ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT! Filmed in Toronto last Summer, we’ve been waited with baited breath not knowing just what exactly Christopher Colombus‘ PIXELS would turn out like. This first glance is just magical! It’s funny, fresh and unlike anything we’ve ever seen!

Synopsis:

When aliens see video feeds of classic arcade games, they misinterpret them as a declaration of war. They attack, using the games as models for their various assaults.

President Will Cooper has to call on his best friend from childhood, video game champ Jules Brenner-turned-home theater installer, to lead a team of old-school arcade gamers on a mission to defeat the aliens and save the planet.

Adam Sandler, Michelle Monaghan, Josh Gad, Peter Dinklage, Jane Krakowski, Ashley Benson and more star.

See the Trailer:

Sony Pictures Canada release PIXELS on Friday, July 24, 2015.

(Photo/video credit: Sony Pictures)

Pacific Northwest Pictures + Mr. Will want to take you to see TIFF ’14 Selection OCTOBER GALE in Toronto and Vancouver!

Official Synopsis:
A killer stalks a remote island in this edge-of-your-seat thriller starring Patricia Clarkson, Scott Speedman, and Tim Roth. Helen (Clarkson), a recently widowed doctor, returns home to her isolated cottage off the Canadian coast to find a stranger with a gunshot wound (Speedman) hiding out from two men intent on killing him. As an ominous storm brews outside, trapping the pair on the island, they must join forces to survive a harrowing night of terror, while navigating the mounting attraction growing between them. Full of hairpin plot twists and unrelenting tension, October Gale is a grippingly suspenseful spine-chiller.

Watch the Trailer:

Patricia Clarkson + Mr. Will:

#PatriciaClarkson at #TIFF14 for #OctoberGale. #NikonD3300

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 11, 2014 at 5:33pm PDT

#ScottSpeedman at #TIFF14 for #OctoberGale. #NikonD3300

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 11, 2014 at 5:35pm PDT

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook and indicate your City!

Pacific Northwest Pictures release OCTOBER GALE on Friday, March 27, 2015.

(Photo/video credit: Pacific Northwest Pictures)

The Black and Blue Carpet was rolled out tonight at Toronto’s Scotiabank Theatre as Mekhi Phifer and Jai Courtney, Stars of Veronica Roth Adaptation The Divergent Series: Insurgent, flew-in for the grand occasion. Filled with Selfie-aspiring Fans and eager Television and Digital Media, the Carpet was adorned in blue lit-panels depicting the five Factions known so well by Fans of  the Franchise. After strong Reviews and grossing over $150 million in North America, expectations are high of this second Installment.

Many know Phifer for his work on long-running, celebrated TV Series ER and  a string of popular Films he made in his early 20s, including O, 8 Mile and Honey. Australian-born Courtney‘s star is emerging quickly with high-profile Roles in Unbroken, A Good Day to Die Hard and recent news of his casting in DC Comics’ Suicide Squad, to film in Toronto next month with a Cast of Heavyweights.

INSURGENT picks-up where Divergent left-off in a futuristic dystopian Chicago. We witness Tris (Shailene Woodley), Four (Theo James), (Miles Teller) and (Ansel Elgort) on-the-run from ruthless Erudite Faction Leader Jeanine (Kate Winslet), who is determined to capture and test the limits of potentially destructive Divergents (those not belonging to any one particular personality type) at all costs – sparing no lives, placing them through a grueling and deadly set of simulations. Jeanine is in possession of a box containing secrets which Tris‘ Parents lost their lives in the name of protecting.  Tris finds herself having to face Jeanine, risking her life for the protection of her People once she is captured. What is the secret which Jeanine is so set on keeping it hidden from Tris and the Population?  And how will Tris survive Jeanine‘s fatal Regime?

At the heart of The Divergent Series are some strong Female Characters.  Legions of  young Women look-up to Tris and we ask Phifer who plays Dauntless Leader Max, about his own Female Role Models. “My Mom first of all”, he says without hesitation, “She was a single Parent who raised me in Harlem. She was a School Teacher who loved the Community – a Choreographer and Dancer. My Mom was definitely an inspiration.”.

