The names Billy Magnussen and Mackenzie Mauzy may have you scrambling for the IMDB App on your phone, but come Christmas, millions around the World will fall in love with them. The two Actors are in Toronto for a two-day Press Tour in support of Rob Marshall‘s INTO THE WOODS, which is set to pull-in huge numbers at the Box Office.

Being fresh faces among a v. seasoned and well-recognized Cast surely isn’t an easy challenge, but the Pair who play the Prince and Rapunzel in the Brothers Grimm Pastiche strung together by the Music of Stephen Sondheim, actually are quite great.  Fans of the Broadway Music on which this Film Adaptation is based and Movielovers will be delighted by some phenomenal performances by the likes of Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Anna Kendrick, James Corden, Emily Blunt, Chris Pine and several more!  And did we mention just how fantastic Streep is as The Witch? Even she flexes some new muscles here!

Mauzy who is most recognized for her work in Soap Operas like The Bold and the Beautiful and Guiding Light gets the opportunity to utilize her theatre chops and excels.  Magnussen, whom we met while filming The Divide in Toronto earlier this year, is dashing here and expect big things to come as he appears in Steven Spielberg‘s still-untitled Cold War project starring Tom Hanks.

I caught up with Magnussen and Mauzy on one of their stopoffs, Global Television‘s The Morning Show, where they had a friendly couch chat with Liza Fromer.  Despite being in a rush to leave, they still took time out to pose for a quick Photo and Mauzy despite her Handler being clear about her one autograph policy, was giving, signing as she walked her way to her Car.

See the Interview here.

See our Snaps:

Mackenzie Mauzy

The delightful and lovely #MackenzieMauzy, who is brilliant in #IntoTheWoods! #Rapunzel @mackenziemauzy

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Dec 12, 2014 at 8:47am PST

Billy Magnussen

So nice seeing #BillyMagnussen again! Mark my words, he is going to be a huge star! #IntoTheWoods #Rapunzel #Prince @billymagnussen

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Dec 12, 2014 at 8:46am PST

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada release INTO THE WOODS on Christmas Day!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/Marc Hom)

You must see this hilarious sketch from self-professed “Guy’s Girl” Liz (Nick Kroll) from Comedy Central‘s The Nick Kroll Show! Somehow she thinks that James Franco and Seth Rogen‘s new Film The Interview is actually about an assassination attempt on Kim Kardashian. Yeah, no.  You’ll just love her Publicity advice for the Duo.  LOL.

It’s totally NSFW and you might get a bit queasy at the display of affection.  You’ve been warned. Enjoy!

Watch the Sketch below:

Sony Pictures release THE INTERVIEW on Christmas Day.

(Photo/video credit: Sony Pictures)

If there was any one Film gaining rapid momentum this Awards Season, that certainly would be SELMA!  The Martin Luther King Jr. Biopic screened in Toronto last week to rousing reception. Paramount Pictures Canada and Mr. Will want Readers in Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal to witness SELMA before everyone else! Screenings take place on Wednesday, January 7, 2015, our v. first in the New Year!

Official Synopsis:

SELMA is the story of a movement. The film chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition.  The epic march from Selma to Montgomery culminated in President Johnson (Tom Wilkinson) signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement.  Director Ava DuVernay’s SELMA tells the real story of how the revered leader and visionary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and his brothers and sisters in the movement prompted change that forever altered history.

SELMA also stars Carmen Ejogo, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Tim Roth, Giovanni Ribisi, Dylan Baker, Oprah Winfrey, Alessandro Nivola, Wendell Pierce and Henry G. Sanders.

See the Trailer:

Official Artwork:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook.  You may press the “share” button and share with your Friends on Facebook or Re-Tweet the below for an extra chance:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/selma @MRWILLW wants us to #win Passes to see #SELMAMovie in #OTT #YYZ + #MTL. Out 1/9!

Good luck, Willionaire$.

Paramount Pictures Canada release SELMA on Friday, January 9, 2015.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)

Known widely in the early 2000s as the Princess of Hip-Hop/R&B, Ashanti and Murder Inc. ruled the airwaves with an iron fist. Hits like Foolish, Happy, What’s Luv?, Rock Wit U (Awww Baby), Always on Time would go on to define a period of our lives. Although she now may be doing it on her own, Ashanti certainly hasn’t gone anywhere and she now is focusing on her latest – a second Holiday Disc, A Wonderful Christmas with Ashanti. This past week she appeared on ABC’s The View where repeatedly she was photographed on the street looking absolutely stunning.

