GUILLERMO DEL TORO AT TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX FOR HITCHCOCK MASTER CLASSES

Guillermo del Toro in Toronto - May 2012

Acclaimed Mexican-born Director/Screenwriter Guillermo del Toro has been enjoying his stay in Toronto since last Fall, working on upcoming Warner Bros. Epic, Pacific Rim which wrapped earlier this month.  The Monsters versus Robots Action/Sci-Fi Flick stars Charlie Hunnam, Charlie Day, Idris Elba, Robert Kazinsky, Rinko Kikuchi and Clifton Collins Jr. Earlier this year, I had the honour of doing a week's worth of scenes on the $350-million Film which will see a July 2013 release.

The Director of well-known Titles as Hellboy and Pan's Labrynth, just completed a Series of Masterclasses at TIFF Bell Lightbox in honour of Alfred Hitchcock, last week doing two appearances and this week doing a final two.  Spending almost four hours last night watching and discussing North by Northeast with his Fans and Film Lovers, Del Toro had one thing on his mind afterwards: LUMA.  Although the Kitchen was ready to close, Staff were more than willing to cater to their Star Guest and his Entourage, offering them a Private Booth.  He has been known to frequent the Restaurant often during his stay here.

Del Toro was gracious, inviting me inside for a Snap and we bonded, thrilled to hear how much fun I had working on his Film.  Also present was his Wife, Lorenza Newton.

As always, I love sharing the fun. Click "like" on this Post at Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven on Facebook to enter to win a Signed Photo from del Toro!  You should also be following on Twitter here.  

In the near future I'll be posting about my experience on-set. Stay tuned!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

GUILLERMO DEL TORO TO APPEAR AT TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX IN MAY

Guillermo del Toro on the set of Pan's Labrynth

Do not say he doesn't love Toronto.  Acclaimed Director Guillermo del Toro will be doing not one - but four - appearances in May at TIFF Bell Lightbox as part of their Hitchcock Master Classes with Guillermo del Toro Series. Screenings of Frenzy, Shadow of a Doubt, North by Northwast and Notorious will be taking place from May 7, 8, 15 and 16, 2012 respectively.

Each Screening will be preceded by an hour-long Introduction, followed by an hour-long Lecture from del Toro himself.  Click here for details.

Although the Director's Pacific Rim, which has been filming here since last Fall will have wrapped by then he likely will be around for a bit thereafter doing Post-Production on it, in a race to get it in theatres for July 13, 2013!  Click here to meet some of Stars who have been Toronto over the past while.

(Photo credit: Warner Bros.)

CLIFTON COLLINS JR. & CHARLIE HUNNAM SPOTTED IN TORONTO

Clifton Collins Jr. & Charlie Hunnam with Fans and Mr. Will-W.

It's always nice to see Buddies together! Pacific Rim Co-stars Charlie Hunnam and Clifton Collins Jr. were spotted out and about in Toronto tonight on their way to a Sunday night Dinner. The two Actors have been in Toronto since last Fall working on the $350-million Guillermo Del Toro Action-Fantasy to be released in 2013 via Warner Bros. 

Although we spotted Hunnam only a couple weeks ago together with his Mum, we had yet to spot Collins and they were both nice enough to stop and pose for some Photos together with Fans. Some getting a Hunnam-Collins Sandwich, some opting Photos with Hunnam and Collins alone.  You Charlie Hunnam Fans have been absolutely amaze with your feedback, so enjoy this surprise!

Collins is no Stranger to Toronto.  Back in 2009, the acclaimed Actor spent a bit of time here filming Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day and also a Cameo in popular Cult-Hit Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.

Meanwhile on the other side of town, their hunky Co-Star Max Martini flew in from Los Angeles after doing a bit of work on super-hot TV Series Revenge, to complete his final scene in Toronto on Pacific Rim.

Pacific Rim is slated to film here till April 24, 2012.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

CHAT WITH DIRECTOR AND CAST OF "THE AVENGERS" ON JANUARY 31, 2012

Still from The Avengers

Great news for fans of The Avengers!  The eagerly-awaited Action-Adventure won't be hitting theatres till May 4, 2012, but Fans in the meantime will have a chance to chat with Writer/Director Joss Whedon, Tom Hiddleston and Clark Gregg much sooner.  For the first time ever on the Big Screen, we'll be seeing Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow on-screen together.