Courtney, who just turned 29 this week, thinks likewise, crediting “My mother of course, I think.”.  He adds, “My Sister too. There a lot of strong Women in my life, including some friends of mine.”.

Phifer recounts his transition from a young impoverished Actor, overcoming the odds to make it in Hollywood with a Career spanning 20 years.  We ask what’s changed from then till now for him.  He says, “I’m 40-years-old, a Dad of two and married.  I mean, it’s inevitable.”.  “That’s the beauty of acting – there’s no age limit.  As long as you can remember lines and read, that’s all you need.”.

Our Justin Waldman asks Courtney about his physically-intensive role as Dauntless Leader Eric, who like Phifer‘s Max, reports to Winslet‘s Jeanine. His Character is menacing, in hot pursuit of Tris and Four, playing a Key Role in her eventual surrender to Jeanine. “I was working on Terminator Genisys at the same time as Insurgent”, he reveals.  “It was a lot of Cardio and Circuit Work – boring stuff. It’s what I have to do to prepare for work. It’s like reading or researching for a role, but you have to become a bit of an Athlete.”. “It gets old.”.

And for those curious, Courtney remains tight-lipped about his return soon to the City for the star-studded Suicide Squad with the likes of Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Cara Delevingne and Joel Kinnaman.  “What am I gonna tell you? We haven’t started yet, but we’re getting ready”, he says before hinting “I’m gonna get to use my Australian accent. I can tell you that much.”.

Watch our Video Chats with Phifer and Courtney:

eOne Films release THE DIVERGENT SERIES: INSURGENT on Friday, March 20, 2015.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

While we’re waiting eagerly on BOND 24, better known as SPECTRE, Sony Pictures have been dropping some teases along the way to make the wait more bearable. Released today was this brand new Poster from the Film! Is there anyone more stylish and handsome than Daniel Craig?!?

See it below:

Any thoughts?

Sony Pictures Canada release SPECTRE on Friday, November 6, 2015!

(Photo credit: Sony Pictures Canada)

We loved Hotel Transylvania and are so excited to see this new Teaser for HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2! To be released right before the Halloween madness, this Sequel reunites the voices of the Ensemble we loved so much the first time around.

Official Synopsis:
Dracula (Adam Sandler), worried that his adorable human/vampire grandson Dennis isn’t showing signs of being a vampire, enlists his friends to put Dennis through a “monster-in-training” boot camp. But little do they know that Drac‘s grumpy, old school dad Vlad (Mel Brooks) is about to pay a family visit to the hotel… and when he finds out that his great-grandson is not a pure blood—and that humans are now welcome at Hotel Transylvania—things are going to get batty!

See the Trailer:

Sony Pictures Canada release HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 on Friday, September 25, 2015.

(Photo/video credit: Sony Pictures Canada)

CINDERELLA is Queen of the Ball at the Box Office this weekend! Disney‘s Live-Action Adaptation of their 1950 Animated Classic debuts right at the top with a stellar $70 million from 3,485 theatres!  Made for $95 million, it in no time should recoup its production costs.  Starring fresh-faced Lily James and Oscar Winner Cate Blanchett, the Fantasy got a stellar 86% from Critics on the Tomatometer, while Audiences praised it in unison with an A CinemaScore.

Although a distant second, Warner Bros.‘ Action RUN ALL NIGHT starring Liam Neeson and Joel Kinnaman, opens in second with $11.3 million in its debut from 3,171 theatres. Reviews were mixed at 59% on the Tomatometer, but Audiences loved it with an A- CinemaScore, which could help its second week numbers.

KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE continues to show great staying power in third with $6.2 million for 20th Century Fox.  The Film now is in its fifth week.

THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL lands in fourth in its second week out with $5.8 million for Fox Searchlight.  The Film in North America has grossed $18.2 million thus far.

