Bad Bunny to Serve as Presenter at This Year’s Academy Awards

Bad Bunny has a date with Oscar…

The 29-year-old Puerto Rican Grammy-winning superstar has been added to the list of presenters for this year’s Academy Awards show.

Bad BunnyBut the “Monaco” singer is not the only Puerto Rican artist set to take the stage.

West Side Story star Rita Moreno, an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar & Tony Award) winner, will also serve as a presenter.

Bad Bunny and Moreno are among the list of recently added presenters for the March 10th Oscars telecast that includes Chris Hemsworth, Dwayne Johnson, Michael Keaton, Regina King, Jennifer Lawrence, Kate McKinnon, John Mulaney, Catherine O’Hara, Octavia Spencer and Ramy Youssef.

Moreno won an Oscar in 1962 for West Side Story. In 1977, she became the first Latina (and just the third person overall) to complete the EGOT.

In 2022, Bad Bunny made history when Un Verano Sin Ti became the first Spanish-language album to top Billboard’s year-end chart and to receive a Grammy nod for album of the year. His acting credits include Bullet Train, Narcos: Mexico and Cassandro,

Earlier this week, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced that another popular Latin star, Becky G, would perform the nominated “The Fire Inside” from Flamin’ Hot on the telecast.

Previously announced Oscars presenters are Mahershala Ali, Nicolas Cage, Jamie Lee Curtis, Brendan Fraser, Jessica Lange, Matthew McConaughey, Lupita Nyong’o, Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, Ke Huy Quan, Sam Rockwell, Michelle Yeoh and Zendaya.

The 96th Oscars will air live on ABC and broadcast to outlets worldwide on Sunday, March 10, at the new, earlier time of 7:00 pm ET/4:00 pm PT.

Jimmy Kimmel is hosting the show for the fourth time. It will be held at its usual home, the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood.

Raj Kapoor is executive producer and showrunner for the 2024 Oscars. Molly McNearney and Katy Mullan are also executive producers. Hamish Hamilton is directing. Rickey Minor is music director.

America Ferrera to Receive SeeHer Award at This Year’s Critics Choice Awards

America Ferrera has earned a special honor…

The 39-year-old Honduran American award-winning actress will receive the annual SeeHer Award at the 29th annual Critics Choice Awards during next month’s ceremony.

The award honors a woman who advocates for gender equality, portrays characters with authenticity, defies stereotypes and pushes boundaries.

Previous recipients include Viola Davis, Gal Gadot, Claire Foy, Kristen Bell, Zendaya, Halle Berry and Janelle Monáe in 2023.

Ferrera had a huge year co-starring in the year’s biggest box office blockbuster, Warner Bros’ Barbie, as well as Dumb Money. She received the Groundbreaker Award earlier this month at the Critics Choice Association’s Celebration of Cinema & Television: Honoring Black, Latino and AAPI Achievements.

She’s also was nominated for the Critics Choice supporting actress award as part of Barbies haul of a leading 18 nominations. Winners will be revealed in a ceremony set to air January 14 on the CW with Chelsea Handler hosting.

Ferrera, an Emmy winner for Ugly Betty, has acting credits that include Real Women Have Curves, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Superstore. She also directed and executive produced both Superstore as well as Netflix’s Gentefied, and she is making her feature directoral debut with the adaptation of the bestselling novel I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter.

As an activist, Ferrera helped launch Poderistas, a digital lifestyle community and nonprofit to empower Latinas, and Harness, a community of artists, influencers and leaders focused on art and storytelling that creates a more equitable world.

She has been a keynote speaker at the Democratic National Convention and March for Our Lives among other events.

Warner Bros. & Legendary Move Up Release Date of Javier Bardem’s “Dune: Part Two” to March 1

Javier Bardem has been given his March-ing orders for his highly-anticipated film.

Warner Bros. and Legendary have moved up the release of Denis Villenueve’s Dune: Part Two, starring the 54-year-old Spanish Oscar-winning actor.

