Lorenza Izzo Signs with M88 for Representation

Posted on November 30, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Lorenza Izzo has new representation…

The 32-year-old Chilean actress and producer has signed with M88 and its sister company Uncmmn for representation.

Izzo will next be seen in Greg Mottola’s Miramax comedy, Confess, Fletch, opposite Jon Hamm.

She can currently be seen in HBO Max’s Emmy-winning comedy series Hacks, and in Lissette Feliciano’s award-winning film Women Is Losers, which was released by HBO Max after premiering in competition at SXSW. Izzo also produced the latter title, in which she stars opposite Shang-Chi‘s Simu Liu.

Izzo has previously appeared on the film side in Quentin Tarantino’s Oscar winner Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood; Universal and Amblin’s The House with a Clock in Its Walls, opposite Jack Black and Cate Blanchett; and writer-director Dan Fogelman’s multigenerational Amazon drama, Life Itself, opposite Oscar Isaac and Olivia Wilde.

She also starred opposite Keanu Reeves and Ana de Armas in the Lionsgate psychological thriller Knock Knock, from director Eli Roth.

Izzo also recently starred on the television side in John Logan’s Penny Dreadful spin-off, City of Angels. Additional TV credits include AMC’s Feed the Beast, in which she starred alongside David Schwimmer and Jim Sturgess, the Gaumont/Netflix series Hemlock Grove, Hulu’s Dimension 404 and the fourth and final season of Hulu’s Casual.

Izzo is well known in Chile for starring in a pair of comedies from director Nicolas Lopez: Que Pena Tu Boda and Que Pena Tu Familia.

She continues to be represented by ICM and Viewpoint.

Former WME Partner Phillip Sun and Macro Founder & CEO Charles D. King launched M88 in 2020, with an eye toward supporting the work of the next generation of artists and cultural leaders. Sun leads the firm with partners Oronde Garrett and Gaby Mena.

Ana de Armas In Talks to Star in “John Wick” Spinoff “Ballerina”

Posted on October 31, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Ana de Armas is takin’ the assasin’s creed…

The 33-year-old Cuban actress, currently appearing in No Time To Die, is in talks to take the lead role in the anticipated John Wick spinoff Ballerina.

The project centers on a young female assassin who seeks revenge against the people who killed her family.

The character made a fleeting appearance in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum as a ballerina who is also training to be an assassin.

Len Wiseman is on board to direct the action-thriller, whose script comes from Shay Hatten, known for Zack Snyder’s Army Of The Dead and John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.

The movie re-teams John Wick studio Lionsgate with producers Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee and Chad Stahelski.

The project budget would be somewhere in the $50-80M range. It remains unclear whether Keanu Reeves will make a fleeting appearance in the film, though there is a hope that he and Anjelica Huston may provide cameos.

de Armas’ star is on a career high right now and there are multiple big-scale projects that could come together for her. The Golden Globe nominee is currently in post-production on Netflix and the Russo brothers’ $200M action pic The Gray Man, and the same studio’s long-awaited Marilyn Monroe biopic Blonde.

Ana de Armas Wins Saturn Award for Her “Knives Out” Performance

Posted on October 30, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Ana de Armas is celebrating an out of this world honor…

The 46th annual Saturn Awards, which celebrate the best in genre entertainment, have been doled out, with the 33-year-old Cuban actress earning a trophy.

de Armas won the Best Supporting Actress trophy in the Film Awards category for her performance in Knives Out.

Meanwhile, Victoria Alonso took home the Producers Showcase Award.

The 55-year-old Argentine film producer and Marvel Studios executive has served as an executive producer on every Marvel Studios production since 2012’s The Avengers.

Hosted by The Evil Dead star Bruce Campbell, the Saturn Awards are presented and produced by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror, the nonprofit that honors the year’s best in genre films, television, home entertainment and theater.

Here’s the full list of winners:

FILM AWARDS

Best Science Fiction Film
Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker

Best Comic-to-Film Motion Picture
Joker

Best Fantasy Film
Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood

Best Horror Film
The Invisible Man

Best Action/Adventure Film
Mulan

Best Thriller Film
Knives Out

Best International Film
Parasite

Best Animated Film
Onward

Best Independent Film
Encounter

Best Actor
John David Washington (Tenet)

Best Actress
Elizabeth Moss (The Invisible Man)

Best Supporting Actor
Bill Hader (It Chapter 2)

Best Supporting Actress
Ana De Armas (Knives Out)

Best Performance by a Younger Actor
Kyliegh Curran (Doctor Sleep)

Best Director
J.J. Abrams (Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker)

