Blake Jenner to Star in Netflix’s Social Thriller Anthology Drama Series “What/If”

Posted on September 1, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Blake Jenner has landed a new gig…

The 26-year-old Cuban American actor and Glee star has been cast as the male lead in What/If, Netflix’s social thriller anthology drama series starring Renée Zellweger and Jane Levy.

From Revenge and Swingtown creator Mike Kelley, the series is written by Kelley, directed by Phillip Noyce and produced by Page Fright, Atlas Entertainment and Compari Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television.

What/If explores the ripple effects of what happens when acceptable people start doing unacceptable things. Each season will tackle a different morality tale inspired by culturally consequential source material, and the power of a single fateful decision to change the trajectory of an entire life.

The 10-episode first season focuses on two struggling newlyweds, scientist-entrepreneur Lisa (Levy) and EMT Sean (Jenner), who accept a powerful woman’s (Zellweger) ethically perilous proposition to secure a badly needed financial windfall. All actors have one-year deals.

Jenner first gained acclaim on the second season of The Glee Project, which he won, landing him the role of Ryder Lynn onGlee. He also recurred on Supergirl. Jenner most recently starred in the indie heist film American Animals. His feature credits also include The Edge of Seventeen andEverybody Wants Some!!

This weekend, Jenner finished out a run as Chrisitian to Peter Dinklage’s Cyrano in Goodspeed Musicals’ Cyrano, a new take on the Edmond Rostand classic Cyrano de Bergerac adapted by Erica Schmidt in collaboration with members of indie alternative band The National.

Jenner Engaged to “Glee” Co-Star Melissa Benoist

Posted on July 12, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

He hasn’t even graduated from William McKinley High yet, but Blake Jenner is already hearing wedding bells.

The 20-year-old half-Cuban American and his Glee co-star Melissa Benoist are engaged, according to Us Weekly.

Jenner and Benoist were romantically linked after sharing screen time on the Fox musical dramedy.

Jenner, who landed a role on Glee after winning the second season of Oxygen’s The Glee Project, confirmed the rumor during a live chat with fan. “Yup,” he said with a smile.

Reps for both Blake and Melissa decline to comment on the couple’s personal lives.

Jenner and Benoist’s characters have been caught up in an on-screen love triangle with Jacob Artist’s character the show.

Ryan Murphy, one of the masterminds behind Glee, seems to have a knack for matchmaking. Lea Michele and Cory Monteith, whom he paired up as on/off couple Rachel Berry and Finn Hudson on the show, have also ended up dating in real life.

Jenner Upped to Series Regular on Fox’s “Glee”

Posted on June 30, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Blake Jenner is officially a full-time student…

The 20-year-old half-Cuban American actor has been promoted to series regular on Fox’s musical dramedy Glee, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Jenner, the winner of the second season of Oxygen’s reality competition series The Glee Project, has been portraying Ryder Lynn on the Glee since last season.

He’s considered New Direction’s second coming of the series’ original All-American character Finn Hudson (portrayed by Cory Monteith).

Fox and studio 20th Century Fox Television renewed the Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk musical for its fifth and sixth seasons in April and the promotion comes as little surprise as Jenner has been considered one of the future stars of the series

Glee returns for its fifth season on Thursday, September 19 at 9:00 pm on Fox.

“Glee” Star Larsen Shaves His Signature Dreadlocks

Posted on May 27, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Samuel Larsen no longer has a dreaded hairstyle…

The 21-year-old half-Mexican actor, who has a recurring role on Fox’s Glee, has chopped off his signature dreads.

Larsen recently shared an image of his freshly shorn locks, as taken by photographer Chelsea Lauren.

“Just for the record my neck feels freakin awesome okay. Seriously. #holla,” the winner of Oxygen’s The Glee Project season 1 tweeted, before Larsen followed up the message with, “Thank you for all the love you guys.”

Larsen wanted to ditch his dreadlocks a long time ago.

“I’m very much over my hair. If it was up to me, I’d have cut it a long time ago,” he told TV Line in 2011. “I called my agent a year ago telling her I wanted to cut my hair because I thought it limited me too much.”

