Eva Longoria to Appear on Season Four of Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building”

Eva Longoria is entering the building…

The 48-year-old Mexican American actress, who recently made her feature film directorial debut with Flamin’ Hot, has been cast in Hulu‘s Only Murders in the Building Season 4 in a recurring role.

Eva LongoriaDetails regarding the new season’s plot and character descriptions remain under wraps. However, new episodes will reportedly focus on unraveling the murder of Sazz Pataki (Jane Lynch), Charles-Haden Savage’s (Steve Martin) mind-bogglingly identical stunt double from his years on the series Brazzos and its 2020 revival.

Disney Television Group President Craig Erwich revealed in a recent Deadline interview that the Only Murders In the Building trio: Charles, Oliver (Martin Short) and Mabel (Selena Gomez), will kick off the new season with a trip to Los Angeles before returning to The Arconia in their search of Sazz’s killer.

Longoria’s character becomes integral to the twists and turns of this season’s investigation, sources close to production reveal.

She joins Molly Shannon, the first new cast member announced for Season 4, in the role of a high-powered LA businesswoman who finds herself drawn into the world of the investigation in New York.

Meryl Streep recently set her Season 4 return reprising the role of Loretta Durkin.

In the Season 3 finale—following her highly praised performance in Oliver’s Broadway hit Death Rattle Dazzle— Loretta received two offers in productions that would require her to relocate to Los Angeles. Her new beau Oliver is into this idea as it would allow him to visit the City of Angels. Mabel’s new love interest Tobert (Jesse Williams) is also headed west, and surprisingly, she’s also keen on taking a little break from New York.

The Emmy-nominated comedy, produced by 20th Television, is co-created and co-written by Steve Martin and John Hoffman who also executive produce alongside Short, Gomez, Dan Fogelman and Jess Rosenthal.

Longoria recently kicked off promotions for her new Apple TV+ series Land of Women in which she executive produces and stars opposite Carmen Maura. The six-episode dramedy series is inspired by Sandra Barneda’s best-selling novel of the same name and will be presented in both Spanish and English.

In addition to her work directing, acting and producing through her production company UnbeliEVAble Entertainment, Longoria partnered last fall with Cris Abrego to form the new media holding company and premium content studio, Hyphenate Media Group. Land of Women is the company’s first project.

Up next, she is set to star in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Longoria will also produce and star in the TV adaptation of Isabel Allende’s bestselling novel The House of the Spirits for FilmNation Entertainment. The series is a family saga following the extraordinary lives of three generations of women in the Trueba Family, Longoria will portray Blanca Trueba, one of the passionate and courageous women leaders.

Other upcoming projects include the Disney+ original series, from 20th Television, Paola Santiago and the River of Tears, currently in development. The series is inspired by the legend of La Llorona (the weeping woman) and follows teenage Paola on a quest to save her best friend from a different world steeped in Latin folklore that defies logic and legend; and the HBO film A Class Apart, which tells the incredible true story of a group of Mexican Americans fighting for their civil rights during a landmark case that leads to the Supreme Court.

Sebastian Lelio to Direct NASA-Themed Film “Voyagers”

Sebastian Lelio is preparing for a special voyage(rs)…

The 49-year-old Chilean director, screenwriter, editor and producer will helm Voyagers, his next film at FilmNation Entertainment.

Sebastián LelioAndrew Garfield is attached to play astronomer Carl Sagan and Daisy Edgar-Jones is expected to play Cosmos filmmaker Ann Druyan.

The feature is produced by Ben Browning for FilmNation Entertainment, Lynda Obst, and Druyan.

The film is set in 1977 as NASA prepared to launch humanity’s first interstellar probes and a team led by Sagan set out to create a message to accompany them — The Golden Record. But what starts out as a race-against-the-clock mission becomes an epic, unexpected love story between Sagan and his collaborator Druyan. FilmNation Entertianment paired Druyan with screenwriters Lelio and Jessica Goldberg, who wrote the original screenplay based on interviews with Druyan and many others who worked on the Golden Record project.

Lelio most recently co-wrote and directed The Wonder, starring Florence Pugh with House Productions and Element Pictures producing for Netflix. It was nominated for Outstanding British Film of the Year at last year’s BAFTA.

Eva Longoria to Star in TV Adaptation of Isabel Allende’s Bestselling Novel “The House of Spirits”

Eva Longoria has landed a spirited new role…

The 46-year-old Mexican American actress/producer will star in the television adaptation of Isabel Allende’s bestselling novel The House of Spirits for FilmNation Entertainment.

Eva Longoria

Longoria will play Blanca Trueba, one of the passionate and courageous women who leads the family’s destiny across generations.