Best Writing
Quentin Tarantino (Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood)

Best Production Design
Barbara Ling (Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood)

Best Editing
Bob Ducsay (Knives Out)

Best Music
John Williams (Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker)

Best Costume
Bina Daigeler (Mulan)

Best Make-Up
Amanda Knight, Neal Scanlan (Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker)

Best Special Effects
Roger Guyett, Neal Scanlan, Patrick Tubach, Dominic Tuohy (Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker)

TELEVISION AWARDS

Best Science Fiction TV Series
Star Trek: Discovery

Best Horror TV Series
The Walking Dead

Best Action/Thriller TV Series
Better Call Saul

Best Fantasy TV Series
For All Mankind

Best Presentation on Television (Under 10 Episodes)
The Mandalorian

Best Animated TV Series
Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Best Superhero Adaptation Television Series
The Boys

Best Film Presentation on Streaming Media
Enola Holmes

Best Actor on Television
Patrick Stewart (Picard)

Best Actress on Television
Caitriona Balfe (Outlander)

Best Supporting Actor on Television
Doug Jones (Star Trek: Discovery)

Best Supporting Actress on Television
Danielle Panabaker (The Flash)

Best Younger TV Actor
Brec Bassinger (Stargirl)

Best Guest Star on Television
Jon Cryer (Supergirl)

HOME ENTERTAINMENT AWARDS
Best 4K Film Release
Knives Out

Best DVD/BD Classic Film Release
Dr. Cyclops (Special Edition)

Best DVD/BD Collection Release
Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954-1975

Best DVD/BD Television Series Release
Creepshow (Season 1)

Best Local Stage Production
The Witch (Geffen Playhouse)

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS FROM THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE FICTION, FANTASY & HORROR FILMS
The Visionary Award
Mike Flanagan

The Life Career Award
Michael Gruskoff

The Producers Showcase Award
Victoria Alonso

The Dan Curtis Legacy Award
Eric Wallace

The Special Achievement Award
David Kirschner

The Television Spotlight Award
The Expanse

The Robert Forster Artist’s Award
Christopher Lloyd

Jacob Elordi to Star in Legendary’s Action Sci-Fi Thriller “Parallel”

Posted on May 17, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Jacob Elordi is in parallel…

The 23-year-old Spanish-Australian actor and The Kissing Booth star Jacob Elordi will star as the lead in Parallel, the Legendary film described as an action thriller with a grounded sci-fi conceit and an intense love story.

Tom Green, who directed the multi BAFTA-winning series Misfits for E4/Channel 4 in the UK, is directing the feature. BAFTA nominee Steve Lightfoot wrote the screenplay, which takes place in a world where “parallel” versions of our reality are accessible, though unknown to most – and to visit them is illegal.

Elordi is set to reprise his role in the upcoming The Kissing Booth 3 on Netflix as well as Season 2 of HBO’s Euphoria. Elordi will soon be seen co-starring opposite Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas in the Deep Water from 20th Century Studios.

Ana de Armas Earns Saturn Awards Nomination for “Knives Out” Performance

Posted on March 4, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Ana de Armas is ringing in some new recognition…

The 46th annual Saturn Awards nominations have been revealed by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, with the 32-year-old Cuban-Spanish actress receiving a nod.

de Armas received a Best Supporting Actress in a Film nomination for her acclaimed performance in Knives Out.

In the television categories, Tessa Thompson has earned a Saturn Awards nod.

The 37-year-old part-Panamanian and part-Mexican American actress is nominated in the Best Supporting Actress on a Television Series category for her work on HBO’s Westworld.

The Saturn Awards honor the year’s best in genre films, TV, home entertainment and theater.

Organizers are planning an awards ceremony for later this year.

Here are this year’s nominees:

FILM

Best Comic-to-Motion Picture Release
Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Bloodshot (Sony Pictures)
Joker (Warner Bros. Pictures)
The New Mutants (20th Century Films / Walt Disney Studios)
The Old Guard (Netflix)

Best Science Fiction Release
Ad Astra (Searchlight Pictures)
Gemini Man (Paramount Pictures)
Lucy in the Sky (Searchlight Pictures)
Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (Lucasfilm Ltd. / Walt Disney Studios)
Tenet (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Terminator: Dark Fate (Paramount Pictures)

Best Fantasy Film Release
Bill & Ted Face the Music (Orion Pictures)
Jumanji: The Next Level (Sony Pictures)
The Lion King (Walt Disney Studios)
Maleficent: The Mistress of Evil (Walt Disney Studios)
Once Upon a Time In Hollywood (Sony Pictures)
Sonic the Hedgehog (Paramount Pictures)
The Witches (HBO Max)

