Gabriela Lopez to Star in Disney+’s Original Series “The Crossover”

 Gabriela Lopez is reading for a crossover

The 30-year-old half-Peruvian American actress will star in the Disney+ original series The Crossover.

Gabriela LopezLopez is among a roster of new cast additions that includes Darone Okolie, Joel Steingold, Himie Freeman and Johnny Cantley in recurring roles.

Okolie and Freeman will play future versions of the Bell brothers, Lopez will play a future version of ‘Maya’ and Cantley will play a future version of ‘Vondie.’

Steingold will play ‘Basil St. Jean,’ the poised and stylish Vice Principal at Hughes Middle School. He’s friendly and hard-working and offers his support to Crystal (Sabrina Revelle) in any way he can, even though she secured the job he was up for. But is he a friend or a foe?

Based on the best-selling novel by Kwame AlexanderThe Crossover introduces teen brothers Josh and Jordan Bell, widely considered basketball phenoms. Through his lyrical poetry, an adult version of Josh, aka Filthy McNasty, narrates the story of he and his brother’s coming of age, on and off the court, as their former professional basketball player father adjusts to life after basketball, and their mother finally pursues lifelong dreams of her own.

Daveed Diggs will narrate the series. Stars also include Jalyn Hall as ‘Josh Bell,’ Amir O’Neil as ‘JB Bell,’ Derek Luke as ‘Chuck Bell,’ Skyla I’Lece as ‘Alexis,’ Deja Monique Cruz as ‘Maya’ and Trevor Raine Bush as ‘Vondie.’

The pilot episode was directed by George Tillman, Jr. and was written by Kwame Alexander and Damani Johnson.

The Disney Branded Television series is produced by 20th Television.

Lopez’s previous credits include Rosewood, Casual and The 5th Wave.

John Gabriel Rodriguez Upped to Series Regular on Fox’s “Fantasy Island” Reboot

There’s more fantasy time in John Gabriel Rodriguez’s future…

The Latino actor, who recurred as Javier on Fantasy Island in season 1, has been promoted to series regular for the upcoming second season of Fox’s contemporary version of the classic drama series.

John Gabriel Rodriguez,Starring Roselyn Sanchez and Kiara BarnesFantasy Island takes place at a luxury resort, where literally any fantasy requested by guests is fulfilled, although they rarely turn out as expected. Delving into the “what if” questions — both big and small — that keep us awake at night, each episode will tell emotional, provocative stories about people who arrive with dreams and desires.

Rugged, handsome and charismatic, Javier (Rodriquez) is Fantasy Island’s head of transport – a pilot, mechanic and jack of all trades. While the island provides Javier refuge, as with everything else it offers, it may come at the price of a reckoning.

The series stars Sanchez as Elena Roarke, a descendant of the iconic Mr. Roarke, who set aside her own ambitions, and the love of her life, to uphold her family’s legacy.

Barnes plays Ruby Akuda, a young woman with an old soul who arrived on Fantasy Island with a terminal illness and was given a new lease on life as Roarke’s right hand.

Fantasy Island hails from Sony Pictures Television, Gemstone Studios and Fox Entertainment.

In addition to Fantasy Island, Rodriquez has done guest starring/recurring stints on NCIS, Young and Hungry, The Fosters and Rosewood and was a series regular in the NBC pilot Miranda’s Rights.

Christian Navarro to Star in Melissa Miller Costanzo’s Indie “The List”

Christian Navarro has made The List

The 30-year-old Puerto Rican actor and 13 Reasons Why star has been cast in Melissa Miller Costanzo’s indie The List, starring Halston Sage.

Christian Navarro

The comedy penned by Rob Lederer and Steve Vitolo centers on Abby (Sage), a woman who is about to get married, for whom everything is perfect. Until she finds out her fiancé has slept with a celebrity from his “free pass” list. To get her mind off things, Abby and her best friend Chloe come up with a crazy idea: Abby should pursue a celebrity from her own list. But things become complicated when she meets Jake (Navarro), a sweet and charming waiter at a neighborhood cafe, who gives her a fresh perspective.

Navarro is best known for his turn as Tony Padilla in 13 Reasons Why, the YA series which ran on Netflix for four seasons.

The actor recently wrapped production on The Devil’s Light, a Lionsgate horror thriller, which will premiere in 2022.

He’s also appeared in films including Can You Ever Forgive Me? and Bushwick, along with series including Vinyl, The TickRosewood and The Affair.

