2016 certainly was one for the books. I admit feeling terribly guilty every time someone claimed how horrible the year was when I secretly felt otherwise! Whether it be the amazing Films I saw, singling-out LA LA LAND, which I will say is the one of the finest to be released in the past decade, or songs on the radio – we love a return to strong melancholy melodies – the year gave us many memories to hold on to. And to think we used to scoff at Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars and The Weeknd … now they’re on repeat on our Spotify account.
If there was a big name in town, we were there and this will be defined as the year we met our faves Gwyneth Paltrow, James Corden, Anne Hathaway, Taraji P. Henson, Rooney Mara and Emma Stone. We admit, we’re a bit mortified we’ll run out of heroes to meet!
And let’s not forget my love of horses. My travels to New York and California brought me together with icons like California Chrome, Beholder, Lady Eli and star of tomorrow, Classic Empire – the early favourite for May’s Kentucky Derby. My favourite horsey moment though? Meeting “Princess” aka A Pic by MrWill, my own namesake, for the first time back in February! I will miss her as she enjoys the sun and sand in Florida this winter, but look forward to her being a tough machine in the spring after her winter training.
Join me on a walk down memory lane one more time! And check back this weekend as we check-in with Team Mr. Will including Justin Waldman, Jon Godfrey, Dave Baldwin, Siobhán Rich, Amanda Gilmore + George Kozera as they give us their Best-Ofs!
TOP TEN FILMS
TOP SONGS
CELEBRITY
Elizabeth Banks
J.J. Abrams
With #StarWars #TheForceAwakens’ #JJAbrams, last night in #LosAngeles.
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James Corden
Steven Spielberg
I touched #StevenSpielberg. That’s gotta count for something! #LosAngeles #LA
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Rebecca Hall
Taryn Manning
With my love #TarynManning. She was so sweet!! Have waited since the early 2000s for this!
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Alessia Cara
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Alex Trebek
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Victoria Justice
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Kevin Hart
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Emma Stone
With the mesmerizing #EmmaStone at #TIFF16 for #LaLaLand.
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Ryan Gosling
#RyanGosling at #TIFF16 for #LaLaLand.
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Damien Chazelle
Brilliant director/writer #DamienChazelle at #TIFF16 for #LaLaLand.
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Anne Hathaway
Gwyneth Paltrow
So this happened. #GwynethPaltrow #HoltRenfrew #juiceBEAUTY
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Jessica Chastain
The best. #JessicaChastain #IndependentSpiritAwards #Oscars #AcademyAwards
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My fave, #JessicaChastain – the nicest celeb of all time. #MetGala #MetBall
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Rooney Mara
Verklempt that I met my #1!! #AcademyAward Nominee #RooneyMara + me. #Oscars
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Casey Affleck
Rami Malek
With #MrRobot star #RamiMalek at #TIFF16 with #BustersMalHeart
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Rachel Weisz
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Taraji P. Henson
Yes!!! Cookie Time!! #TarajiPHenson #TIFF16 #HiddenFigures #Empire
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Jacob Tremblay
My favourite!!! #JacobTremblay back at #TIFF16 for #BurnYourMaps.
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Gina Rodriguez
With the beautiful and gracious #GinaRodriguez. #DeepwaterHorizon #TIFF16 #nikond3300
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Isabelle Huppert
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Kate Hudson
My girl #KateHudson. At her fitness wear shop, #Fabletics.
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Mahershala Ali
#HouseofCards star #MahershalaAli at #TIFF16 with #MOONLIGHT.
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Chadwick Boseman
With #ChadwickBoseman, at #TIFF16 with #MessagefromtheKing. #BlackPanther #Marvel
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Charlie Cox
Mark Hamill
#MarkHamill, b*tches. #StarWars #LukeSkywalker #FanExpo #FanExpoCanada
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Riz Ahmed
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Lupita Nyong’o
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Suicide Squad: Will Smith, David Ayer + Margot Robbie
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Jason Statham
With handsome as hell #JasonStatham, at #MetGala. #MetBall #NYC
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Robert Pattinson
Anthony Bourdain
With culinary icon #AnthonyBourdain, appearing tomorrow night at Sony Centre!
