Carlos Santos to Star in Amazon’s Freevee Project From Shea Serrano, Formerly Titled “Primo”

Carlos Santos has landed a primo role…

The 36-year-old Puerto Rican actor and comedian has joined the cast of Amazon’s Freevee project from Shea Serrano, formerly titled Primo.

Carlos SantosSantos is among a list of new series regulars that includes Ignacio Diaz-Silverio, Martin Martinez, Johnny Rey Diaz, Henri Esteve, Jonathan Medina, Nigel Siwabessy, Christina Vidal, Efrain Villa and Stakiah Washington. 

The single-camera series hails from Serrano and The Good Place creator Mike Schur.

Inspired by Serrano’s life growing up in San Antonio, the project follows a teenager balancing college aspirations, societal expectations, and a hectic home life, anchored by his single mom and five uncles.

Diaz-Silverio will portray Rafa, a 16-year-old high school junior who must balance his mom and five uncles’ opinions after finding out that he has the chance to be the first person in his family to ever attend college.

Rey Diaz will portray Rollie, one of Rafa’s uncles and the middle child of his brothers. He’s the wildman of the family. He is regularly in minor trouble with the law. Though he’s feared as a brawler in the neighborhood, he’s also the most sentimental of the group.

Esteve will portray Mike, the second youngest of Rafa’s uncles. He is a fit, disciplined, military man who acts extremely alpha male-y all the time, though nobody in the family buys it.

Martinez will portray Miguel, one of Rafa’s closest friends who is a bit of a smart aleck.

Medina will portray Jay, the eldest of Rafa’s uncles. He has worked at a full-time, labor-intensive job since he was 17. He moves through life in the most straightforward way possible. He is the ultimate pragmatist.

Santos will portray Ryan, the youngest of all Rafa’s uncles. He works as a mid-level bank teller, but he tells everyone he works in finance.

Siwabessy will portray Harris, another one of Rafa’s closest friends, who has plenty of swagger and no use for college, as he intends to inherit his parents’ corner store.

Vidal will portray Drea, Rafa’s mom and the third eldest among her and her brothers. She’s the beating heart of the family. She’s insightful, clever, and resourceful.

Villa will portray Mondo, the second oldest of Rafa’s uncles and a cosmic wanderer. His advice usually has a bizarrely comforting philosophical hue to it that rarely translates to practical application.

Washington will portray Mya, Rafa’s friend who also happens to be his secret crush. She comes from a well-educated family for whom attending college is not an accomplishment but an expectation.

Production for the series will begin later this month in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Peter Murrieta serves as an executive producer. The series is produced by Amazon Studios and Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.

“Gentefied” Star Karrie Martin Lachney Signs with Paradigm

Karrie Martin Lachney is shifting her paradigm

The 32-year-old Honduran-American actress and producer has signed with Paradigm for representation in all areas.

Karrie Martin LachneyLachney rose to acclaim with her portrayal of Ana Morales on the Netflix dramedy series Gentefied, created by Linda Yvette Chávez and Marvin Lemus. The series followed a multigenerational, Mexican American family living and loving in Los Angeles, co-starring Joaquin Cosio, J.J. Soria, and Carlos Santos. It ran for two seasons before being canceled in January.

Lachney’s portrayal of Ana represented experiences that mirror that of many second-generation Latinos whose parents sacrificed everything in search of the American dream— a point of view rarely shown on television.

Ana had to prioritize her familial responsibilities while still a young woman herself over her own dreams and desires. She was challenged at every corner with having to choose between an upcoming art show opportunity, spending time with her girlfriend, and being a support to her mother at home while the matriarch worked long hours to support the family. And she had to do it all with a smile knowing that a few moments of freedom to follow her heart was more than what her mother was allowed.

Up next for Lachney is the release of the Disney+ animated series, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, premiering on February 23.

On the film front, she’ll topline writer-director Jigeesh Magar’s Nexus Dream opposite Daniela Azuaje, Alejandro Patiño, and James Ken Blackmon, among others.

Lachney stars as Alejandra Chavez, a young woman of immigrant parents with a gifted intellect and a promising future, which, rare enough in her neighborhood, has to be put on hold. Devotion and loyalty to the family will always come first, and hers is desperately needing help through hard times, even as she grapples with a secret tragedy from her past.

She is also developing the bestselling book series That Boy from author Jillian Dodd as a series with producer Teri Weinberg. The two have acquired the film and television rights to the book via Lachney’s production company, Southern Ave. Productions and Weinberg’s Yellow Brick Road. Lachney and Weinberg will executive produce.