CHAPPIE slips to sixth in its second week after a debut atop a tepid Box Office last weekend. It earns $5.4 million for Sony Pictures, a two-week gross of $23.2 million.

FIFTY SHADES OF GREY is in ninth this week with $3 million for Universal Pictures, earning a cumulative $161 million thus far domestically.

THE DUFF rounds-out the Top Ten for CBS Films/eOne Films with $2.9 million in its fourth week out.

Right in-time for JUNOs Weekend, TD MUSICOUNTS and NKPR threw a two-day bash not soon to be forgotten!  Homegrown Acts  like The Arkells, Eleven Past One, Karl Wolf, North of Nowhere and more graced the intimate stage at Sheraton Hamilton Hotel’s MacNab Room, gifting TD Green Room Attendees with pure, unadulterated great music.  Tweezerman offered free facial grooming, wildly-popular DAVIDsTEA offered an open hot/cold Tea Bear, while MAC provided the Ladies with Makeovers.  The feel was festive, the sounds were superb.

Wolf, who has been a staple on Canadian Radio for the past decade, performed his popular Toto-interpolated Africa acoustically, plus the Ballad You’ve Got Me.  The Lebanese-Canadian Singer/Songwriter is primed to release his new Album Tuesday, titled WOW via Universal Music Canada.

Although they still are emerging Toronto’s North of Nowhere featuring Teen Singer/Songwriter Connor Ross, who recently won a nation-wide Contest in search of a MUSIC MONDAY Anthem, for the Coalition of Music Education.  The Song We Are One will be released on Monday, May 4, 2015 and we got a sample of it today.  Also in the Soul-Rock Band is Co-Lead Vocalist Duncan Boudreau, who wowed many with his impressive Adam Levine-esque vocals.

Hailing from Bowmanville, Quintet Eleven Past One have had a presence on our airwaves with their Hit The World Is Ours and Wake Up. While we are still enjoying their debut EP released via Warner Music Canada,  they played for us a brand-new Cover of Labelmates Spandau Ballet‘s 80s Classic True acoustically and the response was phenomenal from their three-song Set which they played seated.  The Track is available on the curious SOUNDS OF THE 80s Canadian Pressing which sees the likes of Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran, Christina Perri, Kylie Minogue, Passenger and Birdy covering some of our Faves.  More here.

And awesome was it getting a shout-out from our Boys?

#Repost @mrwillwong with @repostapp.
・・・
Obsessed with these guys! Loved hanging with @elevenpastone at the @Musicounts #JUNOS Lounge courtesy of @natashankpr! Check out their new cover of #SpandauBallet’s “True”. #TDMUSIC #ElevenPastOne

A photo posted by elevenpastone (@elevenpastone) on Mar 14, 2015 at 1:21pm PDT

Check-out Eleven Past One‘s Cover of True:

CTV air The JUNOS Sunday night at 7:00 PM EST, with the likes of Alanis Morrissette, Shawn Mendes, Hedley, Magic!, Kiesza, The Weeknd and more expected!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

She certainly was Belle of the Ball! English Actress Lily James gained international recognition as Lady Rose MacClare on Downton Abbey. But who would’ve known soon after she would land the Breakthrough Role of a lifetime, starring in the titular Character in Disney‘s  ambitious live-action Adaptation of Cinderella?

This new Version of the Disney Classic gives us an elevated sense of romance between Ella (James) and her Prince (Richard Madden), heightened Stepmother (Cate Blanchett) – Stepsister (Sophie McShera, Holliday Grainger) tension and a glimpse into the unfading optimism of Ella, whom despite adversity still chooses to surround herself with beauty. The tasteful CGI is jaw-dropping and this Kenneth Branagh creation is a total visual delight, never once forgetting the very heart of this beloved Tale.

The Red Carpet was filled with Fans and Media alike, all eager for a chance  to see with James, an absolute vision in white. “I’m wearing Dior“, she tells me about her beautiful dress and clutch.

