David Castañeda to Star in Lionsgate’s Female-Driven “John Wick” Spinoff “Ballerina”

Posted on March 9, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

David Castañeda is arabesque-ing his way into a new role…

The 34-year-old Mexican American actor will star in Lionsgate’s female-driven John Wick spinoff Ballerina amid reshoots abroad.

Castañeda’s casting comesas word has emerged of a Wick series in the works.

Ballerina watches as a young female assassin (Ana de Armas) trained in the traditions of the Ruska Roma seeks revenge against the people who killed her family — as did Wick against those who have done him wrong, in films released between 2014 and 2019. After signing a new deal with Lionsgate expanding his oversight of the John Wick franchise, of which he was the architect, Chad Stahelski is working with Ballerina helmer Len Wiseman to shape new action sequences for the film.

Written by Shay Hatten, based on characters created by Derek Kolstad, the film will also star Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, the late Lance Reddick, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Norman Reedus, Ian McShane, and Keanu Reeves.

The film is now slated for release on June 6, 2025 after being delayed recently by a year.

Castañeda stars opposite Tom Hopper, Elliot Page and more on Netflix’s hit series The Umbrella Academy, which returns for its fourth and final season on August 8th.

Recently seen opposite Natasha Lyonne and Joseph Gordon-Levitt on Peacock’s Poker Face, the actor prior to that appeared in Antoine Fuqua’s Netflix film The Guilty starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Other notable film credits include Sicario: Day of the Soldado and End of Watch.

Ana de Armas’ John Wick Spinoff “Ballerina” to Hit Theaters in June 2024

Posted on April 4, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Ana de Armas will plié into theaters next summer…

Lionsgate’s John Wick spinoff The Ballerina, starring the 34–year-old Cuban and Spanish actress, will be hitting theaters on June 7, 2024.

The news comes in the wake of John Wick: Chapter 4 racking up a current gross of $250 million at the worldwide box office, taking the four-pic franchise to over $833M worldwide.

de Armas stars in The Ballerina as an assassin trained in the traditions of the Ruska Roma with franchise dramatis personae Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane and the late Lance Reddick being back in addition to Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Catalina Sandino Moreno and Norman Reedus.

Len Wiseman directs Ballerina off Shay Hatten’s script, with Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee and John Wick filmmaker Chad Stahelski producing.

The dilm is a Thunder Road Films / 87eleven production.

John Wick: Chapter 4 opened to a franchise high at the box office with $73.8M in the U.S. and Canada, and $138M worldwide.

Catalina Sandino Moreno to Star in the John Wick Spinoff “Ballerina”

Posted on December 7, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Catalina Sandino Moreno will soon chaseé her way into a theater near you…

The 41-year-old Colombian Oscar-nominated actress is joining Ana de Armas in the John Wick spinoff Ballerina in a sizeable role.

Moreno’s part remains under wraps.

Sandino Moreno, whose deal just closed, joins Anjelica Huston, Ian McShane and Lance Reddick in the Lionsgate release.

Cameras are currently rolling on the Len Wiseman-directed, Shay Hatten-scripted title in the $586M-grossing John Wick universe.

Producer Erica Lee said: “One of the challenges of casting Ballerina is making sure that the new roles are played by actors with as much power, emotional presence, and physical skill as Ana has. After working with Catalina on John Woo’s Silent Night, it was clear that she belonged at the top of our list, and it’s a thrill to be reuniting with her.”

Moreno was Oscar nominated out of the gate for her debut performance in 2004’s Maria Full of Grace.

In her next film, Silent Night, she stars opposite Joel Kinnaman and Kid Cudi. She recently starred in the indie Barbarians opposite Iwan Rheon and Tom Cullen.

She also stars in the Epix horror series From, currently shooting its second season.

Other recent work includes a role as a series regular on Showtime’s The Affair and a starring role on the Duplass Brothers’ HBO series Room 104.

