Mía Maestro to Star in the Drama “Beneath the Grass”

Mía Maestro is ready to kick some grass

The 44-year-old Argentine actress and singer will star in Beneath the Grass, a drama about the criminal justice system and marijuana incarceration rates.

Mia MaestroMaestro will star opposite Quincy Isaiah and Jeff Kober in the film, which will hit the market at the Cannes Film Festival next week.

The film will begin production next month in New Jersey. Paradigm is representing worldwide sales for the film.

Beneath the Grass is set in 2008, capturing both the economic recession and the “Yes We Can” summer, and follows a single Latina mother whose illegal marijuana business is jeopardized when her young son befriends the new neighbors, a young white boy and his police officer grandfather.

According to production research, in 2008, Latino people were four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white people, while Black people were seven times more likely. Despite marijuana legalization in several states in the years since, the research explains, arrest rates have risen with racial disparities still prevalent.

The film marks the directorial debuts of William Bermudez and Sam Friedman, who wrote the screenplay, with a story by Bermudez, Friedman and others.

Following roles in The Motorcycle Diaries, Frida and the Twilight franchise, Maestro recently appeared in the Apple TV+ series Extrapolations and The Cow That Sang a Song Into the Future, which debuted at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival.

She will next star in Jose Rivera’s Alina of Cuba, a biopic about Fidel Castro’s exiled daughter Alina Fernandez, directed by Miguel Bardem.

The cast also includes Rachel Ticotin, Rachel Stubington and newcomer Elizabeth Cuzzupoli.

Eva Longoria to Star in the Anthology Feature “Women’s Stories”

Eva Longoria is telling stories

The 45-year-old Mexican American actress has joined the all-star cast of the anthology feature Women’s Stories, whose segments will be directed by filmmakers including Catherine Hardwicke.

Eva Longoria

Longoria joins a roster of cast additions that includes Cara DelevingneMargherita BuyMarcia Gay Harden, Leonor Varela and Jacqueline Fernandez.

The film will be comprised of six segments directed by female directors from different parts of the world, shot in Italy, India and the U.S. They will range in genre from drama to comedy, docu-drama to animation. The cast will be all female.

The first four segments have been mapped out: Unspoken will be directed by Maria Sole Tognazzi (Me, Myself & Her) and star decorated Italian actress Margherita Buy (My Mother), the seven-time David di Donatello award-winner; Lagonegro will be directed by Lucia Puenzo (La Jauria) and star Desperate Housewives and Overboard actress Longoria; Elbows Deep will be directed by Twilight filmmaker Hardwicke and star model and actress Delevingne (Suicide Squad), Oscar-winner Marcia Gay Harden (Pollock) and Jasmine Luv (Starter Pack); and Sharing A Ride will be directed by Leena Yadav (Three Cards) and feature Bollywood star Jacqueline Fernandez and transgender model Anjali Lama.

Producing are Iervolino Entertainment (Waiting For The Barbarians) and non-profit production company We Do It Together, which campaigns for gender equality.

Chiara Tilesi, founder and President of We Do It Together, said of the project: “At We Do It Together, our mission is to enhance and change the image of women in films and media, from object to subject. We are dedicated to telling stories of women, both in front of and behind the camera. That’s why Women Stories is so important to us – we have brought together female directors, from all over the world, who collaborate and share personal stories from their own point of view. We are telling the stories of these heroines and their aspirations: from health workers to mothers, artists and business women, to name a few. We also want to be inclusive and have as many different perspectives as possible, which is why connecting globally is so important to us. Now more than ever, especially after the latest UN policy brief The Impact of Covid-19 On Women, it has emerged that gender inequality is still a very present reality and, unfortunately, we remain far from a solution. Some of the achievements that were made, are at risk of being erased once again. This is why it is so important for us to continue to tell stories about women, by women, but for everyone. Only together can men and women finally change these paradigms.”

Andrea Iervolino, President and founder of Iervolino Entertainment, added: “It gives me tremendous pride to collaborate with such an astounding ensemble, and to help deliver a message larger than the film itself. It’s important for us that this be done on a global scale, which is why we’re shooting, very carefully and safely, in Italy, India and the US.”

The project was initially announced five years ago in different form as Together Now.

Netflix Releases First Look at Christian Serratos as Selena in “Selena: The Series”

Christian Serratos is ready to Reina

Nearly a year after revealing that it was developing a series based on the life of Selena, Netflix has officially unveiled a sneak peek at Selena: The Series, starring the 29-year-old half-Mexican American actress asLa Reina de la Musica Tejana.

