Tag Archives: Eric Newman

Netflix Releases Trailer for Sofia Vergara’s Drama Series “Griselda”

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Sofia Vergara is bringing the drama…

Netflix has released the official trailer for Griselda, starring the 51-year-old Colombian actress and television personality. The series will premiere on January 25th.

Sofia Vergara, GriseldaIn the series about Narco queenpin, the titular Griselda Blanco, Vergara flexes her dramatic skills.

From creators Eric Newman, Doug Miro, Ingrid Escajeda and Carlo Bernard, the six-episode series chronicles the life of Colombian-born Blanco, who created one of the most profitable cartels in history. In 1970s-80s Miami, Blanco’s lethal blend of unsuspected savagery and charm helped her expertly navigate between business and family, leading her to become widely known as “the Godmother.”

Alberto Guerra (Dario Sepúlveda), Christian Tappan (Arturo Mesa), Martín Rodríguez (Rivi Ayala), Juliana Aidén Martinez (June Hawkins), Vanessa Ferlito (Carmen Gutiérrez) also star.

Sofia Vergara, GriseldaGuest stars include Fredy Yate (Chucho Castro), Paulina Dávila (Isabel), José Zúñiga (Amilcar), Camilo Jiménez Varón (Rafa Salazar), Julieth Restrepo (Marta Ochoa), Gabriel Sloyer (Raul Diaz), Diego Trujillo (German Panesso) and Alberto Amann (Alberto Bravo).

New images from the series also reveal Carolina Giraldo, who is better known as Urban Latino superstar Karol G, in the role of Griselda’s friend Carla.

Andrés Baiz directs all episodes of Griselda. Escajeda and Miro serve as co-showrunners. Narcos and Narcos: Mexico showrunner and directing team Newman and Baiz executive produce, along with Miro, Escajeda, Carlo Bernard. Vergara and Luis Balaguer with Latin World Entertainment also executive produce.

Sofia Vergara to Portray Drug Queenpin Griselda Blanco in New Netflix Series “Griselda”

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Sofia Vergara is dealing her way to the small screen…

The 49-year-old Colombian-American actress, television producer, presenter and model is set to portray notorious drug queenpin Griselda Blanco in a new Netflix limited series.

Sofia VergaraThe six-episode series Griselda chronicles the real-life of Griselda Blanco, who created one of the most profitable cartels in history. A devoted mother, Blanco’s lethal blend of charm and unsuspecting savagery helped her expertly navigate between family and business leading her to become widely known as the “Black Widow”.

The series comes from writer Ingrid Escajeda, who is showrunner, writer, and executive producer, as well as Eric Newman, Doug Miro, Andrés Baiz, and Carlo Bernard— the creative team behind Narcos – but it is unrelated to Netflix’s drug thriller franchise.

Vergara will also serve as executive producer of the project with Luis Balaguer for Latin World Entertainment. Colombian native Baiz will direct all episodes.

“Griselda Blanco was a larger-than-life character whose ruthless but ingenious tactics allowed her to rule a billion dollar empire years before many of the most notorious male kingpins we know so much about,” Vergara said. “We are thrilled to have found the perfect partners in Eric, Andrés and Netflix to help us bring this story of her life to the screen.”

Newman added, “Griselda Blanco has long been a passion project for Sofia and we are grateful that she and her partners at LatinWe have chosen us to help her tell that story. Sofia is a brilliant talent and her passion combined with a fantastic story from Doug and Ingrid, and the amazing Andrés Baiz at the directing helm, means we have a very exciting series to share with audiences.”

Peter Friedlander, VP, UCAN scripted series at Netflix, said, “Eric Newman has deftly brought to life among the most dynamic characters and stories on screen today. We’re excited to continue on this creative path with him and for this collaboration with Sofia Vergara — a force in entertainment and a world-beloved talent. With an incredible team at the helm — we can’t wait for the world to see how Ingrid Escajeda, Doug Miro, and Andrés Baiz take on the twists and turns of Griselda Blanco’s epic story.”

Blanco burst onto the pop culture scene after her exploits were highlighted in the 2006 documentary Cocaine Cowboys and its sequel two years later from Billy Corben. She was portrayed by Catherine Zeta-Jones in the Lifetime biopic Cocaine Godmother in 2018.

Jennifer Lopez announced she’d portray Blanco in the film The Godmother, a project she is rumored to also direct.

