Today, Disney+ announced that Ryan Coogler’s “The X-Files” project has been picked up to series. From Onyx Collective and produced by 20th Television in association with Proximity Media, the Hulu Original series will star Danielle Deadwyler and Himesh Patel. A reimagining of the classic, the series follows two highly decorated but vastly different FBI agents who form an unlikely bond when they are assigned to a long-shuttered division devoted to cases involving unexplained phenomena.

“I’ve loved ‘The X-Files’ for a long time, so getting the chance to write and direct the pilot has meant a great deal to me,” said Coogler. “What Chris Carter created is special, and we wanted to honour everything that made the original series connect with so many people while also finding our own way into that world. Danielle and Himesh, along with the rest of our cast, have brought such original perspectives and performances to these characters, and watching that come together has been one of the most rewarding parts of the experience. I couldn’t have asked for better collaborators than my crew, colleagues at Proximity Media and our partners at Onyx Collective and 20th Television. I’m grateful for the trust and support they’ve given us as we take on this new chapter.”

“We’re looking forward to continuing this journey as executive producers and especially excited to work closely with Jennifer Yale, Simone Harris, and the entire cast and crew as we bring this new chapter of ‘The X-Files’ to life. It was also incredibly special to have our fellow Proximity co-founder Ludwig Göransson contribute the score for the pilot, making this a true collaboration across the Proximity family,” said Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian and Ryan Coogler, founders of Proximity Media.

Ryan Coogler (Proximity Media) wrote, directed and executive produced the pilot and will serve as executive producer along with showrunner and executive producer Jennifer Yale. Executive producers also include Zinzi Coogler and Sev Ohanian (Proximity Media) and Chris Carter. Co-executive producers are Simone Harris (Proximity Media), Danielle Deadwyler and Himesh Patel.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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Hashtag: #HuluOnDisneyPlusCA

ABOUT PROXIMITY MEDIA

Proximity Media is a multi-platform media company founded by Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler and Sev Ohanian with a mission to create event-driven films, television, soundtracks and podcasts that bring audiences together through stories involving communities and subject-matters often-overlooked.

The company is behind the award-winning feature SINNERS, starring Michael B. Jordan, which has grossed more than $365 million worldwide.

Proximity Media’s film and television credits include JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH, SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY, CREED III, Marvel Studios’ Ironheartand Eyes of Wakanda, HOMEROOM, STEPHEN CURRY: UNDERRATED and ANTHEM, as well as National Geographic’s Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time, which reached #1 on Hulu and became the network’s most-watched U.S. streaming series. Through Proximity Music, co-founded with Ludwig Göransson, the company has produced soundtracks and scores for SINNERS, JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH, SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY, BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER and CREED III.

ABOUT DISNEY+

Disney+ is the dedicated streaming home for movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic, along with The Simpsons and outside the U.S., general entertainment brand Hulu. As the flagship direct-to-consumer streaming service from The Walt Disney Company, Disney+ serves as a connection point for audiences around the world with an unmatched collection of award-winning general entertainment and gold-standard family programming. With unprecedented access to Disney’s long history of incredible film and television entertainment, it is also the exclusive streaming home for the newest releases from The Walt Disney Studios. Subscriptions also include access to the Disney+ Perks loyalty program including special discounts, everyday savings, and early access to exclusive experiences that only Disney can offer. For more, visit disneyplus.com, or find the Disney+ app on most mobile and connected TV devices.

Netflix Canada have announced their upcoming theatrical release slate ahead. Some upcoming release dates for some awards season contenders.

POSSIBLE LOVE

IN SELECT THEATRES
TORONTO, MONTREAL, VANCOUVER – OCTOBER 23
EXPANDING – OCTOBER 30

ON NETFLIX NOVEMBER 6

ABOUT | Possible Love follows the intertwined relationship of two married couples facing different paths and hidden desires. Mi-ok (Jeon Do-yeon) lives quietly with her laid-off husband Ho-seok (Sul Kyung-gu) and their young son Cheol until a funeral brings them into the orbit of Ye-ji (Cho Yeo-jeong), a documentary filmmaker chronicling laid-off workers, and her husband Sang-woo (Zo In-sung) — a couple whose affluent lifestyle stands in sharp contrast to their own. When Mi-ok agrees to be filmed, she grows close to Ye-ji, and finds herself uneasily drawn to the unreadable Sang-woo. As their worlds collide, fractures begin to appear in their daily existence. Marking his first release in eight years, highly acclaimed director Lee Chang-dong (Burning, Poetry, Secret Sunshine) brings his signature nuance to Possible Love, capturing shifting emotions, conflicts, and contrasting outlooks that shape these relationships.

