Apple TV+ Renews Sports Drama “Swagger,” Starring Tristan Mack Wilds, for Second Season

Tristan Mack Wilds still has swagger

Apple TV+ has picked up its sports drama, Swagger, starring the 32-year-old Afro-Dominican American actor, for a second season.

The series, inspired by NBA star Kevin Durant’s experiences as a kid, premiered in October.

The news was unveiled on the Instagram account of Durant’s investment firm Thirty-Five Ventures.

Swagger explores the world of elite youth basketball clubs, the players, their families and coaches.

It stars O’Shea Jackson Jr., Isaiah Hill, Shinelle Azoroh, Quvenzhané Wallis, Caleel Harris, Wilds, Tessa Ferrer, James Bingham, Solomon Irama, Ozie Nzeribe and Jason Rivera, who are all set to return for the second season.

The series is produced by Boardroom, Imagine Television Studios, CBS Studios and Undisputed Cinema, and executive produced by Bythewood, Durant, Brian Grazer, and Rich Kleiman. Francie Calfo, Tony Hernandez, Kristen Zolner and Joy Kecken also serve as executive producers.

“I’m excited to share more of the beautifully complicated lives of these incredible characters,” said creator, showrunner, director and executive producer Reggie Rock Bythewood. “In season two, they will search and discover what it means to be a champion on and off the court, and the basketball playing will continue to be groundbreaking. We are grateful to Apple TV+ for the platform.”

Tessa Ferrer to Star in Apple TV+’s New Basketball-Themed Drama Series “Swagger”

Tessa Ferrer’s got some serious swagger

The 34-year-old part-Puerto Rican actress and former Grey’s Anatomy star has joined the ensemble cast of Apple TV+’s new basketball-themed drama series Swagger.

Tessa Ferrer

The project, which hails from NBA superstar Kevin Durant and Imagine’s Brian Grazer, stars O’Shea Jackson Jr. and Oscar-nominated Quvenzhané Wallis.

Ferrer will be a series regulars alongside Isaiah Hill, Shinelle Azoroh, 32-year-old part-Afro-Dominican actor Tristan Mack WildsCaleel Harris, Latino actor/producer Jason Rivera, Solomon Irama, Ozie Nzeribe and James Bingham.

Written and directed by Bythewood, who also serves as showrunner, Swagger is inspired by Durant’s youth basketball experiences. It explores the world of youth basketball, and the players, their families and coaches who walk the fine line between dreams and ambition, and opportunism and corruption. Off the court, the show reveals what it’s like to grow up in America.

Wilds will portray Alonzo Powers, the grassroots division leader at a major shoe company.

Ferrer will portray Meg Bailey, a former basketball player and coach for the rival team.

Rivera will play Nick, a player from Puerto Rico with the drive to become the best player in the country.

The drama is co-produced by Imagine Television Studios and CBS Television Studios.

GKIDS to Release Hayek’s “Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet” in August

Salma Hayek’s latest personal project is headed to theaters in August…

GKIDS has announced plans to release Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet on August 7 in Los Angeles and New York before expanding it nationwide the following week.

Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet

The animated film, adapted from Kahlil Gibran‘s book The Prophet, was spearheaded by Hayek and features a narrative story written and directed by Roger Allers (The Lion King), with “chapters” based on Gibran’s poems designed and directed by animation directors including Tomm Moore, Joan Gratz, Bill Plympton, Nina Paley, Joann Sfar, Paul and Gaetan Brizzi, Michal Socha and Mohammed Harib.

Hayek, Liam Neeson, Quvenzhané Wallis, John Krasinski, Frank Langella and Alfred Molina make up the voice cast.

The Prophet is a book of 26 prose poetry essays written in English by the Lebanese artist, philosopher and writer. It was originally published in 1923 by Alfred A. Knopf. It is Gibran’s best-known work. The Prophet has been translated into over 40 different languages and has never been out of print.

Diaz’s Singing Talents Featured in New “Annie” Clip

It’s the hard-knock life for Cameron Diaz

The 42-year-old half-Cuban American actress is delving into her wicked side as deplorable Miss Hannigan in the modern day remake of the classic motion picture musical Annie.

Cameron Diaz in Annie

In a new clip from the film, Diaz’s character makes it abundantly clear that she doesn’t like “Little Girls.”

The cruel, cranky and drunkard caretaker tells her foster children that Annie isn’t their true friend before breaking out into song and dance with a new version of the classic tune “Little Girls.”

