Paz Vega to Star in the Neo-Noir Thriller “American Night”

It’s a big Night for Paz Vega… 

The 43-year-old Spanish actress will star in American Night, a neo-noir thriller helmed by first-time film director Alessio Jim Della Valle.

Paz Vega

Vega, who rose to acclaim in the United States after starring opposite Adam Sandler in Spanglish, will star opposite Jonathan Rhys MeyersEmile Hirsch and Jeremy Piven in the film.

Written by Della Valle, the plot follows Michael Rubino (Hirsch) who has just become the Don of the New York Mafia, but his greatest dream is to devote his life to painting and become a great artist. John Kaplan (Meyers), an art dealer, may feel like his life is in shambles, but he still has the best eye for spotting fakes in the world. Their paths, apparently distant, cross when Andy Warhol’s Pink Marilynis stolen, setting off a series of unexpected events that upend their lives.

Vega will play Sarah, who works as a museum curator and has earned her success without any shortcuts. Her only problem is being hopelessly in love with Kaplan

Rounding out the cast are Fortunato CerlinoAnnabelle BelmondoMara Lane, and Alba Amira Ramadaniwith cameo appearances featuring Michael MadsenMaria Grazia CucinottaMarco Leonardi, and international popstar Anastacia, who is writing and performing the song and main musical theme for the film.

The film also features artwork by Andy Warhol, Mario SchifanoJeff KoonsAnnamaria BarbaroGotti BernhoftTullio CraliDavide Dall’OssoEmanuele GiannelliAnthony MomanKouhei NakamaAndrea Roggi, and Simon Thompson.

Vega’s previous credits include I’m So ExcitedMary of Nazareth, 10 Items or Less and Grace of Monaco.

Rapace to Star as Maria Callas in Biopic About the Opera Singer

There’s a legendary role in Noomi Rapace’s future …

The 35-year-old half-Spanish actress has signed on to portray iconic opera singer Maria Callas in the feature biopic Callas.

Noomi Rapace

Niki Caro is attached to direct the film from a screenplay she adapted from Alfonso Signorini’s biography Too Proud, Too Fragile.

The biopic focuses on the passionate relationship between the diva and Aristotle Onassis, which spanned almost two decades.

This is a long-gestating project that resurfaced at the Cannes Film Festival last year, before Rapace and Content’s involvement.

Rapace, who most recently joined SND’s What Happened To Monday?, is the latest Latina actress to portray the opera singer.

Spanish actress Paz Vega appeared as Callas in 2014’s Grace of Monaco, starring Nicole Kidman.

Trailer Released for the Cuesta-Directed “Kill the Messenger,” Starring Jeremy Renner

Michael Cuesta is ready to kill the messenger…

The first trailer for Jeremy Renner‘s Kill the Messenger, helmed by the 50-year-old television and film director, borrows the visual style, tone and ripped-from-the-headlines subject material of American Hustle.

Michael Cuesta

Kill the Messenger is a dramatization of journalist Gary Webb‘s investigation into a CIA conspiracy in Nicaragua that led to a series of articles titled Dark Alliance for The San Jose Mercury News that caused a firestorm of controversy.

“Despite warnings from drug kingpins and CIA operatives to stop his investigation, Webb keeps digging to uncover a conspiracy with explosive implications,” the film’s synopsis reads.

The cast also features Paz Vega, Rosemarie DeWitt and Ray Liotta

The Focus Features biopic was written by Parkland scribe Peter Landesman based on Nick Schou‘s book Kill the Messenger: How the CIA’s Crack-Cocaine Controversy Destroyed Journalist Gary Webb.

The film is set for U.S. release in October.

Vega Stuns as Maria Callas in the New Trailer for Nicole Kidman’s “Grace of Monaco”

Nicole Kidman may star as Grace Kelly in Grace of Monaco, but Paz Vega shines bright as late opera legend Maria Callas.

In the just-released extended trailer for the Olivier Dahan-directed film, the 38-year-old Spanish actress briefly (and stunningly) appears as the legendary soprano singer, considered one of the most renowned and influential opera singers of the 20th century.

