Toronto Comicon, presented by FAN EXPO Canada returns on March 14-16, 2025 bringing an action-packed weekend of fandom family fun in the north building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre this March break!

Whether you’re a caped crusader, or prefer to wield a lightsaber, prepare for three days of unparalleled entertainment across the realms of sci-fi, fantasy, comic, anime, gaming and horror. Fans of all ages can enjoy a variety of attractions with over 400 exhibitors with must-have collectables, celebrity Q&A sessions, autograph and photo opportunities. Learn from industry pros at the “How-To” workshops and watch them in the popular Sketch Duels. Dive into Community Zone fan meetups and showcase your best cosplay in competitions and on the cosplay red carpet. Families can enjoy special programming for their skeleton crew, including a photo opportunity with the 30-foot Stay Puft Marshmallow Man!

“Toronto Comicon is a fan-favourite destination, welcoming both die-hard enthusiasts and newcomers to the fandom scene. Whether you champion villains, superheroes or the supernatural, this multiverse of pop culture will delight everyone”, said Andrew Moyes, Vice President of FAN EXPO HQ. “With the stars from The Boys and Supernatural – plus even more celebrities guests – fans can expect exclusive experiences, endless shopping opportunities and unforgettable moments across every fandom corner”.

Special guests appearing at Toronto Comicon 2025 include, Karl Urban, Antony Starr, Jessie T. Usher, Laz Alonso, Nathan Mitchell, and Tomer Capone from The Boys, British punk vampire James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel), the cast of Supernatural, Jared Padalecki, Mark Sheppard, Alexander Calvert, Jim Beaver, and Ruth Connell, plus everyone’s favourite Sith Lord, fighter pilot, and purgatory resident, Canadian actor Manny Jacinto (The Acolyte, Top Gun: Maverick, The Good Place) plus more celebrity announcements to come.

TORONTO COMICON 2025 HIGHLIGHTED GUESTS INCLUDE:

JARED PADALECKI (Supernatural, Gilmore Girls)

KARL URBAN (The Boys, The Lord of the Rings, Mortal Kombat II)

ANTONY STARR (The Boys, Banshee)

MANNY JACINTO (The Acolyte, The Good Place)

MARK SHEPPARD (Supernatural, Battlestar Galactica, Firefly)

ALEXANDER CALVERT (Supernatural, Arrow, Gen V)

JIM BEAVER (Supernatural, The Boys)

JAMES MARSTERS (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Smallville)

RUTH CONNELL (Supernatural)

JESSIE T. USHER (The Boys, Smile)

LAZ ALONSO (The Boys, Avatar)

NATHAN MITCHELL (The Boys, Ginny & Georgia)

TOMER CAPONE (The Boys)

For a complete list of guests, info and tickets, visit:
fanexpohq.com/comicontoronto

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS YEAR’S PROGRAMMING INCLUDE:

CELEBRITY PRESENTATIONS

AUTOGRAPHS & PHOTO OPS

SKETCH DUELS

COMIC CREATOR PANELS

ARTIST ALLEY

COSPLAY

FAMILY FRIENDLY PROGRAMMING

Follow @FANEXPOCanada for more guest and programming updates over the coming weeks.

Information and pricing for the Toronto Comicon are available at fanexpohq.com/comicontoronto.

This March, Hollywood Suite is proud to celebrate International Women’s Day by spotlighting women in front of and behind the camera. Included in the lineup are the exclusive Canadian broadcast premieres of Shiori Itô’s Academy Award® nominee for Best Documentary Feature Black Box Diaries (2024) premiering on March 1, 2025 at 7:15pm ET; the Canadian musical comedy series Less Than Kosher (2023), co-written by and starring Shaina Silver-Baird (The Communist’s Daughter) premiering on March 11, 2025 at 9pm ET; and Valerie Buhagiar’s (Carmen) award-winning Canadian thriller The Dogs (2024) premiering on March 26 at 9pm ET. All three titles will be available on Hollywood Suite On Demand on March 1, 2025