Possible Love is South Korea’s Official Selection at the 99th Academy Awards.

DIRECTOR: Lee Chang-dong
WRITERS: Lee Chang-dong, Oh Jung-mi
CAST: Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung, Cho Yeo-jeong

LA BOLA NEGRA

IN SELECT THEATRES
TORONTO – OCTOBER 23
VANCOUVER & MONTREAL – OCTOBER 30
EXPANDING – NOVEMBER 6

ON NETFLIX DECEMBER 2

ABOUT | A bold tapestry spanning nearly a century of Spanish history, La Bola Negra tells the story of three generations of men whose lives are intimately connected through desire, pain, and love in this celebrated film from Cannes-winning directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi.

La Bola Negra is Spain’s Official Selection at the 99th Academy Awards and Winner of the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.

DIRECTORS: Javier Calvo, Javier Ambrossi (“Los Javis”)
WRITERS: Javier Calvo, Javier Ambrossi, Alberto Conejero
CAST: Guitarricadelafuente, Miguel Bernardeau, Carlos González, Milo Quifes, Lola Dueñas, Julio Torres, Penélope Cruz, Glenn Close

GENTLE MONSTER

IN SELECT THEATRES OCTOBER 30
TORONTO, VANCOUVER, MONTREAL, OTTAWA

ON NETFLIX NOVEMBER 18

ABOUT | When a police raid shatters her life, concert pianist Lucy (Léa Seydoux) must protect her son and confront how little she knows of her husband after he is accused of an unspeakable crime in this tense thriller about trust and survival.

DIRECTOR: Marie Kreutzer
WRITER: Marie Kreutzer
PRODUCERS: Alexander Glehr, Johanna Scherz, Jonas Dornbach, Janine Jackowski, Jean-Christophe Reymond, and Marie Kjellson
MUSIC BY: Camille
CAST: Léa Seydoux, Jella Haase, Laurence Rupp, Malo Blanchet, Anton Rubtsov, Nils Strunk, Sylvester Groth, Patrycja Ziółkowska, Regina Fritsch, and Catherine Deneuve

THE MOSQUITO BOWL

IN SELECT THEATRES NOVEMBER 11
TORONTO, VANCOUVER, MONTREAL, CALGARY, EDMONTON, WINNIPEG, OTTAWA, VICTORIA, HALIFAX

ON NETFLIX NOVEMBER 25

ABOUT | Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, four of America’s top college football stars set their fame aside to enlist in the Marines. As they prepare for the brutal invasion of Okinawa, they’ll play in a legendary game featuring some of the greatest players in history — a game that, for many, will be the last they ever play.

The Mosquito Bowl is adapted from Pulitzer Prize winner Buzz Bissinger’s bestselling nonfiction book The Mosquito Bowl: A Game of Life and Death in World War II.

DIRECTOR: Peter Berg
CAST: Nicholas Galitzine, Bill Skarsgård, Ray Nicholson, Tom Francis, Brent Comer, and Dominic Bogart

THE FURTHER MISADVENTURES
OF CLIFF BOOTH

EXCLUSIVE IMAX RELEASE
IN SELECT THEATRES NOVEMBER 25
TORONTO, VANCOUVER, MONTREAL, CALGARY, EDMONTON, WINNIPEG, OTTAWA, VICTORIA, HALIFAX

ON NETFLIX DECEMBER 23

ABOUT | Brad Pitt returns to his Academy Award-winning role as Cliff Booth, only this time it’s 1977 and it’s a very different Hollywood. Directed by David Fincher from a screenplay by Quentin Tarantino, the film also stars Elizabeth Debicki, Scott Caan, Carla Gugino, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Peter Weller.

Director: David Fincher
Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino
Cast: Brad Pitt, Elizabeth Debicki, Scott Caan, Carla Gugino, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Matt Groove and JB Tadena

IN WAVES

IN SELECT THEATRES NOVEMBER 27
TORONTO, VANCOUVER, MONTREAL

ON NETFLIX DECEMBER 11

ABOUT | Set against the sun-soaked surf culture of Southern California, IN WAVES, based on a true story, explores the joy of finding your soulmate, the courage it takes to live life to the fullest, and the enduring power of love to shape who we become and what we leave behind.

