Rodriguez to Star in the Punk-Rock Indie Film “CBGB”

Freddy Rodriguez will soon be helping shine a spotlight on New York City’s punk-rock scene.

The 37-year-old Puerto Rican actor has joined the growing cast of CBGB, a film that will take a look at the Big Apple’s venerable nightclub of the same name.

Freddy Rodriguez

The former Six Feet Under and Ugly Betty star will appear as Idaho, an addict who hung around Hily Kristal’s infamous New York City club in the 1970s.

Rodriguez—who will be starring in the upcoming John Stockwell-directed drama Code Name Geronimo, which centers on the hunt for Osama bin Laden—is scheduled to start work on CBGB next week.

Randall Miller is writing and directing the indie film about the club that saw the birth of American punk rock with bands like The Ramones, Blondie, Television and the Dead Boys on its tiny stage.

Sons of Anarchy’s Ryan Hurst has also joined the cast as a biker named Mad Mountain who is a regular at the club and provides Hily Kristal with some much need help when the CBGB owner. Alan Rickman will play CBGB proprietor Kristal.

Malin Akerman is set to play Blondie’s lead singer Debbie Harry. Twilight Saga’s Ashley Greene will play Kristal’s daughter. The Hangover’s Justin Bartha will play Stiv Bators, lead singer of the Dead Boys. The Big Bang Theory’s Johnny Galecki is playing band manager Terry Ork. Foo Fighters’ drummer Taylor Hawkins is playing Iggy Pop. And Harry Potter’s Rupert Grint will play Dead Boys guitarist Cheetah Chrome.

The film is shooting in Savannah, Ga., before moving to NYC.

del Toro to Direct a New Beauty and the Beast Project…

He’s helped bring a demonic beast to life on the big screen… And, now Guillermo del Toro is preparing to take on a beast and a beauty.

The 47-year-old Mexican filmmaker, who helmed Hellboy and Hellboy 2: The Golden Army, will reportedly direct Harry Potter star Emma Watson in Beauty.

Guillermo del Toro

An adaptation of the novel Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of the Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley, the film is being hailed as a new take on the Beauty and the Beast tale.

The deal with del Toro, who is currently shooting Pacific Rim in Toronto, has been in the works since last spring.

In addition to Beauty, the Pan’s Labyrinth director is helming Trollhunters and developing a Haunted Mansion movie, as well as reportedly attached to direct both a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and a Frankenstein project.