Christian Serratos as Selena

“Get your first look at Christian Serratos, who will play Selena Quintanilla in a coming of age story chronicling the iconic singer’s rise,” a tweet stated, adding that Selena: The Series’ first part will premiere in 2020.    

Christian Serratos as Selena

Serratos is best known for her roles as Rosita Espinosa on AMC‘s The Walking Dead, Suzie Crabgrass on the Nickelodeon series Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide and Angela Weber in The Twilight Saga series. 

In addition to Serratos’ taking the lead, Netflix confirmed that Ricardo Chavirawill co-star as Selena’s father AbrahamGabriel Chavarriaas her brother A.B.Noemi Gonzalezas her sister Suzette, Seidy Lopezas her mother Marcella, and Madison Taylor Baez as young Selena.

On December 11, 2018, the official Netflix U.S. news Twitter account revealed that the Quintanilla family, along with Jaime Dávilaand Rico Martinezfrom Campanario EntertainmentSimran A. Singh, and Moisés Zamora, would executive produce the project. 

Bidi Bidi Bom Bom@SelenaLaLeyenda’s incredible life story is coming to Netflix as a scripted series! @selena_netflix was developed alongside and will be executive produced by, The Quintanilla family” the post expressed. 

Sony to Release Luis Gerardo Méndez’s “Charlie’s Angels” in China on November 15

Luis Gerardo Méndez will be appearing in Chinese theaters…

Sony‘s reboot of Charlie’s Angels starring Kristen StewartNaomi Scott, and Ella Balinska, with the 37-year-old Mexican actor appearing in a supporting role, has landed a China release date of November 15, which is timed exactly with the film’s domestic release. 

Luis Gerardo Méndez

No other Hollywood titles are opening in the PRC on that date. Charlie’s Angels will face local titles Beautiful TeacherHunt DownMarnie’s Welt and Somewhere Winter.

While the film was originally scheduled to go during the first weekend in November, which is where the first 2000 movie bowed, Terminator: Dark Fatelbowed its way on to that date.

Sony moved Charlie’s Angels to November 15 domestic release date for various reasons: better access to premium screens, aiming to stoke Stewart’s Twilight fanbase (that film also launched in mid-November), plusa China release date. 

And this $48M production is going to need China with its global start after landing on domestic tracking last week with a $16M projection to Fox/Disney’s Ford v. Ferrari‘s $23M-$30M forecasted opening. The second movie from Sony Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle made just over $2M in a nascent China exhibition market before the Avatar 3D/Imax boom in the PRC. Ford v. Ferrari will play most of the IMAXglobal network on the Nov. 15-17 weekend, but Charlie’s Angels will be booked on select IMAX domestic screens and in some offshore markets.

Mendez portrays The Saint in the film, which also features Noah Centineo as Langston.

Meraz to Star in WGN America’s Drama Pilot “Scalped”

Alex Meraz has some reservations about his new role…

The 32-year-old Mexican actor, dancer and martial artist has been cast as one of the leads in WGN America’s drama pilot Scalped.

Alex Meraz

The project, featuring a predominantly Native American cast, was written by Doug Jung based on the DC graphic novel series written by Jason Aaron and illustrated by R.M. Guéra.

A modern-day crime story set in the world of a Native American reservation, Scalped explores power, loyalty and spirituality in a community led by the ambitious Chief Lincoln Red Crow as he reckons with Dashiell Bad Horse (Meraz), who has returned home after years away from the reservation. The Native American casting will be a first for a television series in recent history.

Meraz’s Dashiell was exiled from the Rez by his mother at age 13 and returns home after 15 years as a criminal with a mysterious agenda. His return sets him on a violent path of self-discovery about his place on the Rez and on a collision course with both his estranged mother and Red Crow.

The former Twilight star, of the Purepecha (Tarasco) First Nation of Michoacan, Mexico, most recently was seen in Warner Bros.’ Suicide Squad for director David Ayer. He reunited with Ayer and Suicide Squad star Will Smith for the upcoming Netflix original film Bright and also has a heavily recurring role on TNT’s Animal Kingdom. Other upcoming projects include the feature films Last Man Stands and Tranzloco.

Mars Lands Two Singles in “United State of Pop 2012” Mashup

Bruno Mars hasn’t been “locked out” of this year’s recap of the biggest music hits in the United States…

The 27-year-old part-Puerto Ringer singer is the only Latino included in this year’s “United State of Pop 2012 (Shine Brighter),” a mashup of this year’s 25 biggest hits in the U.S.

Bruno Mars

From San Francisco-based mashup artist DJ Earworm, aka Jordan Roseman, the epic mashup includes Mars’ Twilight single “It Will Rain” and “Locked Out of Heaven – the debut single from his recently released sophomore album — his latest No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100.