Director: Phuong Mai Nguyen
Cast: Will Sharpe, Stephanie Hsu

14TH

EXCLUSIVE TORONTO ENGAGEMENT NOVEMBER 27

ON NETFLIX DECEMBER 4

ABOUT | Written in the wreckage of the Civil War, the 14th Amendment was meant to close the door on the hierarchy of human worth. Instead, it has become a permanent argument. Ava DuVernay’s 14th pulls this constitutional fight out of the footnotes and into the present, chronicling the vicious battle over the amendment that has raged for over 150 years. Threading deep archival scholarship with piercing headlines of today, 14th brings together legal minds, politicians, historians and cultural voices in direct conversation with a question America still hasn’t settled: Who gets to belong?

14th is the Closing Night selection of the 64th New York Film Festival.

Director: Ava DuVernay
Producers: Ava DuVernay, Spencer Averick, Tammy Garnes, and Paul Garnes

RAY GUNN

IN THEATRES DECEMBER 4

ON NETFLIX DECEMBER 18

ABOUT | In Metropia, a gigantic city in an alternate future as seen from 1939, private eye Raymond Gunn is drawn into a case involving aliens, murder and a multimedia star named Venus Nova.

Director: Brad Bird
Cast: Sam Rockwell, Tom Waits, Scarlett Johansson

Prime Video today unveiled the trailer for Campus Drivers, its first French Young Adult Prime Original series. Adapted from the bestselling novels by C.S Quill, published by Hugo Publishing, which have sold nearly one million copies in France, the series brings together on screen Carmen Kassovitz (Stalk) and Baptiste Masseline (Mixte) in the roles of Lois and Lane. The cast is rounded out by Madior Fall (Love Me, Love Me), Esteban Vial (Lucky Luke), Felix Nebel (Les Saisons), Enzo Lorente (Mi Amor), Paolo Luka-Noé (Nouvelle Vague), Eloïse Rey (Surface), Louna Balavoine (The Man in the Hat) and Cassandra Cano (Tigres et Hyènes). Created by Thomas Boullé (Erica), written by directed by Tom Goris (Knokke Off : Jeunesse dorée) and Vianney Lebasque (Les Grands), and produced by Campus Entertainment (an Empreinte Digitale company), the 6 episodes of Campus Drivers will be available starting November 6, 2026, exclusively on Prime Video, in France and in over 240 countries and territories worldwide.

Lois has everything going for her: she’s been accepted into the prestigious Belrose University alongside her lifelong love, Max. Lane, on the other hand, lives by his own rules. Creator of Campus Drivers, the hottest app on campus, he is as famous for his devastating smile as for his inability to commit. Their paths were never supposed to cross. Until the night when Lois, heartbroken, shows up on his doorstep. An unexpected cohabitation. Two worlds colliding. And an attraction impossible to ignore. But some encounters change everything… even awakening buried wounds. And when love arrives uninvited, nothing is certain anymore.

Following the launch of the film You+Me – Against the World on September 18, Prime Video continues to strengthen its presence in the Young Adult segment in France with Campus Drivers. These two new releases follow in the footsteps of international hits in the genre — the Culpables trilogy, Maxton Hall, and more recently Off Campus and Sterling Point — and reinforce Prime Video’s positioning as the go-to destination for young adults.

About Prime Video

Prime Video is a first-stop entertainment destination offering customers a vast selection of premium movies, series and live sports in one app across thousands of devices. Customers can discover Prime Originals from Amazon MGM Studios alongside an unmatched library of licensed movies and series; Prime-exclusive live sports including NHL, NBA, WNBA, PWHL; and playback features like X-Ray that enhance the viewing experience.

All customers, with or without Prime, can also access 100+ add-on streaming subscriptions (Apple TV+, BritBox, Crave, Citytv+, Hayu, Paramount+, RDS, Sportsnet, STACKTV, STARZ, Super Channel, TSN, TVA Sports, and more), and the largest selection of titles available to rent or buy.

Prime Video is one of many benefits included with a Prime membership, which bundles savings, convenience, and entertainment. Prime members can share benefits, including Prime Video, through Amazon Family.