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Rick Astley
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“DeepVeer” – Ranveer Singh x Deepika Padukone
#Bollywood! This is for you!! #DeepVeer #DeepikaPadukone #RanveerSingh
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Ruby Rose
Charlie Puth
Selena Gomez
Daya
With our favourite new Popstar, #Daya! She was in Toronto for #BigTicketSummer! #NikonD3300
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
Penny Oleksiak
With Canada’s pride and joy, #PennyOleksiak, Gold medal Olympian! #Olympics #Olympics2016
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Milo Ventamiglia
Anthony Mackie
Team @mrwillw with a Selfie snapped by none other than #AnthonyMackie! Talented actor at #Triple9 Premiere tonight. pic.twitter.com/PNAqUsEKT8
— MR. WILL WONG (@mrwillw) February 24, 2016
HORSES
California Chrome
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Beholder
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Songbird
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Catch a Glimpse
Catch a Glimpse totally misses me. #BC16 #BreedersCup
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Dartmouth
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Classic Empire
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
The Pizza Man
P.s. He delivers! #ThePizzaMan wins the Northern Dancer Stakes! #WOMile #BetWoodbine #GetintheGame
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Tepin
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Mutakayyef
Sir Dudley Digges
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Lexie Lou
Miss Katie Mae
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Lady Eli
Flintshire
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on
Frosted
Arrogate
Conquest Enforcer
Snuggles with #ConquestEnforcer. Catch him #QP16 day!
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A Pic by MrWill
“Princess” (@APicByMrWill) makes her 3rd start Friday at @WoodbineRacing! Her latest. https://t.co/P6aOwL6mfo pic.twitter.com/VaOhNuEgQS
— MR. WILL WONG (@mrwillw) August 2, 2016
See you ’17!
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
We absolutely are crazy about Riz Ahmed, the English Actor who in recent years has seen his star rise rather quickly stateside. In addition to starring in HBO Series The Night Of this year, Ahmed turned heads in a acclaimed 2014 Thriller Nightcrawler alongside Jake Gyllenhaal. While we have yet to see his performance in acclaimed TIFF ’16 Selection Una (which he had to cancel an appearance for) with another of our favourites Rooney Mara, we soon will see him on many screens in STAR WARS: ROGUE ONE, for which he was in town for today.
With a whirlwind Press Day schedule, Ahmed with little notice to viewers, appeared on Breakfast Television, CP24 Breakfast and Your Morning. In the afternoon he shared the spotlight with Ryan Reynolds on The Social, that Canuck in town doing good at Sick Kids’ Hospital. He celebrates his 34th birthday tomorrow!
We gave it a shot and found Ahmed, who was was a great sport about the Selfie. We cannot wait to see him come back hopefully soon with his Hip-Hop Duo SWET SHOP BOYS, which just concluded their tour in multiple cities in support of their Album, Cashmere.
See our Snap:
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada release STAR WARS: ROGUE ONE Friday, December 16, 2016.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada)
By Siobhán Rich for Mr. Will Wong
And one studio to rule them all. Disney-Pixar, Disney Animation Studios, Disney Live-Action, Marvel and Lucasfilms all call the ‘House of Mouse’ home and that means bigger and better Movies for fans. Whether you’re a fan of Sci-Fi or Comic Book Movies or good old animation, Disney has you covered in 2017.
First out of the gate before the New Year is the hotly anticipated Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Opening on December 18th, the first stand-alone Star Wars Movie ells the story of how the Rebellion obtained the plans to the Death Star.
This tale as old as time is based on an Animated Movie as old as 1991. On March 17th prepare to be transported to an enchanted castle where the furniture sings and dishes dance. The brand new trailer that just dropped today will have fans counting down the day until the new live-action Beauty and the Beast finally opens. The Beast’s voice sounds so much like the original animated one you’ll need to watch the Trailer multiple times to make sure it’s really Dan Stevens talking to Emma Watson’s Belle.
