Oscar Nuñez to Star in Netflix’s Quarantine Anthology Series “Social Distance”

Oscar Nuñez is keeping his distance…

The 61-year-old Cuban actor and comedian has been cast in Netflix’s upcoming quarantine anthology series Social Distance.

Oscar Nuñez

Hailing from Orange is the New Black creator Jenji Kohan, the series will also star Scandal’s Guillermo Diaz, Love Victor’s Isabella Ferreira, Katy Keene & In The Heights star Daphne Rubin-Vega, Danielle Brooks, Mike Colter Asante Blackk, Peter Scanavino, Lachlan Watson, Max Jenkins and Marsha Stephanie Blake.

Set in the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Social Distance is an eight-part anthology series that showcases the power of the human spirit in the face of uncertainty and isolation. Each standalone episode is told through a virtual lens and captures the unique emotional experience of being forced apart by circumstance and having no choice but to communicate remotely and rely on technology to maintain any sense of connection. Through these varied and deeply human stories, Social Distance aims to provide some much-needed catharsis during a tumultuous time while also capturing a snapshot of this singular moment in history.

The project was conceived, cast and executed entirely remotely during quarantine. The writers never met during the writing process, Diego Velasco directs talent remotely, Hilary Weisman Graham runs production from her living room and the cast acts and films themselves from home. Some of the actors’ real-life relatives also guest star in the series.

“Many of these stories required casting actors who were quarantined with other actors. That hurdle seriously hindered our options and so casting non-actors was sometimes essential,” said Weisman Graham on the decision to cast actors’ family members. “It was definitely a roll of the dice, but thankfully, we were thrilled to discover that talent really does breed talent. These family members may not have had aspirations to be in front of the camera when we first started, but they should all quit their day jobs immediately.”

Weisman Graham, who also serves as showrunner, executive produces with Tara Herrmann, Blake McCormick and Kohan. Velasco, who directed an episode of Orange Is the New Black and is working with Kohan on her upcoming series Teenage Bounty Hunters is directing and will co-executive produce.

Social Distance cast members include (in no particular episodic order):

Danielle Brooks with real-life mother LaRita Brooks and brother DJ Brooks; Marsha Stephanie Blake with real-life daughter Rocco Luna; Misha Brooks; Isabella Ferreira; Oscar Nunez; Daphne Rubin-Vega with real-life husband Tom Costanzo and son Luca Costanzo; Guillermo Diaz; Miguel Sandoval; Camila Perez; Olli Haaskivi; Giana Aragon; Mike Colter; Okieriete Onaodowan; real-life spouses Heather Burns and Ajay; Shakira Barrera; Steven Weber with real-life son Jack Hohnen-Weber; Helena Howard; Asante Blackk with real-life father Ayize Ma’at; Lovie Simone;

Max Jenkins; Brian Jordan Alvarez; Peter Vack; Rana Roy; Peter Scanavino with real-life son Leo Bai-Scanavino; Ali Ahn; Tami Sagher; Barbara Rosenblat; Michael Mulheren; real-life spouses Becky Ann Baker and Dylan Baker; Sunita Mani; real-life spouses Raymond Anthony Thomas and Marcia Debonis; Kylie Liya Page; Lachlan Watson; David Iacono; Will Meyers; Niles Fitch; and Ava Demary.

Nuñez is best known for starring on NBC’s The Office.

Millennium Films Acquires Velasco’s Time-Travel Thriller “Victim 321”

Diego Velasco is Millennium Films’ latest victim…

Millennium Films has acquired the time-travel thriller Victim 321 that will be directed by the Venezuelan-American’s thriller The Zero Hour (La hora cero).

Diego Velasco

It’ll be Velasco’s first English-language full-length feature film.

Scripted by The Following writer Michael McGrale, Victim 321 tells the story of a jaded Chicago homicide detective who wakes up in the body of an ex-con three days before his murder. He has 72 hours to unravel the conspiracy behind the victim’s death, or he’ll meet his own demise.

Avi Lerner, Trevor Short, Boaz Davidson, John Thompson, Mark Gill, Vincent Cheng and Beth Bruckner O’Brien will be exec producers on Victim 321.

“This is the perfect match of a compelling high-concept script with a memorable character journey and a blow-out good director in Diego Velasco,” Gill said. “His movie The Zero Hour is probably the least well-known great film of the last five years.”

Velasco’s other credits include directing episodes of the television series Cybergeddon.

Martinez to Star in Web Drama “Cybergeddon”

Olivier Martinez is having a Yahoo moment!

The 46-year-old half Spanish actor—who rose to fame opposite Diane Lane in Unfaithful—is top-lining the long-form online thriller Cybergeddon for Yahoo alongside Rookie Blue star Missy Peregrym.

Olivier Martinez

Developed by CSI creator Anthony Zuiker, the scripted web drama centers on the growing threat of cyber crime.

Bringing A-list talent to the digital space, Martinez—who recently opened a French/Italian restaurant in Miami—will star as the elusive cybercriminal Gustove Dobreff, while Peregrym will portray FBI agent Chloe Jocelyn.

The online project, which is currently shooting in Hamilton, Ontario, will launch first as a series of installments on Yahoo, before reaching other digital platforms.

Diego Velasco, director of the Venezuelan box office hit The Zero Hour, will helm the scripted drama.

The Cybergeddon cast includes Breakout Kings‘ Manny Montana and Kick Gurry.