Netflix Releases Trailer for Season Two of J.J. Soria’s “Gentefied”

J.J. Soria has the fighting spirit…

The first trailer has been released for the second season of Netflix’s Gentefied, starring the 35-year-old Mexican American actor.

JJ Soria

In the new clip, the Morales cousins (Soria, Karrie Martin Lachney and Carlos Santos) are dealing with drama galore as they fight to keep their grandfather Pops (Joaquín Cosío) from being deported back to Mexico.

The series, from creators Marvin Lemus and Linda Yvette Chávez, follows East Los Angeles Latinos on their respective and collective search for the American Dream.

Season 2—premiering on November 10— picks up after the emotional debut season’s finale that saw Erik Morales (Soria) and his girlfriend Lidia (Annie Gonzalez) welcome their daughter, Delfina. Amid all the happiness, Erik realizes his grandfather Pops (Cosio) is missing from the hospital celebration because he’s been arrested on an outstanding warrant and his beloved pick-up truck is being impounded.

Pops is now free and staging a fight to stay in the United States armed with the help of his social media fans and his attorney Melinna Barragan (Melinna Bobadilla). But will that be enough?

As the trailer reveals, he is also reunited with his companion Lupe (Alma Martinez) who is still waiting for his dead wife’s approval so they can take their relationship to the next level.

Speaking of love, there’s a budding relationship ahead for Chris Morales (Santos), the chef of the family whose talents could take him well beyond the neighborhood. Sparks fly when he meets Sarai (Ivana Rojas), a strong Latina with big dreams who is running her own food truck.

His cousin Ana Morales (Martin) continues to mend a broken heart after her split from Yessika (Julissa Calderon) whose icy demeanor pushes Ana into the arms of someone new.

 

Gentefied is executive produced by Lemus, Chávez, Charles D. King, Marta Fernandez of MACRO, America Ferrera of Take Fountain, Aaliyah Williams, Kim Roth, and Teri Weinberg of Yellow Brick Road.

Netflix to Premiere Season 2 of JJ Soria’s “Gentefied” in November

JJ Soria is returning to East L.A. in November…

Netflix’s half-hour Latinx dramedy Gentefied, starring the 40-year-old Mexican American actor, is returning for Season 2 on November 10.

Gentefied

From creators Marvin Lemus and Linda Yvette Chávez, the series follows East Los Angeles Latinos on their respective and collective search for the American Dream.

Season 2 picks up after the emotional debut season’s finale that saw Erik Morales (Soria) and his girlfriend Lidia (Annie Gonzalez) welcome a daughter, Delfina. As Erik realizes his grandfather Pops (Joaquin Cosio) is missing from the hospital celebration, it is revealed that he has been arrested for an outstanding warrant and his beloved pick-up truck is being impounded.

The streamer teases the return will tackle Erik and his cousin Chris’s (Carlos Santos) struggle to keep Pops in the country while dealing with new love, new babies, estranged fathers, and tracking down Bad Bunny at a Halloween party. They’ll fight to thrive, but along the way will question where they truly belong in a world made up of borders, family separation, and the potential loss of their beloved taco shop, Mama Fina’s.

Gentefied is a Netflix production also starring Karrie Martin Lachney, Julissa Calderon; and newly added season 2 cast Melinna Bobadilla, Manuel Uriza, Ivana Rojas, and Clarissa Thibeaux.

The series is executive produced by Lemus, Chávez, Charles D. King, Marta Fernandez of MACRO, America Ferrera of Take Fountain, Aaliyah Williams, Kim Roth, and Teri Weinberg of Yellow Brick Road.

Eugenio Derbez’s English-Language Film “The Valet” Acquired by Disney/Hulu

Eugenio Derbez’s latest project is headed to Hulu

Lionsgate’s English-language remake of Francis Veber’s French feature hit The Valet, starring the 59-year-old Mexican actor/comedian, has been acquired by Disney’s direct-to-consumer platforms for a summer 2022 release as a Hulu Original in the U.S. and a Disney+ Star Original abroad.

Eugenio Derbez

Directed by Richard Wong and starring Derbez and Samara WeavingThe Valet follows Olivia (Weaving), a movie star who enlists Antonio (Derbez) – a parking valet – to pose as her lover to cover for a relationship with a married man (Max Greenfield). As a valet, the hard-working Antonio usually flies under the radar but his ruse with Olivia thrusts him into the spotlight and brings him to see himself more clearly than ever before.

