Juan Gil Upped to Series Regular for Season 2 of AllBlk’s Dating Dramedy “A La Carte”

Juan Gil is ordering a la carte

The Dominican American actor will become a series regular on the millennial dating dramedy À La Carte, following the series renewal for a second season by AMC Networks’ streamer AllBlk.

Juan GilThe series is currently in production in Atlanta, with Season 2 will air later this year exclusively on AllBlk and WE tv.

Gil, Kandi Burruss and Xavier Avila, who recurred in Season 1, have been promoted to series regulars, opposite leads Kendall Kyndall and Jenna Nolen.

They’ll be joined by newcomers Shani Marq, who will take over the role of Misha, played by Jessie Woo in Season 1, along with India Love and Alex Jacke.

Joining the cast as recurring characters are Romeo MillerTami RomanAspen KennedyTerayle Hill and Leon Fisher.

Tammy Rivera will guest star.

Season two of À La Carte will explore who Misha, Reign, and Shyra are as friends to each other without the friend that brought them all together, Mahogany. Her absence will serve as a catalyst for comedy and drama within this new friend dynamic. In our mid-20’s, relationships of convenience are fickle, and in L.A. especially, they are not easy to sustain. The mistakes they make will bring them closer in some ways and push them further apart in others. This season, the cast will continue their independent and collective journey discovering and unraveling who they are through the lens of comedy, love, sex, fire, and trial & error.

“This season we get to explore, elevate and dive deeper into the characters we’ve grown to love, and introduce some really dynamic and fun new cast,” said showrunner and executive producer, Dijon Talton. “We’re excited to continue exploring the nuanced human experience of Black individuals in their mid-20’s, giving them the permission to be flawed and yet still redeemable. AllBlkhas been an incredible partner and we are grateful to continue this journey with them. We couldn’t be more excited to start production on Season 2!”

“I am so excited about season two! AllBlk has provided us with an incredible, free-spirited and supportive platform to share and explore stories that are authentic and relatable,” says executive producer, Meagan Good. “I’m so grateful to be working with my cousin, Dijon Talton, who’s vision for À La Carte has enabled generation Z to feel seen, heard and understood all the while being allowed to be imperfect as they navigate their life experiences and grow through them.”

À La Carte is directed and executive produced by Dijon Talton and The Talton Company. Meagan Good serves as an executive producer. Christopher O’Conner serves as co-executive producer for Prodigi Arts Entertainment. Also serving as co-executive producer is Deonte Staats. Melissa A. Young will serve as producer. AllBlk’s General Manager, Brett Dismuke, and SVP of Development & Production, Nikki Love will serve as executive producers and VP of Development & Production Ashley McFarlin will serve as co-executive producer.

AMC Networks’ Streaming Service AllBlk Gives Series Order to Meagan Good’s “A La Carte”

Meagan Good is ordering a la carte

AMC Networks’ streaming service AllBlk has given a series order to millennial dating dramedy À La Carte, executive produced by the 40-year-old part-Puerto Rican actress.

Meagan Good

The series hails from Breanna Hogan and executive producers Dijon Talton and Good.

The series follows one girl’s journey to the last place she ever thought she would end up…on the side. It’s been described as a cross between Sex & The City, Girlfriends and Insecure.

The six-episode show is centered around Mahogany Rose, an overachiever in her 20’s who’s had high moral standards her entire life… until now. After adopting a more ‘liberal’ approach to sex and dating, she finally lands the man of her dreams, Kaleb. There’s just one problem. He’s already spoken for. Accustomed to being number one, Mahogany must decide if she will stick to her preference of being the one and only – or step out of her comfort zone and learn to play number two.

It was created, written and exec produced by Hogan, with Talton, who starred as Matt Rutherford on Glee, directing and exec producing via his The Talton Company.

Good, who has starred in series like Minority Report and Star and had a recurring role on Prodigal Son, will also executive produce alongside Katrina Y. Nelson (Lace) and Christopher O’Conner, who will produce for Prodigi Arts Entertainment. Angela White will serve as producer. General Manager, Brett Dismuke, and SVP of Development & Production, Nikki Love will serve as executive producers for AllBlk.

Casting is currently underway with production set to begin in mid-November.

“AllBlk has had an exciting year of premieres, and 2022 is gearing up to be just as exciting, if not more so,” said Brett Dismuke, General Manager of AllBlk & WEtv. “Tales of the dating scene today are ripe for great storytelling, and the plot of À La Carte is a tale that is sure to ignite passionate conversations and fiery debates among friend circles everywhere.”

