Benny Mora to Guest Star on NBC’s “Chicago Med”

Benny Mora is heading to The Windy City

The 32-year-old half-Latino actor will guest star on Dick Wolf’s NBC series Chicago Med.

Benny Mora

Mora will appear in the series’ current season.

He plays Mike, a blue-collar truck driver in his 30s whose ex-wife brings their baby to the ER.

Chicago Med, in its sixth season, continues to draw strong ratings for NBC. In Live+7, it is among the top three dramas on every Wednesday night of originals in the 2020-21 season-to-date.

Chicago Med airs Wednesdays at 8:00 pm ET/PT on NBC. It is produced by Wolf Entertainment in association with Universal Television, a division of the Universal Studio Group.

Mora’s previous credits include Neighborhood Buzz and Aquarius.

New Trailer Released for Chavarria’s “War for the Planet of the Apes”

Gabriel Chavarria is ready for War

20th Century Fox has released the new trailer for its threequel War for the Planet of the Apes, starring the 27-year-old Latino actor.

Gabriel Chavarria

Fox has been building momentum for Matt Reeves’ latest Planet of the Apes film, which hits theaters July 14.

The movie was written by Mark Bomback and Reeves. The story picks up as Caesar (Andy Serkis) and his apes are forced into a deadly conflict with an army of humans led by a ruthless, head-shaved Colonel (Woody Harrelson) — his line: “There are times when it is necessary to abandon your humanity to save humanity.”

After the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts and begins a quest to avenge his kind, leading to an epic battle that will determine the fate of both species and the future of the planet.

Chavarria portrays Preacher in the film.

His previous credits include the television programs East Los High, Aquarius, Gang Related and Major Crimes, as well as the film Lowriders.

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

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.

Sonia Braga

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.

Mendonca Filho Named to Variety’s “10 Directors to Watch” List

Keep your eyes on Kleber Mendonca Filho

The Brazilian film director, screenwriter and producer will be honored as one of Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch during the Palm Springs Film Festival in January.The full list, which spans the creative landscape and puts a spotlight on a mixture of independent and studio filmmakers, includes Moonlight director Barry Jenkins.

Kleber Mendonca Filho

Mendonca Filho is being recognized for helming the Brazilian–French drama Aquarius, starring Sonia Braga as Clara, a retired music writer and the last resident of Aquarius building, who refuses to sell her apartment to a construction company that intends to replace it with a new edifice.

The film was selected to compete for the Palme d’Or at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.

“One of the most exciting things for me about the festival is being able to host Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch brunch,” said Michael Lerman, the festival’s Artistic Director. “Not only is it a fantastic event, but it also nicely compliments our festival program with selections from our Talking Pictures and Awards Buzz sections, as well as the director of our opening night film The Sense of an Ending, Ritesh Batra. It’s an exciting list this year!” 

Here’s the complete list:

Maren Ade, (“Toni Erdmann”)
Ritesh Batra, (“The Sense of an Ending”)
Otto Bell, (“The Eagle Huntress”)
Julia Ducournau, (“Raw”)
Geremy Jasper, (“Patti Cake$”)
Barry Jenkins, (“Moonlight”)
Emmett and Brendan Malloy, (“The Tribes of Palos Verdes”)
Kleber Mendonca Filho, (“Aquarius”)
William Oldroyd, (“Lady Macbeth”)
David Sandberg, (“Lights Out”)

Previous 10 Directors to Watch include Ben Affleck (Gone Baby Gone), Ava DuVernay (Selma) and Christopher Nolan (Memento).

The list debuted in 1996 and the annual event moved to the Palm Springs International Film Festival in January 2011.

Chavarria to Star in 20th Century Fox’s “War of the Planet of the Apes”

Gabriel Chavarria has plenty of reason to go bananas…

The Honduran American actor, who recently signed with Paradigm Talent Agency, is finalizing a deal to be one of two human leads in 20th Century Fox’s War of the Planet of the Apes, the latest installment of the franchise.

 Gabriel Chavarria

Matt Reeves returns to direct, shooting expected to begin in October in Vancouver, Canada.

The film’s sequel, Dawn of the Planet of the Apesgrossed $708 million worldwide last year with Reeves at the helm, nearly double the business of the franchise reboot — a major score for Fox and producer Chernin Entertainment.

Chavarria, the young star of Universal Pictures’ upcoming film Low Riders, is the male lead on Hulu’s drama series East Los High.

In Low Riders, from Imagine Entertainment and Blumhouse Productions, he plays an East LA teen immersed in the world of lowrider cars and street tagging while caught between his traditional father (Demian Bichir) and his estranged gangbanger brother, who both are competing in the annual lowrider “Supershow.”

His other recent credits include Aquarius, Prime Suspect, Southland and the feature Teacher of The Year.

Chavarria Signs with Paradigm Talent Agency

It’s a paradigm shift for Gabriel Chavarria

The Honduran American actor has signed with the Paradigm Talent Agency.

Gabriel Chavarria

Chavarria stars in the upcoming Universal Pictures film Low Riders, and he’s the male lead on Hulu’s drama series East Los High.

In the feature from Imagine and Blumhouse, Chavarria plays an East LA teen immersed in the world of lowrider cars and street tagging while caught between his traditional father (Demian Bichir) and his estranged gangbanger brother, who both are competing in the annual lowrider “Supershow.”

Chavarria’s other recent credits also include Aquarius, Prime Suspect, Southland and the feature Teacher of the Year.

Valderrama’s “Minority Report” Receives “Most Exciting New Series” Honor

It looks like Wilmer Valderrama is one of the minorities to watch next season…

The Broadcast Television Journalists Association has named eight honorees for its Most Exciting New Series category, including Fox’s drama pilot Minority Report, starring the 35-year-old Colombian and Venezuelan American actor.

Wilmer Valderrama

In addition to Valderrama’s Minority Report, which also stars Meagan Good, the honorees include American Crime Story (FX), Aquarius (NBC), Blindspot (NBC),  The Muppets (ABC), Scream Queens (Fox), Supergirl (CBS), and UnREAL (Lifetime).

All are dramas except for comedy The Muppets and horror comedy Scream Queens, which stars  Lea Michele and Diego Boneta.

The honorees were chosen by BTJA members from pilots, early episodes and trailers from series premiering after May 1.

The fifth annual Critics’ Choice Television Awards will air live May 31 on A&E from the Beverly Hilton. Cat Deeley is hosting.

Martinez Lands Multi-Episode Role on NBC’s Upcoming Series “Aquarius”

It’s the Age of Aquarius for James Martinez

The Latino actor will appear in a multi-episode arc opposite David Duchovny in NBC‘s upcoming series Aquarius.

James Martinez

The gritty 1960s drama focuses on a cop (Duchovny) who goes undercover to track Charles Manson and the Manson Family before their infamous murder spree.

Martinez, who has appeared on Low Winter Sun and Breaking Bad, will portray Ruben Salazar, a former war correspondent and a reporter with the Los Angeles Times who is threatening to expose the true identity of an LAPD detective.

Martinez plays a supporting character in the upcoming Liam Neeson-helmed feature Run All Night.

His other credits include television appearances on Intelligence, Elementary, Unforgettable and Beauty and the Beast.