One of this year’s Oscar®-nominated documentaries, Black Box Diaries (2024), sees journalist and filmmaker Shiori Itô investigate her own sexual assault, exposing Japan’s outdated judicial and societal systems in a landmark case. The seven-episode Canadian musical comedy series Less Than Kosher (2023) strikes a chord with a heartfelt journey of self-discovery when a young singer’s failing music career forces her back home, landing a job as a cantor at her family’s synagogue. Starring Katheen Munroe (Law and Order Toronto: Criminal Intent), Donovan Colan (Theater Camp) and Kris Holden-Ried (The Umbrella Academy), mysteries abound in director Valerie Buhagiar’s Canadian feature The Dogs (2024), which follows a mother-son duo who move into a quiet farmhouse only to learn about its haunting past.

To mark International Women’s Day on March 8, Hollywood Suite will be turning prime time programming over to four multi-talented women, showcasing films that excite and inspire them. Catch movie selections from Shaina Silver-Baird (Less Than Kosher) with Legally Blonde (2001), La La Land (2016) and Booksmart (2019); Cat Hostick (Poly Is The New Monogamy) with Liar Liar (1997), Run Lola Run (1998) and 10 Things I Hate About You (1999); Keeya King (Guess Who) with 9 to 5 (1980), Dirty Dancing (1987) and Beaches (1988) and Valerie Buhagiar (The Dogs) with Don’t Look Now (1973), The Omen (1976) and The Deer Hunter (1978).

“Spanning multiple decades and a wide variety of genres, we have curated an exciting lineup of female-driven projects for viewers to discover this March,” said Suzanne Marshall, Hollywood Suite Senior Manager, Programming. “We are also thrilled to have four Canadian women in film lead our programming on International Women’s Day with their personal film favourites.”

Hollywood Suite will also be celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the six-time Oscar®-winning classic film All About Eve (1950). Starring Anne Baxter as Eve Harrington, who maneuvers herself from fan to leading lady, and Bette Davis as Margo Channing, the Broadway mega-star standing in Eve’s way, the role solidified Davis as a Golden Age star who refused to be brushed out of the spotlight – no matter her age. The film also includes an early performance from the legendary Marilyn Monroe.

Additional March programming highlighting women in film can be found below and viewed here.

Dance, Girl, Dance (1940)

First Comes Courage (1943)

Daisies (1966)

The Eyes of Laura Mars (1978)

It’s My Turn (1980)

Real Genius (1985)

Smooth Talk (1985)

Dirty Dancing (1987)

A Dry White Season (1989)

Look Who’s Talking (1989)

Awakenings (1990)

Look Who’s Talking Too (1990)

Mississippi Masala (1991)

Stepping Out (1991)

The Prince of Tides (1991)

Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996)

The Watermelon Woman (1996)

Dance With Me (1998)

The Matrix (1999)

American Psycho (2000)

Riding in Cars With Boys (2001)

The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

The Matrix Revolutions (2003)

The Holiday (2006)

Old Joy (2006)

Things We Lost In The Fire (2007)

Jennifer’s Body (2009)

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012)

Carrie (2013)

The Intern (2015)

Certain Women (2016)

Professor Marston & the Wonder Women (2017)

The Beguiled (2017)

Booksmart (2019)

The Short History of a Long Road (2019)

Late Night (2019)

Marvelous and the Black Hole (2022)

The Winnipeg-set comedy Universal Language has won the Toronto Film Critics Association’s 2024 Rogers Best Canadian Film Award. Its companion prize, Rogers Best Canadian Documentary, was awarded to the musical biopic Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story.

Universal Language imagines a Winnipeg where Persian is the dominant language and turkeys roam the snowy streets while tourists admire the drab cityscape. Any Other Way tells the story of R&B singer Jackie Shane, who broke ground as an out Black trans performer on the Toronto scene in the 1960s before fading into obscurity.

