The finish line is in sight for TIFF ’23 but we’re still out and about! We spotted Ava DuVernay doing the rounds earlier! The history-making Oscar-nominated BAFTA and Primetime Emmy winner looked stunning earlier and was so lovely to stop for a snap! Her film ORIGIN was a late add to the lineup at TIFF ’23.

Shortly after, we saw Oscar-nominated Actress Salma Hayek Pinault arriving to her Red Carpet for SABOR DE LA NAVIDAD. In a rush to get to her interviews, she didn’ stop at the barricade for her fans. She serves as Executive Producer for the Film.

Also, a huge joy witnessing Chloe Domont‘s feature directorial debut FAIR PLAY. This is definitely one of the best things I’ve seen so far at TIFF ‘23. Alden Ehrenreich and Phoebe Dynevor play a couple who after getting engaged, live through a power struggle when one of them gets promoted at work. So wonderful seeing Domont at the Roy Thomson Hall Premiere tonight.

Please seeing Viggo Mortensen still here for THE DEAD DON’T HURT.

And last but not least, our friends at Elevation Pictures celebrated their 10th Birthday and it was a bustling party at their building on Richmond Street. They had a whopping 14 films at the Festival! Several noticables, including Stranger Things’ Finn Wolfhard were there.

(Photo/video credit Mr. Will Wong)

We’re sad to see Mike go! Hot off the release of its new Canadian Trailer for MAGIC MIKE’S LAST DANCE – coming to us Valentine’s Day 2023 – we get some new Canadian Posters also! Channing Tatum reprises the role of Mike and joining the Cast is Salma Hayek Pinault (House of Gucci).

Synopsis:

“Magic” Mike Lane (Tatum) takes to the stage again after a lengthy hiatus, following a business deal that went bust, leaving him broke and taking bartender gigs in Florida.  For what he hopes will be one last hurrah, Mike heads to London with a wealthy socialite (Hayek Pinault) who lures him with an offer he can’t refuse…and an agenda all her own.  With everything on the line, once Mike discovers what she truly has in mind, will he—and the roster of hot new dancers he’ll have to whip into shape—be able to pull it off?

The film’s producers are Nick Wechsler, Gregory Jacobs, Tatum, Carolin and Peter Kiernan.  Julie M. Anderson serves as executive producer.

Also starring with Tatum and Hayek Pinault are Ayub Khan Din (“Ackley Bridge”), newcomer Jemelia George, Juliette Motamed (“We Are Lady Parts”) and Vicki Pepperdine (“Johnny English Strikes Again”).

Soderbergh’s creative team behind the scenes includes production designer Pat Campbell (“The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself”), costume designer Christopher Peterson (“The Irishman”) and music supervisor Season Kent (“KIMI,” “Let Them All Talk”), with choreography by Alison Faulk and Luke Broadlick, both part of the “Magic Mike” franchise.

A Warner Bros. Pictures Presentation, “Magic Mike’s Last Dance” slides into theatres only in North America on February 10, 2023 and internationally beginning 8 February 2023, and will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros. Pictures Canada)

Super Bowl LVI kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 13, 2022 and in keeping with tradition, here is a first look at some of this year’s most star-studded TV Spots to air during the broadcast. Our faves so far are Amazon Alexa‘s brilliant pairing of real-life couple Colin Jost and Scarlett Johansson, and UberEats‘ teaming-up of Jennifer Coolidge, Nicholas Braun, Trevor Noah and Gwyneth Paltrow. Hilarious!

AMAZON ALEXA – Colin Jost & Scarlett Johansson

HELLMAN’S – Pete Davidson

BUDWEISER – A CLYDESDALE’S JOURNEY

PEPSI – EMINEM, MARY J. BLIGE, KENDRICK LAMAR, DR. DRE and SNOOP DOGG

BMW – Arnold Schwarzenegger & Salma Hayek

NISSAN – Eugene Levy, Brie Larson, Dave Bautista and Danai Gurira

UBEREATS – Jennifer Coolidge, Trevor Noah, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Nicholas Braun

GENERAL MOTORS – Mike Myers, Rob Lowe and Seth Green

DORITOS FLAMIN’ HOT

T-MOBILE – MILEY CYRUS & DOLLY PARTON (TEASER)

Universal Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to see an Advance Screening of HOUSE OF GUCCI! We’re beyond excited about this, we’ve waited so long for this!

Screenings take place as follows:

Toronto

• Monday, November 22, Cineplex Varsity, 7:00 PM

Montreal

• Monday, November 22, Scotiabank Theatre, 7:00 PM

Synopsis:

House of Gucci is inspired by the shocking true story of the family empire behind the Italian fashion house of Gucci. Spanning three decades of love, betrayal, decadence, revenge, and ultimately murder, we see what a name means, what it’s worth, and how far a family will go for control.

Lady Gaga (A Star is Born), Adam Driver (Star Wars), and Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club) unite under the direction of critically acclaimed director Ridley Scott (Alien).

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. In the comments there, indicate your City. You also may Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet below for an additional chance.

Rules and regulations here. You must be following.

NOTE: Winners absolutely will not be contacted from any other account. Please do not accept friend requests from others requesting your personal information.

Universal Pictures Canada release HOUSE OF GUCCI November 24, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

The wait has been excruciating almost, but here’s a new glimpse at HOUSE OF GUCCI to tie us over till later next month!

Synopsis:

The Gucci family had it all. She wanted more. Watch the new #HouseOfGucci trailer now, starring Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons, Al Pacino, and directed by Ridley Scott. Only in theaters This Thanksgiving.

(Photo/video credit: MGM)

One of this Fall’s most anticipated cinematic events is Marvel Studios’ ETERNALS. The star-studded Superhero flick is directed and co-written by Academy Award-winning Filmmaker Chloé Zhao. ETERNALS centers on an alien race of immortals who re-surface after thousands of years to protect earth and its inhabitants from the evil Deviants.

We were incredibly-fortunate to sit-in on the global press conference for Marvel Studios’ ETERNALS and it was a star-studded affair with guests including:

In this epic panel, its stars and Creators shared a common sentiment – their great respect for Zhao in helping them find a truth about themselves in their respective characters. One interesting thing about this Film is that these Superheroes don’t look like your typical kind because in order for them to reflect humanity, they should look like humanity.

Producer Kevin Feige talks about this bold new step in direction for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Feige: “Post-Infinity Saga, we wanted to take a bold new step and say we don’t know everything about the universe, yet. And there are these ten spectacular superheroes you haven’t met who’ve been here the whole time.”.

Director/Writer Chloé Zhao is asked about her first meetings with Feige and what they looked like.

Zhao: “It started with me showing him a Macro Photo of sand and quoting a Poem from William Blake and in that Poem, Blake is trying to convey that you can see the endless beauty of the cosmos, even within the smallest things you can find on earth. The vision of the Film was to set-out to capture that scale. Something as large as the creation of the sun to the whispers of lovers. Going on location and doing this kind of an immersive shoot together with the support of this amazing Cast is how we got here today.”.

Thena is the Goddess of War, played by Angelina Jolie. She is asked how she finds strength and survival in her own survivor story, in addition to what attracted her to the role?

Jolie: “I was attracted to this project for many reasons. I am a fan of the MCU, was a big fan of Chloé, and when they first talked to me about the story, it really was the Cast and the idea of what this family would be. I really just wanted to be a part of this family even before I know who I was I was going to play.”.

“Chloé‘s known for bringing-in reality to film, to somebody’s true self. So a lot of us were cast to bring out something from our own lives, something that we weren’t even aware of and then let it live and grow within the Film. She’s maybe the most fantastic thing I’ve ever played in a superhero, and yet my children thought she was the most like me they’ve ever seen. It’s hard to talk about her but her vulnerability – which she’s trying to balance -and being able to be the same woman who’s also considered very strong.. and yet she’s able to holds both, which most people do.

Sersi is played by Gemma Chan, who learns her places and embraces her strengths as the story progresses.

Chan: “Sersi is a superhero, but her powers aren’t the most obvious and flashiest. She might not be the best fighter, but what she does have is empathy and a real affinity for humankind. She’s a free spirit. I love that. That’s one of the most enjoyable things about thing Film going on this journey with the character. She learns to trust herself and grow into her own power really. That’s a really interesting thing to explore.”.

Richard Madden plays Ikaris, one of the most powerful Eternals, who is in a conflict of love (with Sersi) vs. loyalty in the Film.

Madden: “I’m used to playing lovers often. But to play someone who’s such a soldier, completely driven by love, is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. He’s actually wrestling with two characters who are very full of love and it comes out he’s actually the opposite of that. He’s trying to bury that love because it gets in the way of his duties. He’s constantly wrestling with it and that made it interesting for me.”.

Salma Hayek talks (hilariously) about finding success as a superhero at an unconventional stage in life. She plays spiritual leader, Ajak.

Hayek: “This was really humbling. I dream big. And in my big dreams I wanted to be a superhero, work with the best Directors in the world, make big Blockbuster movies and movies that are Art from a very big place. But it didn’t happen for me. You fight for it in your 20s, 30s and 40s and you go, ‘Screw them! They don’t get it! They missed out! I would’ve been a great superhero! Screw them! I’m gonna go do something out, like have a baby!’. (laughs) And then you give up! It’s very humbling when you’re in your 50s, a brilliant Director gives you the opportunity to do both! I was wrong. Everything is possible.”.

Kumail Nanjiani brings a ‘Bollywood Swagger’ to his role of Kingo and even does a musical number. He talks about the challenges of going outside his comfort zone.

Nanjiani: “I can’t put Chloé on the spot, and I can’t swear, so put-in a swear word here! Chloé lied to me. When we first talked about the Movie, she said there was a Bollywood dance scene and I said ‘I don’t think I can do that.’, She said ‘Okay, we’ll make it a Bollywood action scene and as soon as I got to London hehehe.. it’s a dance scene! And I was like, ‘Get me a dance teacher alright?’. And they were wonderful teaching me the Choreography, working with me for months and months because I was so outside my comfort zone.”.

“For me, ultimately it came down to trust… usually my instinct is to have a moment of and fear, but in meeting her, I realized she’s not going to let me suck in this thing so if she wants me to do something, I’m gonna do it!”.

“She had this whole Movie, this whole universe inside her head. I didn’t understand it until I watched the Movie. I felt, ‘This isn’t something I would do, but if Chloé says do it, let’s do it!'”.

Brian Tyree Henry plays Phastos, an intelligent inventor. He talks about finding the humanity in his character, who experiences his share of despair.

Henry: “I think it really came down to trust and I really wholeheartedly trusted Chloé, to piggyback off of Kumail. What attracted me to this part was I think of all the black men out there and how we are portrayed. What I love most about Phastos is that he is an Ancestor. All of us are Ancestors, technically. So Phastos predates everything and goes through all these things which actually makes him lose faith in humanity very quickly. And I remember coming into this project, I lost faith in humanity and just looking at all the things we’ve been through and looking at images of how black men were portrayed and how power was taken away from us, the lack of power. What I love about Phastos is that him being an Eternal, knowing that he can never die, he still chose love and still decides to have a family even though he may have to watch them perish. And try to bring heart and love into everything he did. It just really resonated with me.”.

“I remember the first time they approached me to be a superhero and I asked, ‘How much weight do you want me to lose?’, and Chloé said ‘What are you talking about? We want you exactly as you are.’. And to be a black man and have someone say they want you exactly the way you are is unlike anything I’ve ever felt.”.