Paz Vega as Maria Callas in Grace of Monaco

Set in 1962, six years after her celebrated Wedding of the Century, “Grace of Monaco” is an intimate snapshot of a year in the life of the twentieth century’s most iconic Princess – Grace Kelly – as she strived to reconcile her past and her present, a yearning for a return to the big screen with her newfound role as a mother of two, monarch of a European principality and wife to Prince Ranier III.

Grace of Monaco, set in 1962, is an intimate snapshot of a year in the life of the twentieth century’s most iconic princess as she strived to reconcile her past and her present, a yearning for a return to the big screen with her newfound role as a mother of two, monarch of a European principality and wife to Prince Ranier III (portrayed by Tim Roth).

The trailer shows some of the struggles the former Hollywood star faced over her role as Princess Grace.

Along with Kidman, Vega and Roth, the film also stars Frank Langella, Derek Jacobi, Parker Posey and Milo Ventimiglia.

The movie will have its world premiere as the opening-night film at the Cannes Film Festival on May 14. It also gets released in France on that same day.

Warner Bros. releases in the United Kingdom on June 6. The Weinstein Company will release the film in the U.S.

Vega Begins Filming Michael Cuesta’s “Kill the Messenger”

Paz Vega is killing the messenger in Atlanta…

Production has gotten underway in Georgia on the true-life dramatic thriller Kill the Messenger, which stars the 37-year-old Spanish actress.

Paz Vega

Directed by Michael Cuesta, the film stars Jeremy Renner as Gary Webb, the real-life reporter for The San Jose Mercury-News. In the 1990s, Webb uncovered the Central Intelligence Agency’s role in importing cocaine into California that was sold to raise money for the Nicaraguan Contras rebel army. Supported by his wife and children, Webb pursued the story and went public with his evidence. When targeted for a vicious smear campaign by the CIA and rival journalists, Webb found himself fighting for his reputation and his family.

In addition to Renner and Vega, the film’s cast includes Rosemarie DeWitt, Andy Garcia, Oliver Platt, Michael Sheen and Yul Vazquez.

The film was inspired by the books Kill the Messenger by Nick Schou and Dark Alliance by Gary Webb.

Vega to Star in “Kill the Messenger”

Don’t blame Paz Vega if she kills the messenger

The 37-year-old Spanish actress has joined the cast of Kill the Messenger, Focus Features’ adaptation of the true-life drama book by Nick Schou.

Paz Vega

Vega, who makes a cameo appearance in Pedro Almodóvar’s highly anticipated comedy I’m So Excited, is joining Jeremy Renner in the film.

Michael Cuesta, who has helmed episodes of Homeland and Dexter, is directing.

Messenger tells the true story of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Gary Webb who through his reporting exposed the CIA’s involvement in helping Nicaragua’s Contra rebels import cocaine into California during the 1980s. The agency then tried to discredit him, which ultimately led to his “committing suicide,” though with two bullets to his head.

Vega will play the girlfriend of a wealthy dealer who is in jail and hopes that Webb can get him out.

Production is expected to start in Atlanta this August.

Vega will appear in Grace of Monaco as legendary opera singer Maria Callas opposite Nicole Kidman and recently wrapped Paul W.S. Anderson‘s historical drama Pompeii.

Almodóvar’s “I’m So Excited” to Open in New York & LA on June 28

It looks like Pedro Almodóvar’s next film will be taking flight in the country’s two major markets this summer…

Pedro Almodovar

Sony Pictures Classics will debut the 63-year-old Spanish filmmaker’s “light, very light comedy” I’m So Excited in New York and Los Angeles on June 28, according to Exhibitor Relations.

Starring Javier Cámara, Cecilia Roth, Lola Dueñas and Raúl Arévalo, I’m So Excited – originally called Los amantes pasajeros – takes place entirely on an airplane.

I'm So Excited Poster

Almodóvar shared a trailer for the film during  retrospective of his work in London last December.

The film includes cameo appearances by Antonio Banderas, Penélope Cruz and Paz Vega.