I ask James about what makes Cinderella so timeless in that it continues to resonate in a big way with Audiences today. She tells me, “I think at the heart of the story is the Underdog.  The Girl that deserves everything but has nothing – but is rewarded.”.  She adds, “You can get behind her and root for her. There’s so much heart to it”.

James tells me also the greatest thing she took away from her experience making Cinderella.  She reveals how humbling it was to work with true Greats like Cate Blanchett and Helena Bonham Carter stating, “I learned so much, endless things from Helen and Cate.”  “They’re strong Women – brilliant Actors and brilliant Human Beings.”.  She also reveals that soon again she will collaborate with  Kenneth Branagh, telling us  “Yes, he is going to direct Richard Madden and me in Romeo & Juliet”.  And after seeing this Remake you’ll understand exactly why the Thespian-Helmer is so eager to work with the Duo once again.

Tonight’s Premiere was none short on local star-power. Several Talent walked the Red Carpet in support of this timeless tale including Child Actor Shailyn Pierre-Dixon (The Book of Negroes) who scored a Photo Op with James after handing her a copy of the Book on which her TV Series is based upon, as a gift. Guests also included  Sarah Allen (Remedy), Liz Trinnear (MuchMusic), Jeremy MacPherson (Game of Homes), Genelle Williams (Bitten), Peter Outerbridge (Murdoch Mysteries), Tammy Isbell (Bitten), Tommie-Amber Pirie (Pretend We’re Kissing), Lauren Riihimaki (LaurDIY) and Sara Lynn Cauchon (The Domestic Geek), among others. The Hosts of CTV’s highly-rated The Social: Traci Melchor, Melissa Grelo, Lainey Lui and Cynthia Loyst, also were among those to grace the Red Carpet and chat with us.

Like the Audience tonight, those who see Cinderella in theatres will be treated with the delightfully-cute Short, Frozen Fever, which sees our favourite Sisters on-screen once again planning a Birthday Bash for Anna, all while Elsa experiences in untimely fashion, a… wait for it… cold.

See our Chats with James, The Hosts of The Social, Liz Trinnear, Sarah Allen and Tomie-Amber Pirie below:

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada release CINDERELLA on Friday, March 13, 2015.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Universal Pictures Canada + Mr. Will want you to witness a Horror for the Social Media age, UNFRIENDED! Passes are available for Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.

Official Synopsis:

California teenager Laura Barns (Heather Sossaman) commits suicide when she’s called “a slut” and a “waste of life” after one of her classmates posts an embarrassing video of her online to shame her. Her suicide is also captured on video and posted online.

A year later, an anonymous person uses Laura‘s Skype account to contact six of her friends to demand that whichever one of them posted the shaming video online come forward and admit it. When no one confesses, the anonymous person types “Tell me who posted the video…or someone dies.” When they all claim to be innocent, frightening things begin to occur.

See the exclusive Canadian Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook, tell me your City and about that one time you had to “unfriend” someone.

G’luck Willionaire$!

Universal Pictures Canada release UNFRIENDED on Friday, April 17, 2015.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

eOne Films + Mr. Will want to take Toronto Readers to a Special Screening of CUT BANK with a Q&A with Director Matt Shakman! The Screening takes place Wednesday, April 1, 2015 at 7:30 PM, Yonge & Dundas Cineplex.

Official Synopsis:
Dwayne McClaren, a high school star athlete recently turned auto mechanic, dreams of getting out of tiny Cut Bank, MT – the coldest town in America – and whisking his pageant-hopeful girlfriend, Cassandra, away to the big city. But his plan to do so sets in motion a deadly series of events and thrusts him into a police investigation headed by Sheriff Vogel, the protector of Cut Bank and the closest thing Dwayne has to a father figure. Panic sweeps across the community in mere hours, but things are not what they seem. Cassandra‘s father Big Stan Steeley is the only one who seems to realize this. However, the damage is already done and the events that unfold change Dwayne‘s life – and the life of the town – forever.

See the Trailer:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook.

G’luck Willionarie$!

eOne Films release CUT BANK on Friday, April 10, 2015 on Video-on-Demand and select theatres.

(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)