Jay Z Reportedly Co-Producing Film Adaptation of Miranda’s “In the Heights” Musical

Lin-Manuel Miranda is pairing up with one of music’s greats…

According to Playbill, Jay Z will serve as a co-producer for the film adaptation of the 37-year-old Puerto Rican actor, playwright, composer, rapper and writer’s Tony Award-winning musical In the Heights.

In The Heights

Harvey Weinstein reportedly announced the news at a pre-Oscars party on Sunday.

Last September, Jay Z joined forces with the Weinstein Company for the upcoming Spike TV docuseries TIME: The Kalief Browder Story.

In the Heights was a 2008 Broadway musical that earned a Tony Award for its story about Latino characters growing up in New York City’s Washington Heights. The eclectic film, reportedly directed by Jon M. Chu, is said to feature hip-hop, salsa and merengue, with the screenplay penned by Quiara Alegría Hudes.

In an interview with Variety last September, Miranda revealed that the shooting for the film would take place in the spring. The interview also indicated that the Hamilton star would not return as the play’s central character Usnavi — a Dominican bodega owner. While that might be a letdown for avid fans of the original musical, Miranda said that he would be open to tackle another role for the forthcoming film.

No official comment on the news from Jay Z and Miranda.

New Trailer Released for Ramirez’s Roberto Duran Biopic “Hands of Stone”

Edgar Ramirez’s gloves are on…

The Weinstein Company has released its latest trailer for Hands of Stone, the Roberto Duran boxing biopic starring the 39-year-old Venezuelan actor and Robert De Niro.

 

Hands of Stone

Duran became a hero in his native Panama as he rose through the ranks behind trainer Ray Arcel (De Niro), winning titles in four different weight classes. But it was his three epic bouts with Leonard that mattered most, the first when Duran beat Leonard to steal his welterweight belt in June 1980, and of course the second only five months later, when Duran famously told the referee “No mas” in the eighth round as Leonard was running circles around him. He also lost a close decision in a third fight in 1989. Duran certainly went on to redeem himself, though, and ended his career with 103 wins and securing his place on experts’ lists of the best fighters of all time.

Usher co-stars as Duran’s rival Sugar Ray Leonard, and Ellen Barkin, Ruben Blades and Ana de Armas co-star.

Hands of Stone debuts on August 26.

Derbez to Star in Sony Pictures’ “Miracles From Heaven”

Eugenio Derbez has landed a miracle role…

The 53-year-old Mexican actor and director has joined the cast of Sony PicturesMiracles From Heaven, which will be released via TriStar Pictures.

Eugenio Derbez

The film, starring Jennifer Garner, Martin Hendersen and Queen Latifah, will be directed by fellow Mexico compatriot Patricia Riggen.

Written by Randy Brown, adapting Cristy Beam’s same-titled book, the faith-based Miracles From Heaven centers on a young girl suffering from a rare digestive disorder who is miraculously cured after suffering a terrible accident.

Derbez will play an eminent but simpatico U.S.-based Mexican gastroenterologist-pediatrician, who plays games with his child patients to lighten their experience of hospital treatment.

Derbez’s character is inspired by Boston Children’s Hospital specialist Dr. Samuel Nurko, he said.

Derbez joins the Miracles From Heaven Atlanta shoot next week.

Miracles From Heaven reunites Riggen and Derbez, who co-starred in Riggen’s 2008 U.S. breakthrough Under the Same Moon, which grossed $12.6 million for the Weinstein Company.

This is a relatively rare drama outing for Derbez, who has carved out a career in comedy, breaking through with comedy-drama Instructions Not Included, the highest-grossing Spanish-language film ever in North America, with a $44.5 million box office trawl. It went on to become the biggest Mexican hit ever in Mexico, punching $46.1 million.

Derbez is currently advancing on three projects at his production label 3pas Studios, which has a first-look deal with Pantelion Films, the LionsgateTelevisa joint U.S. distribution venture.

“The projects have a lot to do with my personality,” Derbez said.

Derbez is set to direct and star in a remake of Argentine hit Chinese Take-Out, a cross-the-cultural-tracks buddy movie about a cantankerous Argentine hardware store owner and an adrift Chinese immigrant. Derbez regular co-scribe Eduardo Cisneros is writing the screenplay. The Argentine would become an American.

3pas Studios is also developing an English-language remake of 2006 French comedy Le Valet. Derbez’s next actor-director gig looks like one of these two projects. “Le Valet” is also at screenplay stage.

A third 3pas Studios project is an Untitled Latin Lover Project, from an original screenplay by Chris Spain and Jon Zack, about an aging Latin lover suddenly thrown out by his wife and forced to get a real job.

Derbez runs 3pas Studios with former Pantelion Films production chief Ben Odell.

Leguizamo Joins Voice Cast of the Animated Film “Underdogs”

John Leguizamo is an underdog

The 50-year-old Colombian actor/comedian has landed a voice-acting role in Underdogs, an animated family film being produced by the Weinstein Company.

John Leguizamo

Leguizamo joins a cast that includes Ariana Grande, Katie Holmes, Matthew Morrison, Nicholas Hoult, and Saturday Night Lives Taran Killam and Bobby Moynihan.

The plot involves a childhood foosball rivalry that turns into a magical adventure.

Underdogs, directed by Oscar-winner Juan Jose Campanella, will hit theaters on April 10, 2015.

Alba’s “Escape From Planet Earth” Trailer Released

Jessica Alba is preparing for her her great escape in February…

Jessica Alba

The Weinstein Company has released the first trailer for the animated space alien adventure Escape From Planet Earth, which features the 31-year-old half-Mexican American actress’ voice.

Directed by Despicable Me’s storyboard artist Cal Brunker, the 3D computer animated family film centers on Astronaut Scorch Supernova, who finds himself caught in a trap when he responds to an SOS from a notoriously dangerous alien planet.

Escape From Planet Earth

Based on a story by Leech & Cory Edwards, the film includes the voices of Brendan Fraser, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jane Lynch, Paul Reubens and Rob Corddry.

This is Alba’s first foray into animated fare on the big screen.

Escape From Planet Earth is scheduled to open February 14, 2013.

Gomez’s Action-Crime Movie “Getaway” to be Released Next Summer

Selena Gomez will be making the perfect getaway next August…

Warner Bros. Pictures has scheduled its film Getaway for a late summer release.

Selena Gomez

The action-crime movie, featuring the 20-year-old Mexican American actress/singer and former Disney Channel star, stars Ethan Hawke as a burned-out race car driver forced to get behind the wheel for a criminal scheme when his wife is kidnapped.

Selena Gomez plays a hacker who helps him, and Jon Voight is the bad guy.

Warner Bros has scheduled Getaway, directed by Courtney Solomon, for an August 30, 2013 release.

In its Labor Day weekend slot, Getaway faces a pair of Wednesday, August 28 openers: Focus FeaturesClosed Circuit and the Weinstein Company’s Satanic.

Meanwhile, Gomez is set to appear on the big screen in her breaking-out-of-the-good-girl-mold film Spring Breakers. And she will reprise her role as Alex Russo on a one-hour Wizards of Waverly Place special.