THE NIGHT AGENT Season 2 arrives January 23, 2025 on Netflix. Today we get a new Teaser from the 7th most popular Netflix series of all time!

THE NIGHT AGENT S2

The Night Agent Season 2, produced by Sony Pictures Television, will return to Netflix in Winter 2025.
The Night Agent Season 1 was the most watched series in 2023 (by views) and currently ranks as the 7th Most Popular English series on Netflix of all time, with a staggering 98.2M views in its first 91 days. In its first month, it was #1 in the Global Top 10 for four consecutive weeks and reached the #1 spot in the Top 10 for 87 countries.

Season 3 has been greenlit for 10 episodes and will begin a production unit in Istanbul at the end of 2024 before returning to film in New York in 2025.

About the Night Agent S2:

Based on the novel by Matthew Quirk, The Night Agent is a sophisticated, character-based, action-thriller centering on a low level FBI Agent , Peter Sutherland, whose efforts to save The President in Season 1 earn him an opportunity to become a Night Agent in Season 2. But working in the secretive organization of Night Action will propel Peter into a world where danger is everywhere and trust is in short supply.
Creator / Showrunner / Executive Producer: Shawn Ryan (The Shield, S.W.A.T.) with MiddKid Productions.
Season 2 Executive Producers: Marney Hochman, Paul Bernard, Munis Rashid, Guy Ferland, Exhibit A Films: Seth Gordon, Julia Gunn, Project X Entertainment: David Beaubaire, Paul Neinstein, William Sherak, Nicole Tossou, James Vanderbilt.

The first trailer and poster for “The Amateur” from 20th Century Studios starring Oscar® winner Rami Malek (“Bohemian Rhapsody”) and Academy Award® nominee Laurence Fishburne (“What’s Love Got to Do with It”) are now available. The all-new espionage thriller opens in theatres on April 11, 2025.

Charlie Heller (Malek) is a brilliant, but deeply introverted decoder for the CIA working out of a basement office at headquarters in Langley whose life is turned upside down when his wife is killed in a London terrorist attack. When his supervisors refuse to take action, he takes matters into his own hands, embarking on a dangerous trek across the globe to track down those responsible, his intelligence serving as the ultimate weapon for eluding his pursuers and achieving his revenge. The film also stars Rachel Brosnahan, Caitríona Balfe, Jon Bernthal, Michael Stuhlbarg, Holt McCallany, Julianne Nicholson, Adrian Martinez, Danny Sapani, and Laurence Fishburne. “The Amateur” is directed by James Hawes. The screenplay is by Ken Nolan and Gary Spinelli based on the novel by Robert Littell. The film is produced by Hutch Parker, p.g.a., Dan Wilson, p.g.a., Rami Malek, Joel B. Michaels, with JJ Hook serving as executive producer.

“The Amateur” will be released in theatres on April 11, 2025.

Loft Entertainment and Oak View Group (OVG) today unveiled Departure Festival + Conference – a reimagined and expanded vision of Canadian Music Week (CMW). Rooted in its rich music history, Departure marks a fresh era for the beloved festival with new innovative programming streams that include music, art, comedy, and technology. Since its inception in 1982, Canadian Music Week has been a leading music festival and conference in North America and Departure builds on this legacy as it steps into a new era.

At an industry and media launch event in Toronto, Randy Lennox, co-founder and CEO of Loft Entertainment; Tom Pistore President of OVG Canada; Kevin Barton, Executive Producer, Loft Entertainment; and Jackie Dean, Chief Operating Officer of Loft Entertainment, outlined the new vision for the festival. The launch event also welcomed Comedian Russell Peters as a special guest.

“Departure honours where we’ve come from and celebrates where we are going,” said Kevin Barton, Executive Producer at Loft Entertainment. “We’re creating a launchpad that opens doors to deeper, more inclusive conversations and showcases the richness of Toronto’s cultural scene, celebrates Canadian creatives, and welcomes global artists. We invite industry professionals, music and arts lovers and festival-goers to experience the event in a whole new way.”

Hotel X will host the Departure Festival + Conference from May 6-11, 2025. The festival will offer a robust lineup of events that reflect Toronto and Canada’s position as a cultural hub. From electrifying performances to thought-provoking panels, Departure will deepen community connections, invite audiences to explore the city’s diverse creative landscape and solidify its presence as a must-attend event for creatives from around the world. Radiodays North America Conference will return as part of Departure, bringing industries back together to learn and inspire those working in audio entertainment.

The reimagined CMW expands its footprint in the arts and culture, embracing a broader spectrum of artistic expressions, from technology to comedy in its inaugural year, and expanding into film and fashion in the near future. The festival will debut an enriched program including a songwriter showcase, comedy performances, and an enhanced culinary experience with boutique food trucks and outdoor activations. Additionally, a new festival app and digital infrastructure will improve the delegate experience with app-based meeting requests to facilitate meaningful connections between industry professionals, and extend access to a wider, more inclusive community with live streamed and on-demand content. The festival will reach new heights supported by Oak View Group’s partnership resources in sales and sponsorships, and a refocused marketing and social media strategy.

