Selena Gomez to Executive Produce & Guest Star in Disney’s “Wizards of Waverly Place” Sequel

Posted on January 18, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Selena Gomez is heading back to the place it all started…

One of Disney’s signature comedies, Wizards of Waverly Place, which helped turn the 31-year-old Mexican American actress/singer into a household name, is getting a sequel.

Disney Branded Television has ordered a pilot for the follow-up, which is executive produced by original stars Gomez and her small screen sibling David Henrie.

Gomez will guest star in the pilot for Disney Channel as the character that helped launch her career, Alex Russo, with Henrie reprising the role of Justin Russo as a series regular.

They’ll be joined by new cast members Janice LeAnn Brown, Alkaio Thiele and Mimi Gianopulos.

The revival pilot comes from writers and executive producers Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas who are behind another Disney Channel comedy spinoff, Raven’s Home.

It picks up after a mysterious incident at WizTech, where an adult Justin Russo has left his wizard powers behind, opting for a normal, human life with his wife and two sons. But he gets a surprise when a powerful young wizard in need of training shows up at his door… and Justin must embrace his past to ensure the future of the Wizard World.

The powerful young wizard Billie, whom Justin takes under his wing, will be portrayed by series lead Brown. Thiele will play Roman Russo, Justin’s oldest son; Gianopulos will play Justin’s wife, Giada.

In addition to Gomez, Henrie, Elinoff and Thomas, Gary Marsh and Andy Fickman will also executive produce, with Fickman directing.

Marsh was the former longtime top Disney Channel creative executive who was the driving force behind Wizards of Waverly Place and was instrumental in getting Gomez on the network after she was discovered during an open casting call in Dallas.

Created by Todd J. Greenwald, the original series, which ran from 2007-2012, followed the Russo family, where three siblings navigated the challenges of adolescence while mastering their magical abilities. The cast also included Jake T. Austin, Jennifer Stone, Maria Canals-Barrera and David DeLuise, all of whom (minus Henrie), reunited for the TV special The Wizards Return: Alex Vs. Alex in 2013.

The pilot order caps years of online chatter about a potential Wizards Of Waverly Place revival or reboot. It also fits into Disney Branded Television’s strategy of beefing up Disney Channel’s lineup of multi-camera sitcoms.

Gomez is currently in the Disney family as a star and executive producer of the hit Hulu/20th Television comedy series Only Murders In the Building.

Selena Gomez Hints at Retiring from Music

Posted on January 4, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Selena Gomez may be retiring from music in the near future…

The 31-year-old Mexican American singer/actress shared on the on the latest episode of SmartLess, the podcast hosted by Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes, that she’d like to focus on only one aspect of her career.

“I started having a lot of fun with music and then touring was really fun. But I was doing my TV show at the same time [Wizards of Waverly Place] and I just found it really fun so I just kept going but the older I get, the more I’m kind of like, I would like to find something to just settle on,” she explained.

The Only Murders in the Building actress added that she’d like to focus on her acting career, sharing, “I do feel like I have one more album in me but I would probably choose acting.”

Gomez recalled that she got into singing after snagging the lead role on her Disney Channel series Wizards of Waverly Place.

“Disney is, it’s safe to say, a machine and, in a way, forcefully require that I know how to sing so I could sing the theme song [of a show]. They know how to package someone and make it a whole triple threat thing,” she said.

After she recorded the theme song for Wizards of Waverly Place, Disney asked if Gomez would like to record an album, which she “thought it would be fun.”

She added, “I wanted to be an actress, I never really intended on being a singer full-time but apparently that hobby turned into something else.”

Gomez’s acting career is skyrocketing even more lately, as her role in Hulu’s Only Murders has snagged her two Golden Globes nominations in 2023 and 2024 for best performance by an actress in a television series – musical or comedy.

Peter Murrieta Adapting Jeffrey J. Mariotte’s Forthcoming Novel “Blood And Gold: The Legend of Joaquin Murrieta” as a TV/Film Project

Posted on September 25, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a (blood and) golden opportunity for Peter Murrieta.

The Latino two-time Emmy-winning television producer and writer is teaming up with Russell Binder’s Striker Entertainment to option and adapt Jeffrey J. Mariotte’s forthcoming novel Blood And Gold: The Legend of Joaquin Murrieta.

