Ortiz to Star Opposite Daniella Alonso in ABC’s Drama Pilot “Las Reinas”

Posted on March 22, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Shalim Ortiz is ready to Reinas in Hollywood…

The Puerto Rican singer/actor has landed a series regular role opposite Daniella Alonso in Las Reinas, ABC’s drama pilot from feature writer Dean Georgaris, ABC Studios and the Mark Gordon Co.

Written by Georgaris and directed by Liz Friedlander, Las Reinas centers on Detective Alex de la Reina (Alonso), who is forced to confront her past when a case compels her to reconnect with her estranged family – the most powerful criminal outfit in Miami. Thrust back into the world she thought she had left behind, Alex must walk the murky line between the law and her family, and question her true destiny as a de la Reina.

Ortiz will play Diego de la Reina, Alex’s (Alonso) brother. Diego has grown up under his grandmother’s supervision and enjoys the power and prestige of being a de la Reina. When he sees his sister again after years of estrangement, they clash over her re-appearance and his increasing role in the crime family.

Ortiz played Alejandro Herrera on Heroes and recently recurred on Ballers.

Ybarra to Star in ABC’s Drama Pilot “The Gospel of Kevin”

Posted on March 9, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Dustin Ybarra is preachin’ new heights…

The Latino stand up comedian and actor has been cast as a series regular on ABC’s The Gospel of Kevin, an hourlong drama pilot from ABC Studios.

The project is a light one-hour about Kevin (Jason Ritter), a down-on-his-luck man who is tasked by God with a mission to save the world. Kevin is a cluelessly self-serving jerk who’s on a dangerous path to despair. After a failed suicide attempt, he’s going home to stay with his widowed twin sister and niece for a time, only to be met with a crisis in the person Yvette (Cristela Alonso).

Ybarra, who has had a recurring role on ABC’s The Goldbergs, will play Tyler.

Ybarra’s other credits include recurring roles on Fox’s Gotham and CBS’ Battle Creek. He’s repped by ATA Management, CAA and Hanson.

Alonzo to Star in ABC’s Drama Pilot “The Gospel of Kevin”

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Cristela Alonzo is preaching the gospel…

The 38-year-old Mexican American stand-up comedian/actress has been cast as the female lead opposite Jason Ritter in ABC’s The Gospel of Kevin, an hourlong drama pilot from ABC Studios.

Directed by Paul McGuigan, The Gospel of Kevin is a light one-hour about Kevin (Ritter), a down-on-his-luck man who is tasked by God with a mission to save the world. Kevin is a cluelessly self-serving jerk who’s on a dangerous path to despair. After a failed suicide attempt, he’s going home to stay with his widowed twin sister and niece for a time, only to be met with a crisis in the person Yvette (Alonso). Tough-talking but not without compassion, a “source of luminescence” and clearly divine, Yvette is a “warrior for God,” who explains to Kevin that he’s been “tasked with a sacred mission.”

Alonzo, the first Mexican American woman to create, produce, write, and star in her own US network show, has been courted to return to series television for awhile now.

Her 2014 sitcom Cristela was a Cinderella story, with a full pilot shot on a shoestring budget that beat the odds and landed on the ABC schedule, subsequently earning a full-season order. She appears regularly on Conan and The View, in addition to being featured on Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham and Gabriel Iglesias Presents Stand Up Revolution. She most recently can be seen in her comedy special Lower Classy on Netflix.

Alonso to Star in ABC’s Drama Pilot “Las Reinas”

Posted on March 4, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Daniella Alonso is taking the throne…

The 38-year-old Puerto Rican and Peruvian American actress has landed the lead role in ABC’s drama pilot Las Reinas.

Daniella Alonso

(Animal Kingdom) has been cast as the lead in Las Reinas, ABC’s drama pilot from feature writer Dean Georgaris, ABC Studios and the Mark Gordon Co.