Javier BardemThe second half of the space epic will now open nationwide on March 1.

The new date is two weeks earlier than the March 15 date Warner Bros. set in August when it moved Dune: Part Two out of 2023 amid the Hollywood strikes. The sequel was originally set to open on November 3.

Dune: Part Two is the second chapter in Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s seminal science-fiction novel.

The first film opened simultaneously in theaters and on Max (then known as HBO Max) in November 2021 and grossed $402 million at the worldwide box office. It also earned 10 Academy Award nominations, including best picture, and won the Oscars for original score, sound, film editing, cinematography, production design and visual effects.

In addition to Bardem, Villeneuve’s original Dune cast members Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista, Stellan Skarsgård and Charlotte Rampling are all back for the second chapter.

Newcomers to the franchise include Christopher Walken, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh and Léa Seydoux.

“I just I loved the first film so much,” Butler previously told Variety about stepping into Villeneuve’s world. “It was this cinematic masterpiece, so the idea of getting to be a part of that world is just incredibly exciting and Denis is one of my favorite filmmakers and just an amazing human being. He’s so kind and I’m a fan of every one of those actors in the film, so I I felt really honored.”

In a recent interview with Empire, Villeneuve shared his hopes for a third installment in the sci-fi epic film series, saying, “If I succeed in making a trilogy, that would be the dream.”

On his Dune: Part Three progress, Villeneuve teased, “I will say, there are words on paper.” The project would be based on Dune Messiah, the direct sequel to Dune author Frank Herbert’s 1965 original novel.

The official Dune: Part Two synopsis from Warner Bros. and Legendary reads: “This follow-up film will explore the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.”

Paramount+ Releases First Look at Jenna Ortega’s “Finestkind”

It’s Jenna Ortega’s finest(kind) hour…

Paramount+ has released first look images at Finestkind, starring the 20-year-old Puerto Rican & Mexican American actress.

Jenna Ortega, FinestkindFrom Brian Helgeland, the film also stars Tommy Lee JonesBen Foster and Toby Wallace, ahead of its premiere Friday at the Toronto Film Festival. The film is set for a November premiere exclusively on Paramount+.

Written and directed by Helgeland, Finestkind tells the story of two brothers (Foster & Wallace), raised in different worlds, who are reunited as adults over a fateful summer. Set against the backdrop of commercial fishing, the story takes on primal stakes when desperate circumstances force the brothers to strike a deal with a violent Boston crime gang. Along the way a young woman (Ortega) finds herself caught perilously in the middle. Sacrifices must be made and bonds between brothers, friends, lovers, and a father (Jones) and his son are put to the ultimate test.

Jenna Ortega, FinestkindFinestkind is populated with characters I once knew. But the film I probably should have made first in my career I saved for now,” said Helgeland. “In it, a crew of fishermen in my hometown of New Bedford, Massachusetts, find themselves in dangerous water as debts they can’t possibly pay mount up. In this clip, the pressure begins to turn them against each other.”

Ismael Cruz Cordova, Aaron Stanford, Scotty Tovar, Tim Daly, Lolita Davidovich and Clayne Crawford also star.

Finestkind was originally set back in 2018 with Jake Gyllenhaal, Ansel Elgort and Zendaya starring.

Jenna Ortega to Serve as Presenter at This Weekend’s SAG Awards Ceremony

Win or lose, Jenna Ortega will take the SAG Awards stage…

The Screen Actors Guild has announced the latest group of presenters for Sunday’s SAG Awards ceremony, with the 20-year-old Puerto Rican and Mexican American actress set to participate.

Jenna OrtegaOrtega is nominated in the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series category for her starring role in Netflix’s acclaimed series Wednesdaywhich has been renewed for a second season.

In addition to Ortega, the list of recently added presenters includes Jason Bateman, Jeff Bridges, Aubrey PlazaAdam Scott, Zendaya, SAG-AFTRA president Fran DrescherMatt Bomer, Ariana DeBose, Eugene Levy and Amy Poehler.