Best Horror Film Release
Doctor Sleep (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Freaky (Universal Pictures)
The Invisible Man (Universal Pictures)
It Chapter Two (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Midsommar (A24)
Ready or Not (Searchlight Pictures)
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (CBS Films / Lionsgate)

Best Action/Adventure Film Release
1917 (Universal Pictures)
Bad Boys for Life (Columbia Pictures)
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (Netflix)
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (Universal Pictures)
The Gentlemen (STX Films)
Mulan (Walt Disney Studios / Disney Plus)

Best Thriller Film Release
Da Five Bloods (Netflix)
The Good Liar (Warner Bros. Pictures)
The Irishman (Netflix)
Knives Out (Lionsgate)
Mank (Netflix)
Uncut Gems (A24)

Best Actor in a Film
Daniel Craig, Knives Out (Lionsgate)
Delroy Lindo, Da Five Bloods (Netflix)
Ewan McGregor, Doctor Sleep (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Gary Oldman, Mank (Netflix)
Aaron Paul, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (Netflix)
Joaquin Phoenix, Joker (Warner Bros. Pictures)
John David Washington, Tenet (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Best Actress in a Film
Rebecca Ferguson, Doctor Sleep (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Yifei Liu, Mulan (Walt Disney Studios / Disney Plus)
Elisabeth Moss, The Invisible Man (Universal Pictures)
Natalie Portman, Lucy in the Sky (Searchlight Pictures)
Daisy Ridley, Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (Lucasfilm Ltd./Walt Disney Studios)
Margot Robbie, Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Charlize Theron, The Old Guard (Netflix)

Best Supporting Actor in a Film
Adam Driver, Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (Lucasfilm Ltd. /Walt Disney Studios)
Chris Evans, Knives Out (Lionsgate)
Bill Hader, It Chapter Two (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Ian McDiarmid, Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (Lucasfilm Ltd. /Walt Disney Studios)
Robert Pattinson, Tenet (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Donnie Yen, Mulan (Walt Disney Studios / Disney Plus)

Best Supporting Actress in a Film
Zazie Beetz, Joker (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Ellen Burstyn, Lucy in the Sky (Searchlight Pictures)
Jamie Lee Curtis, Knives Out (Lionsgate)
Ana De Armas, Knives Out (Lionsgate)
Linda Hamilton, Terminator: Dark Fate (Paramount Pictures)
Amanda Seyfried, Mank (Netflix)
Jurnee Smollett, Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Best Performance by a Younger Actor in a Film
Ella Jay Basco, Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Julia Butters, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (Sony Pictures)
Kyliegh Curran, Doctor Sleep (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Roman Griffin Davis, Jojo Rabbit (Searchlight Pictures)
Lexy Kolker, Freaks (Well Go USA)
JD McCrary, The Lion King (Walt Disney Studios)

Best Film Director
J.J. Abrams, Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (Lucasfilm Ltd./Walt Disney Studios)
Niki Caro, Mulan (Walt Disney Studios / Disney Plus)
Mike Flanagan, Doctor Sleep (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Christopher Nolan, Tenet (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Gina Prince-Bythewood, The Old Guard (Netflix)
Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon a Time In Hollywood (Sony Pictures)
Leigh Whannell, The Invisible Man (Universal Pictures)

Best Film Screenplay
Mike Flanagan, Doctor Sleep (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Lauren Hynek, Elizabeth Martin, Mulan (Walt Disney Studios / Disney Plus)
Bong Joon Ho, Han Jin-won, Parasite (Neon)
Christopher Nolan, Tenet (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Todd Phillips, Scott Silver, Joker (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon a Time In Hollywood (Sony Pictures)
Chris Terrio, J.J. Abrams, Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (Lucasfilm Ltd. /Walt Disney Studios)

Best Film Editing
Maryann Brandon, Stefan Grube, Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (Lucasfilm Ltd./Walt Disney Studios)
Bob Ducsay, Knives Out (Lionsgate)
Mike Flanagan, Doctor Sleep (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Jennifer Lame, Tenet (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Fred Raskin, Once Upon a Tim In Hollywood (Sony Pictures)
Jinmo Yang, Parasite (Neon)

Best Film Production Design
Rick Carter, Kevin Jenkins, Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (Lucasfilm Ltd./Walt Disney Studios)
Nathan Crowley, Tenet (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Mark Friedberg, Joker (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Barbara Ling, Once Upon a Time In Hollywood (Sony Pictures)
Patrick Tatopoulos, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (Walt Disney Studios)
Ra Vincent, Jojo Rabbit (Searchlight Pictures)