Kit Harrington plays Sersi’s human boyfriend Dane, who seems to handle all sorts a catastrophe with a calm cool.

Harrington: “He’s a nice guy. I felt from the beginning I had to represent something that was worth saving. I hope that Dane comes-off a nice, stand-up guy and one thing I respect about him is that a man flies out of the sky shoots lasers out of his eyes and steals his girlfriend, and he’s kinda cool with it!”.

“I come in at the start and in some ways intro the Movie, and then it goes its own wonderful direction, so I felt a bit separate, but I do think the advantage is that you do have a glimpse of the humans at the start and it tells you who these guys truly are trying to save.”.

Some Snaps from the Junket:

Marvel Studios’ ETERNALS arrives in theatres November 5, 2021.

*Please exercise caution in observing COVID-19 protocols if seeing this in-theatre*.

(Photo/video credit: Marvel Studios Canada)

This is the one Film we absolutely cannot miss. While we are waiting to see if it does the Festival circuit, here is a glimpse at the first Trailer set to Blondie‘s “Heart of Glass” and we are mesmerized! Lady Gaga‘s transformation is astonishing!

Synopsis:

House of Gucci is inspired by the shocking true story of the family empire behind the Italian fashion house of Gucci. Spanning three decades of love, betrayal, decadence, revenge, and ultimately murder, we see what a name means, what it’s worth, and how far a family will go for control.

Universal Pictures Canada release HOUSE OF GUCCI November 24, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: MGM)

Paramount Home Entertainment x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win a Digital Download of LIKE A BOSS!

SYNOPSIS:
Best friends, Mia and Mel (Tiffany Haddish and Rose Byrne) are living their best lives, running their own cosmetics company until a villainous beauty mogul (Salma Hayek) conspires to steal it from under them. When her devious plan drives the besties apart, Mia and Mel learn that sticking together is the only way to turn the tables and take their company back. The beauty business is about to get ugly. The film also stars Jennifer Coolidge and Billy Porter.

See the Trailer:

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Rules and regulations here.

Paramount Home Entertainment release LIKE A BOSS on Digital, out now, and on Blu-ray Combo Pack Tuesday, April 21, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Home Entertainment)

Paramount Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers in Montreal and Toronto a chance to win Advance Passes to see LIKE A BOSS! Screenings take place January 6, 2020.

SYNOPSIS:
Best friends Mia and Mel (Tiffany Haddish and Rose Byrne) are living their best lives running their own cosmetics company they’ve built from the ground up. Unfortunately, they’re in over their heads financially, and the prospect of a big buyout offer from a notorious titan of the cosmetics industry Claire Luna (Salma Hayek) proves too tempting to pass up, putting Mel and Mia’s lifelong friendship in jeopardy. The beauty business is about to get ugly. LIKE A BOSS also stars Billy Porter, Jennifer Coolidge, Ari Graynor, Natasha Rothwell, Jessica St. Clair and Karan Soni.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

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Rules and regulations here.

Paramount Pictures Canada release LIKE A BOSS JANUARY 10, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)

Elevation Pictures x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Advance Passes to see Salma Hayek in BEATRIZ AT DINNER. Screenings take place Wednesday, June 14, 2017 in Toronto and Vancouver as follows:

Toronto
Date: Wednesday, June 14th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Varsity (55 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON, M4W 1A5)

Vancouver
Date: Wednesday, June 14th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: 5th Avenue (2110 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6J 3H6)

Synopsis:
Beatriz, an immigrant from a poor town in Mexico, has drawn on her innate kindness to build a career as a health practitioner in Southern California. Don Strutt is a real estate developer whose cutthroat tactics have made him a self-made, self-satisfied billionaire. When these two polar opposites meet at a dinner party, their worlds collide and neither will ever be the same.

Trailer:

Artwork:

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Elevation Pictures release BEATRIZ AT DINNER Friday, June 16, 2017.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)