#FIRSTLOOK: “THE BEAR” RENEWED FOR FIFTH SEASON

Following the debut of “The Bear’s” fourth season, which is off to a white-hot start with viewers, FX has picked up the fifth season of the acclaimed Emmy®-Award winning comedy, it was announced yesterday by John Landgraf, Chairman, FX. All seasons, including the newly released season four, are available to stream on Disney+ in Canada.

“‘The Bear’ continues to be a fan favourite worldwide and their response to this season—as seen through incredibly high viewership—has been as spectacular as any of its previous seasons,” said Landgraf. “Year-in and year-out, Chris Storer, the producers, cast and crew make ‘The Bear’ one of the best shows on television, and we are excited that they will continue to tell this magnificent story.”

In the latest season, Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White), Sydney Adamu (Ayo Edebiri) and Richard “Richie” Jerimovich (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) are pushing forward, determined not only to survive, but also to take The Bear to the next level. With new challenges around every corner, the team must adapt, adjust and overcome. The pursuit of excellence isn’t just about getting better – it’s about deciding what’s worth holding on to. The series also stars Abby Elliott, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas and Matty Matheson, with Oliver Platt and Molly Gordon in recurring roles.

Named an AFI Television Program of the Year in each of its first three seasons, FX’s “The Bear” most recently won 11 Emmy Awards for its second season, the most wins for a comedy series ever in a single year. The show has also garnered awards nominations and/or wins from the Golden Globe Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, Peabody Awards, Critics Choice Awards, Writers Guild Awards, Directors Guild Awards, Producer Guild Awards, NAACP Image Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, MPSE Golden Reel Awards, CAS Awards, ACE Eddie Awards and TCA Awards, amongst others.

FX’s “The Bear” was created by Christopher Storer, who serves as Executive Producer alongside Josh Senior, Joanna Calo, Cooper Wehde, Tyson Bidner, Matty Matheson, Hiro Murai and Rene Gube. Courtney Storer serves as a Co-Executive Producer and Culinary Producer. The series is produced by FX Productions.

Season four, which premiered with all 10 episodes on June 25, is currently rated 85% Certified Fresh by critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

Robust parental controls ensure that Disney+ remains a suitable viewing experience for everyone in the family. Subscribers can set access limits on mature content and create PIN-protected profiles alongside the already existing Junior Mode profiles to give parents and guardians peace of mind.

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “AMERICANA”

We get a new Trailer for AMERICANA, coming to theatres in Canada August 15, 2025 via Cineplex Pictures!

Written and Directed by: Tony Tost
Produced by: Alex Saks
Cast: Sydney Sweeney, Paul Walter Hauser, Halsey, Simon Rex, with Eric Dane, and Zahn McClarnon
Synopsis: A gallery of dynamic characters clash over the possession of a rare Native American artifact in this wildly entertaining modern-day western. After the artifact falls onto the black market, a shy waitress with big dreams (Sydney Sweeney) teams up with a lovelorn military veteran (Paul Walter Hauser) to gain possession of it, putting them in the crosshairs of a ruthless criminal (Eric Dane) working on behalf of a Western antiquities dealer (Simon Rex). Bloodshed ensues when others join the battle, including the leader of an indigenous group (Zahn McClarnon) and a desperate woman fleeing her mysterious past (Halsey).

Lionsgate presents, a BRON Studios / Saks Pictures Company production, in association with Rhea Films and Hercules Film Fund / Creative Wealth Media.

#FIRSTLOOK: SOLONDA AT STACKT MARKET JULY 13, 2025

Solonda, brought to us by the team at Soluna, is returning for another Afro House experience on Sunday, July 13, 2025 at STACKT market! After hosting Taraka w/ Gordo for the first time in Toronto, Soluna’s proven they know how to throw an epic all-day party.

Solonda’s July 13th stellar lineup features internationally recognized Afro House and tech DJs from South Africa, including Caiiro, Da Capo, and Bun Xapa.

