Vadhir Derbez to Star in the Spanish-Language Remake of “50 First Dates,” “50 Primeras Citas”

Vadhir Derbez is hitting the dating scene…

The 26-year-old Mexican actor will star opposite Ximena Romo in Sony Pictures International Productions’ Spanish-language version of 50 First Dates.

Vadhir Derbez

50 Primeras Citas is the remake of the 2004 Adam SandlerDrew Barrymore romantic comedy about a woman with short-term memory loss and the guy who continues to court her even though she forgets him after each day they spend together. It grossed $196M worldwide.

The update begins shooting this week in the Dominican Republic with Mauricio T Valle adapting, directing and producing via his Le Petit Soldat Cinema.

Also starring is Alejandro Camacho (Everybody Loves Somebody).

Derbez, who will also executive produce, is the son of Spanish-language megastar Eugenio Derbez and has been very active recently. He appeared in his dad’s How To Be A Latin Lover and starred in 3 Idiots, the second-highest-grossing Mexican movie of 2017.

Next up, he’s starring in The Perfect Dress, a romantic comedy pitch from writer Ed Horowitz for which Sony Pictures International Productions was closing a deal last month.

Romo’s credits include Everybody Loves Somebody, I’m Gonna Explode, Black Sheep and soap El Color De La Passion.

“We are thrilled to be working on this project with Mauricio, Vadhir and Ximena. They are destined to be the new stars of the Mexican film industry in a truly vibrant business where we aspire to be ahead of the curve,” says Diego Suarez, SVP Film Production, Sony Pictures International Productions.

“We think that Mauricio, Vadhir and Ximena are a part of the next wave of talent that is emerging from Mexico,” adds Laine Kline, head of International and Local Film Production, Sony Pictures International Productions.

50 Primeras Citas will be made with support from the Dominican Republic’s film incentive law and produced in association with Dominican based Lantica Media.

Cuarón to Write and Direct a New Take on “Zorro”

Jonás Cuarón is bringing a fictional Latino hero back to life…

The 34-year-old Mexican filmmaker and screenwriter and son of Alfonso Cuarón has been tapped to write and direct a new take on Zorro.

Jonas Cuaron

The film, titled Z, will be produced by Lantica Media and Sobini Films, and principal photography is set to start in the summer at Pinewood Dominican Republic Studios.

Cuarón co-penned Gravity with his father. He recently wrote directed the Toronto International Film Festival film Desierto, which won the Prize of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) for Special Presentations.

Lantica will finance, and Pantelion Films will handle international sales. The title will be up for grabs European Film Market in Berlin this month.

Televisa USA to Adapt Spain’s Hit Drama Series “Gran Hotel” in English

Spain’s Downton Abbey is getting an English makeover…

Televisa USA is breaking ground on Gran Hotel, an English-language adaptation of the popular Spanish series.

Gran Hotel

Stephen Kronish, the executive producer of 24 and The Kennedys, will pen the project, which will move the setting for the mystery drama from 1905 Spain to pre-Castro Havanam Cuba.

In the new version, following his sister’s disappearance, Julio is led on a dangerous journey that takes him to the opulent Gran Hotel, a frequent getaway for the rich, powerful, famous and infamous and into the arms of the sexy daughter of the hotel’s wealthy owner.

“It was a time when mobsters, politicians and celebrities flocked to Havana, the world’s most exotic and permissive playground,” said Chris Philip, head of Production and Distribution at Televisa USA. “Setting Gran Hotel in a sexy, sinful atmosphere offers up a rich fusion of glamour and intrigue deeply rooted in an exceptional murder mystery format with a proven global footprint.”

Televisa USA, a subsidiary of the Mexican media company Grupo Televisa, is teaming up with Lantica Media for the series, which will be shot at Lantica’s Pinewood Dominican Republic Studios.

It’s one of several projects planned for Lantica to co-develop and co-finance with Televisa.

Televisa USA plans to shop the series to U.S. and international buyers.

The original Gran Hotel was created and produced by Bambu Producciones and ran on Spain’s Antena 3 for three seasons, with its first season reaching a 18.5% share.

Dubbed “a Spanish Downton Abbey,” the original series has been a top international seller for Beta Films, which is co-producing an Italian version airing on RAI. As a finished series, Gran Hotel has been sold to networks in France, the UK and Russia.