Gael Garcia Bernal to Star in Jonas Cuaron’s Showtime Thriller Drama Pilot “Hombre”

Gael Garcia Bernalis the man

The 40-year-old Mexican actor/producer has been cast as the lead in Showtime’s thriller drama pilot Hombre, which hails from BAFTA nominee Jonas Cuarón (Gravity).

Gael García Bernal

Garcia Bernal, who won a Golden Globe for his lead role in Mozart in the Jungle, will star alongside Marisé Alvarez (The Vessel), Greg Grunberg (A Star Is Born)Pepi Sonuga (Famous In Love)Adriana Santos (Taken) and newcomer Noah Reyes in the pilot, which is set to begin production at the end of April in Los Angeles.

Created by Cuarón, who also will direct the pilot, Hombre centers on a Mexican-American family man named Marcos Osuna (Bernal) who is living undocumented in the United States. When his wife Leticia is detained by ICE, Marcos, both desperate and resourceful, goes to unprecedented lengths to get her back. The project is an emotional thriller about a man enmeshed in a dangerous double life, contending with powerful forces set on thwarting his unwavering desire to unite his family.

Hombre is a co-production between Showtime and Makeready.

Alvarez will play Marcos’ smart and selfless wife Leticia, whose detention by ICE proves to be the ultimate test on her marriage and close-knit family.

Sonuga will play Adanna, a kind-hearted undocumented immigrant from Nigeria who works with Marcos at a motel. Grunberg will play Norm, a friendly and well-intended ICE trainee. 

Santos will play Leticia’s sister Teresa. Reyes will play Marcos’ and Leticia’s pre-adolescent son Anthony.

Alvarez recently appeared in the feature films The Vessel and Imprisoned, and the Spanish mini-series En el corredor de la muerte. She had her first notable role in the Puerto Rican feature Maldeamores, and starred in Steve Soderbergh’Che: Part One and Che: Part Two.

Santos can be seen in the upcoming film Night Swim directed by Victoria Riverapremiering at Tribeca. Her television credits include Taken, Sweetbitter and Daredevil.

Reyes is a newcomer from Ontario, California. Hombre marks his first television series regular role.

Jessica Camacho to Star on Season Two of NBC’s Drama “Taken”

Jessica Camacho has taken on a new role…

The 34-year-old Latina actress has signed on as a series regular for the second season of NBC’s drama series Taken.

Jessica Camacho 

Camacho will play Santana, a scary-smart, rule-breaking former Army captain who possesses an acerbic wit and calculated bravado, according to TVLine, which first reported the casting.

Due to a change in creative direction, Camacho joins a revamped Season 2 that will have a very different look. Only series regulars Clive Standen (Bryan Mills), and Jennifer Beals (Christina Hart) will return for the second season.

Camacho’s credits include roles on The Flash, Frequency, Sleepy Hollow and Minority Report.

Cabral Returning for Season 3 of ABC’s “American Crime”

Richard Cabral isn’t leaving his Crime family…

The Mexican American actor has joined Felicity Huffman and Regina King as the third cast member to sign on for the upcoming third installment of John Ridley’s acclaimed ABC anthology series American Crime.

Richard Cabral

In Season 3, the series will be set in North Carolina and will deal with labor issues, economic divides and individual rights.

American Crime earned 10 Emmy nominations for its first season, winning for King. Cabral received a supporting actor Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Hector Tontz. The series, executive produced by Ridley and Michael McDonald, is coming off a well-received second season.

Cabral’s feature work includes Ridley Scott’s The Counselor, Chris Weitz’s A Better Life and End of Watch opposite Jake Gyllenhaal, and he also had guest-starring turns on ABC’s Body of Proof and HBO’s Luck.

He’ll next be seen in Blood Father, a Taken-style action thriller directed by Jean-Francois Richet (Mesrine) and starring Mel Gibson.

Cantillo to Star in NBC’s Straight-to-Series TV Adaptation of the “Taken” Film Franchise

Jose Pablo Cantillo has taken an action-packed new role…

The 36-year-old Costa Rican-American actor has landed a series regular role in Taken, NBC’s straight-to-series television adaptation of the film franchise.

