Castro to Star on ABC Family’s “Shadowhunters”

David Castro is casting shadows

The 19-year-old Latino actor has been cast in a recurring role on ABC Family’s straight-to-series drama Shadowhunters.

David Castro

Based on the best-selling young adult fantasy book series The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare, Shadowhunters follows 18-year-old Clary Fray (Katherine McNamara) who finds out on her birthday that she’s not who she thinks she is, but rather comes from a long line of Shadowhunters — human-angel hybrids who hunt down demons. When her mother Jocelyn (Maxim Roy) is kidnapped, Clary is thrown into the world of demon hunting with mysterious Shadowhunter Jace (Dominic Sherwood) and her best friend Simon (Alberto Rosende).

Castro, who starred in 27 Dresses, will play Raphael, an elegantly handsome, well-dressed vampire. Ambitious and cunning, he’s aspiring to lead the New York vampire clan.

Castro’s other credits include Where God Left His Shoes, Fugly! and A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints.

Thorne to Star in “Alvin And The Chipmunks: The Road Chip”

Bella Thorne has a chip(munk) on her shoulder…

The 17-year-old half-Cuban American actress-singer has been cast in 20th Century Fox’s sequel Alvin And The Chipmunks: The Road Chip.

Bella Thorne

In the film, a series of misunderstandings has led mischievous chipmunks Alvin, Simon and Theodore to believe that Dave is going to propose to his new girlfriend in New York and dump them. Thorne will satr as Ashley in the film.

Thorne, who recently landed a starring role in ABC Family’s drama project Famous In Love, rose to acclaim as the star of the Disney Channel series Shake It Up!

Her recent credits include The DUFF, Big Love and My Own Worst Enemy.

She next appears in the features Home Invasion, Big Sky and Amityville: The Awakening.

Directed by Walt Becker, the fourth film in the animated/live-action franchise is set for release December 23.

Guzman to Star in NBC’s Event Series “Heroes Reborn”

Ryan Guzman is ready for a Heroes welcome…

The 27-year-old Mexican-American actor has been cast in NBC’s upcoming event series Heroes Reborn, featuring returning stars by Jack Coleman and Zachary Levi. 

Ryan Guzman

There’s still no word on who Guzman, who recently starred opposite Jennifer Lopez in Boy Next Door, will portray in the 13-episode event series from Heroes creator Tim Kring. However, if the circulated breakdowns for the project are any indication, Guzman could be playing a former military guy.

In addition to Coleman and Levi, Guzman joins previously cast Robbie KayDanika Yarosh and Henry Zebrowski. All but Coleman, who is reprising his role as Noah Bennet from the original series, play new characters.

Matt Shakman is directing the opening episode.

Guzman recurred on ABC Family’s Pretty Little Liars. He has two features coming up: Jem And The Holograms and Richard Linklater’s That’s What I’m Talking About

Thorne to Star in ABC Family’s Latest Drama Project “Famous in Love”

Bella Thorne is ready to embrace fame and love…

The 17-year-old half-Cuban American actress-singer is set to star in ABC Family’s latest drama project, which is based on Rebecca Serle’s romantic novel Famous In Love.

Bella Thorne

Now in development, the television adaptation is being spearheaded by I. Marlene King, executive producer/co-showrunner of ABC Family’s flagship drama Pretty Little Liars.

The Famous In Love adaptation, which is being by King and Serle, centers on a college student (Thorne) plucked from obscurity to star in a major Hollywood movie franchise who struggles with her newfound fame.

Thorne, who starred on the Disney Channel series Shake It Up, is a fan of Serle’s book, which was published in October by Poppy. A budding author herself — her debut novel Autumn Falls came out in November — gave a quote about Famous In Love, which was featured on the book’s cover.

“Rebecca Serle completely captured what it’s like to be a part of Young Hollywood,” Thorne said. “I absolutely loved Famous In Love. A must-read for anyone curious about life and love behind the scenes.”

Thorne’s television credits include appearances on Red Band Society, Big Love and October Road.

Raisa Signs with Abrams Artists Agency…

Francia Raisa has new representation in Hollywood

The 26-year-old Honduran and Mexican American actress has signed on with Abrams Artists Agency.

Francia Raisa

Raisa was a regular on ABC Family’s The Secret Life of the American Teenager throughout its five-season run and appeared in the telefilms A Snow Globe Christmas and Christmas Bounty.

Other television gigs include The Mindy Project, CSI and In Plain Sight. She next appears in the Lifetime series Un-Real and the features Dirty Lies and Beyond Paradise.

Gonzalez Lands Series Regular Role on ABC Family’s Comedy Pilot “Tough Cookie”

Rick Gonzalez has a sweet new role…

The 35-year-old Dominican and Puerto Rican actor has landed a series regular role on ABC Family’s comedy pilot Tough Cookie. 

Rick Gonzalez

From Awkward creator Lauren Iungerich and David Janollari, it centers on a young mother who isn’t ready to parent and her daughter who doesn’t want to be parented. It takes a village to raise a child — or, rather, a child to raise a village.