Previously announced presenters for the 29th annual ceremony include Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, Michelle Yeoh, Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Paul Dano, Gabriel LaBelle, Michelle Williams, Jessie Buckley, Claire Foy, Rooney Mara, Jovan Adepo, Diego Calva and Li Jun Li.

The SAG Awards are set for Sunday, February 28, at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles. The ceremony, featuring the winners in the guild’s 15 acting categories, will stream live on Netflix’s YouTube channel.

HBO Renews “Euphoria,” Starring Jacob Elordi, for Third Season

There’s more Euphoria in Jacob Elordi’s future…

HBO has ordered a third season of Euphoria, the Emmy-winning drama series starring Zendaya and the 24-year-old Spanish Australian actor from creator Sam Levinson.

Jacob Elordi, EuphoriaEuphoria’s renewal comes as its sophomore season continues to deliver ratings records for HBO and HBO Max. The Season 2 premiere currently boasts 14 million total viewers across all HBO platforms.

In Season 2, Zendaya returns as Rue, who’s relapsed since Jules (Hunter Schafer) left her for the city. With school back in session, Rue faces new obstacles to her sobriety and her relationship with Jules. Tensions also rise between Nate (Elordi), Maddy (Alexa Demie) and Cassie (Sydney Sweeney), while Lexi (Maude Apatow) takes on a creative venture.

Written, directed and executive produced by Levinson, Euphoria has been a hit critically and culturally.

Beyond trending on Twitter with nearly each episode, Euphoria took home three prizes at the 2020 Primetime Emmys, including Zendaya’s history-making Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series win.

At the 2021 Primetime Awards, Euphoria received three nominations.

“Sam, Zendaya, and the entire cast and crew of Euphoria have taken Season 2 to extraordinary heights, challenging narrative convention and form, while maintaining its heart. We couldn’t be more honored to work with this gifted, wildly talented team or more excited to continue our journey with them into Season 3,” said Francesca Orsi, EVP of HBO Programming.

Euphoria also features Nika King, Eric Dane, Angus Cloud, Algee Smith, Barbie Ferreira, Javon Walton, Dominic Fike, Storm Reid and Austin Abrams. Season 2 wraps on February 27.

The series, produced in partnership with A24, is based on the Israeli series of the same name that was created by Ron Leshem and Daphna Levin, from HOT.

HBO to Premiere Season 2 of “Euphoria,” Featuring Colman Domingo, in Early January

Colman Domingo is ready to remember this feeling in early 2022…

HBO recently unveiled the first poster for Euphoria season two starring Zendaya and the 52-year-old Guatemalan American actor.

Colman Domingo & Zendaya, EuphoriaThe season premiere is set for January 9, 2022.

Along with Zendaya and Domingo, the show also stars Hunter Schafer, Sydney Sweeny, Jacob Elordi and Storm Reid.

Sam Levinson is executive produce alongside Drake, Future the Prince, Ron Leshem and Daphna Levin, Tmira Yardeni, Ravi Nandan, Kevin Turen, Hadas Mozes Lichtenstein, Mirit Toovi, Yoram Mokadi and Gary Lennon. Augustine Frizzell directed the pilot and are co-executive producers. A24 Television is also producing.

Euphoriadirected by Levinson, follows Zendaya’s Rue Bennett, a drug addict fresh from rehab who’s struggling to make sense of her future. Her life changes dramatically when she meets Jules Vaughn (Schafer), a girl who recently moved to town following her parents’ divorce and like Rue is searching for where she belongs. They navigate the intense dramas of drugs, sex, identity, love and friendship in their small town. The season 1 finale, which saw Rue and Jules part ways, was followed by two special episodes centering each of the friends.

The series received nominations for the British Academy Television Award for Best International Programme, and the TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Drama. For her performance, Zendaya won a Primetime Emmy Award and Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series.

For his performance, Domingo received an Imagen Award for Best Supporting Actor – Television (Drama).