He elaborated his reasoning, “I wanted to try to get more mainstream roles, and she talked me out of it. I guess that [Glee co-creator] Ryan [Murphy] liked it and I’m okay with that, but I do look at keeping my hair as more of a burden.”

Jenner’s “Glee” Renewed for Two More Seasons

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Blake Jenner has plenty of reason to be gleeful…

The 20-year-old half-Cuban American actor and The Glee Project winner may not have to look for a new gig for awhile.

Fox has picked up its hit musical dramedy Glee, which features Jenner as Ryder Lynn, for two more seasons.

The negotiations for the series’ two-year renewal, for seasons five and six, took longer than normal because the network begins footing the bill after season four.

“Glee debuted as the first and only successful musical comedy series on television, and more than four years later, it continues to defy genres, break new ground and have a significant impact on popular culture,” said Fox chairman Kevin Reilly.

Glee, which was created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan, has an off-network syndication deal with Oxygen, which makes a longer run attractive.

Despite a drop in its ratings, Glee still manages to perform respectably, especially when DVR viewing is factored in.

The dramedy is averaging 8.7 million total viewers this season. Glee, which marked its 500th performance recently, has spawned more than 53 million tracks digitally downloaded and more than 13 million albums sold worldwide.

No word yet on whether Jenner’s character will continue to appear on the show in upcoming seasons. Other Latino stars of the should who could be back for seasons five and six include Lea Michele, Naya Rivera and Sam Larsen.

Michele & Kate Hudson Featured in New “Glee” Trailer

Posted on August 17, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Lea Michele is in a New York state of mind in the first trailer for Glee’s fourth season…

The first trailer for the upcoming season of Fox’s musical dramedy has been released, complete with a Hollywood superstar in her Glee debut.

The new season will see Michele’s character Rachel head to NYADA, where she’ll soon discover that training under Kate Hudson’s character may not be as easy as being one of the stars of New Directions back in high school.

Back at Rachel’s alma mater, the glee club will be welcoming a new member… returning The Glee Project alum Alex Newell, who is hilariously mistaken for a recent graduate.

Glee returns Thursday, September13 at 9:00 pm ET on Fox.

Jenner: The Glee Project’s Season Two Winner

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Blake Jenner has plenty of reason to be Gleeful…

The 19-year-old half-Cuban American actor/singer was named the winner of the second season of The Glee Project during the show’s finale episode. The last man standing in the competition beat out Ali Stoker and Aylin Bayramoglu for the win.

Jenner, who sang Edwin McCain’s “I’ll Be” in his final performance for Glee creator Ryan Murphy, has earned him a seven-episode arc on Fox’s hit musical dramedy Glee. But it was the poignant poem he wrote and recited in front of an audience of Glee stars, writers and behind-the-scenes executives, in which he declared himself “the whitest half Cuban,” that really seemed to cement his status as the perfect guy next door and seal his victory.

“This is the greatest moment of my life,” said Jenner after his victory. “This is the greatest news I ever heard, this is the greatest feeling I’ve ever felt. And now I’m gonna be on Glee.”

Jenner, who recently moved to Los Angeles from Miami, had guest-starred on ABC Family’s Melissa & Joey last season.

Rivera to Serve as a Mentor on “The Glee Project”

Posted on May 30, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Her character may have graduated in the season finale… But you haven’t seen the last of Glee’s Naya Rivera.

The 25-year-old half-Puerto Rican singer/actress will be making a debut appearance as a mentor on the second season of The Glee Project.

The Oxygen reality competition series, which saw four of its freshman season contestants appear on the third season of Fox’s musical, will welcome Rivera in its fourth episode on June 26, according to The Hollywood Reporter, which will see the contestants exploring the theme of “Sexuality.”

Season 1 guest mentors included Jenna Ushkowitz, Darren Criss, Dot Marie Jones, Kevin McHale and Harry Shum Jr., among others. Four contestants — Samuel Larsen, Damian McGinty, Alex Newell and Lindsay Pearce — from The Glee Project‘s first season scored multi-episode arcs on Glee.

The Glee Project‘s second season will expand from 12 to 14 contestants and from 10 to 11 episodes and launch in its new night and time on Tuesday, June 5 at 10 p.m.

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