Talton added, “We are so excited to have À La Carte as our first production at the newly formed, The Talton Company. À La Carte is full of young, beautiful, bold, and nuanced Black characters who are funny, flawed, and on an intimate journey to figure out their lives. It’s the revolutionary act of just existing in Black love and joy for an age group of friends that often goes underserved in Hollywood. We couldn’t be prouder and more excited to partner with AllBlk on bringing this special gem to life.”

Henry R. Muñoz III Acquires Funny or Die

Henry R. Muñoz III is preparing for a little funny business…

The 61-year-old Latino designer, activist and philanthropist has acquired early digital video player Funny or Die.

Henry R. Muñoz III

Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Judd Apatow and Chris Henchy co-founded Funny or Die in 2007. Ferrell and McKay appeared in one of the company’s first breakout clips, The Landlord.

Muñoz bought Funny Or Die from its former stakeholders, a group that included AMC Networks, Turner Entertainment and Sequoia Capital. Ferrell will continue to collaborate creatively with Funny Or Die and serve as an advisor.

Muñoz be sole owner of the Funny Or Die brand, and the acquisition also includes its library, longform slate and social media portfolio of more than 40 million followers.

Financial terms for the transaction were not disclosed.

After the transaction, Muñoz will become chairman of Funny or Die. Mike Farah will continue as CEO. Michele Rosette, who has been the CFO of Funny Or Die since 2016, will remain in her role. Joe Farrell, who oversees Funny Or Die’s longform slate, has been promoted to Chief Creative Officer.

From its roots in short-form, viral video, Funny or Die has evolved into a supplier of series like Brockmire, whose run on IFC ended last year, and this year’s History of Swear Words on Netflix.

Other credits include true crime docuseries For Heaven’s Sake on Paramount + and the Feeding America Comedy Special for NBC.

The pivot followed challenges in recent years as smaller video purveyors have faced daunting economics when reckoning with the forces of tech giants like YouTube and Facebook. Like many digital outlets, Funny or Die had to lay off staff and restructure as it navigated the 2010s.

The arrival of Muñoz will enable the company to deficit-finance certain projects, the company said, promising to reveal more specifics about that strategy at a later date.

A CBS special produced by Funny or Die last fall connected the company with Muñoz and wound up leading to the acquisition. Essential Heroes: A Momento Latino Event, hosted by Eva Longoria, Ricky Martin and Gloria Estefan, celebrated America’s diversity with a focus on Latinx culture and highlighted the impact of Covid-19.

Muñoz has operated at high levels in the realms of politics, art, business, public affairs and philanthropy. In addition to his own design practice, he has launched national movements including Momento Latino, TheDream.US and Latino Victory in support of the Latinx community. He is the cofounder of SOMOS US, a healthcare network in New York treating largely immigrant communities. It has been on the front lines during the coronavirus pandemic.

His design firm, Muñoz & Company, is one of the largest and oldest minority-owned design practices in the country. It pioneered an approach to architecture, urban planning, and design that acknowledges the imprint of the Latino community. He also helped with the effort to create a Latino Museum on the Mall in Washington, DC, and is the Finance Chairman Emeritus of the Democratic National Committee, the first openly gay, openly Latino and openly Texan person to hold that position.

“The future of comedy and entertainment is in companies that empower talent and creative forces to make content that reflects the cultural identity of our country at this moment in our history,” Muñoz said in the official deal announcement. “Funny Or Die’s own rich history as a place of innovation and as a voice of new generations speaks for itself and our team led by Mike Farah is poised to seize this unique moment. I understand the responsibilities of owning a brand like Funny Or Die and I am excited to work with our team to make sure we have the resources we need to develop funny, original and diverse new content.”

He went on to note the importance of his sole ownership of the company. “I also understand the importance of being one of the very few Latinos in a position like this in the entertainment industry and I will do my best to make my community, our industry and our country proud as we move forward,” he added. Diversity and inclusion will be more central to the company’s mission moving forward, he noted.

Farah said Muñoz’s “unique background in social activism and business” makes him the “perfect person to guide FOD into the future.” He added, “The company is in great hands with Henry, and he’s brought a new sense of purpose to our mission to empower original, authentic creators in comedy and beyond.”

Alejandro Amenábar Partners with AMC & Movistar+ to Develop His First-Ever TV Drama

Alejandro Amenábar is ready to work in television…

The 48-year-oldSpanish-Chilean film director, screenwriter and composer will make his first-ever television drama for AMC and Spain’s pay-TV broadcaster Movistar+.