The only other artists/acts to have more than one single included this year are Flo Rida, with three songs, and Maroon 5 with two.

Here’s a complete look at the songs included in this year’s mashup:

Gotye and Kimbra – “Somebody That I Used To Know”
Fun. – “Some Nights”
Carly Rae Jepsen – “Call Me Maybe”
Maroon 5 – “One More Night”
Fun. and Janelle Monáe – “We Are Young”
Maroon 5 and Wiz Khalifa – “Payphone”
Ellie Goulding – “Lights”
Rihanna – “Diamonds”
Bruno Mars – “Locked Out Of Heaven”
Ke$Ha – “Die Young”
Kelly Clarkson – “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)”
Flo Rida – “Good Feeling”
Nicki Minaj – “Starships”
The Wanted – “Glad You Came”
Adele – “Set Fire To The Rain”
Lumineers – “Ho Hey”
One Direction – “What Makes You Beautiful”
Flo Rida and Sia – “Wild Ones”
Phillip Phillips – “Home”
Bruno Mars – “It Will Rain”
Katy Perry – “Wide Awake”
Alex Clare – “Too Close”
PSY – “Gangnam Style”
Taylor Swift – “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”
Flo Rida – “Whistle”

DJ Earworm selected the most popular songs in the U.S. based on Billboard‘s weekly Hot 100 charts.

Zúñiga to Guest Star on “Burn Notice”

José Zúñiga is about to get burned

The Honduran-born American actor is set to appear on an upcoming episode of USA’s Burn Notice, according to TVLine.

José Zúñiga

Zúñiga will play Vasquez, a “clever and sadistic” cocaine smuggler who doesn’t shy away from torture. Zúñiga’s character will be introduced in Episode 11 of the sixth season.

It’s the latest television role for Zúñiga, who has appeared on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, the short-lived NBC series The Event and Desperate Housewives.

He most recently appeared as General Benicio Flores on ABC’s new Shonda Rimes series Scandal.

In addition, Zúñiga has appeared on the big screen in Alive, Con Air and Twilight.

Burn Notice airs Thursdays at 9/8c on USA.

AMC Networks Acquires Braga’s “On the Road”

It looks like Alice Braga’s latest film will be released in theaters this fall…

The 29-year-old Brazilian actress’ On the Road has been acquired by AMC Networks a week before it premieres in competition at the Cannes Film Festival.

Alice Braga

Buying all U.S. rights to Walter Salles’ adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s classic novel of the same name, AMC Networks announced that its distribution labels IFC Films and Sundance Selects will release the film later this fall in theaters.

Along with Braga—who rose to fame following her starring role opposite Will Smith in I Am Legend—the film stars Twilight’s Kristen Stewart, TRON: Legacy’s Garrett Hedlund, Kirsten Dunst, Amy Adams, Elisabeth Moss and Viggo Mortensen.

Alice Braga's On the Road Poster

Jose Rivera wrote the screenplay for the film, which brings to life the classic novel based on the spontaneous cross-country adventures of Kerouac and his friends during the middle of the 20th century.

On the Road is considered a defining work of the postwar Beat Generation that was inspired by jazz, poetry and drug experiences. While many of the names and details of Kerouac’s experiences are changed for the novel, hundreds of references in On the Road have real-world counterparts.

del Castillo to Play a Transsexual in “K-11”

It may be a” man’s man’s man’s world,” according to James Brown But Kate del Castillo isn’t afraid to make her mark in it. Following her starring role as the most powerful drug trafficker in southern Spain in the popular telenovela La Reina del Sur,” she’s now preparing for her most awe-inspiring role to date.

Kate del Castillo

The 39-year-old Mexican actress will star as Mousey—a transsexual who controls one of the sections of a Los Angeles County men’s prison—in the dramatic film K-11.

Helmed by first-time director Jules Stewart—the mother of Twilight actress Kristen Stewart— del Castillo will play the physically fit character that likes showing a lot of skin.

Kate del Castillo in K-11

The story centers on Raymond Saxx Jr. (Goran Visnjic), a straight record producer who, after a drug-induced blackout, wakes up locked up in K-11, the unit of the prison reserved for gay men and transsexuals who, for their safety, are segregated from the general population. It’s there that he comes across del Castillo’s character, who controls the area.

“I was like, ‘This is sci-fi, almost’” says Visnjic of his first reading of the script for the indie drama. “The character is put in such an extreme situation.”

del Castillo, who filmed the project last summer, has given her character a very distinctive personality. In the film, the telenovela star dons a part of platform heels made of slabs of meat. And, she wears a band on her left wrist that reads “Julio,” the name that reveals the male identity she left behind.

K-11 is set for release later this year.