The richest annual film prize in Canada was shared by narrative and documentary features, with $50,000 to each winner, courtesy of Rogers. Actor/writer/director Don McKellar (The Sympathizer) presented the award to Universal Language writer/director Matthew Rankin. Comedian Rick Mercer presented the doc prize to Any Other Way’s Michael Mabbott, who directed the film with Lucah Rosenberg-Lee.

Drawing influences from Canada’s Guy Maddin and Iran’s Abbas Kiarostami, Universal Language is an irreverently funny consideration of our multicultural landscape. The film was Canada’s official submission in the Oscar race for Best International Feature and made the 15-film shortlist. Any Other Way, which explores histories of trans erasure and visibility, brings Shane’s story to screen using her own words combined with animation and dramatic recreations. Universal Language is currently in theatres, while Any Other Way is streaming on Crave.

Runners-up in both categories received a $5,000 prize from Rogers Communications. Nominated in the dramatic category were Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, and Galen Johnson (Rumours) and Sophie Deraspe (Shepherds), while Brenda Michell, Michael Toledano, and Jennifer Wickham (Yintah) and Ali Weinstein (Your Tomorrow) were runners-up in the documentary race.

Hosted by actress Tamara Podemski (Outer Range, Fancy Dance), the ceremony took place at a gala dinner held February 24, 2025 at The Omni King Edward Hotel in Toronto, featuring a Prime Video cocktail party, and a Netflix dinner.

“This year’s winners are exactly why Rogers awards these prizes to Canadian films,” said Robin Mirsky, Executive Director, Rogers Group of Funds. “Universal Language is a richly imaginative take on Winnipeg, one of our most richly imagined cities. And Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story is about a remarkable chapter in Toronto music history, one that deserves to be better known. Both are films that could only be made by Canadians, about Canadians, and we congratulate all the winners and nominees.”

“We had an embarrassment of riches this year in both the documentary and narrative feature categories, and any of the films could have won,” added TFCA President Johanna Schneller.

“Congratulations to all our splendid nominees. But Universal Language and Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story both do something extraordinary: Each nods to cinematic history, and each advances their respective forms in invigorating new directions. They were thrilling to watch, and we’re thrilled to celebrate them.”

At the gala, TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey presented winner RaMell Ross with three TFCA Awards for his drama Nickel Boys: Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay, co-written by Joslyn Barnes. Adapted from the novel by Colson Whitehead, Nickel Boys is currently nominated for two Oscars including Best Picture. Actor Sarah Gadon (Enemy, Alias Grace) presented Outstanding Performance in a Canadian Film to Félix-Antoine Duval for his turn in Shepherds. Duval plays Quebecois adman Mathyas Lefebure, who quit his job to pursue life as a shepherd in Provence, France.

Podemski introduced video acceptance speeches from TFCA Award winners Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Outstanding Lead Performance, Hard Truths), filmmaker Payal Kapadia (Best International Feature and Best Original Screenplay, All We Imagine as Light), director Gints Zilbalodis (Best Animated Feature, Flow), and actor Clarence Maclin (Breakthrough Performance, Sing Sing).

Actor Jamie Thomas King (The Tudors, Mr. Turner) and actor/screenwriter Eva Everett Irving (The Pitt, Orphan Black) presented the Jay Scott Prize for an emerging artist to filmmaker J Stevens, who made their feature directorial debut last year with Really Happy Someday and has directed series including Sort Of and Slow Pitch.

In its mission to recognize new voices in film criticism, the TFCA gave Alexander Mooney the seventh annual Telefilm Canada Emerging Critic Award, presented by Emily Hampshire (Schitt’s Creek). Mooney has contributed to outlets including Exclaim!, Documentary Magazine, and MUBI Notebook. The award comes with a prize of $1,000.

