Aguilera Sings Spanish Song “La Casa” for Will Ferrel’s New Film…

It appears Christina Aguilera is embracing her Latin roots once again…

The 31-year-old half-Ecuadorian singer appears on the soundtrack for Will Ferrell’s telenovela-inspired film, Casa de Mi Padre.

Aguilera’s flamenco-inspired track, which opens the comedy film, features Spanish guitars, brass trumpets and synthesizer-free vocals.

Casa marks The Voice mentor’s first true return to Spanish-language singing since her contribution to the Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights soundtrack, “El Beso Del Final,” in 2004. In addition, her most recent album, Bionic, featured the bilingual track “Desnudate.”

But nearly 12 years ago, Aguilera took the biggest stab at celebrating her Latin roots… She released a full-length Spanish album in 2000 entitled Mi Reflejo. Containing Spanish versions of songs from her English debut and new Spanish tracks, the album went on to win the Latin Grammy for best female pop vocal album and went No.1 on the Billboard Latin charts for a record 20 weeks.

Entitled “La Casa,” Aguilera’s new track was released digitally this week.

Meanwhile Casa de Mi Padre opens nationwide on March 17.

Rodriguez to Star Opposite Paul Walker in New Film?

She recently made her big screen debut in the Sam Worthington-starrer Man on a Ledge… And now Genesis Rodriguez is thisclose to lining up her next major motion picture.

The 24-year-old Venezuelan American actress is currently in talks to star opposite The Fast and the Furious‘ Paul Walker in Hours, a post-Hurricane Katrina indie thriller.

Genesis Rodriguez

The film centers on a father (Walker) who fights to keep his newborn daughter alive in a New Orleans hospital after Katrina hits the city.

Following Rodriguez’s most recent appearance in Man On A Ledge, the one-time telenovela star will next star in Will Ferrell’s Casa De Mi Padre and the ensemble film featuring Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Lopez What To Expect When You’re Expecting.

Additionally, she just wrapped Lionsgate’s The Last Stand.

Garcia Bernal to Wield Zorro’s Sword on the Big Screen

Move over Antonio Banderas! There’s a new Zorro in town… And, his name is Gael Garcia Bernal.

20th Century Fox has tapped the 33-year-old Mexican actor to take on the role of the masked Spanish outlaw in the upcoming Zorro Reborn.

Gael-Garcia-Bernal

In the modern take on the Zorro films made popular by George Hamilton and Antonio Banderas, the movie will take place in the future during a desolate and post-apocalyptic time—not during the Spanish colonial era in the 18thcentury like in the original story.

“In this version, Zorro will be less a caped crusader for justice than a one-man vigilante force bent on revenge, in a western story that has echoes of both Sergio Leone and  No Country for Old Men,” explains the film’s producers.

No director has been hired for the project yet.

The Zorro story has been adapted into more than 40 films and several televisions series. The last film adaptation of Zorro was Michael Campbell‘s The Legend of Zorro, which starred Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Released in 2005, the film grossed more than $142, 4 million internationally.

Garcia Bernal has appeared in more than a handful of Oscar-nominated films, including The Motorcycle Diaries, where he portrayed Argentine Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara.

He’ll next appear in Will Ferrell’s Spanish-language comedy Casa de Mi Padre.

Rodriguez: On the “Ledge” of a Hollywood Breakthrough…

Sam Worthington may be a man on a ledge… But Génesis Rodríguez is a star on the rise.

The 24-year-old Venezuelan American actress is making her big screen debut in Man on a Ledge, which opens in theaters nationwide today, in her quest to become Hollywood’s next big thing.

Man on a Ledge Genesis Rodriguez

The Miami-born Rodriguez isn’t new to the world of entertainment… She’s the daughter of legendary singe José Luis Rodríguez, better known to many as “El Puma“.

Rodriguez got her start in telenovelas. She appeared in Prisionera, Dame Chocolate and Doña Barbara and quickly gained a following before setting her sights on Hollywood.

Genesis Rodriguez

“I was working for about six years in Spanish soap operas,” says Rodriguez. “I started working at 15, turning 16, and I moved here about two years and I came out thinking I was gonna serve people breakfast and say one line and be ‘Girl Number 2.’ But, that didn’t happen, thank God. I’m blessed that I got a start with my Spanish audience and I hope they like the transition.”