Best Film Composer
Ludwig Goransson, Tenet (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Nathan Johnson, Knives Out (Lionsgate)
Jaeil Jung, Parasite (Neon)
Thomas Newman, 1917 (Universal Pictures)
Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Mank (Netflix)
John Williams, Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (Lucasfilm Ltd./Walt Disney Studios)

Best Film Costume
Erin Benach, Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Bina Daigeler, Mulan (Walt Disney Studios / Disney Plus)
Michael Kaplan, Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (Lucasfilm Ltd./Walt Disney Studios)
Arianne Phillips, Once Upon a Time In Hollywood (Sony Pictures)
Mayes C. Rubeo, Jojo Rabbit (Searchlight Pictures)
Albert Wolsky, Ad Astra (Searchlight Pictures)

Best Film Make-Up
Bill Corso, Dennis Liddiard, Stephen Kelly, Bianca Appice, Bill & Ted Face the Music (Orion Pictures)
Robert Kurtzman, Bernadette Mazur, Doctor Sleep (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Shane Zander, Alec Gillis, Tom Woodruff Jr., It Chapter Two (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Arjen Tuiten, David White, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (Walt Disney Studios)
Norman Cabrera, Mike Hill, Mike Elizalde, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (CBS Films / Lionsgate)
Amanda Knight, Neal Scanlan, Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (Lucasfilm Ltd./Walt Disney Studios)

Best Film Visual / Special Effects
Scott R. Fisher, Allen Maris, Ad Astra (Searchlight Pictures)
Mark Hawker, Yael Majors, Greg Steele, Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Kristy Hollidge, Nicholas Brooks, It Chapter Two (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Ken Egly, Robert Legato, The Lion King (Walt Disney Studios)
Roger Guyett, Neal Scanlan, Patrick Tubach, Dominic Tuohy, Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (Lucasfilm Ltd./Walt Disney Studios)
Andrew Jackson, Andrew Lockley, Scott Fisher, Mike Chambers, Tenet (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Neil Corbould, Eric Barba, Vinod Gundre, Sheldon Stopsack, Terminator: Dark Fate (Paramount Pictures)

Best Independent Film Release
Angel of Mine (Lionsgate)
Encounter (Vega Baby)
The Aeronauts (Amazon)
Color Out of Space (RLJ Entertainment)
Freaks (Well Go USA)
Palm Springs (Neon)
Possessor (Neon / Elevation Pictures)

Best International Film Release
Jojo Rabbit (Searchlight Pictures)
The Nightingale (IFC Films)
Official Secrets (IFC Films)
Parasite (Neon)
Sputnik (IFC Midnight)
The Whistlers (Magnolia Pictures)

Best Animated Film Release
Abominable (Universal Pictures)
The Addams Family (United Artists Releasing)
Frozen II (Walt Disney Studios)
Onward (Walt Disney Studios)
Spies in Disguise (20th Century Pictures)
Trolls: World Tour (Universal Pictures)

TELEVISION

Best Superhero Adaptation Television Series
Batwoman (The CW)
The Boys (Amazon)
The Flash (The CW)
Stargirl (The CW)
Supergirl (The CW)
The Umbrella Academy (Netflix)
Watchmen (HBO)

Best Science Fiction Television Series
Doctor Who (BBC America)
Lost in Space (Netflix)
Pandora (The CW)
Raised by Wolves (HBO Max)
Star Trek: Discovery (CBS All Access)
Star Trek: Picard (CBS All Access)
Westworld (HBO)

Best Fantasy Television Series
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (Netflix)
For All Mankind (Apple TV)
Locke & Key (Netflix)
The Magicians (SyFy)
Outlander (Starz)
The Twilight Zone (CBS All Access)
The Witcher (Netflix)

Best Horror Television Series
Creepshow (Shudder)
Evil (CBS)
Fear the Walking Dead (AMC)
Lovecraft Country (HBO)
Servant (Apple TV)
The Walking Dead (AMC)
What We Do in the Shadows (FX)

Best Action/Thriller Television Series
Better Call Saul (AMC)
Castle Rock (Hulu)
The Outpost (The CW)
Pennyworth (Epix)
Riverdale (The CW)
Snowpiercer (TNT)
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan (Amazon)

Best Television Presentation (under 10 Episodes)
Amazing Stories (Apple TV)
Dracula (Netflix)
The Haunting of Bly Manor (Netflix)
His Dark Materials (HBO)
The Mandalorian (Disney Plus)
Perry Mason (HBO)

