Dedicated fans, some finding a spot at the wee hours of the morning, lined Richmond Street in front of Scotiabank Theatre for the much anticipated red carpet premiere of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones.

Featuring a particularly diverse cast, including veteran actors Jared Harris, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, CCH Pounder, Lena Headey, and Thunder Bay native Kevin Durant, it was the young, rising stars that came out to promote the fantasy adventure. The 24-year-old Lily Collins, who has undertaken the role of a new breed of female heroines, was greeted with great fanfare, but not before her male colleagues walked the carpet first, much to the delight of the young ladies in the audience.

Londoner Jamie Campbell Bower, Irish actor Robert Sheehan (who donned leopard-print shoes), and Canadian Kevin Zegers all smiled, waved, and signed autographs from excited fans, many of whom distracted the boys with shouts of ‘I love you!’ and ‘You’re hot!’

Based on the book of the same name, the first in a series that is heading towards its sixth installment, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones tells the story of a young girl Clary (Collins) who learns of a secret, mystical past in her family. Her mother (Headey) is kidnapped, and Clary and her best friend Simon (Sheehan) find themselves aligned with the mysterious Jace (Bower) and Alec (Zegers).Clary learns to see the world in a different light, one filled with werewolves, vampires, demons, and angels.

There is plenty of action and excitement, not to mention an especially interesting love triangle between Jace, Simon, and Clary. Alec, as well, offers a few surprises. The film is expansive and entertaining, and hopes to be the first in a lengthy, successful fantasy series. Director Harald Zwart, who also walked the red carpet, has barely had a chance to catch his breath – he and the cast are already underway working in the second film.

Photography Credit: Marc Levy