Gonzalez will portray Seth Whitfield, who works for the San Francisco Department of Children’s Services.

Gonzalez was a series regular on Rush, as well as Reaper. His other credits include appearances on Medium, Castle, Lie to Me, The Protector and The Closer.

His film credits include Coach Carter, The Guilt Trip and War of the Worlds.

del Puerto to Star in ABC Family’s Comedy Pilot “Tough Cookie”

Arturo del Puerto is finding himself in a tough situation…

The Latino actor has landed a series regular role in ABC Family’s comedy pilot Tough Cookie.

Arturo del Puerto

From Awkward creator Lauren Iungerich and David Janollari., the project is centered around a young mother who isn’t ready to parent and her daughter who doesn’t want to be parented. It takes a village to raise a child or rather, a child to raise a village.

Del Puerto will portray Mickey, one of Lilla’s roommates, a neurotic hipster and something of a neat freak.

Del Puerto recently recurred on NBC’s Chicago P.D. Lifetime’s The Lottery, TNT’s Rizzoli & Isles and FX’s The Bridge.

He also starred in the film The Man Who Shook the Hand of Vicente Fernandez and The Devil’s in the Details.

Aguilera Developing Las Vegas-Themed Dramedy for ABC Family

What happens in Vegas may not stay in Vegas, if Christina Aguilera has her way…

The 34-year-old half-Ecuadorian American is developing and executive-producing a soapy, hourlong dramedy about Las Vegas life for ABC Family.

Christina Aguilera

Written by Jake In Progress creator Austin Winsberg, the ABC Family dramedy, tentatively titled Hearts And Clubs, was previously pursued by multiple networks.

It follows a group of Las Vegas entertainers as they fall in and out of love in Sin City.

In the vein of Love Actually, the project, produced by Lionsgate Television, intertwines the characters’ relationship dramas, obstacles, and complications.

Aguilera is actively involved in the development of the project.

Boneta Lands Recording Contract with Sony Music U.S. Latin

Diego Boneta is ready to make sweet music in America…

The 23-year-old Mexican actor and singer, who has made a name for himself in television and film, has landed a recording deal Sony Music U.S. Latin.

Diego Boneta

Boneta, best known for portraying Rocco on the Mexican telenovela Rebelde, is a rising star in Hollywood who has become a fixture on U.S. television with roles on MTV’s Underemployed, CW‘s 90210 and ABC Family‘s Pretty Little Liars. He’s also starred in several films, most notably the film adaptation of the Broadway hit musical Rock of Ages, where he starred as Drew Boley and performed nine tracks on the film’s acclaimed soundtrack.

Now, Boneta is hoping to advance his musical career further with his newly inked record deal with Sony Music U.S. Latin. The label plans to release material in both English and Spanish, beginning with an EP that could come out in early 2015.

“Diego is a brand and music is an integral part of his artistic identity,” says Sony Music U.S. Latin president Nir Seroussi, who plans to find Boneta opportunities in multiple media, including opportunities for Boneta’s music in the many films he acts in.

His upcoming projects include the horror flick Summer Camp and Pelé, the biopic about the legendary Brazilian soccer player, in which Boneta plays archrival Pedro alongside Vincent D’onofrio and Rodrigo Santoro.

“The idea is not to simply release an album but create a strategy that’s congruent with my career,” Boneta said in an exclusive interview with Billboard. However, Boneta points out, “Diego the actor and Diego the singer are managed completely separate from one another.”

Boneta actually started out as a singer, taking voice lessons when he was only 8 years old and becoming a finalist on music reality show Codigo F.A.M.A. when he was 12. At 15, Boneta landed his star-making role on the popular soap opera Rebelde and went on to release two successful solo albums with EMI.

By 2010, at 20 years old, Boneta was already making a mark in Hollywood with his roles in Pretty Little Liars and 90210, plus a role in Mean Girls 2. He was signed briefly to Adam Levine‘s label but finally went to Sony, where he’ll work in both languages and across many mediums.

Now, Boneta is writing new tracks even as he prepares to begin shooting the miniseries The Dovekeepers, from Roma Downey and Mark Burnett (The Bible).

The trick to the balancing act, he says, is “finding the time. I’d like to be doing what Justin Timberlake does.”

ABC Family Picks Up Marie’s “Switched at Birth” for a Fourth Season

It’s a great Birth day for Constance Marie

ABC Family has picked its original drama series Switched at Birth, starring the 48-year-old Mexican American actress, for a fourth season.

Constance Marie

Marie, best known for her hilarious role as Angie Lopez on the long running George Lopez show, portrays Regina Vasquez on the series, which revolves around two teenagers who were switched as newborns in the hospital and grew up in very different environments.

Switched at Birth was a breakout hit when it debuted in 2011 and has seen impressive ratings since. It ranks as cable television’s No. 1 series in its time period in key female demos.

“Fans will be clamoring for season four and to know what happens with Daphne and Bay after the season three finale next week,” said Tom Ascheim, President ABC Family.

The third season finale of the Peabody Award-winning series airs next Monday.