First Trailer Released for Lionsgate’s “Expend4ables,” Featuring Andy Garcia Among New Cast Additions

Posted on June 8, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Andy Garcia is expendable…

The first trailer for Lionsgate’s Expend4ables, which will see the 67-year-old Cuban actor joining the cast, has been released.

“Terrorists have taken possession of nuclear missiles on a cargo ship off the coast,” warns Sylvester Stallone in the trailer. “If these babies go off, it’ll be World War III.”

The fourth title in the Expendables action franchise, which has grossed over $804M worldwide with past installments, Expend4ables reintroduces viewers to Barney Ross (Stallone), Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), Gunner Jensen (Dolph Lundgren) and Toll Road (Randy Couture), the elite mercenaries who together make up the team known as The Expendables.

Armed with every weapon they can get their hands on and the skills to use them, these four are the world’s last line of defense and the team that gets called when all other options are off the table. The new film will see them engage with new team members with styles and tactics of their own that will give the expression “new blood” a whole new meaning.

In addition Garcia, others joining the franchise’s core four in the film are Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Megan Fox, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Jacob Scipio and Levy Tran.

The film is slated for release on September 22^nd.

Scott Waugh directed from a script by Kurt Wimmer & Tad Daggerhart and Max Adams, which was based on a story by Spenser Cohen and Wimmer & Daggerhart.

Dascha Polanco to Star in the NBC pilot “Dangerous Moms,” Based on Spanish Series “Señoras del (h)AMPA”

Posted on June 14, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a dangerous time for Dascha Polanco…

The 38-year-old Dominican actress has been cast as a co-lead opposite Shanola Hampton in the NBC pilot Dangerous Moms, from Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television.

Written by Janine Sherman Barrois and based on the Spanish series Señoras del (h)AMPA, Dangerous Moms is an off-center dark dramedy about four diverse mothers — two of them played by Hampton and Polanco — who accidentally kill the queen bee of their school’s PTA during the demonstration of a new high-end food processor.

The story becomes a female anthem about friendship and family as it tells the story of one completely unprepared group of women who must juggle their everyday lives while their worlds are turned upside down.

Polanco will play Pia, the impeccable nemesis of Monique (Hampton). Pia is the No. 1 salesperson for the state-of-the-art TurboThunder3000 food processor and a popular mommy blogger. She also is the landlord of a few apartment buildings in the community, which she hopes to gentrify.

Barrois executive produces with Rachel Kaplan, Intrigue Entertainment’s Tariq Jalil and Lucas Carter as well as Arantxa Écija from Mediaset España Comunicación and Santi Botello from Producciones Mandarina SL, who produced the original series.

Polanco, currently co-starring in Warner Bros.’ In the Heights, is best known for her work on Orange Is the New Black, for which she shared in three comedy ensemble SAG Awards.

She’s set to star in the upcoming MGM superhero thriller film Samaritan, opposite Sylvester Stallone, and will make her leading film role debut in Adrian Martinez’s indie dark comedy iGilbert.

Dascha Polanco to Star in Fox’s Forensic Genealogy-Themed Crime Drama Pilot “Blood Relative”

Posted on July 11, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

It’s all relative for Dascha Polanco…

The 37-year-old Dominican actress will star opposite Tate Donovan and Melissa Leo in the Fox pilot Blood Relative.

The forensic genealogy-themed crime drama hails from writer-producer Chris Levinson and producer Liza Chasin.

Blood Relative is based on James Renner’s 2018 article “Beyond the Jungle of Bad: The True Story of Two Women from California Who Are Solving All the Mysteries,” about Dr. Colleen Fitzpatrick and Dr. Margaret Press, who combined their genealogy expertise to push the boundaries of forensic science and helped law enforcement identify Joe and Jane Does and track down serial killers.

Written by Levinson and Renner and to be directed by Phillip Noyce, Blood Relativecenters on genetic genealogy, the best new tool in crime scene forensics, and nobody knows it like Louise Kelly (Leo). Too bad she’s impossible to deal with.

Polanco will play Maria Alvarez, a woman making lemonade out of lemons. She and her hearing-impaired 8-year-old son Sam live with her home psychic mother while Maria goes to night school to get her Ph.D. in psychology (she will eventually go to work at the same Parish Precinct as John (Donovan). Maria’s reason for wanting to work with cops? She’s spent her entire life in their world. Twenty years ago, her father Diego was convicted of murder. Maria is stunned to learn that the police have discovered the body of Gary Northrup – the very man her father is accused of killing. Lou’s DNA genius might prove her father’s innocence. Maria’s life will be changed by this new science and this oh so unique woman. She’ll also prove to be one of the only people alive who speaks “Lou,” making her an invaluable asset.

Paramount Television Studios and Anonymous Content co-produce with Fox Entertainment.