Lisa Vidal to Star in the Crime-Action Heist Feature “Shelter”

Lisa Vidal is sheltering…

The 56-year-old Puerto Rican actress will star in the crime-action heist feature Shelter.

Lisa Vidal

Vidal joins a cast that includes Cam Gigandet, Jaina Lee Ortiz, Carlos Miranda and Hollywood newcomer Sasha Merci.

In pre-production, filming is scheduled to start shortly in Los Angeles on the movie about the head of a secret organization who assembles a crew to steal back artwork from a neo-Nazi billionaire oligarch who plundered it during World War II.

Produced by Jolene Rodriguez of Broken English productions and financed by Ruben IslasGrandave Capital, the film is an original screenplay by Michael Corcoran, directed by Anthony Nardolillo.

“I’m thrilled to work with such a talented group. I’ve followed many of their careers and to make a movie with them is such a privilege. Shelter is a great example of taking any script and making it inclusive. It takes effort but it’s possible and it matters,” said Rodriguez.

Vidal has starred on ABC’s The Baker and The BeautyBET TV series Being Mary Jane and Grey’s Anatomy.

Ortiz will star in her fifth season of Shondaland’s ABC series Station 19 after a successful run in Fox’s Rosewood and a consequent role in Shooter.

Miranda will join the cast of ABC’s Station 19 as a series regular in the coming season and has had recurring roles in Amazon Original series Bosch and Comedy Central’s Ana as well as being a series regular in Starz series Vida.

Merci recently starred in the HBO feature film De Lo Mio.

Carmela Zumbado to Star in the Indie Holiday Rom-Com “White Elephant”

Carmela Zumbado isn’t avoiding the Elephant in the room…

The 29-year-old Latina actress recently wrapped production on veteran producer Corey Moss’ indie holiday romantic comedy White Elephant.

Carmela Zumbado

The movie marks Moss’s directorial debut and follows eight friends who convene for their annual gift exchange and secrets are revealed that thrust the game into chaos and push relationships to the brink.

Zumbado stars alongside Devin Druid, Matthew Hancock, Lana McKissack, CoCo Jones, Paul Karmiryan, Nathan Moore and Avery Norris.

Zumbado most recently starred on season two of Netflix’s You. Her other credits include television appearances on Rosewood, The Magicians, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and  a starring role in the film The Wall of Mexico.

NBC Renews Manny Montana’s “Good Girls” for Fourth Season

There’s good (girls) news for Manny Montana

NBC has ordered a fourth season of Good Girls, featuring the 36-year-old Mexican actor in the supporting cast.

Manny Montana

Hailing from creator Jenna BansGood Girls, whose third season was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic and resulting production shutdown, has done well ratings-wise. 

The series averaged a 0.9 rating in adults 18-49 and 3.4 million viewers overall in L+7 Nielsens, with the show’s February 16 season premiere growing to a 3.3 rating in 18-49 and 7.8 million viewers with digital and linear viewing recorded to date. Digital 18-49 viewership also grew this season versus last by 50%, making it NBC’s #2 show this season on digital platforms.

Written and executive produced by Bans, Good Girlsstars Christina Hendricks, Retta and Mae Whitman as three suburban moms who get tired of trying to make ends meet and decide it’s time to stick up for themselves by robbing the local grocery store. But when the manager catches a glimpse of one of them and the loot is far more than they expected, it doesn’t take long for the three best friends to realize the perfect getaway will be harder than they think.

In addition to Montana, who portrays Rio, the cast also includes Reno WilsonLidya JewettIsaiah Stannard and Matthew Lillard.

Montana previously starred on television in Rosewood, Graceland and Conviction.

Emily Tosta to Star Opposite Nicolas Cage in the Thriller “Wally’s Wonderland”

Emily Tosta is rebelling…

The 21-year-old Dominican & Venezuelan actress is set to star opposite Nicolas Cage in the genre thriller Wally’s Wonderland, currently shooting in Atlanta.

Emily Tosta

Tosta, who currently stars on Freeform’s Party of Fivereboot, will portray the rebellious teena lead in the film from director Kevin Lewis

Tosta’s character Liv joins Cage’s character The Janitor in their bid to survive a hellish night trapped inside an abandoned family entertainment center populated by possessed animatronics.

The film also stars Beth GrantRic ReitzandChris Warner. The screenplay is written by G.O. Parsons.

“I’m so excited to be working with Nicolas Cage, who has always been one of my favorite actors, in this totally fun and unique feature film,” said Tosta.

“When I first saw Emily in Mayans M.C., I was struck by her unique combination of toughness and sensitivity and knew immediately we found our perfect Liv,” added Lewis.