Showtime Renews The Kid Mero’s Late Night Talk Show “Desus & Mero” for Fourth Season

There are more late nights in The Kid Mero’s future…

Showtime has ordered a fourth season of the 38-year-old Dominican American comedian and television personality’s (real name Joel Martinez) late night show with his co-host Desus Nice, Desus & Mero, which is set to be released in 2022.

The Kid Mero

The series, which debuted in 2016 on Viceland before moving to Showtime three years later, is the network’s first-ever late-night talk show. In each episode, the longtime friends discuss the day’s hot topics and interview some of the biggest names from the world of pop culture, sports, music, and politics.

Season 3 currently airs weekly on Sunday and Thursday nights at 11:00 pm ET/PT from New York City through December 12. This season’s guests include Stacey Abrams, Zendaya, John David Washington, Ludacris, Delroy Lindo, Glenn Close, J Balvin, Andra Day, Issa Rae, Lil Nas X, Barry Jenkins, and Zazie Beetz, among others.

Desus and Mero returned to their newly revamped studio in June after the pandemic forced them to shoot their show remotely since March 2020. The pair bought their own facility just before the pandemic — the old Al Jazeera studio, complete with bulletproof glass — having previously shot at the CBS Studio in New York.

Desus & Mero is produced for Showtime by JAX Media. It’s executive produced by Desus Nice, The Kid Mero, Lilly Burns, Tony Hernandez, Victor Lopez, Suzanne Fagel, and Mike Pielocik.

Warner Bros. Releases New Trailer for Oscar Isaac’s Sci-Fi Film “Dune”

Oscar Isaac is in another world…

Warner Bros. has released a new trailer for Dune, starring the 42-year-old Guatemalan & Cuban actor.

Oscar Isaac

It’s the first clip of the highly anticipated film since the initial trailer hit last September, prior to the recent schedule change.

Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of the classic sci-fi novel by Frank Herbert will have its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September before it hits theaters and HBO Max day-and-date on October 22.

This trailer begins with Zendaya’s character Chani surveying the deserts of her planet Arrakis before kicking into higher gear with action scenes and a dash or two of comedy (“Look at you – put on some muscle?,” asks Jason Momoa’s Duncan upon seeing Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides. “I did?”, Chalament responds. “No,” says Momoa.)

In addition to Isaac, Zendaya, Chalamet and Momoa, Dune features Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Chang Chen and David Dastmalchian, with Charlotte Rampling and Javier Bardem.

The official synopsis: A mythic and emotionally charged hero’s journey, Dune tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence—a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential—only those who can conquer their fear will survive.

Dune, a Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures presentation of a Legendary Pictures Production, is also being released in 3D and Imax, will makes its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival and then plays the Toronto Film Festival. Jon Spaihts and Eric Roth wrote the script.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g18jFHCLXk

Warner Bros. Releases Oscar Isaac’s “Dune” Character Poster

Oscar Isaac is getting into character…

Warner Bros. has released a series of character posters from Dune, its upcoming sci-fi tentpole starring the 42-year-old Guatemalan & Cuban actor.

Oscar Isaac

Directed by Denis Villeneuve, the film is an update of Frank Herbert’s novel, which was turned into a 1984 movie by David Lynch.

Dune is set to have its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September before it hits theaters and HBO Max day-and-date on October 22.Oscar Isaac, Dune Poster

In addition to Isaac, Dune‘s cast includes Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Sharon Duncan Brewster, Stephen McKinley HendersonZendaya, Chang Chen and David Dastmalchian, with Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa and Javier Bardem.

The character posters revealed via the film’s social media pages feature Chalamet, who stars as Paul Atreides; Zendaya as Chani; Ferguson as Lady Jessica; Momoa as Duncan Idaho; Isaac as Duke Leto Atreides; Bardem as Stilgar; Brolin as Gurney Halleck; and Skarsgård as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen.Javier Bardem, Dune Poster

The plot centers on Atreides, a brilliant and gifted man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence — a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential — only those who can conquer their fear will survive.

Villeneuve directed from a screenplay he co-wrote with Jon Spaihts and Eric Roth.