And this year’s Company 3 Luminary Award was presented by three-time Rogers Best Canadian Film winner Jennifer Baichwal (Manufactured Landscapes, Anthropocene) to Tonya Williams, celebrated actor and founder and executive director of the Reelworld Film Festival and Reelworld Screen Institute. A pay-it-forward initiative, the award allows the recipient to donate $50,000 in post-production services from Company 3 to another filmmaker. Williams announced Vancouver-based filmmaker Leena Minifie as the recipient.

The TFCA is extremely grateful to founding sponsor Rogers Communications for the Rogers Best Canadian Film and the Rogers Best Canadian Documentary awards. The TFCA thanks returning sponsors Netflix as Dinner sponsor, Prime Video as Cocktail Reception and After Party sponsor and Air Canada as Official Airline. TFCA salutes Telefilm Canada as the Telefilm Canada Emerging Critic sponsor and Company 3 as the Company 3 Luminary Award Sponsor. The TFCA also thanks sponsors Omni King Edward Hotel and salutes stalwart supporters G.H. Mumm Champagne, L’Eat Catering, Zoomer Magazine, The Printing House, Element Event Solutions and Pinnacle Live.

ABOUT THE TFCA

The Toronto Film Critics Association was established in 1997 and is comprised of Toronto based journalists and broadcasters who specialize in film criticism and commentary. All major dailies, weeklies and a variety of other print, electronic and web outlets are represented. Members of the TFCA also participate in the Federation of International Film Critics (FIPRESCI). As such, they have sat on juries at festivals in Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto, Montreal, Miami, Palm Springs, Chicago, Pusan, Moscow, Amsterdam, London and Vienna, among others.

Cree Canadian Singer-Songwriter Sebastian Gaskin releases his accomplished debut LOVECHILD, out now. The fantastic collection is a mix of R&B, Pop and Rock. It is out now via Ishkōdé Records & Universal Music Canada.

A celebration was held at the Drake Underground where Gaskin treated the audience to an intimate set, highlighting material from the new release, plus also some earlier material and covers. His Music possesses meaning, mood and melody, capable of entertaining and at once captivating. This all comes hot of his recent JUNO nomination, after his track “Brown Man” garnered much acclaim online.

Some highlights from the evening:

Some studio versions of Gaskin‘s material:

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Ishkōdé Records/Universal Music Canada)

The Canadian Film Fest (CFF) is thrilled to announce the launch of the You-CAN Pitch Competition, a dynamic new program designed to provide emerging Black Canadian filmmakers with the opportunity to pitch their projects to a panel of industry experts and receive valuable feedback. The competition is open to both individuals and teams, with up to five finalists invited to take part in an exclusive in-person pitch session.

The You-CAN Pitch Competition will offer finalists a chance to present their film projects to a hand-picked panel of experienced industry professionals, who will provide constructive insights and guidance to help elevate their creative visions. Following the pitch session, participants will engage in organized meetings with select panelists for further discussions and networking opportunities.

CFF’s inaugural You-CAN Pitch Competition is grateful for the support from our designated mentors Shawn Gerrard (Jane, Space & Time) and Duane Crichton (Home, Murdoch Mysteries). R.T.Thorne (40 Acres, The Porter), Floyd Kane (Diggstown, Across the Line), Carolyn Mauricette (Director of Canadian Programming, Fantasia International Film Festival), and more to be announced will participate on the jury to select the winning pitch. This program is developed and hosted by CFF Programmer Richard Pierre.

The selected finalists will also receive CFF passes, granting access to the festival’s industry events and networking opportunities. This provides a chance for filmmakers to make valuable connections, discover new industry trends, and expand their creative horizons.

“The You-CAN Pitch Competition is an exciting opportunity to engage with top-tier industry professionals and refine your filmmaking pitch,” said CFF Executive Director, Bern Euler. “At the Canadian Film Fest, we’re committed to supporting emerging talent and fostering the next generation of filmmakers, and this competition is a perfect platform for them to showcase their work and take it to the next level.”