Las Reinas centers on Detective Sonya De La Reina (Alonso) who is forced to confront her past when a case compels her to reconnect with her estranged family – the most powerful criminal outfit in Miami. Thrust back into the world she thought she had left behind, Sonya must walk the murky line between the law and her family, and question her true destiny as a De La Reina. Sonia Braga co-stars.

From feature writer Dean Georgaris, who penned the script, the pilot will be directed by Liz Friedlander,

Alonso, who starred on the NBC drama series Revolution, is coming off a season-long stint as a series regular on TNT’s dramas Animal Kingdom. She also recently recurred on The Night Shift and Being Mary Jane.

Ortiz to Star in ABC’s Comedy Pilot “Charlie Foxtrot”

Posted on February 23, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Ana Ortiz is all about that base…

The 46-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress has been cast as the female lead in ABC’s comedy pilot Charlie Foxtrot.

Hailing from writer Sam Sklaver, Kapital Entertainment and ABC Studios, the project is set at Fort Bragg, an Army base in North Carolina.

It centers on Angelina Torres (Ortiz) and her two children, who live on the base. But, when Angelina loses her fiancé, Joe Taylor, killed in action in Iraq, it looks as though she’ll have to move. But Joe’s brother, Charlie Taylor (Jason Biggs), a dentist at the base, and usually a pushover, isn’t about to let that happen.

Torres’ Angelina is a well-meaning, fierce single mother-lion who believes in putting her kids first, even if that means crossing a few lines.

The casting of Ortiz, who starred in Devious Maids and Ugly Betty, stems from a talent deal ABC and ABC Studios signed with Ortiz immediately after Ortiz’s previous series, ABC Studios’ dramedy Devious Maids, ended its four-season run on Lifetime last summer. She decided on Charlie Foxtrot after being presented with several scripts.

This is Ortiz’s third consecutive pilot for ABC and ABC Studios, following the hourlong Ugly Betty and Devious Maids, both of which went to series, with the latter moving from ABC to Lifetime. Ortiz earned an ALMA Award and Imagen Award for her performance as Hilda on Ugly Betty.

Her television credits include appearances on How to Get Away with Murder, Revenge and Black-ish.

Braga to Co-Star in ABC’s Drama Pilot “Las Reinas”

Posted on February 19, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Sonia Braga is taking the thrown…

The 66-year-old Brazilian actress has been cast in ABC’s drama pilot Las Reinas in a co-starring role.

Penned by feature writer Dean Georgaris, Las Reinas centers on Detective Sonya De La Reina, who is forced to confront her past when a case compels her to reconnect with her estranged family – the most powerful criminal outfit in Miami. Thrust back into the world she thought she had left behind, Sonya must walk the murky line between the law and her family, and question her true destiny as a De La Reina.

Braga will portray Sonya’s grandmother Gabriella De La Reina, the head of one of the most powerful crime syndicates in the world. After her husband was killed, Gabriella took over their small criminal enterprise and turned it into a multi-national, multi-million dollar behemoth of illegal and legal interests. She has it all – except the one thing she wants more than anything: to bring her estranged granddaughter Sonya back into the fold.

Liz Friedlander has been tapped to direct the pilot after co-creating, executive producing and directing the pilot for another Mark Gordon Co./ABC Studios project, the freshman ABC drama series Conviction.

Braga recently co-starred in the feature Aquarius and will next be seen in Wonder and Going Places.

Montana to Star in NBC’s Drama Pilot “Good Girls”

Posted on January 28, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Manny Montana has found his good girl(s)…

The 33-year-old Latino actor has landed a series regular role on NBC’s drama pilot Good Girls.

Written and executive produced by from The Family creator Jenna Bans, the drama follows three “good girl” suburban wives and mothers who suddenly find themselves in desperate circumstances and decide to stop playing it safe, and risk everything to take their power back.