Best Animated Television Series
Bojack Horseman (Netflix)
Family Guy (Fox)
Primal (Adult Swim)
Rick and Morty (Adult Swim)
The Simpsons (Fox)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Disney XD)

Best Film Presentation on Streaming Media
Enola Holmes (Netflix)
Extraction (Netflix)
Shirley (Hulu)
The Vast of Night (Amazon)

Best Actor on a Television Series
Henry Cavill, The Witcher (Netflix)
Mike Colter, Evil (CBS)
Grant Gustin, The Flash (The CW)
Sam Heughan, Outlander (Starz)
Jonathan Majors, Lovecraft Country (HBO)
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul (AMC)
Patrick Stewart, Star Trek: Picard (CBS All Access)

Best Actress on a Television Series
Caitriona Balfe, Outlander (Starz)
Melissa Benoist, Supergirl (The CW)
Regina King, Watchmen (HBO)
Sonequa Martin-Green, Star Trek: Discovery (CBS All Access)
Thandie Newton, Westworld (HBO)
Candice Patton, The Flash (The CW)
Rhea Seehorn, Better Call Saul (AMC)

Best Supporting Actor on a Television Series
Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul (AMC)
Tony Dalton, Better Call Saul (AMC)
Michael Emerson, Evil (CBS)
Doug Jones, Star Trek: Discovery (CBS All Access)
Richard Rankin, Outlander (Starz)
Norman Reedus, The Walking Dead (AMC)
Luke Wilson, Stargirl (The CW)

Best Supporting Actress on a Television Series
Natasia Demetriou, What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
Cynthia Erivo, The Outsider (HBO)
Melissa McBride, The Walking Dead (AMC)
Colby Minifie, Fear The Walking Dead (AMC)
Danielle Panabaker, The Flash (The CW)
Sophie Skelton, Outlander (Starz)
Tessa Thompson, Westworld (HBO)

Best Performance by a Younger Actor on a Television Series
Freya Allan, The Witcher (Netflix)
Brec Bassinger, Stargirl (The CW)
Isa Briones, Star Trek: Picard (CBS All Access)
Maxwell Jenkins, Lost in Space (Netflix)
Madison Lintz, Bosch (Amazon)
Cassady McClincy, The Walking Dead (AMC)
Erin Moriarty, The Boys (Amazon)

Best Guest Starring Performance on Television
Jon Cryer, Supergirl (The CW)
Giancarlo Esposito, The Mandalorian (Disney Plus)
Mark Hamill, What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
Jeffrey Dean Morgan, The Walking Dead (AMC)
Kate Mulgrew, Mr. Mercedes (Audience)
Billy Porter, The Twilight Zone (CBS All Access)
Jeri Ryan, Star Trek: Picard (CBS All Access)

HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Best Classic Film DVD/BD Release4D Man Kino
The Day the Earth Caught Fire (Special Edition) Kino
Dr. Cyclops (Special Edition) Kino
Hercules in the Haunted World (Special Edition) Kino
The Magic Sword Kino
Robocop (Director’s Cut) Arrow
The War of the Worlds (1953) Criterion

Best Television Series DVD/BD Release
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century Complete Collection, Kino Lorber
Creepshow: Season One, Image Entertainment
The Librarians: The Complete Series, Electric Entertainment
Mission: Impossible – The Original TV Series, Paramount Home Entertainment
The Outsider: The First Season, HBO
Shazam: The Complete Live Action Series, Warner Archive Collection
The Simpsons: The Nineteenth Season, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Best Film Collection DVD/BD Release
Abbott & Costello: The Complete Universal Pictures Collection, Shout Factory
The Fly Collection, Shout Factory
Gamera: The Complete Collection, Arrow
Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954-1975, Criterion Collection
Hitchcock: British International Pictures Collection, Kino
Laurel & Hardy: The Definitive Restorations, MVD Entertainment
Three Fantastic Journeys by Karel Zeman, Criterion Collection

Best 4K Film Release
The Alfred Hitchcock Classics Collection, Universal Home Entertainment
Apocalypse Now: The Final Cut, Lionsgate
Flash Gordon Limited Edition, Arrow
Jaws 45th Anniversary, Universal Home Entertainment
Knives Out, Lionsgate
Mad Max, Kino Lorber
The Shining, Warner
War of the Worlds (2005), Paramount Home Entertainment

LIVE STAGE PRODUCTION

Best Live Stage Production
Anastasia, Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Frankenstein, A Noise Within
Good Boys, Pasadena Playhouse
Once, Cerritos Center/3D Theatricals
Shrek Musical, Cerritos Center/3D Theatricals
Witch, Geffen Playhouse

Ana de Armas to Star Opposite Ryan Gosling & Chris Evans in Netflix’s “The Gray Man”

Posted on December 14, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a case of gray matters for Ana de Armas.