Our next Movie features an all-star cast, an awesome soundtrack, and an adorable sapling named Groot. This May 5th strap in as Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 finds our heroes trying to track down the truth behind Star Lord’s mysterious father and getting up to plenty of trouble along the way.
Nobody does Disney adventure like Captain Jack Sparrow. On May 26 visit with the Captain and his crew as they take on professional villain Javier Bardem in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.
Since we’re talking sequels you’d better fasten your seat belts for Pixar’s Cars 3 which will open on June 16th. Lightning McQueen is back in an all new adventure that children are sure to enjoy.
If you missed the long-haired Norse god when his friends were busy having an all-out civil war, then you will definitely be excited for Thor: Ragnarök when it opens on November 3rd. Featuring Thor, Hulk, Loki and even Doctor Strange the latest addition to the MCU is a must-see movie for Marvel fans everywhere.
On November 22nd Pixar returns to the multiplex with an original story called Coco. Not much is known about this Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina-directed Feature except for this single drawing. That said, it’s Pixar on the American Thanksgiving long weekend so it’s bound to be amazing.
The year wraps up with a Movie that doesn’t even have an official title yet: Star Wars VIII. The Rian Johnson-directed Film is still filming but is due in theatres on December 15th. Details about the plot are a closely held secret but we here at MrWillWong.com can exclusively tell you that…
In the meantime, enjoy this brand new Trailer for Beauty and the Beast!
(Photo/video credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada)
A well-cut new Trailer for ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY surfaced earlier today and it takes us right inside this rebellion based on hope.
Synopsis:
Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) leads a group of unlikely heroes to steal the plans to the Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon of destruction.
See the Trailer:
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada release ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY on Friday, December 16, 2016.
(Photo/video credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada/Lucasfilm)
We don’t know about you, but we’ve already got ROGUE ONE fever! Hitting stores Friday, September 30, 2016, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story products are set to cause a commotion. Among the excitement ahead, Fans will have a chance to create and share their own short stories and skits celebrating the excitement, speculation and fan-created content that have kept that Star Wars legacy alive and thriving!
And guess what? Director Gareth Edwards will be among the panel members picking winners from around the globe! Winners get a chance to attend a special Rogue One screening at LucasFilm in San Francisco where they just might see their work on the big screen!
The #GoRogue Fan Contest goes live on Friday, September 30, 2016.
Learn more about the contest here!
See some of the awesome Rogue One merchandise hitting stores:
We love sharing. Click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook and one of you Readers in Canada will win a special ROGUE ONE collectible seen above!
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Those watching the Olympics tonight were in for a huge treat, a new Trailer for ROGUE ONE!
Synopsis:
Lucasfilm’s Rogue One, which takes place before the events of Star Wars: A New Hope, tells the story of unlikely heroes who have united to steal plans to the dreaded Death Star.
The cast includes Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Jiang Wen, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk, Riz Ahmed, and Forest Whitaker. “Rogue One” is directed by Gareth Edwards.
See the new Trailer:
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada release ROGUE ONE Friday, December 16, 2016.
(Photo/video credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada)
Okay, we really loved The Force Awakens, but this new Trailer for STAR WARS: ROGUE ONE really excites us! This new first look gives us a taste of the intensity and melodrama to expect of this December release!
We’ve always loved Oscar nominee Felicity Jones and are thrilled for the rest of the world to discover this brilliant star! Godzilla directed Gareth Edwards directs.
See the Trailer:
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada release STAR WARS: ROGUE ONE Friday, December 16, 2016.
(Photo/video credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada)
Although many Moviegoers are home this weekend for Super Bowl, that couldn’t stop KUNG FU PANDA from being Master at the Box Office. The 20th Century Fox release for a second week in a row remains on-top with $21.1 million from 3,987 theatres in its second week out. It has made $69 million domestically thus far.
Debuting in second is the star-studded HAIL, CAESAR! with $11.1 million for Universal Pictures from 2,232 theatres. Critics gave the latest effort from The Coen Brothers a 79% on the Tomatometer, with Audiences giving it a surprisingly-low C- CinemaScore.
