IFC Films & AMC+ Acquire North American Rights to Aubrey Plaza’s “Spin Me Round”

Aubrey Plaza will be spinning into theaters this summer…

IFC Films and AMC+ have acquired the North American rights to Jeff Baena’s Spin Me Round, starring the 37-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress/comedian.

Aubrey Plaza, Spin Me RoundThe film, which made its world premiere at SXSW last month, will open in theaters and VOD and stream exclusively on AMC+ this summer.

Spin Me Round represents filmmaker Baena’s reteam with Alison Brie, Plaza and Molly Shannon, who star in the film.

Brie co-wrote and produced Spin Me Round, in which she plays the manager of an Italian restaurant chain who wins the opportunity to attend the franchise’s educational immersion program in Italy. What she thought would be a romantic getaway devolves into chaos and catastrophe.

Baena and Brie previously teamed on Horse Girl, she starred in and co-wrote with Baena, who also directed. Brie also appeared in Baena’s The Little Hours and Joshy. Plaza has starred in Baena’s The Little Hours, Joshy and Life After Beth. Shannon starred in Baena’s Little Hours, Horse Girl and Life After Beth.

Spin Me Round also marks the third IFC Films feature with Brie, who most recently starred in The Rental, the Dave Franco-directed thriller that was a hit at drive-ins nationwide and on VOD in the summer of 2020, when a majority of theaters were closed down due to COVID-19; that pic grossed $1.6M.

Rounding out the cast is Alessandro Nivola, Zach Woods, Ayden Mayeri, Ben Sinclair, Tim Heidecker, Debby Ryan and Fred Armisen.

Spin Me Round is a Duplass Brothers and Limelight Production. Limelight’s Chris Parker and Dylan Sellers produced and fully funded Spin Me Round.

“We have long admired Jeff Baena’s films and are thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with him and his incredible filmmaking team on this fun and hilarious ride,” said Arianna Bocco, President of IFC Film. “Jeff, Alison and the Duplass Brothers are true creative geniuses and icons of independent cinema, and we can’t wait for audiences to experience this all-star cast over the summer.”

Baena added: “I was really impressed with Arianna and her team’s passion, thoughtfulness and innovation coupled with their track record of ushering in so many incredible independent films. I’m so grateful to have an opportunity to finally partner with IFC Films and share Spin Me Round with the world.”

Courtney Thomasma, General Manager of AMC+, said: “Spin Me Round is the perfect summer fare for our subscribers, who continue to come to AMC+ as a premium destination for compelling new feature films with their favorite stars. We are huge fans of Alison Brie, who our audience knows well from the iconic Mad Men, and we’re excited to be working with her, Jeff Baena and the entire producing team on this delightful new movie.”

Juan Pablo Raba to Star in the Action Comedy “Freelance”

Juan Pablo Raba is freelancing

The 45-year-old Colombian actor will star in director Pierre Morel’s action comedy Freelance.

Juan Pablo RabaRaba, best known for his roles in NarcosPeppermint and Coyote, will appear opposite John Cena and Alison Brie in the film.

Filming is now underway in Colombia on the film, which follows a special forces operator (Cena) who decides to retire from the Army and start a family back in the U.S. After several years of mortgage payments, school drop-offs, backyard barbecues and trying to conform to life in suburbia, he decides to come out of retirement to take a gig providing security for a female journalist (Brie) as she interviews a cruel dictator who may or may not have ordered the attack on him and his men. When a military coup breaks out in the middle of the interview, the three are forced to escape into the jungle where they must survive the elements, the military and one another.

Endurance Media’s Steve Richards is producing alongside Sentient Entertainment’s Renee Tab and Christopher Tuffin. Jaime Hernandez is executive producer.

The film is written by Jacob Lentz, marking his feature writing debut.

Raba recently appeared in the action-thriller The Marksman alongside Liam Neeson. His television roles include Ricky Ortiz in History’s military drama Six and Gustavo in hit Netflix series Narcos.

He can currently be seen in Netflix’s original Colombian series Distrito Salvaje, in which he stars and executive produces.

“So pleased to have such a great cast coming together on Freelance and to be working with such accomplished actors,” said Richards. “With Pierre Morel at the helm, John, Alison and Juan Pablo make a perfect trio for this fun adventure!”

Olga Merediz Starring in Dave Franco-Directed Amazon Original Film “Somebody I Used to Know”

Olga Merediz is in the Know

The 65-year-old Cuban actress/singer, who originated the role of Abuela Claudia in the Broadway musical In the Heights, has been cast in Somebody I Used to Know, the Amazon original film being directed by Dave Franco and starring Alison Brie, Jay Ellis and Kiersey Clemons.

Olga Merediz

Merediz is among a list of cast newcomers that includes Julie HagertyHaley Joel OsmentAmy Sedaris, Danny Pudi, Zoe Chao, Evan Jonigkeit, Ayden Mayeri and Kelvin Yu.

With the cast filled out, production is underway in Oregon on the romantic comedy co-penned by Franco and Brie.