The film, which also stars Quvenzhané Wallis in the title role, Jamie Foxx as Will Stacks, Rose Byrne as Grace and Bobby Cannavale as Stacks’ political adviser, opens in theaters on December 19.

Diaz Lends Her Voice to Several Tracks on the “Annie” Soundtrack

Cameron Diaz has more than a little (girls) to celebrate…

The 42-year-old half-Cuban American actress, who stars as the notorious Miss Hannigan in the upcoming big screen musical Annie, lends her voice to several songs on the film’s just-released soundtrack.

Cameron Diaz in Annie

Diaz sings “Little Girls,” which has a few new verses — but keeps the same catchy chorus from previous versions.

In addition, she appears on the tracks “Easy Street” and “Who Am I?

The Annie soundtrack arrived Monday (Nov. 17), and now the whole album is available for streaming on Spotify. In addition to classics like “Tomorrow” and “Maybe,” this updated tale of the world’s most beloved orphan also features a few brand-new tracks written by Sia, including “Opportunity,” “The City’s Yours” and “Moonquake Lake“; that last song is performed with Beck.

The film, which opens in theaters Dec. 19, stars Quvenzhane Wallis, Jamie Foxx, Diaz and Rose Byrne.

Diaz Offers Her Twitter Followers a Glimpse at Her Evil “Annie” Character

Cameron Diaz is showing off her evil side…

The 41-year-old half-Cuban American actress has introduced her on-screen alter ego, the oh-so-cruel Miss Hannigan in the contemporary take on the classic Broadway musical Annie.

Cameron Diaz as Annie's Miss Hannigan

“I want you to meet someone,” she recently tweeted. “Her name is Ms.Hannigan. She ain’t nice and she ain’t pretty. #Annie.”

Diaz pouts for the camera. In some on-set pictures landing online around the same time, she is seen wearing a grey sweater, cut-off denim shorts, sheer tights, and black boots. She finishes off her look with big hoop earrings and a selection of necklaces.

In the original story, Miss Hannigan is the wicked owner of the orphanage where Annie resides. Oscar nominee Quvenzhane Wallis plays the titular red-haired girl, Jamie Foxx stars as her savior, and Rose Byrne as her mother figure.

Directed by Will Gluck and produced by rapper Jay-Z and actor Will Smith, the modern-day musical adaptation will hittheaters in the U.S. on December 19, 2014.

Cannavale to Star Opposite Cameron Diaz in “Annie”

It’s the hard-knock life for Bobby Cannavale

The 43-year-old half-Cuban American has signed on to star in Sony Pictures and Overbrook Entertainment’s in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical Annie.

Bobby Cannavale

Cannavale, currently nominated for two Emmy Awards, joins Quvenzhane Wallis, Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz and Rose Byrne in the Will Gluck-directed film.

Cannavale, who most recently appeared in Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine, will play a bulldog political adviser to Foxx’s character as he makes a mayoral run in New York.

The film is set for release on Christmas Day 2014.

Gluck is currently revising the film’s screenplay, which was written by Emma Thompson and rewritten by Aline Brosh McKenna. It’s based on the comic strip and the musical stage play Annie, with book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin.

Cannavale will next appear in the Jon Favreau-directed Chef opposite Favreau and Scarlett Johansson, and the Dan Fogelman-directed Imagine with Al Pacino, Jennifer Garner and Annette Bening.

Diaz Joins the Cast of the New “Annie” Film

The sun will come out tomorrow for Cameron Diaz

The 40-year-old half-Cuban American actress has signed on to star in the new big screen adaptation of Annie.

Cameron Diaz

Diaz will play the cantankerous orphanage matron Miss Hannigan, a rep for Columbia Pictures confirmed to Entertainment Weekly, in the actress’ first official musical role onscreen.

The character of Miss Hannigan was memorably portrayed by Carol Burnett in the original 1982 big-screen version of Annie, which was directed by John Huston. For this new version, Easy A helmer Will Gluck will assume the directing duties.

Sandra Bullock had reportedly been in talks for the scene-stealing role, but she recently pulled out.

Diaz joins a star-studded production that’s being produced by Will Smith and Jay-Z.

The cast includes Oscar winner Jamie Foxx, who will play a Daddy Warbucks–like billionaire character, while Quvenzhané Wallis—who at 9 years old became the youngest Best Actress Oscar nominee for her work in Beasts of the Southern Wild—will take on the titular role.

Production is expected to start in the fall with a Christmas 2014 release date in mind.