David Castañeda to Star in Peacock’s Drama Series “Poker Face”

David Castañeda has a real poker face

The 32-year-old Mexican American actor has joined the cast of Natasha Lyonne and Rian Johnson series Poker Face at Peacock.

David Castañeda

Lyonne will lead the drama series, with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Stephanie Hsu also set to appear along with Castañeda.

Plot and character details for the series are being kept largely under wraps, though sources say the series will follow a procedural format and see Lyonne’s character working to solve different murders in each episode.

Poker Face received a 10-episode order at Peacock in March 2021. Johnson created the series and executive produces via T-Street Productions. MRC Television will produce.

Castañeda is best known for his role in the hit Netflix series The Umbrella Academy, on which he plays Diego. The third season of the series will premiere on June 22.

His other television credits include Blindspot and Southland.

He’ll next star opposite Christoph Waltz in Season 2 of the Roku series Most Dangerous Game.

He has also appeared in films like Sicario: Day of the Soldado, The Tax Collector, End of Watch and The Guilty at Netflix.

David Castañeda to Star on Season Two of Roku’s “Most Dangerous Game”

It’s Game on for David Castañeda

The 31-year-old Mexican-American actor will star in the second season of Roku’s Most Dangerous Game.

David Castañeda

Set in New York, the series will be headlined by newly added lead Castañeda and Christoph Waltz, reprising the role of Miles Sellers. Creator Nick Santora returns as writer and executive producer.

Most Dangerous Game is among the first Quibi series to get a renewal by Roku, which acquired the library of the short-lived streaming service earlier this year.

Castañeda stars as Victor Suero, a down on his luck fighter who springs into action to protect his sister after learning she’s in trouble. He’ll make a fortune if he survives. Out of love for his sister— he’s determined to live.

Miles is the CEO of The Tiro Fund— a front for a centuries-old game in which hunters pay exorbitant fees for the privilege of hunting the most cunning and dangerous prey there is.

“When I read the script I couldn’t sleep for a few days. Thinking of a man given the opportunity of making money to provide for his sister— it reminded me of my family, their struggle and ingenuity in necessity,” Castañeda said in a statement. “This story will connect with them and hopefully many more. Also, Christoph Waltz is the man. I can’t wait to jump on this opportunity with Roku and bring the streamers along for a thrilling ride.”

Season 1 of the action-thriller, based on a classic short story by Richard Connell, centers on Dodge (Liam Hemsworth), a Detroit everyman up to his eyeballs in debt, who is looking to secure the financial future of his wife and unborn child before he succumbs to a terminal illness. After meeting a mysterious businessman named Miles, Dodge finds the opportunity to just that—by agreeing to participate in a 24-hour game, in which he’ll be hunted for sport.

The first season earned two Emmy nominations, for Short Form Comedy or Drama Series and Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series (Waltz).

Castañeda is known for his portrayal of Diego Hargreeves in Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy. Up next, he’ll be seen in Antoine Fuqua’s The Guilty also for Netflix, where he’ll collaborate with Jake Gyllenhaal and Ethan Hawke.

Roku Acquires Quibi’s Programming, Including Nicole Richie’s “Nikki Fre$h” Series

Nicole Richie is freshening up Roku

Roku has acquired the exclusive global distribution rights to the portfolio of Quibi’s programs, including the 39-year-old part-Mexican American actress & television personality’s series Nikki Fre$h.

Nicole Richie

In its biggest original programming foray to date, Roku’s acquisition covers most of the recently shuttered mobile-only streaming venture’s library, while some daily news shows aren’t part of the package.

A key draw for Roku is the talent, a roster including Richie, Idris Elba, Kevin Hart, Liam Hemsworth, Anna Kendrick, Chrissy Teigen and Lena Waithe.

The lineup includes titles like Most Dangerous Game, Dummy, Murder House Flip and the Reno 911 reboot, starring Carlos Alazraqui.

Financial terms weren’t disclosed, though the valuation is said to be less than $100 million, according to insiders. Roku shares rose 5% to $398.60 on the news. At one point early in the trading day, they reached $402.81, an all-time high.

The programming will be available for free starting later this year. Shows will have advertising, as they did on the $5-a-month Quibi service, and they’ll be housed on the Roku Channel. The hub for free and premium streaming channels, including 150-plus free live, linear offerings, has become a mainstay of the company’s strategy since Roku launched it in 2017. By the fourth quarter of 2020, it was being viewed by households representing an estimated 61.8 million people, the company said, double its reach at the end of 2019.

“The most creative and imaginative minds in Hollywood created groundbreaking content for Quibi that exceeded our expectations,” said Quibi Founder Jeffrey Katzenberg. “We are thrilled that these stories, from the surreal to the sublime, have found a new home on The Roku Channel.”