Finalists will be chosen based on the strength of their pitches, creative concepts, and readiness to develop their projects further. Applications are now open, and the deadline for submission is Friday March 3, 2025 at 11:59 pm EST. To apply or for more details on the program, visit https://www.canfilmfest.ca/youcan-pitch-2025.

This Program is generously sponsored by Shaftesbury, Rhombus Media, with Prizes totalling over 20K from Sunbelt Rentals, PurpleDOG Post, and more prizes to be announced.

About the Canadian Film Fest
The Canadian Film Fest (CFF) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to celebrate the art of cinematic storytelling by exclusively showcasing Canadian films. The festival unites film-loving audiences with diverse selections of features and shorts from across the country. The CFF provides Canadian filmmakers with essential professional development and networking opportunities through its Industry Series and awards.

(Photo credit: Shawn Goldberg)

Executive Chef and Owner, Ivan Castro, announced today that he will be closing his restaurant, La Bartola, after a half-decade in business at 588 College Street, in Toronto. Saturday, March 15, 2025 will be the official final day of service at the much-loved downtown dining spot, known for its authentic Mexican flavours and a creative plant-based menu.

“The first service we hosted in the space, before we officially opened the restaurant, was a ‘Secret Dinner’ on February 14, 2020,” said Iván Castro. “We decided we wanted to close it out the same way we opened five years ago—with a unique tasting menu.”

For the final weeks of La Bartola, Chef Ivan Castro has created a special tasting menu as a tribute to Oaxaca. Titled ‘One Night in Oaxaca’, the menu reflects flavours and ingredients from the state of Oaxaca. Those dining at La Bartola this February, and through to closing on March 15, can expect to taste dishes like “Hoja Santa Tamal with the iconic “Mole negro” and an Oaxacan chocolate ice cream among other delights. To make reservations for the final weeks of service at La Bartola, please visit www.labartola.ca

La Bartola also continues to offer an à la carte menu with the enduring guest favourites of the last five years. Dishes like “Mole Blanco”, “Sikil P’aak” & “Salsa Macha”, among others, are available.

“It cannot be overstated how wonderful our dedicated patrons have been, supporting us over the years, sharing in our love for food and the rich history of Mexican gastronomy; they’ve made this journey unforgettable, and we’re excited to offer them a delicious ‘adios’ as ‘One Night in Oaxaca,” enthused Castro. “We are deeply grateful. The kind words and enthusiasm, as so many dined with us through the seasons, have meant the world. We will carry great memories with us.”

In 2024, Castro received a foodism Icon Award, recognized as Culinary Icon, lauded for being “the chef known for consistently making inventive and authentic dishes we crave.”

Holding the prestigious distinction as the first fully-plant-based restaurant in Canada to receive Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition in 2022, and maintained in the years since, La Bartola, has provided diners with a unique culinary experience from the day it opened in 2020. Initially started as a pop-up restaurant under Ivan’s moniker as “Vegan Artisan”, the permanent restaurant followed, leveraging the growing popularity of the one-off experiences.

Drawing on his personal passions, Castro—who hails from Mexico City—engaged his team in pursuing the authentic, time-honoured traditions of Mexican cuisine at La Bartola. From day one, there has been a strong emphasis on a ‘made-from-scratch’ approach, and incorporating principles of sustainability with root-to-stalk use, locally-sourced where possible, non-GMO ingredients, and an overall low-waste kitchen focus. From first through last bite, this care and commitment has been evident to all those who’ve had the good fortune of dining at La Bartola.

“It’s bittersweet to be closing La Bartola, after so much love and energy poured into building it up over the years,” added Iván. “We are finishing with the same love and joy we opened with, holding on to the purpose and the goal we still carry in our hearts.”

Iván expressed sincere appreciation for his team: “I’m so thankful for my team at La Bartola—they are truly like family. Together, we created something truly special. From the laughter and joy, to the lessons and challenges, every moment has been a gift. We are so proud of everything we have achieved together.”