The film hails from Temple Hill Entertainment and Black Bear Pictures and marks a reteam of Franco, Brie and Black Bear after last year’s horror pic The Rentaldirected by Franco and starring Brie.

Somebody I Used to Know centers on Ally (Brie), a workaholic who on a trip to her hometown spends a night reminiscing with her ex-boyfriend Sean (Ellis), which makes her start to question everything about the choices she’s made and the person she’s become. And things only get more confusing when she meets Cassidy (Clemons), a younger woman who reminds her of the person she used to be.

The film is expected to debut exclusively on Prime Video worldwide next year.

Merediz’s other credits include appearances on Shades of Blue and Netflix‘s Orange Is the New Black.

Aubrey Plaza to Star in the Indie Comedy “Spin Me Round”

Aubrey Plaza is going for a Spin…

The 36-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress will star in Spin Me Round, an indie comedy directed by Jeff Baena from a script he wrote with Alison Brie, who will also star.

Aubrey Plaza

In addition to Plaza, best known for her work on NBC’s Parks and Recreation, and Brie, the cast also includes Alessandro NivolaMolly Shannon and Lil Rel Howery.

The film will be produced by the Duplass Brothers Productions and Limelight, the latter of which is fully financing the picture. Production begins next month in Italy.

Tim Heidecker, Ben Sinclair, Fred Armisen, Ayden Mayeri, Debby Ryan, Zach Woods, Ego Nwodim, Lauren Weedman, and Jake Picking round out the cast.

Brie plays the manager of the Bakersfield, California franchise of the Italian chain eatery Tuscan Grove. She wins an all-expenses trip to the company’s gorgeous “institute” outside of Florence, Italy, and the chance to meet the restaurant chain’s wealthy and charismatic owner (Nivola). Along with a mismatched group of local American franchise managers, Amber finds a far different adventure than the romantic fantasy she had imagined.

Hulu Releases Trailer for Aubrey Plaza’s Holiday-Themed Rom-Com “Happiest Season”

Aubrey Plaza is ready to ring in the holiday season…

Hulu has released the first trailer for Happiest Season, a holiday-themed romantic comedy starring the 36-year-old actress/comedian and former Parks and Recreation star.

Aubrey Plaza, Happiest Season,

“This is why I avoid Christmas — it brings out the worst in everything,” says the trailer for the film, which also stars Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis.

Here’s the logline: Meeting your girlfriend’s family for the first time can be tough. Planning to propose at her family’s annual Christmas dinner — until you realize that they don’t even know she’s gay — is even harder. When Abby (Stewart) learns that Harper (Davis) has kept their relationship a secret from her family, she begins to question the girlfriend she thought she knew.

Plaza, Stewart and Davis are joined by Alison Brie, Daniel Levy, Mary Holland, Burl Moseley, Victor Garber and Mary Steenburgen in a film that captures the range of emotions tied to wanting your family’s acceptance, being true to yourself and trying not to ruin Christmas.

Sample dialogue: “I’m scared that if I tell them who I really am that I will lose them,” Harper tells Abby. “Do you know how painful it is to watch the person I love hide me?” she replies. Harper: “I’m not hiding you — I’m hiding me.”

Clea DuVall directs from a script she wrote with Mary Holland.

Hulu will premiere the holiday rom-com on Wednesday, November 25 — the day before Thanksgiving.

Aubrey Plaza to Star in the Romantic Comedy “Happiest Season”

Aubrey Plaza has found her Happiest place…

The 35-year-old Puerto Rican actress and Parks and Recreation alum has joined the cast of the TriStar Pictures and Entertainment One romantic comedy Happiest Season, starring Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis.

Aubrey Plaza

Plaza joins a list of newcomers that includes Mary SteenburgenVictor GarberAlison Brieand Dan Levy

Directed and co-written by Clea DuVall, and co-written by Mary HollandHappiest Season follows a young woman (Stewart) whose plan to propose to her girlfriend (Davis) while at her family’s annual holiday party is upended when she discovers her partner hasn’t yet come out to her conservative parents (played by Steenburgen and Garber). 

The film is set to hit theaters on November 20. eOne will distribute the film in UK and Canada.

Filming is currently underway in Pittsburgh, PA.

Plaza’s film credits include Scott Pilgrim vs. the WorldMonsters University,Dirty GrandpaIngrid Goes West and Child’s Play.

Netflix Renews Shakira Barrera’s Female Wrestling Dramedy “Glow” for Fourth & Final Season

Shakira Barrera will be getting her last fight…

Netflix has picked up its female wrestling dramedy GLOW, starring the Nicaraguan American actress, for a fourth and final season.

Shakira Barrera

The series, which stars Alison BrieBetty Gilpin and Marc Maron, is set to end after the next season. This is in line with a number of Netflix originals that end after three or four seasons.

GLOW, which has earned 15 Emmy nominations and three wins during its run, was inspired by the short-lived but beloved 1980s show. It tells the fictional story of Ruth Wilder (Brie), an out-of-work, struggling actress in 1980s Los Angeles who finds one last chance for stardom when she’s thrust into the glitter and spandex world of women’s pro wrestling.

