Camila Mendes to Star in Gulfstream Pictures’ Romantic Comedy “Upgraded”

Camila Mendes is preparing for an upgrade.

The 28-year-old Brazilian American actress and Riverdale star will star opposite Archie Renaux in Gulfstream Pictures’ romantic comedy Upgraded, from actor-director Carlson Young, which has entered production in the UK.

Camila MendesIn the film written by Christine Lenig, Justin Matthews & Luke Roberts, aspiring art intern Ana (Mendes) is invited on a last-minute work trip to London by her brilliant but intimidating super boss, meeting the handsome and wealthy William (Renaux) on the plane. Set in both London and New York City, the rom-com chronicles the trials and tribulations of balancing work, romance and following your dreams.

Developed in part by Mendes and Rachel MatthewsUpgraded is the third film financed by Gulfstream Pictures this year, following the Josephine Langford-led rom-com The Other Zoey and the motorcycle racing pic One Fast Move, starring KJ Apa, both of which are currently in post-production.

“We are thrilled to be working with the enormously talented Camila Mendes, Carlson Young and Archie Renaux, as they pull back the curtain on the art world in this fun and engaging romantic comedy,” said Gulfstream’s leaders.

Mendes is best known for her role as Veronica Lodge on The CW’s popular teen drama series Riverdale, based on characters from the Archie Comics, which returns for its seventh and final season next year.

Additional credits include Max Barbakow’s acclaimed sci-fi rom-com Palm Springs for Neon and Hulu, the rom-com The New Romantic with Jessica Barden, and the Netflix thriller Dangerous Lies.

The actress will next be seen starring alongside Maya Hawke and Sophie Turner in the Netflix comedy Do Revenge, slated for release on September 16, and has also been tapped to star opposite Rudy Mancuso in his rom-com Música for Amazon Studios and Wonderland Sound and Vision.

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa Launching New Archie Comics Series “The Occult World of Sabrina”

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is still chilling

Sabrina Spellman lives on, in a way, in The Occult World of Sabrina, the new Archie Comics series from the 47-year-old Nicaraguan American playwright, screenwriter, and comic book writer.

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

The new comic book series  will pick up where Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina left off in its series finale cliffhanger. Sabrina may have welcomed death, but someone close to her is plotting to bring her back.

The source comic book series that inspired the Kiernan Shipka-led drama will also move forward in time in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina #9 with Aguirre-Sacasa at the helm, set to debut on Oct. 13.

“The scene that we shot and had to take out of the Netflix series with Zelda is the exact scene verbatim that’s in the first issue of The Occult World of Sabrina,” sats Aguirre-Sacasa. “When we start that series, it’s exactly as it ended in the Netflix series with Sabrina and Nick in the sweet hereafter and her family and friends in Greendale are trying to live in a world without Sabrina. In fact, that’s the name of the first story arc: ‘World Without Sabrina.’ We’ll see how her loved ones have been doing since Sabrina sacrificed herself. The first thing Zelda does is recruit a team of their family and friends to go into the underworld to bring Sabrina back to life.”

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa Signs New Multi-Year Deal with Warner Bros. Television

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasahas landed a major deal…

The 44-year-old Nicaraguan-American playwright, screenwriter, and comic book writer who is currently the Chief Creative Officer of Archie Comics and the key creative force behind Warner Bros. Television’s growing Archie comics-based TV universe, has signed a massive new multi-year overall deal with the studio. 

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

No details are being disclosed but the pact is said to be for five years, and it’s in the high eight figures. 

Under the agreement, Aguirre-Sacasa will develop, write, and produce new series through his banner, Muckle Man Productions, while also continuing as executive producer/showrunner on WBTV series Riverdale and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina,as well as pilot Katy Keene, co-developed with Michael Grassi.

Shortly after he was named Chief Creative Officer of Archie Comics in 2014, Aguirre-Sacasa teamed with WBTV-based Berlanti Prods. to bring the Archie characters to television. He is the developer/executive producer behind Riverdale, which has been a major hit for the CWand Netflix, and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which quickly established itself as a breakout for Netflix, and the co-developer/executive producer on the Riverdale spinoff pilot Katy Keene, which has been garnering solid early buzz at the CW.

