David Del Rio to Star Opposite Kathy Bates in CBS’ Drama Pilot “Matlock”

David Del Rio is (Mat)locking in his next project…

The 35-year-old Latinx actor/director and former Baker and the Beauty star and Leah Lewis have been cast as series regulars opposite Kathy Bates and Skye P. Marshall in CBS’ drama pilot Matlock.

David Del RioThe project is a new take on the classic legal television drama starring Andy Griffith, which hails from Jane the Virgin creator Jennie Snyder Urman and NCIS: Los Angeles star Eric Christian Olsen.

In Matlock, written by Urman and to be directed by Kat Coiro, after achieving success in her younger years, the brilliant septuagenarian Madeline Matlock (Bates) rejoins the work force at a prestigious law firm where she uses her unassuming demeanor and wily tactics to win cases and expose corruption from within.

Del Rio plays Billy, a charismatic young associate a few years out of law school and assigned to work on one of the firm’s biggest cases.  He helps Matty navigate her new work environment as he seemingly knows more than he should.

Lewis plays Sarah, a Junior Associate eager to get ahead and not worried about being liked. Sarah is all ambition, determined to be seen for her smarts and willing to do anything to move up a peg at the firm. She is not pleased when she’s forced to work alongside Matty, lowering her position at the company even further.

Bates executive produces alongside Sutton Street’s Urman and Joanna Klein, Coiro, as well as Cloud Nine’s Olsen and John Will.

Del Rio can be seen as a lead in the Hulu Original series, Maggie, opposite Rebecca Rittenhouse. His most recent credits include starring as Mateo in ABC’s Baker and the Beauty. He also replaced Lin-Manuel Miranda in his Tony winning role on Broadway as Sonny in In the Heights, and teamed up with Miranda to star in the Emmy nominated Grease: Live on Fox.

Bella Ortiz to Star Opposite Caitlin Kinnunen in the CW’s Untitled Drama Pilot from Jennie Snyder Urman

Bella Ortiz is taking her religious vows…

The Chilean actress has been cast as the co-lead opposite Caitlin Kinnunen in the CW’s untitled drama pilot executive produced by Jennie Snyder Urman.

Bella Ortiz

Written by Claire Rothrock and Ryann Weir and directed by Tessa Blake, the project centers on two millennial nuns – a devout true believer (Kinnunen), and a new arrival (Ortiz) who has yet to take her final vows – who start as strangers and become sisters on a funny, spiritual journey to understand their own faith and place in the Catholic church.

Kinnunen’s Sister Frances is the complacent angel on your shoulder, an impressionable, people-pleasing, young nun who believes in the power of thoughts and prayers and never breaks the rules — until she meets Sr. Maggie.

Ortiz’s Sister Maggie is the daredevil on your shoulder, a radical, millennial nun hellbent on shaking up the power structures of the Catholic Church while being of service to her Brooklyn neighborhood. She can’t help but get into trouble, which is why she’ll need Sr. Frances.

Ortiz is an up-and-coming actress who started her acting career on stage and television post-college in Chicago. She’ll next be seen in the teen horror-thriller feature American Carnageopposite Jenna Ortega and Jorge Lendeborg Jr. 

ABC Developing Comedy “Guerrillas,” Starring Jaime Camil

Jaime Camil is soldiering forward…

ABC is developing Guerrillas, a single-camera comedy starring the 47-year-old Mexican actor/singer and former Jane the Virgin scene-stealer and comedian Al Madrigal.

Jaime Camil

The project comes from Jennie Snyder Urman’s Sutton Street Productions and CBS Studios.

In Guerrillas, co-written by Madrigal and Matt Kellard, when Miles Flores (Madrigal), a lonely efficiency expert for an oil company, gets kidnapped in South America, he ends up working for a disorganized group of guerrilla soldiers to earn back his freedom. Camil plays the “Commandante” of the soldiers who kidnapped Miles.

Madrigal and Kelland executive produce alongside Urman and Joanna Klein via Sutton Street. Camil co-executive produces.

