Ryan Reynolds and Colin Hanks' Documentary ‘John Candy: I Like Me' to Open Toronto Film Festival's 50th Edition
'John Candy: I Like Me,' a documentary from director Colin Hanks and producer Ryan Reynolds, will open the 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival. It's set to screen on Sept. 4 at Roy Thomson Hall.
Candy was a Toronto-born comedian who rose to fame on Canada's sketch comedy show 'SCTV' and went on to star in films such as 'Spaceballs,' 'Uncle Buck,' 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles,' 'National Lampoon's Vacation' and 'Little Shop of Horrors.' He unexpectedly died of a heart attack at age 43 in 1994.
More from Variety
'The Shadow Scholars,' Executive Produced by Steve McQueen, Debuts Trailer Ahead of North American Premiere at Tribeca (EXCLUSIVE)
Bill Murray to Topline Second Annual Croatia International Film Festival (EXCLUSIVE)
'Welded Together' Acquired by Lightdox Ahead of Sheffield DocFest Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)
'Comedy fans all over the world grew up on John Candy's humor,' said Cameron Bailey, CEO of TIFF. 'We love that John's global career started in Toronto. Colin Hanks has made a hugely entertaining film packed with some of Hollywood's biggest stars, but like John, this movie is all heart.'
'John Candy: I Like Me' presents an unvarnished look at the funnyman's life on and off camera, featuring home videos and candid interviews with his family, friends and collaborators. According to the official logline, 'it's the story of a son, husband, father, friend, and professional driven to bring joy to audiences and loved ones while battling personal ghosts and Hollywood pressures.' Amazon MGM is backing the film, which will debut on Prime Video in the fall.
'When you hear the name John Candy, your face lights up. He wasn't just a great actor; he was an even better person,' Hanks and Reynolds said. 'People loved his everyman qualities, but they didn't know how relatable John really was. He went through the same struggles we all do, except now we talk about them. We are incredibly honored to have gotten to know the man better through this process and to bring the real John Candy to audiences starting with his hometown of Toronto.'
Other than the opening night film, TIFF's lineup hasn't been released. This year's festival will take place from Sept. 4 through 14.
Best of Variety
What's Coming to Netflix in June 2025
New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Billy Bob Thornton Shocks Kathy Bates by Revealing He Almost Starred in ‘Misery' and Their Surprise ‘Matlock' Connection
It's been quite a year for Kathy Bates and Billy Bob Thornton, who both lead hit shows. Bates stars in CBS' 'Matlock,' a reimagining of the '80s drama, playing a scheming attorney who hides her true identity from her colleagues to obtain justice for her daughter. Meanwhile, Thornton transforms into the chain-smoking, ruthless oil company executive Tommy Norris on Taylor Sheridan's 'Landman' on Paramount+. While on completely different paths as actors, they've known each other for three decades, first teaming up on Mike Nichols' 'Primary Colors,' where Bates tried to learn from the legendary director, and turned to him for advice. 'I said, 'What can you tell me about working with an actor?'' Bates recalls asking Nichols. 'And he said, 'Just love them.'' More from Variety Kristen Bell Texts Adam Scott When She's Angry About 'Severance' Cliffhangers and Delays: 'Why Is It Taking So F--ing Long' for New Episodes? Keri Russell and Scott Speedman on Nearly 30 Years of 'Felicity' and Friendship, From His Last-Minute Audition to Her Regrets: 'Why Didn't I Have More Fun?' Kate Hudson and Kathryn Hahn Relive Their Sweaty 'How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days' Audition and Cry Over Taking Hollywood Risks: 'People Don't Have the Guts to Go For It' But as it turns out, the pair almost met before 'Primary Colors' — on the set of Bates' most famous, and Oscar-winning, movie. BILLY BOB THORNTON: There was a time I went in and read for Rob Reiner for 'Misery.' KATHY BATES: You did not. THORNTON: I swear to God. Originally, Richard Farnsworth, who played the sheriff, had a deputy. I saw Rob Reiner for it. And Rob said right in the room, 'You're the guy. We can send everybody else home.' I was very excited. And I got a call from Rob Reiner — not many directors would do this — he called me and he said, 'Listen, I've been looking at the