Artist applications open on November 22, with waived application fees and paid honorariums for showcase performers, a testament to Departure’s commitment to supporting and celebrating artists. Priority (VIP) and Conference Passes will go on early bird sale on departureto.com starting November 22, 2024 until January 24, 2025. Additional pass levels and ticketing information will be announced in the coming months.

(Photo credit: George Pimentel)

Netflix announced that Chin Han, Hoa Xuande, Justin Chien, Amanda Zhou, Crystal Yu, Kelemete Misipeka, Lourdes Faberes and Rekha Sharma have joined the cast of the upcoming second season of Avatar: The Last Airbender, which is currently in production in partnership with Nickelodeon. New cast members include:

Chin Han (Mortal Kombat, Skyscraper) plays “Long Feng”

Hoa Xuande (The Sympathizer, Top of the Lake: China Girl) as “Professor Zei”

Justin Chien (The Brothers Sun, The Great Leap) as “King Kuei”

Amanda Zhou (Spinning Out, The Handmaid’s Tale) plays “Joo Dee”

Crystal Yu (Doctor Who, Good Omens) plays “Lady Beifong”

Kelemete Misipeka (Sons of Thunder, ) plays “The Boulder”

Lourdes Faberes (The Sandman, Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre) as “General Sung”

Rekha Sharma (Yellowjackets, Battlestar Galactica) as “Amita”

They join previously announced Miya Cech as “Toph” alongside returning cast Gordan Cormier as “Aang,” Kiawentiio as “Katara,” Ian Ousley as “Sokka,” Dallas Liu as “Zuko,” Elizabeth Yu as “Azula,” Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as “Iroh,” Daniel Dae Kim as “Fire Lord Ozai,” Momona Tamada as “Ty Lee,” and Thalia Tran as “Mai”

Logline: A live-action reimagining of the beloved Nickelodeon animated series following Aang, the young Avatar, as he learns to master the four elements (Water, Earth, Fire and Air) to restore balance to a world threatened by the terrifying Fire Nation.

Executive Producers: Christine Boylan, Jabbar Raisani, Dan Lin, Ryan Halprin, Brendan Ferguson, Albert Kim

Tomorrow is Starbucks Reusable Red Cup Day, November 14, 2024! And we’ve got some details.

– On Thursday, November 14, customers who order any size handcrafted holiday beverage will receive a free limited-edition, grande (16-ounce) reusable red holiday cup at participating stores across Canada, while supplies last.

Qualifying beverages:

• Apple Crisp Oat Macchiato 
• Caramel Brûlé Latte 
• Chestnut Praline Latte 
• Cran-Merry Orange Refresher 
• Cran-Merry Lemonade Refresher 
• Cran-Merry Drink 
• Gingerbread Latte 
• Gingerbread Oat Chai 
• Hot Chocolate 
• Iced Apple Crisp Oat Shaken Espresso 
• Pecan Crunch Oat Latte 
• Peppermint Hot Chocolate 
• Peppermint Mocha 
• Peppermint White Hot Chocolate 
• Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte 
• Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew 
• Pumpkin Spice Latte 
• Sugar Cookie Oat Latte  
• White Hot Chocolate 

-Back for its seventh year, this year’s reusable red holiday cup features a jolly bauble design inspired by perfectly ripe coffee cherries and is made with 95% recycled content. Just like any reusable cup, customers can bring it back on their next visit to Starbucks for a $0.10 discount on their order.

-The free reusable red cup will be included for orders placed in store, at the drive-thru, on the Starbucks app and Starbucks delivery on DoorDash, Uber Eats or Skip, while supplies last.

-Just in time for Red Cup Day, Starbucks customers in Canada, excluding Quebec, can also now use the Starbucks app to order delivery, powered by DoorDash.

The Canada Council for the Arts is pleased to announce the 2024 winners of the Governor General’s Literary Awards (GGBooks). These prestigious awards celebrate remarkable literary works published in Canada, in both official languages, across seven categories, and include books for readers of all ages.

“Each of this year’s Governor General’s Literary Awards winning books offers readers a fresh and unique journey through storytelling. The 2024 GGBooks are remarkable for how they capture the essence of today’s world, inviting us to reflect and engage deeply. The works are being celebrated not only for their brilliance on the page but also for the lasting impact they will have on literature and future generations of readers.”

— Michelle Chawla, Director and CEO, Canada Council for the Arts

The 14 winning books were chosen by the same 14 peer assessment committees that were convened to select the 35 English-language and 35 French-language finalists announced several weeks ago. This year’s peer assessment committees followed a rigorous process in their deliberations and selection of the winners from among the 1,529 nominated books (978 in English and 551 in French) published in Canada in 2023–24.

