Jessica Pimentel to Star in Hulu’s Drama Pilot “Olga Dies Dreaming”

Jessica Pimentel is livin’ the dream(ing)

The 38-year-old Dominican American actress will star opposite Aubrey Plaza, Ramón Rodríguez and Wanda De Jesús in Olga Dies DreamingHulu’s one-hour drama pilot based on the novel by Xochitl Gonzalez.

Jessica Pimentel

The pilot for Olga Dies Dreaming, written by Gonzalez and to be directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, tells the story of a Nuyorican brother (Rodríguez) and sister (Plaza) from a gentrifying Sunset Park in Brooklyn who are reckoning with their absent, politically radical mother (De Jesús) and their glittering careers among New York City’s elite in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

Pimentel will play Mabel Ortiz, who is as street smart as she is book smart. She loves a good time; the first on a dance floor and the last off. She has opinions and isn’t afraid to express them, and she refuses to take the time to wrap them in a nice bow. Her big personality masks a more sensitive interior. She worships her cousin Prieto (Rodríguez) but, despite having been raised like sisters, her relationship with Olga (Plaza) is now more fraught.

Jesse Williams also stars.

Gomez-Rejon, who partnered with Gonzalez after reading her novel in manuscript form, executive produces the pilot; Plaza and Rodríguez are producing. 20th Television is the studio.

Pimentel is best known for her role as Maria Ruiz on all seven seasons of Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black.

Her other previous television credits include recurring roles on Law & Order: SVU and Person of Interest.

She can currently be seen in Theodore Schaefer’s feature Giving Birth to a Butterfly

Camila Cabello Brings “Cinderella” Character to James Corden’s “Crosswalk the Musical” Segment

Camila Cabello isn’t afraid to walk the (cross)walk

Late night television host James Corden has debuted another segment of his Crosswalk the Musical on The Late Late Show, and this time he welcomed the 24-year-old Cuban and Mexican singer/actress and their Cinderella co-stars Billy Porter and Idina Menzel.

Camila Cabello, Crosswalk the Musical

The segment opened with Corden dressed as the fairy godmother, quipping that he gave Porter the wrong address because he’s “intimidated.” “Billy Porter is the only actor I’ve ever encountered who is almost as talented as I am,” the late-night host joked.

Porter eventually joined Cabello and Menzel, immediately calling out Corden and reminding him that he’s “the only one that’s going to be playing the Fairy Godmother” whereas Corden can play “the rat” like he does in the film, to which Corden argued was a mouse.

The co-stars then changed into their characters from Amazon’s Cinderella and stopped traffic to perform songs from the film in the somewhat busy streets of Los Angeles. The Cinderella actors and singers sang along to a few of the tunes they cover in the musical, including the mash-up of Janet Jackson’s “Rhythm Nation” and Des’ree’s “You Gotta Be.”

A few drivers looked amused and confused while others appeared slightly annoyed that their commute was delayed.

The modern version of the classic fairy tale, now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, depicts the princess, played by Cabello, as an independent woman who is focused on achieving her fashion dreams. The jukebox musical features the cast’s versions of popular songs like Madonna’s “Material Girl,” Queen’s “Somebody to Love,” and Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect.” The film marks Cabello’s acting debut.

The segment ends with Porter, who plays the Fabulous Godparent dubbed “Fab G” in the film, turning Corden into an actual mouse. “Bibbidi-bobbidi bye bitch,” Porter says to the camera.

 

Amazon’s Cinderella is streaming now.

Penelope Cruz’s “Official Competition” Acquired for UK Distribution by Protagonist Pictures

Penelope Cruz’s latest project is headed to theaters in United Kingdom…

The 47-year-old Spanish Oscar-winning actress’ Spanish-language comedy Official Competition, co-starring Antonio Banderas and Oscar Martínez, has been acquired for UK distribution by Protagonist Pictures.

Penelope Cruz, Antonio Banderas, Official Competition

The announcement came ahead of the film’s world premiere at the Venice Film Festival.

In Official Competition, Oscar winner Cruz plays renowned filmmaker Lola Cuevas, who is recruited by a billionaire entrepreneur who impulsively decides to create an iconic movie. Banderas stars as Hollywood heartthrob Félix Rivero, and joining them is Argentinian actor Oscar Martínez (The Distinguished Citizen), who plays radical theatre actor Iván Torres.

