Nina Lopez-Corrado Among New Directors for Season 2 of HBO’s “The Last of Us”

Posted on February 27, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Nina Lopez-Corrado is preparing for her own Last hurrah…

The Latina producer/director is among the directors set to helm season two of HBO’s acclaimed drama series The Last of Us.

Lopez-Corrado, who directed episodes of Perry Mason, is one of four new directors to board the post-apocalyptic zombie drama series, along with

Mark Mylod (Succession), Stephen Williams (Watchmen) and Kate Herron (Loki).

They join returning directors Peter Hoar, who was Emmy nominated for helming Season 1’s poignant Episode 3, “Long, Long Time,” as well as The Last Of Us co-creators, executive producers and showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann who will once again take on directing duties too.

It’s unclear whether any of the seven helmers will direct multiple episodes; Season 1 consisted of nine episodes helmed by seven directors.

In addition to directing multiple episodes of Perry Mason and The Nevers at HBo, At HBO, Lopez-Corrado’s other credits also ABC’s A Million Little Things, on which she served as producing director.

In its first season, The Last of Us earned 24 Emmy nominations, winning eight trophies.

Production on Season 2 is slated to begin next month in Vancouver.

Christina Ochoa Developing Sci-Fi Series “Empty Earth” with Freeform Studios

Posted on September 11, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Christina Ochoa is running on empty…

The 37-year-old Spanish actress, science communicator and producer is developing the sci-fi series Empty Earth, based on the Rick McManus book series of the same name, with Freedom Studios.

In Empty Earth, climate change has forced humanity to a dystopian bargain: seek safety, or risk everything to find the answers. The book trilogy is post-apocalyptic adventure series, with an empowered female protagonist, wrapped in an epic of love, family, and survival with science at the forefront.

“Freedom is constantly searching for great stories, great people, and content that matters. We knew this book needed to be brought to life. We are thrilled to be in partnership with QE Productions; we believe this will become one of the most impactful shows on TV,” said Salazar.

“I would partner with Freedom on pretty much anything… but the fact that they brought us such an epic, sci-fi, adventure show made it a project we not only want as filmmakers – but one we need as audiences,” added Ochoa.

Executive producers include Julia Carias-Linares, Meiling Macias-Toro, and Johanna Salazar from Freedom Studios and Ochoa, Jessica Heath, and Karen Goro from QE Productions. Freedom Studios is leading the project.

Ochoa is notably recognized for her role as Renn Randall in John Well’s Animal Kingdom, which recently concluded its six-season run on TNT. Additionally, she starred in ABC’s Promised Land from Matt Lopez and Adam Kolbrenner.

Her additional credits include CW’s Valor, ABC’s A Million Little Things, and NBC’s Blood Drive. Her company QE Productions focuses on STEM-infused content.

Freedom Studios is an award-winning, Latina-owned media company focusing on thought-provoking projects with strong female leads, and social awareness.

ABC Renews James Roday Rodriguez’s “A Million Little Things” for Fifth Season

Posted on May 14, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

James Roday Rodriguez has a million little reasons to smile…

ABC has picked up the ensemble drama A Million Little Things, starring the 46-year-old Mexican American actor, for a fifth season.

While the network hasn’t confirmed Season 5 will be the final season, it’s believed its will be the closing chapter of the DJ Nash-created series.

In addition to Rodriguez, the core cast includes David Giuntoli, Romany Malco, Allison Miller, Christina Moses and Grace Park.

The Season 4 finale will air on May 18.

A Million Little Things has drawn praise for its depiction of complex issues like mental health. The series is a soft live viewing performer but excels in DVR viewing and streaming audiences.

A Million Little Things ranks as the #1 gainer in L+7 Day playback on the major networks this season in Adults 18-49 (+133%), tying ABC’s Big Sky.

In fact, A Million Little Things is one of only two broadcast programs this season to more than double its initial Live+Same Day Adult 18-49 rating after seven days of linear playback. After 35 days of viewing across all linear and digital platforms, AMLT is ABC’s #1 delayed-viewing gainer this season in Total Viewers (+249%) and Adults 18-49 (+547%), soaring more than six times over its initial A18-49 Live+Same Day rating. In Live+Same Day, the series has been hovering over the 0.2 18-49 ratings mark.

The series revolves around a tight-knit group of friends from Boston who become motivated to living fuller lives after the unexpected death of a close friend.