About the GGBooks

Founded in 1936, the Governor General’s Literary Awards are some of the oldest and most prestigious literary prizes in Canada, with a total annual prize value of $450,000.

The Canada Council for the Arts has funded, administered and promoted these awards since 1959.
Finalists are selected by category-specific, language-based peer assessment committees (seven in English and seven in French). This year, the committees considered eligible books published between August 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024.

The writers, translators and illustrators whose books are selected as the winner in a given category receive a $25,000 prize. Publishers receive $3,000 to promote the winning book; finalists receive $1,000 each.
English-language winners for 2024 (seven categories)

Fiction
Empty Spaces – Jordan Abel (Edmonton, Alberta), McClelland & Stewart (Penguin Random House Canada)

Poetry
Scientific Marvel – Chimwemwe Undi (Winnipeg, Manitoba), House of Anansi Press

Drama
There Is Violence and There Is Righteous Violence and There Is Death, or the Born-Again Crow – Caleigh Crow (Calgary, Alberta), Playwrights Canada Press

Non-fiction
Wînipêk: Visions of Canada from an Indigenous Centre – Niigaan Sinclair (Winnipeg, Manitoba), McClelland & Stewart (Penguin Random House Canada)

Young People’s Literature – Text
Crash Landing – Li Charmaine Anne (New Westminster, British Columbia), Annick Press

Young People’s Literature – Illustrated Books
Skating Wild on an Inland Sea – Jean E. Pendziwol (Thunder Bay, Ontario) and Todd Stewart (Montréal, Quebec), Groundwood Books (House of Anansi)

Translation (from French to English)
Nights Too Short to Dance – Katia Grubisic (Montréal, Quebec), Second Story Press; a translation of Un cœur habité de mille voix, by Marie-Claire Blais

French-language winners for 2024 (seven categories)

Fiction
Lait cru – Steve Poutré (Saint-Mathias-sur-Richelieu, Quebec) Éditions Alto

Poetry
poème dégénéré – névé dumas (La Pêche, Quebec), L’Oie de Cravan

Drama
Wollstonecraft – Sarah Berthiaume (Montréal, Quebec), Éditions de Ta Mère

Non-fiction
Hors jeu : Chronique culturelle et féministe sur l’industrie du sport professionnel – Florence-Agathe Dubé-Moreau (Montréal, Quebec), Éditions du remue-ménage

Young People’s Literature – Text
Une bulle en dehors du temps – Stéfani Meunier (Montréal, Quebec), Leméac Éditeur

Young People’s Literature – Illustrated Books
Le premier arbre de Noël – Ovila Fontaine (Maliotenam, Quebec) et Charlotte Parent (Bécancour, Quebec), Éditions La Pastèque

Translation (from English to French)
Ristigouche: Le long cours de la rivière sauvage – Éric Fontaine (Montréal, Quebec), Éditions du Boréal; a translation of Restigouche: The Long Run of the Wild River

Makeup of the 2024 English-language peer assessment committees
Fiction: Chris Eaton, Francesca Ekwuyasi and Jen Ferguson
Poetry: Kathryn Mockler, Heather Nolan and Tolu Oloruntoba
Drama: Kevin Kerr, Marcia Johnson and Kamila Sediego
Non-fiction: Jordan Abel, Robyn Maynard and Mary Soderstrom
Young People’s Literature – Text: Sarah Everett, Louisa Onomé and Ken Setterington
Young People’s Literature – Illustrated Books: Kyrsten Brooker, Shauntay Grant and Kevin Sylvester
Translation (from French to English): Peter Feldstein, Jessica Moore and Anne-Marie Wheeler
Makeup of the 2024 French-language peer assessment committees
Fiction: Michael Delisle, Andrée Michaud and Maya Ombasic
Poetry: Bathélemy Bolivar, Virginie Chaloux-Gendron and Daria Colonna
Drama: Madeleine Blais-Dahlem, Antoine Côté Legault and Anne-Marie Olivier
Non-fiction: Marie-Andrée Lamontagne, Pierrot Ross-Tremblay and Anne-Marie Saint-Cerny
Young People’s Literature – Text: Mario Brassard, Christine Sioui Wawanoloath and Élise Turcotte
Young People’s Literature – Illustrated Books: Clément de Gaulejac, Diane Obomsawin and Isabelle Picard
Translation (from English to French): Jeannot Clair, Danielle LeBlanc and Nésida Loyer

Toronto got a huge treat last night with Swiss Director Tim Fehlbaum returning to the City to present his acclaimed SEPTEMBER 5, which debuted at Venice with tons of awards buzz. We saw the Film finally and wow! 10 out of 10!

