Javier Bardem Joins Voice Cast of Animated Film “Spellbound”

Posted on June 23, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Javier Bardem is officially feelin’ the magic…

The 53-year-old Spanish Oscar-winning actor has joined the voice cast of the animated film Spellbound.

Led by West Side Story’s Rachel Zegler, the recently expanded voice cast also includes Bardem’s Being the Ricardos co-star Nicole Kidman, John Lithgow, Nathan Lane, Jenifer Lewis, André De Shields and Jordan Fisher.

The upcoming musical from Apple Original Films and Skydance Animation will have Kidman voicing Ellsmere, the kind and just, yet hyper-precise Queen of Lumbria, with Bardem as Lumbria’s boastful yet big-hearted King, Solon. Together, they are the parents of Princess Ellian (Zegler), who they join on her daring quest to save her family and kingdom after a mysterious spell transforms them into monsters and threatens to cover Lumbria in darkness forever.

Lithgow and Lewis will voice Princess Ellian’s royal advisors, Minister Bolinar and Minister Nazara Prone, with Lane and De Shields as The Oracles of the Sun and Moon that Ellian seeks out to break the spell on her parents and the kingdom.

Additional characters aiding Ellian throughout her journey include the young nomad Callan, voiced by Fisher.

Academy Award winner Alan Menken is providing the film’s original score and songs, with song lyrics by Glenn Slater. Chris Montan is serving as executive music producer.

Bardem, who landed his fourth nom for his portrayal of Desi Arnaz in Being the Ricardos, recently appeared in Dune and Fernando León de Aranoa’s comedy The Good Boss.

His upcoming projects include Columbia Pictures’ adaptation of the children’s book Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, Rob Marshall’s The Little Mermaid and Dune: Part Two.

Columbia Pictures Releases New Trailer for Jared Leto’s “Morbius”

Posted on November 3, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Jared Leto is unleashing his dark side…

Columbia Pictures has released a new for Morbius, starring the 49-year-old part-Spanish American singer/songwriter.

In the trailer, Leto’s Dr. Michael Morbius is suffering from a rare blood disorder. When he undergoes his own experimental treatment, he soon finds an inner darkness unleashed.

That’s all the backstory you’ll need for this new trailer for Morbius, the upcoming installment in the Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters set for release in theaters on January 28, 2022.

Directed by Daniel Espinosa, Morbius features a story and screenplay, based on the Marvel Comics, by Matt Sazama & Burk Sharpless, and stars, in addition to Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona, Jared Harris, Al Madrigal and Tyrese Gibson.

Here’s the official synopsis: One of Marvel’s most compelling and conflicted characters comes to the big screen as Oscar winner Leto transforms into the enigmatic antihero Michael Morbius. Dangerously ill with a rare blood disorder and determined to save others suffering his same fate, Dr. Morbius attempts a desperate gamble. While at first it seems to be a radical success, a darkness inside him is unleashed. Will good override evil – or will Morbius succumb to his mysterious new urges?

Sony Releases Latest Trailer for Tessa Thompson’s “Men In Black: International”

Posted on April 26, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Tessa Thompsonis ready to save the world…

The latest trailer for Men In Black: International, Sony’s long-in-the-works reboot starring the 35-year-old Afro-Panamanian American actress.

Thompson and Chris Hemsworth kick ass in London and all over the world in their black suits, replacing Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith.

Sony has set a June 14, 2019 release date for Columbia Pictures’ comedic sci-fi actioner, which F. Gary Gray has directed from a screenplay by Art Marcumand Matt Holloway.

Whereas the original films were centered in New York City, the new take sees Agent M (Thompson) join the covert MIB organization dedicated to policing the alien population hiding in plain sight on Earth. She is partnered with Agent H (Hemsworth) in the London bureau to stop a potential global catastrophe.

Emma Thompson and Liam Neeson also star.

Sony Pictures Releases Trailer for Tessa Thompson’s “Men In Black: International”

Posted on December 23, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Tessa Thompsonis in the Black…

Sony has released the first trailer for Men In Black: International, the long-in-the-works reboot of the franchise now starring the part-Afro-Panamanian and Mexican American actress and Chris Hemsworth.