Polanco rose to acclaim as Dayanara Diaz on all seven seasons of Netflix’s Orange is the New Black. She’ll next co-star in Lin Manuel-Miranda’s In the Heights and as the female lead alongside Sylvester Stallone in Samaritan.

Polanco’s other credits include Netflix’s When They See Us, The Irishman and FX’s The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.

Polanco was high on Fox’s wish list of talent for pilots this season. Her deal for Blood Relativewas in negotiations when pilot season ground to a halt in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Dascha Polanco to Star in the Superhero Thriller “Samaritan”

Posted on February 9, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Dascha Polanco is a good Samaritan…

The 37-year-old Dominican actress is set to star in MGM’s superhero thriller movie Samaritan.

Polanco joins a cast that includes Javon ‘Wanna’ Walton, Sylvester Stallone, Martin Starr, Pilou Asbækand Moises Arias.

Walton will play a young boy who’s out to discover if a mythic superhero, who vanished 20 years earlier following a tragic event, is still alive.

Julius Avery is directing from a screenplay by Bragi F. Schut, with additional writing by Mark L. Smith, Zak Penn, and Chuck MacLean.

The story is based on Schut’s original idea.

The film is scheduled for release on December 11 via United Artists Releasingwith Universal handling foreign.

Polanco portrayed Dayanara Diaz on Netflix’s Orange is the New Blackfor seven-seasons and starred in Ava DuVernay’s 2019 Netflix limited series When They See Us. She’ll soon be seen in her first lead film role in Adrian Martinez’s indie dark comedy iCreep, and Warner Brothers’ adaption of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In The Heightsthis summer. Her additional credits include the FXanthology series The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Storyand films including Joy, The Perfect Match, The Cobblerand Gimme Shelter.

Arias first made a name for himself as series regular on the Disney Channel hit original series Hannah Montana, and has since gone on to appear in several Sundance films including Kings of Summer, The Land and Stanford Prison Experiment. Last year, he appeared in CBS Films’ Five Feet Apart as well as the Sundance World Dramatic Competition Special Jury Award winner Monos and the SXSW opening weekend film The Wall of Mexico.

Paz Vega to Star in & Produce Comedy Series “Tacowood” for MGM International Television

Posted on February 9, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Paz Vega is ready for tacos…

MGM International Television is developing Tacowood, a comedy series headlined and produced by the 44-year-old Spanish actress.

Based on an original idea by Spanish writer-producer-director Frank Ariza, Tacowoodis a modern-day comedy that follows Guada (Vega), a 40-year-old single mother who spends her days running her family’s taco truck business in the outskirts of Mexico City as she embarks on the journey of a lifetime with her mother and 10-year-old daughter to pursue her dream of becoming a Hollywood actress.

MGM International Television will produce and distribute the project.

“Good ideas married with good talent knows no borders today,” said Diego Piasek, SVP International Development at MGM International Television. “As a first-generation immigrant myself, I’m so proud that MGM is supporting the new voices of our generation.”

Launched last year, MGM International Television is ramping up in key markets like UK, Europe and Australia. One of the division’s main priorities is developing culturally rich programming with Latinx talent both in front of and behind the camera for English- and Spanish-speaking audiences around the world.

“Making a more inclusive cinema, focusing on minorities and fairly representing the society in which we live is a responsibility of everyone who works in this industry,” Vega said. “That is why I feel extremely excited to join MGMand put my voice at the service of this beautiful initiative that will generate great opportunities for the Latin community.”

Vega is known for her starring role opposite Adam Sandlerin the 2004 James L. Brooksfilm Spanglish. She won multiple awards for the Spanish movie Lucía y el sexo,including a breakthrough award at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival.

Vega also starred opposite Morgan Freemanin indie film 10 Items or Less and opposite Sylvester Stallonein Rambo: Last Blood.On the television side, she played Renata in Netflix’s The OA.

Davi Santos to Star in “47 Meters Down – Uncaged”

Posted on December 11, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Davi Santos is diving into a new role…

The 28-year-old Brazilian actor will star in 47 Meters Down – Uncaged, the sequel to box office breakout 47 Meters Down.

Santos, best known for playing Sir Ivan, The Gold Rangeron the television series Power Rangers Dino Charge, joins a cast that includes Sophie Nélisse, John Corbett, Nia Long, Corinne Foxx, Sistine Stallone, Brianne Tjuand Khylin Rhambo.

Principal photography is underway in the Dominican Republic with Byron Allen’s ESMP U.S. release in 3,500+ screens set for June 28, 2019. Johannes Roberts returns to direct the sequel from a script he co-wrote with his 47 Meters Down co-writer, Ernest Riera. Foxx and Stallone, the daughters of Jamie Foxxand Sylvester Stallone, respectively, will be making their film debuts.