Through the years of La Bartola, Ivan’s star rose. He received recognition well beyond Canada, for leadership in the plant-based dining scene. Castro has made various appearances on lifestyle shows such as Evolving Vegan, Big Food Bucket List and The Marilyn Denis Show. He’s been featured in publications such as The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, LiveKindly, VegNews, and Plant Based News, and has been engaged by various food brands and as a star guest at events.

Iván further noted that cooking will always be his passion, and part of his mindfulness practice. Moving forward, as he continues his journey as a Chef, he intends to put extra energy into causes close to his heart, including integrating deeper elements of sustainability, and making an even greater impact as far as preventing animal cruelty.

He added, “The last few years have been challenging for both my mental and physical health. While I understand that this career often demands sacrifices, I’ve learned that your well-being should never be one of them. There’s a stigma around mental health struggles in the kitchen, and not nearly enough conversation or resources to address them.”

To sum it all, the Chef aptly put it as: “This is not goodbye forever, but rather a pause as I embrace new beginnings.”

Background on Chef Ivan Castro

Iván Castro is a renowned and experienced chef who is passionate about plant-based cooking. He studied at the CESSA University in Mexico City and perfected his culinary skills in Oaxaca and New York City. Castro attended the highly-respected Natural Gourmet Institute for several diverse culinary programs, and the Plant Lab, focusing on plant-based food excellence. Castro found his passion for cooking at an early age in his hometown of Mexico City, where he was inspired by his mother and grandmother who taught him the art of homemade Mexican cooking.

Iván strives to bring both his passion for authentic Mexican flavours and international contemporary cuisine, his commitment to organic, sustainable, and plant-based ingredients, and a creative new twist to all of his projects.

La Bartola’s “One Night in Oaxaca” Tasting Menu

Chef Iván Castro enthused,” I wanted to bring in a variety of flavours from that region of Mexico and pay homage to the place that inspires me the most. Moles are such an iconic part of Oaxacan cuisine, so I made sure to incorporate them into most of the dishes.”

The first course is a treat from the kitchen—an amuse-bouche: Mole Verde Chicharrón with Salsa Macha made with Chilhuacle Rojo. 

The second course is a Pink Aguachile Tostada, inspired by the food from Oaxaca’s coast. We use Costeño pepper to make the broth, which has notes of orange and the sweet, earthy flavours of beets. In the middle of the tostada, there’s a Black Garlic Salsa with Mixe pepper, covered with discs of jicama. 

Next, we have another treat from the kitchen: Mexican Street Corn with Morita pepper mayonnaise and Mole Chichilo powder. Then, there’s a Hoja Santa Tamal with the iconic Mole Negro.

For the main course, we serve Seared King Oyster with Sous Vide Glazed Carrots and Mole de la Casa–our house mole, with notes of pink peppercorn, Oaxacan peppers, and toasted peanuts. Alongside, there’s Relleno del Istmo, a traditional Oaxacan wedding stew.

Next is a palate cleanser, featuring three different sorbets, progressing from the most acidic to the sweetest–Charred cactus with Cedron, Cactus Pear and Leche Quemada. This helps refresh your palate and prepare you for the final course: dessert.

The last course is Buñuelo de Viento with cinnamon gel, white cacao brittle, hazelnut dulce de leche, Oaxacan chocolate ice cream, and Mexican Punch gel.

$80 (+ taxes and service charge.)

Today we get a new NO PAIN, ALL GAIN Featurette from NOVOCAINE, starring Jack Quaid who you might’ve seen on last night’s Screen Actors Guild Awards! Tickets on sale now and in theatres March 14, 2025 via Paramount Pictures Canada.

SYNOPSIS:

When the girl of his dreams (Amber Midthunder) is kidnapped, everyman Nate (Jack Quaid) turns his inability to feel pain into an unexpected strength in his fight to get her back.

