nyong’o, with Zendaya and Charlize Theron.

The Odyssey is produced by Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan for their company, Syncopy. The executive producer is Thomas Hayslip

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK, IG, or X. In the comments, tell us your City and tag 1 ftiend who you love enough to bring! Multiple entries permitted. You must be following in the event we need to reach you.

Rules and regulations here.

Universal Pictures Canada release THE ODYSSEY Friday, July 17, 2026.

Be following mrwillwong and Universal Pictures Canada.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

Today Netflix announced partnerships with leading digital publishers to bring fan-favourite videos to members in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand beginning August 3, 2026.

As Netflix continues to expand beyond series and films, these videos give members more ways to explore the stories, personalities, and conversations they love. Spanning food, travel, fashion, entertainment, design, wellness, and more, the collection complements Netflix’s growing entertainment ecosystem that now includes live events, mobile clips, games, and podcasts.

Content from partners in this first wave will include popular series and videos from brands such as:

BuzzFeed: A*Pop, BuzzFeed Celeb, Cocoa Butter, Pero Like, Tasty

Condé Nast: Allure, Architectural Digest (AD), Bon Appétit, Condé Nast Traveler, Epicurious, Glamour, House & Garden, Self, Teen Vogue, Vanity Fair, Vogue, Wired, World of Interiors

Hearst Magazines: Cosmopolitan, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Women’s Health, Town & Country, Delish, Good Housekeeping

PMX, a subdivision of Penske Media: Billboard, Eater, Indiewire, Rolling Stone, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety

People Inc.: Entertainment Weekly, Food & Wine, InStyle, PEOPLE, Travel + Leisure

Tastemade: Tastemade

Vice: Munchies

Members can expect a mix of licensed archival and ongoing series like BuzzFeed Celeb’s 30 Questions, Tasty Recipes, Vanity Fair’s Lie Detector, AD’s Walking Tour, Elle’s Where is the Lie, Harper’s Bazaar’s Burning Questions, Billboard’s 24 Hrs With, Variety’s How Well Do They Know?, PEOPLE’s My Life in Pictures, Travel + Leisure’s Travel Unfiltered, Tastemade’s Struggle Meals, Munchies’ How To… and many more.

Discoverable directly from the Netflix homepage starting August 3, these videos range from 3-minute-quick hits to 20-minute episodes and offer new ways to discover travel inspiration, cooking ideas, fashion trends, celebrity profiles, home and gardening tips, viral conversations, and more.

“Members don’t just want to watch a show or film and move on – they want to keep exploring the stories and personalities they love long after the final credits roll. These partnerships help us deepen fandom and create more ways for members to carry those stories with them throughout their day,” John Derderian, Vice President, Animation Series + Kids & Family TV overseeing this initiative said.

The 51st edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, is announcing three World Premieres in its Gala Presentations programme including Prima Facie from British director Susanna White (Woman Walks Ahead, TIFF ’17); The Assassin(s) from Korean filmmaker Hur Jin-ho (A Normal Family, TIFF ’23), and Apple Original Film’s Being Heumann from American director Siân Heder (CODA) as TIFF’s Opening Night Film taking place on Thursday, September 10, at Roy Thomson Hall. Building on the momentum of last year’s milestone 50th edition, which welcomed approximately 700,000 attendees, TIFF returns this September 10–20 with a dynamic lineup of acclaimed directors, Hollywood and international A-list talent, red carpet premieres, the inaugural TIFF: The Market, and unforgettable audience experiences across all 11 days.

“We’re thrilled to open this year’s Festival with Siân Heder’s inspiring follow-up to her Oscar-winning CODA,” said Cameron Bailey, CEO, TIFF. “Being Heumann features an electric performance from Ruth Madeley in the story of Judy Heumann, a world-changing advocate for accessibility. We’re also glad to reveal the news that Toronto audiences will be the first to see Cynthia Erivo in Susanna White’s searing legal drama Prima Facie, and that the South Korean power duo of director Hur Jin-ho and superstar Lee Min-ho will launch their thriller The Assassin(s) at our 51st Festival. Lots more to come.”

