We’re lucky to have even have had the chance to partake in any star-spotting this year given the circumstances we’ve been in! And even though what we got was a reduced version of TIFF ’21 this year, we’re still thrilled that talent still came through, while production on various Series and Films also continued around town this year. And as always we’re happy to go as close as the talent want to get, ensuring safety first. One day we’ll look back and call this our “Masked Era”.

While this is only a fraction of the quantity of star sightings we’ve had in the past, we did our best to do what we do safely. Some exciting names still passed through Toronto in 2021 and we were there!

I’d have to say it was epic that Toronto’s Simu Liu exploded onto the international stage as a mega star for his work in Marvel Studios’ SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS. Not only was it amazing catching-up in person – he actually remembered my name – we also got a quick interview with him! Other names like Rebecca Ferguson, whom we’ve admire for quite a while, came through for TIFF ’21 and we’re glad we finally got to meet her properly! And when do we not get excited to see Jessica Chastain in-town? One of our highlights was getting a Selfie with Mila Kunis, whom we love, together with beanie bright and early in the AM? While concerts were scaled back quite a bit this year, we’re happy to have met some emerging names on the international scene who actually happen to be Canadian, like Mustafa the Poet and BBNo$! And how cool was it that hot off his venture into space, earning him the distinction of oldest person ever to go to space, William Shatner came to Toronto for Fan Expo Limited Edition?

Let’s take a walk down memory lane!

See some of our favourite star sightings of 2021, in no particular order!

While we will wait a bit for these case counts to go down, we look forward to Toronto being the star-studded City it once was once again!

Mr. Will

Ottawa-born and Toronto-based Michelle Treacy has been on the verge of a breakthrough for a bit now! After getting a rare chance to duet with Lady Gaga back in 2016 for a piano-side rendition of “Born This Way“, she had a stint with Sony Music Canada releasing a few singles for her. Then she gained nationwide recognition on CTV’s THE LAUNCH and since then has been releasing music independently under Position Music.

Five-track EP HIGH HEELS IN THE MOSHPIT has Treacy exploring a new side of her persona and you really hear her progression as an Artist on this collection of highly-danceable Punk-Pop-Rock. The sound is cinematic in a Tarantino, Psychadelic Woman-on-a-Mission way and she teams with Producers including Grammy-winning Yung Spielburg, Ricardo Temporao and Eraserhood Sound. She lets loose completely on this cohesive set and the earworms are non-stop. At 13 minutes, you’ll find yourself listening on-loop.

“Anything Goes” has Treacy re-introducing herself with a renewed bravado, singing “Bottom to top, I’m everything you want most”. “Precious is the Time” is about feeling good, raising those hands to the sky and the good vibes continue on “It Feels so Good to Be Back“, where Treacy proclaims that she’s “sweeter than a Cinnabon“! Lucky for her, we like sweets.

Whatever dark patches she’d landed on prior, this now is in the past, and she’s ready to have some fun and that’s the message here. “Hustler Baby” has her declaring “Yeah I’ve got it! I’m in St. Tropez wearing high heels in the Moshpit!”, a line so provocative it inspired the title of the EP. The abbreviated collection closes-out with “Love Every Minute” has her re-affirming herself with an edgy sass.

You can preview the EP in full below:

(Photo/video credit: Position Music)

We hope your Holidays have been amazing! We know it’s been a while since we’ve updated you on William (Mr Will) and Princess (A Pic by Mrwill) but we were so happy over the Holidays to catch-up with them!

As many of you remember, MR WILL now is retired and transitioning into his next career as a Show Jumper! Brooke Sisson has overseen his development since leaving Woodbine Racetrack and has helped him find a new forever home in Port Hope. He will be moving from his temporary home in Lindsay this week to enjoy the rest of his winter. He seemed very happy and content in his retired life and with access to the backstretch having been closed to Media the past two years, I haven’t been able to visit him in quite some time. This was a sweet reunion, and my Mom was so happy to finally meet him! We hope to see him later this year at one of his shows! So happy for him.

