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.

Ana de Armas to Replace Scarlett Johansson in Apple’s Romantic Action Adventure Film “Ghosted”

Posted on December 3, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Ana de Armas has officially ghosted…

The 33-year-old Cuban-Spanish actress will replace Scarlett Johansson in Apple Original Films’ romantic action adventure film Ghosted.

Johansson has amicably exited the film in what sources describe as a scheduling conflict.

de Armas wil reunite with her Knives Out co-star Chris Evans in the film, which will be helmed by Dexter Fletcher.

de Armas will serve as an executive producer.

The film’s writers, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, will also be producers. They developed the project based on an original idea of theirs and preemptively sold it to Skydance.

Apple acquired the high-profile project over the summer. It is described as a high concept romantic action adventure film.

The change comes because the intent is to get the picture into production by February, and the timing didn’t work out for Johansson. Ellison led the charge to bring in de Armas, who’s about as hot an actress out there right now after Knives Out, No Time to Die, and Blonde.

She most recently starred with Evans and Ryan Gosling in the Joe and Anthony Russo-directed The Gray Man for Netflix.

She has also been in talks to play the lead in the John Wick spinoff Ballerina.

Mishel Prada to Star in Starz’s “The Continental,” A Prequel TV Series to Keanu Reeves’ “John Wick” Films

Posted on October 20, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Mishel Prada is headed to The Continental…

The 31-year-old Dominican, Mexican and Puerto Rican American actress and former Vida star has been cast as a lead opposite Colin Woodell and Mel Gibson in Starz’s The Continental.

The project is heralded as the prequel to the Keanu Reeves film series John Wick.

The Continental will be presented as a three-night special-event television series, produced for Starz by Lionsgate Television.

Other cast newcomers include Hubert Point-Du Jour, Jessica Allain, Nhung Kate and Ben Robson.

The Continental will explore the origin behind the hotel-for-assassins, which increasingly has become the centerpiece of the John Wick universe. This will be accomplished through the eyes and actions of a young Winston Scott (Woodell), who is dragged into the Hell-scape of a 1975 New York City to face a past he thought he’d left behind. Winston charts a deadly course through New York’s mysterious underworld in a harrowing attempt to seize the iconic hotel, which serves as the meeting point for the world’s most dangerous criminals.

Prada will play KD. Gibson will play a character named Cormac.

Executive producers Greg Coolidge and Kirk Ward are writing the event series and serve as showrunners.

The John Wick trilogy has grossed almost $600 million worldwide. The films have been scripted by Derek Kolstad and directed by Chad Stahelski, and John Wick: Chapter Four is currently shooting in Germany, France and Japan with Reeves reprising his assassin character.

Leguizamo to Star in the Six-Part Branch Davidians-Themed Event Series “Waco”

Posted on March 27, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

John Leguizamo is ready to crash and learn…

The 52-year-old actor/comedian will star opposite Michael Shannon and Taylor Kitsch in Waco, a six-part event series produced by Weinstein Television.

Written by John Erick Dowdle and Drew Dowdle and directed by John Erick Dowdle, Waco tells the story of the 51-day 1993 standoff between the FBI, ATF and David Koresh’s spiritual sect, The Branch Davidians, in Waco, Texas, that resulted in a deadly fire. It explores the true life details leading up to and chronicling the standoff told from several perspectives of those most intimately involved in both sides of the conflict.

Leguizamo will play ATF agent Robert Rodriguez. Rodriguez was sent into Koresh’s Mount Carmel to gather evidence and build a federal case against the Branch Davidians but forged a bond with the people inside.

Set to air on Paramount Network in 2018, production will begin on Waco next month in Santa Fe, NM.

Leguizamo was most recently cast in a co-starring role opposite Allison Miller in ABC’s drama pilot Salamander. He also recently co-starred on the Netflix drama series Bloodline and reprised his roles in the latest installments of the John Wick and Ice Age movie franchises.

“We are thrilled to have John in this part. He brings phenomenal range and authenticity to everything he does,” says Ted Gold, Senior Vice President, Scripted Original Series for Paramount. “The role of Robert Rodriguez is little known, but utterly fascinating as he was the only undercover agent to infiltrate David Koresh’s compound.”

Leguizamo to Star in ABC’s Drama Pilot “Salamander”

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

John Leguizamo is pouring over a new script…

The 52-year-old Colombian actor/comedian will co-star opposite Allison Miller in Salamander, ABC’s drama pilot based on a Belgian format.

Written by Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec, Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg and directed by Gary Fleder, Salamander centers on Ethan, a brilliant but misanthropic engineer who recruits a skeptical Homeland Security psychiatrist, Nora (Miller) to help him track a mysterious bank robber whose theft of 66 specific safety deposit boxes, belonging to the elite and powerful, sets in motion a series of blackmails that might be linked to a greater conspiracy.

Leguizamo will play David Vargas, an ex-cop — now a bartender at a 10th Avenue dive bar — and one of Ethan’s best friends.

The actor-comedian recently co-starred on the Netflix drama series Bloodline and reprised his roles in the latest installments of the John Wick and Ice Age movie franchises.

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.

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