script and been planning out what I'm going to do with this movie.' He said, 'You can come up here and shoot this for the money or the insurance or whatever you need, but I'm just telling you, it's not going to be in the movie.' BATES: Oh, wow. THORNTON: He said, 'I don't want you to come up here expecting that this is going to be in the movie. And I didn't want you to be disappointed.' He said, 'But I'll leave it up to you. Do you want to come shoot it anyway?' And I said, 'No.' I thought that was very cool of him. BATES: Yeah, very cool. Can we talk about 'Landman'? I have so many questions. THORNTON: I'm happy to answer. BATES: We had this cocktail thing; Sharon Stone and I hosted. I was asking you about how you played this part, and she interrupted. I was so fucking pissed off! Did you have any time to really get together [with the cast] and get to know each other, or did you just jump in? THORNTON: We had to kind of jump in. We had one cast dinner before we started. I don't know if this makes any sense or not, but they're all such specific personalities that the chemistry almost happened. Ali Larter [who plays Thornton's feisty ex-wife] bursts through the room wearing half a sarong and starts bossing me around. It just makes you go, 'What are you talking about, honey? Leave me alone. I'm trying to watch TV.' And Michelle Randolph's like a kitten. BATES: Oh my God. THORNTON: I've got a 20-year-old daughter in college, so that's why it's so easy for me to play that. At the same time, the stuff she says to me? Oh my God. We really did become a family, and I know people say that a lot, but it really is true in this case. The first television role I ever did was 'Matlock.' BATES: I didn't watch it. Everybody always asked me that — did I watch the show? THORNTON: And that was a conscious choice. BATES: Well, let's say it was a conscious choice. I watched a couple to see what I could get out of it, but our show is just so different. I feel like this part was written with me in mind. Jennie Snyder Urman created it. And I'm lucky because I heard, originally, they wanted to make [my character] Andy Griffith's great-great-granddaughter. So she'd be 30-something. But Jennie took a walk, and it came to her that she wanted to write something about older women and feeling invisible. When I first read the script, I thought, this is just episodic, and I'm not interested in doing that. And then I finally got to the end, and there's this twist. I said, 'Oh, yeah, I'm in. I'm in.' Because I really had one foot out the door. THORNTON: Really? BATES: I just felt that I was getting small roles in films that I loved that people were not seeing. I just began to ask myself, 'Is this what I want to keep doing? Do I want to sell the house and maybe move to France and call it a day?' And then I got this script. It just fit me like a glove. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Nicholas Galitzine Says ‘Masters of the Universe' Has Wrapped Production, Calls He-Man ‘The Role of a Lifetime': ‘I Put Everything Into it'
'Masters of the Universe' star Nicholas Galitzine took to Instagram Sunday to reveal that the live-action adaptation of the 1983 animated series from Amazon MGM Studios and Mattel Films has officially wrapped production. 'Well, that's a wrap on 'Masters of the Universe,'' Galitzine wrote. 'It has been an honour shouldering the responsibility of playing Adam and He-Man. It's been the role of a lifetime and I put everything into it. There's not much I can show you, but I am so proud of the movie we've made. Thanks to our amazing cast and crew for all your hard work.' More from Variety Will Jared Leto's Sexual Misconduct Allegations Impact His Big Studio Movies 'Tron: Ares' and 'Masters of the Universe'? '100 Nights of Hero,' Fairy Tale Romance Starring Emma Corrin, Charli XCX, Nicholas Galitzine, Maika Monroe Sells to Independent Film Company (EXCLUSIVE) Nicholas Galitzine Shows Off He-Man Training (and Bulging Muscles) in CinemaCon Set Footage: 'He Is Transforming' Along with Galitzine's He-Man, the film stars Camila Mendes as Teela, Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn, Jared Leto as Skeletor, Idris Elba as Man-at-Arms, Sam. C Wilson as Trap Jaw, Kojo Attah as Tri-Klops, Hafthor Bjornsson as Goat Man and Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson as Malcolm/Fisto. 'Bumblebee' director Travis Knight helms the film with a script from Chris Butler, who joined after initial drafts were written by David Callaham and Aaron and Adam Nee. Producers include Mattel Films' Robbie Brenner, Escape Artists' Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch. The film is set for release on June 5, 2026. During a recent interview with Variety, Jóhannesson teased Galitzine's physical preparation for the role of He-Man. 'I was with him in London last week,' he said. 'We're doing fittings and filming is about to start. And I mean he is looking like a beast. He's not showing you everything. We were in the gym, we didn't wear much, it was kind of hot in there.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar
Cosmopolitan
an hour ago
- Cosmopolitan
Materialists: Breaking Down the Ending of Dakota Johnson's New Movie
If you walked into Materialists expecting a glossy, upper-crust rom-com, you probably walked out blinking and confused. Celine Song's Materialists doesn't end with grand gestures or sweeping declarations. The film begins with a question: what if love were just another asset class? It ends with another: what if it isn't? By the time the closing credits roll, our central lover girl has made choices that feel like a settling of accounts. At first glance, the film looks like it might be a sleek satire—think High Fidelity in The Row. But like Past Lives, Song's breakout debut, Materialists is less interested in plotting a typical romantic arc than in studying the moment someone realizes they're tired of managing their own life like a startup. The woman at the center of all this calculation is Lucy (a whisper-perfect Dakota Johnson), a professional matchmaker for New York's elite—though 'matchmaker' hardly captures the strategic, Silicon-Valley-meets-Venus nature of her work. Her clients want love, but they want it optimized. So does Lucy. Or so she thinks. Lucy had a long-term relationship with John (Chris Evans, shaggy and emotionally vulnerable), a sweet but struggling actor. They lived together in a modest apartment but broke up because, as Lucy says, their lack of money was making them miserable. There was real affection between them, but also a gnawing sense that Lucy's ambition was outgrowing the life they'd built. Enter: Harry (Pedro Pascal), a wealthy tech founder who meets Lucy through her matchmaking work—and promptly falls for her instead. He's charming and stable, a penthouse kind of guy. He represents everything Lucy is supposed to want. Harry persists. He courts Lucy the way one might court a promising early-stage investment—lavishly, with patience. She caves, cautiously. Their relationship coincides with a professional upswing: Lucy's clients are coupling up, deals are closing, and her crown jewel match—between longtime client Sophie and a charming new prospect named Mark—feels like her magnum opus. But Materialists doesn't believe in upward trajectories. Sophie reports that Mark assaulted her, Lucy's carefully balanced portfolio of love and commerce collapses. The algorithm broke. And worse, it's personal. Harry, good on paper and good in practice, becomes collateral damage. Lucy, having sublet her apartment in anticipation of a couple's trip to Iceland, moves in with John. They travel upstate, slip into old rhythms, kiss at a wedding. But the fairytale doesn't click into place. When John asks the inevitable, 'Are we doing this again?' Lucy doesn't have an answer—only a growing awareness that she's still measuring her feelings against a spreadsheet she no longer believes in. Then comes the film's sharpest pivot: a call from Sophie. Mark is outside her apartment. The police won't help. Lucy and John race over, not as matchmaker and ex, but as people who care. They sit with her. They file the paperwork. It's a turning point—unflashy, deeply felt, and more intimate than any romantic gesture. And it makes the next one—John's proposal during a casual lunch in Central Park—feel earned, not just emotionally, but existentially. By the end, Lucy is offered a promotion she doesn't quite want, a life she no longer needs. She says maybe. She kisses John. The credits roll over a quiet tableau of marriage licenses being processed at the clerk's office. No sweeping score. No final kiss in the rain. Just a signature, a choice, and a recalibration. Materialists is not a film about choosing between men. It's a film about choosing between stories. Lucy doesn't reject ambition or romance—she just stops outsourcing her values to either. 'Materialists' is playing in theaters now. Buy Tickets
