Lisa Vidal to Star in the Crime-Action Heist Feature “Shelter”

Lisa Vidal is sheltering…

The 56-year-old Puerto Rican actress will star in the crime-action heist feature Shelter.

Lisa Vidal

Vidal joins a cast that includes Cam Gigandet, Jaina Lee Ortiz, Carlos Miranda and Hollywood newcomer Sasha Merci.

In pre-production, filming is scheduled to start shortly in Los Angeles on the movie about the head of a secret organization who assembles a crew to steal back artwork from a neo-Nazi billionaire oligarch who plundered it during World War II.

Produced by Jolene Rodriguez of Broken English productions and financed by Ruben IslasGrandave Capital, the film is an original screenplay by Michael Corcoran, directed by Anthony Nardolillo.

“I’m thrilled to work with such a talented group. I’ve followed many of their careers and to make a movie with them is such a privilege. Shelter is a great example of taking any script and making it inclusive. It takes effort but it’s possible and it matters,” said Rodriguez.

Vidal has starred on ABC’s The Baker and The BeautyBET TV series Being Mary Jane and Grey’s Anatomy.

Ortiz will star in her fifth season of Shondaland’s ABC series Station 19 after a successful run in Fox’s Rosewood and a consequent role in Shooter.

Miranda will join the cast of ABC’s Station 19 as a series regular in the coming season and has had recurring roles in Amazon Original series Bosch and Comedy Central’s Ana as well as being a series regular in Starz series Vida.

Merci recently starred in the HBO feature film De Lo Mio.

Nicholas Gonzalez to Star in NBC’s Sci-Fi Drama “La Brea”

Nicholas Gonzalez is ready to sink into a new role…

The 45-year-old Mexican American actor, who has starred as Dr. Neil Melendez on ABC’s The Good Doctor for the last three seasons, will co-star opposite Eoin Macken, Natalie Zea and Jon Seda in NBC’s sci-fi drama La Brea.

Nicholas Gonzalez

Gonzalez also joins previously cast Veronica St. Clair, Chiké Okonkwo, Jack Martin, Zyra Gorecki and Lily Santiago.

In La Brea, written by David Appelbaum, when a massive sinkhole mysteriously opens in Los Angeles, it tears a family in half, separating mother (Zea) and son (Martin) from father (Macken) and daughter (Gorecki). When part of the family find themselves in an unexplainable primeval world alongside a disparate group of strangers, they must work to survive and uncover the mystery of where they are and if there is a way back home.

Gonzalez will play Levi Brooks, an Air Force pilot and Gavin’s (Macken) best friend who is recruited to lead the mission to save the people who fell into the sinkhole.

Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, is the studio, producing with Keshet Studios.

For the past three seasons, Gonzalez was a series regular on ABC’s hit medical drama The Good Doctor, playing the popular character of Dr. Melendez, who died in the two-part Season 4 premiere. His series credits include Being Mary Jane, How to Get Away With Murder and Pretty Little Liars.

Nicholas Gonzalez to Star in the Survival Thriller “Borrego”

Nicholas Gonzalez is ready to lay down the law

The 44-year-old Mexican American actor will star opposite Lucy Hale in the survival thriller Borrego.

Nicholas Gonzalez

Hale will play a young botanist who relocates to a small desert town to study an invasive plant species. While out conducting research, she comes to the aid of a downed plane only to find herself taken captive by an inexperienced drug mule who forces her to lead a trek across the sweltering desert to his drop.

The local sheriff (portrayed by Gonzalez) is drawn into the hunt as his rebellious daughter sets out to find the missing botanist, all while being pursued by a local drug receiver.

Costa Rican actor Leynar Gómez, Latino actor Jorge A. Jimenez and Mexican American actress Olivia Trujillo round out the cast.

Jesse Harris will direct the film from his own script, and he’ll produce. Hale will serve as executive producer.

Gonzalez currently stars on ABC’s The Good Doctor. His other television credits include appearances on Being Mary JaneNarcosHow to Get Away With Murder and Pretty Little Liars.

His film credits include The Purge: AnarchyFalling Awake and Rockaway.

Daniella Alonso to Replace Ana Brenda Contreras on the CW’s “Dynasty” Reboot

Daniella Alonso is part of a dramatic dynasty

The CW’s has recast the role of Cristal Jennings in its Dynasty reboot with the 40-year-old half-Puerto Rican and part-Peruvian actress.

Daniella Alonso

Ana Brenda Contreras — who played Cristal in Season 2 — is leaving, and Alonso is now poised to step into her stilettos. 

“Unfortunately, Ana Brenda Contreras will not be returning for the third season of Dynasty due to personal reasons,” executive producer/showrunner Josh Reims said. “We’d like to thank her for her contributions to the show and wish her all the best. We’re excited to welcome Daniella Alonso who will step into the role of Cristal.”