His previous Owner Michelle Love gave me the honours of naming her new yearling filly by Reload and out of the mare Jungle Jewel. She was HIP #225 at the CTHS Yearling Sale this year! While I thought “You Were Meant for Me“, a massive hit in the mid-90s for Jewel, was a good choice too, Michelle went with another huge hit for her, “Foolish Games” the theme song from “Batman and Robin“. Fitting, since the Music Video for the song had horses in it. Love it! How exciting!

Princess (A PIC BY MRWILL) has been in great spirits of late since moving into a new pen with racing veteran CUMMINGS ROAD at Emily Fisher‘s family farm. Also grouped with her are donkey and miniature ponies Freddie and Eddie Fisher! We can confirm she’s definitely the Queen over there after being a bit of a fish out of water with the other mares who have formed a strong bond over the years. Princess being the youngest mare, struggled a bit to connect with the others, but is living her best life now as Queen Bee.

Emily and her partner jockey Keveh Nicholls are expecting their first child in early March. So Excited for them!

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Wishing you all a safe and amazing New Year!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

A PIC BY MRWILL MR WILL woodbine

A new Trailer for THE BATMAN has arrived, The Bat and the Cat Trailer!

Synopsis:

From Warner Bros. Pictures comes Matt Reeves’ “The Batman,” starring Robert Pattinson in the dual role of Gotham City’s vigilante detective and his alter ego, reclusive billionaire Bruce Wayne.

Starring alongside Pattinson (“Tenet,” “The Lighthouse”) as Gotham’s famous and infamous cast of characters are Zoë Kravitz (“Big Little Lies,” “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald”) as Selina Kyle; Paul Dano (“Love & Mercy,” “12 Years a Slave”) as Edward Nashton; Jeffrey Wright (“No Time to Die,” “Westworld”) as the GCPD’s James Gordon; John Turturro (the “Transformers” films, “The Plot Against America”) as Carmine Falcone; Peter Sarsgaard (“The Magnificent Seven,” “Interrogation”) as Gotham D.A. Gil Colson; Jayme Lawson (“Farewell Amor”) as mayoral candidate Bella Reál; with Andy Serkis (the “Planet of the Apes” films, “Black Panther”) as Alfred; and Colin Farrell (“The Gentlemen,” “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”) as Oswald Cobblepot.

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release THE BATMAN March 4, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros. Pictures Canada)

We had no idea this was even in existence until we stumbled upon it on Crave Canada! We were one of those people who collected Beanie Babies in the ’90s and while we never made any money off them, we actually unloaded them below what we paid, nonetheless we very clearly remember this era – driving around town hunting at toy small toy stores.

Director Yemisi Brookes explores the phenomenon and how a group of suburban women helped propel the popularity behind these unassuming collectibles, which led eventually to a secondary market and an unforeseeable demand. We meet some of the former employees at Ty (a few Canadians even!) who were behind the product and the drama that brewed once the success of Beanie Babies took off. We also get a look at the scandal that landed illusive Creator Ty Warner in prison almost. Beanie Babies certainly were no joke. People risked their lives, robbed and went bankrupt at a chance for the riches that came with being the lucky one who had that rare coveted Beanie.

The Documentary is concise, balancing just the right tone in exploring how crime and corruption plagued the brand as the millennium approached, but also a bit of lightness because well, Beanie Babies are meant to be cute and fun. Brookes gets what’s at stake for the key players, exploring the legacy of these toys and how it changed their lives, some for the better, some for the worse.

It is no mystery what I’ve named by dog beanie after, but even I had no idea about the behind-the-scenes, and this HBO Max production was highly-educational and entertaining.

BEANIE MANIA streams now on Crave Canada.

Paramount Home Entertainment x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win a Digital Download of CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG! Right in time for the Holidays. The DVD and Blu-ray also are coming soon in February!

Synopsis:
When Emily discovers her little red puppy named Clifford has grown ten feet overnight, she turns to her eccentric Uncle Casey for help. But when a mad scientist tries to capture the larger-than-life playful pup, it takes the entire neighborhood to hide Clifford as they race across the city. Get ready for the incredible, laugh-out-loud comedy adventure that is BIG fun
for the entire family!

CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG Digital* & Blu-ray Bonus Content
• Part of the Pack— Get a behind-the-scenes look at Clifford’s big movie with interviews from cast and crew.
• Acting is for the Dogs—There’s more to Clifford than meets the eye: meet the puppeteers who brought the giant red pup to life!
• The Magic of Bridwell – See where Clifford’s big adventure began from creator Norman Bridwell’s early drawings for the beloved Scholastic book series to Clifford’s worldwide fame.
• Tips & Tricks for Taking Care of a 10-Foot Dog – Get hilarious tips on how to take care of a giant dog!
• Deleted Scenes

CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG DVD
The DVD includes the feature film in standard definition.

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK.

Rules and regulations here.

NOTE: Winners will only be reached by our official Facebook account. Do not accept friend requests from others asking you to give out your personal information.

CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG is available on Digital December 24, 2021 and on DVD/Blu-ray February 1, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Home Entertainment)

We’ve been waiting for this! While it’s been divisive, we side with those who loved the first season of this Darren Star creation and if there were any doubt about it, the second season of EMILY IN PARIS gives us more of what we came for. Flashy fashion, garçon problems and office drama. Such is the life of Emily and we can’t get enough of it!

Season Two picks-up where we left-off and Emily (Lily Collins) must confront the affair she had with Gabriel (Lucas Bravo), reconciling her feelings for him, while having kept it a secret from her friend Camille (Camille Razat)… who happens to be Gabriel‘s girlfriend. Things are complicated as Emily is working on Camille‘s family’s Champagne account at Savoir, the Marketing Agency at which Emily works and the bottle is about to pop as truths are uncovered.

Emily‘s tough-to-please boss Sylvie (Philppine Leroy-Beaulieu) mixes business with pleasure as she falls for an up-and-coming young Photographer, while Emily‘s best friend Mindy (Ashley Park) becomes involved with a struggling Musician whom she must conceal her billionaire Pop Princess identity from.

The cultural clashes continue as Emily continues to adapt to the local Parisian culture, but finds a companion in classmate Alfie (Lucien Laviscount) whom also feels like a fish out of water. And Madeline (Kate Walsh) shows-up from the U.S. office, trying to impose American corporate values on the office in Paris, and finds herself in over her head, oblivious to the deep-rooted ties there.

Collins continues to shine in this plum assignment and has fun doing it. Emily thinks often with her heart and sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn’t and that’s the appeal of Emily in Paris. It’s a gorgeous, romantic escape and we aren’t afraid to fall with Emily as we know her heart is in the right place in the end.

We zipped through these delightful ten new episodes rather quickly and are ready for Season Three!

EMILY IN PARIS Season Two streams now on Netflix.

Marvel Studios just released a brand-new glimpse of DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS! See the new Teaser below:

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness opens in theatres on May 6, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Marvel Studios Canada)

Kenneth Branagh is back, following-up on the success of MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS. Check-out the Trailer for DEATH ON THE NILE, based on the popular Agatha Christie novel!

Synopsis:

Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot’s Egyptian vacation aboard a glamorous river steamer turns into a terrifying search for a murderer when a picture-perfect couple’s idyllic honeymoon is tragically cut short. Set against an epic landscape of sweeping desert vistas and the majestic Giza pyramids, this tale of unbridled passion and incapacitating jealousy features a cosmopolitan group of impeccably dressed travelers, and enough wicked twists and turns to leave audiences guessing until the final, shocking denouement. 

Cast includes: Tom Bateman, four-time Oscar® nominee Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Ali Fazal, Dawn French, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Rose Leslie, Emma Mackey, Sophie Okonedo, Jennifer Saunders and Letitia Wright.

See the Trailer:

20th Century Studios release DEATH ON THE NILE February 11, 2022.

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

Elevation Pictures x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win a Run-of-Engagement Pass to see critically-acclaimed FLEE at TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto. Details here.

Synopsis:

Recounted mostly through animation, Amin opens up about his past for the first time of his journey as a child refugee from Afghanistan. He begins to look back over his life as he grapples with a painful secret he has kept hidden for 20 years, one that threatens to derail the life he has built for himself and his soon-to-be husband.

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK.

Rules and regulations here.

Note: Winners will only be contacted from our official Facebook account. Please do not accept friend requests from other accounts asking you to give out your personal information.

Elevation Pictures release FLEE now playing at TIFF Bell Lightbox.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)