Javier Botet to Star in Suretone Pictures & Lionsgate’s Adventure Horror Thriller “Creepers”

Posted on July 29, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Jeepers creepers, Javier Botet has a new role…

The 45-year-old Spanish actor has been cast in Suretone Pictures and Lionsgate’s adventure horror thriller Creepers.

Botet, often cast in creature roles, will star opposite Jake Manley, Adeline Rudolph, Francesca Reale, Laurence O’Fuarain, Nicholas Hamilton, Skylan Brooks and Kai Caster.

The film, which begins production this week in Bulgaria, is directed by music video and commercial filmmaker Marc Klasfeld.

Creepers follows a group of young urban explorers who plan to investigate an old, boarded-up, seemingly abandoned hotel, only to encounter danger at every turn in the form of a competing group of hostile urban explorers seeking to find a legendary hidden treasure – as well as a supernatural being who wreaks havoc on all.

Botet, who has Marfan Syndrome, will play the supernatural Pale Creature whose domain is the abandoned Paragon Hotel.

“We have assembled a truly amazing cast for Creepers who share the incredible passion of myself and Jordan to bring this one-of-a-kind horror-adventure story to life,” said Klasfeld. “After so many painstaking years in development to get our script right, to be completely honest, I find myself enormously excited to begin shooting.”

Added producer Jordan Schur, CEO and Chairman of Suretone Pictures, “We couldn’t have asked for a more outstanding cast or a more accomplished crew as we launch principal photography here in Bulgaria this week. Creepers is up and running with everyone amped, and it’s going to be quite the ride.”

Botet is a worldwide reference in horror and fantasy movies. Botet’s credits include It and It Chapter Two, Mama, Crimson Peak, The Conjuring 2, the first three films in the REC franchise, Witching and Bitching and Game of Thrones. His comedy credits include El vecino and Cámera Café and Golem.

Guillermo del Toro to Receive VES Award for Creative Excellence from Visual Effects Society

Posted on February 18, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Guillermo del Toro is being celebrated for his creative genius…

The 57-year-old Mexican Oscar-winning film director, producer, screenwriter and author will receive the Visual Effects Society’s career honor next month.

del Toro, a two-time Oscar winner for The Shape of Water — whose credits also include such effect-laden films as Pan’s Labyrinth, Blade II and the Pacific Rim and Hellboy films — will pick up the VES Award for Creative Excellence during the 20th anniversary VES Awards on March 8 at the Beverly Hilton.

“Guillermo is a fiercely inventive storyteller, who has pushed the boundaries of filmmaking,” VES Board Chair Lisa Cooke said. “An exemplary talent, he has consistently elevated not just the technical aspect of visual effects but also the emotional.”

Del Toro is up for the Best Picture Academy Award again this year for Nightmare Alley, his reimagining of the gritty 1947 noir Nightmare Alley.

The film starring Bradley Cooper and Cate Blanchett has four total Oscar nominations and will vie for Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature at the VES Awards.

Along with his writing and directing credits, del Toro also is a prolific producer of such acclaimed and successful films as The Orphanage, Julia’s Eyes, Biutiful, Kung Fu Panda 2, Puss in Boots and Mama.

He studied makeup effects with legendary artist Dick Smith; spent 10 years as a special-effects makeup designer; and formed his own company, Necropia.

The VES Award for Creative Excellence recognizes individuals who’ve made significant and lasting contributions to the art and science of the visual effects industry by uniquely and consistently creating compelling and creative imagery in service to story, per the group.

“Guillermo is an amazing creative force and a defining voice in our global community, and his body of work is a rich source of inspiration for future generations of artists and innovators,” Cooke added.

Cruz to Star Opposite Ben Stiller in “Zoolander 2”

Posted on November 21, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Penelope Cruz is preparing to (blue) steel the spotlight in the Zoolander sequel…

The 40-year-old Spanish actress and Oscar winner has signed on to star opposite Ben Stiller in Paramount Pictures’ comedy Zoolander 2.

Directed by Stiller, from a Justin Theroux-penned script, Stiller will reprise his role as empty headed supermodel Derek Zoolander. There have been rumors that Will Ferrell will be back as the sinister Mugatu and Owen Wilson as Zoolander’s supermodel rival Hansel.

The original Zoolander has become a cult classic, with Stiller fully committing to the character, with some hilarious moments in the original, from Blue Steel to the catwalk showdown between Zoolander and Hansel, to the freak gasoline fight accident that was one of the funniest movie comedy moments in recent years.

No word on what role Cruz will portray in the sequel.

Cruz recently wrapped production on the Julio Medem-directed Mama in Spain, and she plays a small role in the Sacha Baron Cohen comedy Grimsby.

Castro Lands a Big Promotion at Universal Pictures

Posted on May 25, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Fabian Castro is climbing the corporate ladder at Universal Pictures…

The Latino executive has been promoted to Senior Vice President for Multicultural Marketing at Universal Pictures.

Castro, who has been focused on Latino outreach while at the company, will oversee the multicultural marketing unit, which Universal said it is expanding. It also plans to boost its presence on current and upcoming marketing campaigns to oversee a broader range of ethnic andspecialty demographic groups.

Castro helped promote such films as Despicable Me 2 and the Guillermo del Toro-produced thriller Mama, which earned 28% and 46% of their respective opening-weekend grosses from the Latino community.

“Unlocking the Hispanic marketplace is a priority for every studio, and we’re proud of the gains we’ve made with Fabian’s guidance,” said Universal’s co-president of Marketing Michael Moses. “He has led us to implement innovative, effective campaigns that cross every marketing discipline and communicate to this segment of the audience in an authentic way.”

