Rodriguez Joins Voice Cast of Sony Pictures Animation’s “The Star”

Posted on January 19, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Rodriguez is wishing on a Star…

The 32-year-old Puerto Rican actress has joined the A-list voice cast of Sony Pictures Animation’s The Star.

The story follows a small but brave donkey named Bo (Steven Yeun) who yearns for a life beyond his daily grind at the village mill. As the logline states: “One day he finds the courage to break free, and finally goes on the adventure of his dreams. On his journey, he teams up with Ruth, a lovable sheep who has lost her flock and Dave, a dove with lofty aspirations. Along with three wisecracking camels and some eccentric stable animals, Bo and his new friends follow the Star and become accidental heroes in the greatest story ever told – the first Christmas.”

In addition to Yeun and Rodriguez, the Golden Globe-winning star of the CW’s Jane the Virgin who will voice Mary in the film, the star-studded voice cast includes Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Tracy Moran, Kris Kristofferson, Kristin Chenoweth, Kelly Clarkson, Gabriel Iglesias, Ving Rhames and Christopher Plummer who will voice King Herod.

Directed by Oscar-nominated writer-director Timothy Reckart, the family-friendly film will be released wide on November 10.

The screenplay was written by Carlos Kotkin from a story by Kotkin and Simon Moore.

Gonzalez to Star in Netflix’s Drug Cartel Drama “Narcos”

Posted on November 10, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Nicholas Gonzalez is reporting for duty…

The 40-year-old Mexican American actor has booked a recurring role on the upcoming third season of Netflix’s drug cartel drama Narcos.

Gonzalez will play Lopez, a capable and experienced American DEA agent.

Season 3, slated to premiere in 2017, will pick up following the death of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar.

Gonzalez currently has a recurring role on the seventh season of Freeform’s Pretty Little Liars as Detective Vic Furey and is reprising his role of Dante Ramon, the older brother of Cisco Ramon, in the CW’s The Flash.

Milans Lands Recurring Role on The CW’s “No Tomorrow”

Posted on October 18, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

There’s a new Tomorrow for Marta Milans…

The 34-year-old Spanish actress has landed a recurring role in The CW’s No Tomorrow, from the Jane The Virgin duo of writer/co-executive producer Corinne Brinkerhoff and executive producer Ben Silverman.

No Tomorrow centers on a risk-averse, straight arrow, female procurement manager (Tori Anderson) at an Amazon-like distribution center who falls in love with a freewheeling man who lives life to the fullest because he believes the apocalypse is imminent, to comedic and poignant results as they embark on a quest together to fulfill their individual bucket lists.

Milans will play Sofia. Described as a dynamic, passionate world traveler and photographer, Sofia is newly engaged to Kareema’s brother, Rohan, but quickly develops a surprising connection with Kareema herself.

Milans was most recently cast in the ABC pilot The Death of Eva Sofia Valdez. Her previous television credits include Mysteries of Laura, HBO’s High Maintenance and feature film Wizard of Lies.

Navedo to Star in Netflix’s Fantastical Cop Thriller “Bright”

Posted on October 18, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

The future’s so Bright for Andrea Navedo…

The 39-year-old Puerto Rican actress and Jane the Virgin star has joined the cast of Netflix’s Bright, a fantastical cop thriller feature written by Max Landis, for which the streaming giant acquired for $90M.

David Ayer is attached to direct with Will Smith, Joel Egerton, and Noomi Rapace starring.

Navedo, who began her career on the soap operas One Life to Live and Guiding Light, will play Captain Perez in the film, which is set to begin shooting this month. Eric

Navedo currently stars as Xiomara “Xo” Villanueva in the Golden Globe-nominated The CW series Jane The Virgin, currently in its third season.

Her past film credits include Remember Me, Once Upon A Time In Queens, and Superfast!