With even more artist announcements to come, Solonda promises open-air vibes, feel-good energy, and rhythmic beats across two stages. Attendees can expect a full day-to-night experience with Solonda’s signature blend of music, movement, and connection.

Solonda is a 19+ event. Doors open at 3 p.m. Tickets start at $50 and can be purchased on Dice.

#SPOTTED: AMERIE, DEBORAH COX, ONYA NURVE, JEWELS SPARKLES, SUZIE TOOT AND MORE IN TORONTO FOR PRIDE ’25

Toronto Pride ’25 was another one for the books! This one was particularly memorable as one of our fave acts of the early 2000s, AMERIE headlined Blockorama to close out the Festival on a high note! Known for her hits “1 Thing”, “Why Don’t We Fall in Love”, and “Talkin’ To Me“, the Grammy-nominated Singer-Songwriter and Writer made her first appearance in the City in quite some time. She will be back soon supporting Keyshia Cole on her THE WAY IT IS Tour which lands July 9th at Coca-Cola Coliseum.

Amerie, who happens to be part-Korean, zipped through a catalog of her hits in an abbreviated set, looking and sounding fantastic. We were so fortunate to get a snap with her and holding a small bag of Doritos after doing post-show interviews, she took her time chatting and hugging other fans. Really excited about her making a comeback!

Other highlights of Pride include the DRAG BALL at Nathan Phillips Square Saturday night with some of the stars of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 17 gracing the stage, along with Canada’s Drag Race alumni. This always is so worth it, with performers doing a couple sets throughout the night! We were so stoked about seeing S17 winner Onya Nurve, Jewels Sparkles, and Suzie Toot. We watch the show religiously. We were floored by Canadian talents like Makayla Couture and Canada’s Drag Race S5 winner The Virgo Queen. Many of the Queens paid tribute to Chappell Roan and Doechii, which was a hit with the crowd!

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Earlier in the week we got to see another Grammy-nominated legend Deborah Cox at LCBO‘s LOVE PAIRS WITH EVERYTHING Bash. Cox got a chance to promote her wine label KAZAISU, named after her three children and gave us an energetic set. This was e v e r y t h i n g. And guess what? She posted our reel on her Social Media below!

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Until next year!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#FIRSTLOOK: “DROP” IS NOW ON DIGITAL, 4K UHD, BLU-RAY & DVD

DROP is one of our favourite movies this year and we’re thrilled that it finally gets an at-home release. This edge-of-your-seat thrill ride is available now on DIGITAL, 4K UHD, BLU-RAY™ & DVD!

Meghann Fahy (Sirens, The White Lotus) delivers a star-making performance in this cat-and-mouse chase that takes place over smartphones as a woman looking to get back onto the dating scene again, is stalked and threatened while on her date. She is tasked to kill her date or her loved ones at home could be offed also! Trust me, this one is a wild ride from Director Christopher Landon.

We reviewed the 4K UHD version which looks and sounds crisp, even as much of the Film takes place in a dark restaurant. Impressive!

Our thoughts on DROP:

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This is definitely one for the Collection. Will happily watch this one multiple times!

EXCLUSIVE BONUS FEATURES

• A RECIPE FOR THRILLS: MAKING DROP – Join the cast and crew of DROP as they sort through the ingredients of this date gone wrong.
• A PALATE FOR PANIC– Take a seat and devour the details that went into creating Palate, a film set that doubles as a fully operational restaurant.
• KILLER CHEMISTRY – Join Meghann Fahy and Brandon Sklenar as they discuss their characters’ first date and how they managed to keep Violet and Henry grounded throughout the escalation of events.
• FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER LANDON

TECHNICAL INFORMATION 4K UHD
Street Date: June 10, 2025
UPC Number: 191329280621 (US)/ 191329280577 (CDN)
Layers: BD 66
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 2.39:1 Widescreen
Rating: PG-13 for strong violent content, suicide, some strong language and sexual references.
Languages/Subtitles: English, French Canadian, Latin American Spanish
Sound: English (Dolby Atmos for Feature, Dolby Digital 2.0 for Bonus Content), French Canadian (Dolby Digital Plus 7.1), Latin American Spanish (Dolby Digital Plus 7.1)
Run Time: 01:35:18
 
