Disney+ has announced a release date for an upcoming collection of five Shorts, centering on Baby Groot. I AM GROOT arrives on Disney+ later this Summer.

Synopsis:

There’s no guarding the galaxy from this mischievous toddler! So get ready as Baby Groot takes center stage in his very owns series, exploring his glory days growing up—and getting into trouble—among the stars.

Vin Diesel, who is the voice of Groot in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” franchise, voices Baby Groot. The writer/director is Kirsten Lepore, and the executive producers are Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Brad Winderbaum and James Gunn.

I AM GROOT arrives August 10, 2022 on Disney+.

(Photo credit: Disney)

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES bows big with an $63 million opening for Disney the three-day Memorial Day weekend ($78 million over four day weekend) from 4,276 theatres across North America. Although off the mark of 2006’s Dead Men’s Chest’s spectacular $135 million opening, this still is good enough to make it a clear winner at the Box Office this weekend. It gets a 32% on the Tomatometer and an A- CinemaScore from Audiences. This makes this installment the fourth highest-debuting Film in its franchise.

In its fourth week out, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, VOL. 2 comes out with $20.3 million, a total of $339 million domestically.

Opening in third is BAYWATCH with $17  million for Paramount Pictures from 3,647 theatres. It gets 18% on the Tomatometer and a B+ CinemaScore. It was made for $69 million.

ALIEN: CONVENANT lands in fourth with $11 million, earning $60 million over two weeks for 20th Century Fox.

EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING is fifth with $6.8 million for Warner Bros., a two week tally of $25 million.

Rounding-out the Top Ten is THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS with $1.4 million for a total $222 million in North America over seven weeks.

ALIEN: COVENANT makes it a winning weekend for 20th Century Fox with an authoritative $40 million opening from 3,761 theatres. The latest in the Aliens franchise from Sir Ridley Scott, gets a 73% on the Tomatometer and an B CinemaScore. By comparison, Prometheus, the previous Film in the franchise, opened in 2012 with $51 million.

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, VOL. 2 makes it a close match after two weeks atop the Box Office, with $35 million for Marvel/Disney this weekend from 4,347 theatres.  Thus far it has just surpassed $300 million over three weeks in North America.

In third in its debut is EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING, adapted from Nicola Yoon‘s Young Adult Novel of the same name. It earns $12 million for Warner Bros. from 2,801 theatres and gets a 42% on the Tomatometer and an A- CinemaScore.

SNATCHED lands in fourth with $8.6 million in its second week out for 20th Century Fox. It has earned $32 million thus far domestically.

Opening in fifth is another release from 20th Century Fox, DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: A WIMP WILL RISE with $7 million from 3,157 theatres. The second installment in the franchise in 2011 set an all-time best opening of $23 million for the series. Critics gave it a 19% on the Tomatometer and a B CinemaScore.

HOW TO BE A LATIN LOVER rounds-out the Top Ten with $2.1 million for Lionsgate Films. It is on the cusp of the $30-million-mark.

For a second week straight, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 takes the top spot at the Box Office with a stellar $61.9 million for Disney from 4,347 theatres.  Over two weeks, it has grossed $245 million in North America.

In second this weekend is Mother’s Day-targeted release SNATCHED starring a long-absent Goldie Hawn and Amy Schumer.  It earns $16.5 million from 3,501 theatres for 20th Century Fox.  It gets 36% on the Tomatometer from Critics and a B CinemaScore.

Debuting in third is KING ARTHUR: LEGEND OF THE SWORD with $14.3 million from 3,702 theatres for Warner Bros. It gets a 27% on the Tomatometer and a B CinemaScore.

In its fifth week out THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS slips to fourth with $5.4 million for Universal Pictures. Over five weeks it has earned $215 million.

LOWRIDERS opens in eighth with $2.7 million from 295 theatres for Telemundo Films. It gets 57% on the Tomatometer and stars Melissa Benoist, Demián Bichir and Eva Longoria.

BAAHUBALI 2: THE CONCLUSION rounds-out the Top Ten with $1.4 million for Great India Films.

Besting its predecessor, Marvel’s GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 follows in the leading footsteps of the franchise’s 2014 debut with a $145 million opening from 4,347 theatres across North America. The previous Film opened with $94.3 million. Rotten Tomatoes rates it at 84% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences gave it an A CinemaScore.