Before becoming Archie Comics COO, Aguirre-Sacasa wrote two of the company’s best-selling horror series: Afterlife With Archie and Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina. He previously worked for Marvel Comics, scripting the adventures of Spider-Man, Nightcrawler, and the Fantastic Four.

Aguirre-Sacasa’s TV series writing-producing credits include Fox’s GleeHBO’s Looking and Big Love, as well as a stint on WBTV/Berlanti Prods.’ Supergirl.

Aguirre-Sacasa is an accomplished screenwriter and playwright. He penned the feature remakes of Carrie and The Town That Dreaded Sundown, as well as the musical adaptation of American Psycho, which had runs in London and on Broadway

Aguirre-Sacasa was part of the team that was brought in to overhaul Spider-man: Turn Off the Dark. This summer, Pasadena Playhouse will produce his prep school thriller, Good Boys and True, and he wrote the book to the Broadway-bound Magic Mike the musical, with Brian Yorkey (lyrics) and Tom Kitt(music).

Mendes to Appear at “Riverdale” Presentation at This Year’s WonderCon

Life’s a wonder(con) for Camila Mendes

The 22-year-old Brazilian American actress will attend this year’s WonderCon to take part in a special video presentation and Q&A with her Riverdale castmates.

Camila Mendes

Hosted by Warner Bros. Television, the presentation on Friday, March 31 will help “unlock the mystery of Riverdale,” according to organizers.

Along with Mendes, who portrays Veronica Lodge on the CW series based on characters from Archie Comics, KJ Apa, Lili Reinhart, Cole Sprouse, Ashleigh Murray, Luke Perry, Mädchen Amick and Mendes’ TV mom Marisol Nichols will also participate in the event.

Additionally, an exclusive screening of a brand new episode of Riverdale will take place on

This year’s WonderCon will take place from March 31-April 2.

But Mendes and Nichols aren’t the only Latinas set to take WonderCon by storm…

Genesis Rodriguez will take part in her own special video presentation and Q&A for her drama series Time After Time on Friday March 31.

The 29-year-old Cuban and Venezuelan American actress will be joined by fellow cast members Josh Bowman and Nicole Ari Parker to give fans the scoop on the suspenseful new drama and a sneak peek at what lies ahead in the first season.

Check out the schedule below, with more guests set to be announced in the coming weeks.

Friday, March 31

2:45–3:45 p.m. Riverdale Special Video Presentation and Q&A — Unlock the mystery of Riverdale and leave your innocence behind. Join stars KJ Apa, Lili Reinhart, Camila Mendes, Cole Sprouse, Ashleigh Murray, Luke Perry, Mädchen Amick and Marisol Nichols, along with executive producers Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Sarah Schechter and Jon Goldwater as they dive into the secrets that continue to loom over what may look like a quiet, sleepy town. While new details of Jason Blossom’s death emerge, tension grows between the Riverdale High students, as Jughead’s connection to the Southside Serpents is revealed. Based on the characters from Archie Comics and produced by Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, this one-hour drama is a bold, subversive take on the surreality of small-town life. Arena

3:30-4:30 p.m. Time After Time Special Video Presentation and Q&A Time After Time makes its WonderCon debut to give fans the scoop on the suspenseful new drama and a sneak peek at what lies ahead in the first season. Who will gain control of the Time Machine? Will H.G.’s and John’s goals become aligned? What is Project Utopia? Will Vanessa discover Griffin’s betrayal? Join us for a special video presentation followed by a Q&A with executive producer Marcos Siega and series stars Josh Bowman, Genesis Rodriguez and Nicole Ari Parker. The series is based on the novel written by Karl Alexander and produced by Outerbanks Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television.

