Quiver Distribution and Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to attend the Toronto Premiere of THE BANDIT, which is based on a true story. Director Allan Unger will be in-attendance doing a Q&A! Premiere takes place at Cineplex Cinemas Yonge-Dundas and VIP on September 19, 2022 at 7pm.

Synopsis:

After escaping a Michigan prison, a charming career criminal assumes a new identity in Canada and goes on to rob a record 59 banks and jewelry stores while being hunted by a police task force. Based on the true story of The Flying Bandit. Josh Duhamel, Elisha Cuthbert and Mel Gibson star.

To enter for a chance to win tickets to be on the Guest List at this Premiere, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. You also may RT the Contest Tweet below.

Rules and regulations here.

BANDIT arrives in theatres, digital and on-demand September 23, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Quiver Distribution)

You might know her from Dance Moms where she first got recognition, but Dancer/Actress Maddie Ziegler (and best-selling Author!) genuinely is a star on the rise! After starring alongside Singer/Songwriter Sia on a string Music VIdeos for her biggest hits, she has landed roles in Steven Spielberg‘s WEST SIDE STORY and Award-winning THE FALLOUT.

Ziegler stars next in Molly McGlynn‘s BLOODY HELL, which centers on a 16-year-old girl on the brink of womanhood, who discovers she has a reproductive condition unexpectedly. Ziegler was in-town recently doing some post-production on the Film which wrapped late June in Sudbury. The Film also stars Toronto’s own Emily Hampshire and will be distributed by Elevation Pictures in Canada.

So amazing finally meeting Ziegler! She was so sweet and kind after a long day, and we actually can’t wait to see BLOODY HELL!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

More amazing TIFF ’22 news! Sanaa Lathan‘s ON THE COME UP will be premiering at this year’s Festival as a World Premiere! We also have the new Trailer!

Synopsis:
On the Come Up is the story of Bri, a 16-year-old gifted rapper, who attempts to take the battle rap scene by storm in order to lift up her family and do right by the legacy of her father – a local hip hop legend whose career was cut short by gang violence. But when her first hit song goes viral for all the wrong reasons, she finds herself torn between the authenticity that got her this far and the false persona that the industry wants to impose upon her. Based on the NY Times’ #1 best-selling novel by Angie Thomas.

On the Come Up stars Jamila C. Gray, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Lil Yachty, Mike Epps, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Justin Martin, Titus Makin, Michael Cooper Jr., GaTa with Sanaa Lathan and Cliff “Method Man” Smith. The film is produced by George Tillman, Jr., Robert Teitel, Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen, Isaac Klausner, Angie Thomas and Timothy M. Bourne and executive produced by John Fischer.

See the Trailer:

(Photo/video credit: Paramount+)

We present a new Trailer for Marilyn Monroe Biopic BLONDE, starring Ana de Armas in one of the year’s most spectacular performances! We also have theatrical release dates.

BLONDE arrives on Netflix September 28, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

20th Century Studios Canada and Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Advance Passes to BARBARIAN. Screenings take place in Halifax on September 6, 2022, and Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary on September 7, 2022.

Synopsis:

In “Barbarian,” a young woman traveling to Detroit for a job interview books a rental home. But when she arrives late at night, she discovers that the house is double booked, and a strange man is already staying there. Against her better judgment, she decides to spend the evening, but soon discovers that there’s a lot more to fear than just an unexpected house guest.

From 20th Century Studios and New Regency, “Barbarian” stars Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, Justin Long, Matthew Patrick Davis, Richard Brake, Jaymes Butler and Kurt Braunohler. The film was written and directed by Zach Cregger. The producers are Arnon Milchan, Roy Lee, Raphael Margules and J.D. Lifshitz. Yariv Milchan, Michael Schaefer, Natalie Lehmann, Danny Chan, Alex Lebovici and Bill Skarsgård are the film’s executive producers.

To enter for a chance to win, please click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate which City you are requesting for in the comments there. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet below for an extra chance.

Rules and regulations here.

NOTE: Winners will only be contacted via our official Facebook account. Do not accept friend requests/messages from third parties asking you for personal information.

20th Century Studios Canada release BARBARIAN September 9, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: 20th Century Studios Canada)

International Screen Icon Michelle Yeoh has never been bigger and this year at TIFF ’22 she will receive a special award at the TIFF Tribute Gala!

Cameron Bailey, CEO of TIFF, is delighted to announce that celebrated actor Michelle Yeoh will receive the inaugural TIFF Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award presented by BVLGARI. The TIFF Tribute Awards presented by BVLGARI will return to an in-person gala fundraiser during the 47th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday, September 11 at Fairmont Royal York Hotel. 

“Michelle Yeoh is the definition of groundbreaking,” said Cameron Bailey, TIFF CEO. “Her screen work has spanned continents, genres and decades. This year she delivered a performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once that shows her limitless abilities. We’re so proud to honour her with the Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award.”

Spanning a nearly 40-year career, Yeoh is one of the most accomplished and versatile actors in the world. She has broken barriers and inspired generations of audiences with her performances, including her most recent lead role in the hit Everything Everywhere All at Once, as well as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Tomorrow Never Dies, and Crazy Rich Asians, among others. Everything Everywhere All at Once is distributed by Elevation Pictures in Canada.
 
