Marianly Tejada to Star in Netflix’s “Ransom Canyon”

Marianly Tejada has lined up her next television project.

The Dominican actress has joined the cast of Netflix’s Ransom Canyon as a series regular alongside Jack Schumacher, Garrett Wareing and Andrew Liner.

Marianly TejadaThose cast in the drama series in recurring roles include Brett Cullen, Kate Burton, Jaren RobledoJennifer EnsKenneth MillerNiko Guardado, Justin Johnson Cortez and Casey W. JohnsonPhilip Winchester will guest star.

The actors join previously cast series regulars Josh Duhamel, Minka Kelly, James BrolinEoin Macken and Lizzy Greene.

Based on the book series by Jodi Thomas, Ransom Canyon is a romance-fueled family drama and contemporary Western saga that charts the intersecting lives of three ranching families, all set against the rugged expanse of Texas Hill Country.

Tejada plays the rough and whip-smart Ellie Estevez, who is the personification of “Do no harm, but take no sh*t,” specifically from resident curmudgeon Cap (Brolin), whom she looks after. Ellie’s young, hungry and driven to make her mark in Ransom Canyon. She has no interest in settling down with a romantic partner, at least not yet, which is why she’s a bit thrown when she crosses paths with mysterious newcomer Yancy.

Robledo plays Jack Yellowbird. Jack is Lucas’ best friend. He is a member of the high school band and has a car. Jack believes in love and does not like guys who are handed a “hall pass” through life.

Guardado plays Tim O’Grady, Reid’s eternal shadow and the wide receiver on the football team. Together, Tim and Reid have been through a lot – and are harboring some heavy secrets. Although he butts heads with his mother, Angie, Tim has a strong relationship with his Aunt Quinn.

Cortez plays Kai, a deputy on the Ransom Canyon Police Force under Sheriff Dan Lazano. Kai is learning the ropes in his job: picking up drunks, working security detail, and handing out parking tickets when needed. Kai is wary and suspicious of the new foreman in town, Yancy. Kai is protective of Ellie and doesn’t want to see Ellie hurt by Yancy.

April Blair is the series creator, writer and executive producer. Amanda Marsalis is set to direct the first two of Season 1’s 10 episodes.

Tejada’s previous credits include Peacock‘s One of Us is Lying.

NBC Renews Disaster Drama “La Brea,” Starring Jon Seda, for Season 3

There’s more sinkhole action in Jon Seda’s future..

NBC has renewed its disaster drama La Brea, starring the 52-year-old Puerto Rican actor for Season 3.

Jon SedaThe news was announced ahead of Season 2’s midseason return to the network on Tuesday night.

La Brea follows an epic family adventure after a massive sinkhole opens in Los Angeles, pulling people and buildings into a mysterious and dangerous primeval land where they have no choice but to band together to survive.

In addition to Seda, the series stars Natalie Zea, Eoin Macken, Nicholas Gonzalez, Chiké Okonkwo, Zyra Gorecki, Jack Martin, Veronica St. Clair, Rohan Mirchandaney, Lily Santiago, Josh McKenzie, Tonantzin Carmelo and Michelle Vergara Moore.

Seda portrays Dr. Sam Velez, while Gonzalez portrays Levi Delgado.

La Brea hails from writer David Appelbaum, who executive produces.

The series has been a strong performer for NBC. Season 1, which debuted in September 2021, was the No. 1 new show of the fall season in the ad-friendly 18-49 demographic. It was also the top drama of the entire 2021-22 TV season.

The Season 2 premiere brought in a 0.49 demo rating and about 4M Live+Same-Day viewers on September 27. So far, the second installment has averaged a 0.39 and 3.6M viewers.

Tonantzin Carmelo Upped to Series Regular on NBC’s “La Brea” for Season Two

Tonantzin Carmelo will be getting more screentime… 

The 46-year-old half-Latina actress and Michelle Vergara Moore have been upped to series regulars on NBC’s La Brea for Season 2.

Tonantzin CarmeloCarmelo and Vergara Moore were recurring guest stars last season.

Production on the show’s sophomore turn is currently underway in Australia.