Nash is the creator and executive producer for the series, from ABC Signature and Kapital Entertainment. Joanna Kerns is the producing director.‘

In the Season 4 finale, the strength of Maggie and Gary’s relationship is put to the test once again. Rome makes a sacrifice for a student in distress, Theo turns to an unlikely source to help his mom through a rough patch, and Eddie learns a shocking secret about Anna.

Floriana Lima to Star in NBC’s Drama Pilot “Blank Slate”

Posted on March 28, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Floriana Lima is going blank…

The 41-year-old part-Spanish American actress has been cast as one of the leads in NBC’s Blank Slate, a drama pilot from Dean Georgaris, John Fox, Davis Entertainment and Universal Television.

The series is created by Georgaris and Fox, written by Georgaris and will be directed by Richard Shepard.

Blank Slate draws some parallels to Davis Entertainment’s long-running NBC series The Blacklist.

In Blank Slate, Special Agent Alexander McCoy is a legend in law enforcement, the agent we all hope is out there, the agent we’d all like to be. The only issue is — he doesn’t actually exist. He’s a ghost, a phantom. So what happens when a man claiming to be Alexander McCoy walks through the door with all of his skills and knowledge but with an agenda nobody will see coming?

Lima plays Maya Logan, the seasoned head of a team of Homeland Security agents who’s always a step ahead of everyone else.

Georgaris executive produces via his Georgaris Inc. banner; John Davis and John Fox executive produce for Davis Entertainment. Shepard also executive produces. Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, is the studio.

Lima recently starred in the third season of ABC’s drama A Million Little Things.

She previously was seen in the second season of Netflix and Marvel’s The Punisher, opposite Jon Bernthal.

She joined the CW’s Supergirl in the second season, starring as special crimes investigator Maggie Sawyer, one of the first openly gay characters in mainstream comics.

Christina Ochoa Teaming Up with Inner Child Production Banner for “Around The World In 80 Dates”

Posted on July 14, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a world of excitement for Christina Ochoa.

The 36-year-old Spanish actress and Animal Kingdom star is partnering with Emmy-winning production designer David Korins and his Inner Child production banner for Around The World In 80 Dates.

Inner Child has acquired the romance experiment show to co-develop and executive produce alongside Ochoa. Around The World in 80 Dates is a cross-cultural exploration of international romance, courtship rituals and love.

Ochoa appears in TNT’s Animal Kingdom as Renn Randall. She has landed a spot in ABC’s Matt Lopez drama Promised Land. Her additional credits include ABC’s A Million Little Things, CW’s Valor and NBC’s Blood Drive.

Korins is both an Emmy winner and Tony Award nominee. He earned his Emmy for Outstanding Production Design for a Variety Special in 2019 for that year’s Oscars ceremony. In 2016 he nabbed his first scenic design Tony nom for Hamilton. On year later he received a nomination for his work on War Paint and in 2019 earned a Best Scenic Design of a Musical nomination for Beetlejuice.

ABC Orders 20 Episodes of James Roday Rodriguez’s “A Million Little Things” for Season

Posted on June 10, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

There are more things in James Roday Rodriguez’s future than originally anticipated…

Series creator/executive producer DJ Nash has announced the super-sized episode count for Season 4 of ABC’s A Million Little Things, starring the 45-year-old Mexican American actor, director, screenwriter and for former Psych star.

“We’re doing 20 episodes this year,” Nash tells Deadline.com. “It’s the biggest season we’ve ever had.”

The serialized drama about a tight-knit group of friends produced 17 episodes in Season 1, 19 in Season 2 and 18 in the COVID-19-impacted Season 3.

Nash pointed to the large order as a sign that ABC has confidence in the series’ long-term prospects.

“With us getting a 20-episode order, it doesn’t feel like that ABC wants this to be our last season,” he said.

Rodriguez portrays Gary Mendez on the series.

ABC Renews James Roday Rodriguez’s “A Million Little Things” for Fourth Season

Posted on May 16, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

James Roday Rodriguez has a million little reasons to smile…

ABC has ordered a fourth season of A Million Little Things, starring the 45-year-old Mexican American actor.

A Million Little Things has seen solid ratings this season, growing to a 2.57 rating this season among adults 18-49 after 35 days of delayed viewing across linear and digital platforms, nearly five times its Live+Same Day rating (0.54 rating).

In addition, A Million Little Things picks up another 5.47 million total viewers with 35 days of multiplatform viewing to average 8.86 million viewers this season.

Written by DJ Nash, the ensemble drama series revolves around a group of friends from Boston who bonded under unexpected circumstances.