Ash Santos to Star Opposite Kevin Hart & Wesley Snipes in Netflix’s Limited Series “True Story”

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Ash Santos is telling a true story…

The 27-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American actress has been cast in Netflix’s limited series True Story, starring Kevin Hart and Wesley Snipes.

Ash Santos

Written and executive produced by Narcos: Mexico executive producer Eric Newman, the project is produced by Hart’s HartBeat Production.

In addition to Santos, new cast additions include Tawny Newsome, Paul Adelstein, Will Catlett, Chris Diamantopoulos, Billy Zane, Lauren London and John Ales.

Hart will play a version of himself in the fictional True Story, which centers on his character Kid and Kid’s older brother Carlton, played by Snipes. A tour stop in Kid’s hometown of Philadelphia becomes a matter of life and death for one of the world’s most famous comedians when the consequences of a lost evening with his wayward older brother threaten to destroy everything he’s built.

Santos will play Daphne, an outgoing young woman who joins Carlton and Kid at a VIP afterparty that continues to an eventful night.

Stephen Williams will direct and executive produce the first four episodes. Hanelle Culpepper will direct the final four episodes.

Santos’ previous credits include American Horror Story: Apocalypse and Wrapped Up In Christmas.

Netflix Renews José María Yazpik’s Drug-Trafficking Drama “Narcos: Mexico,” Without Star Diego Luna

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There’s more narcos action in José María Yazpik, but it won’t include Diego Luna…

Netflix has ordered a third season of the 49-year-old Mexican actor’s drug-trafficking drama series Narcos: Mexico. However, the show will come back without its lead Diego Luna, who portrayed drug cartel leader Félix Gallardo.

José María Yazpik,

Season 2 ended with Luna’s Gallardo sentenced to prison for his drug trafficking crimes and there had been much speculation he wouldn’t return if the series was renewed for a third season. Luna is set to reprise his Cassian Andor character in Disney+’s Star Wars spinoff series Rogue One, which is currently in pre-production.

Series co-creator Carlo Bernard will be taking over day-to-day showrunning duties from Eric Newman, who is stepping back after five seasons. Newman will continue to executive produce the series alongside Bernard, Jose Padilha, Sidonie Dumas, Christophe Riandee, Nicolas Atlan, Doug Miro and Andrés Baiz.

Wagner Moura, who starred as Pablo Escobar during the first two seasons of Narcos, also will return to the series, directing two episodes in the new season.

“I am grateful for my five years at the helm of Narcos and Narcos: Mexico and am immensely proud of what this spectacular team has achieved with these shows,” said Newman. “Carlo Bernard is the first person I ever spoke to about this project, over ten years ago, and I am extremely pleased to leave the steering of Season 3 of Narcos: Mexico in his very capable hands.”

Set in the 90s, when the globalization of the drug business ignites, Season 3 examines the war that breaks out after Felix’s empire splinters. As newly independent cartels struggle to survive political upheaval and escalating violence, a new generation of Mexican kingpins emerge. But in this war, truth is the first casualty – and every arrest, murder and take-down only pushes real victory further away.

In addition to Yazpik, returning cast members for season three include Scoot McNairy, Alberto Ammann, Alfonso Dosal, Mayra Hermosillo, Matt Letscher, Manuel Masalva, Alejandro Edda and Gorka Lasaosa.

In addition to Moura, Andrés Baiz, Alejandra Marquez, Luis Ortega, Amat Escalante will direct on Season 3.

Season 2, which premiered in February, is currently streaming on Netflix.

Narcos: Mexico is produced by Gaumont for Netflix.

Diego Luna Set to Return for Season 2 of Netflix’s “Narcos: Mexico”

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It’s official… Diego Luna is heading back to the cartel.

The 38-year-old Mexican actor is set to return alongside Scoot McNairy to the forthcoming season of Netflix’s Narcos: Mexico, which is currently in production in Mexico City.

Diego Luna

The second season will be produced by Gaumont Television for Netflix with Eric Newman as executive producer and showrunner. José Padilha, Doug Miro, Carlo Bernard and Andrés Baiz are executive producers.

Narcos: Mexico recently received a WGA nomination in the Episodic Drama category for the “Camelot” episode written by Eric Newman and Clayton Trussell. Luna also received recognition for his role as Félix Gallardo in the first season of the Netflix drama, landing a Critics’ Choice Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series.