Betsy Brandt, Marisol Nichols, Noemi Gonzalez, Carmen Salinas, Ravi Patel, Tiana Okoye, Diany Rodriguez, Armando Hernández, Carlos Santos, Amaury Nolasco, John Pirruccello and Alex Fernandez also star.

Additionally, reggaeton superstar Lunay is set to make his film acting debut in The Valet.

“What struck me most about The Valet is how closely my family resembled Antonio’s family and telling their story was like telling mine. It’s message of unity, seeing each other and human connection, is something the world could use right now and no one does that better than Hulu and Disney+,“ said Wong.

Rob Greenberg and Bob Fisher, who wrote Derbez’s $95M WW-grossing feature Overboard, also penned the remake of The Valet. Derbez and his producing partner Ben Odell produce through their 3Pas Studios banner.

The Valet is a multi-generational, multi-cultural comedy in which people from two different worlds discover the humanity in each other. At 3pas studios we tell stories that try to unite us all and we love partnering with Hulu and Disney+ to bring this to the largest global audience possible,” said Derbez and Odell in a joint statement.

Lunay to Make Film Acting Debut in Eugenio Derbez’s “The Valet”

Lunay is ready for his first feature film…

The 20-year-old Puerto Rican singer and rapper, born as Jefnier Osorio Moreno, is set to make his film acting debut in Lionsgate’s English-language remake of Francis Veber’s French feature hit The Valet.

Lunay,

Directed by Richard Wong and starring Eugenio Derbez and Samara WeavingThe Valet follows Olivia (Weaving), a movie star who enlists Antonio (Derbez) – a parking valet – to pose as her lover to cover for a relationship with a married man (Max Greenfield). As a valet, the hard-working Antonio usually flies under the radar but his ruse with Olivia thrusts him into the spotlight and brings him to see himself more clearly than ever before.

Betsy Brandt, Marisol Nichols, Noemi Gonzalez, Carmen Salinas, Ravi Patel, Tiana Okoye, Diany Rodriguez, Armando Hernández, Carlos Santos, Amaury Nolasco, John Pirruccello and Alex Fernandez also star.

Rob Greenberg and Bob Fisher, who wrote Derbez’s $95M WW-grossing feature Overboard, also penned the remake of The Valet. Derbez and his producing partner Ben Odell produce through their 3Pas Studios banner.

Lunay rose to acclaim in the Latin and reggaeton scene with the songs “A Solas“, “Luz Apaga“, “Soltera“, and “Soltera (Remix)“. In October 2019, he released his debut album Épico.

He won the award for artist “on the rise” at the 2019 Premios Juventud.

Carlos Santos to Star Opposite Eugenio Derbez in English-Remake of “The Valet”

Carlos Santos is preparing for Valet service…

The 35-year-old Puerto Rican actor and comedian will star in Lionsgate’s The Valet, the English-language remake of Francis Veber’s French film.

Carlos Santos

Santos joins a roster of new cast additions that includes Noemi Gonzalez (Selena: The SeriesEast Los High), Tiana Okoye (Awkwafina Is Nora From QueensThe Good Place), Diany Rodriguez (Law & Order: Organized CrimeNew Amsterdam)Armando Hernandez (El César series on Prime Video, Disney+ series El Repatriado.

They join stars Eugenio Derbez and Samara Weaving in the film, which is being directed by Richard Wong.

The film, written by Rob Greenberg and Bob Fisher, follows Olivia (Weaving), a movie star who enlists Antonio (Derbez) – a parking valet – to pose as her lover to cover for a relationship with a married man. As a valet, the hard-working Antonio usually flies under the radar but his ruse with Olivia thrusts him into the spotlight and brings him to see himself more clearly than ever before.

Santos and Hernandez will play the valets who work with Antonio at a tony Beverly Hills restaurant.

Gonzalez will play Clara, Antonio’s sister and the wife of Benny, Antonio’s boss.

Okoye is Amanda, Olivia’s dedicated but jaded assistant.

Rodriguez will play Natalie, who works at Antonio’s neighborhood bike shop.

Derbez and Ben Odell are producing through their 3Pas Studios banner, while Meredith Wieck and Aaron Edmonds are overseeing the project for Lionsgate.

Manuel Uriza to Appear on Netflix’s Dramedy “Gentefied”

Manuel Uriza is getting gentefied

The Latino actor has landed a recurring role on Netflix’s dramedy Gentefied.