Alonso’s previous credits include RevolutionThe Night ShiftThe ResidentCriminal MindsAnimal KingdomBeing Mary Janeand the film Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2.

Dynasty has gone through a series of casting changes over the past two seasons. One of the original leads, Nathalie Kelley, departed at the end of Season 1. In addition, Elizabeth Gilliestook over the role of Alexis from Nicollette Sheridan.

Season 3 of Dynasty is set to premiere on Friday, October 11 at 9:00 pm ET.

Alonso to Star in ABC’s Drama Pilot “Las Reinas”

Daniella Alonso is taking the throne…

The 38-year-old Puerto Rican and Peruvian American actress has landed the lead role in ABC’s drama pilot Las Reinas.

Daniella Alonso

(Animal Kingdom) has been cast as the lead in Las Reinas, ABC’s drama pilot from feature writer Dean Georgaris, ABC Studios and the Mark Gordon Co.

Las Reinas centers on Detective Sonya De La Reina (Alonso) 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. Sonia Braga co-stars.

From feature writer Dean Georgaris, who penned the script, the pilot will be directed by Liz Friedlander,

Alonso, who starred on the NBC drama series Revolution, is coming off a season-long stint as a series regular on TNT’s dramas Animal Kingdom. She also recently recurred on The Night Shift and Being Mary Jane.

Acosta Lands Recurring Role on CBS’ Drama Series “Madam Secretary”

Julian Acosta is heading to The District…

The Puerto Rican actor has signed on for a recurring role on CBS’ political drama series Madam Secretary.

Julian Acosta

Acosta will play Craig Sterling, President Dalton’s (Keith Carradine) confidant and ambitious new National Security Advisor, who threatens to undermine Secretary Elizabeth McCord’s (Tea Leoni) professional relationship with the President and her work in the State Department.

Acosta has recurred on Hand of God, Being Mary Jane, Secret Life of The American Teenager, Lauren and Hollywood Heights among others.

BET Confirms Second Season Order of “Being Mary Jane,” Starring Vidal and Gabrielle Union

It’s another year of being for Lisa Vidal

During its upfront in New York, BET has confirmed the renewal of its freshman series Being Mary Jane, which stars the 48-year-old Puerto Rican actress in a series regular role, for a second season.

Lisa Vidal and Gabrielle Union in Being Mary Jane

The series centers on successful talk show host Mary Jane Paul (portrayed by Gabrielle Union), her professional and private family life, while searching for “Mr. Right.”

Being Mary Jane, the network’s first one-hour original drama, is a bona fide smash, earning wide critical acclaim and the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Television Movie. It became the season’s No. 1 Tuesday primetime show on any network.

In addition to Union and Vidal, who portrays Kara Lynch, a lead producer at SNC and Mary Jane’s friend, the series also stars Richard Roundtree, Stephen Bishop, Margaret Avery, Richard Brooks, B.J. Britt, Raven Goodwin, Aaron D. Spears and LaTarsha Rose.

Vidal’s “Being Mary Jane” Ordered to Series at BET

Lisa Vidal is preparing for her Mary Jane moment…

BET has ordered the original series Being Mary Jane, which stars the 47-year-old Puerto Rican actress, to series.

Lisa Vidal

Being Mary Jane, which was originally picked up as a movie, comes from the producers of the award-winning, record breaking BET comedy The Game, Girlfriends and the movies  Jumping the Broom and Sparkle.

The series is a follow up to the release of the Being Mary Jane movie of the week slated to launch on BET this summer.

Being Mary Jane centers on Mary Jane Paul, a one-woman-show: a successful TV news anchor, and an entirely self-sufficient powerhouse who remains devoted to a family that doesn’t share her motivation.

Intense drama and unforgettable moments unfold as Mary Jane juggles her life, her relationships, her work, and commitments to her family.

Along with Vidal, the series stars Gabrielle Union, Omari Hardwick, Richard Roundtree, Richard Brooks, Aaron D. Spears and Margaret Avery.

Vidal to Co-Star in BET’s “Being Mary Jane” Pilot

Lisa Vidal could be playing Gabrielle Union’s BFF on television in the near future…

The 46-year-old Puerto Rican American actress will co-star opposite Union in BET’s hour-long pilot Being Mary Jane, which was formerly called Single Black Female.

Lisa Vidal

The project centers on Union’s character Mary Jane Paul, a successful talk show host looking to one day become the No.1 nightly news anchor while searching for Mr. Right.

Vidal—who most recently appeared in FX’s instahit series American Horror Story and last co-starred in NBC’s The Event—will play Kara, the lead producer for Mary Jane’s show and Mary Jane’s friend.