Film Details:

Being Heumann | Siân Heder | USA

World Premiere | Gala Presentation

Opening Night Film

Prima Facie | Susanna White | Australia, UK

World Premiere | Gala Presentation

The Assassin(s) | Hur Jin-ho | South Korea

World Premiere | Gala Presentation

In addition to TIFF ’26’s Official Selection, the Festival’s 51st edition will once again offer live post-screening Q&As, the In Conversation With… series, as well as the popular Festival Street, which returns for opening weekend along King Street West, from Peter Street to University Avenue, with food trucks, free activations, potential celebrity-spotting, and more.

On the last day of Festival, TIFF will announce its award winners including the popular People’s Choice Awards, presented by Rogers, which last year had Toronto audiences choosing Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet as their top pick. New this year, a non-English-language winner of TIFF’s Platform Award can directly qualify for Best International Feature Film at the upcoming 99th Academy Awards. Also returning are the esteemed Jury Prizes and honours from FIPRESCI and NETPAC. For a full list of past winners, visit tiff.net/awards.

This year’s official screening venues are: TIFF Lightbox, Roy Thomson Hall, the Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre, Cineplex’s Scotiabank Theatre Toronto, Cinema Park, the Royal Alexandra Theatre and new this year the John Bassett Theatre at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The eighth edition of the TIFF Tribute Awards gala fundraiser will take place on Sunday, September 13, 2026, at Fairmont Royal York Hotel, and the inaugural TIFF: The Market will take place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre September 10–16.

TIFF Takeover programming announcements are returning the weeks of July 20–23 and August 4–7, and the complete film schedule will go live August 11 on tiff.net. Ticketing details can be found here, with single tickets going on sale to TIFF Members starting August 21 (by level), and to the public on August 31.

Today, Grammy nominated pop artist Troye Sivan and longtime collaborator Leland revealed that they are contributing original music to FX’s “The Shards,” the new drama series from executive producer Ryan Murphy based on the acclaimed bestselling novel by Bret Easton Ellis.

Troye and Leland shared the news on their Instagram accounts:
Troye Sivan: https://www.instagram.com/stories/troyesivan/3936217845067304453?utm_source=ig_story_item_share&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
Leland: https://www.instagram.com/p/DagNCpUyYbg/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Original music will also be provided by rising pop artist and “The Shards” series star Hayes Warner. Warner, who plays Debbie Schaffer in the new drama, was previously named People Magazine’s Artist to Watch, securing her place in modern pop with millions of streams across standout releases including “Predator” and “Breadcrumbs.”

Inspired by the 1980s setting of the show, the songs help drive the suspense, seduction and obsession of “The Shards,” premiering Wednesday, August 5 with two episodes on Hulu on Disney+ in Canada beginning at 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET.

“The Shards” key art was also released today.

About “The Shards”

Set against the vivid backdrop of 1980s Los Angeles, the series follows a group of privileged high school seniors at an elite prep school as they navigate identity, sex, jealousy, obsession and the dangers lurking beneath the surface of American adolescence.

At its centre is Bret (Igby Rigney), an aspiring writer and keenly observant teenager whose reality begins to unravel with the arrival of a mysterious and magnetic new student, Robert Mallory (Homer Gere). Transferring in just before his senior year, Robert’s appearance coincides with the growing terror of The Trawler, a serial killer targeting teenagers across the city.

Alongside Bret is his elite social circle, which consists of Susan Reynolds (Kaia Gerber), Debbie Schaffer (Hayes Warner) and Thom Wright (Graham Campbell), a glamourous and deeply entangled group drawn into a life of wealth, beauty, parties and excess. The promise of their youth is contrasted with the dark and cynical world of the adults surrounding them: Terry Schaffer (Wes Bentley), Liz Schaffer (Evan Rachel Wood) and Steven Reinhardt (Jordan Roth).