The 32-year-old Cuban-Spanish actress will star opposite Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans in Joe and Anthony Russo’s big-budget action thriller The Gray Man for Netflix.

The Russos have been developing the project for awhile at Sony Pictures, and when the package went back on the market over the summer, Netflix was quick to acquire it and set Gosling and Evans to star. The film will be the biggest-budget film in Netflix’s history on the feature side.

The Russos penned the script with a recent polish by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely.

The Gray Man is the debut novel by Mark Greaney, published in 2009 by Jove Books. It also is the first novel to feature the Gray Man, freelance assassin and former CIA operative Court Gentry.

The action thriller will follow Gentry (Gosling) as he’s hunted across the globe by Lloyd Hansen (Evans), a former cohort at the CIA. The film is based on the first installment of the best-selling Gray Man book series.

de Armas has been on a roll as of late, going back to her Golden Globe-nominated performance in the murder mystery Knives Out. She also recently was seen in the Netflix pic Sergio, The Informer and The Night Clerk. With the Covid-19 pandemic delaying several films, her 2021 is expected to be equally busy as she can be seen in the next James Bond film No Time to Die and the New Regency thriller Deep Water opposite Ben Affleck. She is also set to star in Blonde, where she portrays Norma Jean.

Universal Announces Plans to End Michelle Rodriguez’s Fast & Furious Franchise with Two Final Films

Posted on October 21, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

It’s the beginning of the end for Michelle Rodriguez.

Universal Pictures is planning to wrap up its Fast & Furious core film franchise, starring the 42-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American actress, with two final movies that will bring to a close a franchise.

The Fast & Furious films have revved their way to become the highest-grossing movie series in the studio’s history. Justin Lin, who’s in post-production on F9, is in talks to direct the final two installments and bring a saga that began nearly 20 years ago to a close.

It’s early days on when this will begin production but it seems likely they will tell a big story over two films that will focus on franchise patriarch Vin Diesel and bring back Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Jordana Brewster, Nathalie Emmanuel and Sung Kang.

F9 — which is the fifth film in the franchise directed by Lin and which premieres next Memorial Day — continues the storyline of the core cast and Charlize Theron, and adds John Cena, Helen Mirren, Grammy-winner Cardi B and reggaeton star Ozuna. They are just beginning to put the final two vehicles together. There’s speculation that Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham — core cast members who peeled off for the F&F spinoff Hobbs & Shaw after Johnson and Diesel had a falling out — will be back for the finale.

There’s also an opportunity to pull off the motorhead’s answer to Marvel’s Avengers, a configuration that might include Wonder Woman’s Gal Gadot, also part of the ensemble earlier in her career.

It might not have seemed probable back when The Fast & Furious launched the franchise in 2001 with Diesel and Paul Walker as lead-footed protagonists, but the entire series has eclipsed Jurassic Park to become Universal’s biggest. The eight movies and the spinoff have grossed around $5.7 billion; Jurassic is also over $5 billion and has its next installment, Jurassic World: Dominion, shooting in London.

The Fast franchise survived the tragic death of cornerstone star Walker, but it’s always good to end the race before the vehicle runs out of gas. There are still plans for other movie spinoffs and TV shows, so there will be no call for the studio to be calling Kars for Kids to cart away a junker.

It is likely that the final two installments will be produced by Diesel through his One Race Films banner, Jeff Kirschenbaum, Lin, Neal Moritz, Joe Roth, Clayton Townsend and Samantha Vincent. They are the producers of F9.

Lin berthed his Perfect Storm Entertainment banner at Universal in a multi-year overall film and TV deal in late summer, and these two films will likely keep him busy for a long time.

Universal Moves Release Date of Michelle Rodriguez’s “F9” to Memorial Day 2021

Posted on October 2, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Michelle Rodriguez is getting some push back…

Universal Pictures has announced plans to move F9, starring the 42-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American actress, to May 28, 2021, which is Memorial Day weekend.

The move comes after MGM moved its James Bond pic No Time to Die, starring Ana de Armas, to April 2, 2021 — which had been the release date for this latest installment of The Fast and the Furious franchise.

In March, F9 drove out of its original May 22, 2020 global day-and-date release amid the coronavirus lockdown. The studio had previously reserved that April 2021 date for Fast & Furious 10.