The Spanish-language comedy, directed by Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat from a script they wrote with Andrés Duprat, will also screen in the Special Presentations section of the Toronto International Film Festival and will open this year’s Perlak Section at the San Sebastian Film Festival.

Produced by The Mediapro Studio, the film has already sold to a string of international indie buyers.

“We are incredibly excited to work with such a talented cast and such lauded directors. We’re thrilled to bring this hilarious and witty film to UK audiences at a time when it is much needed,” said Curzon officials.

Protagonist CCO George Hamilton added: “Our friends at Curzon have a prodigious record in delivering high-quality films to discerning UK audiences, making them the perfect partners to distribute this whip-smart comedy, led by A-list talent at the top of their game, and helmed by some of Spain’s most fiercely talented filmmakers. We know Official Competition is in the best hands possible.”

Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi to Return Full-Time for Recently Ordered Season 5 of “Jersey Shore Family Vacation”

Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi is taking a full-time vacation…

The 33-year-old Chilean American television personality will return as a full-fledged cast member for Season 5 of Jersey Shore Family Vacation, which has been renewed by MTV. Snooki only recurred in Season 4.

Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi

News of a renewal came as Jersey Shore Family Vacation wrapped up its fourth season tonight.

Per MTV, Jersey Shore Family Vacation claimed the No. 1 spot across key demos in its time period and earned a 9% L+3 share from the previous season.

Season 4 saw the roommates take over an entire resort and live in their very own COVID-19 bubble. The housemates for season four were Deena Nicole Cortese, Paul “Pauly D” Delvecchio,” Jenni “JWOWW” Farley, Vinny Guadagnino, Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, Angelina Pivarnick, and Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino.

In the Season 4 finale, Snooki had to clean up the mess made by Dren as the trip comes to an end. Meanwhile, Mike plans a second gender reveal even though everyone knows he’s having a boy. But, the real surprise is what happens when Angelina “accidentally” shoots off a gender reveal powder cannon in her husband’s face.

Jersey Shore Family Vacation is produced by SallyAnn Salsano and Frank Miccolis for 495 Productions. Jacquelyn French serves as executive producer for MTV.

Fat Joe to Face Off Against Ja Rule in All-New Verzuz Battle

Fat Joe is ready for a hip-hop battle…

The 51-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban American rapper will face off against Ja Rule in an all-new Verzuz battle on September 14.

Fat Joe

The friendly competition will take place in person, live from New York.

“The summer ain’t over!!” Verzuz co-creator Swizz Beatz wrote on Instagram revealing the news.

In a separate announcement post on Instagram, Ja Rule wrote, “#ICONN.” Meanwhile, Fat Joe captioned his identical post, “The price just went [up] @fatjoe @verzuz @jarule.”

This marks the first Verzuz battle since last month, when The LOX and Dipset hit the stage to deliver some fan-favorite hit songs.

Over the course of his decades-long career, Ja Rule has released eight No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 singles, including “Always On Time,” featuring Ashanti, which peaked at No. 1 in February 2002 and charted for 27 weeks. The hitmaker has released a total of 17 Hot 100 songs. His debut studio album, Venni Vetti Veccipeaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, where it charted for 31 weeks.

Fat Joe, who began his career in music as a member of hip-hop group Diggin’ in the Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.), released his debut solo album Represent in 1993. His single from the album, “Flow Joe,” reached No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart.

Fat Joe’s “What’s Luv?” featuring Ashanti and Ja Rule, peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Ja Rule’s collaborative hit track “New York,” featuring Fat Joe and Jadakiss, was a top 30 Hot 100 song. It peaked at No. 27 on the list in 2004, where it charted for 14 weeks.

Hip-hop fans can catch the newly announced Verzuz battle between Fat Joe and Ja Rule on September 14 at 9:00 pm ET, which will be available for live streaming via the Triller app, FITE TV or on the Verzuz TV Instagram account.

Zetna Fuentes Among Directors for Hulu’s “The Girl From Plainville”

Zetna Fuentes is headed to Plainville

The Emmy-nominated Latina director will direct two episodes of Hulu’s limited series The Girl From Plainville, starring Elle Fanning, Colton Ryan, Chloë Sevigny and Norbert Leo Butz.

Zetna Fuentes

Fuentes joins a roster of directors for the project that includes series co-creator Liz Hannah, Pippa Bianco and Lisa Cholodenko.