Rodriguez went on to appear in one of the country’s most popular soap operas, playing Becky Ferrer on Days of our Lives. And, she later moved on to guest-star on HBO’s popular series Entourage.  Rodriguez, who appears on the cover of the latest issue of Para Todos magazine, is now starring as an in Man on a Ledge, and will appear in Will Ferrell’s Spanish-language comedy Casa de mi Padre.

“I can’t wait for people to see these movies. I can’t wait for the reactions. I can’t wait for the American and international public to get to know me better and to see my work,” says Rodriguez. “This is the most exciting time of my life and I can’t wait to share it with people and continue doing what I’m doing.”

So what’s next for Rodriguez? Sharing scenes with the former governator Arnold Schwarzenegger in the film Last Stand.

“I play an FBI agent. Me with a gun, it’s the greatest thing ever,” says Rodriguez. “Arnold is such a great guy and this is going to be such an amazing [film] for him.”

And an amazing film for Rodriguez as well… as she stakes her claim as Hollywood’s next “It girl!”

Echeverria Named Neutrogena’s New Spokesperson

Sandra Echeverria is putting her best face forward in her quest to become a household name in the United States.

The 27-year-old Mexican actress/singer has signed on as Neutrogena’s newest brand ambassador.

Sandra Echeverria

“It’s an honor to represent a brand like Neutrogena with such a long-standing history of instilling health, confidence and beauty in young women – and that is something I strongly support,” said Echeverria. “I’ve been a huge fan of Neutrogena since I was a teenager. Since I’m always on the go – either on set or on the stage – it always helps keep my skin clean and fresh looking.”

Echeverria, a telenovela superstar who recently starred in Univision’s record-breaking La Fuerza del Destino, will begin appearing in Neutrogena’s advertisements and commercials in the near future as she helps “bring to life [the company’s] 2012 multicultural initiatives,” according to the skin and cosmetics company.

One of today’s leading Latina starlets, she joins Miranda Cosgrove, Jennifer Garner, Vanessa Hudgens and Gabrielle Union as the Neutrogena’s latest brand ambassador.

Echeverria can next be seen in Will Ferrell‘s new film Casa de mi Padre. And, she recently completed shooting Savages, an Oliver Stone film starring John Travolta, Blake Lively and Benicio Del Toro—in which she plays Salma Hayek‘s daughter.

Garcia Bernal & Luna Star in Will Ferrell’s Spanish Comedy

Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna helped put Mexican cinema on the map with their international hit Y tu mamá también… And, now they’re back together once again to entertain audiences in español…

Bernal, 31, and Luna, 30, are co-starring in Will Ferrell’s Spanish-language comedy Casa de mi Padre, that features Ferrell talking – and singing – in español.

Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal

It only takes one look at the film’s latest just-released trailer to see the comedy has a very telenovela–feel with plenty of over-passionate love scenes, snazzy white suits, dramatic mustaches and slow-motion gunfights.

Casa de mi Padre

Ferrell stars as Armando Alvarez who works on his father’s ranch in Mexico. As the ranch suffers financial problems, Armando’s younger brother Raul (Luna) shows up with his new fiancée, Sonia (Genesis Rodriguez). When Armando falls for Sonia, and Raul’s business dealings turn out to be less than legit, all hell breaks loose as they find themselves battling Mexico’s most feared drug lord, the mighty Onza (Bernal).

It’s the latest film co-starring the Mexican actors, who have been friends since childhood. Along with 2001’s Y tu mamá también, in which they played two oversexed, under-experienced teenage boys on a journey of sexual exploration, Bernal and Luna also starred in 2008’s Rudo y Cursi.

Casa de mi Padre will open in theaters on March 16.

Ramirez Returning to His Napoleon Dynamite Roots

He stole the show as the sidekick in the cult classic Napoleon Dynamite… And, now Efren Ramirez is bringing his lovable Pedro Sanchez character back to life…

The 38-year-old Salvadoran and Spanish-American actor will be providing the voice for Pedro, as well as other characters, on Fox’s upcoming Napoleon Dynamite cartoon series.

Efren Ramirez

“It’s awesome, working with the whole gang again,” Ramirez told Access Hollywood. “The minute I got the call, I knew this was going to be good. This is a movie that has appealed to a large audience of all ages.”

Since Ramirez first donned his Pedro garb in Napoleon Dynamite some eight years ago, he’s kept busy with a series of acting roles. He’s appeared in films like Employee of the Month and Nacho Libre, as well as television shows like The George Lopez Show and Eastbound & Down.

In addition to his voice work on the Napoleon animated series, Ramirez will also appear in Will Ferrell’s the upcoming comedy Casa De Mi Padre.