Carmelo will return to 10,000 B.C. in the role of Paara who is from the Tongva tribe and the leader of the village at the Fort. She’s strong and commanding with a reasonable and sympathetic spirit. She saves Ty’s (Chiké Okonkwo) life but in Season 2, when the survivors at the clearing come into conflict with the fort’s villagers, he increasingly finds himself torn between his loyalty to his friends and his growing relationship with Paara.

Vergara Moore returns as Ella Jones, an artist in her 40s who comes to realize the unexplainable visions she draws in her artwork are actually memories from her past life in 10,000 BC. Upon meeting Gavin (Eoin Macken), Ella discovers she went through the light to 1988 as a young girl named “Lilly”. Looking to save her friend Veronica (Lily Santiago) who Ella knows from her memories is trapped in a bear claw in 10,000 BC, she jumps through the Seattle sinkhole with Gavin and Izzy (Zyra Gorecki).

In La Brea, a massive sinkhole mysteriously opens up in Los Angeles, tearing a family apart by separating the mother (Natalie Zea) and son (Josh Harris) from the father (Macken) and daughter (Gorecki). Part of the family finds itself in an unexplainable primeval world, alongside a disparate group of strangers. They must work to survive and uncover the mystery of where they are and if there is a way back home.

Co-stars also include Jon Seda, Nicholas Gonzalez, Veronica St. Clair, Rohan Mirchandaney, and Josh McKenzie.

La Brea is produced by Universal Television and Australia’s Matchbox Pictures, both divisions of Universal Studio Group in association with Keshet Studios.

Writer David Appelbaum executive produces.

NBC Renews Nicholas Gonzalez’s Disaster Drama “La Brea” for Second Season

Nicholas Gonzalez’s disaster continues…

NBC has renewed is disaster drama series La Brea for a sophomore run after the ratings success of the Natalie Zea-fronted thriller starring the 45-year-old Mexican American actor.

Nicholas Gonzalez

La Brea stars Gonzales, Zea, Eoin Macken, Jack Martin, Zyra Gorecki, Jon Seda, Chiké Okonkwo, Karina Logue, Veronica St. Clair, Rohan Mirchandaney, Nicholas Gonzalez, Lily Santiago, Chloe De Los Santos and Josh McKenzie.

The series is centered on a mother and son separated from father and daughter after a massive sinkhole mysteriously opens up in Los Angeles.

La Brea hails from writer David Appelbaum, who executive produces with Avi Nir, Alon Shtruzman, Peter Traugott, Rachel Kaplan, Steven Lilien, Bryan Wynbrandt and Ken Woodruff.

It is produced by Universal Television in association with Keshet Studios.

The show is the No 1 new show of the fall in the adults 18-49 demographic  and NBC said that it had reached more than 47 million viewers across linear and digital platforms.

The pilot, which aired September 28, stands at a 3.6 in 18-49 and 19.8M viewers.

It has also become the best launch of any new NBC show on the network’s sister streamer Peacock and is the No. 3 new show of the season in total Live+3 viewers after NCIS: Hawai’i and FBI International.

Keshet Studios president Traugott says he was pleased with the amount of marketing support surrounding the show, which took a long time to make it to air as a result of the pandemic — it was in the middle of producing its pilot when Covid-19 hit and was picked up straight-to-series in January 2021.

“The only thing worse than a network not liking you show is that they love it so much that there’s that pressure. We have no control with the ratings,” he added. “NBC and Universal have been so supportive because La Brea has the potential to draw in audiences, and if they turn up, the pressure is on us to keep bringing them back.”

Nicholas Gonzalez to Star in NBC’s Sci-Fi Drama “La Brea”

Nicholas Gonzalez is ready to sink into a new role…

The 45-year-old Mexican American actor, who has starred as Dr. Neil Melendez on ABC’s The Good Doctor for the last three seasons, will co-star opposite Eoin Macken, Natalie Zea and Jon Seda in NBC’s sci-fi drama La Brea.

Nicholas Gonzalez

Gonzalez also joins previously cast Veronica St. Clair, Chiké Okonkwo, Jack Martin, Zyra Gorecki and Lily Santiago.