The John Wick Prequel Series “The Continental,” Starring Mishel Prada, to Stream on Prime Video Globally

Posted on November 4, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Mishel Prada’s continental moment is headed to Amazon…

The John Wick prequel series The Continental, starring the 32-year-old part Puerto Rican, Dominican and Mexican actress, will be housed internationally on Prime Video in all territories Amazon’s streaming service is available except Israel and the Middle East. It is slated for debut in 2023.

In the U.S., The Continental, produced by Lionsgate Television, will launch on Peacock after it moved from Starz to the NBCU streamer earlier this year.

The three-part action event series is more of a natural fit for Peacock, which also acquired the rights to the John Wick movies.

The Continental explores the origin story and inner workings of the exclusive Continental Hotel, a centerpiece of the John Wick Universe which serves as a refuge for assassins. It told from the perspective of the hotel manager, portrayed by Ian McShane in the film franchise – a young Winston Scott, played by Colin Woodell. Throughout the series, viewers will follow Winston through the underworld of ‘70’s New York, where he will battle demons from his past as he attempts to seize control of the iconic hotel – a hotel that serves as a meeting point for the world’s most dangerous criminals.

Woodell stars alongside Ayomide Adegun, who will portray a young Charon, Peter Greene, who plays Uncle Charlie, Mel Gibson as Cormac, Ben Robson as Frankie, Hubert Point-Du Jour as Miles, Jessica Allain as Lou, Prada as KD and Nhung Kate as Yen.

Keanu Reeves, who stars in the movies, is not expected to star in the series.

“The John Wick films have created one of the most immersive, detailed and enjoyable universes we’ve seen on screen in the last decade,” said Chris Mansolillo, Director, Content Acquisition, Prime Video. “We are extremely proud to play a part in continuing to build that universe, offering viewers an insight into the origins of the infamous Continental Hotel and its incredible characters.”

Greg Coolidge and Kirk Ward serve as writers, showrunners, and executive producers on The Continental. Shawn Simmons serves as a writer and executive producer.

Hughes directs the first and third nights and Charlotte Brandstrom directs the second night.

Starz Releases Trailer for Season 3 of Danny Trejo’s Fantasy Drama Series “American Gods”

Posted on December 6, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Danny Trejo is getting preparing for a divine battle…

“We will hunt and kill everyone of you that gets in our way,” declares Crispin Glover’s Mr. World in the new trailer for American Gods’ third season, guest starring the 76-year-old Mexican American actor. He’ll portray one of the many forms that Glover’s Mr. World will take in the new episodes.

With sex, blood and rock’n’roll and fueled by Superhuman’s cover of “My Way,” the extended look at the Ricky Whittle and Ian McShane-led series, based on EP Neil Gaiman’s award-winning 2001 novel, certainly raises the stakes in the divine war.

Now with former Charles “Chic” Eglee in the showrunner seat, the 10-episode new season debuts on Starz on Sunday, January 10.

Mainly set in and around the chilly and mystical Badger State town of Lakeside, this season of American Gods sees Lela Loren, Devery Jacobs, Blythe Danner, Marilyn Manson, Julia Sweeney, Trejo and Iwan Rheon on board for the battle between the Old Gods led by Odin (McShane) and the New Gods of digital media and more. As well the road trip of sorts sees Emily Browning, Omid Abtahi, Yetide Badaki, and Bruce Langley back with Glover, Whittle’s Shadow Moon and McShane’s Odin by any other name.

As McShane’s Mr. Wednesday says in the trailer: “Game on!”

Produced by Fremantle, American Gods is executive produced by Eglee, Gaiman, Anne Kenney, Damian Kindler, David Paul Francis, Mark Tinker, McShane, Craig Cegielski and Stefanie Berk.

Lela Loren to Appear on Starz’s “American Gods” in Pivitol Role

Posted on October 24, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a God-send for Lela Loren…

The 39-year-old half-Mexican American actress and former Power star is returning to Starz with a pivotal recurring role on the third season of American Gods, the series based on Neil Gaiman’s novel of the same name.

Developed by Bryan Fullerand Michael Green, American Gods chronicles a war brewing between the Old Gods of ancient mythological roots and the New Gods of modern technology.