PARAMOUNT PICTURES Presents

In association with INFRARED PICTURES

A SAFEHOUSE PICTURES / CIRCLE MANAGEMENT + PRODUCTION Production

A Film by DAN BERK & ROBERT OLSEN 

“NOVOCAINE”

Executive Producers 

Paul Barbeau, Glen Basner, Josh Adler, Lars Jacobson, Alison Cohen

Produced by 

Drew Simon, Tory Tunnell, Joby Harold, Sam Speiser, Matt Schwartz, Julian Rosenberg

Written by 

Lars Jacobson

Directed by 

Dan Berk & Robert Olsen

Cast:

Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder, Ray Nicholson, Betty Gabriel, Matt Walsh, Lou Beatty Jr., Evan Hengst, Conrad Kemp and Jacob Batalon

By Mr. Will Wong

The Devil’s work is never done. Marvel fans will be thrilled that beloved DAREDEVIL makes his return in upcoming series DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN, which has the distinction of being Marvel Television‘s 13th series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After an absence of eight years, the titular character Daredevil/Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) continues his fight for justice, all while crime boss Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) pursues becoming the Mayor of New York City. Once again, these two powerful forces collide in a superhero story about humanity.

We were thrilled to join DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN‘s global Press Conference. Gracing us in the conversation were:

Dario Scardapane, Executive Producer / Showrunner
Sana Amanat / Executive Producer
Justin Benson / Executive Producer & Director (eps. 101,108-109)
Aaron Moorehead / Executive Producer & Director (eps. 101,108-109)
Brad Winderbaum / Executive Producer
Charlie Cox ‘Matt Murdock /Daredevil’
Vincent D’Onofrio ‘Kingpin’

The group was asked whether or not there was pressure to live up to the legacy built by famed Comic Writer and Artist Frank Miller.

Scardapane: Absolutely. Frank Miller came to set on our last day of shooting and sat at the monitor. We had that kind of, how do you say, Holy Trinity of the Show there. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my creative life. And his stuff was such an influence on me. You’re always going to try to live up to it and sometimes arrogantly trying to beat it just a little bit. And I don’t know, I’m not the one to say if we beat it, but I am always trying to live up to it as a Writer and Director. I can’t speak for Charlie (Cox), but what Frank Miller a bunch of other great Artists like Ed Brubaker and Charles Sewell, we’re always trying to live up to the bar they’ve set.

Cox: Yeah, it’s important we’re not doing the ‘born again’ story. The name of the Show is really just a reference to coming back after so many years and of course, an homage to Frank, an icon. Obviously, we’re trying to find the best version of the best Murdock aka Daredevil. But in finding the best version, we also seek out the worst version. I think that’s what makes him a compelling character and so relatable, actually. I have to think of Daredevil as being when you play that character, you’ll get to see the best version of yourself and you’ll get to see the worst version of yourself, which is fun.

One of the Series’ Executive Producers Sana Amanat talks about female presence in the Series, and also humanizing a villain in Wilson Fisk.

Amanat: Our Cast across the board, is really incredible. I love that all our female characters are unique, very strong and tough. It was such a joy to have Ava Ayala back. I have to say seeing Vincent and Ayala back together at work, I think that in itself showcased their own personal relationship. But it just changes who Wilson Fisk is. The spots of humanity you see with Fisk only happens wth Vanessa (Ayelet Zurer) and I as a fan sometimes feel sympathy for him in those moments, which is shocking for a villain. And obviously, credit to Vincent, but Ayala and him together was just really fantastic. So it was a joy to work with everybody and hopefully everybody will be drawn to these new characters too.

New York City is a character and portraying this in the Series is discussed.

