Michael Mando Starring in Crime Drama “King Ivory”

Michael Mando is back on the set of King Ivory

After being forced to halt production with the launch of the SAG-AFTRA strike, the crime drama King Ivory, starring the 42-year-old Latino-Canadian actor, has returned to filming in and around Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Michael MandoFrom writer-director John Swab, the film has been named just recently as one of 39 productions that will benefit from a SAG Interim Agreement.

Previously unannounced actors who have been able to return to set, pursuant to the agreement, include James Badge DaleBen Foster, Mando (Better Call Saul), Rory Cochrane, Ritchie Coster, George Carroll, Sam Quartin, Graham Greene and Melissa Leo.

While production on the majority of studio projects has been shuttered, amidst a dual strike by SAG-AFTRA and the WGA, the actors guild is offering interim agreements to the projects of “truly independent producers,” with no affiliation to the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the understanding being that these producers will be bound retroactively to contract terms secured once the SAG-AFTRA strike resolves.

Based on extensive research involving Oklahoma law enforcement and active gang members, King Ivory offers a never-before-seen, authentic look inside the underworld of fentanyl trafficking from gangs inside the Oklahoma State Penitentiary at McAlester a.k.a. “Big Mac.” With potency 100 times that of heroin and nearly undetectable at the border, the drug nicknamed King Ivory has flooded the market, triggering a tidal wave of overdoses, crime and addiction. The film chronicles the efforts of a joint local, state and federal task force, led by Layne West (Dale), Ty (Carroll) and Beatty (Cochrane), to prevent the trafficking of the Irish Mob’s George “Smiley” Greene (Foster), his mother Ginger (Leo) and uncle Mickey (Coster), in partnership with the Indian Brotherhood’s Holt (Greene) and the New Generation Mexican cartel’s Ramón (Mando).

Newly minted PGA member Jeremy M. Rosen is producing the film under his Roxwell Films banner, alongside Nicole Flores.

“John and I feel strongly that King Ivory is our best and most timely script and cast to date,” said Rosen in a statement to Deadline. “Fentanyl has proven to be perhaps the most fatal pandemic in modern history, claiming countless lives, including our late friend and Body Brokers lead actor, Michael Kenneth Williams. King Ivory is a proudly independent production. We are grateful to SAG-AFTRA for making the Interim Agreement available to us amidst this climate of important change.”

Best known for his role as Nacho Varga on Better Call Saul, Mando has also been seen in films like The Hummingbird Project and Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Mariah Carey Teams Up with McDonald’s for Special Holiday Menu, The Mariah Menu

Mariah Carey will be mealin’ and dealin’ this holiday season…

The half-Venezuelan American Grammy-winning singer, the self-proclaimed Queen of Christmas, is planning to spread holiday cheer with some help from McDonald’s.

Mariah CareyThe fast food giant and the “All I Want For Christmas Is You” singer revealed a collaboration not in the form of a special meal like J Balvin, Saweetie and BTS have done previously, but an entire menu with goodies for 12 days leading up to Christmas.

“This holiday season at @McDonalds, you’re not getting the Mariah meal… you’re getting a whole menu!” the singer wrote on Twitter. “Introducing The Mariah Menu: get free daily deals w/ $1 min purchase December 13 to 24, only in the app dahhling!”

The free items include a variety of classic sandwiches like the Big Mac, cheeseburger or McChicken as well as popular breakfast items, sweet treats and McNuggets. The promotion is limited to one per day so fans everywhere can experience holiday cheer. The promo is available only at participating McDonald’s nationwide.

“Some of my favorite memories with my kids are our family trips to McDonald’s, and of course, each of us has our go-to order. Mine is the Cheeseburger, and I get it with extra pickles,” Carey said in a press release for the announcement. “Bringing together some of our favorite food from McDonald’s with my all-time favorite season is a holiday wish come true.”

“Mariah goes with the holidays like ketchup and fries, so we couldn’t think of a better partner to help us celebrate the upcoming season,” said Jennifer Healan, vice president, U.S. marketing, brand content and engagement of McDonald’s USA. “Just like McDonald’s brings people around the table with their favorite orders, Mariah’s music connects us all during this time of the year. We’re so excited to team up to bring even more holiday cheer to our fans.”

This is Carey’s most recent effort to get her fans ready for Christmas — she released a new Christmas single, “Fall In Love at Christmas” featuring Khalid and Kirk Franklin, 50 days before Christmas’ arrival last week. Fans voted in a poll published Friday (November 5) on Billboard, and chose the track as their favorite new music release of the past week.

Luis Suarez Buys & Donates 1,000 Big Macs as Part of McDonald’s Uruguay Annual Charity Event

It’s a Mac attack from Luis Suarez

The 33-year-old Uruguayan professional footballer, a forward for Atlético Madrid and the Uruguay national team, has bought and donated 1,000 Big Macs as part of an annual charity event that McDonald’s carries out in his native country.

Luis Suarez

Suarez purchased the hamburgers in Spain, at €4.75 each, spending a total of €4,750, via the McDelivery platform in order to take part in Friday’s event.

All the funds generated from the purchases of those hamburgers are donated by McDonald’s to the Ronald McDonald House Association and the young people from the school Liceo Impulso.

The Ronald McDonald House in Uruguay helps more than 7,000 children and their families each year, working every day to provide accommodation and support to families of hospitalized children, children undergoing medical treatment and pregnant women that are at risk.

The former Liverpool and Barcelona player decided to donate all the Big Macs to the children from a youth league of Pando, a city 32 kilometers from the country’s capital Montevideo.

McDonald’s Uruguay thanked Suarez for his generosity and invited others, saying that distance is no impediment to donate.

“Luis Suarez proved that the Big Day has no frontiers. He bought 1,000 Big Macs from Spain via McDelivery to help the House Ronald, Liceo Impulso and donate to Pando’s BabyLeague,” tweeted McDonald’s Uruguay. “Thank you, Luis, for putting the jersey on the Big Day! Anyone can join in wherever you are.”

Former Uruguay and Inter Milan player Alvaro Recoba also took part in the event.

Last year, Boca Juniors forward Carlos Tevez donated bought and donated 1,000 hamburgers in the same event that McDonald’s carried out in Argentina.

J Balvin Teams Up with McDonald’s for Celebrity Meal

Everything’s comin’ up golden for J Balvin

The 35-year-old Colombian superstar has teamed up with McDonald’s for a celebrity meal.

J Balvin x McDonald's

The J Balvin Meal, available at participating restaurants now through November 1, features a Big Mac sandwich, medium-sized French fries with ketchup, and an Oreo McFlurry for your sweet tooth.

Balvin is a McDonald’s regular when he’s on tour, says Morgan Flatley, McDonald’s U.S. chief marketing officer, in an official statement.

“As a longtime McDonald’s fan, I am excited to join the shortlist of global icons who have had a meal named in their honor,” Balvin said. “I am looking forward to sharing my signature order with my fans, along with more surprises that are to come with this partnership. ¡Lego!

Those who purchase via the McDonald’s App can get the McFlurry for free by selecting the offer.

Balvin also has some merchandise in store for McDonald’s employees, as he custom-designed some new T-shirts they can rock behind the counter.