A fusion of the voices of two of America’s most provocative storytellers — Ryan Murphy and Bret Easton Ellis — FX’s “The Shards” is executive produced by Murphy, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Ellis, Eric Kovtun, Scott Robertson, Nissa Diederich, Tanase Popa, Nick Hall, Michael Uppendahl, Max Winkler, Kathleen McCaffrey and Brian Young. The series is produced by 20th Television.

About Troye Sivan

Troye Sivan is a singer/songwriter who has firmly established himself as a global icon in the worlds of pop music, fashion and LGBTQIA+ representation. Over twenty-six billion streams and 10 million adjusted albums sold worldwide are milestones only a few artists can claim. Throw in a range of standout roles in Hollywood features, high fashion collabs, runway appearances, launching a global lifestyle brand and a combined social audience of nearly 40 million and the list really boils down to one person – Troye Sivan.

Raised in Perth, Australia, Sivan set the world on fire with a pair of EPs – 2014’s TRXYE and 2015’s Wild. With his debut album Blue Neighbourhood, sophomore album Bloom, the 2020 EP In A Dream, and his third studio album, Something To Give Each Other, as well as a slew of singles and collaborations in between, Sivan has cemented himself in the music industry with over 10 years of experience under his belt. Hailed as “the perfect pop star” by TIME, Sivan’s 2023 hit single “Rush” earned global accolades and praise, including two GRAMMY nominations. He also earned a third GRAMMY nomination for “Got Me Started.”

In 2024, Sivan headlined the European and Australian legs of his Something To Give Each Other Tour and co-headlined the North American SWEAT tour with friend and collaborator Charli xcx. His career has been further celebrated as the recipient of six ARIA Awards, a Billboard Music Award, three MTV Europe Music awards and two GLAAD Media Award wins. “Revelation,” his collaboration with Jónsi for BOY ERASED, was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Song – Motion Picture and shortlisted for an Oscar. Sivan has been featured in global campaigns for Prada, Rabanne Beauty, Google, Smirnoff, Cartier, YSL Beauty, Calvin Klein, Valentino, Savage Fenty, GAP and Beyoncé’s Ivy Park, and appeared in The Weeknd & Sam Levinson’s “The Idol” for MAX, alongside Lily-Rose Depp, Blackpink’s Jennie and Abel himself. He also launched Tsu Lange Yor, an independent luxury lifestyle collection of fragrances and art-driven objects.

Sivan spends his time between Los Angeles and Melbourne, Australia; and he continues to be represented by Good World Management, CAA and imPRint. www.troyesivan.com

About Leland

Leland is a Golden Globe nominated songwriter, producer, and DJ. Responsible for contributing to some of pop music’s most influential releases, he’s written hit songs for Troye Sivan, BTS, Ariana Grande, Kelsea Ballerini, Charli XCX, Cher and more. Highlights include the Grammy nominated “Rush” and “One of Your Girls” by Troye Sivan, “Talk Talk” and “1999” by Charli XCX and Troye Sivan, “Kings and Queens” by Ava Max, and “Fetish” by Selena Gomez. Leland is the founder of Laurelvale Studios in Laurel Canyon, where artists including Zara Larsson, Troye Sivan, RuPaul, MUNA, and Demi Lovato have recorded. Songs co-written by Leland have generated over 17 billion streams. In television, Leland has served as a head songwriter, on-camera talent and producer for the Emmy Award winning competition series RuPaul’s “Drag Race,” having worked on more than 25 seasons of the show. Most recently, Leland was the Executive Music Producer for Bravo’s 2026 Las Culturistas Culture Awards. As Executive Music Producer for seasons 1 and 2 of Hulu’s “Love, Victor,” Leland also wrote the series’ theme song and 11 original songs featuring prominent and emerging LGBTQ+ artists. Additionally, Leland wrote the theme song as well as original songs for seasons 1 and 2 of HBO Max’s “The Other Two.”