Kevin Costner In Talks to Star in the del Toro-Produced “Midnight Delivery”

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Guillermo del Toro could be dancing with wolves for his next producing project…

Dancing with Wolves star Kevin Costner is in talks to star in Universal Pictures’ Midnight Delivery, which was written by Neil Cross, who co-wrote the 48-year-old Mexican filmmaker’s hit horror film Mama.

Cross, the creator of the BBC series Luther, has written the screenplay in his latest tie-up with del Toro.

The premise of the film is being kept under wraps, but it’s a thriller stemming from an original idea by del Toro, who is producing the film David Linde and others.

No director is attached yet.

Costner, currently starring in Man of Steel, will next be seen in Jack Ryan, a revival of the Tom Clancy franchise.

Cross and del Toro collaborated on Mama, which was also produced by del Toro, and Cross helped polish the script for the del Toro-directed Pacific Rim.

Álvarez’s “Evil Dead” Remake This Weekend’s Box Office Champ

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

The first time’s the charm for Fede Álvarez at the box office…

The 35-year-old Uruguayan filmmaker’s highly anticipated Evil Dead remake, his first feature film, proved to be the big winner at the North American box office in its opening weekend, earning an estimated $26 million.

The remake of Sam Raimi’s tale of demonic possession beat out the previous champ G.I. Joe: Retaliation, which came in No. 1 with an estimated $41.2 million last week.

Among the remakes of horror films, the Álvarez’s thriller earned more on opening weekend than Texas Chainsaw 3D, which opened to $21.7 million in January. But Evil Dead made less than Guillermo del Toro’s Mama, which earned $28.4 million in February. Receiving a “C+” from CinemaScore, it is predicted to wind up with around $50 million.

Here’s a look at this weekend’s Top 10 films at the box office:

1. Evil Dead – $26 million

2. G.I. Joe: Retaliation – $21.1 million (tie)

2. The Croods – $21.1 million (tie)

4. Jurassic Park – $18.2 million

5. Olympus Has Fallen – $10.4 million

6. Tyler Perry’s Temptation – $10 million

7. Oz: The Great and Powerful – $8.1 million

8. The Host (2013) – $5.2 million

9. The Call – $3.5 million

10. Admission – $2.05 million

del Toro Looking to Cast Emma Stone for “Crimson Peak”

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Guillermo del Toro has set his sights on a new leading lady…

The Amazing Spider-Man’s Emma Stone is in talks to star in the 48-year-old Mexican filmmaker’s latest project Crimson Peak.

Stone is still in early negotiations to join the haunted house thriller, according to Variety. It’s still unclear what Stone would tackle as the movie’s plot details are still being kept under wraps.

In addition to directing the film, del Toro will write the script along with Lucinda Coxon.

Crimson Peak will mark del Toro’s return to horror film genre following his work on the sci-fi action flick Pacific Rim.

Further details of the project are still scarce, but it is said that the Hellboy helmer is looking at a February 2014 start date for the project.

del Toro recently served as the executive producer for Andres Muschietti‘s horror film Mama, which stars Jessica Chastain. The film will open in theaters this Friday, January 18.

del Toro Offers Behind-The-Scenes Look at “Mama”

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Curious to learn what it takes to create a thriller? Then you’re in luck…

Mexican filmmaker Guillero del Toro is giving the online community an inside look at Mama, the supernatural thriller he produced, through a special featurette.

Starring Jessica Chastain and Game Of Thrones’ Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, the film tells the haunting tale of two little girls who disappeared into the woods the day that their parents were killed.

They are rescued years later and taken in by family, but they apparently aren’t the only ones who make their way into the girls’ home.

“We are not only telling a story of a monster, we are telling the story of a very human emotion,” says del Toro.

Mama will open in theaters on Friday, January 18.

New Trailers Released for the del Toro-Produced Thriller “Mama”

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Guillermo del Toro has produced a film that will likely scare the bejesus out of moviegoers…

Universal Pictures has released new clips from Mama, a supernatural thriller produced by the 48-year-old Mexican filmmaker behind the highly anticipated sci-fi film Pacific Rim.

Starring Jessica Chastain and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, the clips highlight eerie scenes centered around two mysterious little girls who are rescued by Chastain’s and Coster-Waldau’s characters.

In one trailer, Chastain and Coster-Waldau welcome the two girls into their home, but one the little girls seems terrified for no apparent reason as she keeps hiding her face behind her sister’s back. In another, Chastain is seen playing a guitar alone in the kitchen when suddenly the light dies down and she’s freaked out by the sudden appearance of one of the girls on top of the kitchen table.

del Toro’s “Mama” tells the haunting tale of two little girls who disappeared in the woods the day that their parents were killed. When they are rescued years later and begin a new life, they find that someone or something still wants to come tuck them in at night.

Mama was directed by Andres Muschietti, from a script penned by Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti.

Mama is due to open in the U.S. on January 18.

del Toro’s “Mama” Trailer Released…

Posted on October 18, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

He’s tackled the supernatural and dark fantasy worlds on the big screen… And, now Guillermo del Toro is getting his horror on.

Universal has released a new trailer for Mama, a horror film executive-produced by the 48-year-old Mexican filmmaker, who is best known for his films Hellboy and Pan’s Labyrinth.

The film centers on a couple, Annabel and Lucas, that is faced with the challenge of raising Lucas’ young nieces, who were discovered in a forest after being lost there for five years. It soon becomes apparent that the girls are being haunted by a ghostly woman they believe to be their mother. Meanwhile, Annabel plans to use the girls in a bid to bring back her own dead children.

Directed by Andres Muschietti, the supernatural thriller starring Jessica Chastain and Game Of Thrones’ Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.

The film is based on Muschietti’s Spanish-language short film Mamá, which was released in 2008.

Mama opens nationwide January 18, 2013.

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