Catalina Sandino Moreno to Star in the John Wick Spinoff “Ballerina”

Catalina Sandino Moreno will soon chaseé her way into a theater near you…

The 41-year-old Colombian Oscar-nominated actress is joining Ana de Armas in the John Wick spinoff Ballerina in a sizeable role.

Catalina Sandino MorenoMoreno’s part remains under wraps.

Sandino Moreno, whose deal just closed, joins Anjelica Huston, Ian McShane and Lance Reddick in the Lionsgate release.

Cameras are currently rolling on the Len Wiseman-directed, Shay Hatten-scripted title in the $586M-grossing John Wick universe.

Producer Erica Lee said: “One of the challenges of casting Ballerina is making sure that the new roles are played by actors with as much power, emotional presence, and physical skill as Ana has. After working with Catalina on John Woo’s Silent Night, it was clear that she belonged at the top of our list, and it’s a thrill to be reuniting with her.”

Moreno was Oscar nominated out of the gate for her debut performance in 2004’s Maria Full of Grace.

In her next film, Silent Nightshe stars opposite Joel Kinnaman and Kid Cudi. She recently starred in the indie Barbarians opposite Iwan Rheon and Tom Cullen.

She also stars in the Epix horror series From, currently shooting its second season.

Other recent work includes a role as a series regular on Showtime’s The Affair and a starring role on the Duplass BrothersHBO series Room 104.

NBC Renews Grasie Mercedes’ Sitcom “Grand Crew” for Second Season

There’s more crew time in Grasie Mercedes’ future…

NBC has ordered a second season of comedy series Grand Crew, starring the 44-year-old Afro-Latina actress, writer, filmmaker and podcast host.

Grasie MercedesIn addition to Mercedes, the series also stars Echo Kellum, Justin Cunningham, Carl Tart, Aaron Jennings and Nicole Byer.

Grand Crew, which hails from writer-producer Phil Augusta Jackson, revolves around a group of Black friends who unpack the ups and downs of life and love at a wine bar.

The first season of the series, which comes from Universal Television, reached 17 million total viewers, according to the network across all platforms and the premiere episode was NBC’s top digital comedy launch on Peacock.

Mercedes portrays Fay on the series.

Her previous credits include appearances on Good Trouble, The Affair and 9-1-1.

Ramón Rodríguez to Star in ABC’s Drama Pilot “Will Trent”

Ramón Rodríguez has found a new will to thrive…

The 42-year-old Puerto Rican actor has been cast in the lead role of ABC’s drama pilot Will Trent, which now has been officially cleared for production.

Ramon RodriguezRodriguez will also be a producer on the project, which hails from 20th Television.

Rodríguez was approached just a couple of weeks after the series had received a cast-contingent pilot order in early February. Trent’s casting, which comes after lengthy negotiations, removes that contingency.

Rodríguez most recently starred opposite Aubrey Plaza and served as producer on the Hulu pilot Olga Dies Dreaming, which isn’t moving forward.

In Will Trent, written by Liz Heldens and Dan Thomsen based on Karin Slaughter’s bestselling book series, Special Agent Will Trent (Rodríguez) of the Georgia Bureau of Investigations was abandoned at birth and endured a harsh coming-of-age in Atlanta’s overwhelmed foster care system. But now, determined to use his unique point of view to make sure no one is abandoned like he was, Trent has the highest clearance rate in the GBI.

Rodríguez’s Will Trent is a gifted GBI agent and a loner within the law-enforcement community who hides the severe dyslexia that went untreated during his traumatic childhood in foster care. But with the Bureau’s best clearance rate, he couldn’t care less if people don’t like him.

Heldens and Thomsen executive produce along with Slaughter and 3 ArtsOly Obst.

Rodríguez’s television series credits include Showtime’s The Affair and Netflix/Marvel’s Iron Fist and The Defenders. In features, he next will be seen starring in the horror film Lullaby from Annabelle director John R. Leonetti. He recently starred in Disney’s The One and Only Ivan alongside Bryan Cranston.

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.

Grasie Mercedes to Star on NBC’s “Grand Crew”

It’s a Grand opportunity for Grasie Mercedes.

