Antonio Banderas to Star in the Action-Crime Thriller “Clean Up Crew”

Antonio Banderas is cleaning up

The 61-year-opld will star opposite Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Melissa Leo in the Yale Entertainment action-crime thriller Clean Up Crew from director Jon Keeyes.

Antonio BanderasThe Ireland-based production recently wrapped, and Yale’s recently-launched sales banner Great Escape, led by Nick Donnermeyer, will handle foreign rights and introduce the title at next month’s Toronto Film Festival.

The film follows a crime scene clean-up crew, which includes Rhys Meyers and Leo’s characters, who discover a briefcase full of cash, unknowingly sending them into battle with mobsters – led by a ruthless crime boss, played by Banderas, as well as hitmen, and corrupt government agents who are hell bent to get the dough back.

Clean Up Crew was written by Matthew Rogers.

“We’re excited to work with this legendary all-star cast on what will be an edge-of-your seat, action-packed film,” said Levine and Beckerman. “We’re certain that Jon Keeyes will deliver a uniquely thrilling cinematic experience.”

Banderas’ has been a frequent collaborator of award-winning Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar, and starred in such works as the director’s Pain and GloryBanderas won the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for that film, and was nominated for Best Actor at the Oscars.

He will next be seen starring with Penelope Cruz in the Spanish comedy Official Competition and returns as the voice of Puss in Boots in Dreamworks Animation’s Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

Next year, he stars in the highly anticipated fifth installment of the Indiana Jones film.

Bella Thorne Starring in Dark Comedy “The Trainer”

There are several train(er)ing days for Bella Thorne.

The 24-year-old half-Cuban America actress/singer has been cast in the dark comedy The Trainer, directed by Tony Kaye from a script by star Vito Schnabel and Jeff Solomon.

Bella Thorne

Thorne is part of a roster of new cast additions that includes Soo Joo Park, Brock O’Hurn, Laird Hamilton and Duke Nicholson.

The film currently in production, after nearly a decade in development, is based on an original story by Schnabel.

Unfolding over eight days of sleep-deprived chaos, it follows Jack (Schnabel), a down-on-his-luck fitness expert living with his mother in Los Angeles, who takes a maniacal swing at fame and fortune, trying to realize his version of the American dream.

Julia Fox, Steven Van Zandt, Taylour Paige, Stephen Dorff, John McEnroe, Gina Gershon and Luka Sabbat are also set to star.

Character details are being kept under wraps.

Thorne can currently be seen opposite Melissa Leo in Peyfa’s thriller Measure of Revenge, and will next be seen in Graham and Parker Phillips’ thriller Rumble Through the Dark, with Aaron Eckhart.

She’s previously appeared in the films Chick FightRideMidnight SunAssassination NationThe BabysitterAmityville: The AwakeningBoo! A Madea Halloween, The DUFFAlexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, and Blended.

Her television credits include Paradise CityFamous in LoveShake It UpBig Love, My Own Worst Enemy and Dirty Sexy Money.

Vertical Entertainment to Release Bella Thorne’s “Measure of Revenge” in North America Next Month

Bella Thorne will be exacting revenge at your local theater…

Vertical Entertainment has acquired North American rights to the psychological thriller Measure of Revenge, starring the 24-year-old half-Cuban American actress/singer.

Bella Thorne, Measure of RevengeThe film, which also stars Melissa Leo and Jake Weary, is slated for a day-and-date release on March 18.

In the debut feature of Malaysian helmer Peyfa, Broadway actress Lillian Cooper (Leo) is making her final on-stage appearance when her famous son, Curtis (Weary), is found dead. When his death is ruled as an accidental overdose, a suspicious Lillian decides to take matters into her own hands. On a quest for answers, she strikes up an unlikely alliance with her son’s drug dealer, Taz (Thorne), setting in motion a bloody warpath to uncover the truth, inspired by the characters she portrayed on stage.

Measure of Revenge also stars Roma Maffia, Adrian Martinez and Benedict Samuel. Jen Gatien produced with Peter Wong and Timur Bekbosunov for ACE Pictures Entertainment. Johnny Chang, Bronwyn Cornelius and Emma Lee exec produced, with Jay Cannold co-producing.

“Melissa steps into this role of a grieving and relentless mother seeking justice for her son with such ease that it draws the viewer deeply into her journey and keeps you captivated and rooting for her every step of the way,” said Vertical Entertainment Partner Peter Jarowey.

