Robbie Amell
#GIVEAWAY: ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN ADVANCE PASSES TO SEE “RESIDENT EVIL: WELCOME TO RACCOON CITY”
Elevation Pictures x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Advance Passes to RESIDENT EVIL: WELCOME TO RACCOON CITY. We are giving you two chances to see it. One, an Advance Screening in Toronto November 24, 2021 with a Q&A with star Robbie Amell in-attendance. We also will have Cineplex Passes to see it in theatres across Canada!
Synopsis:
Returning to the origins of the massively popular RESIDENT EVIL franchise, fan and filmmaker Johannes Roberts brings the games to life for a whole new generation of fans. In RESIDENT EVIL: WELCOME TO RACCOON CITY, once the booming home of pharmaceutical giant Umbrella Corporation, Raccoon City is now a dying Midwestern town. The company’s exodus left the city a wasteland…with great evil brewing below the surface. When that evil is unleashed, a group of survivors must work together to uncover the truth behind Umbrella and make it through the night.
To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate your City. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet below for an extra chance.
Rules and regulations here.
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Elevation Pictures release RESIDENT EVIL: WELCOME TO RACCOON CITY November 24, 2021.
(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)
#FIRSTLOOK: 2021 FAN EXPO LIMITED EDITION TORONTO
While Fan Expo looked a little different this year, fans still were able to enjoy the three day event safely amidst our current climate. The three-day event took place this weekend at Metro Toronto Convention Centre, bringing together fans of Comics, Sci-Fi, Horror, Anime, and Gaming together under one roof with a chance for them to meet some of their idols. The event was modified to a Limited Edition version this year, working around safety guidelines and restrictions/caps. It normally draws hundreds of thousands of people every year when at full capacity.
While there were several guest cancellations this year due to uncertainty and changes in scheduling, fans still were able to feast on an exciting array of programming and stars including the likes of Kit Young, GeorgeTakei, Robert Patrick, Melanie Scrofano, Robbie Amell, Stephen Amell, James Marsters, Italia Ricci, Trailer Park Boys (including a fun #Swearnet backdrop seen above for fans to pose at), Christopher Eccleston… and of course the legend himself William Shatner, fresh off his successful mission to space, giving him the distinction of being the oldest person ever to visit it.
George Kozera from Team Mr. Will and I were able to check-out some of the thrills and sit-on (literally on the floor) on some of the exciting Q&As with the talent. George even got to ask Shatner a question!
Some highlights and quotes:
ITALIA RICCI
This former Supergirl star, hailing from Richmond Hill, Ontario is connected to a few superheroes, being married to Robbie Amell (The Flash) who is a cousin of Stephen Amell (Arrow) – the latter married to Cassandra Jean, also who has starred in Arrow. When asked about her family being like a mini Comic-Con, she says “Well, none of us got the keep the costumes. Maybe Stephen, I don’t know. But yeah, it’s been fun. Supergirl shoots in Vancouver, but when I shot season one, it was on the Warner Bros. lot. But I had a lot of fun and didn’t think they would kill me. I thought ‘I’m coming back for sure!'”. Ricci also filmed Designated Survivor here in Toronto and when asked about McDonald’s vs. Pizza, she says she takes her son almost daily to McDonald’s right now, although she admittedly still hasn’t found amazing Pizza in the City just yet. Her hunt continues.
JAMES MARSTERS
The most fascinating tidbit revealed during the Q&A session with Marsters (Spike on TV’s BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER) was that the Producers of the Show were unhappy with the success of the Angel character and that the audience attention was drawn-away from Buffy. Originally hired for a five to ten episode storyline (it stretched to 97 episodes), Marsters said ” I would have fired myself to keep the integrity of Buffy intact.”.
WILLIAM SHATNER
At 90 years young, the iconic, natural-born raconteur William Shatner greeted the crowd with “Hello, fellow Canadians” where he quickly added, “I haven’t been able to say that in a long time” and entertained the rapt and adoring crowd with stories of his childhood growing up in Montreal, living in Toronto on Sherbourne Street as a struggling Actor trying to find work and living on his one inexpensive meal at the Sherbourne Hotel. When I asked him about his experience working in JUDGEMENT AT NUREMBERG he replied, in part, “Imagine being a youngActor, sitting on a bench and watching icons like Judy Garland and Spencer Tracy perform”. He promoted his new album “Bill“, then spoke at length of his recent space flight on Jeff Bezos‘s rocket and likened the darkness he saw to death itself. There was only a very brief mention of STAR TREK (while never mentioning the title), none of BOSTON LEGAL (for which he won his only Emmy,) but it didn’t matter; Shatner owned the room!
CHRISTOPHER ECCLESTON
Watching Christopher Eccleston at his Q&A was revelatory. He was self-effacing (“I am the worst Marvel villain ever” and “My dad said to me:you finally get a job in Hollywood and you play the invisible man?”), brutal honest (he spoke of his one season as DOCTOR WHO as contentious and hated the direction that the BBC wanted to Series to proceed. However, he also mentioned two episodes that contained some of his best work ever due to the exceptional Script and, in hindsight, would have liked to have done one more year to correct the acting mistakes he felt he made). Highly complimentary of other Actor’s work (“I don’t envy the next Actor who steps into the shoes of James Bond after what Daniel Craig has done in the past 15 years” but didn’t think he’ll ever get a chance to play the character “not with these ears!”) and comparing Toronto lovingly with his hometown of Manchester.