The 43-year-old Afro-Latina actress has joined the cast of NBC’s Grand Crew as a series regular.

Grasie Mercedes

The comedy, from Phil Augusta Jackson and Dan Goor, follows a group of young L.A. professionals navigating the ups and downs of life and love. When they’re ready to unpack it all, they meet at their favorite local bar for a “wine down.”

Mercedes will portray Fay, a recently divorced transplant to Los Angeles who becomes fast friends with the regulars at Eastside Cru.

Jackson will write and executive produce. Mo Marable will direct and co-executive produce the pilot. Goor will executive produce.

Previously announced cast members include Nicole Byer, Justin Cunningham, Aaron Jennings, Echo Kellum and Carl Tart.

Mercedes most recently served as a staff writer on NBC’s Perfect Harmony. Her acting credits include roles in Fox’s 9-1-1, Freeform’s Good Trouble, TNT’s Southland, HBO’s The Affair and CBS’ Criminal Minds.

Catalina Sandino Moreno to Star in Epix’s Contemporary Sci-Fi Horror Series “From”

Catalina Sandino Moreno has landed an Epix role…

The 40-year-old Colombian Oscar-nominated actress has been cast as a lead opposite Eion Bailey and Harold Perrineau in FromEpix’s contemporary sci-fi horror series created by John Griffin.

Catalina Sandino Moreno

The series is produced by Midnight Radio — the producing team of Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, Jeff Pinkner and Scott Rosenberg — as well as Joe & Anthony Russo’s AGBO.

From
 unravels the mystery of a nightmarish town in Middle America that traps all those who enter. As the unwilling residents fight to keep a sense of normalcy and search for a way out, they also must survive the threats of the surrounding forest – including the terrifying creatures that come out when the sun goes down.

Moreno plays Tabitha Matthews, who, along with husband Jim (Bailey), is struggling in the aftermath of a personal tragedy and suddenly finds herself and her family trapped in the town. Together they must find a way to keep their children safe, struggling to come to terms with this new reality even as they desperately search for a way back home.

From
 commences production this month in Halifax, NS, with an eye toward a 2022 premiere on Epix.

Moreno received a leading actor Oscar nomination for her performance as the title character in HBO Films’ 2004 drama Maria Full of Grace. She won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Actress as well as the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival for the role.

She recently starred in indie feature The Quarry opposite Michael Shannon and Shea Wigham and soon will be seen in the independent feature Barbarians, opposite Iwan Rheon and Tom Cullen.

She was a series regular in Showtime’s The Affair and was recently seen as the lead in an episode of the Duplass brothers’ HBO Anthology series Room 104.

Marisela Zumbado to Appear on HBO Max’s Lena Dunham-Produced Dramedy “Generation”

Marisela Zumbado is celebrating her Generation

The Latina actress has landed a recurring role on HBO Max’s Lena Dunham-produced half-hour dramedy Generation.

Marisela Zumbado

Zumbado appears on a roster of newcomers to the cast that includes Alicia Coppola and Marwan Salama.

Created by Zelda Barnz and her father Daniel Barnz, who also directs, Generation is a dark yet playful half-hour following a group of high school students whose exploration of modern sexuality (devices and all) tests deeply entrenched beliefs about life, love and the nature of family in their conservative community.

Zumbado is Lucia, a young junior who is confident, bold and queer and loves to shake things up.

Coppola plays Carol, the mother of Riley (Chase Sui Wonders) who is terribly uncool, painfully suburban and obsessed with meddling in Riley’s business.

Salama portrays Bo, an under-the-radar high school junior who is direct, utterly unself-conscious and refreshingly comfortable in his own skin.

They join an ensemble cast that includes Nathanya Alexander, Chloe East, Nava Mau, Lukita Maxwell, Haley Sanchez, Uly Schlesinger and Sam Trammell with Justice Smith and Martha Plimpton.

Zumbado will next be seen on Netflix’s On the Verge. She has recurred in Showtime’s The Affair, CW’s The Originals, Cinemax’s Banshee, and recently guest starred in Fox’s Lethal Weapon and Deputy as well as Amazon’s Goliath.