In film, he composed the score and wrote original songs for the Netflix Original Movie “Sierra Burgess Is A Loser”, as well as Executive Producing the soundtrack. Leland was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Song with his longtime collaborator Troye Sivan for their song “Revelation” written for the film “Boy Erased,” a biographical film about LGBTQ+ conversion therapy. Most recently, Leland wrote two original songs for “Stop! That! Train!” starring RuPaul.

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.

At its core, Play on the Runway is built around one idea: play, your way. This Summer, YZD invites Toronto to experience public space differently as Play on the Runway returns for its fifth year. As YZD’s longest‐running public event, the free festival transforms more than a kilometre of the former Runway into a people‐first place for movement, creativity, and connection – offering Torontonians rare access to a site once closed off from the city.

Taking place Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12, 2026 from 12 PM to 5 PM, the free event opens up a space unlike anywhere else where visitors are encouraged to explore in their own way: biking, roller skating, skateboarding, rolling, unicycling, running, picnicking, or simply strolling and taking it all in.

Festival of Wind: Movement Meets Creative Play
This year’s edition of the Toronto favourite is anchored by the theme Festival of Wind, exploring motion, lift, and the joy of open‐air play. The program blends large‐scale activations with a vibrant Summer atmosphere. New this year are guided and participatory
experiences that invite visitors to engage with The Runway in fresh ways – through photography, cycling, inclusive storytelling, and playful performance.

Highlights include:
● Mega-sized kites and open kite flying zones
● More than a kilometre of open Runway for biking, skating, and free play
● Rentals for roller skates and scooters will be available, bikes can be rented at
nearby bike share stations (Wilson Station, on-site in the YZD Plaza, etc.)

● A learn to skateboard program
● A family-friendly Bike Party with music, wheel decorating, and a guided ride across
The Runway
● An accessible described walking tour led by JJ Hunt, curated for the blind and
low-vision community (Saturday only)
● A guided photo walk with Adapted Lens, featuring creative prompts and site
exploration (Sunday only)
● North Fire Circus bubble artists, bringing oversized, wind-filled bubbles and playful
moments of wonder
● Live DJs throughout the day
● Local food trucks on site
● Open space for picnicking and relaxing
● Pop-up moments and spontaneous activities inspired by the public

“Play on the Runway is about giving people permission to engage with space in creative, playful and personal ways,” says Alana Mercury, Director of Placemaking and Programming at Northcrest Developments. “When you remove barriers and open up room to move, experiment, and gather, you begin to see how public space can truly belong to everyone.”

That philosophy extends beyond the event itself and reflects YZD’s broader approach to shaping public space across the site. During Play on the Runway, the public is invited to experience The Runway not as former airport infrastructure, but as the future civic heart of YZD.

Stretching more than two kilometres, The Runway is envisioned as a new Toronto landmark – an open, linear public space where nature, play, culture, and everyday life intersect.

“Play on the Runway shows what public space can be when it’s opened up to people,” says Mitchell Marcus, Vice President of Place & Destination Development at Northcrest Developments. “Shared public spaces that inspire creativity can become the backbone for belonging and togetherness. This event offers an early look at what life at YZD will feel like – movement, connection, and community, centred around a shared civic space that you won’t find elsewhere in Toronto.”

More than a single weekend, Play on the Runway offers a preview of YZD’s long‐term vision: a series of mixed‐use neighbourhoods organized around public life, accessibility, culture, and everyday enjoyment. As Northcrest transforms the 370‐acre former Downsview Airport site into a new city‐within‐a‐city, The Runway sets the tone – demonstrating that at YZD,
public space is not an afterthought, but the starting point.

