Jorge Diaz to Star in Pilot for HBO Max’s “Head of the Class” Sitcom Reboot

Jorge Diaz is moving to the head of the class

The 37-year-old Mexican American actor has joined the cast of HBO Max’s multi-camera comedy pilot Head of the Class, a reboot of the popular 1980s ABC sitcom.

Jorge Diaz

Diaz joins a roster of new additions to the cast that includes Dior Goodjohn, Brandon Severs, Adrian Matthew Escalona and Christa Miller.

They join previously announced Isabella Gomez, Gavin Lewis and Jolie Hoang-Rappaport in the reboot which hails from American Vandal writers Amy Pocha and Seth Cohen, Bill Lawrence and his Doozer Productions; and Warner Bros. Television, which produced the original series.

Written by Pocha and Cohen, based on the original series created by Rich Eustis and Michael Elias, the reimagined Head of the Class revolves around a group of overachieving high school students who meet their greatest challenge — a teacher Alicia Adams (Gomez), who wants them to focus less on grades and more on experiencing life.

Diaz plays Elliot Olsen, a goofy English teacher who loves his job and is genuine to a fault. Goodjohn is Robyn Rook. Stem queen turned Twitch streamer, Robyn’s the defacto leader of the class – though she’d never admit it. Severs will portray Terrell Smith, is a year-round athlete, who is uber-positive and all about team mentality. Escalona is Miles Mendelson, the shy, introverted, overthinking coder, who’d rather spend time with computers than people. Miller recurs as Principal Maris, an intimidating, tough love boss that always puts the students first.

Diaz has appeared on a number of hit comedies including the CW’s Jane The Virgin, NBC’s The Good Place and Netflix’s Arrested Development. He also starred as SPC Israel Garza in Nat Geo’s Critics Choice-nominated Iraq war drama, The Long Road HomeOn the film side, Diaz portrayed Hector Estrella in Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones, earning a nomination for an Imagen Foundation Award for his performance.

Escalona was first discovered in 2018, when a video of him singing “She Used To Be Mine” from the Broadway musical Waitress went viral with almost 4 million views and counting. He went on to be invited by Waitress writer and composer Sara Bareilles to make a guest appearance during her tour stop in Pittsburgh, near his home town. Head of the Class is Escalona’s first major TV role.

Patricia Velasquez to Star in the Horror Film “The Children”

Patricia Velasquez is ready for The Children

The 46-year-old Venezuelan actress and fashion model has signed on to the ensemble cast of New Line Cinema’s horror film The Children, joining Sean Patrick Thomas and Linda Cardellini.

Patricia Velasquez

Michael Chaves is directing the pic, which follows a social worker who, while investigating the mysterious disappearance of two children, discovers her own family might be in jeopardy.

The script was written by Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis.

Velasquez played Ank Su Namun in Universal Pictures’ The Mummy and The Mummy Returns. She also appeared on the Fox comedy Arrested Development.

Louis C.K. to Guest Star on IFC’s “Portlandia”

Louis C.K. is heading to the Pacific Northwest…

The 48-year-old Mexican American actor, comedian, producer, director and editor will guest star on season 6 of IFC’s Portlandia.

Louis C.K.

Starring Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein, who are the masterminds behind the series, the sketch comedy series returns to the small screen on January 21.

In addition to Louis C.K., who stars in the critically acclaimed FX series Louie, the show’s guest stars this season will include the likes of The Flaming Lips, Zoe Kravitz. Arrested Development’s Alia Shawkat and Mitchell Hurwitz, as well as Top Chef’s Gregory Gourdet

Brühl Earns His First SAG Award Nomination

Life’s a SAG for Daniel Brühl

The 35-year-old half-Spanish actor has earned the first SAG Award nomination of his career.

Daniel Brühl in Rush

Brühl earned his nod in the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role category for his portrayal of real-life racing legend Niki Lauda in Ron Howard‘s Formula One racing drama Rush, which centers on the rivalry between drivers James Hunt (portrayed by Chris Hemsworth) and Lauda.

But Brühl isn’t the only Latino nominee this year…

Michael Peña and Louis C.K. have earned a nomination in the Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture category, along with their co-stars from David O. Russell‘s fictional film based on the 1970s Abscam scandal American Hustle.

Mariah Carey has earned the second Screen Actors Guild Awards nod of her career. The 44-year-old singer/actress and her co-stars from Lee Daniels’ The Butler, including Oprah Winfrey and Forest Whitaker, are nominated in the Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture category. Carey had previously been nominated in the same category for being part of the cast of Precious.

Sofia Vergara and Rico Rodriguez will be gunning for their fourth straight Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. The onscreen mother and son and their Modern Family cast mates will face off against the casts of 30 Rock, Arrested Development, The Big Bang Theory and Veep.

Morena Baccarin, meanwhile, is nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series with her Homeland co-stars.

The nominations for the 20th annual SAG Awards were announced this morning at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood by Rizzoli & Isles Sasha Alexander and Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.‘s Clark Gregg.

Winners will be revealed at the SAG Awards ceremony on January 18 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, which will be simulcast live on TNT and TBS.

Here are the nominations featuring Latinos:

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips
Daniel Brühl, Rush
James Gandolfini, Enough Said
Michael Fassbender, 12 Years A Slave
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
12 Years A Slave
American Hustle
August: Osage County
Dallas Buyers Club
Lee Daniels’ The Butler

Television Programs

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
BOARDWALK EMPIRE (HBO)
BREAKING BAD (AMC)
DOWNTON ABBEY (PBS)
GAME OF THRONES (HBO)
HOMELAND (Showtime)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
30 ROCK (NBC)
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (Netflix)
THE BIG BANG THEORY (CBS)
MODERN FAMILY (ABC)
VEEP (HBO)

Varela Starring in the Thriller “Captive”

Leonor Varela will be holding audiences captive with her latest performance soon…

The 40-year-old Chilean actress and model has signed on to star in Captive.

Leonor Varela

The Jerry Jameson-directed thriller, written by Brian Bird and Reinhard Denke, is based on a well-known true story.

While Ashley Smith, a single mom, struggles to overcome her drug addiction to regain custody of her daughter, she’s taken hostage by an escaped, quadruple murderer. Her only defenses: faith in God, a love for her daughter, and the book A Purpose Driven Life, parts of which she reads aloud to her captor during the harrowing ordeal. This leads to a surprising epiphany for both Ashley and the convict.

Varela, who appeared in the first season of TNT’s Dallas reboot, joins a cast that includes David Oyelowo, Kate Mara and Mimi Rogers.

Her other credits include television appearances on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, Human Target and Arrested Development.

Varela Cast in CW’s Drama Futuristic Pilot “The Selection”

Leonor Varela could soon be getting the royal treatment on television…

The 39-year-old Chilean actress has been cast in the CW’s drama pilot The Selection, which has been compared to The Hunger Games.

Leonor Varela

Based on the upcoming series of books by Kiera Cass, The Selection is described as an epic romance set 300 years in the future. It centers on America Singer (Aimee Teegarden), a poor young woman who is chosen by lottery to participate in a competition to marry Prince Maxon (Ethan Peck) and become the next queen of a war-torn nation at a crossroads.

Varela, who has appeared on Arrested Development and Human Target, will play Maxon’s mother, Queen Amberly.

The bilingual actress and telenovela star just wrapped a six-episode arc on TNT’s upcoming Dallas reboot, which will premiere this summer.