The House of the Spirits is a family saga that follows the extraordinary lives of three generations of women in the Trueba family. Set in a remote South American country, this timeless drama, with tints of Magical Realism, takes us on an epic journey of fortune, intrigue, love, and fate throughout the 20th century.

Francisca Alegría and Fernanda Urrejola are writing the adaptation, the former will direct.

“It’s truly an honor to bring one of Isabel Allende’s iconic works to the screen for audiences worldwide alongside FilmNation, Francisca, and Fernanda,” Longoria said in a statement. “This is a story rich in themes of family, love, and magic. I am excited to show the world the beauty, creativity, and masterclass talent that our community continues to produce.”

Added Alegría, “It’s an honor to be adapting Isabel Allende’s The House of the Spirits. I am a devout admirer of her work and her as an artist, and this novel is such a fundamental piece of Latin American culture. Isabel was ahead of her time, just like the female protagonists of the story, and I feel that today, 40 years later, we can actually understand and integrate the deeply complex threads of their powerful lineage. Fernanda and I are beyond excited to be developing this series with our wonderful producers at FilmNation and to have the exceptional Eva Longoria starring as Blanca.”

Allende, who hails from Chile, is credited as the most widely read Spanish-language author with more than 20 books released throughout her career.

Natalie Martinez to Star in the Sci-Fi Thriller “Reminiscence”

Natalie Martinez is reminiscing…

The 35-year-old Cuban American actresshas joined the cast of Reminiscence, the sci-fi thriller being helmed by Westworld EP Lisa Joy in her first directorial outing.

Natalie Martinez

Martinez will star opposite new cast additions Angela SarafyanOscar nominee Marina De Taviraand Cliff Curtis in the film, joining previously announced stars Hugh JackmanRebecca FergusonThandie Newtonand Daniel Wu.

The Warner Bros. film is a mind bending noir love story set in the dystopic near future of a nighttime, super heated flooded global warmed Miami.

Joy wrote the screenplay and will produce with her Kilter Film partner Jonathan Nolan

The film is a co-production of Kilter Films, Michael De Luca Productionsand FilmNation Entertainment.

Martinez, who appeared inInto The Dark, can currently be seen starring in Netflilx’s miniseries The I-Land

de Tavira appeared in Alfonso Cuarón’s highly acclaimed drama Roma, which she earned an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress. 

Hayek’s “Beatriz at Dinner” to Open This Year’s Sundance Film Festival: London

Salma Hayek’s latest project is ready to see the Sun(dance) across the pond…

Miguel Arteta’s Beatriz at Dinner, starring the 50-year-old Mexican actress, will open this year’s Sundance Film Festival: London.

Salma Hayek in Beatriz at Dinner

The film, which had its world premiere earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, will be introduced to London audiences by Arteta, Hayek and screenwriter Mike White in the capital city’s Picturehouse Central cinema on June 1.

In the critically acclaimed film, Hayek plays Beatriz, an immigrant from a poor town in Mexico, who has drawn on her innate kindness to build a career as a health practitioner in Southern California. Don Strutt is a real estate developer whose cutthroat tactics have made him a self-made, self-satisfied billionaire. When the two polar opposites meet at a dinner party, their worlds collide and neither is ever the same.

The dark comedy also stars Connie Britton, Chloe Sevigny and Jay Duplass.

Roadside Attractions is set to release the title in the United States on June 9.

“We look forward to launching our fifth festival in London with Beatriz at Dinner, a masterful dramedy of errors from director Miguel Arteta and screenwriter Mike White and starring Salma Hayek,” said Sundance Film Festival director John Cooper. “This was a standout at our Utah Festival in January and is a wonderful example of the continued innovation and creativity of our independent filmmakers that we’ll showcase in London again this year.”

The full program for the fifth edition of Sundance’s London edition is expected to be announced soon. It will feature international and UK premieres of films from films that were featured in Sundance in January.

Sundance Institute will also be launching a festival in Hong Kong in September.

Sundance Film Festival: London will take place from June 1-4.

Roadside Attractions/FilmNation Acquires North American Rights to Hayek’s “Beatriz at Dinner”

Salma Hayek is bringing dinner to North American audiences…

Roadside Attractions and FilmNation Entertainment have acquired the North American rights to Miguel Arteta’s Beatriz at Dinner, starring the 50-year-old Mexican actress.

Salma Hayek

The film, written by Mike White, centers on an immigrant from a poor town in Mexico. Hayek’s title character, Beatriz, has drawn on her innate kindness to build a career as a health practitioner. Doug Strutt (John Lithgow) is a cutthroat, self-satisfied billionaire. When these two opposites meet at a dinner party, their worlds collide and neither will be the same.

Roadside Attractions and FilmNation also acquired distribution rights for the film in Australia and New Zealand.

The film premiered on January 23 at the Eccles Theatre in Park City, Utah during the Sundance Film Festival.