Thompson and Hemsworth don the black suits in the lead roles made famous by Tommy Lee Jonesand Will Smith.

Sony has set a June 14, 2019 release date for Columbia Pictures’ comedic sci-fi actioner, which F. Gary Gray has directed from a screenplay by Art Marcumand Matt Holloway.

Whereas the original films were centered in New York City, the new take sees Agent M (Thompson) join the covert MIB organization dedicated to policing the alien population hiding in plain sight on Earth. She is partnered with Agent H (Hemsworth) in the London bureau to stop a potential global catastrophe. Emma Thompson and Liam Neeson also star.

Sony Pictures Animation & Columbia Pictures Release New Trailer for Luna Lauren Velez’s “Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse”

Posted on October 3, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Luna Lauren Velez is spinnin’ a new web…

Sony Pictures Animation and Columbia Pictures has unveiled a new trailer for Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse, featuring the 53-year-old Puerto Rican actress as part of the voice cast.

The film, an animated take on the Spider-Manfranchise masterminded by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, will be released in theaters on December 14, with a New York Comic-Con appearance later this week in the offing.

After the success in June of the first trailer, which scored 44 million views in its first 24 hours, comes more of the storyline this time around.

It centers on a new Spider-Man, Brooklyn teen Miles Morales (Shameik Moore), who discovers he is only the Spidey in his, well, “soggy, weird, gross” French Fry universe, as portals open and many other versions come through. Others include a past-his-prime Peter Parker (Jake Johnson) who acts as Miles’ mentor, Spider-Gwen (Hailee Steinfeld), Spider-Man Noir (Nicolas Cage), Penny Parker and her robot SPDR (voiced by Kimiko Glenn) and Spider-Ham (John Mulaney).

In addition to Velez, the loaded voice cast also includes Mahershala Ali, Brian Tyree Henry, Lily Tomlin and Liev Schreiber.

Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey and Rodney Rothman are the directors, and Rothman wrote the script with Lord who created the story.

Gina Rodriguez to Star in Untitled Original Comedy from Universal Pictures

Posted on September 30, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a laughing matter for Gina Rodriguez…

Universal Pictures has acquired an untitled original comedy pitch from Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham, which is will be a starring vehicle for the 34-year-old Puerto Rican actress.

The studio is keeping the film’s plot details close to the vest.

Rodriguez rose to acclaim while starring as the title character in the series Jane The Virgin, earning a Golden Globe for her performance.

Her first major studio starring role will be for Columbia Pictures in the Catherine Hardwicke-directed remake of Miss Bala, the 2011 thriller about a beauty pageant contestant who witnesses drug related murders and is conscripted to do the bidding of a drug cartel.

Rodriguez has also been generating projects as producer, wrapping Someone Great, another star vehicle. She will also lend her voice and produce the animated series Carmen Sandiego, which will be released by Netflix in January.

Rodriguez and Emily Gipson will produce for their I Can & I Will Productions.

St. Clair and Parham are the co-creators and stars of the USA comedy series Playing House. Along with scripting, they will be executive producers.

First Trailer Released for Gina Rodriguez’s Animated Holiday Film “The Star”

Posted on July 29, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Rodriguez’s star is rising this holiday season…

The first trailer has been released for the 32-year-old Puerto Rican actress and Jane the Virgin star’s The Star, an animated holiday film in which the animals run the village.

Steven Yuen stars as Bo, a donkey who yearns for a life beyond his daily grind. When finally he summons the courage to break free, his adventure leads him to make friends with a flockless sheep (Aidy Bryant) and ambitious dove (Keegan-Michael Key). Little do they know, but they and a group of eccentric camels and stable animals are about to become unlikely heroes in the Greatest Story Ever Told.

Directed by Timothy Reckart from Carlos Kotkin’s script, the toon features a diverse, big-name voice cast that also includes Zachary Levi as Joseph and, Rodriguez as Mary.

