Becky G In Talks to Star in Peacock’s Drama Series “Queen of Flow”

Becky G may be going with the flow on Peacock 

The streamer is developing drama series Queen of Flow, a premium adaptation of Caracol Television’s Colombian telenovelaLa Reina Del Flow, with the 26-year-old Mexican American singer and actress in early talks to lead the series.

Becky GJorge Reyes is attached to pen the script for the project, from Westbrook Studios and Universal Television.

Queen of Flow is a revenge tale/music drama about a young singer-songwriter named Yeimi — the role Becky G is in talks for — who rises to fame in the music world and finds a star-crossed love with the superstar scion of a powerful family. But on her rise to the top, dark secrets are discovered about both Yeimi and the family she’s made her own that set them on a collision course towards a reckoning that could destroy them all.

The premise is described as a “Count of Monte Cristo-esque tale set against the backdrop of Latin music.”

The series is a co-production between Westbrook Studios and UTV.

Reyes served as a writer/producer on the hit crime drama Queen Of The South for the USA network. He was also the creator/co-executive producer of the legal dramedy Kevin Hill, starring Taye Diggs and Christina Hendricks.

He began his writing career on Dick Wolf’s police drama New York Undercover, Aaron Spelling’s paramedic drama Rescue 77, and the Showtime original series Resurrection Blvd. Currently, Reyes is developing a Fat Joe project with Kenya Barris at Showtime.

Becky G’s previous acting credits include Power Rangers, Gnome Alone and Good Mourning.

Cardi B Celebrates Vodka-Infused Whipshots Sales Milestone

Cardi B is whipping things up in the alcohol business…

The 30-year-old half-Dominican American Grammy-winning rap superstar’s voda-infused whipped cream Whipshots has sold more than 2 million cans and expanded into new markets, the brand has announced.

Whipshots by Cardi B“We just went double platinum! We’re not playing around when we say Whipshots is the best,” Cardi said in a statement. “Boozy and beautiful since day one, and two million cans later, there is no slowing us down. I love the fans supporting our brand – let’s keep this party going!”

Cardi B partnered with Starco Brands to release the boozy, non-dairy whipped cream, which sold its first million cans in just 10 months and went on to sell another million cans four months later.

Whipshots retail for $5.99 for the smaller, 50-milliliter can, while the larger, 200-milliliter can is $14.99.

“The overwhelming demand for Whipshots across the U.S. has been astounding and is a true testament to what’s possible when you have an incredible product and best-in-class retail partners,” noted Starco Brands CEO Ross Sklar.

Cardi B and Starco launched Whipshots in December 2021 with vanilla, mocha and caramel flavors. A limited-edition peppermint flavor was released around the holidays last year.

In addition to reaching a sales milestone, Whipshots has expanded into 26 markets around the U.S. including new states such as Delaware, Georgia, New Jersey and Tennessee.

The brand picked up new retail partners as well, including Meijer, AlbertsonsWalmartVons, Rouses, Woodman’s and Giant Eagle.

Whipshots are also available online at Total Wine & More and through delivery apps such as InstacartDoor DashDrizzly and GoPuff.

Although she’s not the only recording artist to sell booze, Cardi opened up about her vision for Whipshots in an interview with Complex last year.

“I feel like if it was just mediocre, people would just be like, ‘Ah, whatever.’ Things are always going to sell when you have hard-core fans, but I wanted this to be big,” she said at the time. “Like, bigger than life, and that is always the goal. So I believe in my product. I love my product. It’s delicious and it’s very strong. And I feel like everybody keeps giving me positive feedback.”

Marisé Álvarez to Star in the Dark Comedy “Evilou”

Marisé Álvarez has lined up her next project…

The Puerto Rican actress will star in the Night Kitchen Films and Phillm Productions’ dark comedy Evilou.

Marisé Álvarez,Alvarez will star opposite Margaret Cho and DJ Qualls in the project.

This is the feature directorial debut of Andrew Zappin, who also penned the script.

Production is now underway in Los Angeles with the film slated for release in 2024 with North American and international rights still available.

Evilou is a dark comedy love story about Lou Vile (Qualls) – a bitter, shock-jock podcaster who has devoted his life to waging war on love. When he falls for a charming single-mother (Álvarez), Lou decides to undergo a personality-altering medical procedure in a desperate attempt to win her affection. Cho joins the cast as the hip and enlightened boss at Earwig Media, Lou’s dream job that rejects him before his life-changing procedure.