Guerrillas reunites Urman, Camil and Madrigal who recently worked together on the CBS comedy series Broke. Camil starred in and executive produced the sitcom, on which Madrigal recurred in addition to being a writer/co-executive producer. Urman, along with Klein, executive produced via Sutton Street.

This marks the third collaboration between Jane the Virgin creator Urman and Camil, following the CW dramedy and Broke. Meanwhile, Madrigal co-starred in the hit movie Night School, co-written by Kellard.

Gina Rodriguez & Cast Share Snaps from Last Day of Filming Final Episode of “Jane The Virgin”

It’s the end of an era for Gina Rodriguez

The 34-year-old Puerto Rican actress and her Jane the Virgin cast mates have just filmed the final episode of the acclaimed CW series, which earned Rodriguez a Golden Globe.

Gina Rodriguez

The final day, according to the cast, was emotional, heartwarming and filled with tears.

The cast took to Instagram with stories and photos detailing their last days on set. Rodriguez posted a photo in her IGstories of a tearful embrace between her and showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman

“This is my dream maker,” she wrote. “Her hair is pink and her brain is big and brilliant. Thank you for making me your Jane.”

She also posted a loving photo of her and Elias Janssen with the caption: “Jane and Mateo. My first on screen baby boy. Love you buddy. Por vida #lastDaysofJane”

The series finale is set to air this summer.

Andrea Navedo, Bridget Regan and Yara Martinezalso posted their goodbyes.

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Final #TvFamily #GroupHug #janethevirgin

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Ivonne Coll to Star in The CW’s “Jane the Virgin” Spinoff, “Jane the Novela”

There’s more Jane in Ivonne Coll’s future…

The 71-year-old Puerto Rican actress and Jane the Virgin star has landed a series regular role in Jane the Novelathe CW’s Jane the Virgin spinoff pilot.

Ivonne Coll

The project will be headlined by Jacqueline Grace Lopezand narrated and executive produced by Jane the Virgin star Gina Rodriguez, with Coll providing a little continuity from the original series in front of the camera.

The telenovelaanthology offshoot will also star Remy Hii, Hunter Parrish, Benito Martinez and Holland Roden.

Written/executive-produced by Jane the Virgin writer Valentina Garza, directed/exec produced by Jane the Virgin EP Brad Silberling and executive-produced by Jane the Virgin creator/EP Jennie Snyder UrmanJane the Novela is a soapy, telenovela-inspired anthology series in the tradition of Jane the Virgin, where each season is based on a different fictional novel “written by” Jane Villanueva and narrated by the author herself.

The first installment takes place at the intersection of Napa Valley wine country and the San Francisco art scene and pairs family secrets and sins of the past with twists, tropes and a bloody bottle of red. It centers on Estela (Lopez), an up-and-coming art curator who has spent years playing it safe and coloring within the lines. But a shocking secret changes everything and forces her to live a double life.

Being “in the tradition” of Jane the Virgin, Jane the Novela mirrors the setup of the original series. It too follows a driven, imaginative twentysomething Latina woman (Lopez) who is torn between her boyfriend, Luen (Hii), and Felix (Parrish), a handsome, rich guy. In this case, Luen is head of security while Felix is in the wine business vs. Jane Villanueva’s cop boyfriend Michael and love interest Rafael, a hotel heir.

Hii’s Luen is Estela’s sweet, dependable, long-term boyfriend. When the life he’s planned for himself and Estela is threatened by Felix, Luen will stop at nothing to win back the woman he loves.

Coll will play Camila, Estela’s adoptive mother. Camila would do anything to protect her daughter and the life they have built, even lie to her. On Jane the Virgin, Coll plays Jane’s grandmother and Xo’s mother Alba.

Martinez portrays Raul, the winery’s enigmatic riddler. Nobody knows Napa’s terrain like he does – he specializes in collecting dirt on everyone.

Coll’s other television credits include Switched at BirthTeen WolfGleeEast Los High and Nip/Tuck.

