After MAD MAX: FURY ROAD won Oscars and grossed $375 million worldwide, FURIOSA, the latest in the Franchise, is currently in production in Australia. George Miller also will direct this latest installment which will star Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth and Tom Burke. Taylor-Joy has been prepping mentally and physically for some time to prepare for this. Cannot wait to see her carry this Film!

Synopsis:

As the world fell, young Furiosa is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and falls into the hands of a great Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus.  Sweeping through the Wasteland they come across the Citadel presided over by The Immortan Joe.  While the two Tyrants war for dominance, Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home.

Taylor-Joy was most recently seen in Edgar Wright’s “Last Night in Soho” and Robert Eggers’ “The Northman.”  She also played the lead in the romantic comedy “Emma,” based on the Jane Austen novel.  Her additional features include the sci-fi thrillers “Split” from M. Night Shyamalan, and his follow up “Glass,” in which she reprised her role from the previous film.  She also starred as a chess prodigy in the massively successful miniseries “The Queen’s Gambit.”

Hemsworth is right at home with high-octane action, having starred in the “Avengers” and “Thor” films as well as the recent “Extraction.”  His other film credits include “Bad Times at the El Royale,” “12 Strong,” “In the Heart of the Sea,” “Rush,” “Snow White and the Huntsman,” and “Star Trek,” among many others.

Burke is perhaps best-known for his award-nominated role in Joanna Hogg’s film “The Souvenir,” as well as playing the lead in the popular UK crime series “C.B. Strike.” He also starred as Athos in the BBC series “The Musketeers,” appeared in such feature films as Nicholas Winding Refn’s “Only God Forgives,” and played famed filmmaker Orson Welles in David Fincher’s Oscar-winning “Mank.”

Miller penned the script with “Mad Max: Fury Road” co-writer Nico Lathouris and produces alongside his longtime partner, Oscar-nominated producer Doug Mitchell (“Mad Max: Fury Road,” “Babe”).  Miller’s behind-the-scenes creative team includes such longtime Australian collaborators as production designer Colin Gibson, editor Margaret Sixel, sound mixer Ben Osmo, costume designer Jenny Beavan and makeup designer Lesley Vanderwalt, each of whom won an Oscar for their work on “Mad Max: Fury Road,” as well as first assistant director PJ Voeten and second unit director and stunt coordinator Guy Norris.  The director of photography is Simon Duggan (“Hacksaw Ridge,” “The Great Gatsby”).

More details to come. Warner Bros. Pictures Canada will release.

(Photo credit: Warner Bros.)

Bill Skarsgård and Georgina Campbell star in BARBARIAN, which will make you question ever booking a rental home ever again. Here’s the new Trailer.

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 judgement, 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, Kurt Braunohler and Jaymes Butler. The film was written and directed by Zach Cregger. The producers are Arnon Milchan, Roy Lee, Raphael Margules and J.D. Lifshitz. Michael Schaefer, Natalie Lehmann, Danny Chan, Alex Lebovici and Bill Skarsgård are the film’s executive producers.

20th Century Studios Canada release BARBARIAN Wednesday, August 31, 2022.

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

Hayden Christensen and Director Deborah Chow (The Mandalorian, Mr. Robot) got a hero’s welcome back to Toronto tonight at a special six-hour Marathon Screening of the Series STAR WARS: OBI-WAN KENOBI at Scotiabank Theatre with an Intro and Q&A!

Fans queued for a chance to see the Series star, who reprises his role of Anakin Skywalker in the Series, along with Chow, who directs the Limited Series! Both are proudly Torontonian. And Fans surely weren’t disappointed, getting lots of facetime with them.

Christensen and Chow wrapped-up a two-day Press Tour in Toronto which concluded with a post-marathon Q&A where they answered fan questions, moderated by Toronto Film Critic and TV Personality, Richard Crouse.

Chow, who had directed two episodes of The Mandalorian, reveals that her favourite moment of this new Star Wars Series, is Episode Six and all the build-up that brought her to the Finale. Christensen, reveals that Ewan McGregor‘s performance as the Titular Character and what he brought to his character, is his favourite thing about the Series.