“Andrew Zappin has written an incredibly unique and refreshing script that captures the absurdity of the human condition” says producer David J. Phillips, “and we’re delighted that the incredibly underrated DJ Qualls is the film’s lead. Coupling his talent with the rooted emotional range of Marisé Álvarez and now the comedic genius of Margaret Cho puts us in perfect position to bring Andrew’s fun and thought-provoking script to its full potential.”

Alvarez’s previous credits include Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Resort and Che: Part One.

Yul Vazquez to Star in MGM+’s Crime Thriller “Hotel Cocaine”

Yul Vazquez is checking into his next project…

The 58-year-old Cuban-American actor and musician is set as a lead opposite Danny Pino and Michael Chiklis in Hotel Cocaine, MGM+’s upcoming crime thriller from creator Chris Brancato.

Yul Vazquez

Hotel Cocaine is the story of Roman Compte (Pino), a Cuban expatriate who fought against Fidel Castro in the Bay of Pigs invasion and re-made his life in Miami. He is general manager of the Mutiny Hotel, the glamorous epicenter of the Miami cocaine scene of late ‘70s and early ‘80s. The Mutiny Hotel was Casablanca on cocaine, a glitzy nightclub, restaurant and hotel frequented by Florida businessmen and politicians, international narcos, CIA and FBI agents, models, sports stars and musicians.

Vazquez will play Nestor Cabal, Roman Compte’s (Pino) brother and one of the biggest suppliers of cocaine to a coke-hungry Miami population. He’s dangerous, funny, wily, and seeking reunion with his long-lost brother.

Chiklis plays Agent Zulio who will stop at nothing to shut down the drug trade, even if it means using innocent civilians to accomplish his ends.

Brancato serves as executive producer and showrunner. Guillermo Navarro will direct the pilot episode and executive produce the series, with Michael Panes and Alfredo Barrios Jr. also serving as executive producers.

The eight-episode series from MGM+ Studios, in partnership with MGM Television, will begin production in May in the Dominican Republic, and is slated to premiere in early 2024.

Vazquez will next be seen in the HBO Max limited series White House Plumbers, opposite Woody Harrelson and Justin Theroux. He was most recently seen on season 3 of the MGM+ series Godfather of Harlem opposite Forest Whitaker and in the Emmy-nominated Apple TV+ series, Severance, directed by Ben Stiller.

His other credits include Jason Bateman’s HBO series The Outsider, ABC’s Promised Land, Netflix’s Russian DollTNT miniseries I Am The Night and HBO’s Succession, among others.

His film work includes Books of Blood, Last Flag Flying, Gringo, Traffic and The Infiltrator.

Uncork’ed Entertainment Acquires Danny Trejo’s “The Curse Of Wolf Mountain” for U.S. Digital & DVD Release

Danny Trejo will be spreading his curse across the U.S. this May…

The action-horror film The Curse Of Wolf Mountain, featuring the 78-year-old Mexican American actor and Tobin Bell in the cast, has been acquired by Uncork’d Entertainment for a U.S. digital and DVD release in May.

Danny TrejoKeli Price wrote and stars in the horror film while David Lipper, who also features in the cast, directs.

Price plays a man who starts to have vivid dreams about his parents’ death and decides to return to the remote mountain spot where they were killed, with his brother and his brother’s family.

Further cast members include Eddie McClintock and Fernanda Romero, alongside Trejo and Bell.

Working under the banner of Latigo Films, Lipper also recently took writing and producing credits on the action thriller Hunt Club, starring Mickey Rourke and Mena Suvari, which Uncork’d Entertainment also acquired.

“It’s great to be back in business again with producer, actor and filmmaker David Lipper following the successful release of Hunt Club. While very different from the latter, The Curse Of Wolf Mountain is no less as thrilling and star-studded,” said Uncork’d Entertainment President Keith Leopard.

Christina Aguilera Joins Playground Lube Brand to Help Promote Sexual Wellness

Christina Aguilera is breaking new (play)ground

The 42-year-old half-Ecuadorian American Grammy-winning singer, a long-time advocate for female empowerment, has taken on a new role as co-founder and chief brand advisor for the sexual wellness brand Playground.

Christina AguileraThrough this collaboration, Aguilera is hoping to de-stigmatize the conversation around intimacy via a range of products that includes scented personal lubricants with names such as “Love Sesh,” “Date Night” (champagne & vanilla scented) and “Mini Escape” (coconut & sandalwood).