Martinez is known for his portrayal of Los Angeles politician David Aceveda for seven seasons on FXpolice drama The Shield. He had a starring role in John Ridley’s anthology series American Crime Story alongsideFelicity Huffmanand Regina Kingand can next be seen in the upcoming seasons of 13 Reasons WhyThe BlacklistJack Ryan, and the feature film Queen & Slim. 

Jacqueline Grace Lopez to Star in the CW’s “Jane the Virgin” Spinoff, “Jane the Novela”

Jacqueline Grace Lopezis ready to bring on the melodrama… 

The Latina actress and former East Los High star has landed the lead role in Jane the Novela, the CW‘s Jane the Virgin spinoff pilot. 

Jacqueline Grace Lopez

The telenovela anthology series project hails from Jane the Virgin creator/executive producer Jennie Snyder Urman, star Gina Rodriguez, exec producers Ben Silvermanand director Brad Silberling. as well as studio CBS Television Studios.

Written by Jane the Virgin scribe Valentina Garzaand directed by Silberling, Jane the Novela is envisioned as a soapy, telenovela-inspired anthology series in the tradition of Jane the Virgin, where each season is based on a different fictional novel “written by” Jane Villanueva and narrated by the author herself.

The first installment takes place at a Napa Valley Vineyard, where family secrets (and family members) don’t stay buried for long. It centers on Estela (Lopez), an up and coming art curator who has spent years playing it safe and coloring within the lines. But a shocking secret changes everything and forces her to live a double life.

Being “in the tradition of Jane the Virgin,” Jane the Novelamirrors the setup of the original series. It too follows a driven, imaginative twenty-something Latina woman (Lopez) who is torn between her boyfriend, Luen, and Felix, a handsome, rich guy. In this case, Luen is head of security while Felix co-owns a winery vs. Jane Villanueva’s (Rodriguez) cop boyfriend Michael and rich love interest Rafael, co-owner of the Marbella hotel.

Lopez has a handful of acting credits, most recently a guest spot on Hulu’s Light as a Feather Her short film The Girl Without Catswhich she wrote and produced, made the festival circuit. 

The CW Developing Potential “Jane the Virgin” Spinoff with Gina Rodriguez

Gina Rodriguez may be spinning tales soon…

The 34-year-old Puerto Rican actress and Jane the Virgin star is attached to serve as part of a potential spinoff of her The CW dramedy.

Gina Rodriguez

The network has put in development the untitled project, from the original series’ creator/executive producer Jennie Snyder Urman, Rodriguez, executive producer Ben Silverman, executive producer/director Brad Silberling and CBS Television Studios.

Details of the spinoff, written by Jane the Virgin scribe Valentina Garza and directed by Brad Silberling, haven’t been revealed. But the spinoff is envisioned as a soapy, telenovela-inspired anthology series in the tradition of Jane the Virgin, where each season is based on a different fictional novel “written by” Jane Villanueva and narrated by the author herself.

The first installment, referred to as Tar & Roses, takes place at the intersection of Napa Valley wine country and the San Francisco art scene.

This isn’t considered a character spinoff, although there had been chatter in the past about a potential Rogelio de le Vega spinoff starring Rodriguez’s TV dad Jaime Camil.

Garza and Silberling will executive produce alongside Rodriguez, Urman, Silverman, Joanna Klein and Emily Gipson.

CBS Television Studios is producing with Urman’s Sutton Street Prods., Rodriguez’s I Can and I Will Prods. and Silverman and Howard T. OwnersPropagate.

Jane the Virgin will kick off its fifth and final season on The CW in early 2019.

Gina Rodriguez to Direct an Episode of The CW’s “Charmed” Reboot

Gina Rodriguez is heading behind the lens…

The 34-year-old Puerto Rican actress and Jane the Virgin star will direct the 11th episode of the CW’s Charmed reboot, according to Variety.

Gina Rodriguez

“I’m very excited about that opportunity and obviously very excited that I get to do it with three Latinas,” Rodriguez said. “It’s really f—ing awesome. It’s going to be really exciting to see what that journey is.”

