Acclaimed Director Guillermo Del Toro is back in Toronto once again, now promoting his latest $300-million Robots vs. Monsters Sci-Fi/Action Epic, Pacific Rim which he filmed in Toronto at Pinewood Studios.

In addition to a series of interviews scheduled today, a noticeably slimmer del Toro did some TV appearances including City‘s Breakfast Television, where he not only charmed Host Jennifer Valentyne, but also wowed Fans stopping generously to pose for Photos and sign Autographs. While on a quick break, del Toro did the impossible, coming out to greet Fans and some workers inside the building too. Often the Talent are content resting in their Green Rooms, but del Toro certainly is something special.

The Director/Producer/Writer known best for Oscar-nominated Pan’s Labrynth and Hellboy will pretty much be making Toronto his home for at least a year as he feels TV Series The Strain in the City this Fall, followed by Crimson Peak next Spring. The latter reunites him with his new Muse, Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy). It is said that del Toro held a private screening of Pacific Rim for the Toronto Cast of the Film.

I had the pleasure of filming a week’s worth of scenes as a Background Performer and cannot wait to see it!

See my Snap of del Toro:

Warner Bros. releases Pacific Rim on Friday, July 12, 2013.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Go big or go extinct.

Could we ask for anything more?  Careful not to give too much away still, this brand new Trailer for Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim has just been released, focussing almost exclusively on the War between Monsters and Robots.  In a scintillating display of Action, Destruction and neon-lit Chaos, this Toronto-filmed Action-Adventure looks to deliver on every scale in a big way.

Charlie Hunnam, Rinko Kikuchi, Charlie Day, Ron Perlman, Robert Kazinsky, Max Martini, Clifton Collins Jr. and Idris Elba star.

Watch the Trailer below:

And while we’re on it, news has just surfaced that del Toro‘s next Feature Crimson Peak will begin production in Toronto July 2014.  Let’s roll-out the Welcome Mat for Emma Stone, Jessica Chastain, Benedict Cumberbatch and once again Hunnam!

Warner Bros. releases Pacific Rim on July 12, 2013.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros.)

“To fight Monsters we created Monsters”.

The endless tease continues.  A brand new Poster for what is this Summer’s Must-See Event, Pacific Rim, has just surfaced.  Here we see a giant Robot crushing the City and although it might appear to be doing bad, it is actually being employed to save the World from the attack of Monsters.

See the official Poster below:

Warner Bros. releases Pacific Rim on July 12, 2013.

(Photo credit: Warner Bros.)

“In order to fight Monsters, we had to create Monsters of our own.”.

The Countdown is on to the release of Pacific Rim and Warner Bros. India was first to reveal this brand new TV Spot for one of this Summer’s most eagerly-awaited Blockbusters, from Director Guillermo del Toro! Although brief, there’s tons of destruction and guaranteed Idris Elba‘s line “Today we are cancelling the Apocalypse!” will become so iconic it shall be repeated ad nauseum and (hopefully!) parodied.

Watch the TV Spot in full below:

Warner Bros. releases Pacific Rim on Friday, July 12, 2013.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros.)

We all know Guillermo del Toro loves Toronto, but he really walks the walk in a recent Chat with Collider where he confirms that his next couple Projects are slated to Film in Toronto. Call this City del Toronto if you will. With his epic Pacific Rim, filmed here last Winter, recently greenlit for a Sequel we learned that both his upcoming FX TV Series, based upon his and Chuck Hogan‘s Trilogy of the same name The Strain, begins filming later this year throughout early next year. It is set in a World where Vampires rule and Humans are enslaved. Following that, the likes of Jessica Chastain, Emma Stone Mia Wasikowska, Benedict Cumberbatch Tom Hiddleston and again Charlie Hunnam (who stars in Pacific Rim also) may be here as early as next Spring to begin Production on Crimson Peak.

del Toro tells Collider:

“We’re shooting The Strain in Toronto, Crimson Peak in Toronto, and I love Toronto so much. We’re basically moving there for a couple of years at least. It also has the best cinematheque in the world, the Lightbox. TIFF is amazing, and I’m doing a Hitchcock series every December there. We’re going to do it every December for films by Hitchcock, talking to the audience about them, and doing a little class if you would. It’s a great community.”.

About Crimson Peak, del Toro is v. vague, but does reveal to Total Film:

“It’s the turn of the century. So it’s at the turn of the century and half of the movie takes place in America, and the other half takes place in a crumbling mansion in Cumbria (Northwest England). And basically it’s a ghost story and gothic romance, trying to subvert the rules of the usual gothic romance.”.

Not only did I get to work on Pacific Rim for a week last year doing Background Work, I caught-up with del Toro last Winter as he hosted one of those mentioned Alfred Hitchock Master Classes at TIFF Bell Lightbox.  Here’s a  hint, he quite literally loves that Building and adores Luma, dining there frequently.

Although some finishing touches were applied early March in Toronto with Re-shoots, Warner Bros. at long last releases Pacific Rim on July 12, 2013. I’ll be posting a Post about my week on-set following the release – stay tuned!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

I’m so winning an Oscar for Best Background Performer Ever (!!) for my most powerful  work on Guillermo del Toro‘s Blockbuster Pacific Rim.  Can you find me?  Thanks to Sin Dai for sending this over!

This Scene will be one of the more memorable moments of the Film with Idris Elba delivering a powerful Speech rallying the Troops to fight an invasion of Earth-shattering Aliens.

Just six more months.  Warner Bros. releases Pacific Rim on July 13, 2013.

(Photo credit: Warner Bros.)

This needs to be released like right NOW. Guillermo del Toro has a busy slate in 2013 and in addition to releasing Toronto-filmed Horror Mama, on which he serves as Executive Producer later this month, this July his $300-million Sci-Fi Epic Pacific Rim is set to cause a tidal wave at the Box Office.  As you are aware, I filmed a week’s worth of scenes on the Film last year – even if just in the background – and I’m so super-stoked.

Pacific Rim centers around an impending Alien Attack where Robots are deployed to fight for our lives.  Idris Elba, Charlie Hunnam, Charlie Day, Rinko Kikuchi, Robert Kazinsky, Ron Perlman and Clifton Collins Jr. all star.

Watch the Trailer in full below:

Stay tuned as I have a few Pacific Rim-related Giveaways soon to come!

Warner Bros. releases Pacific Rim on July 12, 2013.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros.)