On the heels of last night’s Canadian premiere screening of TULSA KING in Toronto with special guest Sylvester Stallone, Paramount+ announced today an expanded content offering in Canada, with a robust roster of original and exclusive titles that will begin to roll out this month. With new episodes streaming day and date with the U.S. on November 13, 2022, the service will become the exclusive home of the highly anticipated fifth season of “Yellowstone” from Academy Award® nominee Taylor Sheridan, along with his Paramount+ original series TULSA KING, starring Academy Award® nominee Sylvester Stallone.

New series are being added regularly, including 1923, also from Sheridan and featuring Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford, which is the next installment of the “Yellowstone” origin story that introduces a new generation of the Dutton family and explores the early twentieth century (December 18).

“Paramount+ is rapidly expanding its presence and its content offering globally. We are the only service where you’ll see Sylvester Stallone, SpongeBob SquarePants, Star Trek, and South Park all in one place, and we are proud to offer Canadian audiences a mountain of entertainment for the entire family,” said Marco Nobili, Executive Vice President and International General Manager of Paramount+.

Paramount+ Originals

Subscribers can discover new originals like TULSA KING and 1923 and additional exclusive series and films streaming now that can’t be seen anywhere else such as 1883, MAYOR OF KINGSTOWN, THE OFFER, HALO, SEAL TEAM and EVIL as well as original films such as SIGNIFICANT OTHER, BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD DO THE UNIVERSE and ON THE COME UP, which was an Official Selection at TIFF this year.

Coming up in January, the McLusky family returns in the second season of crime drama MAYOR OF KINGSTOWN (Jan. 15), while new Paramount+ original TEEN WOLF: THE MOVIE (Jan. 26) and new series WOLF PACK (Jan. 26) take a bite out of genre viewing in the new year. Also coming soon, highly anticipated new original series’ GREASE: RISE OF THE PINK LADIES; FATAL ATTRACTION starring Joshua Jackson and Lizzy Caplan; 6666; and Kiefer Sutherland led spy thriller RABBIT HOLE, shot in Toronto.

These join premium international scripted Paramount+ originals produced by Paramount in association with independent production companies in various international markets, including THE FLATSHARE (December 1) from the UK about two cash-strapped London twentysomethings who share a bed, but have never met, based on the best-selling book. Previously announced scripted originals from the UK that will become available include SEXY BEAST and A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW starring Ewan McGregor, and from Latin America and Spain, BOSÉ, the biopic based on the life of the Spanish singer-songwriter Miguel Bosé.

Kids and Family Content:

Paramount+ announced a major expansion to its kids and family content offering in Canada with more than 2,500 hours of Nickelodeon kids and family programming being added by the end of this year. Titles include the brand-new animated series “Monster High” streaming now and TRANSFORMERS: EARTHSPARK (Nov. 11) as well as the debut of feature-length film, “BLUE’S BIG CITY ADVENTURE” (Nov. 18).

The new content joins the currently streaming hit “Monster High The Movie,” a live-action movie musical based on the globally loved and iconic Mattel Monster High franchise about the children of famous monsters and creatures. The film’s sequel, which was greenlit in October, will be shot in Vancouver in January and premiere in 2023. The preschool series “Blue’s Clues” & You!” and the classic “Blue’s Clue’s” join original series like RUGRATS, KAMP KORAL: SPONGEBOB’S UNDER YEARS, “The Loud House” and “Dora The Explorer!”

Paramount+ also offers original series including THE FAIRLY ODD PARENTS: FAIRLY ODDER, iCARLY S1 & S2, and “FANTASY FOOTBALL,” a hilarious and heartwarming father-daughter sports fantasy starring Kelly Rowland and Omari Hardwick (Nov. 25) as well as currently streaming films HONOR SOCIETY and SECRET HEADQUARTERS. The availability of parental controls on the service enables parents to allow their kids to watch worry-free.

Blockbuster Films:

Blockbuster films now streaming include “The Lost City” and “Sonic The Hedgehog 2.” Paramount+ is the one stop streamer for the entire “Scream” film franchise 1-5. Paramount+ is also the home of proven classics “Mission: Impossible,” “Grease,” Transformers,” “Star Trek,” and “The Godfather,” as well as family-friendly selections like “PAW Patrol: The Movie,” “Paws Of Fury: The Legend of Hank,” and the remake of winter classic SNOW DAY, coming soon.

Additionally, Paramount+ will be the home of a selection of new blockbuster films following their theatrical and home entertainment releases, including “Top Gun: Maverick,” which will arrive on the service in Canada in 2022.