Guerrero to Star in CBS’ Immigration Drama “In the Country We Love”

Posted on October 6, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Diane Guerrero has gone Country…

The 30-year-old Colombian American actress, a recurring guest star on Jane the Virgin, has partnered with executive producer/showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman, executive producer Ben Silverman and co-executive producer Paul Sciarrotta for In the Country We Love, a potential drama project for CBS.

Guerrero is attached to star in the drama, which is based on her memoir. Jane the Virgin producer CBS Television Studios is the studio.

Written by Sciarrotta, In the Country We Love centers on a successful corporate attorney who starts taking pro bono cases for undocumented immigrants after her past as the child of deported parents is revealed by a family emergency.

Guerrero’s memoir In the Country We Love: My Family Divided, co-written with best-selling author Michelle Burford, chronicles Guerrero’s harrowing experience as a teenager.

She was 14 when her parents were taken from their Boston home by immigration agents and deported to their native Colombia while she was at school. From then on, Guerrero, who was born in the U.S., had to rely on the kindness of family friends.

Guerrero was named a White House Ambassador for Citizenship and Naturalization in 2015 and is an outspoken advocate for common-sense, comprehensive immigration reform, having worked with Immigrant Legal Resource Center and Mi Familia Vota, a nonpartisan Latino civic engagement organization to promote citizenship and voter registration.

This is the second broadcast drama project in development for next season that touches on the hot-button issue of immigration, along with The CW’s Casa, from Warner Bros Television and Berlanti Prods.

Guerrero is best known for her role as Maritza Ramos on Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black. She plays Jane’s (Gina Rodriguez) best friend Lina on Jane the Virgin.

Chavira to Appear on The CW’s “Jane The Virgin”

Posted on October 3, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Ricardo Chavira is heading to Virgin territory…

The 45-year-old Mexican American actor and former Desperate Housewives star has landed a recurring role on the upcoming third season of The CW’s Jane The Virgin, playing Xo’s (Andrea Navedo) ex-boyfriend who dated her when he was married.

In one of several cliffhangers in the Season 2 finale, Xo, who had just slept with ex-husband Rogelio’s nemesis Esteban, was seen holding a positive pregnancy test for a baby that could be any of the two men’s.

Chavira starred as Carlos Solis opposite Eva Longoria on all eight seasons of ABC’s Desperate Housewives and has been recurring as presidential candidate Francisco Vargas on ABC’s Scandal.

He’ll next be seen opposite Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant on Netflix’s new comedy series Santa Clarita Diet.

The CW Developing Gonzalez’s Latino-Themed Drama Project “Casa”

Posted on September 30, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Ed Gonzalez is coming home to The CW…

Warner Bros Television and producer Greg Berlanti are developing the drama project Casa, which was co-penned by the Mexican American writer, for the network.

Written by Gonzalez and Jeremy Haft, the series will touch on the hot-button issue of immigration.

Casa centers on six siblings in a Hispanic family who have to band together to survive when their parents get unjustly deported.

Writing partners Gonzalez and Haft got a break when they were selected as the 2014 Fox Writers Intensive Fellows, leading to a script development deal with Fox Broadcasting Co and 20th Century Fox Television and a staffing job on the first season of the hit Fox drama Empire.

The CW has scored high marks for its depiction of illegal immigration and its toll on families in dramedy Jane the Virgin.

Gonzalez & Haft recently wrote the feature film All Eyez On Me, a biopic directed by Benny Boom about Tupac Shakur for Morgan Creek Productions.

Caban to Guest Star on the CW’s “Jane the Virgin”

Posted on September 19, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Jessica Caban is following in her boyfriend’s footsteps…

The 34-year-old Puerto Rican model/actress, the girlfriend of Bruno Mars, has landed a guest-starring role of the CW’s Jane the Virgin.

Andrea Navedo, who portrays Xiomara “Xo” Villanueva on the comedy-drama series, confirmed the news via Instagram.

The two snapped a selfie on the Jane the Virgin set while sharing the news to fans.

“Excited that the lovely @officialjessicacaban will grace the screen on @cwjanethevirgin this season 3,” wrote Navedo.