For more information on Prime Video, visit www.primevideo.ca.

First hitting screens in 1989, Baywatch became the most-watched show in the world, airing in more than 200 countries and at its peak reaching more than a billion viewers weekly. Its global appeal helped define beach culture for generations. Baywatch will launch across Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Benelux, Switzerland, Austria, Turkey, Canada, Latin America, and India on Prime Video in January 2027.

Baywatch will celebrate the franchise’s enduring legacy, while re-energizing it for today’s global audience. Fans can expect all the adrenaline-fueled rescues, tangled relationships, complicated chemistry and beachside heroics that defined the original — now with a new cast, contemporary trappings, tensions and challenges, and a renewed mission to save lives along Southern California’s coastline.

The new version of Baywatch finds wild-child legacy character HOBIE BUCHANNON (Stephen Amell) serving as a Baywatch Captain, following in the footsteps of his legendary father, Mitch. Hobie’s world is turned upside down when his daughter CHARLIE VALE (Jessica Belkin) shows up on his doorstep eager to carry on the Buchannon family legacy. The series also stars Hassie Harrison as NAT, Shay Mitchell as TRINA, Thaddeus LaGrone as BRAD, Noah Beck as LUKE, and Brooks Nader as SELENE. In recurring roles, Livvy Dunne will make her acting debut as GRACE and David Chokachi will reprise his original series character of CODY MADISON.

Baywatch is co-produced by Fremantle and FOX Entertainment with Matt Nix (Burn Notice, The Gifted) serving as showrunner and executive producer. McG, Michael Berk, Greg Bonann, Doug Schwartz, Dante Di Loreto and Mike Horowitz are executive producers. McG directed the series premiere. FOX Entertainment Global holds domestic distribution rights, and Fremantle manages all international sales.

About Prime Video

Prime Video is a first-stop entertainment destination offering customers a vast selection of premium movies, series and live sports in one app across thousands of devices. Customers can discover Prime Originals from Amazon MGM Studios alongside an unmatched library of licensed movies and series; Prime-exclusive live sports including NHL, NBA, WNBA, PWHL; and playback features like X-Ray that enhance the viewing experience.

All customers, with or without Prime, can also access 100+ add-on streaming subscriptions (Apple TV+, BritBox, Crave, Citytv+, Hayu, Paramount+, RDS, Sportsnet, STACKTV, STARZ, Super Channel, TSN, TVA Sports, and more), and the largest selection of titles available to rent or buy.

Prime Video is one of many benefits included with a Prime membership, which bundles savings, convenience, and entertainment. Prime members can share benefits, including Prime Video, through Amazon Family.

For more information on Prime Video, visit www.primevideo.ca.

Run Terry Run sets largest English-language Canadian documentary opening in over a decade

The four-day Thanksgiving weekend gross for Run Terry Run totalled $170K at the domestic box office.

Run Terry Run grossed a staggering $116K at the Canadian Box Office over its opening weekend. Its theatrical opening marks the largest English-language Canadian documentary opening in over a decade, surpassing Rob Stewart’s Revolution, which earned $114K in 2012. Run Terry Run grossed a total of $170K over the four-day Thanksgiving weekend.

The feature-length documentary, with nationwide distribution by Elevation Pictures, opened this past weekend in over 150 screens, the widest theatrical opening for a non-concert documentary in the country since Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11 in 2004.

Run Terry Run offers an unprecedented look at Canadian hero Terry Fox’s 1980 Marathon of Hope. Through 96 reels of never-before-seen visuals and unheard audio interviews, viewers are brought directly into the van and onto the streets with Terry, his best friend Doug, and his younger brother Darrell as they experience an emotional and historic journey across the country.

Run Terry Run, supported by the Telefilm marketing fund, had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and has been playing at film festivals across the country, including Atlantic International Film Festival, Edmonton International Film Festival, Calgary International Film Festival, and Vancouver International Film Festival.

Proceeds from the film will support Cancer research across Canada through the Terry Fox Foundation. To continue Terry’s dream of a world without cancer and honour his legacy, donations can be made by visiting terryfox.org.

Screening takes place October 21, 2026 in Toronto at Scotiabank Theatre.

Synopsis: An ostracized fisherwoman commissions the local basketmaker to weave her a husband, but when her wicker creation proves unexpectedly extraordinary, his presence ignites jealousy and upheaval that threatens their quiet village.