ABOUT STAR WARS: OBI-WAN KENOBI:

“Obi-Wan Kenobi” begins 10 years after the dramatic events of “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith” where Obi-Wan Kenobi faced his greatest defeat—the downfall and corruption of his best friend and Jedi apprentice, Anakin Skywalker, who turned to the dark side as evil Sith Lord Darth Vader.

Carousel:

Some more Snaps of the festivities:

STAR WARS: OBI-WAN KENOBI streams now, only on Disney+.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Disney)

You’ll probably not even recognize him, but you know and love him. Trust. Legendary Hitmaker Max Martin is in Toronto for Mirvish’s Production of & Juliet! After a successful run in London’s West End, Toronto is so lucky to get to see the Musical, which asks what would’ve happened if she didn’t end it all for Romeo?

Martin is responsible for the most iconic Pop Hits of our time. And not just one. Several!

…Baby One More Time
As Long As You Love Me
I Want it That Way
Bang Bang
Break Free
Blinding Lights
California Girls
DJ Got Us Fallin in Love
Dynamite
Hot N Cold
I Kissed a Girl
It’s Gonna Be Me
Lucky
Love Me Harder
Oops!… I Did it Again
Part of Me
Quit Playing Games (with my Heart)
Roar
Save Your Tears
Shake it Off
Show Me Love
Since U Been Gone
Style
Teenage Dream
That’s The Way It Is
U + Ur Hand
Who Knew
(You Drive Me) Crazy

You try picking a favourite from this partial list of hits he’s responsible for penning! I love all these songs and I’m sure you do too!

This was an incredible honour. I don’t think he’s used to being recognized as he is so humble, but as a lover of Pop, he is an Idol! Even more important than the stars he’s worked with!

About & Juliet

Set against a Soundtrack of megahits by Martin, & Juliet is from Emmy-winning Writer of Schitt’s Creek David West Read, with Choreography by Jennifer Weber, and Director Luke Sheppard.

& Juliet runs at Princess of Wales Theatre from June 22 – August 14, 2022.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

We’ve got something for you if you love grisly! Check-out the new Trailer for SMILE.

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS

After witnessing a bizarre, traumatic incident involving a patient, Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon) starts experiencing frightening occurrences that she can’t explain. As an overwhelming terror begins taking over her life, Rose must confront her troubling past in order to survive and escape her horrifying new reality.

STARRING

Sosie Bacon, Jessie T. Usher, Kyle Gallner, Robin Weigert, Caitlin Stasey with Kal Penn and Rob Morgan

Paramount Pictures Canada release SMILE in theatres SEPTEMBER 30, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)

After their acclaimed work together in BEING THE RICARDOS, Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem join forces again and have been added to the Cast of upcoming Animated Musical Feature, SPELLBOUND.

More details:

Kidman will be voicing the role of ‘Ellsmere,’ the kind and just, yet hyper-precise Queen of Lumbria; and Bardem will voice ‘Solon,’ the boastful yet big-hearted King of Lumbria. Together, they are the parents of ‘Princess Ellian’ (voice by West Side Story’s Rachel Zegler), who they join on her daring quest to save her family and kingdom after a mysterious spell transforms them into monsters and threatens to cover Lumbria in darkness forever. 

Also joining the cast is multi-award winner John Lithgow (“Sharper,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Bombshell”), who will provide the voice for ‘Minister Bolinar,’ and Jenifer Lewis (“The Princess and the Frog,” “Black-ish,” “I Love That For You”) who will provide the voice for ‘Minister Nazara Prone,’ both royal advisors to Princess Ellian. Ellian seeks out The Oracles of the Sun and Moon, voiced by Nathan Lane (“The Lion King,” “The Producers,” “The Birdcage”) and Emmy Award winner André De Shields (“tick, tick…BOOM!,” “Hadestown,” “Extreme Measures”), to break the spell on her parents and the kingdom. Throughout her journey, Ellian meets several characters who help her, including ‘Callan,’ a young nomad, voiced by Jordan Fisher (Broadway’s “Dear Evan Hansen,” “Hello, Goodbye and Everything in Between,” “To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You”).