Beloved Franchises and Fan Favourites:

Now streaming on the service are full seasons of beloved Paramount franchises, “South Park” (Seasons 1-24), “Star Trek: Discovery” (Seasons 1-3) and the first season of “Star Trek: Picard.”

They are joined by thousands of episodes of fan favourite shows including Inside Amy Schumer, The Challenge: All Stars, Queen of the Universe, Mike Judge’s Beavis and Butt-Head, Ink Master and many more.

Exclusives:

Currently streaming films and first-run series acquisitions from key studio partners include from MGM “Billy The Kid,” NBC Universal “Everything I Know About Love,” LevelFILM “Aline,” eONE “After The Trial,” and streaming Nov. 15 is Moment of Truth (Sony).

Streaming this December is the David Hasselhoff dark, action-comedy thriller “Ze Network” from CBS Studios and Syrreal Entertainment about the fictional story of Hasselhoff’s new lead role in a theatre play in Germany, which plunges him into the centre of an international conspiracy. “Munich Games” a co-production from CBS Studios, Amusement Park Film and Sky Studios, is a high-stakes drama thriller from Germany that tells the story of two agents – one Israeli, one German – who must work together to stop a terrorist attack 50 years after the Munich Massacre. Both CBS Studios international co-productions are distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

Platform Partners

Paramount+ is available online, on mobile devices and on a wide range of connected TV devices via distribution through Apple, Amazon, Google, Samsung, Roku and more.

Pricing:

Paramount+ is getting even bigger, with many additions of blockbuster movies, new originals, and exclusive series, plus a wide variety of hit drama, action, reality, comedy, and kids shows. The Paramount+ competitive pricing in Canada for new subscribers is set at $9.99 monthly or $99.99 for annual users, after a seven-day free trial. ParamountPlus.com for more.

(Photo credit: Paramount/George Pimentel)

Stay Tooned, a six-part series starring prolific voice actor Eric Bauza and produced by the award-winning team at Fathom (A.rtificial I.mmortality, Smart Drugs, My Enemy, My Brother), launches on the free CBC Gem streaming service on December 2, 2022.

Bauza, a Filipino Canadian who voices legendary characters including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety, Marvin the Martian and more, takes audiences on a deep dive through cartoon favourites to see how they shape society and help us understand the social and political worlds we live in. Each episode Bauza meets with friends and experts such as Tara Strong, Cree Summer, Lake Bell, Ken Jeong, Ben Schwartz, Bobby Moynihan, Lamorne Morris and James Adomian to explore race, sexuality, consumerism and political philosophy through the lens of animated storytelling.

“Cartoons have played an enormous role not only in defining my career path but also in helping to mold my understanding of the world around us,” said Eric Bauza. “We all remember the simpler times, when we thumped down the stairs on Saturday morning to watch our favourite cartoons, these magical portals into worlds of imagination and joy. Stay Tooned is both an homage to the cartoons we deeply love and also a deeper look at what they got right and how they could have done better.”

The six episodes will launch at once on CBC Gem on December 2. The episodes are:

Episode 1 – MASTERMINDS, GOONS, & HENCHMEN
Cartoon Villains! We love to hate them, but do we also love… to love them? Ben Schwartz, Angelo Muredda and Lake Bell discuss our love affair with villains in M.O.D.O.K. Batman and Harley Quinn.

Episode 2 – AFTER THESE MESSAGES
Cartoons have tried to sell us stuff since the beginning. Russell Peters, Selma Purac and Lauren Faust discuss how consumerism in shows like Transformers and My Little Pony shaped our childhoods.

Episode 3 – THE RAINBOW WAVE
There has always been queerness just under the surface of cartoons. James Adomian, Nic Sammond and N.D. Stevenson explore queer characters and caricatures in shows like He-Man, Bugs Bunny and She-Ra.

Episode 4 – KNOWING IS HALF THE BATTLE
Stay in school, don’t do drugs, and definitely don’t talk to strangers! Bobby Moynihan, Natalie Coulter and Elamin Abdelmahmoud explore PSAs and messages in G.I. Joe, Jem and Paw Patrol.

Episode 5 – SATURDAY MORNING RACISM
Remember meeting Cleveland on Family Guy or Apu in The Simpsons? Lamorne Morris, Jesse Wente and Domee Shi unpack the past, present, and future of representation in these shows and more.