EVENT DETAILS
Location: YZD Runway, 10 Hanover Road, Toronto
Dates: Saturday, July 11 & Sunday, July 12, 2026
Time: 12 PM – 5 PM daily
Admission: Free (advance booking required at
https://www.yzd.ca/event/play-on-the-runway-2026

About YZD

YZD is the transformation of the 370-acre former Downsview Airport lands, led by
Toronto-based Northcrest Developments. Over the next 30 years, this project will evolve into
several vibrant neighbourhoods, welcoming over 60,000 residents, more than 35,000 new
homes, seven million sq. ft. of commercial and cultural spaces, and nearly 70 acres of parks
and open spaces. Informed by extensive community feedback, YZD is shaping up to
become an international destination for innovation, culture, and sustainability.
To learn more about YZD, visit www.yzd.ca and follow YZD on Instagram or Facebook:
@yzdtoronto

About Northcrest Developments
Northcrest Developments, a Toronto-based real estate developer and subsidiary of the
Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP), is leading the master planning and
redevelopment of YZD. Northcrest is committed to creating sustainable, inclusive, and
forward-thinking communities, collaborating with local residents, Indigenous partners, and
global experts to shape the future of urban development in Canada.
To learn more, visit https://www.northcrestdev.ca and follow Northcrest on LinkedIn:
@northcrestdev

Our Queens Kristen Stewart and Alia Shawkat return in THE WRONG GIRLS! Today, we get a new Trailer!

Directed by: Dylan Meyer
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Alia Shawkat

Two aimless young women inadvertently gain telepathic abilities after ingesting an experimental drug, pitting them against dangerous rivals pursuing the same powerful substance.

Hang on to your cabbages for the Avatar’s return! Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender premieres globally on Paramount+ on Saturday, July 25, 2026, with the official trailer out now.

The new film, based on the animated series created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, sees Avatar Aang, the world’s last Airbender, learn of an ancient power that could save his culture from extinction. With the help of his friends, he embarks on a global quest to find it before it falls into the wrong hands and threatens to upend the peace they sacrificed everything to achieve.

The new original film stars Eric Nam (“Aang”), Dave Bautista (“Tagah”), Canadian Jessica Matten (“Katara”), Román Zaragoza (“Sokka”), Steven Yeun (“Zuko”) and Dionne Quan (“Toph”), alongside Freida Pinto, Ke Huy Quan, Taika Waititi, Geraldine Viswanathan, Ronny Chieng, and Ken Jeong. Dee Bradley Baker reprises his roles as Aang’s beloved pets, Appa and Momo.

Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender was directed by Lauren Montgomery and co-directed by Steve Ahn and William Mata. Producers include Latifa Ouaou, Maryann Garger, Bryan Konietzko, Michael Dante DiMartino. The screenplay was written by Tim Hedrick and Christopher Yost, with the story by Bryan Konietzko, Michael Dante DiMartino, Tim Hedrick and Kenneth Lin.

About Paramount, a Skydance Corporation
Paramount, a Skydance Corporation (Nasdaq: PSKY) is a leading, next‑generation global media and entertainment company, comprised of three business segments: Studios, Direct-to-Consumer, and TV Media. The Company’s portfolio unites legendary brands, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Television, CBS, CBS News, CBS Sports, Nickelodeon, MTV, BET, Comedy Central, SHOWTIME®, Paramount+, Pluto TV, Skydance Animation, Film, Television, and Interactive/Games, and the newly established Paramount Sports Entertainment. For more information, please visit www.paramount.com.

LET’S MARRY HARRY is a new unscripted reality series premiering on Netflix on August 5, 2026 (episodes 1–7), with the finale (episode 8) launching on August 12, 2026.

The series follows heartthrob Harry Jowsey (Too Hot to Handle, Perfect Match), who is done playing the field and is handing over the reins of his love life to those who know him best. After years of dating in the spotlight, his three closest confidants, Amanda Kloots, Georgia Hassarati and Sonny Henty, step in to make the tough calls, guiding Harry through a carefully selected pool of potential matches as he searches for authentic love and marriage.

