
Star-studded TIFF lineup includes Scarlett Johansson's feature directorial debut, Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein'
Festival organizers touted big directors with star-studded projects on Monday for the fest's 50th edition, including Johansson's Cannes sensation in which June Squibb plays a nonagenarian grappling with a friend's death; del Toro's take on Mary Shelley's beloved Gothic monster as played by Jacob Elordi; and Safdie's UFC drama for A24, with Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson as real-life mixed martial arts fighter Mark Kerr.
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CTV News
a day ago
- CTV News
George Lucas finally comes to Comic-Con to give a preview of his new museum
George Lucas arrives for the 50th AFI Life Achievement Award tribute to Francis Ford Coppola on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File) SAN DIEGO — George Lucas is finally coming to the stage at Comic-Con. And while 'Star Wars' is sure to get a mention, the 81-year-old is making his debut appearance at the San Diego pop cultural extravaganza for a more earthbound reason: a preview of his long-in-the-works Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles. The Sunday panel discussion in Comic-Con's vaunted Hall H will act as a relatively quiet closing act to the four-day festival that brought its usual series of big, bombastic looks at upcoming sci-fi and superhero projects. The museum-centered session is also meant to be a broader discussion of the new institution's subject matter: the histories and traditions of narrative art across time and cultures. Lucas will be joined by fellow filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro and art director Doug Chiang, who has worked on a steady series of 'Star Wars' films starting with the Lucas-directed prequels in 1999. Queen Latifah will act as moderator. Lucas is easily on the Mount Rushmore of figures whose work has had the greatest inspiration on the kind of films and other pop cultural celebrated annually in Hall H at Comic-Con. But the convention wasn't a common showcase for blockbuster films when he was directing them himself. And he sold 'Star Wars' and Lucasfilm to the Walt Disney Co. in 2012, and Disney has used different venues to make big splashy presentations about its properties. The museum founded by Lucas and his wife, businesswoman Mellody Hobson, is set to open next year in Exposition Park, near the Los Angeles Coliseum, several of the city's other museums, and the University of Southern California. The 11-acre campus and 300,000-square-foot building designed by architect Ma Yansong includes galleries, two theaters and related spaces. Andrew Dalton, The Associated Press


CBC
4 days ago
- CBC
Toronto awards filmmaker Guillermo del Toro key to the city
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow presented filmmaker Guillermo del Toro with a symbolic key to the city at a ceremony on Thursday. CBC's Clara Pasieka has the reaction from del Toro.


Global News
4 days ago
- Global News
‘Best place to make movies': Toronto presents Guillermo del Toro with key to the city
Toronto has handed Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro the key to the city in recognition of his affinity for making films here. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow presented the Mexican-born filmmaker with the ceremonial honour Thursday morning, saying his history of producing films in Toronto has created jobs and supports a local screen industry. In accepting the key, del Toro said he loves Toronto and considers it 'the best place to make movies.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The presentation took place at the waterfront Cinespace Studios, which says it's renaming four sound stages to pay tribute to the 'Shape of Water' writer-director. Del Toro says he's spent about half of his 30-year career making movies in Toronto, including 2009's effects-laden action film 'Pacific Rim' and 2017's fantasy 'The Shape of the Water,' which netted Oscars for best director and best picture. Next up is his Netflix film 'Frankenstein,' featuring Jacob Elordi as the titular monster, which Del Toro says will be finished at the Toronto video production studio Company 3. Story continues below advertisement 'Frankenstein' is bound for the Toronto International Film Festival in September. 'I have loved Toronto for so many years and I am very happy that it loves me back,' del Toro said during the ceremony. 'It does not only exist as a great city for making film, but for celebrating film,' he said.