Christopher Plummer plays the villainous King Herod. The animal characters include Kelly Clarkson, Patricia Heaton, Kristin Chenoweth, Anthony Anderson, Ving Rhames, Gabriel Iglesias.

Meanwhile Tyler Perry, Tracy Morgan and Oprah Winfrey voice the trio of wise-cracking camels.

The film from Sony Pictures Animation and Affirm Films in association with Walden Media features a new title song by Mariah Carey, and the trailer sports a contemporary take on Stevie Wonder’s yuletide classic “That’s What Christmas Means to Me.”

Columbia Pictures will release The Star on November 10.

New Trailer Released for Lovato’s “Smurfs: The Lost Village”

Posted on September 22, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Demi Lovato’s world is turning blue…

Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation have released a new trailer for Smurfs: The Lost Village, starring the 24-year-old part-Mexican American singer/actress.

The new clip for the Kelly Asbury-directed, fully animated film, which features Lovato voicing the character of Smurfette, seems designed to erase memories of the franchise’s latter-day live-action/animated hybrids entries.

The reboot, written by Stacey Harman and Pamela Ribon, has been touted as a return in tone to the blue gang’s original comic book adventures.

Sony describes the new movie’s plot thusly: “a mysterious map sets Smurfette and her best friends Brainy, Clumsy and Hefty on an exciting and thrilling race through the Forbidden Forest filled with magical creatures to find a mysterious lost village before the evil wizard Gargamel does. Embarking on a rollercoaster journey full of action and danger, the Smurfs are on a course that leads to the discovery of the biggest secret in Smurf history!”

In addition to Lovato, the cast includes Rainn Wilson (Gargamel), Joe Manganiello (Hefty), Jack McBrayer (Clumsy), Danny Pudi (Brainy) and Mandy Patinkin (Papa Smurf).

Smurfs: The Lost Village opens in theaters on April 7, 2017.

Diaz to Serve as Producer on CBS’ Comedy “Bad Teacher”

Posted on September 12, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Cameron Diaz is officially a bad producer… The 41-year-old half-Cuban American actress will serve as a producer of CBS’ midseason comedy Bad Teacher, which is based on her hit 2011 Columbia Pictures film of the same name. Diaz reunites with the film’s writers Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg, who serve as executive producers on the series. The single-camera Bad Teacher centers on hot, fearless and unapologetic former trophy wife Meredith Davis (Ari Graynor) who masquerades as a teacher in order to find a new man after her wealthy husband leaves her penniless. The role was played by Diaz in the movie where the character was named Elizabeth Halsey. Diaz will next star in Ridley Scott’s The Counselor and she’s currently filming Columbia Pictures’ Sex Tape. Her upcoming projects include The Other Woman and Annie. Her first foray into television producing was Trippin, a 10-episode environmental adventure series for MTV, which premiered in 2004. Bad Teacher is being produced by Sony Television, CBS Television Studios and Mosaic.

Diaz Joins the Cast of the New “Annie” Film

Posted on June 27, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

The sun will come out tomorrow for Cameron Diaz…

The 40-year-old half-Cuban American actress has signed on to star in the new big screen adaptation of Annie.

Diaz will play the cantankerous orphanage matron Miss Hannigan, a rep for Columbia Pictures confirmed to Entertainment Weekly, in the actress’ first official musical role onscreen.

The character of Miss Hannigan was memorably portrayed by Carol Burnett in the original 1982 big-screen version of Annie, which was directed by John Huston. For this new version, Easy A helmer Will Gluck will assume the directing duties.

Sandra Bullock had reportedly been in talks for the scene-stealing role, but she recently pulled out.

Diaz joins a star-studded production that’s being produced by Will Smith and Jay-Z.

The cast includes Oscar winner Jamie Foxx, who will play a Daddy Warbucks–like billionaire character, while Quvenzhané Wallis—who at 9 years old became the youngest Best Actress Oscar nominee for her work in Beasts of the Southern Wild—will take on the titular role.

Production is expected to start in the fall with a Christmas 2014 release date in mind.

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