In second is three-week champion THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS with $9.3 million for Universal Pictures, just surpassing $200 million domestically this week.

THE BOSS BABY is in third with $5.9 million for 20th Century Fox, a six week total of $156 million.

HOW TO BE A LATIN LOVER, which has yet to open in Canada, lands in fourth with $4.8 million in its second week out. It stars Eugenio Derbez, Salma Hayek, Rob Lowe and Kristen Bell and has made a total $20.2 million thus far for Lionsgate Films.

THE CIRCLE is in sixth with $3.5 million for STX Entertainment, a two week total of $15.2 million.

BAAHUBALI 2: THE CONCLUSION earns $4.2 million for Great India Films, good enough for seventh in its second week.

Rounding-out the Top Ten is SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE with $1.7 million. It has grossed $40 million over five weeks.

It was a star-studded night in the City and the Red Carpet was rolled out for the Canadian Premiere of the hotly-anticipated second installment of Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. Its 2014 predecessor has seen outstanding reception critically and commercially, grossing a stellar $773 million worldwide.

In town for the occasion was none other than veteran actor Michael Rooker whose star in recent years has continued to rise with prominent roles in AMC‘s wildly-popular The Walking Dead as Merle Dixon and now his recurring role as original member of the Guardians of the Galaxy team, Yondu.  The blue-skinned character with a protruding red fin from the back of his head is the last of his species and has the unique power of controlling his arrows with the cue of a whistle.

Taking place at Varsity Cinemas, Rooker along with characters Rocket, Groot and Star Lord, graced the jampacked Red Carpet in fedora and sunglasses, speaking to Canadian outlets about the reprisal of his role. We had the pleasure of speaking with him and asked him about his experiences with two of the internet’s most ardent fandoms to how to perfect a whistle.

Your relationship with Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) changes in this second installment as there is a bomb-drop.  How do you think fans will react?

Rooker: “I really don’t know. I have no expectations. I throw out the dice and let them fall as they may. I’ll see what happens.”.  He adds, “From what’s going on in Europe and other places in the world, they are responding in a very positive way. It’s gonna be a fun, crazy moment.”.

How do you perfect a whistle?

Rooker: “Do you whistle at all?”, he asks. ” There are so many people who can’t whistle and I can’t believe that. I knew how to whistle when I was a kid.” . “The first thing you’ve gotta do is wet your whistle and then just blow air through your lips and tongue and that works. Some people are just hummers.”.

You’ve had the pleasure of starring in two massively popular franchises. What are some of the crazier fan experiences you’ve encountered?

Rooker: “There’s always crazy stuff that you do experience especially if you go to fan events and stuff like that. The fandom is wild.”.  He tells me, “I’ve had guys following me around all day long and I’ll maybe sign a few things for them tonight if I can. But they have been and they’ve been driving their cars trying to track me down. It’s very cool. I’m very impressed with all the fandom.”

See our Chat below:

See some Snaps of from the Red Carpet below! Hover mouse over left and right of the post below to navigate slideshow:

(Swipe left!) Amazing seeing Michael Rooker who plays Yondu in the #GuardiansoftheGalaxy franchise, at the Film’s Canadian Premiere. #Yondu #TWD #MichaelRooker #TheWalkingDead #GOTG2 #GOTGVol2 #GuardiansoftheGalaxy2

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on May 2, 2017 at 4:05pm PDT

Official Synopsis:
Set to the all-new sonic backdrop of Awesome Mixtape #2, Marvel Studios’ “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” continues the team’s adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos. The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill’s true parentage. Old foes become new allies and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics will come to our heroes’ aid as the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” is written and directed by James Gunn and stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, featuring Vin Diesel as Baby Groot, Bradley Cooper as Rocket, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Elizabeth Debicki, Chris Sullivan, Sean Gunn, Tommy Flanagan, Laura Haddock with Sylvester Stallone, and Kurt Russell. Kevin Feige is producing, and Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Jonathan Schwartz, Nikolas Korda and Stan Lee are the executive producers.

See the Trailer:

Our Review, written by Justin Waldman is coming shortly, stay tuned.

Marvel Canada release GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 Friday, May 5, 2017.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Marvel Canada)

True to form, this new sneak peek of GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 delivers the same quirky fun that we loved so much in its first volume!

