Lana Parrilla to Star Opposite J.Lo in Netflix’s AI Drama “Atlas”

Lana Parrilla is heading out of this world…

The 45-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress will star opposite Jennifer Lopez in Netflix’s AI drama Atlas, directed by Brad Peyton.

Lana ParrillaParrilla joins Simu Liu, Sterling K. Brown and Abraham Popoola in the film penned by Aron Eli Coleite and Leo Sardarian.

In Atlas, an intelligence analyst gets stranded on a distant planet and must learn to fight inside a military-grade mech suit in order to survive.

Parrilla played Regina Mills, aka The Evil Queen, for 156 episodes on ABC’s hit series Once Upon a TimeHer work on the show earned her the NHMC Impact Award; an ALMA Award for Outstanding TV Actress; a Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress: Fantasy / Sci-Fi; and, as voted by fans, TV Guide’s Best Villain twice.

She recently starred on Marc Cherry’s Paramount+ series Why Women Kill, a role for which she received a Gracie Award for Best Supporting Actress in Comedy. She also starred alongside Bobby Soto, Shia LaBeouf and George Lopez in David Ayer’s indie thriller The Tax Collector.

Prior to that, Parrilla was a series regular on ABC’s sitcom Spin CityGraham Yost’s Boomtown24, Swingtown, and on Jerry Bruckheimer’s medical drama Miami Medical

In addition to her on-screen work, Parrilla stepped behind the camera and went on to direct one of the final episodes of Once Upon a Time. She also executive produced the documentary Split at the Root, which premiered this year at SXSW.

Gina Torres to Star on Season Two of Fox’s Drama Series “9-1-1: Lone Star”

Gina Torres is Texas bound…

The 51-year-old Cuban American actress has been cast as a series regular for the second season of Fox’s 9-11 spinoff series 9-1-1: Lone Star.

Gina Torres

Torres, best known for her role as Jessica Pearson on USA Network’s Suitsand Pearson, will star opposite Liv Tyler and Rob Lowe on the series.

9-1-1: Lone Star hails from 9-1-1 creators/executive producers Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear.

Set in Austin, it follows Owen (Lowe), a sophisticated New York firefighter who, along with his son, relocates to the Texas capital and must try to balance saving those who are at their most vulnerable with solving the problems in his own life.

Torres will play Paramedic Captain Tommy Vega, who was at the top of her game when she hung up her uniform to raise her twin daughters. For eight years life was great, until COVID-19 changed her life. With her husband’s restaurant going under, Tommy has no choice but to re-enter the workforce to support her family. Though it breaks her heart to be apart from her little girls, Tommy will show the world that no matter how much time has passed, when she puts on that uniform, she’s still a boss.

The role reunites Torres and Minear, who worked together on Fox’s sci-fi drama series Firefly.

“We are so excited to be expanding our 9-1-1-verse with the addition of Gina Torres,” said Minear. “I’ve been dying to write for her again ever since Firefly. Gina brings warmth, intelligence and command to everything she does. 2020 is finally looking up.”

9-1-1: Lone Star is produced by 20th Century Television in association with Ryan Murphy Television and Brad Falchuk Teley-Vision.

Season 2 is scheduled to begin production in Los Angeles later this fall for a premiere in early 2021 as part of the network’s midseason schedule.

Torres earned an ALMA Award, an Imagen Award and the National Hispanic Media Coalition’s Award for Outstanding Performance in a Television Series for her role as Jessica Pearson.

She most recently was cast as the lead of the Dracula reimagining drama pilot The Bridesat ABC. The Alias and Angel alumna also did an arc on HBO’s Westworld.

Jaime Davila Named to National Hispanic Media Coalition’s Board of Directors

Jaime Davila is coming on Board

The Latino president and co-founder of Campanario Entertainment and executive producer of Netflix’s highly anticipated Selena: The Series has been appointed to the National Hispanic Media Coalition’s (NHMC) National Board of Directors.

Jaime Davila

Davila has been an advocate for mainstream Latino representation in the entertainment industry and an active member of the NHMC. 

Most recently, he served on NHMC’s 2020 Impact Awards Gala Dinner committee to plan and sponsor the event honoring the Latinx community’s media involvement throughout 2019. 

Along with his work on the committee, Davila has also hired NHMC Series Scriptwriters Program alums to projects produced by Campanario Entertainment. 

As a member of the Board, Davila will continue his efforts to bring an impactful presence of Latino stories and representation to film, television and beyond.

“Jaime has been a great ally to our organization, and we are elated to have him join as a Board member,” said Brenda Victoria Castillo, the president and CEO of the NHMC. “His knowledge of the industry and determination to amplify Latino voices and authentically tell our stories, will be key as we continue to diversify the entertainment industry.”

“It’s an honor to officially become a part of the NHMC’s board and work with my fellow board members to further strengthen the presence of the Latino community across all media,” said Davila. “Campanario was founded and exists because the entertainment industry, and Hollywood specifically, needs to see that Latino stories matter and are important. It’s been my mission to authentically bring our stories to mainstream audiences. The opportunity to continue to learn from esteemed members of the NHMC that have been at the forefront of this initiative for almost three decades is invigorating.”

Since founding Campanario Entertainment, Davila has created a slate of multilingual content in the US and Mexico, including Netflix’s series about Mexican American star and music icon Selena Quintanilla

His credits also include Bravo’s Mexican Dynastythe documentary Colossus as well as the dramedy Como Sobrevivir Soltero, one of the first Amazon Original series to launch for Amazon Prime Video Mexico.

Davila’s career began at ICM and ITV Studios. He then worked at Bravo Network as a development executive under Andy Cohen where he adapted international formats and developed original series, including Best New RestaurantThe People’s Couch and the docuseries The Extreme Guide to Parentingwhich was created by Davila. He also worked on the team that developed Vanderpump Rules, Below Deck and Shahs of Sunset.

Parrilla to Receive NHMC Impact Award

She may portray the Evil Queen on ABC’s Once Upon a Time, but Lana Parrilla is still a force to be reckoned with… And now she’s being recognized for her impact…

The 35-year-old half Puerto Rican actress will be one of this year’s honorees at the 16th annual Impact Awards ceremony on February 22, 2013 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

Lana Parrilla

Sponsored by the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC), the Impact Awards recognize outstanding contributions to the positive portrayal of Latinos in media.

Along with recognizing Parrilla, the NHMC will honor SuitsGina Torres and Homeland’s Morena Baccarin at the ceremony on February 22, 2013 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

Last year’s honorees included the Dog Whisper Cesar Millan, A Beautiful Life’s Chris Weitz, Private Practice’s Benjamin Bratt, Parks and Recreation’s Aubrey Plaza, Napoleon Dynamite’s Efren Ramirez, and Fast & FuriousMichelle Rodriguez.

The NHMC is a non-partisan, non-profit media advocacy and civil rights organization that has been the leader in the mission to educate and influence media corporations on the importance of including U.S. Latinos at all levels of employment; professional development programs; and challenges media that carelessly exploit negative Latino stereotypes.