Ex-con Shadow Moon (Ricky Whittle) has spent two seasons following his mysterious boss Mr. Wednesday — aka the Norse All-Father Odin (Ian McShane) — around the country, only to discover at the end of last season that the Old God is actually his father. Season three follows Shadow as he attempts to break away and assert himself as his own man, setting down roots in the idyllic snowy town of Lakeside, WI, where he’ll uncover a dark secret while exploring questions of his own divinity.

Loren will play Marguerite Olsen. While not native to Lakeside, Marguerite Olsen has become part of the fabric of the town as a trusted reporter for the local paper, a committed single mother of two, and a no-nonsense property manager. She is understandably wary of the pain vulnerability brings, but when Shadow moves into her building, he begins to chip away at her defenses and uncover a side to Marguerite she thought she’d locked away for good.

Loren, who played Angela Valdes on Starz’s Power, also will be seen in a key role in the upcoming second season of Netflix’s Altered Carbon.

Leguizamo Returning to Star Opposite Keanu Reeves in “John Wick 2”

Posted on November 10, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

John Leguizamo is back to his Wick-ed ways…

The 51-year-old Colombian actor and comedian is set to return for the sequel to the sleeper hitman-themed hit John Wick, starring Keanu Reeves.

Filming has just begun in New York and will head to Rome in the New Year. As with the original, John Wick 2 will be directed by Chad Stahelski.

The original film centered on an ex-hitman (Reeves) who is brought out of retirement as he seeks revenge on a group of gangsters who took everything from him. Plot details are being kept under wraps for the sequel.

In addition to Leguizamo, who starred as Aurelio in the original, the sequel will see the return of Bridget Moynahan, Ian McShane, Thomas Sadoski and Lance Reddick.

Newcomers to the film include Ruby Rose, Riccardo Scamarcio, Peter Stormare and Common.

Derek Kolstad (John Wick) wrote the screenplay.

The film will be released through Lionsgate’s Summit Entertainment.

The original grossed $130.9 million worldwide last fall.

Cruz In Talks to Star Opposite Sacha Baron Cohen in the Spy Comedy “Grimsby”

Posted on July 11, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Penélope Cruz has reportedly spied her next big screen role…

The 40-year-old Spanish actress is reportedly in final negotiations to join Sacha Baron Cohen in Grimsby, Sony Pictures’ spy comedy.

Directed by Louis Leterrier, the story centers on a James Bond-like character, portrayed by Mark Strong, who is forced to go into hiding in his hometown and team up with his English football hooligan brother, played by Baron Cohen.

The cast already includes Rebel Wilson, Ian McShane, Gabourey Sidibe and Annabelle Wallis, among others.

Much of the character information is being kept secret, but sources say Cruz will play a philanthropic corporate leader who may (or may not) be more than she seems.

Baron Cohen, Phil Johnston and Peter Baynham wrote the script.

The film is shooting this summer in the United Kingdom and South Africa.

Leguizamo to Star in Atlas Independent’s Feature “The Man on Carrion Road”

Posted on April 5, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

John Leguizamo is about to cause a little trouble on the border…

The 49-year-old Colombian American actor/comedian has joined Lynn Collins and Jim Belushi for Atlas Independent‘s latest feature project The Man on Carrion Road.

The film, directed by Gonzalo Lopez-Gallego, will star Patrick Wilson and Ian McShane.

From a screenplay written by Nils Lyew, the story chronicles a botched Mexican cartel deal in the back roads of a border town.

The town’s new sheriff (Wilson) must team up with the retired lawman (McShane) he replaced to investigate the source of the deal in order to stop a mysterious cartel butcher (Leguizamo) and his systematic brutalization of the town’s residents.

Production is scheduled to begin April 14.

Leguizamo most recently performed his one-man show on the HBO special John Leguizamo‘s Ghetto Klown.

He’ll also star alongside Uma Thurman, Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart in the upcoming action-comedy film American Ultra, directed by Nima Nourizadeh.

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