Saturday, April 1

3:15-4:15 p.m. Riverdale Exclusive Screening of Brand New Episode — A WonderCon exclusive! Don’t miss a special advance screening of a brand new episode of Riverdale, airing Thursday, April on CW. Entitled “La Grande Illusion,” the episode will feature a special appearance by Shannon Purser (“Barb” from Stranger Things) as Ethel Muggs, and we uncover more secrets about the long-standing family feud between the Blossoms and the Coopers. Plus, Betty’s relationship with Polly faces additional challenges and Archie finds himself oddly entangled with Cheryl Blossom. Arena 

Sunday, April 2

12-1 p.m. Teen Titans Go! All-New Episode and Q&A — WonderCon attendees GO! to this panel and be ready for a fun afternoon with your favorite teen DC Super Heroes. Producers Michael Jelenic, Aaron Horvath and Peter Michail will join voice actor Greg Cipes to screen an all-new episode and answer your questions about all things Titans. Room 300AB

1-2 p.m. Justice League Action All-New Episode and Q&A — Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman lead the DC Comics Super Heroes against their most infamous foes in adventures packed with relentless thrills, fun and action. No need to wait for the good stuff to start, as each 11-minute episode has lightning-fast action and heroics. Whether defending the Earth, facing invaders from space or battling the bizarre forces of magic, the always-rotating team of Justice League heroes is up to any challenge. Voice cast members P.J. Byrne, Rachel Kimsey and Jason J. Lewis, along with producers Jim Krieg and Butch Lukic, will be on hand to screen an all-new episode as well as participate in a Q&A. The series is produced by Warner Bros. Animation.  Room 300AB

12:30-1:30 p.m. Lucifer Special Video Presentation and Q&A — If you thought all hell broke loose when Lucifer arrived in the City of Angels, just imagine how things will heat up in his absence. Indulge your deepest desires and be among the first to see what’s in store for Chloe Decker and the Devil himself after his mysterious departure in the midseason finale. Join us for a sizzling sneak peek at the second half of season two, followed by a Q&A with stars Tom Ellis, Lauren German, DB Woodside and executive producers Joe Henderson (White Collar) and Ildy Modrovich (CSI: Miami). From Jerry Bruckheimer Television in association with Warner Bros. Television and based upon characters created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg for Vertigo from DC Entertainment. Arena

1:45-2:45 p.m. Gotham Special Video Presentation and Q&A — As Gotham City descends into anarchy, join the hit show as it returns to WonderCon to give fans the scoop on all the shocking moments in store for the remainder of season three. With Penguin out of the picture, and a power grab taking place, who will become the new leader of the Gotham underworld? How will Nygma’s embrace of his Riddler persona alter the balance of power, and will any of it matter when the Court of Owls reveals its plans for the city? All will be judged! Join us for a special video presentation followed by a Q&A with series stars and executive producers. The series hails from Warner Bros. Television.

Nichols to Star in CW’s Archie Comics-Based Pilot “Riverdale”

Marisol Nichols is reporting for mom duty…

The 42-year-old part-Spanish/part-Mexican actress has been cast as Hermione Lodge in Riverdale, the CW pilot based on the Archie Comics characters from producer Greg Berlanti.

Marisol Nichols

Set in present time, Riverdale is a subversive take on Archie (KJ Apa), Betty (Lili Reinhart), Veronica (Camila Mendes) and their friends, exploring the surrealism of small-town life — the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale’s wholesome façade.

Nichols will play Hermione Lodge, Veronica’s upscale mother. Hermione has now returned to Riverdale, eager to start fresh with her daughter following the scandalous incarceration of her husband.

In the pilot, from Warner Bros. Television, Nichols also joins Ashleigh Murray (Josie), Cole Sprouse (Jughead Jones), Madelaine Petsch (Cheryl Blossom) and Luke Perry (Archie’s dad Fred Andrews).

Nichols recurs as Desert Wolf on Teen Wolf, recurred on Criminal Minds and NCIS, and starred on ABC’s Good Christian Belles.

Aguirre-Sacasa’s Drama “Riverdale” Headed to the CW

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s Archie is moving…

Riverdale, a one-hour drama based on the iconic Archie comic book characters, is moving to the CW.

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

The subversive take on the well-known franchise’s wholesome town of Riverdale and residents Archie, Betty, Veronica, as well as Josie and the Pussycats, originally was being developed at Fox.

Greg Berlanti still is exec producing via Berlanti Productions, in association with the Nicauraguan-American playwright, screenwriter, and comic book writer.

Aguirre-Sacasa, Archie Comics’ chief creative officer, is writing the pilot.

“When Greg and I started talking about bringing these characters to life, our first thought was that the best home for them would be the CW,” Aguirre-Sacasa told Deadline. “It took a little longer for us to get there, but now that we’re here, it’s feeling terrific.”