“We are excited to partner up with Vertical Entertainment on Measure of Revenge to release a film that is an emotional and thrilling experience filled with mystery and surprise,” added Gatien, Wong and Bekbosunov in a joint statement. “Melissa Leo delivers a powerful and energetic performance in the role of a mother hellbent on revenge, forming great screen chemistry with the immensely talented Bella Thorne. We can’t wait for audiences to discover the film.”

Cinedigm Acquires North American Rights to Fatima Ptacek’s Coming-of-Age Drama “Coast”

Fatima Ptacek will be coasting into a theater near you…

Cinedigm has acquired North American rights to Coast, a coming-of-age drama starring the 21-year-old half-Ecuadorian and part-Colombian American actress.

Fatima Ptacek, CoastIn addition to Ptacek, who has lent her voice as the lead role of Dora in Nickelodeon‘s animated television series Dora the Explorer since 2010, the film also stars stand-up comedian Cristela Alonzo, Melissa Leo and Ciara Bravo. 

Cinedigm plans to release Coast day-and-date in theaters and on VOD on April 8.

Set in a farming community along the Central California coast, the story revolves around 16-year-old Abby (Ptacek), who is desperate to escape the trappings of small-town life. Stuck in a loop of sameness, she refuses to believe the lives of those around her are all she has to look forward to, longing for something more. Everything changes when she falls for the lead singer of a touring rock band and must decide whether to leave her family and friends behind in search of a better life.

Jessica Hester and Derek Schweickart directed the film from a script by Cindy Kitagawa, which was based on her own childhood experiences.

Mia Frampton and Mia Xitlali round out its cast.

Hester and Schweickart produced alongside Dani Faith Leonard, Sonya Lunsford, Wendy Guerrero and Alex Cirillo.

“We are excited to partner with Cinedigm and VMI to help audiences get to know the amazing talent in Coast. It’s thanks to the nuanced performances of all of our actors that we can bring to life the complexity of Abby’s teenage heart,” said Hester and Schweickart in a joint statement. “Nobody lives in a vacuum, and through Coast we wanted to explore the tangled web of what ‘home’ means to each of us. Plus, who couldn’t use a dose of mosh pit fun?”

Coast reminds us of that exciting time when the world is a place of endless possibility, and we are searching for our place within it. Its rich, dimensional characters, including those of Latinx and Asian American heritage, are brought to life through the stellar cast,” added Cinedigm’s Chief Content Officer, Yolanda Macias. “Given its universally relatable storyline and fantastic soundtrack, we’re sure audiences will gravitate toward this rockin’ film when it releases in theaters and on digital this spring.”

Bella Thorne Launching Content Management Company, Content X, Targeting Social Media Influencers

Bella Thorne is expanding her influence(rs)…

A new content management company targeting social media influencers is being formed by the 23-year-old half-Cuban American actress and longtime manager Thor Bradwell.

Bella Thorne

Content X will manage social media influencers and their social media accounts with the goal of building profitable profiles. It’ll also provide expertise in navigating the ever-changing social media universe. The algorithms of YouTube keep changing choosing best YouTube likes marketing company is important.

The venture will see Thorne act as the creative director in charge of all content. Talent manager Tamara Thorne and Michael Cohen will act as co-heads of development.

Thorne has actively leveraged social media, including the adult content site OnlyFans.com, which she crashed last summer.

The announcement called Thorne “a rising mogul. Everything she touches is successful, from being a bestselling author and entrepreneur.” It went on to state that Thorne was an early adopter of social media and built successful platforms.

“I’m excited to create Content X for this generation’s young creative forces and their social medium platforms.,” Thorne said in the statement. “Content X will also specialize in identifying young writers, directors, etc. on social media to give them a platform to develop their skills, etc.”

Thorne has been active during the pandemic. Her movie, Infamous was the first movie during quarantine to be released in drive-in theaters as well as VOD, and the film opened as the #1 theatrical release.  Thorne recently shot the indie film Habit from the producer of Mudbound, and is set to star in director Mitzi Peirone’s post-apocalyptic thriller The Uncanny. She’ll also star opposite Oscar winner Melissa Leo in the thriller, Measure of Revenge (TBD 2021).

She recently wrapped the indie teen movie Times Up, which she stars in with her real-life love, musician, Benjamin Mascolo (TBD 2021).

Dascha Polanco to Star in Fox’s Forensic Genealogy-Themed Crime Drama Pilot “Blood Relative”

It’s all relative for Dascha Polanco

The 37-year-old Dominican actress will star opposite Tate Donovan and Melissa Leo in the Fox pilot Blood Relative.