“BVLGARI has a long history of championing women, in front of and behind the camera, in the cinematic arts. Supporting this TIFF Tribute Award is a continuation of this legacy of cultivating future talent and their groundbreaking work that enriches the world we live in,” said Jean-Christophe Babin, CEO, BVLGARI Group. “We are thrilled to play such an integral role in the future of women in cinema.”

The TIFF Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award is presented by BVLGARI and recognizes a woman who is a leader in the film industry and has made a positive impact for women throughout their career. The inaugural award is inspired by TIFF’s Share Her Journey initiative, which was created to address gender parity in the film industry, to champion women at every stage of their creative journey, and to shine a spotlight on women creators making a significant difference in the industry.
 
Yeoh joins the recently announced list of 2022 TIFF Tribute Award honourees, including Academy Award®–winning Icelandic artist and composer Hildur Guðnadóttir, who will be honoured with the TIFF Variety Artisan Award; Award-winning Welsh Egyptian filmmaker and screenwriter Sally El Hosaini, who will be honoured with the TIFF Emerging Talent Award presented by MGM, acclaimed actor Brendan Fraser, recipient of the ​​TIFF Tribute Award for Performance presented by IMDbPro; Academy Award®–winning filmmaker Sam Mendes, who will be honoured with the TIFF Ebert Director Award; and the ensemble of My Policeman, who will receive the TIFF Tribute Award for Performance presented by Polestar. More information on the 2022 TIFF Tribute Awards event and this year’s honourees will follow in the coming days.
 
The TIFF Tribute Awards have served as an awards-season bellwether, with past honourees such as Jessica Chastain, Roger Deakins, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Joaquin Phoenix, Taika Waititi, and Chloé Zhao going on to win awards on the international stage. The TIFF Tribute Awards honour the film industry’s outstanding contributors and their achievements, recognizing leading industry members, acting talent, directorial expertise, new talent, and a below-the-line artist and creator. The Awards event also serves as TIFF’s largest annual fundraiser to support TIFF’s Every Story fund, which promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in film and TIFF’s core mission to transform the way people see the world through film. 

Launched in 2017, and now a permanent initiative as part of TIFF’s broader Every Story fund, Share Her Journey is TIFF’s commitment to address gender parity by broadening opportunities for women at every stage of their careers. To date, TIFF has raised more than $3 million to provide direct support to women along their creative journeys, from inspiration to a finished product showcased on TIFF platforms.

(Photo credit: Elevation Pictures)

It doesn’t get any bigger than this! Dwayne THE ROCK Johnson is set to visit Toronto for the Canadian Premiere of BLACK ADAM this October!

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada announced today that global superstar Dwayne Johnson will visit Toronto this October to celebrate the release of his upcoming DC film, BLACK ADAM. Johnson revealed via a special video message that ‘The Rock will return to Toronto, his home away from home’ later this year to share BLACK ADAM with Canadians in advance of the film’s theatrical release on October 21, 2022.

News of Johnson’s return to Toronto was first shared by FAN EXPO Canada as part of an exclusive partnership to thank and surprise die-hard Canadian pop culture fans that attended this year’s massive convention. Additional details of Johnson’s monumental visit will be revealed in the coming weeks by Warner Bros. Pictures Canada. Fans are encouraged to follow @WarnerBrosCA and @FANEXPOCanada on social media for details on how they can join Dwayne Johnson at this electrifying event.

See the Announcement:

After a two-year break due to the Pandemic, our beloved Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) is back! The celebration of the end of Summer is back on for 18 days, ending Labour Day (September 5, 2022) and 1.4 million+ visitors are projected for the run!

We were so thrilled to visit again and can we say it was even more bustling than ever for a Saturday? People have an appetite for fun after having missed The Ex, and also an appetite for fun, inventive foods you just can’t get anywhere else! Even popular local restaurants with actual store fronts use this opportunity to test creative menu items you can’t normally get at their stores.

There is no shortage of amazing food options. As soon as you pass through the iconic Princes’ Gates you are greeted with a long strip of Food Trucks and right now there is the Food Truck Frenzy & Craft Beer Fest (Aug. 25 – 28), with the new Celtic Food Truck Festival (Sept. 1 – 5) next.

Everything we love about The Ex is back. The Midway, the Gondola rides, the Superdogs Show (this year it’s a PAWVENGERS theme), all the vendors! It’s as if we never skipped a beat at all.

New this year, every night above the Food Building after dark, is a show consisting of 100 Drones putting-on a dazzling spectacle.

Get a good idea of it here:

Of course, the big culinary draw this year are Ketchup and Mustard Ice Creams, located on the south side of the BMO Field! The vendor is drawing long queues of curious guests looking to see what the buzz is all about! Check-out our Reel as my BFF Habeyah and I take you through our LET’S GO TO THE EX 2022 Adventure and see our reactions to Ketchup Ice Cream!