“Sex is an essential part of our overall wellness, and @hello.playground is here to remind you that EVERY part of your body, not just your hair or your face, deserves to be pampered,” Aguilera wrote in an Instagram post announcing her collaboration.

In another post, Aguilera said she’s spent her whole career encouraging everyone, “but especially women,” to feel empowered while owning their sexuality. “The better you feel about yourself, the better you can live your life and own EVERY capacity of it!” she wrote. “I am so proud to be a co-founder of @hello.playground an amazing women-owned brand that’s committed to making sexual wellness products more accessible and ✨FUN✨ for all!”

The products from the woman-owned brand — which also include the musk and oxwood-scented “After Hours” lubricant — can be ordered discreetly from home. In a statement on their site, the company promises that their “full-sensory” products spark “all five senses and multiple erogenous zones — enhancing your mood, mind and libido. Intentionally designed for a woman’s unique needs and desires, our proprietary formulas contain innovative biotech formulations and chemistry-enhancing ingredients.”

The plant-based products feature natural ingredients, are pH-balanced, vegan and 100% transparent, so users can see what they are putting into their bodies. They are also sustainably sourced, with bottles and caps that are made of 50% post-consumer recycled plastic and boxes made from 30% post-consumer waste.

Lionel Messi Becomes Only Third Male Soccer Player to Surpass 100 International Goals

Lionel Messi is in elite company…

The 35-year-old Argentine soccer star has became just the third male player to surpass 100 international goals, scoring a hat trick to blow past the century mark in the first half of Argentina‘s friendly with Curacao on Tuesday in Santiago del Estero.

Lionel MessiThe Paris Saint-Germain forward picked up the ball in the middle of the area, cut to his right hit a low shot past the keeper to hit the remarkable career milestone. He then added to his tally before halftime with another trademark, bending strike, before adding a third on the counter-attack to take his total to 102.

Messi passed the 100-goal mark in his 174th appearance for his country, after netting his 99th international goal — and 800th of his career — in Thursday’s 2-0 win against Panama.

He’s the first South American male player to hit the 100-goal mark and second South American overall behind Brazil’s Marta, who has 109 for country.

The game against Curacao was the second since they lifted the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in December, Argentina’s first world title in 36 years.

Messi remains third on the all-time men’s list of leading international scorers behind Portugal‘s Cristiano Ronaldo, who achieved the century of goals in September of 2020, and now has 120, and Iran‘s Ali Daei, who scored 109 before retiring in 2007.

Almost half (46) of Messi’s goals have come in international friendlies. The former Barcelona forward has scored 28 goals in World Cup qualifiers, including a hat trick in a 3-1 win at Ecuador in October 2017 that secured Argentina passage to the 2018 World Cup.

Messi has scored 13 times in the Copa America and he is the highest goalscorer for Argentina at World Cup competitions, having netted 13 goals in 26 matches spanning five editions, starting in 2006.

A record seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, Messi made his Argentina debut in August 2005 in a 2-1 win at Hungary, a game in which he was sent off after just two minutes. He scored his first international goal a year later in his sixth appearance against Croatia.

He registered a goal and an assist within 13 minutes of his World Cup debut with Argentina at 18-years-old in a 6-0 win over Serbia and Montenegro at the 2006 World Cup.

While Messi did not score in the 2021 Copa America final triumph over rivals Brazil at the Maracana stadium, his first major trophy with Argentina.

He netted seven times in the World Cup in Qatar. Two of which came against France in the final.

The Rosario-born player will have an opportunity to add to his goal tally when Argentina host Curacao in a friendly on March 28.

Mariah Carey to Co-Headline This Year’s L.A. Pride in the Park

Mariah Carey will be livin’ with Pride this summer…

This upcoming Pride Month, the 52-year-old half-Venezuelan American Grammy-winning songstress will serve as a headliner alongside Megan Thee Stallion at L.A. Pride.

Mariah CareyL.A. Pride organizers have announced that the two superstars will serve as the headliners for 2023’s L.A. Pride in the Park event.

 

Taking place at Los Angeles State Historic Park over two days, Pride in the Park will feature the “WAP” rapper leading the show on Friday, June 9, while the Elusive Chanteuse will receive top-billing for Saturday, June 10. Additional artists have yet to be announced for the concert.

In a statement posted to her Instagram, Carey celebrated the news under a poster of herself and Megan. “I’m thrilled and honored to be a part of LA Pride 2023,” she wrote. “I am happy to be back in-person celebrating with the LGBTQIA+ community here in Southern California and throughout all of the lands!!! Let’s come together to celebrate love, inclusion, and Pride.”