Rodriguez made her directorial debut on her CW series last season, with the 10th episode of its fourth season. At the time, she told Variety that some of her influences in stepping behind the camera were past Jane the Virgindirectors Brad Silberling and Melanie Mayron.

“Brad Silberling is very poetic with the camera — the way he sets up blocking and the way he tells a story is very poetic, where it’s a reflection of the script and it’s telling a story inside of the story. Melanie Mayron sets up really stunning shots — whether it’s a really big wide where you have somebody running through the scene or it’s inserts of a hand moving a chair, or it’s a cut between a look and a look,” she said.

Charmed, which comes from Jane the Virginshowrunner Jennie Snyder Urman, marks the first project Rodriguez will direct that she is not also starring in.

The new version of Charmed isbased on a story by Urman, with Jane the Virginwriters Jessica O’Toole and Amy Rardin writing and executive producing. Silberling, Ben Silverman and Carter Covington also executive produce. CBS Television Studios produce in association with Propagate Content.

The show stars Melonie Diaz, Madeleine Mantock and Sarah Jeffery as the sisters who discover they are witches in the pilot episode.

Rodriguez will also be back in the director’s seat on “Jane” for the fifth and final season premiere episode. She is also developing a few projects with the network.

Alex Meneses to Appear on The CW’s “Jane the Virgin”

Alex Meneses is heading to Virgin territory…

The 52-year-old half-Mexican American actress and former Telenovela star has landed a recurring role on the upcoming fourth season of The CW’s hit dramedy Jane the Virgin.

Alex Meneses

Meneses will play Katherine, owner of the Cortes Hotel Conglomerate, who is a possible investor of Rafael (Justin Baldoni) and Petra’s (Yael Grobglas) hotel.

There are few details about the Season 4 storyline, but Jane the Virgin creator/executive producer Jennie Snyder Urman told Deadline after the Season 3 finale that the fourth season would be about “recapturing the joy.”

“I want to see Jane fight for her joy,” she said. “I want to see her go after her happiness. I want to see her open herself up to a new, evolved version of ‘happily ever after.’”

In addition to Telenovela, for which she was nominated for an Imagen Award, Meneses is known for her recurring role as Stefania, Brad Garrett’s Italian girlfriend on Everybody Loves Raymond.

Additional credits include The Goldbergs, CSI and Prison Break.

Guerrero to Star in CBS’ Immigration Drama “In the Country We Love”

Diane Guerrero has gone Country

The 30-year-old Colombian American actress, a recurring guest star on Jane the Virgin, has partnered with executive producer/showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman, executive producer Ben Silverman and co-executive producer Paul Sciarrotta for In the Country We Love, a potential drama project for CBS.

Diane Guerrero

Guerrero is attached to star in the drama, which is based on her memoir. Jane the Virgin producer CBS Television Studios is the studio.

Written by Sciarrotta, In the Country We Love centers on a successful corporate attorney who starts taking pro bono cases for undocumented immigrants after her past as the child of deported parents is revealed by a family emergency.

Guerrero’s memoir In the Country We Love: My Family Divided, co-written with best-selling author Michelle Burford, chronicles Guerrero’s harrowing experience as a teenager.

She was 14 when her parents were taken from their Boston home by immigration agents and deported to their native Colombia while she was at school. From then on, Guerrero, who was born in the U.S., had to rely on the kindness of family friends.

Guerrero was named a White House Ambassador for Citizenship and Naturalization in 2015 and is an outspoken advocate for common-sense, comprehensive immigration reform, having worked with Immigrant Legal Resource Center and Mi Familia Vota, a nonpartisan Latino civic engagement organization to promote citizenship and voter registration.

This is the second broadcast drama project in development for next season that touches on the hot-button issue of immigration, along with The CW’s Casa, from Warner Bros Television and Berlanti Prods.

Guerrero is best known for her role as Maritza Ramos on Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black. She plays Jane’s (Gina Rodriguez) best friend Lina on Jane the Virgin.