In addition to shepherding Riverdale, Aguirre-Sacasa also is a consulting producer on Supergirl. Aguirre-Sacassa might be best known for writing Afterlife with Archie, in which the Riverdale gang is visited by the undead, and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which has been described as the more “nuanced” of the two titles and tracks Sabrina’s encounters with witches and covens.

Archie Comics recently relaunched its flagship character with a new Archie #1. Like Riverdale, the new comic, written by Mark Waid and drawn by Fiona Staples, is a reboot of the classic.

Aguirre-Sacasa to Script Mark Burnett & Roma Downey’s Faust-Based Drama Series

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa has landed a devilish project…

The Nicaraguan-American playwright, screenwriter and comic book writer is set to pen a drama series based on the classic German legend of Faust.

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

From husband and wife duo Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, the executive producers of The Bible and the upcoming follow-up A.D., Faust is described as a faith-based medical procedural and a contemporary take on the popular tale about a scholar who sells his soul to the devil for ultimate knowledge, which will explore questions of faith and the supernatural in a grounded, realistic way.

Set in Washington, DC, the Aguirre-Sacasa-penned drama centers on an ambitious surgeon forced to confront a terrible truth: That he may lose everything good in his life—his job, his family, his very soul—when a diabolical stranger from his past arrives, to collect on a bargain they made thirteen years earlier.

Aguirre-Sacasa will executive produce with Burnett and Downey.

The series hails from Downey and Burnett‘s LightWorkers Media, the faith and family division of United Artists Media Group, Burnett and Downey’s joint venture with MGM and Hearst.

Aguierre-Sacasa serves as the Chief Creative Officer of Archie Comics. His film and television credits include Big Love, Glee and the 2013 Carrie remake.

Aguirre-Sacasa & Duncan Sheik’s “American Psycho” Musical Heading to Second Stage

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s psycho project is headed to Second Stage.

The off-Broadway powerhouse has announced plans to present the U.S. premiere of the much-praised musical American Psycho, with a book by the Nicaraguan-Americanplaywright, screenwriter, and comic bookwriter, and music by Duncan Sheik.

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

It’s a musical adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ 1991 novel of the same name, about excess, murder and flashing the right labels. The film adaptation of the same name was released in 2000 and starred Christian Bale.

The show, with staging by Rupert Goold and a starring performance by Matt “Dr. Who” Smith, opened last December at London’s Almeida Theatre and was considered a shoo-in for Broadway next season.

American Psycho Musical

For now, however, the show will begin performances in February 2015 and open in March at Second Stage’s West 43rd Street home base. It will be mounted in association with Act 4 Entertainment by special arrangement with Edward R. Pressman, who produced the film.

Aguirre-Sacasa, who was a Second Stage playwright in residence, has written for Glee and Big Loveand is Chief Creative Officer for Archie Comics.

On Broadway he’s best known as the book-writer for Spider Man: Turn Off The Dark.

Aguirre-Sacasa to Pen “Afterlife with Archie” Comic

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa will be giving Archie, Betty, Veronica and the gang a taste of The Walking Dead.

The 39-year-old television and comic book writer will be writing a new line of Archie Comics. The Glee scribe will be injecting new death into the adventures of Archie, Betty, Veronica and Jughead: flesh eating zombies.

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

Aguirre-Sacasa will write Afterlife with Archie, which ponders a zombie apocalypse in Riverdale. The comic will run alongside the usual lines of Archie Comics.

Here’s how it happens: After Reggie runs over Jughead’s beloved pet Hotdog, he convinces Sabrina to hatch a spell to bring back the dog back to life. But when Hotdog bites Jughead, he soon craves flesh.

Archie Comics

Aguirre-Sacasa, who penned the upcoming Carrie remake starring Chloe Moretz and Julianne Moore, said the new comic line “combines two of my great passions, Archie comics and horror comics.”

The first arc is called Escape from Riverdale. The second arc is called, brace yourself, Betty RIP.” He said the gore will be balanced with “elements that are quintessentially Archie.”

Aguirre-Sacasa’s writing credits include HBO’s Big Love and the comics Dead of Night featuring Man-Thing.