Montana, who currently appears on ABC’s Conviction, will play Rio, a smart local hustler who recognizes what assets our “good girls” can be to his money laundering business.

The casting is technically in second position to the ABC/ABC Studios freshman drama Conviction, which has not been officially cancelled but is not expected to come back.

Montana, a Graceland alum, recently booked a recurring role on Fox’s sophomore drama Rosewood.

Torres Lands Recurring Role on ABC’s “The Catch”

Posted on September 15, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Torres has landed The Catch of the day…

The 47-year-old Cuban American actress has landed a recurring role on the second season of the ABC drama series The Catch, from Shonda Rhimes’ ShondaLand and ABC Studios.

As usual with ShondaLand shows, no details about Torres’ character have been revealed.

Executive produced by Rhimes, The Catch centers on Alice Vaughan (Mireille Enos), a private investigator for high-end clients. Torres joins T.R. Knight, who also was recently cast in a recurring role.

Torres just wrapped her starring role as Jessica Pearson on USA Network’s Suits in this week’s Season 6 summer finale, having been with the legal drama series since its launch.

At ABC and ABC Studios, Torres toplined the drama pilot The Death of Eva Sofia Valdez this past season and previously recurred on Revenge.

Her other notable television roles include the shotgun-toting mercenary Zoe Washburne on Joss Whedon’s Firefly, (she also played the character in Whedon’s feature Serenity), the soul-eating Jasmine on Whedon’s Angel and a recurring gig on NBC’s Hannibal.

Torres film work includes The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions and I Think I Love My Wife opposite Chris Rock.

Andrade to Star in ABC’s Pilot “Marvel’s Most Wanted”

Posted on March 26, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Fernanda Andrade has landed a Marvelous project…

The 32-year-old Brazilian actress has joined the cast of ABC’s pilot Marvel’s Most Wanted, the upcoming television pilot based on the character of Bobbi Morse.

Andrade will portray Christina Santos, the tough-as-nails niece of Dominic Fortune (Delroy Lindo). Fortune and Santos work side-by-side appearing to help Barbara “Bobbi” Morse, aka Mockingbird (Adrianne Palicki), and Lance Hunter (Nick Blood) while also pursuing their own agenda.

Marvel’s Most Wanted originated as an Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. spinoff revolving around Palicki and Blood‘s characters.

It was created and written by S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Jeffrey Bell and Paul Zbyszewski, who executive produce with Jeph Loeb for Marvel Television and ABC Studios.

Andrade’s previous credits include the surprise hit film The Devil Inside and For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story.

Torres to Star in Title Role in ABC’s Drama Pilot “The Death of Eva Sofia Valdez”

Posted on March 5, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Death has knocked on Gina Torres’ door…

The 46-year-old Cuban American actress and Suits star has been cast as the lead in ABC’s drama pilot The Death of Eva Sofia Valdez.

Don’t despair! Torress’ casting shouldn’t impact her status on the popular USA drama series, which just ended its fifth season and has been renewed for Season 6. Torres is expected to remain a regular through season 6, fulfilling her six-year contract, with her character likely getting phased out.

Written by Cuban-American playwright Charise Castro Smith, The Death of Eva Sofia Valdez is described as a sexy revenge drama with supernatural elements and Macbeth with a Cuban twist.

It centers on Eva Sofia Valdez (Torres), an immigrant who rose from rags to riches and is a celebrated Miami entrepreneur and a champion for immigrant rights. But the success of this ” modern-day Havana-born Cleopatra” is fueled by an insatiable ambition that could destroy her family, a vendetta against the lover who betrayed her, and ghosts from the past who threaten to reveal the dark sacrifices Eva Sofia made to attain the American Dream.

Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters executive produce alongside Castro Smith for ABC Studios.

This would mark the first series lead role for the Firefly and 24 alumna who has been a standout on Suits as the smart and decisive Jessica Pearson. She also recurred on NBC’s Hannibal and ABC’s Revenge.

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