Justin Lin returns to direct F9 a cast that includes Rodriguez, who portrays Letty Ortiz, Vin Diesel, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Jordana Brewster, Nathalie Emmanuel, Sung Kang, Helen Mirren, Charlize Theron, Cardi B and Ozuna.

The entire franchise, including spinoff Hobbs & Shaw, through nine movies counts $5.9 billion at the worldwide box office.

MGM Moves Release Date of “No Time to Die,” Starring Ana de Armas, to Easter 2021

Posted on October 2, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Ana de Armas’ big Bond moment will have to wait…

MGM’s latest James Bond film No Time to Die, starring the 32-year-old Cuban-Spanish actress, is officially moving to April 2, Easter weekend, and vacating its November 20 release date.

This puts the Bond film starring Daniel Craig on the same weekend with Universal Pictures’ F9.

“MGM, Universal and Bond producers, Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, today announced the release of No Time To Die, the 25th film in the James Bond series, will be delayed until 2 April in order to be seen by a worldwide theatrical audience. We understand the delay will be disappointing to our fans but we now look forward to sharing No Time To Die next year,” said the studio in a statement.

MGM was the first studio to foresee how the coronavirus pandemic was going to stall exhibition, and jumped No Time to Die from its Easter weekend release date of April 10-12 to the Thanksgiving frame.

No Time to Die stands to make $1 billion worldwide, so the studio has pushed back the release date several times now in hopes of having it come out in an optimum, vibrant global marketplace.

de Armas will be making her debut in the film, portraying the character of Paloma, a CIA agent assisting Bond.

Yalitza Aparicio Among the Latino Professionals Invited to Join The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (AMPAS)

Posted on July 2, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Yalitza Aparicio’s joining The Academy…

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has released its annual list of invitations to join the organization, with the 26-year-old Mexican actress and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Indigenous Peoples among the 819 extended an invite.

Aparicio, one of Time magazine’s100 most influential people in the world in 2019,earned an Oscar nod in the Best Actress category for her performance in Alfonso Cuarón‘s 2018 Spanish-language drama Roma. With the nomination for her actig debut, she became the first Indigenous American woman and the second Mexican woman to receive a Best Actress Oscar nomination.

But Aparcio isn’t the only Latino/a to make the list…

Other invitees in the Actors branch include Bobby Cannavale, who appeared in The Irishman, Overboard’s Eva Longoria, Knives Out star Ana de Armas and Gringo actor Yul Vazquez.

Invitees in the Music branch include Andrea Guerra (Hotel Rwanda) and Cuban-American jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, who worked on the music for Clint Eastwood’s films Richard Jewell and The Mule.

The Directors branch sent out invitations to Latino filmmakers Icíar Bolláin (Spanish), Felipe Cazals (Mexican), Sebastián Cordero (Ecuadorian), Luis Estrada (Mexican), Alejandro Landes (Colombian-Ecuadorian),Jorge Alí Triana (Colombian) and Andrés Wood (Chilean).

This year’s new class demonstrates The Academy’s commitment to erasing the stigma of not being inclusive, particularly in terms of women, international members and underrepresented ethnic/racial communities.

The organization reports this year’s class breakdown is 49% international, 45% women, and 36% underrepresented ethnic/racial.

The overwhelming number of those invited to join the Academy end up accepting.

The total active membership in 2019 was 8,946, with 8,733 eligible to vote. Total membership including active, voting and retired was 9,794. Today’s additions will take the membership count past the 10,000 mark.

AMPAS says members can voluntarily disclose their race/ethnicity, sex or can choose “prefer not to.” So, demo stats may not be 100% accurate. AMPAS also “recognizes and respects” the personal choice in identification, but doesn’t track LGBTQ+ or differently abled, although a source says, while protecting privacy and not forcing answers, they are “working towards it.” In other words this is no longer your father’s Academy.

“We take great pride in the strides we have made in exceeding our initial inclusion goals set back in 2016, but acknowledge the road ahead is a long one,” said Academy CEO Dawn Hudson. “We are committed to staying the course.”

“The Academy is delighted to welcome these distinguished fellow travelers in the motion picture arts and sciences. We have always embraced extraordinary talent that reflects the rich variety of our global film community, and never more so than now,” said Academy President David Rubin.