Episode 6 – AWOOGA
Whether it was Jessica Rabbit or Ned Flanders, cartoons likely shaped your sexual awakening. Tara Strong, Kim Wilson and Cree Summer explore sex and sexiness in The Powerpuff Girls and Drawn Together.

It’s the funniest time of the year! Legendary Toronto comedy institution The Second City is overjoyed to announce its annual slate of hilarious holiday shows at a brand-new location. Don’t miss the lineup of interactive, laugh-out-loud shows at One York Street, where performances begin December 1st. The new facility features three theatres, nine Training Centre studios for student classes and workshops, and food and beverage managed by Oliver & Bonacini. Come begin a new can’t-miss holiday tradition!

Holiday 2022 programming includes:

Jingle Bell Ruckus
Thursdays at 8pm; Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at 5pm & 8pm; Sundays at 7:30pm

The Second City’s Jingle Bell Ruckus delivers a heaping serving of seasonal satire that’s the perfect alternative to those same old holiday shows. Nothing’s off-limits: holiday film classics, family gatherings, beloved Christmas carols, and of course all things wickedly funny about winter get a seasonal skewering in this fast-paced, interactive, original comedy revue filled with style, wit, and plenty of that famous (and festive) Second City improv!

The Second City’s Guide to Surviving the Holidays
Mondays at 8pm; Saturdays & Sundays at 4pm

We guarantee yule laugh a whole latke as The Second City unwraps the most wonderful time of the year in our nut-cracking-est, jingle-bell-ing-est revue ever! Celebrate over sixty years of sketches, songs, and comedic conviviality as the next generation of comedy superstars perform our greatest holiday hits. Plus, The Second City’s famous improvisation means every show is like a snowflake: no two are alike … or are impervious to climate change.

Holiday Improv Brunch
Sundays at noon

From uproarious laughter to limitless libations, The Second City’s Holiday Improv Brunch is the gift that keeps on giving! For 3 weekends only, bring your band of merrymakers as we scramble together two of everyone’s favourites, comedy and brunch, for a scrumptiously seasonal breakfast with a totally improvised experience from the city’s finest. Whether you side on the Naughty or the Nice List, come enjoy mimosas…we don’t judge.

The Second City Mainstage – Home Sweet New Home
Tuesdays – Thursdays at 8pm; Fridays – Saturdays at 7pm & 10pm; Sundays at 7pm

There’s no place like The Second City Toronto! We welcome one and all to our brand-spankin’-new, state-of-the-art comedy complex. Make yourself at home as you take in our cast of top Toronto talent hilariously taking on everything from awkward first dates to game nights gone wrong to gender reveals to the freakin’ multiverse. From improv games to classic sketches to sizzling satire, this interactive experience is the perfect way to welcome you all to The Second City’s Home Sweet New Home … where we’ll make you feel like family (but just the kind we actually like).

Tickets start at $39 and are available at secondcity.com or by phone at 416-343-0011. The Second City Toronto’s new 28,700-square-foot space is located on the third floor of One York, a 35-floor mixed-use Class AAA building located at York and Harbour in Toronto’s vibrant South Core Business District.

Suzette Mayr has been named the winner of the 2022 Scotiabank Giller Prize for her novel, The Sleeping Car Porter, published by Coach House Books, taking home $100,000 courtesy of Scotiabank.

The announcement was made at a black-tie dinner and award ceremony hosted by poet, artist and performer Rupi Kaur and award-winning actress and producer Sarah Gadon, attended by over 300 guests. The gala was broadcast live commercial-free presented by Scotia Wealth Management on CBC, CBC Radio One, and streamed live on CBCBooks.ca.

This year, the Prize celebrates its 29th anniversary.

The remaining finalists, listed below, will each receive $10,000:

Kim Fu for her short story collection, Lesser-Known Monsters of the 21st Century, published by Coach House Books

Rawi Hage for his short story collection, Stray Dogs, published by Knopf Canada

Tsering Yangzom Lama for her novel, We Measure the Earth With Our Bodies, published by McClelland & Stewart

Noor Naga for her novel, If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English, published by Graywolf Press
The longlist, shortlist, and winner of the 2022 Scotiabank Giller Prize were selected by an esteemed five-member jury panel: Canadian authors Kaie Kellough, Casey Plett (Jury Chair), and Waubgeshig Rice, joined by American authors Katie Kitamura and Scott Spencer. On September 6, the jury narrowed down the 138 submitted works to 14 to create the longlist. The shortlist of five was selected on September 27. And just this very morning, the jury met to choose tonight’s winner.