Although she appeared to be fine in New York yesterday, the Singer and Actress arrived in Toronto being rolled-in on a wheelchair, incognito in sunglasses and a fur hat. Her Mother and Manager Tina  ensured fans were kept a safe distance as she quietly was escorted into her SUV, where she rolled-down her window to sign autographs and we were lucky enough to get one Selfie with the GRAMMY Winner.

Ashanti is in Toronto to perform at FLOW 93.5‘s Big Night at The Guvernment tonight and also features performances from Toronto’s A-Game and The Airplane Boys.

You can stream A Wonderful Christmas with Ashanti in full here:

See our Snap:

The Princess of Hip-Hop/R&B, #Ashanti! In Toronto for @Flow935 #BIGNIGHT. #AshantiDouglas cc: @ashanti

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Dec 12, 2014 at 8:35am PST

eOne Music release A Wonderful Christmas with Ashanti, in stores now.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Despite many Moviegoers being preoccupied with  Holiday Parties and Shopping, 20th Century Fox still manages to debut on-top this weekend with Exodus: Gods and Kings by Director Ridley Scott. Made for $140 million, the Biblical Adaptation starring Christian Bale and Joel Edgerton earns $24 million from 3,053 theatres across North America.  Critics panned the Film with a paltry 27% on the Tomatometer and a B- CinemaScore from Audiences who were more forgiving.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 still is going strong into the Holidays with $12.5 million in its fourth week out for eOne Films/Lionsgate Films. It just surpassed $276 million domestically.

The Penguins of Madagascar is in third spot this weekend, again for 20th Century Fox, with $7.1 million grossed. To-date it has grossed $58 million.

After a debut at TIFF ’14, Chris Rock‘s Top Five garners strong reviews in fourth with a stellar 89% on the Tomatometer and $6.8 million grossed from 979 theatres for Paramount Pictures. An expansion is likely in coming weeks for the Comedy.

Interstellar is in sixth spot this weekend with $5.4 million now in its sixth week out, for Paramount Pictures.

Wild rounds-out the Top Ten with $2.3 million earned from just 116 theatres, a stellar performance for the Fox Searchlight release which also premiered at TIFF ’14.

21-year-old Los Angeles-based R&B sensation Tinashe still might be a tad bit on the obscure to the Mainstream, but if the buzz surrounding her is any indication of what’s to come, don’t tell us we didn’t tell you so!

Just having released her debut Album Aquarius in 2014, Critics from TIME to Billboard all are hailing her Platinum-selling Single 2 On among the year’s best. A Duet Remix of Nick Jonas’ Jealous also has helped her gain some exposure of late.

Best described as a hybrid Alternative-R&B, Tinashe‘s sound is unlike anything we’ve heard, but to see her finally energetic performance on-stage before a packed house at Tattoo Rock Parlour was an absolute pleasure. To say she has a commanding presence would be an understatement. It is only a matter of time before she translates that to an arena-sized Audience. Fans waited patiently, although tested certainly, through an extended DJ Set before Tinashe finally arrived on-stage a belated 11:40 PM.

We had the pleasure of meeting Tinashe who was all smiles and hugs before her show.  Tonight was the second time this year she’s been in the City, after performing alongside Drake at the OVO Festival this Summer.

Check-out 2 On below:

Pretend:

Sony Music Canada release AQUARIUS, now in stores.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Canada and Mr. Will are thrilled to give Canadian Readers a chance to win a copy of Woody Allen‘s MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT on DVD.  Not only this, Winners will get a super-rare Poster signed by EMMA STONE herself!

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS:

Acclaimed magician Stanley Crawford (Colin Firth), has dazzled audiences across Europe with feats of supernatural amazement. But when it comes to explaining the inexplicable, Stanley is a dedicated skeptic. Enter Sophie Baker (Emma Stone), psychic, soothsayer, and stunning seductress. As Stanley and Sophie embark on misadventures up and down the French Riviera, will they discover proof of a world beyond the laws of physics or have they fallen under the sway of a more earthly chemistry? Woody Allen pulls the strings with masterful precision in this enchanting romantic comedy that explores the realm between what is understood in our minds and what is known in our hearts.

See the Trailer:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook. You also may share via the “share” button on Facebook or Re-Tweet the below for an extra chance:
 

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Canada release MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT on Digital HD and on Blu-ray™ Tuesday, December 2, 2014 and on DVD Tuesday, December 16, 2014.

(Photo/video credit: Sony Pictures)

By David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

He may have missed out on a SAG award nomination earlier today, but you should start learning how to pronounce David Oyelowo’s last name come Oscar night.