The “Savage” rapper also put out a statement, writing, “I can’t wait to headline LA Pride in the Park and celebrate the phenomenal LGBTQIA+ community. This incredible event advocates for diversity, inclusivity and equality, so I’m honored to perform and have a blast with all of the Hotties in attendance.”

Along with announcing the pair of artists as this year’s headliners, L.A. Pride also shared that the official theme of the festivities this year is “All Out With Pride,” aiming to celebrate “the LGBTQIA+ community’s diversity, resilience, and joy,” according to a statement.

“Mariah Carey and Megan Thee Stallion are the perfect artists to headline L.A. Pride in the Park this year as we expand to two days,” L.A. Pride’s board president Gerald Garth said in a statement. “These empowering and iconic women are sure to take the stage by storm to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community and will undoubtedly make this year’s L.A. Pride in the Park an unforgettable experience.”

Last year’s L.A. Pride festivities culminated in a headlining Pride in the Park set from Christina Aguilera, which featured guest appearances from stars like Mya, Kim Petras and Paris Hilton. “I’m so proud to call you my family,” Xtina said during her set last year. “You are a part of me and I’m so happy to bring this to you.”

Tickets for 2023’s L.A. Pride in the Park are now available to purchase on the L.A.Pride website.

Kid Cudi Joins Voice Cast of Trolls Threequel “Trolls Band Together”

Kid Cudi is on a t(roll)

The 39-year-old half-Mexican American rapper, singer, songwriter record producer and actor has joined the voice cast of Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation’s next Trolls film.

Kid Cudi The studios have unveiled the official title for the third film in their hit animated musical franchise, which opens in theaters nationwide on November 17.

Returning to lead the threequel, Trolls Band Together, as expected, are Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick.

In addition to Kid Cudi, others set for the film include Eric André, Daveed Diggs, Troye SivanCamila Cabello, Amy Schumer, Andrew Rannells, RuPaul Charles, Zosia Mamet, Zooey Deschanel, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Icona Pop collaborators Aino Jawo and Caroline Hjelt, Anderson .Paak, Ron Funches , Kunal Nayyar and Kenan Thompson.

Trolls is a jukebox musical franchise that has thus far grossed over $396M worldwide between 2016’s Trolls, which landed a Best Original Song Oscar nom for the Timberlake-voiced pop hit “Can’t Stop the Feeling,” and 2020’s somewhat pandemic-hampered Trolls World Tour.

The new film will pick up with trolls Poppy (Kendrick) and Branch (Timberlake) after two films of true friendship and relentless flirting, at a point when they’re now officially, finally, a couple (#broppy)! As they grow closer, Poppy discovers that Branch has a secret past. He was once part of her favorite boyband phenomenon, BroZone, with his four brothers: Floyd (Sivan), John Dory (André), Spruce (Diggs) and Clay (Cudi).

BroZone disbanded when Branch was still a baby, as did the family, and Branch hasn’t seen his brothers since. But when Branch’s bro Floyd is kidnapped for his musical talents by a pair of nefarious pop-star villains —Velvet (Schumer) and Veneer (Rannells) — Branch and Poppy embark on a harrowing and emotional journey to reunite the other brothers and rescue Floyd from a fate even worse than pop-culture obscurity.

Walt Dohrn returned to direct Trolls Band Together after helming both past installments, with Trolls World Tour’s head of story Tim Heitz coming aboard as co-director, and Gina Shay returning as producer.

Antonio Díaz Headed to Broadway for Limited Two-Week Engagement This Summer

Antonio Díaz is headed to the Great White Way

The 37-year-old Spanish illusionist, better known by his stage name El Mago Pop, is bringing his show to Broadway this summer, with a limited two-week engagement set for August.

Diaz, one of Europe’s highest grossing illusionists, will begin two weeks of performances at Broadway’s Ethel Barrymore Theatre on Thursday, August 17.

“Performing on Broadway has been a lifelong dream,” Díaz said in a statement, “and it will undoubtedly be the biggest challenge of my career. I am certain it will be a life altering experience that I will remember for the rest of time.”

Díaz is one of the most successful illusionists in Europe and is among Spain’s top grossing performers.

Nearly three million theater-goers have seen Díaz in performance, and his Netflix shows Magic for Humans and La Gran Ilusion are broadcast in nearly 200 countries.

El Mago Pop features Diaz’s close-up magic and, according to the announcement, “his most unusual & spectacular illusions.”