Set during the harsh and brutal but transformative era of the California Gold Rush, the book tells the story of real-life bandit Joaquin Murrieta, who was dubbed the ‘Robin Hood of the West’.

It follows how Murrieta, a romantic, charismatic young Mexican who, overcome by fear that his beloved Rosita will be forced into an arranged marriage, persuades her to join him as he follows his brother Jesús to the California gold fields where they encounter prejudice, hatred, and explosive violence – transforming Joaquin from an honest, hardworking miner into a bandit and the very spirit of vengeance.

The team said the book blends historical facts with untold family stories from direct descendants of Murrieta.

It will be released by Sundown Press in October this year. Peter Murrieta is also a co-author on the book.

Murrieta, who recently signed a first-look deal with Universal Television, will pen the screenplay.

“In the prefatory note to his epic Western novel Warlock, Oakley Hall wrote that ‘The pursuit of truth, not of facts, is the business of fiction,’” said Mariotte. “I have been fascinated by Joaquin Murrieta for nearly five decades, but it took connecting with Peter – who knows the real truth as much as it can be known— – o be able to tell the story the way it needed to be told.”

It’s not decided if the project will be a film or television program.

Murrieta’s credits include Netflix shows One Day At A Time and Mr. Iglesias. He was also an executive producer on Disney’s Wizards of Waverly Place and the creator of Warner Bros. series Greetings From Tucson.

Selena Gomez to Star Opposite Steve Martin & Martin Short in Hulu’s Comedy Series “Only Murders in the Building”

Posted on August 8, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Selena Gomez is teaming up with two comedy legends…

The 28-year-old Mexican American singer/actress, who rose to acclaim as the star of the Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place, will star alongside Steve Martin and Martin Short in Hulu‘s straight-to-series comedy Only Murders in the Building.

Ordered to series in January, the comedy created and written by Martin and John Hoffman revolves around three strangers who share an obsession with true crime who suddenly find themselves wrapped up in one.

Gomez will play the third stranger alongside Short and Martin.

In addition to her co-starring role, Gomez will also executive produce the series alongside Martin, Hoffman, Short, This Is Uscreator Dan Fogelman and Jess Rosenthal. It marks Gomez’s latest executive-producing gig following Netflix‘s 13 Reasons Why and the documentary Living Undocumented.

Only Murders in the Building is Gomez’s latest acting role following her roles in Woody Allen’s A Rainy Day in New York and The Dead Don’t Die. Her other film credits include Spring Breakers, The Big Short, Monte Carlo and Fundamentals of Caring.

Gomez will next appear on HBO Max in her new cooking-while-quarantined series Selena + Chef, which will begin streaming later this month.

HBO Max Releases Trailer for Selena Gomez’s Cooking Series “Selena + Chef”

Posted on August 6, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Things are cookin’ up for Selena Gomez…

The 28-year-old Mexican American singer/actress is putting her cooking chops to the test in the new HBO Max series Selena + Chef.

From perfecting French omelettes to undercooking cheese soufflés, Gomez said working on her culinary skills helped get her out of the quarantine rut.

“I was definitely getting down and a lot is going on,” said Gomez. “[The show] was an opportunity to make something that could make people smile.”

Gomez says her first unscripted series afforded her the skills and confidence to take on challenging dishes. While some of the show’s featured recipes, including one for a spicy miso ramen, have become staples for the singer, Gomez said there are a few she’ll never tackle again.

“I really, really didn’t like that. It’s a whole process never doing it again in my life,” Gomez said of a challenging octopus dish featured in the trailer.

The 10-episode series, which begins streaming on HBO Max on August 13, was filmed remotely due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The Wizards of Waverly Place star, who has been quarantining with friends and family, detailed the “strange” process of shooting the series remotely in her new home.

Crew members, who were regularly tested for the virus, received temperature checks upon arrival and wore face coverings at all times; did not come in contact with Gomez and those who quarantined with the singer. Instead, they operated remote cameras, rigged in the singer’s living room and kitchen, from outside.

“There was no one in my house but here are these cameras everywhere,” the singer said motioning to her ceiling. “That’s so crazy it comes out so well. It comes out like a normal cooking show but also very odd because everyone is outside everywhere.”

