Demián Bichir to Star in Jonas Cuaron’s Feature Film “Chupa”

Demián Bichir is getting mythical…

The 57-year-old Mexican Oscar-nominated actor has joined the cast of Jonás Cuarón’s feature Chupa alongside Dominic MaricheAdriel Manzano and Isabella Patron.

Demián Bichir

The film follows teenager Alex (Mariche), who while visiting his family in Mexico, gains an unlikely companion when he discovers a young chupacabra hiding in his grandpa’s shed. In order to save the mythical creature, Alex and his cousins (Manzano and Patron) must embark on the adventure of a lifetime.

Cuarón and Tim Sexton wrote the most recent screenplay based on an original script by Marcus Rinehart, Sean Kennedy Moore and Joe Barnathan.

“Demián, Dominic, Adriel and Isabella all bring a genuineness to the characters they play,” says Cuarón. “Growing up in both Mexico and the US, I’m fortunate to have my own life experiences to inspire the stories that I tell. It’s even more special to have found a cast that is able to lend an additional layer of authenticity to Chupa.”

The film is part of 26th Street Pictures’ first look deal at Netflix. 26th’s Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan and Mark Radcliffe are producing. EPs are G. Mac Brown and Brendan Bellomo.

Columbus said, “A story is only as good as the actors who can make it come to life. Demián is an acclaimed actor and after an extensive search, we’re thrilled with the true talent we’ve found in Adriel, Isabela and Dominic, all of whom lend heart and authenticity to their roles. We can’t wait for people around the world to meet them and see just how special they make this film.”

Bichir’s feature credits include Land, Godzilla vs. Kong, The Midnight Sky, The Hateful Eight and Alien: CovenantHe received a 2012 Best Actor Academy Award nomination for his turn in A Better Life

Mariche starred on television shows like The Good Doctor, See and Are You Afraid of the Dark?.

Netflix Gives Series Order to Callie Hernandez’s Musical Drama “Mixtape”

Callie Hernandez is bringing the music to Netflix

Fox’s pilot Mixtape, starring the Latina actress/singer,is headed to series — at Netflix.

Callie Hernandez

The Internet network has given a 10-episode order to the musical drama starring Hernandez, Jenna Dewan and Madeline Stowe.

The project hails from Quantico creator Josh Safran; Annapurna Pictures; 20th Century Fox Television, which produced the original pilot; and its cable/streaming division Fox 21 Television Studios.

The majority of the cast of the Fox pilot, which was directed by Jesse Peretz, are set to continue. That includes Hernandez, Jahmil French, Dewan, Campbell Scott, Stowe, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Megan Ferguson and Evan Whitten.

The male lead, played in the Fox pilot by Raul Castillo, will be recast, and possibly the child role of his young son. As a result, there will be some reshoots on the pilot, which would be helmed by Peretz subject to availability.

Written by former Smash showrunner Safran, Mixtape is a romantic musical drama that looks at the love stories connecting a diverse, disparate group of people in contemporary Los Angeles through the music that lives inside their hearts and minds.

Hernandez is best known for her roles in Blair WitchAlien: CovenantLa La Land and The Endless.

Rapace In Talks to Star Opposite Hugh Jackman in “Ferrari”

Noomi Rapace is revvin’ up for a new project…

The 37-year-old half-Spanish actress is in talks to star opposite Hugh Jackman star in Michael Mann’s Ferrari.

Noomi Rapace

Jackman would play Enzo Ferrari, while Rapace would portray his estranged wife Linda. Their relationship, as fiery and combustible as the race cars that Ferrari designed, plays a big part in the script Mann wrote.

They have loosely been discussing this teaming for months, and now things are starting to move for a summer 2018 production start.

Ferrari is the drama Mann started in partnership with the late director Sydney Pollack almost 17 years ago. The film takes place in 1957, a year where passion, failure, success and death and life all collided in Ferrari’s battle for supremacy against rival Maserati. Christian Bale was going to play Ferrari two years ago, but developed health concerns when he began putting on weight.

Rapace will next appear in Ridley Scott’s upcoming sci-fi thriller Alien: Covenant.

New Trailer Released for Rapace’s Sci-Fi Thriller “Alien: Covenant”

It’s another day in space for Noomi Rapace

20th Century Fox has released the new trailer for Ridley Scott’s upcoming sci-fi thriller Alien: Covenant, the latest chapter in the Alien franchise, starring the 37-year-old half-Spanish actress.

Noomi Rapace

The new clip audiences know that “the path to paradise begins in hell,” and begins with Katherine Waterston and the crew aboard the colony ship, Covenant.”

As the team explores undiscovered territory, danger and extraterrestrial species – including Xenomorphs – lurk all around. The sequel to Prometheus follows the team as it heads for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy. When the crew thinks it has found uncharted land, it discovers a dark and dangerous world. Uncovering a threat beyond their imagination, they must attempt a harrowing escape.

Michael Fassbender stars as David, with Rapace reprising her role as Elizabeth Shaw. Danny McBride, Demián Bichir, Jussie Smollett, Amy Seimetz, Carmen Ejogo, Callie Hernandez and Billy Crudup round out the cast.

Scott directs from a script by John Logan and Dante Harper.

Alien: Covenant arrives in theaters on May 19.

First Trailer Released for Rapace’s “Prometheus” Sequel, “Alien: Covenant”

Noomi Rapace is out of this world again…

After two days of non-stop teasing, the first official trailer for Alien: Covenant, starring the 37-year-old half-Spanish actress, has been released.

Noomi Rapace

While director Ridley Scott technically returned to the Alien franchise with 2012’s Prometheus, that film has only a tangential connection to the main series thanks to some continuity nods and a scene at the end. Covenant however is not, as it picks up where Prometheus left off and (presumably) leads directly to the events of the original Alien.

The story follows the crew of the colony ship Covenant, bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, that discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise, but per usual discoveries it’s actually a dark, dangerous world containing a threat beyond their imagination and, as it happens, the android David (Michael Fassbender), one of the few survivors of the Prometheus mission.

Fassbender, Guy Pearce, and Rapace reprise their Prometheus roles, joined this time out by Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, Demián Bichir, Carmen Ejogo, Amy Seimetz, Jussie Smollet, Callie Hernandez, Nathaniel Dean, Alexander England, Benjamin Rigby, and James Franco.

Jack Paglen, Michael Green, and John Logan wrote the script.

Alien: Covenant hits theaters on May 19.

Smollett to Star in Ridley Scott’s “Alien: Covenant”

There’s an out of this world opportunity for Jussie Smollett

The 32-year-old Brazilian American actor/singer has joined the cast of Ridley Scott’s Alien: Covenant as producers round out the main cast ahead of production, which is now being eyed to start next month.

Jussie Smollett

Smollett joins a list of new additions to the cast that includes Amy Seimetz, Carmen Ejogo and Callie Hernandez. They join previously announced cast members Micahel Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Demian Bichir and Danny McBride.

Plot details are mostly under wraps for what is the second of the planned three films at 20th Century Fox acting as a prequel trilogy to Scott’s Alien movies. Only Fassbender is confirmed to reprise his character from 2012’s Prometheus; it remains unclear whether Noomi Rapace will return.

Smollett plays Jamal Lyon on Fox’s hit primetime soap Empire, which is in the middle of its second season.

Meanwhile, Hernandez, who starred in Machete Kills, recently wrapped shooting Damien Chazelle’s La La Land at Lionsgate opposite Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone.