Among the Stars in Toronto this weekend for Fan Expo Canada are Pop Culture Icon, George Takei and to promote his appearance, the Actor best known for his work in the Television Series Star Trek as Sulu, Co-Hosted Global Television‘s The Morning Show (National Edition). The Social Media-savvy Takei sounded-off on various Current Affairs like imprisoned WikiLeaks Source Bradley Manning‘s Sex Reassignment and Prime Minster Hopeful Justin Trudeau‘s admission of having smoked Marijuana. See his Interview here.

Fans and Shaw Media Employees admired the Star through the Studio window, then crowding around the Main Entrance for Photos with Takei upon exit. A few were fortunate enough to get a Snap with him despite a bit of pushing and shoving.

For more on how you too can meet Takei this weekend at Fan Expo, click here!

We had the honour of meeting the lovely Takei last Spring when he visited the City for the Sakura Ball. More on that here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Not that it was a contest, especially with its eye-popping $98.5 million opening last weekend, but Fast and Furious 6 for a second week regins supreme at the Box Office in North America, earning $34.5 million from 3,686 theatres for Universal Pictures.

Never to be outdone, Now You See Me, the Magic-themed Action-Thriller exceeds expectations, earning a smart $28.1 million from 2,925 theatres, landing it in second spot for Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate Films/eOne Films.  Made for $75 million, the Film stars Mark Ruffalo, Jesse Eisenberg, Mélanie Laurent, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine. Although Critics weren’t wowed, tallying-in at 45% on the Tomatometer, Audiences responded with a resounding “yes” and an A- CinemaScore.

Will Smith and his Son Jaden team together on Sci-Fi/Adventure, After Earth, debuting in third with $27 million from 3,401 theatres.  This proves a bit troublesome for Sony Pictures which invested $130 million in production costs on the Film.  Critics panned it, giving it a 12% rating at Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences thought likewise, although they were far more forgiving with a B CinemaScore.

In the fourth spot this weekend we have a rare two-way tie between Epic, the latest Animated Feature from 20th Century Fox, which in its second week brings-in with $16.4 million alongside Star Trek Into Darkness.  To date, the latter has grossed $181 in North America for Paramount Pictures. The Hangover Part III slips to fifth spot this weekend, earning $15.9 million and a two-week cumulative domestic total of $87.4 million.

Rounding-out the Top Ten this weekend is Mud from Roadside Attractions/eOne Films, earning $1.2 million from only 580 theatres in its sixth week. To date, the Drama starring Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon, has grossed $16.9 million.  It has earned some super reviews – an almost unheard of 99% on the Tomatometer.

Expectations were high for Fast & Furious 6, but this latest Film in the Franchise is a Monster indeed on an international scale, debuting this weekend with $98.5 million alone in North America from 3,658 theatres. Globally already, it has made an amazing $275.5 million for Universal Pictures. Made for $160 million, it looks well on its way to recouping that money back for Universal Pictures in a – pardon the pun – fast ‘n’ furious manner! Audiences also loved the Film giving it a coveted A CinemaScore and many Critics agreed with 72% at Rotten Tomatoes. With all releases surpassing an expected $300 million at the Box Office this U.S. Memorial Day Weekend, a new Box Office record was established for the Holiday. Combined, all six Films in the Franchise have made $797.4 million domestically.

Debuting in second with $42.4 million this weekend for Warner Bros., is the conclusion to The Wolfpack Trilogy, The Hangover Part III, from 3,555 theatres.  Still solid, this Installment falls short compared to its 2011 Predecessor The Hangover Part II, which debuted with $85.9 million. Although Critics didn’t respond favorably, tallying a 25% rating at Rotten Tomatoes, Audiences seemed to enjoy it with a B CinemaScore. To date, the Series in North America has grossed $574 million.

Following closely behind in third is Star Trek Into Darkness which in its second week of release earns $38 million. In its two-week run, it has grossed $155 million for Paramount Pictures.

Without much choice in terms of Family-oriented Films, Epic opens to a smart $34.2 million for 20th Century Fox in fourth spot.  Starring an interesting array of voices, the Animated Feature boasts a Cast of: Beyoncé, Josh Hutcherson, Steven Tyler, Pitbull, Aziz Ansari, Amanda Seyfried and Christoph Waltz.

Not to be disgraced, Iron Man 3 continues to draw a crowd in fifth spot, now in its third week earning $19.4 million, with a total of $373 in its domestic run to date.  Not far behind is The Great Gatsby which also in its third week out, closes the gap on that Box Office rival with $13.7 million at number six.

Bubbling under, the eagerly-awaited third Film in its Romance Series Before Midnight, opens in only five theatres across the U.S. in Limited Release, earning an impressive $274k.  Torontonians and Vancouverites will have to wait till June 7, 2013 when it gets a release north of the Border.