Scoot McNairy served as the unseen mysterious, all-knowing narrator for the first season of Narcos: Mexico and it wasn’t until the last scene of the final episode where his identity was revealed as an agent who will lead a task force to indict those responsible for DEA Agent Kiki Camarena’s (Michael Peña) death — which set up the plot for season 2.

The series premiered November 16 with Eric Newman serving as executive producer and showrunner. The series is a companion to its predecessor Narcos which ran for three seasons.

Narcos: Mexico explores the origins of the modern drug war by going back to its roots, beginning at a time when the Mexican trafficking world was a loose and disorganized confederation of independent growers and dealers. Witness the rise of the Guadalajara Cartel in the 1980s as Félix Gallardo (Luna) takes the helm, unifying traffickers in order to build an empire. When DEA agent Kiki Camarena (Peña) moves his wife and young son from California to Guadalajara to take on a new post, he quickly learns that his assignment will be more challenging than he ever could have imagined. As Kiki garners intelligence on Félix and becomes more entangled in his mission, a tragic chain of events unfold, affecting the drug trade and the war against it for years to come.

Netflix Renews Diego Luna’s “Narcos: Mexico” for Second Season

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There’s more trafficking in Diego Luna’s future…

Netflix has renewed its the drug trafficking drama, starring the 38-year-old Mexican actor, director and producer, for a second season.

Diego Luna

Narcos: Mexico explores the origins of the modern drug war by going back to its roots, beginning at a time when the Mexican trafficking world was a loose and disorganized confederation of independent growers and dealers. Witness the rise of the Guadalajara Cartel in the 1980s as Félix Gallardo (Luna) takes the helm, unifying traffickers in order to build an empire. When DEA agent Kiki Camarena (Michael Peña) moves his wife and young son from California to Guadalajara to take on a new post, he quickly learns that his assignment will be more challenging than he ever could have imagined. As Kiki garners intelligence on Félix and becomes more entangled in his mission, a tragic chain of events unfold, affecting the drug trade and the war against it for years to come.

The series premiered on November 16 with Eric Newman serving as executive producer and showrunner.

The series is a companion to its predecessor Narcos, which ran for three seasons.

Narcos: Mexico is produced by Gaumont Television for Netflix. José Padilha, Doug Miro and Carlo Bernard are executive producers.

Juanes Developing Autobiographical TV Series “Persiguiendo el Sol”

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Juanes is looking to break into the television…

The 43-year-old Colombian musician and his manager, Rebeca Leon, have partnered with Golden Globe-winning producer Ben Silverman for an Empire-like television drama.

Juanes

The three have joined to develop and produce a television show titled Persiguiendo el Sol that will chronicle Juanes’ rise to stardom, from his beginnings in Colombia through his arrival in Miami, according to Billboard.

“It’s a mix of Entourage and Narcos,” Silverman told Billboard, referencing the Netflix drug drama not for its content, but as an example of a show shot in Latin America for mainstream audiences.

Producer Eric Newman, the showrunner for Narcos, will also be executive producer and showrunner for Persiguiendo el Sol.

“He’s the first American producer to bring American show running to American production,” said Silverman, who has worked several Latin-themed projects in recent years, including Jane the Virgin and Killer Women.

Silverman, who is the founder and chairman of entertainment production company Electus, arrived in Miami on January 18 in time for the NATPE global television market. He’ll be shopping the show concept to potential production partners in both Latin and mainstream media with plans to start shooting as early as spring or summer.

Persiguiendo el Sol, which is named after Juanes’ memoir, will be a bilingual show and will feature cameos from multiple artists in both mainstream and Latin worlds.

The notion of the show began to brew after Silverman met Juanes through Leon in 2014 and enlisted him to perform in an episode of Jane the Virgin. Silverman was already heavily vested in Latin themed productions. Among other projects, he was putting the finishing touches on bilingual film Hands of Stone, which is due out in April and tells the story of boxer Roberto “Mano de Piedra” Durán. Its cast includes Edgar Ramirez, Ruben Blades, Usher and Robert de Niro.

Juanes has also been dabbling further in mainstream film and television. Last year, his song “Juntos,” co-written with fellow Colombian Fonseca, was used for the ending credits of Disney film McFarland USA.