Martinez to Star in DirecTV’s MMA drama “Kingdom”

It’s kingdom come for Natalie Martinez

The 30-year-old Cuban American actress has been cast as a regular on the upcoming second season of DirecTV’s MMA drama Kingdom.

Natalie Martinez

The series, from creator/showrunner Byron Balasco, follows the story of Alvey Kulina (Frank Grillo) who owns and runs a mixed martial arts gym called Navy St. Gym in Venice, California, with his girlfriend, Lisa (Kiele Sanchez).

Martinez will play Alicia Mendez, described as a woman who is damaged with self-destructive tendencies. Although talented, she is fairly inexperienced fighter who takes a meeting with Lisa (Sanchez).

Nick Jonas and Matt Lauria also star.

Kingdom, from Endemol Shine Studios, just started production on Season 2 in Los Angeles.

DirecTV Orders an Additional 20 Episodes of Sanchez’s “Kingdom”

Kiele Sanchez’s kingdom is expanding…

Only two episodes into Kingdom’s 10-episode freshman run, DirecTV has picked up the 37-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress’ MMA-themed drama series for 20 more episodes.

Kiele Sanchez

Kingdom, from creator/showrunner Byron Balasco and Endemol Studios, is scheduled to begin production on the new order in the spring, with the first 10 episodes airing on DirecTV’s Audience Network in fall 2015, and the following 10 slated for 2016.

Kingdom, a gritty family drama set against the backdrop of the renegade subculture of Mixed Martial Arts in Venice, CA, has launched to strong reviews. DirecTV doesn’t disclose ratings information but said that the rookie “has proven to be one of Audience Network’s most popular shows of all time.”

Returning for the next batch of 20 episodes of the series, which has been praised by local officials for filming in Los Angeles (it shoots in Venice where the show is set) are stars Sanchez, who portrays Lisa Prince, Frank Grillo, Matt Lauria, Jonathan Tucker, Nick Jonas and Joanna Going.

“DirecTV could not be more thrilled by the response that last week’s premiere of Kingdom elicited from both critics and our viewers,” said Chris Long, DirecTV’s SVP Original Content and Production. “The series very clearly resonated with DirecTV’s subscribers.”

DirecTV Renames Sanchez’s MMA-Themed Drama Series to “Kingdom”

It’s a new kingdom at DirecTV for Kiele Sanchez

The 37-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress’ new drama series for the direct broadcast satellite service provider and broadcaster will now be called Kingdom.

Kiele Sanchez

The upcoming 10-episode straight-to-series project, from creator Byron Balasco and Endemol Studios, was previously titled Navy St.

Itwill debut on October 8 at 9:00 pm on Audience Network.

Kingdom takes place in Venice, California and is set against the backdrop of Mixed Martial Arts.

Along with Sanchez, the series also stars Frank Grillo, Matt Lauria, Jonathan Tucker, Nick Jonas and Joanna Going.

Sanchez Joins the Cast of DirecTV’s MMA-Based Drama “Navy St.”

Well, it didn’t take Kiele Sanchez long to find her next television project…

The 37-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress is following up her four-season run on A&E’s The Glades with a role on DirecTV’s gritty drama series Navy St.

Kiele Sanchez

Sanchez, who is starring in the horror thriller The Purge: Anarchy later this year, and Nick Jonas have been added to the 10-episode original series from Byron Balasco and Endemol Studios.

The dark family drama is set against the backdrop of Navy Street, a Venice, California-based mixed martial arts (MMA) gym owned by Alvey Henderson (portrayed by Frank Grillo), a former fighter who never made it big due to a drug addiction but is now sober.

Sanchez will play Lisa Prince, Alvey’s long-time girlfriend.

Meanwhile, Jonas will play Nate Henderson, Alvey’s youngest son and the prized fighter at the gym, joining Jonathan Tucker who plays Alvey’s eldest son.

Filming is scheduled to begin in Los Angeles on May 5 for a fall premiere.

Annable Cast Opposite Jennifer Beals in ABC’s “Venice”

Odette Annable is about to experience forbidden love…

The 27-year-old half-Cuban American actress has landed a role in ABC’s drama pilot Venice, which stars Jennifer Beals.

Odette Annable

The Romeo & Juliet-inspired project, which was written by Byron Balasco, is a soap about the haves and the have-nots in California’s most enchanting beach city, Venice.

Directed by McG, Venice focuses on two rival families, the Nances and the Carvers, and a forbidden and dangerous romance that emerges between the two as the families battle for control of Venice.

Annable, who currently appears in a recurring role on CBSGolden Boy and guest-starred on Cinemax’s new series Banshee, will portray Sophie Nance, the owner of the hippest boutique in Venice, who falls in love with the offspring of her family’s archenemies, Chris Carver.

Annable, who co-starred on the final season of Fox’s House, has appeared on Brothers & Sisters, October Road and Breaking In.  

Beals to Star in ABC’s “Venice” Pilot…

Jennifer Beals is preparing to star in a Romeo & Juliet-like project…

The 49-year-old part-Puerto Rican actress has been cast as the lead in ABC’s drama pilot Venice.

Jennifer Beals

The drama pilot, written by Byron Balasco, is a sudsy-type project about the haves and the have-nots in California’s most seductive city, Venice. It centers on two rival families and a forbidden and dangerous romance that emerges between them as the families battle for control of the beach city.

Beals will portray Lisa Carver, the elegant bohemian matriarch of the Carver family, one of the two feuding clans.

McG will be directing the pilot from Warner Bros. Television and his Wonderland Sound and Vision studio, which he’ll executive produce as well.

Beals, who rose to acclaim in 1993’s Flashdance and starred in Showtime’s The L Word, most recently appeared on television in The Mob Doctor, Castle and Lie to Me.