See the new Sneak Peek below:

Also see the new Poster unveiled today!

Marvel Entertainment Canada release GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 on Friday, May 5, 2017.

(Photo/video credit: Marvel Entertainment Canada)

Marvel certainly knows how to do it big and this morning at L.A.’s El Capitan Theatre we learned through President Kevin Feige not only that Breakout Star Chadwick Boseman (42, Get on Up) has confirmed what we’ve known all along – he’s a Megastar –  the brilliant Actor has been announced to star as BLACK PANTHER!

In addition, several release dates have been confirmed on their Blockbuster Marquee Slate including:

5/1/15 –     AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON

7/17/15 –   ANT-MAN

5/6/16 –     CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR

11/4/16 –   DOCTOR STRANGE

 5/5/17 –     GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 2 (previously dated 7/28/17)

7/28/17 –   THOR: RAGNAROK

11/3/17 –   BLACK PANTHER

5/4/18 –     AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR PART I

7/6/18 –     CAPTAIN MARVEL

11/2/18 –   INHUMANS

5/3/19 –     AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR PART II

Impressive, right?  We’re so waiting on DOCTOR STRANGE casting news, although we certainly aren’t alone in wanting Benedict Cumberbatch to get the assignment!  The thought of 2019 actually kinda scares us on some levels!

Dates of course are subject to change.  Are we excited?

(Photo credit: Marvel Canada)

After making a splash at TIFF ’14, The Equalizer balances its way to the top of the Box Office this weekend with an impressive $35 million from 3,236 theatres in its North American debut. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the Action-Drama reunites the Filmmaker with Denzel Washington after their Oscar-winning success with Training Day.  Although mixed, Reviews were not altogether bad for the Sony Pictures release, garnering 60% on the Tomatometer and an A- CinemaScore which just might help with word of mouth in coming weeks.  The Film, based on the popular ’80s TV Series, was made for approximately $55 million.

In its second week out, 20th Century Fox‘s The Maze Runner finds itself in second spot after a successful debut the weekend prior.  It pulls-in a solid $17.5 million this weekend from 3,638 theatres, cumulatively grossing $58 million domestically thus far.

Moviegoers hungry for some Family content, flocked to see Focus Features/eOne Films’ The Boxtrolls this weekend, earning $17.2 million from 3,464 theatres.  According to CinemaScore, the Animated Feature earns a B+ rating, while Critics gave it a decent 72% on the Tomatometer.  The Movie features the voicework of Ben Kingsley, Elle Fanning  and Toni Collette.

In its second week out, star-studded Dramedy This is Where I Leave You finds itself in fourth spot with $7.2 million for Warner Bros. This brings its two-week tally to $22.2 million, just recouping back its $19 million budget.

Former Champ No Good Deed lands in sixth spot for Sony Pictures with $4.6 million in its third week, just ahead of A Walk Among the Tombstones from Universal Pictures/eOne Films which tallied-in with $4.2 million in its second week out.

A resilient Guardians of the Galaxy is in eighth spot in now its ninth week of release, with $3.7 million earned this weekend.  The Blockbuster from Marvel edges past the $320-million mark in U.S./Canada.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles rounds-out the Top Ten with $1.4 million for Paramount Pictures in its eighth week out.  It edges ever-closer to that $200-million mark.

No Good Deed does plenty nice at the Box Office this weekend, taking the top spot with $24.5 million for Sony Pictures from 2,715 theatres.  The Action Flick starring Idris Elba despite getting only 10% from Critics on the Tomatometer, gets a much better B+ CinemaScore.

Dolphin Tale 2 opens in second spot with $15 million for Warner Bros. with an A CinemaScore and a good 73% on the Tomatometer. By contrast, its Predecessor earned $19 million in its 2011 debut.

Guardians of the Galaxy continues to show great resilience in third spot with $9 million for Marvel in now its seventh week, just surpassing the $300 million mark in North America.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles continues to go well in fourth spot for Paramount Pictures with $5 million this weekend. To date it has grossed $181 million in six weeks.

The Drop opens in sixth spot in limited release after a Premiere at TIFF ’14 last weekend, earning a decent $5 million from 809 theatres.

Rounding-out the Top Ten with $2.6 million is The Giver in its fifth week out with a total $41 million grossed domestically.