Dascha Polanco

The forensic genealogy-themed crime drama hails from writer-producer Chris Levinson and producer Liza Chasin

Blood Relative is based on James Renner’s 2018 article “Beyond the Jungle of Bad: The True Story of Two Women from California Who Are Solving All the Mysteries,” about Dr. Colleen Fitzpatrick and Dr. Margaret Press, who combined their genealogy expertise to push the boundaries of forensic science and helped law enforcement identify Joe and Jane Does and track down serial killers.

Written by Levinson and Renner and to be directed by Phillip NoyceBlood Relativecenters on genetic genealogy, the best new tool in crime scene forensics, and nobody knows it like Louise Kelly (Leo). Too bad she’s impossible to deal with.

Polanco will play Maria Alvarez, a woman making lemonade out of lemons. She and her hearing-impaired 8-year-old son Sam live with her home psychic mother while Maria goes to night school to get her Ph.D. in psychology (she will eventually go to work at the same Parish Precinct as John (Donovan). Maria’s reason for wanting to work with cops? She’s spent her entire life in their world. Twenty years ago, her father Diego was convicted of murder. Maria is stunned to learn that the police have discovered the body of Gary Northrup – the very man her father is accused of killing. Lou’s DNA genius might prove her father’s innocence. Maria’s life will be changed by this new science and this oh so unique woman. She’ll also prove to be one of the only people alive who speaks “Lou,” making her an invaluable asset. 

Paramount Television Studios and Anonymous Content co-produce with Fox Entertainment.

Polanco rose to acclaim as Dayanara Diaz on all seven seasons of Netflix’s Orange is the New BlackShe’ll next co-star in Lin Manuel-Miranda’s In the Heights and as the female lead alongside Sylvester Stallone in Samaritan.

Polanco’s other credits include Netflix’s When They See UsThe Irishman and FX’s The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.

Polanco was high on Fox’s wish list of talent for pilots this season. Her deal for Blood Relativewas in negotiations when pilot season ground to a halt in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Bella Thorne to Star in the Indie Revenge Thriller “Leave Not One Alive”

Bella Thorne is coming Alive

The 20-year-old half-Cuban American singer/actresswill star opposite Academy Award winner Melissa Leo in Leave Not One Alive, an independent revenge thriller written and directed by Jordan Galland.

Bella Thorne

The film, currently filming in New York, hails from Ace Pictures Entertainmentand DeerJenJake Weary, Michael Potts, Benedict Samuel, Kevin Corrigan and I Feel Pretty’s Adrian Martinez co-star.

The plot follows a theater actress, Lillian Cooper (Leo) whose son (Weary) dies mysteriously. When the investigating officer (Potts) rules the cause of death an accidental overdose, Lillian conducts her own investigation which leads her to an unlikely alliance with her son’s former drug dealer (Thorne). On her quest for answers, Lillian hallucinates some of the iconic characters she’s played on stage which serve as her inner voice, urging her to avenge her son’s death.

Throne starred alongside Patrick Schwarzenegger in Midnight Sun. She’ll next appear in Sam Levinson’s Assassination Nation and Xavier Dolan’s The Death and Life of John F. Donovan.

Dawson In Talks to Star in “The Ever After”

Rosario Dawson could soon be married to a new film project…

The 34-year-old Puerto Rican and Afro-Cuban American actress is in talks to star in The Ever After, which is described as a hard examination of a marriage.

Rosario Dawson

The film, to be directed by Mark Webber, will star Oscar winner Melissa Leo with Warm BodiesTeresa Palmer and Webber in the lead roles.

Along with Dawson, part-Mexican American rapper/actor Kid Cudi, Phoebe Tonkin and Hart of Dixie’s Jaime King are also in talks to join the film.

Webber’s sophomore directorial effort The End of Love was nominated for a Sundance Film Festival 2012 Grand Jury Prize.

Dawson most recently starred in Danny Boyle’s Trance. She’ll next appear in Sin City: A Dame to Kill For and Chavez.

Rodriguez Starring in Racing Film with Leo…

Freddy Rodriguez is heading “over the wall” with an Academy Award-winning actress…

Melissa Leo—this year’s Oscar winner for Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Fighter—has signed on to star in Rodriguez’s upcoming project, Over the Wall.
Freddy Rodriguez

The racing film is a love story set in the world of stock car racing. Written by Steven Christopher Young, it follows a husband, wife,
surrogate mother and best friend dealing with a tragic event.

Over the Wall will also star Nick Stahl and Hayden Panettiere.

The movie, executive produced by Rodriguez and Steven Beer and Rodriguez, will shoot in Ohio and North Carolina in the spring.

Rodriguez is best known for playing “Rico” Diaz on HBO’s Six Feet Under and as Giovanni “Gio” Rossi on ABC’s Ugly Betty.