Angelo Sosa, Candice Kumai, Daniel Holzman, and Ludo Lefebvre are among the culinary experts who instructed Gomez in the new series. Additional chefs include Nancy Silverton, Nyesha Arrington, Roy Choy, Jon & Vinny and Tanya Holland.

Selena + Chef is executive produced by Gomez via her July Moon Productions.

Danny Trejo to Star in the ABC Comedy Project “Food & Familia,” Inspired By His Life

Posted on October 15, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Danny Trejo is bringing his life to the small screen, so to speak…

The 74-year-old Mexican American actor is attached to star in an ABC comedy project that boasts Will Smith among its executive producers.

Trejo will star in and executive produce Food & Familia, which is currently in development at the network. The multi-camera comedy, is inspired by Trejo’s life. When the matriarch of the family passes away, she leaves her restaurant to her son, Danny (Trejo) – who’s about to get out of prison — and her granddaughter, Michelle, who hates her father for abandoning her. This gift from beyond the grave might heal the father and daughter and get them back together but, it’s gonna be rocky as the two of them work their differences out while trying to operate a restaurant, live together, and become a real family again.

Peter Murrietta will write and executive produce the project. Trejo and Smith will executive produce along with Caleeb Pinkett and James Lassiter of Smith’s Overbrook Entertainment. ABC Studios will produce.

Should the project move forward, it would only be Trejo’s second series regular role, with the other being the short-lived George Lopez FX sitcom Saint George. Trejo is also known for his role in the Machete films as well as several other Robert Rodriguez films. His other TV roles include appearances on Sons of Anarchy, Rick & Morty, The Adventures of Puss in Boots, and From Dusk til Dawn: The Series. Trejo also opened his first restaurant, Trejo’s Tacos, in 2016 with multiple locations now open throughout Los Angeles. He also operates Trejo’s Coffee & Donuts and Trejo’s Cantina.

Murrietta most recently worked on the CBS comedy Superior Donuts. His other recent credits include One Day at a Time, Lopez, and Cristela. Murrietta also won two Emmy awards for his time on the Disney Channel series Wizards of Waverly Place.

Gomez Named Favorite Female Singer at Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards

Posted on March 12, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Selena Gomez is still the Kids’ choice…

The 24-year-old Mexican American singer/actress was named Favorite Female Singer at the 2017 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards in Los Angeles.

It’s Gomez’s fourth award in the category in the last seven years, and her tenth orange blimp overall.

She’d previously won five awards for Favorite TV Actress for her starring role on the Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place.

Meanwhile, Ally Brooke Hernandez, Lauren Jauregui and former member Camila Cabello and their former Fifth Harmony members picked up their second straight Favorite Music Group award. Additionally, the all-girl group won a second award for Favorite Song for “Work From Home” (featuring Ty Dolla $ign).

Here’s the complete list of winners below:

Favorite Kids’ Show Henry Danger
Favorite Family Show Fuller House
Favorite Reality Show America’s Got Talent
Favorite Cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants
Favorite Male TV Star
Jace Norman (Henry, Henry Danger)
Favorite Female TV Star
Zendaya (K.C., K.C. Undercover)
Favorite Movie Ghostbusters
Favorite Movie Actor
Chris Hemsworth (Kevin, Ghostbusters)
Favorite Movie Actress
Melissa McCarthy (Abby, Ghostbusters)
Favorie Animated Movie
Finding Dory
Favorite Voice From An Animated Movie
Ellen DeGeneres (Dory, Finding Dory)
Favorite Villain
Kevin Hart (Snowball, The Secret Life of Pets)
Favorite Butt-Kicker
Chris Evans (Captain America, Captain America: Civil War)
BFFs (Best Friends Forever)
Kevin Hart & Dwayne Johnson (Bob/Calvin, Central Intelligence)
Favorite Frenemies
Ginnifer Goodwin & Jason Bateman (Judy/Nick, Zootopia)
Most Wanted Pet
Snowball from The Secret Life of Pets (Kevin Hart)
#Squad Finding Dory – Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Kaitlin Olson, Hayden Rolence, Willem Dafoe,
Ed O’Neill, Ty Burrell, Eugene Levy
Favorite Music Group
Fifth Harmony
Favorite Male Singer
Shawn Mendes
Favorite Female Singer
Selena Gomez
Favorite Song
“Work From Home” – Fifth Harmony ft. Ty Dolla $ign
Favorite New Artist
Twenty One Pilots
Favorite Music Video
“Juju on That Beat” – Zay Hilfigerrr and Zayion McCall
Favorite DJ/EDM Artist
Calvin Harris
Favorite Soundtrack Suicide Squad
Favorite Viral Music Artist
JoJo Siwa
Favorite Global Music Star
Little Mix (UK)
Favorite Video Game
Just Dance 2017