It stars David Giuntoli as Eddie Saville, Romany Malco as Rome Howard, Allison Miller as Maggie Bloom, Christina Moses as Regina Howard, Grace Park as Katherine Saville, Rodriguez as Gary Mendez, Stephanie Szostak as Delilah Dixon, Tristan Byon as Theo Saville, Lizzy Greene as Sophie Dixon, Chance Hurstfield as Danny Dixon and Floriana Lima as Darcy Cooper.

Christina Ochoa to Star in Matt Lopez’s Latinx Family Drama Pilot “Promised Land”

Posted on March 29, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

There’s plenty of promise in Christina Ochoa’s future…

The 36-year-old Spanish actress and Animal Kingdom star is set as a lead in ABC’s Promised Land, Matt Lopez’s Latinx family drama pilot.

Formerly titled American Heritage, the project is an epic, generation-spanning drama about two Latinx families vying for wealth and power in California’s Sonoma Valley.

Ochoa will play Veronica Sandoval, the eldest daughter of the Sandovals, a wealthy vineyard-owning family in the Sonoma Valley. Veronica is the highly capable heir to the Heritage Wines empire and her father Joe’s trusted Number Two. But her drive and ambition have left her with some glaring personal blindspots, and Veronica’s seemingly perfect life soon starts to unravel.

Lopez writes and executive produces. Adam Kolbrenner of Lit Entertainment Group also exec produces. ABC Signature is the studio.

Up next for Ochoa is Boon, the western sequel film from Yellowstone’s Neal McDonough. She stars as Renn Randall in TNT’s Animal Kingdom, which was recently renewed for a sixth and final season, and as Ashley Morales in ABC’s A Million Little Things. She has also appeared in Valor, Blood Drive, Matador and I Hate My Teenage Daughter.

Christina Ochoa to Star in the Western “Boon”

Posted on February 16, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Boon goes the dynamite for Christina Ochoa…

The 36-year-old Spanish actress will star in Boon, the upcoming western sequel film from Yellowstone’s Neal McDonough.

Boon is a spiritual sequel to the movie Red Stone that takes place in the distant future and picks up with henchman Nick Boon (McDonough) trying to get on with his life. At the same time we learn, our Preacher, the widowed Catherine, played by Christiane Seidel, is busy trying to protect herself and her son from a local criminal organization that is using her land for some unusual activities. When Boon and Catherine’s lives cross paths they find themselves leaning on each other to protect everything they stand for.

Derek Presley, who directed the first installment returns to helm Boon and is co-writing.

In addition to Ochoa, the film features Jake Melrose, James Madio, and John Patrick Jordan. Stephen Endelman is lending his musical talents for the film’s score.

Ochoa recently starred as Renn Randall in TNT’s Animal Kingdom and as Ashely Morales in ABC’s A Million Little Things.

She has also appeared in Valor, Blood Drive, Matador and I Hate My Teenage Daughter.

James Roday Rodriguez Developing “Good Serial” Series at 20th Century Fox Television

Posted on July 20, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

James Roday Rodriguez is feelin’ Good…

The 44-year-old Mexican American actor and Psych star, who recently changed his stage name, has teamed up with frequent collaborator Todd Harthan on Good Serial, a darkly twisted, genre mashing comedy project.

It has been set up at 20th Century Fox Television, where The Resident showrunner Harthan is under an overall deal.

Written by Roday Rodriguez and Harthan, Good Serial is centered on a trio of roommates, bonded by tragedy, who become vigilantes serving cold dishes of revenge in the spirit of Dexter and Three’s Company.

As a writing team, Roday Rodriguez and Harthan, previously collaborated on the feature films Gravy(2015), directed by Roday Rodriguez, and Skinwalkers (2006) as well as the Treehouse episode of Hulu’s Into the Dark anthology (also directed by Roday Rodriguez).

Additionally, Roday Rodriguez and Harthan worked together on the long-running USA Network dramedy series Psych, starring and produced by Roday Rodriguez, where the duo wrote multiple horror-themed episodes over the four seasons Hartahan worked on the show as consulting producer and co-executive producer.

“Todd and I have been horror hounds since we were kids. The genre feels more fluid than ever and this was an opportunity to take another unorthodox swing,” Roday Rodriguez said.

Roday Rodriguez stars in the ABC drama A Million Little Thingsfor 20th Century Television sibling ABC Studios and in Peacock’s Psych 2: Lassie Come Home, which he also co-wrote and executive-produced. He also has directed multiple episodes of The Resident.

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