Former champ THE REVENANT slips to third with $6.9 million for 20th Century Fox, pushing its tally to $149.5 million over seven weeks.
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS slips to fourth spot with $6.6 million, now in its eighth week out. To date it has made $905 million in North America.
Nicholas Sparks adaptation THE CHOICE opens in fifth with $5.7 million for eOne Films/Lionsgate Films. Critics gave it a 6% on the Tomatometer, but a much more promising B+ CinemaScore.
PRIDE + PREJUDICE + ZOMBIES opens in sixth with $5.1 million for eOne Films. The Jane Austen-Zombie Mashup gets 41% on the Tomatometer and a B- CinemaScore.
THE BOY rounds-out the Top Ten with $3.8 million for STX/eOne Films. The Horror has made $26.6 million in three weeks.
KUNG FU PANDA 3 continues its winning legacy, topping the Box Office in its debut this weekend across theatres in North America. It earns $41 million from 3,955 theatres for 20th Century Fox. Despite being the Franchise’s lowest debut to date with a $47 million opening 2012 and a $60 million opening in 2008, it continues to be a highly-bankable venture with Critics praising it with a 79% on the Tomatometer and Audiences feeling the same with an A CinemaScore.
THE REVENANT after topping the Box Office last weekend slips to second spot with $11 million also for 20th Century Fox. It has made $137 million domestically thus far in six weeks.
THE FINEST HOURS opens in third for Disney with $9.7 million from 3,143 theatres. Critics gave the Craig Gillespie (Lars & The Real Girl) Film 59% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences gave it a decent A- CinemaScore giving it some hope for success in coming weeks as word of mouth spreads.
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS is in fourth this weekend with $9 million, now in its seventh week out. By this time next week it will have surpassed the $900-million-mark for Disney.
DIRTY GRANDPA is in seventh in its second week out with $6.8 million for VVS Films/Lionsgate Films, surpassing the $20-million-mark.
FIFTY SHADES OF BLACK, a parody of FIFTY SHADES OF GREY, opens in ninth for Open Road Films/D Films, with $5.9 million from 2,075 theatres. Critics gave it 13% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences gave it a CinemaScore.
13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI rounds-out the Top Ten with $5.8 million for Paramount Pictures, from 2,803 theatres. It is nearing the $50-million-mark.
Extreme weather couldn’t stop THE REVENANT from climbing to the top of the Box Office this weekend. In its fifth week out, it dominates with $15 million from 3,711 theatres across North America for 20th Century Fox. Thus far, the Oscar Contender has grossed $119 million domestically.
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS also stays in second spot again this weekend with $13 million for Disney from 3,822 theatres. By this time next week it will have surpassed the $900-million-mark in North America.
RIDE ALONG 2 slips to third spot this weekend with $11.7 million for Universal Pictures after a debut at number one last weekend. In two weeks it has made $57.9 million in these parts.
DIRTY GRANDPA debuts in fourth spot with $11 million from 2,912 theatres for VVS Films/Liosngate Films. Rotten Tomatoes pegs it at a paltry 8% on the Tomatometer, with Audiences giving it a much better B CinemaScore.
THE BOY opens in fifth spot with $10 million for eOne Films/STX from 2,671 theatres. The Horror gets a B- CinemaScore and a 27% score on the Tomatometer.
THE 5TH WAVE opens in sixth with $9.6 million for Sony Pictures from 2,908 theatres. Starring Chloë Moretz, the Action/Adventure gets a B- CinemaScore and 19% on the Tomatometer.
13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI has a solid second week out despite the weather, earning $9.4 million in its second week out for Paramount Pictures. In two weeks it has grossed $32 million. Despite being perceived as a disappointment at the Box Office it actually is on its way to recouping its $50-million production cost.
THE BIG SHORT earns $3 million now in its seventh week, rounding-out the Top Ten. The Best Picture Contender has made $56.3 million thus far in its domestic run.
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