Gomez Receives Five Radio Disney Music Award Nominations

Posted on March 5, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Selena Gomez hasn’t lost her Disney popularity…

The 24-year-old Mexican American singer/actress, who starred on the Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place from 2007 – 2012, has earned five nominations for this year’s Radio Disney Music Awards.

Gomez, a six–time RDMA winner, is nominated in the best female artist, fiercest fans and best tour categories. She’s also up for best breakup song and best collaboration for “We Don’t Talk Anymore” with Charlie Puth.

Bruno Mars, meantime, has earned two RDMA nominations. The 31-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer is nominated for best male artist and best song that makes you smile for his hit single “24K Magic.”

Other Hispanic nominees include Fifth Harmony for best group and fiercest fans, Demi Lovato for best tour,a nd Camila Cabello for best collaboration for her single with Machine Gun Kelly, “Bad Things.”

Stuck in the Middle star Jenna Ortega is one of five hosts for this year’s awards show, alongside Hamilton star Jordan Fisher, Descendants actress Sofia Carson, Radio Disney host and singer Alex Aiono and country singer Kelsea Ballerini.

The RDMAs will take place on Saturday, April 29, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, and the show will air the following day, April 30, at 7:00 pm ET on the Disney Channel. Voting is now open at Disney.com/RDMA.

Here’s the complete list of the nominees:

“You Know You Love Them – Best Group”
DNCE
Fifth Harmony
One Direction
The Chainsmokers (TCS)
Twenty One Pilots

“He’s The One – Best Male Artist”
Bruno Mars
Justin Bieber
Niall Horan
Nick Jonas
Shawn Mendes

“She’s The One – Best Female Artist”
Ariana Grande
Katy Perry
Lady Gaga
Meghan Trainor
Selena Gomez

“The Bestest – Song Of The Year”
Cake By The Ocean – DNCE
Can’t Stop The Feeling! – Justin Timberlake
Closer (f. Halsey) – The Chainsmokers (TCS)
Sit Still, Look Pretty – Daya
Treat You Better – Shawn Mendes

“#SQUADGOALS – Fiercest Fans”
Beliebers
Harmonizers
Mendes Army
Megatronz
Selenators

“The Buzz – Breakout Artist Of The Year”
Alessia Cara
Daya
DNCE
Hailee Steinfeld
Kelsea Ballerini

“#TRENDING – Favorite Social Media Star”
Alex Aiono
Baby Ariel
Jacob Sartorius
Jake Paul
Jiffpom

“The Freshest – Best New Artist”
Jon Bellion
Jordan Fisher
Julia Michaels
Noah Cyrus
Grace Vanderwaal

“So Happy – Best Song That Makes You Smile”
Can’t Stop The Feeling! – Justin Timberlake
Me Too – Meghan Trainor
Handclap – Fitz & The Tantrums
24K Magic – Bruno Mars
Juju On That Beat – Zay Hilfigerrr & Zayion McCall

“XOXO – Best Crush Song”
Let Me Love You (f. Justin Bieber) – DJ Snake
On Purpose – Sabrina Carpenter
Starving (f. Zedd) – Hailee Steinfeld & Grey
Wild (f. Alessia Cara) – Troye Sivan
Yeah Boy – Kelsea Ballerini

“Stuck In Our Heads – Best Song To Lip Sync To”
Bacon – Nick Jonas
Cake By The Ocean – DNCE
Closer (f. Halsey) – The Chainsmokers (TCS)
No – Meghan Trainor
Work – Rihanna