Starring: Olivia Colman, Alexander Skarsgård, Elizabeth Debicki, Peter Dinklage

To enter for a chance to win passes, click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook or IG. Tag a friend in the comments you’re taking! Multiple entries allowed.

Rules and regulations here.

WICKER is in theatres October 23, 2026 via Elevation Pictures.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

Following last week’s premiere, we wanted to share that Below is in the No. 1 Spot in This Week’s Top 10 on Netflix!

Audiences are staying away from the water and close to their screens, as Below premiered at the top of the English TV list with 17 million views! This marks the most-viewed debut of a Netflix Canadian title. The limited-series is also certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a critics’ score of 84%.

Josh Hartnett stars in the twisty limited series as Calvin, a fisherman whose small Newfoundland hometown is terrorized by a mysterious sea creature. He teams up with a marine researcher (Mackenzie Davis) to confront the creature in an attempt to keep his family and community safe, including his son Wade (Charlie Heaton). See the Top Ten list here and more details here. Additional images can be found here.

Filmed on location in Newfoundland and Labrador, the ensemble cast features Canadians Rohan Campbell as Jay, Joshua Close as Officer Noseworthy, Kaleb Horn as Noah, Natasha Henstridge as Jan Hicks, and Willow Kean as Ruth, alongside Newfoundland icon Mary Walsh as Mayor Linda Best.

As 50 per cent U.S. tariffs on Canadian artwork create new barriers to cross-border sales, Art Toronto is turning to a new generation of Canadian collectors to strengthen the market at home.

With fewer U.S. galleries participating this year, new Director Emily-Jean Alexander is making collecting more accessible through a Ready to Collect Art Advisory Desk and Friday Emerging Collectors Evening, offering personalized guidance and practical sessions for first-time buyers.

Taking place October 29–November 1, 2026 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, the fair offers a timely story on how Canada’s art community is responding to uncertainty and whether new collectors can help fill the gap.

FAIR DATES + TICKETS
Metro Toronto Convention Centre
255 Front Street West, Toronto, ON

Collectors First Look & Opening Night Benefit
Thursday, October 29, 2026
Collectors First Look: 4–6 PM
Opening Night: 6–10 PM

Public Days
Friday, October 30 – 12–9 PM
Saturday, October 31 – 12–7 PM
Sunday, November 1 – 12–6 PM

Tickets
● First Look Opening Night: From $410

● Opening Night: From $320
● Adult: From $35
● Emerging Collectors Evening (Friday): From $40
● Premium Fair Pass: From $55

Tickets are available at arttoronto.com. Prices increase on October 1, 2026.

The Lunch Lady, the acclaimed Vietnamese restaurant concept that grew from a Saigon noodle stall featured by the late chef, author and television host Anthony Bourdain on No Reservations in 2009, is expanding its international presence with its first Philippine location, opening November 4, 2026, at I02 Forbestown Road, Bonifacio Global City, Manila.

The opening is led by Co-Founder Michael Tran, Culinary Director and Co-Owner Chef Benedict Lim, and Co-Founder and Matriarch Victoria Tran, alongside local partner HTCG Premium Food Concepts Inc., led by Annabelle Chua. The team arrives following five consecutive MICHELIN Bib Gourmand distinctions in Vancouver (2022–2026), a 2026 MICHELIN Bib Gourmand in Toronto and a No. 9 ranking on Food & Wine’s Top International Restaurants list for 2026.

Manila joins Vancouver and Toronto as the third city to carry this distinct Lunch Lady concept, developed in partnership with Mrs. Thành and carried forward by the team she personally entrusted with her recipes and legacy. The opening marks a significant milestone in the brand’s international journey: a return to Southeast Asia, where its story began.

The Manila restaurant introduces The Lunch Lady’s signature daily rotating noodle soups, cult-favourite dishes, an elevated dinner menu and a full craft cocktail programme to the Philippines.

The Lunch Lady presents a refined vision of Vietnamese street-food culture, anchored in the brand’s core 80/20 philosophy: 80% rooted in Vietnamese street-food heritage and 20% driven by modern evolution.

“Bringing The Lunch Lady to Manila gives us an opportunity to explore parts of Vietnamese and Southeast Asian cooking that we haven’t been able to in the same way in North America,” says Chef Benedict Lim.