Almodóvar Shares “I’m So Excited” Trailer at London Tribute

Pedro Almodóvar is being heralded for his “heart as big as the Grand Canyon”…

The 63-year-old Spanish filmmaker was honored at an Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences retrospective of Almodóvar’s work in London, which was attended by celebrities like Grace Jones, Kristen Scott Thomas and Miranda Richardson.

Pedro Almodovar

During the high-profile event, Almodóvar brother Agustin, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Stephen Frears and Sally Potter were among the people offering their tributes to the Oscar-winning filmmaker.

Quentin Tarantino even participated in special pre-recorded video to thank  Almodóvar  for having a “a filmography to beat.” Meanwhile, Frears enthused about Almodóvar’s ability to make everything seem natural.

“He creates a coherent world in which all of the elements fit,” he said. “It comes out of his imagination complete. I met him in New York when I was with My Beautiful Laundrette. I felt like an impostor; here was the transgressive real thing. Mine was a charade.”

A humbled Almodóvar admitted to being embarrassed by all the kind words.

“Tonight I know more about myself than ever,” he joked. “I’ve always strived to try and make life more livable with my films. It’s the homework of any kind of artistic expression. That was the lesson I learned from my mother.”

He even revealed that he’d tried and failed to nab the rights to books like The Hours, Silence of the Lambs, The Human Stain and The Reader, any of which would have been his first foray into English-language film. It’s a bridge he says he’ll likely not attempt to cross again.

“But you have to respect destiny. Perhaps I was not the one to make the movies that I now admire so much.”

And as a delight to the audience, Almodóvar shared a clip from his new film I’m So Excited, which Sony Pictures Classics will release next year. The film, which was originally titled Los Amantes Pasajeros, is the famed director’s return to comedy after a number of dramas like The Skin I Live In and Habla con ella.

The film’s all-star cast includes Javier Cámara, Cecilia Roth, Lola Dueñas, Raul Arévalo, Carlos Areces, Antonio de la Torre, Hugo Silva, Willy Toledo, Miguel Ángel Silvestre, Blanca Suárez, José Luis Torrijo, José María Yazpik and Laya Martí, with special collaborations from Penélope Cruz, Antonio Banderas and Paz Vega.

Vega to Portray Maria Callas in “Grace of Monaco”

Paz Vega will soon be having an operatic Hollywood moment…

The 36-year-old Spanish actress will appear as the tempestuous opera singer Maria Callas in Grace of Monaco, who stars Nicole Kidman as Hollywood-actress-turned-princess Grace Kelly.

Paz Vega

Directed by Olivier Dahan—who helmed the Edith Piaf biopic La vie en rose, which earned Marion Cotillard an Oscar the film focuses on a six-month period in 1962 when Monaco was in a dispute with France and Princess Grace worked behind the scenes to prevent a coup. At the time, Grace came to know Callas, who was having an affair with Greek millionaire Aristotle Onassis.

It’s Vega’s latest high-profile film project. She’s also set to appear in Pedro Almodovar’s upcoming, re-titled comedy, I’m So Excited.

 

Cruz to Star in “The Counselor” and “Los Amantes Pasajeros” in 2012

It looks like Penelope Cruz will be having an incredibly busy remainder of the year…

The 38-year-old Spanish actress has reportedly joined the stellar cast of Ridley Scott’s next big project The Counselor, as previously predicted.

Penelope Cruz

Cruz—who will soon be appearing on the big screen in Woody Allen’s To Rome With Love—will appear as Michael Fassbender’s love interest in the dramatic film that’s been called No Country For Old Men on steroids.

Along with Cruz and Fassbender, The Counselor will star Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem and Cameron Diaz.

In addition, Cruz could be teaming up again with noted Spanish director Pedro Almodovar this summer on his latest project, Los Amantes Pasajeros, according to Deadline.com.

The Almodovar-penned comedy, which will star 36-year-old Spanish actress Paz Vega, follows a group of travelers who are placed in life-threatening situation aboard a plane flying to Mexico City. The passengers are defenseless in the face of danger, which provokes colorful confessionals that are their way to put out of mind the possibility they might be about to die.

Los Amantes Pasajeros will begin shooting this summer in Madrid.