TECHNICAL INFORMATION BLU-RAY^™:
Street Date: June 10, 2025
UPC Number: 191329275856 (US)/191329276006 (CDN)
Layers: BD 50
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 2.39:1 Widescreen
Rating: PG-13 for strong violent content, suicide, some strong language and sexual references.
Languages/Subtitles: English, French Canadian, Latin American Spanish
Sound: English (Dolby Atmos for Feature, Dolby Digital 2.0 for Bonus Content), French Canadian (Dolby Digital Plus 7.1), Latin American Spanish (Dolby Digital Plus 7.1)
Run Time: 01:35:18
 
TECHNICAL INFORMATION DVD:
Street Date: June 10, 2025
UPC Number:  191329275795 (US)/ 191329275863 (CDN)
Layers: DVD 9
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 2.39:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Rating: PG-13 for strong violent content, suicide, some strong language and sexual references.
Languages/Subtitles: English, French Canadian, Latin American Spanish
Sound: English (Dolby Digital 5.1 for Feature, Dolby Digital 2.0 for Bonus Content), French Canadian (Dolby Digital 5.1), Latin American Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Run Time: 01:35:18
 

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE”

Focus Features and Universal Pictures Canada will release DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE in theatres on Friday, September 12, 2025. Today we get a new Trailer!

Synopsis: DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE, the cinematic return of the global phenomenon, follows the Crawley family and their staff as they enter the 1930s. When Mary finds herself at the center of a public scandal and the family faces financial trouble, the entire household grapples with the threat of social disgrace. The Crawleys must embrace change as the staff prepares for a new chapter with the next generation leading Downton Abbey into the future.

Cast: Simon Russell Beale, Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Raquel Cassidy, Brendan Coyle, Michelle Dockery, Kevin Doyle, Michael Fox, Joanne Froggatt, Paul Giamatti, Harry Hadden-Paton, Robert James-Collier, Allen Leech, Phyllis Logan, Elizabeth McGovern, Sophie McShera, Lesley Nicol, Alessandro Nivola, Dominic West, Penelope Wilton, Arty Froushan, Joely Richardson, Paul Copley, Douglas Reith.

Directed By: Simon Curtis
Screenplay By: Downton creator and Academy-Award® winner Julian Fellowes
Produced By: Gareth Neame, Julian Fellowes, Liz Trubridge
Executive Producer: Nigel Marchant

#INTERVIEW: “HEADS OF STATE” – JOHN CENA, PRIYANK CHOPRA JONAS & ILYA NAISHULLER

Releasing on Prime Video Canada this Canada/July 4th holiday weekend, HEADS OF STATE delivers us us megawatt starpower and hilarity in the comfort of our homes. The Action-Comedy sees a former-Actor-turned-President of the United states (John Cena) and U.K. Prime Minister (Idris Elba) in a very public feud that could destroy their countries’ alliance. Both become the target of a very powerful enemy and will need the help of a top-of-her-game MI6 agent (Priyanka Chopra Jonas).

We are lucky to have joined a global press event with HEADS OF STATE stars John Cena, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Director Ilya Naishuller.

The Trio are asked bout the most challenging part of filming HEADS OF STATE.

Cena: The biggest hill was navigating Air Force One and making that beautiful, practical set look authentic to the action. That’s my little piece.

Chopra Jonas: I wasn’t part of Air Force One, but when I read the Script, I was like, ‘How do they attempt o achieve this?’, and we did. To me, I also loved The Beast. I love a good car chase in a movie. We shot it for a really long time. Tomatina was really fun. I was like, ‘Are we really going to the Tomatina Festival? So many set pieces in the movie. It was so much fun to do.