There’s still a bit of time to check-out The Ex. Tickets are available here.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/The Ex)

Fan Expo Canada is back and bigger than ever! The Pandemic may have held us back for a bit, this edition of Fan Expo is here to remind us all exactly what we’ve missed. Running through August 28, 2022 at Metro Toronto Convention Centre, this celebration of Fandom unites fans of all genres together under one roof by the hundreds of thousands. And for good reason. The celebrity guest list this year is unreal!

Cast members of The Lord of The Rings, Clerks, Stranger Things, The Boys, Sons of Anarchy all are slated to appear, reniting for panels, photo ops and autograph sessions in the North Building. All for the fans! Photo Ops for Stranger Things’ Joseph Quinn who plays Eddie Munson on the popular Series, sold-out rather quickly and he certainly was the hot ticket this year. You cannot miss the Hall of Horrors where you can sit and listen to panels from your favourite name in Horror, and also and Tattoo Alley where you can get tatted!

Above this, there are so many cool activations to be seen including set-ups in the South Building by the likes of Bandai Namco, Studio Ghibli, Genshin Impact, Bell Esports Challenge, Nintendo Switch, TikTok, WhatNot and more! There are photos to be taken, prizes to be won and things to take home! And don’t forget to visit Artist Alley for a chance to meet and get commissioned pieces by some of your favourites. So many cool vendors and hard-to-find items throughout!

Check out my Highlight Reel. You cannot miss this and here’s why!

Tina Chan is a special contributor for us this year and here’s some highlights from the most buzzed Panels of Fan Expo Canada 2022!

GRACE VAN DIEN

The Stranger Things star revealed at her Panel that she officially came-out as Queer when she was 20 after being asked on a date and realizing that she had the power to say “yes”, and learned to accept her sexuality. When asked about whether or not she sees herself as an extrovert, she told the audience that she actually thinks she’s anti-social.

On what won her the coveted role of Chrissy Cunningham on the Series, the daughter of Actor Casper Van Dien says, “The Duffer Brothers said I was the only one who played Chrissy sweet. Everyone else played her mean in their auditions”.

Fun Fact: Van Dien revealed that she idolizes Paul Newman. Her favourite Movie is Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. 

MATTHEW LEWIS

The Harry Potter star who unfortunately had to cancel last year, was able to make it to the City for Fan Expo Canada 2022. Lewis tells fans at his Panel that getting into the role of Neville Longbottom wasn’t too tough as he truly related to him saying, “I got it cause I went through it”.

Reflecting on his childhood as an Actor, he spoke of it as being relatively normal. “When we were off set, we were in school together. We got to have a relatively normal childhood and knew we were all in same boat together. We had each other to lean on.”.

ANTHONY DANIELS

The Star Wars Actor known best for playing C-3PO has the unique distinction of having starred in all nine Star Wars films. Daniels tells fans at his Panel that during the first ever Star Wars Film, “I’d been rehearsing in the studio for six months while they made the costume. I felt special and I felt like a star the first time I put the costume on.”.

Fun Facts: C-3PO’s microphone is actually wired towards his butt. And his favourite of all Star Wars films would be Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.

MICHAEL ROOKER

The Guardians of the Galaxy star who plays Yondu has an obsession with Wunderbars and was “wundering” if these were a Canadian thing. He also vows to try everything Canadian this weekend and at his Panel tried Canadian Smarties, Wunderbar, Aero and Kit Kat. Rooker definitely wasn’t impressed by Coffee Crisp, describing them as “Kind of hard and dry, and it doesn’t taste like coffee at all!”.

JAMIE CAMPBELL BOWER

This Stranger Things star certainly is no “stranger” to Toronto having filmed The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones here. Campbell Bower who plays Vecna on the Series, professed “I love my job and I’m a fucking nerd!”. On how lucky he is to have landed this role, he says humbly “It could’ve been anyone and the writing is exactly the thing that made the Show”. He also describes the several hours a day in costume/make-up as being “very intense”. He adds, “I would find myself crying in the middle of the night saying ‘Papa please, Papa please….”.

Fun Fact: If Vecna were to order something at Starbucks, it would be, per Campbell Bower, “A venti Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew with extra foam”!

Sharing some of our own Snaps! One of our favourite events of the year, every year!

Also, some amazing Cosplay for you to enjoy!

Fan Expo Toronto Cosplayers always show-up!

It’s not too late to get tickets still for Fan Expo Canada 2022! More here.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Tina Chan)

THE INVITATION comes out of nowhere to take the top spot at the Box Office in its opening weekend on a quiet weekend. The Horror from Sony Pictures takes $7 million from 3,114 theatres and gets 29% on the Tomatometer.

In second this weekend is BULLET TRAIN with $5.5 million from 3,513 theatres for Sony Pictures, a total $78 million in its fourth weekend out.

Third is TOP GUN: MAVERICK with $4.9 million from 2,962 theatres for Paramount Pictures. This brings its total to $691 million domestically.

DRAGON BALL SUPER: SUPER HERO is in fourth this weekend after a debut in top spot for Crunchyroll with $4.8 million, a total $31 million over two weekends.

BEAST rounds-out our Top Five with $4.3 million for Universal Pictures, a tally of $19.5 million in its second weekend.