Here’s a look at some of this year’s Latino invitees:

Actors
Yalitza Aparicio – “Roma”
Bobby Cannavale – “The Irishman,” “The Station Agent”
Ana de Armas – “Knives Out,” “Blade Runner 2049”
Eva Longoria – “Overboard,” “Harsh Times”
Yul Vazquez – “Gringo,” “Last Flag Flying”

Casting Directors
Libia Batista – “Eres Tú Papá?,” “Viva”
Javier Braier – “The Two Popes,” “Wild Tales”
Eva Leira – “Pain and Glory,” “Biutiful”
Yesi Ramirez – “The Hate U Give,” “Moonlight”
Yolanda Serrano – “Pain and Glory,” “Biutiful”

Cinematographers
Óscar Faura – “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,” “The Imitation Game”

Directors
Icíar Bolláin – “Even the Rain,” “Take My Eyes”
Felipe Cazals – “El Año de la Peste,” “Canoa: A Shameful Memory”
Sebastián Cordero – “Europa Report,” “Crónicas”
Luis Estrada – “The Perfect Dictatorship,” “Herod’s Law”
Alejandro Landes – “Monos,” “Porfirio”
Jorge Alí Triana – “Bolívar Soy Yo,” “A Time to Die”
Andrés Wood – “Araña,” “Violeta Went to Heaven”

Documentary
Cristina Amaral – “Um Filme de Verão (A Summer Film),” “Person”
Violeta Ayala – “Cocaine Prison,” “The Bolivian Case”
Julia Bacha – “Naila and the Uprising,” “Budrus”
Almudena Carracedo – “The Silence of Others,” “Made in L.A.”
Paola Castillo – “Beyond My Grandfather Allende,” “Genoveva”
Paz Encina – “Memory Exercises,” “Paraguayan Hammock”
Mariana Oliva – “The Edge of Democracy,” “Piripkura”
Iván Osnovikoff – “Los Reyes,” “La Muerte de Pinochet (The Death of Pinochet)”
Tiago Pavan – “The Edge of Democracy,” “Olmo and the Seagull”
Bettina Perut – “Los Reyes,” “La Muerte de Pinochet (The Death of Pinochet)”
Marta Rodriguez – “Our Voice of Earth, Memory and Future,” “Campesinos (Peasants)”

Executives
Ozzie Areu
Barbara Peiro
Frank Rodriguez
Mimi Valdes

Film Editors
Alejandro Carrillo Penovi – “Heroic Losers,” “The Clan”
Alex Marquez – “Snowden,” “Savages”

Makeup Artists and Hairstylists
Mari Paz Robles – “I Dream in Another Language,” “Cantinflas”
David Ruiz Gameros – “Tear This Heart Out,” “Amores Perros”
Susana Sánchez – “The Liberator,” “Goya’s Ghosts”

Marketing and Public Relations
Inma Carbajal-Fogel
Emmanuelle Castro
Fernando Garcia
Dustin M. Sandoval

Music
Andrea Guerra – “The Pursuit of Happyness,” “Hotel Rwanda”
Arturo Sandoval – “Richard Jewell,” “The Mule”

Producers
Edher Campos – “Sonora, the Devil’s Highway,” “The Golden Dream”
Nicolas Celis – “Roma,” “Tempestad”
Alex Garcia – “Kong: Skull Island,” “Desierto”
Enrique López Lavigne – “The Impossible,” “Sex and Lucia”
Álvaro Longoria – “Everybody Knows,” “Finding Altamira”
Mónica Lozano – “I Dream in Another Language,” “Instructions Not Included”
Gabriela Maire – “Las Niñas Bien (The Good Girls),” “La Caridad (Charity)”
Luis Manso – “Champions,” “Binta and the Great
Gabriela Rodríguez – “Roma,” “Gravity”
Mar Targarona – “Secuestro (Boy Missing),” “The Orphanage”
Luis Urbano – “Letters from War,” “Tabu”

Production Design
Sandra Cabriada – “Instructions Not Included,” “The Mexican”
Estefanía Larraín – “A Fantastic Woman,” “Neruda”

Short Films and Feature Animation
José David Figueroa García – “Perfidia,” “Ratitas”
Oscar Grillo – “Monsters, Inc.,” “Monsieur Pett”
Otto Guerra – “City of Pirates,” “Wood & Stock: Sexo, Orégano e Rock’n’Roll”
Isabel Herguera – “Winter Love,” “Under the Pillow”
Summer Joy Main-Muñoz – “Don’t Say No,” “La Cerca”
Juan Pablo Zaramella – “Luminaris,” “The Glove”

Sound
David Esparza – “The Magnificent Seven,” “The Equalizer”

Visual Effects
Leandro Estebecorena – “The Irishman,” “Kong: Skull Island”

Members-at-Large
Daniel Molina
Carlos Morales
Jesse Torres

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Tag Archives: Ana de Armas