STEPHEN & ROBBIE AMELL
These Toronto born first cousins admitted they were not very close growing up (Stephen: “I was 13 years old. He was 6. He had little in common”), but eventually bonded when they discovered their mutual love of acting. Whereas Stephen was saddened when ARROW ended its TV run, he was excited about exploring new opportunities and then the pandemic hit and “nothing!!!” though he is thrilled with his new HBO show HEELS. Robbie was thrilled to report that the second season of CODE 8: PART ll is back in production and is currently being filmed in Toronto. The chemistry between the Amell boys was infectious and giddy to watch!
Some more Snaps from the event:
Some exciting Cosplay at Fan Expo Limited Edition 2021!
To learn more about FAN EXPO, visit here. This was fun, and thrilled to days ahead when it returns to its regular capacity!
(Photo/video credit: George Kozera/Mr. Will Wong)
#FIRSTLOOK: “FLOAT” BEGINS PRODUCTION IN VANCOUVER
Collective Pictures, Wattpad WEBTOON Studios, and Brightlight Pictures team together with Lionsgate on an upcoming adaptation of FLOAT, based on Kate Marchant’s hit Wattpad romance of the same name. The Film will star Robbie Amell and Andrea Bang, with filming having begun this week in Vancouver.
The exciting and diverse ensemble cast includes Andrew Bachelor (Greenland, Vacation Friends), Rukiya Bernard (Van Helsing, Nancy Drew), Michelle Krusiec (Hollywood, Hawaii Five-O), Sarah Desjardins (Riverdale, Van Helsing), Ghazal Azarbad (Kim’s Convenience, Charmed), and Tristan Arthurs (Kung Fu).
Synopsis:
In a spontaneous act of defiance, pre-med bound Waverly (Bang) makes a summer detour to a sunny beach town, where she finds herself dragged into the riptide of a stubborn but charming local named Blake (Amell). Things heat up when Blake learns Waverly can’t swim and offers to teach her. Surprisingly, the two seemingly opposites start to fall in love and Waverly has to decide between her pre-planned future or following her heart.
More details to come!
(Photo credit: Wattpad)
#SPOTTED: ROBBIE AMELL IN TORONTO FOR “CODE 8”
Robbie Amell (The DUFF, The Babysitter) gets a big welcome home! The Actor/Producer born in Toronto and now based in L.A., returned here to promote his latest Film, CODE 8. The Film has him starring as a man with special powers who clashes with the militarized police force after a petty crime. Filmed in Toronto, the Film also stars his cousin Stephen Amell (Arrow). The Film was crowdsourced by Fans, exceeding ten times the asking amount in donations!
See the Trailer:
In addition to Press today, Amell will be presenting to Film to Fans tonight at a Special Screening of Code 8. We spotted him out and about earlier this morning, including a stop at KISS 92.5. Amell looked sharp, getting into his Range Rover before getting off to an appearance at Breakfast Television.
See our Snap!
Elevation Pictures release CODE 8 Friday, December 7, 2019 in select theatres and on-demand and digitally Friday, December 13, 2019.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Elevation Pictures)
#GIVEAWAY: ENTER TO WIN ADVANCE PASSES TO SEE “CODE 8” WITH ROBBIE AMELL IN-ATTENDANCE
Elevation Pictures x Mr. Will want to give Readers in Toronto a chance to win Advance Screening passes to see CODE 8, with star Robbie Amell in-attendance. The screening takes place Wednesday, December 4, 2019 in Toronto at Cineplex Yonge & Dundas. Winners also will receive promotional socks and shot glasses from the Movie!
Synopsis:
In a world where 4% of the population is born with varying supernatural abilities, a desperate young man possessing special powers clashes with a militarized police force after committing a series of crimes. Based on the short film.
Starring: Stephen Amell & Robbie Amell
Directed by: Jeff Chan
To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet from @mrwillw for an extra chance!
Rules and regulations here.
Elevation Pictures release CODE 8 in theatres Friday, December 7, 2019 and on-demand Tuesday, December 13, 2019.
(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)
#INTERVIEW: ROBBIE AMELL + ITALIA RICCI IN TORONTO FOR “THE DUFF”
In case you didn’t know what a DUFF is, the new Film Adaptation of the Novel by Kody Keplinger is about to do what Mean Girls did for the term “fetch”. The Teen-Comedy centers on charismatic and aspiring young Writer Bianca (Mae Whitman), whose world crumbles one day when hunky jock and potential Homecoming King Wesley (Robbie Amell) tells her that all along she has been “The DUFF” in her friendship with her BFFs Casey (Bianca Santos) and Jessica (Skyler Samuels). That is, she is the approachable one who guys use to get closer to her attractive friends. Hence, DUFF = Designated Ugly Fat Friend.