The film will tell the story of four teens diving in a ruined underwater city, who quickly find themselves in a watery hell as their adventure turns to horror when they learn they are not alone in the submerged caves. As they swim deeper into the claustrophobic labyrinth of caves they enter the territory of the deadliest shark species in the ocean.

The breakout original earned almost $60M globally off a $5.5M budget.

“The sequel 47 Meters Down – Uncaged is well-positioned to be a big summer event movie,” said Byron Allen, CEO of Entertainment Studios. “The shark-filled psychological horror/thriller will once again have moviegoers overwhelmed and on the edge of their seats being terrorized by the world’s greatest predators!”

Vega Officially Named as Co-Anchor of ABC World News Tonight‘s Weekend Editions

Posted on March 3, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Cecilia Vega is making world news…

The Latina broadcast journalist, a correspondent for ABC News, has been officially named as one of the anchors for ABC World News Tonight‘s Saturday and Sunday editions, as well as serve as senior national correspondent.

Vega, who has interviewed everyone from Mexico’s President Enrique Peña Nieto to Sylvester Stallone, will co-anchor the newscasts with Tom Llamas.

“Since joining ABC News in 2011, Cecilia has done fantastic work, deftly covering everything from the Olympics and papal conclave to the Occupy Wall Street protests and the election of President Barack Obama,” said ABC News chief James Goldston in memo to staffers. “Most recently, she has reported on the 2014 midterm elections, Ebola cases in the United States, the Sony computer hacking and fallout, and allegations against Bill Cosby.”

Prior to joining ABC News, Vega was an Emmy Award-winning journalist for KGO in San Francisco and award-winning print reporter. We’re very grateful that she’ll be making the jump from the West Coast to New York City for this new role as anchor and senior national correspondent.

Vega and Llamas will take the reins beginning this weekend, making official the posts they’ve filled with since last fall when David Muir became anchor of World News Tonight.

Trailer Released for “Reach Me,” Starring Trejo, Sylvester Stallone and Kelsey Grammer

Posted on July 4, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Danny Trejo’s latest project will have a different kind of reach…

The 70-year-old Mexican American actor, who often stars in action films as hypermasculine characters, villains and anti-heroes, is starring opposite Sylvester Stallone and Kelsey Grammer in the dramedy Reach Me.

Trejo portrays Vic in the film, which centers on a group of people who all have a connection to a self-help book authored by a reclusive former football coach.

Directed by John Herzfeld, the indie film also stars Lauren Cohan, Terry Crews, Nelly, Kevin Connoly, Tom Sizemore, Ryan Kwanten, Kyra Sedgwick, Danny Trejo, Tom Berenger and Danny Aiello.

“It’s a feel-good movie with an upbeat, inspirational story. It’s about a dozen broken characters who get a second chance in life by coming into contact with this book,” says Herzfeld.

The project initially launched a Kickstarter campaign, but later switched to a similar yet more flexible platform, Indiegogo, which allows international contributions and pledges beyond $10k.

Ortiz to Star Opposite Jake Gyllenhaal in the Boxing Film “Southpaw”

Posted on June 17, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Art will imitate life for Victor Ortiz as he prepares for his next acting role…

The Weinstein Company and director Antoine Fuqua have added the 27-year-old Mexican-American former-WBC-Welterweight-Champion-turned actor to the cast of their boxing pic Southpaw.

Featuring Jake Gyllenhaal in the lead role, as well as Rachel McAdams and Forest Whitaker, the film centers on an up-and-coming fighter who loses everything in a moment of rage and has to start from the bottom to get his life back.

Ortiz will portray Ramone, a flyweight kid from the streets with real sparring potential. The character parallels Ortiz’s own rags-to-riches story of rising from childhood as a foster kid, to brawling his way to the championship belt in 2011.

Sons Of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter wrote the script for Southpaw, which also stars Miguel Gomez.

It’s the second significant role for Ortiz, who makes his feature film debut later this summer as one of the Young Expendables in Expendables 3. He was personally selected for the role by Sylvester Stallone.

Shooting on Southpaw just began in Pittsburgh.

First Full-Length Trailer Released for Banderas’ “Expendables 3”

Posted on June 17, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It’s an expendable moment for Antonio Banderas…

Millennium Films has released the first full-length trailer for the threequel to Expendables, featuring the 53-year-old Spanish actor in a new role.

Expendables 3 reunites the key cast members including Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Statham and Dolph Lundgren, while adding new stars like Banderas, Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, Kelsey Grammer, and Kellan Lutz.

In the highly anticipated action flick, director Patrick Hughes plants the band of brothers on a quest for revenge after one of their men is murdered during what should’ve been an easy mission. But deep in enemy territory, they face an unexpected threat.

Expendables 3 begins its international rollout on August 13, and Lionsgate will release the PG-13 film in the United States on August 15.

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