Moorhead: Daredevil is a Show that often seems like it often it deals in institutions, politics, and also the law because he’s (Murdock) a lawyer, of course. And gansters. So a lot of the locations are things like courthouses and police stations, etc. So you’d think that would be quite boring, but the thing is both with the collaboration of our Cinematographer Hillary Fyfe Spera and our Production Designer Michael Shaw, it felt like you were actually were stepping into this gilded coutroom with beautiful burnished wood. But it’s also a place where people go to just have their dreams die. Those kind of things make you feel like you are kind of just there with them rather than just being presented a movie. And so a lot of that for example, in Matt Murdock‘s world we’re just using more of like a handheld camera and all that and a wider lenses where you just feel like you’re sitting right in front of them. It was really about immeirsion in the world. Just feeling the same thing as we were about earlier with the Documentary within the show. I just wanted it to feel like it was a New York you recognize, not ‘Movie New York’, you know?

Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio are asked about their strong working relationship and the sense of trust they’ve built between themselves.

Cox: It was so fun. You can see the joy. You (D’Onofrio) said something yesterday, which is great. Over the last ten years, we’ve become very good friends. And the good news is that it does feel like the better friends we become, the easier it is to hate eachother.

D’Onofrio: It’s so true – with like no consequenes. You know, you develop because we’ve known eachother for so long and we love playing these roles. We have a lot in common and I’ve fallen in love with Charlie and the more I love him, the more I love to hate him. The other thing is that we trust each other a lot. I know that when I’m in the studio, when we were shooting this, he’s usually in one side of the studio. I don’t even know what they are doing. And I’m on the other side of the studio doing something else. I never have to question, I have complete confidence in what is going on. And it gives me a lift on my side to have that knowledge and that’s because of our team and Charlie in a big way – it’s great to have this kind of relationship with your partner in crime.

Scardapane: The scenes that you’re in together, that trust comes out in like such a wild way. You go for it in subtle ways that people who don’t believe in eachother couldn’t have pulled off. We don’t know how we did it, but we’ve developed a kind of shorthand.

Cox: Yeah, we think very similar and our notes are always very similar.

D’Onofrio: And if not, we just fall into collaboration without even thinking about it, because we know that we have deliver stuff that makes sense to him. If we have notes, we don’t want to go in and say ‘Hey, I’d rather say this word than that word, or say I’m not comfortable with that sentence’. That is always helpful for a Writer. Rather than just say ‘I’d really like to do this’, it’s more about ‘I loved it!’. That’s me. I’m just saying we prep really well together, and collaborate really well together.

Marvel Television’s DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN premieres March 4, 2025 at 6pm PT/9pm ET on Disney+ Canada.

(Photo/video credit: Marvel Studios)

The Internet’s Queen, TRISHA PAYTAS gets a warm welcome back to Toronto. Over the past few years, she has seen her star rise significantly with a knack for creating engaging content. She has parlayed that success into a run on Broadway and even an appearance on SNL recently! She is the perfect example of manifesting the future you want for yourself.

Paytas plays two shows at Massey Hall as part of her THE ERAS OF TRISH Tour, and just kicked it all off recently, filling theatres. The Tour showcases the funnywoman front and center combining her own original music and covers with of course, her trademark personality!

We spotted Paytas in town pre-glammed and she was so lovely and kind. She was seen her her sizable team and lots of pink! See some footage below:

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD takes top spot at the Box Office a second straight week with $25 million from 4,105 theatres for Marvel/Disney. It has grossed $142 million already domestically.

Second up is THE MONKEY which debuts with $14 million from 3,200 theatres for NEON/Elevation Pictures. This latest Horror from Oz Perkins (Longlegs) gets 76% on the Tomatometer.

Third is PADDINGTON IN PERU with $6 million, taking it to $26 million in its second weekend out for StudioCanada/Sony Pictures.

DOG MAN still is going strong with $5.2 million from 3,179 theatres, taking it to $78 million for Universal Pictures.

Chinese record-breaking Animated Feature NE ZHA 2 gets $3 million, a total $14.8 million over two weeks for CMC Pictures.