Of the winning book, the jury wrote:

“Suzette Mayr brings to life –believably, achingly, thrillingly –a whole world contained in a passenger train moving across the Canadian vastness, nearly one hundred years ago. As only occurs in the finest historical novels, every page in The Sleeping Car Porter feels alive and immediate –and eerily contemporary. The sleeping car porter in this sleek, stylish novel is named R.T. Baxter –called George by the people upon whom he waits, as is every other Black porter. Baxter’s dream of one day going to school to learn dentistry coexists with his secret life as a gay man, and in Mayr’s triumphant novel we follow him not only from Montreal to Calgary, but into and out of the lives of an indelibly etched cast of supporting characters, and, finally, into a beautifully rendered radiance.”

Suzette Mayr is the author of the novels Dr. Edith Vane and the Hares of Crawley Hall, Monoceros, Moon Honey, The Widows, and Venous Hum. The Widows was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best Book in the Canada-Caribbean region, and has been translated into German. Moon Honey was shortlisted for the Writers’ Guild of Alberta’s Best First Book and Best Novel Awards. Monoceros won the ReLit Award, the City of Calgary W. O. Mitchell Book Prize, was longlisted for the 2011 Giller Prize, and shortlisted for a Ferro-Grumley Award for LGBT Fiction, and the Georges Bugnet Award for Fiction. She and her partner live in a house in Calgary close to a park teeming with coyotes.

Listen to CBC Radio’s q tomorrow for an interview with Suzette Mayr and relive the gala at CBCBooks.ca.

Ask the author your questions about her book during a live Twitter chat hosted by @GillerPrize on Thursday, November 10, at 2 p.m. ET using the hashtag #GillerWinner.

More here at www.scotiabankgillerprize.ca.

Toronto rolled-out the Red Carpet for a legend tonight as Sylvester Stallone made a rare appearance in the City in advance of his Television debut in upcoming Paramount+ Series TULSA KING! The Academy Award-nominated Actor has the distinction of appearing in Films which have topped the Box Office each decade over a span of six decade. With a celebrated career which has seen him front iconic franchises like Rocky, The Expendables and Rambo, the world certainly has a special place in their heart for Stallone, who walked the Red Carpet at a Special Screening of the Series at Scotiabank Theatre, with an Afterparty thrown at gorgeous new hotspot, Marked. The Venue was decorated to pay tribute the legacy of Paramount Pictures classics, with room inspired by #1 Paramount+ Series, YELLOWSTONE. The main bar was a lit by a neon sign reading TULSA KING and there were even Cocktails inspired by Paramount and the new Series.

Stallone completed a round of Press with select outlets, before appearing at the Premiere to introduce the Series before a live audience comprised of influencers and Media. He was joined by wife Jennifer Flavin at his side.

Synopsis:

TULSA KING follows New York mafia capo Dwight “The General” Manfredi (Stallone) just after he is released from prison after 25 years and unceremoniously exiled by his boss to set up shop in Tulsa, Okla. Realizing that his mob family may not have his best interests in mind, Dwight slowly builds a crew from a group of unlikely characters, to help him establish a new criminal empire in a place that to him might as well be another planet.

The series also stars Max Casella (“The Tender Bar”), Domenick Lombardozzi (“The Irishman”), Vincent Piazza (“Boardwalk Empire”), A.C. Peterson (“Superman & Lois”) and Dana Delany (“Body of Proof”).

Some Snaps and a Reel from tonight:

TULSA KING arrives November 13, 2022 only on Paramount+.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount+/Mr. Will Wong)

At long last we get an official Trailer for TIFF ’22 selection GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY!

GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY is in Select Theaters for One Week Only November 23, 2022
and On Netflix December 23, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

Walt Disney Studios Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Advance Passes to see Disney’s STRANGE WORLD!

Screenings take place on Monday, November 21, 2022 in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa and Montreal.

Synopsis:

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ original action-packed adventure “Strange World” introduces a legendary family of explorers, the Clades, as they attempt to navigate an uncharted, treacherous land alongside a motley crew that includes a mischievous blob, a three-legged dog and a slew of ravenous creatures. The voice cast includes Jake Gyllenhaal as Searcher Clade, a family man who finds himself out of his element on an unpredictable mission; Dennis Quaid as Searcher’s larger-than-life explorer father, Jaeger; Jaboukie Young-White as Searcher’s 16-year-old son, Ethan, who longs for adventure; Gabrielle Union as Meridian Clade, an accomplished pilot and Searcher’s partner in all things; and Lucy Liu as Callisto Mal, Avalonia’s fearless leader who spearheads the exploration into the strange world. Helmed by Don Hall (Oscar®-winning “Big Hero 6,” “Raya and the Last Dragon”) and co-director/writer Qui Nguyen (co-writer “Raya and the Last Dragon”), and produced by Roy Conli (Oscar®-winning “Big Hero 6,” “Tangled”), “Strange World” releases November 23, 2022.

