Carlos Alcaraz Defeats Rafael Nadal to Win Inaugural Netflix Slam

Carlos Alcaraz has earned another type of Slam victory.

The 20-year-old Spanish tennis phenom defeated 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal 3-6 6-4 (14-12) at the inaugural Netflix Slam in Las Vegas on Sunday.

Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal, Netflix SlamNadal, who spent almost a year on the sidelines with a hip flexor injury before suffering a muscle injury at the start of this season, said he felt “much better than expected” during the exhibition match in front of a sell-out crowd of 9,489, including Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Charlize Theron, Danai Gurira, Logan Lerman and Manu Rios.

The showdown, the latest in Netflix‘s push for live streaming events, pitted two superstar Spaniards in an exhibition match which was rescheduled from last year due to Nadal’s injuries and arrived just in time as the two players head to Indian Wells this week.

Nadal is returning to the tour after months away due to injury, while the match was also a bit of a physical test for Alcaraz, who suffered an injury to his right ankle at the Rio Open.

“It’s a good thing that as a player I will not face him many times,” said Nadal.

“As a fan, I will enjoy watching him for many years hopefully. In Spain, we should be very, very happy about having someone like Carlos coming.

“He’s an amazing player. He’s only 20-years-old and he’s already won two Grand Slams and a couple of important tournaments.”

Netflix Renews Drama Series “Elite,” Starring Manu Ríos, for Eighth Season

Manu Ríos is heading back to private school…

Netflix’s longest-running Spanish scripted series Elite, starring the 24-year-old Spanish actor, singer and model, has been renewed for an eighth season.

Manu Rios

Rios, who portrays Patrick, joined the series, in Season 4.

Elite‘s latest run will feature new faces including Ane Rot and Nuno Gallego, while Mina el Hammani, who recurred in the first three seasons, reprises the role of Nadia.

Created by Carlos Montero and Jaime VacaElite has been airing since 2018 and is set in a fictional high school. The teen drama revolves around the relationships among three working-class students enrolled at the elite school through a scholarship program and their wealthy classmates.

In addition to Rios, other cast include Ander Puig, Carmen Arrufat, Álvaro de Juana, Ana Bokesa, Álex Pastrana, André Lamoglia, Valentina Zenere, Carla Díaz, Martina Cariddi and Adam Nourou.

Mirela Balic, Fernando Líndez, Gleb Abrosimov, Ivan Mendes, Alejandro Albarracin and Maribel Verdu also joined the cast for the previous season.

Zeta Studios is producer.

Netflix Releases Teaser Trailer for Season 7 of Ander Puig’s “Elite”

Ander Puig is returning to his Elite group in the fall…

Netflix has announced Season 7 of its popular Spanish YA drama series Elite, starring the 21-year-old Spanish actor, will premiere on October 20.

Ander PuigThe streamer has also unveiled a teaser trailer (with subtitles) for the upcoming season.

Netflix promises Season 7 will be an epic journey for the students of Las Encinas.

In season 6, after another student’s death, Las Encinas entered a new school year determined to  cover up for its scandalous past. But conflicts continued as racism, sexism, domestic abuse and homophobia run rampant in the halls of the prestigious institution. If those who run the school don’t take action to root out these issues, the students are going to do it for them.

In addition to Puig, the Season 6 cast includes Carmen Arrufat, Álvaro de Juana, Ana Bokesa, Álex Pastrana, André Lamoglia, Valentina Zenere, Carla Díaz, Martina Cariddi, Adam Nourou and Manu Ríos.

Mirela Balic, Fernando Líndez, Gleb Abrosimov, Ivan Mendes, Alejandro Albarracin and Maribel Verdu will join the cast in the upcoming season.

Nadia Al Saidi, who plays Sonia in season 6 and Omar Ayuso, who has played Omar in seasons 1-5 will also reprise their roles in the new episodes.

Created by Carlos Montero and Jaime Vaca, Season 7 will be directed by Lino Escalera, Menna Fité, Roger Gual and Ana Vázquez.

Pedro Almodóvar’s Short Film “Strange Way of Life” to World Premiere at Cannes Film Festival

Pedro Almodóvar’s latest project is headed to the Cannes Film Festival.

The 73-year-old Spanish Oscar-winning director’s short film Strange Way of Life will have its world premiere at the upcoming 76th edition of the festival, which will run from May 16-27.

Pedro AlmodovarThe Western shot in southern Spain stars Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal and is the filmmaker’s second English-language experience, after The Human Voice in 2020.

The film had been widely expected to play at Cannes after the director told singer-songwriter Dua Lipa that he expected it to premiere the festival in an interview for her At Your Service podcast in January.

Pedro Almodóvar, "Strange Way of Life"The screening of Almodóvar’s Strange Way of Life will be followed by a conversation with the director and the filmmaking team.