Although predictions pegged it a bit higher, Paramount Pictures’ Star Trek Into Darkness, the Sequel in the Franchise directed by J.J. Abrams, debuts in number one this weekend with $70.6 million from 3,868 theatres across North America.  Made for $190 million, the Sci-Fi/Action Flick opened on Wednesday night, but falls just short of the  $75 million its predecessor made in 2009. Audiences of course loved the Sequel, giving it a coveted A CinemaScore and also Critics agreed with a stellar 88% rating at Rotten Tomatoes. It was the only Film released this weekend to debut in the Top Ten and does so on-top!

Two-week Champion Iron Man 3 slips to second this weekend, but by no means is disgraced, earning $35.2 million in its third week for Disney.  The Blockbuster has just exceeded the $1 billion-mark globally.

The Great Gatsby despite never reaching the top of the Box Office, like Iron Man 3, performs v. well in third with $23.4 million in its second week of release for Warner Bros., earning $90 million in just two weeks. Box Office Experts are saying that this being one of the few Female-catered Films out currently, may have hindered Star Trek Into Darkness‘ numbers from being record-breaking for the Franchise.

The gap is huge  between the Top Three Films and the rest of the Films in the Top Ten. Paramount Pictures for the second week in-a-row gets the fourth spot with Pain and Gain, earning $3.1 million in its fourth week, just surpassing the $50-million mark domestically, keeping Veteran The Croods at bay with $2.8 million in fifth.

Brace yourselves at the sixth Film in the Fast & Furious Franchise hits theatres next weekend, already debuting big overseas with $13.8 million already in the U.K.!

Toronto Trekkies received a special treat tonight as Star Trek Into Darkness Star John Cho met his Fans at Yorkdale Shopping Centre‘s Microsoft Store, followed by an introduction for those lucky Fans who got to attend a Special Advance Screening of the Film. Cho reprises the role of Hikaru Sulu, made famous by George Takei.

Contributor Jon Godfrey was among the lucky to attend tonight and already is raving about the Film. Review to come release day!  He tells me, Cho is so proud of the Film in fact that he told the Audience, “This is a moment in my Career one day I will tell my Children about”.

Paramount Pictures releases Star Trek: Into Darkness on Friday, May 17, 2013.

See a Snap below from tonight’s Screening:

(Photo credit: Jon Godfrey for Mr. Will Wong/Paramount Pictures)

Hot on the heels of its announcement earlier this week of adding its Ultimate Sports Celebrity Experience, Fan Expo Canada has just announced some new additions to their annual Convention in Toronto this August including the likes of Lena Headey (Game of Thrones), Richard Dean Anderson (MacGyver), Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead) and also the legendary George Takei (Star Trek).

Fans who attended Fan Expo‘s Toronto Comicon this weekend were treated to the news first.  Timing will be perfect particularly for Headey who stars in one of this Summer’s most eagerly-awaited Blockbusters, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, which she filmed here last year.

In case you didn’t catching wind, it was announced that Sports Icons like Hulk Hogan, Ron Turcotte, Joe Montana and Bobby Orr also will be meeting Fans for a fee this August, with more names to come shortly.

Perhaps this will be the year True Blood‘s Sam Trammell doesn’t bail on us Toronto Fans?

For more information, visit Fan Expo Canada‘s website here.  Fan Expo Canada (Toronto) takes place between August 22-25, 2013 at Metro Convention Centre.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Canadian-born Actor/Musician Bruce Greenwood has solidified his standing as a certified Screen Veteran, having built a long and lasting career with work in some of Hollywood’s biggest Blockbusters all the way to the smaller Canadian Indies.  You’ve seen him in National Treasure: Book of Secrets, I, Robot, Double Jeopardy, Super 8 and Star Trek, but he’s long been at it, making his screen debut back in 1982’s First Blood starring Sylvester Stallone.  You’ve also seen him in Atom Egoyan‘s The Sweet Hereafter.

Greenwood  who was born in Noranda, Quebec and is based out of Los Angeles, returned  to Toronto today once again for a round of Press in support of the DVD/Blu-ray release of  Flight.  The Drama which has him starring alongside Denzel Washington, is up for two Oscars including Writing and Best Actor, seeing a release tomorrow.  Amazon‘s got it available for only $14.99!

The Actor was up and at ’em early today, appearing on multiple editions of City‘s Breakfast Television from Toronto to Vancouver, before heading-off for more appearances, including a visit to CBC for George Stromboulopoulos Tonight.

Thrilled to get a Snap with the still-lookin’-great Greenwood who has a busy 2013 ahead with the release of The Place Beyond the Pines (March), Star Trek Into Darkness (May) and another re-teaming with Egoyan in Devil’s Knot (TIFF 2013?!!?).  Another Thriller Wildlike does not yet have a scheduled date.

Watch Greenwood‘s Interview on Breakfast Television Toronto right here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)