Marvel Studios will be sponsoring a 30-minute Live Chat on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 2:00 PM EST and to participate, you can follow @Avengers on Twitter and Tweet with the Hashtag #Avengers. During the Chat, Fans will have a chance to answer Avengers Trivia and win Prize Packs too!

  A 30-second TV Spot will be airing also during Super Bowl XLVI on February 5, 2012 on NBC. Stay tuned.

(Photo credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

IDRIS ELBA: BACK IN TORONTO FOLLOWING GOLDEN GLOBE WIN

Idris Elba & Mr. Will-W.

Toronto rolled out the Red Carpet for just-crowned Golden Globe Winner Idris Elba tonight, all ready to head back to work just one day after having won the Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Miniseries/Movie in BBC's Luther.

The British Thespian/Musician/DJ currently is hard at work in Toronto on Guillermo del Toro's $350-million opus Pacific Rim, now surpassing the $250 million Total Recall as the biggest budgeted title ever to film in our City.

Lugging a bag of gear and a guitar on his back, Elba flew back to Toronto after a hectic weekend in Los Angeles for the Awards, celebrating his win at the HBO Golden Globes After Party. Yesterday, Elba had Tweeted how after losing last year, his Daughter Isan made him his own handmade Golden Globe Award. This year however, he brings home a real Award, acknowledging his beloved Daughter in his Speech on-air!

FIRST TRAILER: "PROMETHEUS"

Still from Prometheus

The first official Trailer for Sir Ridley Scott's Prometheus finally has surfaced after a series of three Teasers released over the past week. The Film, which has Scott doing Sci-fi for the first time since Blade Runner (1982) and Alien (1979), the latter for which this is a Prequel. Although there originally was talk of this filming partly at Toronto's newly-upgraded Pinewood Studios, alas that amounted only to a rumour as per the Studio itself.

After a team of Explorers work to trace the origins of Mankind, they wind-up getting involved in a fight for the survival Human Race. Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Noomi Rapace, Guy Pearce, Logan Marshall-Green, Idris Elba and Patrick Wilson all are a part of this great-looking Cast. 20th Century Fox releases on June 8, 2012.

Without giving much away, the minute-long Trailer is pulsating with a terrifying sense of Catastrophe.

Watch the Trailer in full below:

BRADLEY COOPER IS THE "SEXIEST MAN ALIVE"!

Bradley Cooper on People Magazine

People Magazine in their annual Poll has crowned Bradley Cooper their 2011 Sexiest Man Alive... and I couldn't agree more. His good looks and easy-going demeanour sometimes make us lose sight of the fact that he's hella brainy and I had the honour of meeting the Hunk earlier this year and got to ask him a few questions. Swoon!

Others to make the Poll include Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, Dylan McDermott, Idris Elba (currently in Toronto), Liam Hemsworth, Joel McHale, Jason Momoa and more. But where are legit Hotties like Michael Fassbender and Henry Cavill? I demand a recount!

Read it all in full here!

(Photo credit: People Magazine)

IDRIS ELBA, CHARLIE DAY & CHARLIE HUNNAM CONFIRMED FOR "PACIFIC RIM"

Charlie Day

At long last, Toronto has scored another new Production!  Director Guillermo del Toro who in 2007 was nominated for an Oscar with Pan's Labrynth, will be filming his new Sci-Fi/Action flick Pacific Rim (Working Title: Still Seas) in the City beginning Halloween through April 2012. 

Pacific Rim will see Humans boarding giant Robots to fight-off gargantuan Monsters and confirmed so far are Idris Elba, star of 2009's campy Obsessed and also Horrible Bosses star Charlie Day, who for a change will be taking on a more serious role.  British Actor Charlie Hunnam also will be starring and is known best for his work on Sons of Anarchy.

Although Tom Cruise originally was considered for Elba's role, alas that fell-through.  Will be exciting to see the Cast list expand in the near future.  Perhaps newly-upgraded Pinewood Studios will play host to filming?

(Photo credit: Warner Bros.)