In La Brea, written by David Appelbaum, when a massive sinkhole mysteriously opens in Los Angeles, it tears a family in half, separating mother (Zea) and son (Martin) from father (Macken) and daughter (Gorecki). When part of the family find themselves in an unexplainable primeval world alongside a disparate group of strangers, they must work to survive and uncover the mystery of where they are and if there is a way back home.

Gonzalez will play Levi Brooks, an Air Force pilot and Gavin’s (Macken) best friend who is recruited to lead the mission to save the people who fell into the sinkhole.

Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, is the studio, producing with Keshet Studios.

For the past three seasons, Gonzalez was a series regular on ABC’s hit medical drama The Good Doctor, playing the popular character of Dr. Melendez, who died in the two-part Season 4 premiere. His series credits include Being Mary Jane, How to Get Away With Murder and Pretty Little Liars.

Jon Seda Rejoins Cast of NBC’s Drama Pilot “La Brea”

Jon Seda is heading back to La Brea

The 50-year-old Puerto Rican actor has rejoined the cast of NBC’s drama pilot La Brea.

Jon Seda

Seda, who will star opposite Eoin Macken and Natalie Zea on the series, was originally cast in the project a year ago and released in June due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, Hollywood newcomer has joined the cast of the pilot.

In La Brea, written by David Appelbaum, when a massive sinkhole mysteriously opens in Los Angeles, it tears a family in half, separating mother (Zea) and son (Martin) from father and daughter. When part of the family find themselves in an unexplainable primeval world, alongside a disparate group of strangers, they must work to survive and uncover the mystery of where they are and if there is a way back home. (The family’s last name has been changed from Wolcott to Harris.)

Seda plays Dr. Sam Velez (originally Dr. Benjamin Glass). The father of a teenage girl, he carries himself like the general of an Army. Santiago plays Veronica. Very rigid and formal, she does her best to comfort and protect her younger sister.

Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, is the studio, producing with Keshet Studios.

Seda starred for seven seasons on the Chicago franchise as Detective Antonio Dawson. One of the original stars of the franchise, he started off as a recurring on the mothership Chicago Fire before he was spun off to Chicago P.D. He also appeared for a time on the short-lived legal drama spinoff Chicago Justice. He previously played Nelson Hidalgo on Treme.

Santiago, a graduate of Northwestern University and LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, has appeared in numerous stage productions including the All-Female Macbeth (Red Bull Theater), Othello (Shakespeare in the Park, Romeo & Juliet (Huntington Theatre), and most recently the Public’s mobile Shakespeare production of Measure For Measure.

Levy to Star Opposite Milla Jovovich in Screen Gems’ Next “Resident Evil” Film

William Levy has a new residency in Hollywood

The 35-year-old Cuban actor and telenovela star has joined the cast of the closing chapter of Screen GemsResident Evil franchise.

William Levy

The film stars Milla Jovovich and Ali Larter, with Paul W.S. Anderson directing his script.

The film picks up where 2012’s Resident Evil: Retribution left off, as Project Alice races against time to stop the villainous Red Queen from destroying the final remnants of humanity.

In addition to Levy, Jovovich and Larter, the film will also star Iain Glen, Shawn Roberts, Ruby Rose and Eoin Macken.

Shooting starts this month in South Africa.

Levy, who came in in third place on season 14 of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, previously starred in Planet 51, The Single Moms Club and Addicted.

He next appears in Term Life and The Veil.

Rodriguez to Star in NBC’s Medical Pilot “After Hours”

Freddy Rodriguez is heading to the emergency room…

The The 37-year-old Puerto Rican actor has been cast as a lead in the hour-long NBC medical pilot After Hours.

Freddy Rodriguez

The project, to be directed by Pierre Morel, revolves around the graveyard shift in the emergency room at San Antonio Medical Center.

Rodriguez will portray hospital administrator Michael Ragosa, the new Comptroller for the Night Shift. A wannabe doctor who had to drop out of med school because of vision problems, Ragosa is a real bureaucrat for whom the bottom line seems to be everything.

Rodriguez joins the recently cast Eoin Macken for the pilot.

Rodriguez, whose credits include Six Feet Under, Ugly Betty and Chaos, next stars in Seal Team 6, which premieres this Sunday on National Geographic.

He most recently wrapped a lead role in Randall Miller’s indie CBGB. Rodriguez’s series credits include Ugly Betty and Chaos.