Despite some denial initially, quickly Bianca ends her friendships with Casey and Jessica after this realization. She seeks to carve her own identity, striking a deal with a Chemistry-failing Wesley to help him improve his grades should he help her transition out of DUFF-ness with a makeover. The two childhood friends begin to form a connection, rekindling some of that bond they had as next-door neighbours when little. One wrench in the plans: Manipulative and judgmental “Queen Bee” Madison (Bella Thorne) is out to win back Ex-Boyfriend Wesley. Another hitch, Bianca is a little bit torn as she has feelings for guitar-playing Toby (Nick Eversman), while grappling with her growing feelings for Wesley.
After years in supporting turns, Mae Whitman (The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Arrested Development) shines bright in The DUFF with a smart and engaging performance as Bianca. Amell also is funny and irresistible the more the Story progresses and the layers of vulnerability are peeled.
Amell and Fiancée Italia Ricci, both from Toronto, got a Homecoming King and Queen’s welcome home tonight at Scotiabank Theatre, with a Red Carpet Canadian Premiere for The DUFF, which had the Audience chuckling. Their proud Families also came out to show their support, stopping to pose for a group Photo.
We chat quickly with Ricci and Amell about their own Homecoming and their lives growing up in Toronto. Ricci, we learn, grew-up in Newmarket, while Amell went to Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute.
Ricci: “I didn’t have a Prom Date in High School. I was definitely a bit weird. I went through a witchcraft phase and a dreadlock phase. I had friends I made towards the end of High School. They’re here tonight and they’re still here. I think The DUFF does a really good job making you realize High School is only as daunting as you make it.”.
On the recent second Season renewal of ABC Family Series in which she stars, she tells us “It’s about April, who’s 24-years-old. She’s diagnosed with Lieukemia and forced to navigate her world – her job, love life and friends. It’s all about hope and never giving up.”.
Amell: “I had good friends, good grades and I played a lot of sports (in High School). But everyone has had their DUFF moments. I had bad skin in High School, so that was my confidence thing.”. “The whole thing about being a DUFF isn’t so much what someone labels you. It’s more your frame of mind.”.
On his Character Wesley, the quickly-rising The Flash Star admits, “I definitely relate to Wesley about the time you cross 35% of the way into this Movie. He starts off a dumb jock and I was a bit worried this was how his Character would be throughout.”. “Then you get to know him and you get to see he has a big heart.”.
Watch our Chats with Ricci and Amell:
Attending The DUFF‘s Premiere held more than one significance for me. In Grade 12, a big part of my year was looking forward to Graduation and of course, Prom Night. Without a part-time job and knowing I couldn’t really afford the rental Tux, tickets nor cab ride for that matter, my Mom secretly went to my Guidance Counselor while I was in class and in her broken English, managed to purchase a pair of Prom Tickets, knowing my excitement for it. As soon as I found out I had tickets after getting pulled-in to see the Guidance Counselor (I thought I was in trouble!), I was overjoyed and knew exactly who I’d ask as my date – one of my Best Friends Dani, who was ahead of me a year. I had fast-tracked ahead to an OAC (Grade 13) Sociology Course and remember having the most amazing time sitting beside her in class. She was so bright, pretty, eloquent and a strong character – actively involved in many extra-curricular activities, like Student Council. We would make each other Mix Tapes and to this day I can remember all the songs she recorded for me. She gave me an eclectic mix ranging from R.E.M. to Rod Stewart. Mine to her usually had Madonna on them – which actually is kinda hilarious considering how age-inappropriate her Music was.
Although I was extremely appreciative of my Mom’s gesture, I felt terrible the more I thought about what sacrifice going to the Prom meant for my Parents. I knew my Mom already was on Disability at work from an injury. My Dad was recovering from his Heart Attack and at a financial loss after he had to give up his dreams of owning a Restaurant since falling ill. Despite my efforts fundraising for my Vocal Jazz Ensemble’s trip to Banff, any remaining savings I had went already to that Trip. My Parents also were paying for my boarding at the time since they had just bought a new home, meaning I would have had to change High Schools for my final year – something I wasn’t willing to do since I loved my School so much.
I came to realize that attending Prom wasn’t going to be a reality and I had to break the news to Dani that I would refund the tickets and give the money back to my Mom. So back I went to see my Guidance Counselor, begging for her to refund the non-refundable Tickets. Word caught-on and all the Teachers were talking about it. My History Teacher Mr. Foy, commended me in class for being what he thought was “noble”. Dani handled it so well and it never sat well with me that I couldn’t deliver my promise.
The Premiere tonight gave me a chance to do something I’d wanted to do since High School and after getting the invite to cover the Red Carpet, I knew who exactly I’d be bringing as my Guest if she happened to be free!
And she said “yes”!!
See our Prom Photos from tonight:
And guess who joined one of our many Do-Over Prom Photos? ROBBIE AMELL!!!
Epic.
eOne Films release THE DUFF on Friday, February 20, 2015.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong | Photos taken on Nikon D3300)
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