Naishuller: In terms of the sequence and making the pixel perfect tone, it’s the Gopnik fight in the Belarus village. John has some experience throwing people around. You need both Comedy and Action, and one can’t overshadow other. That took a lot of thinking and testing to get that perfect. But technically, I’d say it’s The Beast chase. The interiors are tough because you have four ppl flighting inside a small space. John is a big guy and then you’ve got Idris in there and there’s no space for the camera and you want the punches to feel good. Sometimes they felt a little too good.

Chopra Jonas: John actually felt it on his face!

Naishuller: John got clipped. And then we’d tease Wade Briggs who played The Chef, ‘Take three! Let’s do that again! And this time don’t punch John Cena in the face. John turned and said, ‘I’ve been hit harder by stronger people, but let’s not do that again.’.

Naishuller talks about assembling the perfect Cast for the Film.

Naishuller: I think we’d been shooting John and Idris for two-to-three weeks and then we do the train scene, which is a reintroduction of all three of them together. We’ve got the cameras and John is sleeping on train couch snoring, and Idris and Priyanka have a romantic, quiet, very reserved moment. We talked quite a bit before shooting, but the day of everyone shows-up in costume looking wonderful, Idris slides open door and Priyanka turns around and the camera starts going, and I thought ‘This is gonna be easy’.

The guys spent so much time in prep, the physical aspect, the character aspect. Again, no movie is easy to do no matter the scale, the budget, but having these three is a Director’s dream. I say that, but I have never been as professionally happy as I’ve been the last three years.

Naishuller comments on getting the tone exactly right here.

Naishuller: I love the ’80s and ’90s Buddy genre. The Movie was pitched to me as an Action-Thriller. I thought, ‘Why are you making this an Action-Thriller? Why are they ex-military?’. Let’s make them not as capable. Let’s make John’s character an ex-movie star-turned-president. So he’s got a great comedic perspective on everything. He thinks he knows what he’s doing, but doesn’t and that’s always fun. Getting tone right was a lot of thinking. I’d lay on the couch listening to a lot of music and play the Movie in my head. I have Synesthesia, seeing everything in colour. I always felt it was an orange movie, hence the title is in orange font. It’s great to have a vision and a great idea. I looked at the Credit list, there’s 2,600 people working on this movie and we were all rolling the boat to the same bountiful shore. It was not easy but not particularly hard.

Cena talks about his choice to accept his role in HEADS OF STATE.

Cena: Initially, the origin story of the Movie is the chemistry that Idris and I showed in Suicide Squad. We took a Script made for two badass guys to kick ass in a world of turmoil. Idiris and I both were honest enough to say, these characters need flaw. You have to be vulnerable enough to be able to laugh at your self. A lot of the Film is Comedy and that is the language of the world. Everyone knows how it feels to get a pie in face. The more you can lean into those moments, the broader the reach, the more the audience is entertained. I think we did a good job making the best movie, rather than ‘I want to be the toughest character’. I’d rather be the joke of the whole Movie and have world laugh, and be able to make another one.

Chopra Jonas is asked about the pressure of portraying a woman who must prove she is capable of being able to protect Heads of State.

Chopra Jonas: The Movie was very enticing from beginning. Parts like they this don’t just become, you need someone to conceptualize. The Producers, Co-Actors, Director are men, but they are Feminist men who recognize the muscle of the Film is woman. I thought it was really funny. Women are capable, but the sheer size of me between the three of us was visually hysterical. I felt really safe, taken care of and protected. They wanted to put me and my character at the front and that was very generous.

HEADS OF STATE arrives July 2, 2025 on Prime Video Canada.

#FIRSTLOOK: “THE RUNNING MAN” TRAILER

THE RUNNING MAN IS IN THEATRES, 4DX, PREMIUM LARGE FORMAT AND IMAX ON NOVEMBER 7, 2025! Today we get a new Trailer at this latest film from Edgar Wright!