To enter for a chance to win, please click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Re-Tweet the Contest Tweet below for an extra chance.

Rules and regulations here.

(Photo/video credit: Disney)

The five world-class illusionists that make up mind-bending theatrical production Champions Of Magic will be back on tour in Ontario following sell out shows across the globe, rave reviews and a run in London’s West End. Catch this incredible show, which is perfect for the whole family, at the Flato Markham Theatre from November 30 to December 1, 2022 Centre in the Square in Kitchener from December 2 to 3, 2022 and the Peterborough Memorial Centre on December 9, 2022.

With more than 50 million online views between them, this cast of top magicians includes international award-winners presenting incredible mind reading, stunning close-up magic and daring large-scale illusions. Their skills have been seen on screen around the world with appearances on The CW’s ‘Penn & Teller: Fool Us’, NBC’s ‘Caught on Camera with Nick Cannon’, ‘The Today Show’ & ‘Access Hollywood Live’.

“You HAVE to check them out! That was tremendous!” – Access Hollywood Live

“That’s incredible… you guys are rock stars” – FOX 8 Cleveland

“I’m amazed… a one-of-a-kind show” – FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth

The Champions Of Magic team perform incredible interactive illusions, an impossible escape from Houdini’s water torture cell, a mind-blowing prediction that has to be seen to be believed, levitation high above the stage and a finale beyond explanation. The show features spectacular magic that can’t be seen anywhere else.

Now’s your chance to see why fans return to see one of the world’s biggest touring illusions shows time and time again. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here.

CHAMPIONS OF MAGIC – ONTARIO TOUR DATES

November 30, 2022 – Markham, ON – Flato Markham Centre

December 1, 2022 – Markham, ON – Flato Markham Centre

December 2, 2022 – Kitchener, ON – Centre in The Square

December 3, 2022 – Kitchener, ON – Centre in The Square *matinee

December 3, 2022 – Kitchener, ON – Centre in The Square

December 9, 2022 – Peterborough, ON – Peterborough Memorial Centre

Upcoming STAR WARS Series THE ACOLYTE is next to come in the fantastical Lucasfilm universe and some casting announcements were made today. The Series already is under production in the UK.

Joining the previously announced Amandla Stenberg (“The Hate U Give”) are Emmy Award-winner Lee Jung-jae (“Squid Game”), Manny Jacinto (“Nine Perfect Strangers”), Dafne Keen (“His Dark Materials”), Jodie Turner-Smith (“Queen & Slim”), Rebecca Henderson (“Inventing Anna”), Charlie Barnett (“Russian Doll”), Dean-Charles Chapman (“1917”) and Carrie-Anne Moss (“The Matrix”).

“The Acolyte” is a mystery-thriller that will take viewers into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark-side powers in the final days of the High Republic era. A former Padawan reunites with her Jedi Master to investigate a series of crimes, but the forces they confront are more sinister than they ever anticipated. 

From creator, showrunner and executive producer Leslye Headland (“Russian Doll”), “The Acolyte”has begun production in the U.K. The executive producers are Kathleen Kennedy, Simon Emanuel, Jeff F. King and Jason Micallef. Rayne Roberts and Damian Anderson are producing. Headland will also direct the series pilot.

(Photo credit: Disney)

For a third straight weekend, BLACK ADAM proves too tough to beat, taking the #1 spot yet again with $15 million from 4,402 theatres for Warner Bros. In its domestic run so far, it has earned $134 million.

Debuting in second is ONCE PIECE FILM: RED for Crunchyroll/Sony Pictures, with $9.5 million from 2,400 theatres. The Animated Feature gets a stellar 95% on the Tomatometer from Critics.

Third is TICKET TO PARADISE with $7.2 million from 3,692 theatres for Universal Pictures, a tally of $45.5 million in its run to date. That’s the power of Julia Roberts and George Clooney in a market missing its Rom-Coms!

Fourth is the resilient SMILE with $3.4 million from 3,221 theatres for Paramount Pictures, a total $98.7 million to date.

Rounding things out is PREY FOR THE DEVIL with $3.3 million from 2,980 theatres for Cineplex Pictures/Lionsgate. It has made $13 million over two weekends.