“When The Beat Drops! – Best Dance Track”
Alone – Marshmello
Cold Water (f. Justin Bieber & MØ) – Major Lazer
Don’t Let Me Down (f. Daya) – The Chainsmokers (TCS)
Millionaire (f. Nelly) – Cash Cash & Digital Farm Animals
Never Forget You (f. MNEK) – Zara Larsson

“Heartbreak – Best Breakup Song”
I Hate U, I Love U (f. Olivia O’Brien) – Gnash
Make Me Cry (f. Labrinth) – Noah Cyrus
Shout Out To My Ex – Little Mix
Sorry – Justin Bieber
We Don’t Talk Anymore (f. Selena Gomez) – Charlie Puth

“Play It Again! – Radio Disney Country Favorite Song”
80s Mercedes – Maren Morris
From The Ground Up – Dan + Shay
H.O.L.Y. – Florida Georgia Line
Peter Pan – Kelsea Ballerini
Think of You (f. Cassadee Pope) – Chris Young

“The Bestest! – Radio Disney Country Favorite Artist”
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Kelsea Ballerini
Maddie & Tae
Sam Hunt

“The Freshest! – Radio Disney Country Best New Artist”
Lauren Alaina
Maren Morris
Old Dominion
RaeLynn
Temecula Road

“I’m With The Band! – Favorite Tour”
Hunter Hayes’ “21 Tour”
Justin Bieber’s “Purpose Tour”
Meghan Trainor’s “The Untouchable Tour”
Nick Jonas & Demi Lovato’s “Future Now Tour”
Selena Gomez’s “Revival Tour”

“Mashup! – Best Collaboration”
Beauty & The Beast – Ariana Grande & John Legend
We Don’t Talk Anymore – Charlie Puth & Selena Gomez
Bad Things – MGK X Camila Cabello
Just Hold On – Steve Aoki & Louis Tomlinson
I Don’t Wanna Live Forever – Zayn & Taylor Swift

Canals-Barrera to Star in CMT’s Pilot “His Wives and Daughters”

Posted on November 10, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Maria Canals-Barrera has gone country…

The 50-year-old Cuban American actress has booked a series regular role opposite Jane Seymour in CMT’s soapy, comedic pilot His Wives and Daughters.

Created and produced by Dina Chapman and Steve Sessions, the project centers on the eclectic and cunning wives and daughters of larger-than-life country music legend (and infamous womanizer) Eddie Ray Banks (Jeff Kober).

After his estranged family is brought together unexpectedly, tempers flare and old rivalries resurface, setting the stage for startling secrets to emerge as an unforgettable mystery begins to unfold.

Canals-Barrera will play Magdalena Guzman, Eddie’s housekeeper and personal assistant for nearly 30 years. She’s been his loyal confidante through multiple marriages and may know him better than anyone else, and also is hiding a big secret.

The Cristela and Wizards of Waverly Place alumna recently guest-starred on The Big Bang Theory.

Amazon to Debut Arias’ Comedy Pilot “Jean-Claude Van Johnson” in August

Posted on July 23, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Moises Arias is ready to chop and kick…

Amazon has set the lineup for its 2016 comedy pilot season, with the 22-year-old Colombian American actor and former Hannah Montana star’s project Jean-Claude Van Johnson scheduled to debut on August 19 in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria and Japan.

Starring martial arts film star Jean-Claude Van Damme, the pilot centers on “Jean-Claude Van Johnson,” a global martial arts and film sensation…and, operating under the simple alias of “Johnson,” the most dangerous undercover private contractor in the world. Lucky for the world’s bad guys, he’s been retired for years…unlucky for them, a chance encounter with a lost love is about to bring him back to the game…and this time, he’ll be deadlier than ever. Probably.

In addition to Van Damme and Arias, the project also stars Kat Foster and Phylicia Rashad

From Scott Free Productions, the pilot is directed by Peter Atencio and written by Dave Callaham.

Arias credits include television appearances on Wizards of Waverly Place, Everybody Hates Chris and The Suite Life on Deck, as well as an acclaimed role in the coming of age film The Kings of Summer.

Amazon customers can stream and review the pilots to help choose the next Amazon Original Series that will be available for Amazon Prime members.

The pilots will be available via the Amazon Video app for TVs, connected devices including Fire TV, and mobile devices, or online.

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