Oyelowo and director Ava DuVernay took the stage earlier tonight at the TIFF Bell Lightbox to present a special advanced screening of Selma, which chronicles Martin Luther King Jr.’s legendary civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965. If the standing ovation for the actor and director after tonight’s screening was any indication, neither needs to worry about their award chances.

Scheduled to coincide with the 50th anniversary of King’s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance, the sold out crowd marveled at DuVernay’s thrilling dramatization and were treated to a lengthy post-screening Q&A. “It feels like the right time,” DuVernay said about what drew her to making a film about the civil rights activist, noting that there has yet to be a biopic about King at any time since his death in 1968. While the pair shared a number of interesting thoughts and anecdotes about filming, alongside opinions on the timely on-going events in Ferguson, Missouri, the liveliest moment came early on when Oyelowo started speaking with an English accent – initially shocking the crowd who had previously been listening to his near perfect recreation of King’s voice.

Special emphasis was placed on Stephan James, who practically steals the show as civil rights activist John Lewis. The Torontonian actor first met DuVernay at TIFF, later helping him obtain a ticket to her previous film Middle of Nowhere. He reminded her of the gesture during his audition for Selma.

DuVernay also spoke about her deliberate use of slow motion during the film’s most violent sequences. The spectacle is stripped from each of the four specific scenes, allowing the film to “force you to look at this”, instead of turning away or not registering what is being shown.

We’ll have a full review of Selma in the coming weeks, but this sure-fire Oscar contender is definitely a must-see! And for the record, Oyelowo’s last name is pronounced “oh-yellow-oh”.

Paramount Pictures Canada release SELMA on Friday, January 9, 2015.

Many of us grew-up with THE LITTLE PRINCE and it is an absolute dream come true that it now is being translated to the Big Screen for a new generation of Fans! The first-ever Trailer for the Animated Feature just surfaced this afternoon and I challenge you not to get emotional seeing it.

Official Synopsis:

Rediscover one of the most beloved stories of all time. From Mark Osborne, Academy Award® nominated director of Kung Fu Panda, comes the first–‐ever animated feature film adaptation of Antoine de Saint–‐Exupéry’s iconic masterpiece,THE LITTLE PRINCE. At the heart of it all is The Little Girl (Mackenzie Foy), who’s being prepared by her mother (Rachel McAdams) for the very grown–‐up world in which they live – only to be interrupted by her eccentric, kind–‐hearted neighbor, The Aviator (Jeff Bridges). The Aviator introduces his new friend to an extraordinary world where anything is possible. A world that he himself was initiated into long ago by The Little Prince (newcomer Riley Osborne). It’s here that The Little Girl’s magical and emotional journey into her own imagination – and into the universe of The Little Prince – begins. And it’s where The Little Girl rediscovers her childhood and learns that ultimately, it’s human connections that matter most, and that what’s truly essential can only be seen with the heart.

THE LITTLE PRINCE also features the voices of Marion Cotillard, James Franco, Paul Rudd, Benicio del Toro, Paul Giamatti, Ricky Gervais, Albert Brooks and Bud Cort.

See the Trailer:

eOne Films release THE LITTLE PRINCE Christmas 2015.

(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)

Recently voted People Magazine‘s “Sexiest Man Alive”, Chris Hemsworth is ready to be seen next in eagerly-awaited Legendary‘s Blackhat! A Megastar in Asia, it’s time North America also discovered the multi-talented Wang LeeHom who co-stars! Universal Pictures Canada and Mr. Will want to take Readers across Canada to see BLACKHAT first on Wednesday, January 14, 2015 in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg.

Official Synopsis:
Set within the world of global cybercrime, Legendary’s BLACKHAT follows a furloughed convict and his American and Chinese partners as they hunt a high-level cybercrime network from Chicago to Los Angeles to Hong Kong to Jakarta. Directed and produced by Michael Mannl, the film stars Chris Hemsworth, Viola Davis, Tang Wei and Wang Leehom, and it is written by Morgan Davis Foehl and Mann.

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook. In the comments tell me which City you are from and tell me which cybercrime you are against most!

Re-Tweet the below for an extra chance or share this Post on Facebook via the “share” button:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/blackhat @MRWILLW wants us to #win Passes across Canada to see #BLACKHAT! Out 1/16!

Good luck, Willionaire$!

See the Trailer:

Official Artwork:

Universal Pictures Canada release BLACKHAT on Friday, January 16, 2015.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)