In addition to her roles on Party of Fiveand Mayans M.C., Tosta’s other credits include The ResidentRosewoodand The Last Ship.

Eddie Cibrian to Star in Netflix’s Comedy Series “Country Comfort”

Eddie Cibrian has gone country

Netflix has given a 10-episode series order to Country Comfort, a multi-camera comedy series starring the 46-year-old Cuban American actor and actress-singer Katharine McPhee.

Eddie Cibrian

The series was created by former The Nannyexecutive producer Caryn Lucas.

In Country Comfort,when her career and personal life get derailed, an aspiring young country singer named Bailey (McPhee) takes a job as a nanny for a rugged cowboy named Beau (Cibrian) and his five children. With a never-give up attitude and loads of Southern charm, this newbie-nanny is able to navigate the family dynamics and be the mother figure they’ve been missing. To her surprise, Bailey also gets the band she’s been missing in this musically talented family who help get her back on the road to stardom.

Ricardo Hurtado (Malibu Rescue), Jamie Martin Mann, Pyper BraunShiloh Verrico (Here TodayCrown Vic) and Griffin McIntyreplay the children.

Cibrian recently starred in the ABC series Take Twoand was previously seen in Fox’s Rosewood.

Netflix Renews Shakira Barrera’s Female Wrestling Dramedy “Glow” for Fourth & Final Season

Shakira Barrera will be getting her last fight…

Netflix has picked up its female wrestling dramedy GLOW, starring the Nicaraguan American actress, for a fourth and final season.

Shakira Barrera

The series, which stars Alison BrieBetty Gilpin and Marc Maron, is set to end after the next season. This is in line with a number of Netflix originals that end after three or four seasons.

GLOW, which has earned 15 Emmy nominations and three wins during its run, was inspired by the short-lived but beloved 1980s show. It tells the fictional story of Ruth Wilder (Brie), an out-of-work, struggling actress in 1980s Los Angeles who finds one last chance for stardom when she’s thrust into the glitter and spandex world of women’s pro wrestling.

In addition to working with 12 Hollywood misfits, Ruth also has to compete with Debbie Eagan (Gilpin) a former soap actress who left the business to have a baby, only to be sucked back into work when her picture-perfect life is not what it seems. And at the wheel is Sam Sylvia (Maron), a washed-up, B-movie director who now must lead this group of women on the journey to wrestling stardom.

Season 3 followed the ladies of GLOW as they took the Vegas strip by storm. Now headliners at the Fan-Tan Hotel and Casino, the women quickly realize that Sin City is much more grind than glitter. Ever the team cheerleader, Ruth’s passion for the show begins to take a backseat to her increasingly complicated personal life. Debbie is making headway as a producer but continues to be consumed with guilt over the distance between her and her son. As their residency wears on, the lines blur between performance and reality, and the cast finds itself struggling with identities both in and out of the ring.

Barrera has portrayed Yolanda “Junkchain” Rivas on the series since Season Two.

Creators Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch will return as showrunners and writers and will executive produce alongside Jenji Kohan, Tara Herrmann and Mark Burley.

The third season premiered last month, and the fourth season is expected in 2020.

Barrera’s previous credits include appearances on Grey’s Anatomy, Rosewood, East Los High, Faking It and Queen of the South.

ABC Gives Straight-to-Series Order to “Take Two,” Starring Eddie Cibrian

Eddie Cibrian is taking two

ABC has given a straight-to-series order to Take Two, starring the 44-year-old Cuban American actor and Rachel Bilson.

Eddie Cibrian

Created by Castle creator Andrew W. Marlowe and his wife, former Castle executive producer Terri Edda Miller, the series is described as an upbeat procedural.

Written by Marlowe and Miller, stars Bilson as Ella, the former star of a hit cop series who’s fresh-out-of-rehab following a bender of epic proportion. Desperate to restart her career, she talks her way into shadowing rough-and-tumble private investigator Eddie (Cibrian) as research for a potential comeback role. Though lone wolf Eddie resents the babysitting gig, high-spirited Ella proves herself to be surprisingly valuable, drawing on her acting skills and 200 episodes of playing a detective. When the press touts Ella’s role in solving a high-profile case, Eddie finds his phone ringing off the hook with new clients looking to hire the pair.

The project is an international co-production between ABC Studios and StudioCanal’s Tandem Prods. In addition to ABC, the series has been picked up by RTL/VOX in Germany and France Television in France.

Cibrian played Jesse Cardoza on CSI: Miami and most recently was a series regular on Rosewood.