In addition to working with 12 Hollywood misfits, Ruth also has to compete with Debbie Eagan (Gilpin) a former soap actress who left the business to have a baby, only to be sucked back into work when her picture-perfect life is not what it seems. And at the wheel is Sam Sylvia (Maron), a washed-up, B-movie director who now must lead this group of women on the journey to wrestling stardom.

Season 3 followed the ladies of GLOW as they took the Vegas strip by storm. Now headliners at the Fan-Tan Hotel and Casino, the women quickly realize that Sin City is much more grind than glitter. Ever the team cheerleader, Ruth’s passion for the show begins to take a backseat to her increasingly complicated personal life. Debbie is making headway as a producer but continues to be consumed with guilt over the distance between her and her son. As their residency wears on, the lines blur between performance and reality, and the cast finds itself struggling with identities both in and out of the ring.

Barrera has portrayed Yolanda “Junkchain” Rivas on the series since Season Two.

Creators Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch will return as showrunners and writers and will executive produce alongside Jenji Kohan, Tara Herrmann and Mark Burley.

The third season premiered last month, and the fourth season is expected in 2020.

Barrera’s previous credits include appearances on Grey’s Anatomy, Rosewood, East Los High, Faking It and Queen of the South.

Stephanie Beatriz Joins Voice Cast of Warner Bros.’ “The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part”

Stephanie Beatriz has landed a Sweet role… 

The 37-year-oldArgentine actress and Brooklyn Nine-Nine star has joined the voice cast of Warner Bros.’ The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part alongside Broad City‘s Arturo Castro.

Stephanie Beatriz

Beatriz will portray new character Sweet Mayhem; Castro will play new character Ice Cream Cone.

Also confirmed to return is Alison Brie as Unikitty and Nick Offerman as Metal Beard.

They join previously announced cast members from the first movie Chris Pratt (Emmet), Elizabeth Banks (Lucy), Will Arnett (Lego Batman) as well as Tiffany Haddish who plays a new character Queen Watevra Wa-Nabi.

Mike Mitchell, of Shrek Forever AfterTrolls, and Sky High directs.

Lego Movie 2 is being produced by the same team behind the Lego film franchise since the first feature title debuted in 2014. That film racked up $469M at the global box office.

The Lego Movie 2 reunites the heroes of Bricksburg and takes place five years after the first movie. They face a new threat: Lego Duplo invaders from outer space, wrecking everything faster than they can rebuild. The battle to defeat them and restore harmony to the Lego universe will take Emmet, Lucy, Batman and their friends to faraway, unexplored and musical worlds.

Lego Movie 2 opens nationwide in 2D and 3D on February 8., 2019.

Gunpowder & Sky Releases Redband Trailer for Plaza’s Comedy “The Little Hours”

It’s nun of your business what Aubrey Plaza does… Or is it?

Gunpowder & Sky has unveiled the first NSFW redband trailer for the comedy The Little Hours, starring the 32-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress and former Parks and Recreation star, Alison Brie and Dave Franco.

Aubrey Plaza in The Little Hours

The Little Hours follows medieval nuns gone wild Alessandra (Brie), Fernanda (Plaza) and Ginevra (Kate Micucci).

Per the film’s description, their days are spent chafing at monastic routine, spying on one another, and berating the estate’s day laborer. After a particularly vicious insult session drives the peasant away, Father Tommasso (John C. Reilly) brings on new hired hand, Massetto (Franco), a virile young servant forced into hiding by his angry lord. Introduced to the sisters as a deaf mute to discourage temptation, Massetto struggles to maintain his cover as the repressed nunnery erupts in a whirlwind of pansexual horniness, substance abuse and wicked revelry.

Molly Shannon, Fred Armisen, Jemima Kirke, Nick Offerman and Adam Pally co-star.

Produced by Liz Destro and Plaza, the Jeff Baena-written and -directed comedy will open in theaters on June 30.

The Release Date for Arias’ “The Kings of Summer” Moved Up to May

It looks like Moisés Arias will be back on the big screen two weeks sooner than originally planned…

The 18-year-old Colombian American actor and former Hannah Montana star’s latest film The Kings of Summerwhich was previously called Toy’s House, will now come out on May 31.

The Kings of Summer

CBS Filmswhich picked up the domestic rights to the coming-of-age story after its critically acclaimed premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, had originally planned to release the film on June 14.

The Kings of Summer, written by Chris Galletta and directed by Jordan Vogt-Robert, centers on three friends who decide to spend their summer building a house in the woods and living off the land.

CBS Films recently released the first official trailer for the film, which features Arias showing off his mad drum and dance skills in the middle of the woods.

The film also stars Nick RobinsonGabriel BassoNick OffermanMegan Mullally and Alison Brie.

Arias’ previous film credits include Nacho LibreThe Perfect Game and Hannah Montana: The Movie.