Before There Was “The Lunch Lady”

It began with a bowl. Long before the MICHELIN distinctions, international restaurants and global recognition, there was simply Mrs. Nguyễn Thị Thành. To the team, she was Cô Thành, a Vietnamese term of respect and affection for an older woman.

Before it had a name, The Lunch Lady was a quán ăn, Vietnamese for “a place to eat.” It was a modest stall in Đa Kao, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, tucked away from the traffic and scooters. There, Mrs. Thành spent decades serving a different regional noodle soup each day of the week, using heirloom recipes passed down through generations of women in her family. Every morning, she bought fresh ingredients at the market before serving guests at plastic tables beneath the shade of large trees.

In 2009, while filming his travel series No Reservations, Anthony Bourdain pulled up a low plastic stool at her stall. Over a steaming bowl of bún mắm, he experienced the depth of her craft, calling her broth “pure magic” and giving her unnamed stall the title that would travel across oceans: “The Lunch Lady.”

He came simply as a guest at her table. By sharing her food with his audience, he introduced the world to what Saigon had cherished for generations, transforming a quiet street-side stall into an international destination for food lovers and travellers.

Today, Mrs. Thành’s legacy lives on through the family and culinary team she personally trained. Following her passing in May 2025, the team continues to carry her recipes and spirit forward with honour, gratitude and the same heart she brought to every bowl. The Manila opening continues that promise, bringing her treasured recipes back to Southeast Asia and marking the newest chapter in the brand’s international journey.

A Legacy That Crossed the Pacific

The Lunch Lady’s journey beyond Vietnam began in 2012, when restaurateur and Co-Founder Michael Tran travelled to Ho Chi Minh City to reconnect with his family’s homeland. A single bowl of noodle soup from Mrs. Thành grew into a lifelong friendship and a shared dream: bringing authentic Vietnamese street food to the world stage while honouring its street-side roots.

The brand has since expanded to Vancouver and Toronto, including a second Vancouver location inside Time Out Market. Mrs. Thành personally refined and shared her recipes with the team, entrusting them with the responsibility of preserving her culinary legacy.

Leading the kitchen is Culinary Director Chef Benedict Lim, a classically trained chef personally mentored by both Mrs. Thành and Co-Founder and Matriarch Victoria Tran, a veteran restaurateur with 50 years of experience.

Under their guidance, Chef Benedict Lim mastered the intricate techniques behind Mrs. Thành’s 24-hour broths and traditional family recipes. Guided by the brand’s core philosophy, the team has preserved the street-food soul of Vietnamese cuisine while bringing it to international audiences, earning MICHELIN Bib Gourmand recognition in both Vancouver and Toronto.

“We’ve never wanted every location to feel exactly the same. Everything we do is rooted in Saigon and in Cô Thành’s story, and that will always be our foundation. But Vancouver has developed its own personality, Toronto has developed its own personality, and we want Manila to have that same opportunity,” says Chef Benedict Lim.

“This isn’t about bringing Canada to Manila. It’s about bringing The Lunch Lady to Manila and allowing Manila to become part of The Lunch Lady story,” he adds.

What to Expect in Manila

The Manila menu stays true to The Lunch Lady’s founding concept: a different signature noodle soup for each day of the week. Each soup is assembled to order with generous portions of meat, seafood, herbs and vegetables, and served with the same warmth that first drew Bourdain to Mrs. Thành’s stall.

In Manila, the restaurant brings together two distinct dining experiences under one roof.

The lunch menu honours Cô Thành’s legacy through her original rotation of daily noodle soups, preserving the recipes and traditions that established The Lunch Lady’s reputation.

The dinner menu takes inspiration from the street-food vendors who gathered near her stall each evening after she closed for the day, capturing the spirit of the neighbourhood after dark. Drawing on the team’s Vietnamese and Canadian heritage, the dinner experience embraces the modern evolution represented by the “20” in the brand’s 80/20 philosophy.

“One of the things I’m most excited about is cooking over charcoal and live fire. Fire is such an inherent part of Vietnamese street-side cooking and something you see throughout Southeast Asia. There’s a flavor and energy that comes from cooking this way that feels very natural to who we are,” says Chef Benedict Lim.

“What’s also been really exciting for me is discovering the ingredients here. Manila has incredible seafood and shellfish, amazing fruits and vegetables, and we’re still finding new products all the time. As a chef, you look at what’s available here and immediately start thinking about what you can do with it and how those ingredients can become part of The Lunch Lady.”

Guests can also expect signature dishes from The Lunch Lady’s international menu, including Wagyu Phở, Steak Lúc Lắc and Garlic Noodles.

Vietnamese cuisine is still too often viewed through a narrow lens, and The Lunch Lady aims to broaden that perspective, one city at a time. From a single stall in Saigon to restaurants in Vancouver, Toronto and now Manila, the brand preserves its founding recipes while embracing the ingredients, culture and culinary identity of each destination.

From Mrs. Thành’s stall beneath the trees of Saigon to a new table in Manila, The Lunch Lady’s story continues.

“We’re incredibly grateful to be here. There’s so much history, culture and an amazing food community in Manila, and we want to learn from that and become part of it. For us, the goal is to create something that is unmistakably The Lunch Lady, but also something that feels like it belongs here,” says Chef Benedict Lim.

Opening Details

The Lunch Lady Manila I02 Forbestown Road, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig 

Grand Opening November 4, 2026

Reservations: https://thelunchlady.com/reservations-manila

About The Lunch Lady

In 1995, Mrs. Nguyễn Thị Thành opened the street stall that would become The Lunch Lady, serving a rotating menu of daily noodle soups in Đa Kao, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. After the late Anthony Bourdain featured the stall on No Reservations in 2009, The Lunch Lady became known around the world for its authentic Vietnamese street food. The Lunch Lady has since expanded to Vancouver and Toronto under Co-Founder Michael Tran and Culinary Director & Co-Owner Chef Benedict Lim, alongside Co-Founder & Matriarch Victoria Tran, earning multiple MICHELIN Bib Gourmand distinctions and international acclaim. Since Mrs. Thành’s passing in May 2025, the team has continued to carry forward the recipes, traditions and philosophy she personally shared with them. Today, The Lunch Lady has evolved from its Saigon roots into a restaurant concept that honors Mrs. Thành’s original recipes while bringing them to new cities and generations. Manila marks the next chapter in that story and the brand’s first location in the Philippines.

Citytv today announced the launch of Dateline Canada, the first international expansion of NBC’s Dateline franchise. Dateline Canada debuts Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Citytv and Citytv+ in a two-hour special, bringing the acclaimed brand’s signature long-form investigative journalism to Canadian stories for the first time.

Dateline Canada revisits the unresolved disappearance of Elizabeth Bain, a University of Toronto student who disappeared from Scarborough, Ontario, in 1990. One of Canada’s most enduring unsolved mysteries, the special explores unreported evidence that brings renewed attention to Elizabeth Bain’s disappearance.

“I’m proud to bring this story to Canadian audiences,” said Diana Swain, Contributing Correspondent, Dateline Canada. “With Dateline Canada, we have an opportunity to re-examine a complex story through a fresh lens, connect pieces that may have been overlooked, and bring viewers a deeper understanding of the events that shaped this case and investigation.”

In revisiting the case, Dateline Canada examined decades of police files and uncovered a previously unreported police investigation into an allegation connected to Elizabeth Bain’s disappearance.

“For more than three decades, Dateline has been telling stories that resonate with audiences,” said Keith Morrison, award-winning correspondent for Dateline NBC. “To see the franchise expand with Diana Swain leading the new Canadian edition is an exciting evolution for the broadcast, and I’m honoured to help welcome this new chapter to Canadian audiences.”

The special explores three key dimensions of the Elizabeth Bain case: the wrongful conviction of Robert Baltovich, a years-long re-examination of the evidence in the Elizabeth Bain investigation, and the discovery of previously unreported information.

Dateline Canada premieres Thursday, November 26 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Citytv and Citytv+.

The Dateline format is licensed globally by NBCUniversal Formats, a division of Universal Studio Group. Executive Producers are Catherine Legge and Claire Adams for Rogers Studios.

About Citytv
A distinctive alternative to conventional programming, Citytv and Citytv streaming (Citytv+) is home to bold dramas, fan-favourite reality TV, Canadian originals, as well as local news and entertainment programs such as CityNews and Breakfast Television. Citytv is a part of Rogers Communications Inc., Canada’s leading communications and entertainment company (TSX, NYSE: RCI).