SYNOPSIS: Heartthrob Harry Jowsey (Too Hot to Handle, Perfect Match) is done playing the field. This time, he’s handing the reins of his love life to those who know him best. After years of dating in the spotlight — and getting it wrong — his closest confidants are stepping in to make the tough calls. From a carefully selected pool of potential matches, they’ll decide who stays and who goes, guiding Harry toward what he truly wants: authentic love and marriage.

HARRY’S FRIENDS: Amanda Kloots, Georgia Hassarati and Sonny Henty

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Alex Cooper, Matt Kaplan, Mina Lefevre and Showrunner David Friedman

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Unwell

FORMAT: Unscripted Series, 8 episodes x 60 minutes

RELEASE DATE: August 5, 2026 (episodes 1-7); with the finale on August 12, 2026

Today, BritBox announced casting for The Cadburys, a new six-part drama series inspired by Deborah Cadbury’s book, Chocolate Wars, as production begins in Birmingham.

The series will be led by Harry Gilby (Boarders, The Last Kingdom) as George Cadbury, Toby Regbo (Outrageous, A Woman of Substance) as Richard Cadbury, Jessica Barden (Dune: Prophecy, You & Me) as Maria Cadbury, Pearce Quigley (Small Prophets,The Gentlemen) as John Cadbury, Ben Hardy (The Conjuring: Last Rites, Unicorns) as Francis Fry, Joanna Scanlan (Riot Women, Missed Call), and Poppy Gilbert (The Other Bennett Sister, My Oxford Year) as Elizabeth Adlington.

The Cadburys (previously announced under the working title of Chocolate Wars) is a warm-hearted family drama following the visionary Cadbury family, the underdogs of the cocoa world, on their journey towards creating the world-famous Cadbury’s chocolate bar. In 1860s Birmingham, when chocolate as we know it doesn’t yet exist, two very different brothers, Richard (Regbo) and George Cadbury (Gilby), find themselves in charge of their family’s failing cocoa business. Together, they have the radical genius and burning ambition to turn Cadbury’s into one of the world’s most beloved confectioners – if they can only learn to trust and rely on each other. Their sister Maria (Barden) is navigating her own role within the family and the business, but things become even more complicated when she falls in love with Cadbury’s biggest rival, Francis Fry (Hardy) and is forced to question where her true loyalties really lie. Infused with historical delights and magical invention, The Cadburys is about how we build, break and rebuild the bonds of family – and how the sweetest things in life are rarely simple.

Additional cast include Felicity Montagu (Beyond Paradise, I’m Alan Partridge) as Mary Brown, Mathew Baynton (Ghosts, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder) as Joseph Rowntree, Adam Hashmi (Joseph of Egypt, Bridgerton) as William Singh, Oli Green (The Gray House, Lift) as Howard Lloyd and Alexander Butler (Fackham Hall, Piglet) as Frank Sheldon. The series also introduces Leah Swain-Heath as Mabel Froggatt, Maisie Britton as Aoife Fitzpatrick and Emma Montrochet as Winnie Smith.

The Cadburys is a commission with UKTV and Sony Pictures Television. The series is produced by Fable Pictures, in association with Alfresco Pictures, and written by Chloë Mi Lin Ewart (Curfew, All Creatures Great and Small, Beyond Paradise). The Cadburys is executive produced by Faye Ward, Freddie Highmore, Hannah Price and Claire Londy with Helen Perry for UKTV and Jess O’Riordan and Jon Farrar for BritBox. The series will be directed by Tom McKay (After the Flood, Ten Pound Poms, There She Goes) and Jill Robertson (The Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, Ludwig, Dalgleish), with Hannah Farrell, co-creative director from Fable Pictures, as series producer and Jo Farrugia as casting director. Chloë Mi Lin Ewart leads the writing team, alongside Eve Hedderwick Turner and Karim Khan.

Sony Pictures Television will handle worldwide sales as international distributor, with Creative UK providing regional support through the ERDF funded West Midlands Production Fund.