SYNOPSIS

In a near-future society, The Running Man is the top-rated show on television—a deadly competition where contestants, known as Runners, must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins, with every move broadcast to a bloodthirsty public and each day bringing a greater cash reward. Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards (Glen Powell) is convinced by the show’s charming but ruthless producer, Dan Killian (Josh Brolin), to enter the game as a last resort. But Ben’s defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite—and a threat to the entire system. As ratings skyrocket, so does the danger, and Ben must outwit not just the Hunters, but a nation addicted to watching him fall.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY

George Linder, James Biddle, Rachael Prior, Audrey Chon, Pete Chiappetta, Anthony Tittanegro, Andrew Lary

PRODUCED BY

Simon Kinberg, Nira Park, Edgar Wright

BASED ON THE NOVEL BY

Stephen King

SCREENPLAY BY

Michael Bacall and Edgar Wright

DIRECTED BY

Edgar Wright

STARRING

Glen Powell, William H. Macy, Lee Pace, Emilia Jones, Michael Cera, Daniel Ezra, Jayme Lawson with Colman Domingo and Josh Brolin

#FIRSTLOOK: NASA+ COMING TO NETFLIX

NASA and Netflix are teaming up to bring space a little closer to home. Starting this summer, NASA+ live programming will be available on Netflix.

Audiences now will have another option to stream rocket launches, astronaut spacewalks, mission coverage, and breathtaking, live views of Earth from the International Space Station.

“The National Aeronautics and our Space Act of 1958 calls on us to share our story of space exploration with the broadest possible audience,” said Rebecca Sirmons, general manager of NASA+. “Together, we’re committed to a Golden Age of Innovation and Exploration – inspiring new generations – right from the comfort of their couch or in the palm of their hand from their phone.”
Through this partnership, NASA’s work in science and exploration will become even more accessible, allowing the agency to increase engagement with and inspire a global audience in a modern media landscape, where Netflix reaches a global audience of more than 700 million people.
The agency’s broader efforts include connecting with as many people as possible through video, audio, social media, and live events. The goal is simple: to bring the excitement of the agency’s discoveries, inventions, and space exploration to people, wherever they are.

NASA+ remains available for free, with no ads, through the NASA app and on the agency’s website.

Additional programming details and schedules will be announced ahead of the summer launch.

For more about NASA’s missions, visit: https://www.nasa.gov

#NEWMUSIC: “MILEY CYRUS: SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL” VISIONAL COMPANION COMING TO DISNEY+

“Miley Cyrus: Something Beautiful,” the full-length visual companion to Miley Cyrus’ latest album, will stream July 16, 2025 on Disney+ in Canada.

Teaser here.

Miley continues her longstanding relationship with Disney, following her induction as a Disney Legend, by partnering once again for “Miley Cyrus: Something Beautiful,” a one-of-a-kind pop opera fueled by fantasy, featuring thirteen original new songs from the visual album “Something Beautiful.”

The film is produced by Miley Cyrus, XYZ Films, and Panos Cosmatos in collaboration with Sony Music Vision, Columbia Records and Live Nation, and directed by Miley Cyrus, Jacob Bixenman, Brendan Walter, with cinematography by Benoît Debie.

The visual album premiered June 6 at the Tribeca Festival ahead of its one-night theatrical release in the U.S. and Canada on June 12.

Robust parental controls ensure that Disney+ remains a suitable viewing experience for everyone in the family. Subscribers can set access limits on mature content and create PIN-protected profiles alongside the already existing Junior Mode profiles to give parents and guardians peace of mind.

SOCIAL MEDIA

X: @DisneyPlusCA

Instagram: @DisneyPlusCA

Facebook: @DisneyPlusCA

Hashtag: #DisneyPlus

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 much more. In Canada, it also includes the general entertainment content brand, Star. The flagship direct-to-consumer streaming service from The Walt Disney Company, Disney+ offers an unmatched collection of exclusive originals, including feature-length films, next day TV, documentaries, live-action and animated series, short-form content, and live events. With unprecedented access to Disney’s long history of incredible film and television entertainment, Disney+ is also the exclusive streaming home for the newest releases from The Walt Disney Studios. For more, visit disneyplus.com, or find the Disney+ app on most mobile and connected TV devices.