Alejandro Amenabar

The Oscar-winning director behind The Others and The Sea Inside will work with AMC Studios, Movistar+ and MOD Pictures to adapt Paco Roca and Guillermo Corral’s graphic novel El Tesoro del Cisne Negro.

The story centers on young diplomat Alex Ventura who teams with a combative public official and a brilliant American lawyer to recover treasure stolen by Frank Wild, who travels the world plundering historic items from the ocean.

El Tesoro del Cisne Negro

The yet-to-be-titled six-part series goes into production this summer and will premiere in 2021 on AMC in the United States, Canada, UK, Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as Movistar+ in Spain.

Ed Carroll, COO at AMC Networks, said: “This project is uniquely a Spanish/American story inspired by real life events that at times seem more unbelievable than fiction – replete with courtroom drama, international intrigue, and even the largest recovered sunken treasure in history.”

Amenábar won the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar in 2005 for The Sea Inside, and he directed Nicole Kidman in 2001’s The Others.

Charter Communications Gives Straight-to-Series Order to Jessica Alba’s “LA’s Finest”

Jessica Alba is officially one of LA’s Finest

Charter Communications has given a 13-episode straight-to-series order to LA’s Finest, the drama pilot starring the 37-year-old half-Mexican American actress and Gabrielle Union.

Jessica Alba LA's Finest

From writers Brandon Margolis and Brandon SonnierSony Pictures Television, Jerry Bruckheimer Television and 2.0 Entertainment, the series is set to premiere in 2019 exclusively on Charter’s Spectrum as the platform’s first major original series.

The series follows Burnett (Union), who last was seen in Miami taking down a drug cartel. She now has left her complicated past behind to become an LAPD detective. Paired with a new partner, Nancy McKenna (Alba), a working mom with an equally complex past, Burnett is pushed to examine whether her unapologetic lifestyle might be masking a greater personal secret. These two women don’t agree on much, but they find common ground when it comes to taking on the most dangerous criminals in Los Angeles.

The cast also includes Ernie Hudsonas Joseph Burnett, Zack Gilford and Duane Martin as Ben Walker and Ben Baines, and Ryan McPartlin as Patrick McKenna.

Sony Television took out the action pilot, a spinoff from the Bad Boys movie franchise, immediately after the project’s original network, NBC, passed on it.

Charter Communications quickly emerged as a likely potential home, starting talks with Sony just days later. With the deal in advanced stages, Sony Television has been selling LA’s Finest internationally.

“Charter has a strong passion for the project, and we could not be more excited,” ” said Jeff Frost, President of Sony Pictures Television. “Immediately we knew this innovative new platform was absolutely the right home for L.A.’s Finest.”

With its title recognition and A-list stars, L.A.’s Finest will be used as a key launching piece in Charter Communications’s recently announced strategy to introduce high-end original content on its Spectrum cable systems. The company signaled its entrance in the original scripted series arena by signing co-production deals with AMC Networks and Viacomand by hiring seasoned TV executive Katherine Pope to lead its original content efforts by securing rights on a cost-effective basis. Charter already produces programming via its regional sports networks and its exclusive Spectrum News services. 

With elaborate action sequences, LA’s Finest was one of the highest-profile and most expensive pilots this season, with its budget said to be around $12 million. It is based upon the character Syd Burnett, originally created for Bad Boys II by Marianne and Cormac Wibberley and Ron Shelton and played by Union in the 2003 movie.

Union and Alba executive produce.

AMC Networks Acquires Braga’s “On the Road”

It looks like Alice Braga’s latest film will be released in theaters this fall…

The 29-year-old Brazilian actress’ On the Road has been acquired by AMC Networks a week before it premieres in competition at the Cannes Film Festival.

Alice Braga

Buying all U.S. rights to Walter Salles’ adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s classic novel of the same name, AMC Networks announced that its distribution labels IFC Films and Sundance Selects will release the film later this fall in theaters.

Along with Braga—who rose to fame following her starring role opposite Will Smith in I Am Legend—the film stars Twilight’s Kristen Stewart, TRON: Legacy’s Garrett Hedlund, Kirsten Dunst, Amy Adams, Elisabeth Moss and Viggo Mortensen.

Alice Braga's On the Road Poster

Jose Rivera wrote the screenplay for the film, which brings to life the classic novel based on the spontaneous cross-country adventures of Kerouac and his friends during the middle of the 20th century.

On the Road is considered a defining work of the postwar Beat Generation that was inspired by jazz, poetry and drug experiences. While many of the names and details of Kerouac’s experiences are changed for the novel, hundreds of references in On the Road have real-world counterparts.