The work revolves around a reunion between a sheriff and a rancher who knew one another in a previous life.

The synopsis provided by Almodóvar and posted by the festival reads: “A man rides a horse across the desert that separates him from Bitter Creek. He comes to visit Sheriff Jake. Twenty-five years earlier, both the sheriff and Silva, the rancher who rides out to meet him, worked together as hired gunmen. Silva visits him with the excuse of reuniting with his friend from his youth, and they do indeed celebrate their meeting, but the next morning Sheriff Jake tells him that the reason for his trip is not to go down the memory lane of their old friendship.”

“I must say no more so as not to give away all the surprises of the script,” adds the director. “The strange way of life referred in the title alludes to the famous fado by Amalia Rodrigues, whose lyrics suggest that there is no stranger existence than the one that is lived by turning your back on your own desires.”

The film is produced by Agustín Almodóvar with Esther García as executive producer and Bárbara Peiró, Diego Pajuelo and Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello as associate producers.

Further cast members alongside Hawke and Pascal include Pedro Casablanc, Manu Ríos, George Steane, José Condessa, Jason Fernández, Sara Sálamo, Ohiana Cueto and Daniela Medina.

Manu Rios Signs with William Morris Endeavor (WME)

Manu Rios has new representation…

The 24-year-old Spanish actor and singer, best known for his starring role on Netflix’s popular Spanish YA series Elitehas signed with William Morris Endeavor (WME) for representation.

Manu RiosRios portrays Patrick Blanco on the international hit series, which is heading into its seventh season on the streamer.

Rios will next be seen starring alongside Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal in the upcoming short film Strange Way of Life from Oscar-winning director Pedro Almodóvar. The short is set to premiere at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. The story follows the reunion of an outlaw and a sheriff after 25 years apart, and the romance that followed them there.

Rios is also set to star in the upcoming Netflix limited series El Silencio from Aitor Gabilondo.

He was previously seen in the limited series La Edad de la Ira for Atresmedia.

Netflix to Premiere Season 4 of Omar Ayuso’s Spanish YA Drama “Elite”

There’s no summer break for Omar Ayuso.

Netflix has announced June 18 as the worldwide release date for Season 4 of its popular Spanish YA drama series Elite, starring the 23-year-old Spanish actor.

Omar Ayuso

The series received an early fourth season renewal two months before Season 3 premiered, and it was renewed for Season 5 in February, ahead of the Season 4 launch.

Created and written by Carlos Montero and Darío Madrona, Elite is one of the streamer’s best performing Spanish originals, with Netflix noting in 2019 that it had been seen by more than 20 million households.

Season 4 picks up with a new school year at Las Encinas, as well as a new director (Diego Martin): one of the most powerful businessmen in Europe, ready to bring the Las Encinas institution, which, according to him, has been running amok in the past few years, back on track. He brings his three children with him (Carla Díaz, Martina Cariddi, Manu Rios): three teenagers too used to always get their own way, and to have what they want when they want, no matter who falls, and who will jeopardize the union and strong friendship of the students who have stayed at the school.

Andrés Velencoso joins the cast of the fourth season, joining veteran students from Las Encinas: Samuel (Itzan Escamilla), Guzmán (Miguel Bernardeau), Ander (Arón Piper), Omar (Ayuso), Rebeca (Claudia Salas) and Cayetana (Georgina Amorós).

Eduardo Chapero Jackson and Ginesta Guindal will direct new season, which will also feature Jaime Vaca, David Lorenzo, Almudena Ocaña and Esther Morales as screenwriters.

André Lamoglia Joins Cast of Netflix’s Recently Renewed Spanish Drama “Elite”

André Lamoglia is boarding a high-profile project…

The 23-year-old Brazilian actor has joined the cast of Netflix’s Spanish drama Elite, which has been renewed for a fifth season.

André Lamoglia

The YA boarding school series has also added Argentinian actress Valentina Zenere to its cast.

The renewal comes before Season 4 has even premiered on Netflix.

Elite, which was created and written by Carlos Montero and Darío Madrona, is one of the streamer’s best performing Spanish originals, with Netflix noting in 2019 that it had been seen by more than 20 million households.

Described as “effervescent, uninhibited and sensual,” the soapy teen series follows the intrigue at Las Encinas, an exclusive boarding school in Spain. It is made by Zeta Audiovisual, which has offices in Barcelona, Madrid, and Seville.

Itzan Escamilla, Miguel Bernardeau, Arón Piper, Omar Ayuso, Claudia Salas and Georgina Amorós will appear in Season 4, while new cast includes Andrés Velencoso, Manu Rios, Carla Díaz, Martina Cariddi, Pol Granch, and Diego Martín.