Jose Pablo Cantillo

Written and executive produced by Alex Cary, who serves as showrunner, Taken is a modern-day prequel to the film franchise that depicts how Bryan Mills (Clive Standen) developed and sharpened his particular set of skills.

Cantillo will play Bernie, a member of Bryan’s OPCON (Operational Control) team, an elite team of operatives who take care of America’s national security emergencies on the ground. Bernie is the one in the team that does not take anything too seriously until the situation requires it.

Cantillo is best known for his roles as Caesar Martinez on The Walking Dead and Hector Salazar on Sons of Anarchy. He also appeared in feature Chappie.

Curnen to Star in NBC’s Straight-to-Series Adaptation of Film Franchise “Taken”

Monique Gabriela Curnen has taken on a new role…

The 45-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress has been cast as a series regular opposite Clive Standen in Taken, NBC’s straight-to-series adaptation of the hit movie franchise.

Monique Gabriela Curnen

Written and executive produced by Alex Cary, who serves as showrunner, the Taken television series is a modern-day prequel to the film franchise that depicts how Bryan Mills developed and sharpened his particular set of skills.

Curnen will portray Vlasik, an integral member of OPCON, a role that has been elevated to a series regular.

Curnen recurred last season on Elementary and The Following. She has also appeared on Person of Interest, Sons of Anarchy and Lie to Me.

First Trailer Released for Bardem & Sean Penn’s Action Thriller “The Gunman”

Javier Bardem is back to his baddie ways…

The 45-year-old Spanish actor and Oscar winner goes head to head against Sean Penn in The Gunman, as witnessed in the film’s first official trailer.

Javier Bardem

In the film helmed by Taken director Pierre Morel, Penn stars as a former Special Forces soldier and military contractor suffering from PTSD. He tries to reconnect with his longtime love, but first must go on the run from London to Barcelona and across Europe in order to clear his name.

Bardem, who won an Academy Award for portraying a psychopathic assassin in No Country for Old Men, stars as Penn’s old associate, who isn’t about to let him walk serenely off into the sunset.

The action thriller is based on the Jean-Patrick Manchette novel The Prone Gunman.

In addition to Penn and Bardem, the film also stars Idris Elba, Ray Winstone and Mark Rylance.

Open Road Films will release The Gunman in theaters on March 20, 2015.

Open Road Acquires the U.S. Rights to Bardem’s Action-Thriller “The Gunman”

There’s nothing but open road ahead for Javier Bardem’s latest project.

Open Road Films has closed a deal to acquire the U.S. rights to The Gunman, the action thriller starring the 45-year-old Spanish actor, Sean Penn, Idris Elba, Ray Winstone, Mark Rylance and Jasmine Trinca.

Javier Bardem

Directed by Taken helmer Pierre Morel, the film is based on Jean-Patrick Manchette’s novel The Prone Gunman.

It stars Penn as a former Special Forces soldier and military contractor suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He tries to reconnect with his longtime love, but first must go on the run from London to Barcelona and across Europe in order to clear his name.

No word yet on an expected release date.

Plaza Starring in the Indie Drama “About Alex”

Aubrey Plaza will be learning all about Alex in the near future…

The 29-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress and comedian will star in the independent ensemble drama About Alex.

Aubrey Plaza

Helmed by Jesse Zwick, in his directorial debut, the film centers on seven college friends who reunite Big Chill-style one long weekend after one of their own friends attempts suicide. The pals wax philosophical on past relationships, old crushes and bad decisions and how life has changed post-college in the Facebook/Twitter age.

Along with Plaza, the film stars Parenthood’s Jason Ritter, New Girl’s Max Greenfield, Arbitrage’s Nate Parker, Taken’s Maggie Grace, The Internship’s Max Minghella and Suburgatory’s Jane Levy.

It’s the latest film role for the Parks and Recreation star known for her deadpan-style comedy.

She’s currently filing Life After Beth in LA.