“Spellbound” is directed by Vicky Jenson (“Shrek”) and written by Lauren Hynek & Elizabeth Martin and Linda Woolverton. The original score and songs for the film hail from Academy Award-winner Alan Menken, with song lyrics by Glenn Slater. Chris Montan serves as executive music producer. John Lasseter, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and David Lipman are producing for Skydance Animation.

More to come. Apple TV+‘s first-ever Animated Feature, LUCK arrives on the service August 5, 2022.

With just a few days to go till its release, here’s a look back at last Friday’s Exclusive Canadian Screening of ELVIS which took place at TIFF Bell Lightbox. Visionary Filmmaker Baz Luhrmann and stars Austin Butler and Olivia De Jonge, who play Elvis and Priscilla Presley respectively graced the Red Carpet – the first time the Film screened publicly ever in Canada.

Fans queued for hours for a chance to get Selfies, autogprahs and meet the Film’s stars and Luhrmann. And one lucky fan won a Gibson SJ-200 guitar worth more than $6,000 just in time to have it signed by the stars, making for the ultimate keepsake!

A lot of detail went into the Red Carpet set-up and Warner Bros. Pictures Canada state that 150+ lightbulbs were installed, with a nod to the carnival-themed spectacle in the Film; a 13 ft-high film-branded backdrop; and a carpet that ran a whopping 100 feet throughout TIFF Bell Lightbox lobby.

A historical note: Elvis‘ first show ever in Toronto was at the iconic Maple Leaf Gardens – where Loblaws now is located at Carlton and Church – back in 1957, before shows in Ottawa and Vancouver.

In case you missed it, we caught Luhrmann, Butler and De Jonge on the Morning Show circuit during their visit here.

Our Review of ELVIS from Cannes here. The Film is sitting at 80% on the Tomatometer currently, a FRESH rating.

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release ELVIS Friday, June 24, 2022.

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

Just released this past weekend, IRON CHEF: QUEST FOR AN IRON LEGEND is Competition Television at its finest! We loved IRON CHEF, but in all honesty, haven’t watched it in years. This latest installment in the Franchise pits new up-an-coming Chefs against five esteemed and accomplished Iron Chefs:

And is it ever thrilling! New secret ingredients, true to form, are revealed every episode and the one up-and-coming Chef is pit against one Iron Chef to make a multi-course meal for our panel of judges. The results are breathtaking, craveworthy and drool-inducing. More than ever before we get an inclusive Cast and the real touching stories behind these Chefs and their passion for food. The Challenger is up to win the title of IRON LEGEND, a first of its kind, and wins the Golden Knife!

The Competition culminates in the most successful Challenger going up against ALL FIVE Iron Chefs. Mindblowingly-good. I need a second season. Next time I visit New York, I must try Challenger Esther Choi‘s MOKBAR after seeing her amazing Kimchify-ing of her food! Instant fan.

Really love the thoughtful adjudication by our panel of Judges including Nilou Motamed and Andrew Zimmern, plus one new special guest on each episode! Hosts Kristen Kish and Alton Brown also deliver some smart commentary and banter that make this such a joyful watch.

All eight episodes of IRON CHEF: QUEST FOR AN IRON LEGEND are out now on Netflix.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

In antiticipation of the super-sized Finale to STRANGER THINGS 4, here’s a first look at the Trailer for the last two episodes, set against a new re-working of Kate Bush‘s “Running Up That Hill” which is enjoying an unforeseen emergence again, hitting #1 in the UK and Top Five in the U.S.

Synopsis:

The super-sized, epic conclusion of Stranger Things 4 premieres July 1, 2022
with Episodes 408 and 409, only on Netflix.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

Beyoncé goes House on this brand new track from her upcoming RENAISSANCE Album! “Break My Soul” is about to get us dancing once again! That’s LGBTQ2S+ Trailblazer Big Freedia you’re hearing in the background also! A timely celebration of Pride!

Renaissance arrives July 29, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Sony Music Entertainment)