The series hails from Hannah and Dr. Death exec producer Patrick Macmanus and UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group.

Written by Hannah and Macmanus and produced by UCP, The Girl From Plainville stars Fanning as Michelle Carter and is inspired by the true story of her controversial “texting suicide” case. Based off the Esquire article by Jesse Barron, the limited series will explore Carter’s relationship with Conrad “Coco” Roy III (Ryan) and the events that led to his death and, later, her controversial conviction of involuntary manslaughter.

Fuentes is an NAACP Image Award and three-time Daytime Emmy nominated television and theater director.

 

Enrique Iglesias to Release “Final” Album This Month

It’s the Final countdown for Enrique Iglesias

During a live Q&A on Friday, September 3, the 46-year-old Spanish singer/songwriter announced that his forthcoming album, titled Final, could be his last.

Enrique Iglesias

Iglesias revealed the news to Ricky Martin and Sebastián Yatra, and their millions of followers on Instagram, during a live chat to promote their upcoming tour set to kick off later this month.

Final is set for release on September 17.

“It might be my final album,” the “Bailando” singer told them. “It’s not something that I have been thinking about for the past few months. It’s something that I have been thinking about for the past few years. There’s going to be Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, but they’re final. I’m in that moment in my life, that chapter in my life, where I think it’s the right time to put it out and I’ve been thinking about this since 2015.”

Although it might be his last album, Iglesias reassured fans that it doesn’t mean he’ll stop making music. “I’m never going to stop writing songs because I love writing songs, but I’m going to do it in a different way — meaning they don’t necessarily have to be packaged as an album — so this project to me is important.”

Final Vol. 1 will be Iglesias’ 11th studio album and will follow 2014’s Sex and Love, which peaked at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Latin Albums chart (dated April 4, 2014).

Mike Bahía Partners with Lenny Tavarez to Release New Single “Colorao”

Mike Bahía is seeing red

The 35-year-old Colombian singer has teamed up with Lenny Tavárez to release the new track “Colorao,” which is slang for red in Spanish.

Mike Bahía & Lenny Tavarez

A slow-tempo single with reggaeton beats, the collaboration offers a combination of Bahía’s romance with Tavárez’s sensuality.

The song came into Bahia’s hands thanks to the Colombian producer and composer Sky Rompiendo.

It was re-written by Bahía, Cauty, Sky Rompiendo, JuanJha, Nina, Spreadlof, Eudis and Tavárez.

The lyrics of the song reflect the earnest hope of a young love who seeks to spend the rest of his days with the one he loves: “All I want is to live by your side/as an old man with red eyes/because of all the kisses you gave me; I’m, I’m in love.”

Luis Gerardo Méndez to Star in Netflix’s Comedy “Me Time”

Luis Gerardo Méndez is ready for a little me time

The 39-year-old Mexican actor and producer has joined the cast of the Netflix comedy Me Time starring Kevin Hart and Mark Wahlberg.

Luis Gerardo Méndez

Jimmy O. Yang and Regina Hall are also on board.

John Hamburg will write and direct the film, with Hamburg also producing through his Particular Pictures along with Hart and Bryan Smiley for HartBeat Productions. Hart first announced the casting on his social media.

The film follows a stay-at-home dad (Hart) who finds himself with some “me time” for the first time in years while his wife and kids are away. He reconnects with his former best friend (Wahlberg) for a wild weekend that nearly upends his life.

Méndez recently executive produced and starred in the comedy Half Brothers, which was released theatrically on December 4, 2020. He will be seen next in season 3 of Netflix’s Narcos: Mexico and in Los Enviados, the first series to be co-produced with Academy Award-winning director and screenwriter, Juan José Campanella, and his production company 100 Bares.

Rosalía Teams Up with Tokischa for Flirty New Single “Linda”

Rosalía is back with a fierce and flirty new track…

The 27-year-old Spanish Grammy-winning singer and songwriter has joined voices with Dominican up-and-comer Tokischa to release the new certified bop “Linda.”

Rosalía x Tokischa

With ultimate BFF vibes, Rosalia and Tokischa confess that friends who kiss make for the best company.

“You are pretty, I am ruling, we kiss but we are homies,” they sing on the dembow anthem with underlying flamenco claps.

“She is a great inspiration to me,” Tokischa said in a statement. “Rosalía is a very disciplined, hard-working and lovely person. She is like an angel. I am very grateful for this opportunity to learn and grow.”