Centering on the hostage crisis that took place at the 1972 Munich Olympics, the story explores the challenges the ABC broadcasting team faced pivoting quickly from sports to groundbreaking live news coverage after 11 Israelis were taken hostage. Peter Sarsgaard and John Magaro lead this brilliant ensemble with some superb performances in this thought-provoking film that challenges how we consume Media and how news is reported.

See the Trailer here.

Some highlights from the evening which included a Reception, introduction and Q&A with Fehlbaum and TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey:

Fehlbaum is obsessed with the way Canadians pronounce “about” after listening to hours of Peter Jennings recordings!

Paramount Pictures Canada release SEPTEMBER 5 on December 13, 2025 (select cities) and expands January 17, 2025.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures)

Netflix have announced that beloved Reality Series QUEER EYE returns for a ninth season December 11, 2024! We now get a new Trailer!

Some additional details.

QUEER EYE S9
Series Premiere Date: December 11
Format: 8 x45 minute episodes
Synopsis: Nine time’s the charm! This season, Queer Eye brings its transformative magic to the iconic city of Las Vegas, where the Fab Five, now joined by interior designer Jeremiah Brent, meet a fresh group of individuals ready for a life-changing experience. From a former showgirl struggling to regain her confidence to a dedicated librarian in need of a change, watch as the Fab Five light up Sin City and transform the lives of their heroes in spectacular Vegas style.
Executive Producers: David Collins, Michael Williams, Rob Eric, Jennifer Lane, Jordana Hochman, Mark Bracero, Lyndsey Burr, Karamo Brown, Tan France, Antoni Porowski, Jonathan Van Ness, Jeremiah Brent

It’s a show SO bright, it uses 25 pots of glitter!  ‘Twas the Night Before… by Cirque du Soleil, presented in partnership with TO Live, is a festive flurry of high-flying acrobatics, loveable characters, upbeat holiday soundtracks to sing along, and surprises that will keep audiences of all ages mesmerized under the holiday spell.  Inspired by the classic poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore, Cirque du Soleil has reimaged the story to be about a jaded young girl who rediscovers the magic of Christmas.

The Canadian premiere of ‘Twas the Night Before…is a spirited and heartwarming show that has something for everyone in the family to enjoy; and makes for the perfect holiday gift experience.  Tickets are selling fast for the limited run from December 12^th to January 3^rd at Meridian Hall in downtown Toronto. 

To purchase tickets and for showtimes and venue information, visit www.tolive.com/twas-the-night-before.  

Unwrap These Fun Facts:

-TWAS features 40+ songs including Christmas hits and 29 original songs

-Diverse cast of 26 artists hailing from 14 countries 

–52 different costumes were made by hand with more than 2,000 sequins per costume

–25 pots of glitter and 60 cans of coloured hairspray are used for hair and makeup

-Hotel carts, bicycles, roller skates, aerial straps, hoops, bouncing beds – and even snowballs as large as 3ft in diameter are some of the props used in the showstopping acts

TO Live and Cirque du Soleil present
‘Twas the Night Before… by Cirque du Soleil
December 12, 2024 – January 3, 2025
Meridian Hall, 1 Front Street East, Toronto
 
Tickets: $58.50-$143.50 (plus applicable fees). Prices subject to change.
 
Tickets are available online at http://tolive.com, by phone at 416-366-7723 and 1-800-708-6754, and in person at the Meridian Hall box office, Monday to Friday, 1 pm to 6 pm.
 
TO Live box office phone and email support operates 1 pm to 6 pm Monday to Friday.
Online sales operate 24 hours a day.
 

See Moon at the top of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in a new clip from Disney Branded Television’s “An Almost Christmas Story.” Directed by David Lowery and produced by five-time Academy Award® winner Alfonso Cuarón, this animated short is the third and final installment in Cuarón’s holiday shorts collection for Disney+. It is available beginning Friday, November 15, 2024 on Disney+.

Inspired by the true events of a tiny owl rescued from the New York City’s Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in 2020, the new clip features Moon, a curious young owl who unexpectedly finds himself stuck in a Christmas tree destined for Rockefeller Plaza. He befriends a lost little girl named Luna and together they embark on a heartwarming adventure to find their way back home.

Cuarón’s first short of the holiday collection “Le Pupille,” earned an Oscar® nomination in 2022, and last year’s “The Shepherd” was shortlisted, both in the Live Action Short Film category.

Produced by Disney Branded Television and Cuarón’s Esperanto Filmoj, in association with Titmouse and Maere Studios, and with animation services by 88 Pictures, the celebrated creative team includes Lowery (director, screenplay and producer), Cuarón (producer and story), Gabriela Rodríguez (producer), Jack Thorne (story and screenplay), Nicholas Ashe Bateman (creative design supervisor) and Daniel Hart (composer).