Caban is joining other notable stars—including Mars—who’ve made a guest appearance on Jane the Virgin.

This season, Gloria and Emilio Esteban are also set to guest star and Eva Longoria will be directing an episode.

Jane the Virgin’s third season will premiere on October 17.

Nuñez Earns His First-Ever Primetime Emmy Nomination

Posted on July 14, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Oscar Nuñez is having an Emmy-otional week…

The Television Academy has announced the nominees for the 2016 Primetime Emmy Awards, with the 57-year-old Cuban actor and comedian earning his first career nomination.

Nuñez, best known for his SAG Award-winning role on NBC‘s The Office, picked up the nod in the Outstanding Actor In A Short Form Comedy Or Drama Series category for his performance in the History Channel‘s The Crossroads of History.

Anthony Mendez has picked up his second consecutive nomination in the Outstanding Narrator category for narrating the CW‘s Jane the Virgin. Mendez faces stiff competition from the likes of Hollywood A-Listers Adrien Brody and Laurence Fishburne.

Fred Armisen has earned his fourth nomination in the Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series for co-writing IFC’s Portlandia. The 49-year-old half-Venezuelan actor and former Saturday Night Live star co-created the sketch-comedy series, which that parodies life in Portland, Oregon, with Carrie Brownstein and Jonathan Krisel.

Goya Award-nominee Victor Reyes has picked up the first two Emmy nominations of his career. The 54-year-old Spanish composer earned nods in the Outstanding Music Composition For A Limited Series, Movie Or Special (Original Dramatic Score) and Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music categories for his musical work on AMC’s series The Night Manager.

He’ll face off against Rodrigo Amarante in the Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music category. The Brazilian singer-songwriter picked up his first Emmy nod for his musical work on Netflix’s series Narcos.

The 68th annual Primetime Emmy Awards will broadcast live at 5 p.m. PT Sunday, Sept. 18 on ABC.

Lima to Star in CW’s Superhero Series “Supergirl”

Posted on July 13, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Floriana Lima has landed a Super-sized role…

The Latina actress has landed a series regular role on the CBS-turned-CW superhero series Supergirl.

Lima will portray Maggie Sawyer, a character inspired by the historic gay DC Comics character.

Created by John Byrne, Maggie was first introduced in 1987 as a captain of the Metropolis Special Crimes Unit where she was a highly skilled member of the Science Police, the division of the police department that deals with metahumans.

Additionally, Maggie was revealed to be a lesbian in the Superman titles, making her one of the first openly characters in mainstream comics. She later went on to become romantically involved with another famous female superhero, Batwoman, in addition appearance in several Batman titles.

On the Warner Bros.-produced Supergirl, Maggie will be a detective for the National City Police Department who takes a special interest in the cases involving aliens.

Supergirl executive producer Greg Berlanti, who is also an EP on Arrow, The Flash and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, spoke with The Hollywood Reporter earlier this year about the importance of being all inclusive. His DC Comics shows have changed the ethnicity and sexuality of several iconic comic book characters to better reflect present day, like Supergirl‘s Jimmy Olsen (Mehcad Brooks) and Arrow‘s Curtis Holt (Echo Kellum), respectively.

“I wanted to contemporize these comics that I loved growing up and have them reflect the society that we live in now,” Berlanti said. “It’s still about working in some of those very real qualities so that everyone feels represented.”

Maggie Sawyer is one of several famed DC Comics characters coming to Supergirl for season two. Teen Wolf‘s Tyler Hoechlin has been cast as Kara’s cousin Clark Kent aka Superman, and Cougar Town vet Ian Gomez will play journalist Snapper Carr. Additionally, former Wonder Woman star Lynda Carter is set to appear as the President of the United States.

The character of Maggie Sawyer previously appeared in several episodes of former CW series Smallville, as played by Jill Teed.

In addition to the ABC drama The Family, Lima’s credits include Allegiance and The Mob Doctor.

Supergirl‘s second season premieres on Monday, October 10 at 8 p.m. on The CW.

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