Ryan Reynolds and Colin Hanks’ ‘John Candy: I Like Me’ Doc to Open Toronto Film Festival

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The forthcoming documentary titled “John Candy: I Like Me“, produced by Ryan Reynolds and directed by Colin Hanks, will kick off the Toronto Film Festival on September 4th, as announced on Wednesday by festival organizers.

Reynolds, much like the late John Candy, hails from Canada, and it seems he’s been a long-time admirer of the Canadian comedian and actor. This connection will likely have the Deadpool star stroll down TIFF’s opening night red carpet towards Roy Thomson Hall, accompanied by Hanks and Candy’s family, for the grand world premiere event.

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Reynolds, who shares a Canadian background with the late John Candy, appears to have been an avid fan of the comedian and actor throughout his life. As such, it is expected that the Deadpool star will join Hanks and Candy’s family on the TIFF opening night red carpet and walk into Roy Thomson Hall for the world premiere together.

Both sentences convey the same meaning but are slightly different in structure and phrasing.

Reynolds and Hanks, co-producers, declared in a statement: “John Candy’s name brings joy to your face. He wasn’t merely an outstanding actor; he was an exceptional human being. People admired his ordinary qualities, yet they didn’t realize how much John could resonate with everyone. He faced the same challenges we all do, only now we discuss them openly. We feel privileged to have had the opportunity to understand him better through this project and to portray the genuine John Candy, starting with Toronto, his hometown.

Similar to how Amazon Prime premieres movies like “John Candy: I Like Me” in fall 2025 following its TIFF premiere, Toronto has been starting its annual September event with well-known streaming titles recently. For instance, Netflix’s “The Swimmers” directed by Sally El Hosaini, Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli’s animated film “The Boy and the Heron”, and last year’s “Nutcrackers” starring Ben Stiller, directed by David Gordon Greene, were all premiered in Toronto before they appeared on platforms like Hulu.

In a career that was more than just iconic, Candy played in approximately 44 movies, featuring some timeless comedies from the ’80s and ’90s such as “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” “Spaceballs,” “The Great Outdoors,” “Uncle Buck,” “Home Alone,” “Cool Runnings” and “Stripes,” to name a few.

Colin Hanks, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson’s son, made his screen debut at the age of 8, starring alongside Candy and his father in the 1985 comedy “Volunteers”. His acting resume also includes roles in the TV series “Fargo”, the limited series “The Offer” and “Life in Pieces”.

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Colin Hanks, son of Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, first appeared on screen at age 8, sharing the limelight with Candy and his dad in the 1985 comedy “Volunteers”. His acting career has since expanded to include roles in the TV shows “Fargo”, “The Offer” (a limited series) and “Life in Pieces”.

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In 1985, Colin Hanks, the son of Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, made his acting debut alongside Candy and his father in the comedy film “Volunteers”. Over the years, he has added several acting credits to his name, including roles in the TV series “Fargo”, “The Offer” (a limited series) and “Life in Pieces”.

or

Colin Hanks, who is the son of Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, made his first on-screen appearance at age 8 in the comedy film “Volunteers”, alongside Candy and his father. Since then, he has built a career with roles in the TV series “Fargo”, “The Offer” (a limited series) and “Life in Pieces”.

On March 4, 1994, John Candy tragically passed away at the age of 43 due to a massive heart attack in Durango, Mexico, where he was working on the movie “Wagons East.” The upcoming biographical documentary, titled “John Candy: I Like Me,” is being produced by Maximum Effort, the production company led by Reynolds. This project will share anecdotes and memories from Candy’s family, who are actively involved in its creation.

In addition to Candy’s close friends who have worked with her for a long time in Hollywood, this documentary will feature them as well. Alongside archived footage and home videos, their appearances are planned. The Toronto Film Festival, celebrating its 50th anniversary, is scheduled to take place from September 4th to the 14th. Further lineup details will be unveiled in the upcoming months.

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2025-06-04 17:24