Manuel Uriza

Uriza joins a list of new recurring cast additions that includes Clarissa Thibeaux, Ivana Rojas and Melinna Bobadilla.

The series hails from Marvin Lemus and Linda Yvette Chávez, the duo behind the Sundance Film Festival darling Gente-fied: The Digital Series, and Macro.

Created by Chicano first-gen writers Lemus and Chávez, Gentefied is a half-hour dramatic comedy adapted from the 2017 Sundance digital series of the same name. Described as a badass bilingual series about family, community, brown love, and the displacement that disrupts it all, Gentefied follows three Mexican-American cousins who struggle to chase the American Dream, even while that same dream threatens the things they hold most dear: their neighborhood, their immigrant grandfather, and the family taco shop. Set in a rapidly changing Los Angeles, the dramedy navigates important themes like identity, class, and balancing insta-fame with translating memes for their parents.

Karrie Martin, JJ Soria, Carlos Santos and Joaquín Cosio star.

Uriza will play Ernesto Morales, Pop’s estranged, oldest son. By any measure, the personification of the American Dream, Pop has never forgiven him for moving his family from East LA to the calmer suburbs of Boise, Idaho. Unlike the rest of the family, Ernesto is the only one who can stand up to Pop, as their relationship reaches a boiling point.

Rojas will portray Sarai Damian. An up-and coming Chef, Sarai is career-focused, hella ambitious, and a truth-teller. She knows what she wants and she isn’t willing to compromise her dream for anyone. We meet her as she is about to be catapulted into her biggest career high, but it comes with a big price to pay.

Bobadilla will play Melinna Barragan, a fierce non-profit lawyer, she’s down for her community, even if it means working pro-bono. If your prima with the big hoops who always got into fights got her law degree at ELAC – that would be Melinna. Passionate and fierce, she treats her clients like family.

Uriza’s credits include Magnum P.I., Hawaii Five-O, Rambo: Last Blood, The Last Ship and Snowfall.

Netflix Renews Carlos Santos’ Latinx Dramedy “Gentefied” for Second Season

Carlos Santos isn’t leaving his gente

Netflix has picked up an eight-episode second season of its half-hour Latinx dramedy Gentefied, starring the 39-year-old Puerto Rican actor.

The series hails from Marvin Lemus and Linda Yvette Chávez, the duo behind the Sundance Film Festival darling Gente-fied: The Digital Seriesand Macro.

In celebration of the renewal, Gentefied‘s cast and creators will reunite for a live virtual table read, hosted by George Lopez, on Wednesday, May 20 on Netflix is a Joke YouTube channel. They’ll be raising awareness for Proyecto Pastoral, a nonprofit in Boyle Heights that is addressing the impacts of COVID-19 on the low-income families and residents they serve in the Boyle Heights community.

Created by Chicano first-gen writers Lemus and Chávez, Gentefied is a half-hour dramatic comedy adapted from the 2017 Sundance digital series of the same name. Described as a badass bilingual series about family, community, brown love, and the displacement that disrupts it all, Gentefied follows three Mexican-American cousins who struggle to chase the American Dream, even while that same dream threatens the things they hold most dear: their neighborhood, their immigrant grandfather, and the family taco shop. Set in a rapidly changing Los Angeles, the Spanglish dramedy navigates important themes like identity, class, and balancing insta-fame with translating memes for their parents. But most importantly, Gentefied settles once and for all how to pronounce Latinx.

In addition o Santos, who portrays aspiring chef Chris Morales, the series also stars Karrie MartinJJ Soria and Joaquín Cosio.

Lemus and Chávez executive produce with Charles D. King of Macro, America Ferrera of Take FountainTeri Weinberg of Yellow Brick RoadKim Roth and Aaliyah Williams.

Netflix to Release JJ Soria’s Latinx Dramedy “Gentefied” in February

JJ Soriais getting gentefied next month…

Netflix has scheduled the launch of Gentefied, its 10-episode Latinx dramedy starring the 33-year-old Mexican American actor, for February 21.

JJ Soria

The project hails from Marvin Lemusand Linda Yvette Chávez— the duo behind Gente-fied: The Digital Series, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festivalin 2017 — and Macro.

Described as a badass Spanglish series about family, community, brown love and the displacement that disrupts it all, Gentefied follows three Mexican-American cousins and their struggle to chase the American Dream, even while that same dream threatens the things they hold most dear: their neighborhood, their immigrant grandfather and the family taco shop. Set in a rapidly changing Los Angeles, the series will navigate important themes such as identity, class and balancing insta-fame with translating memes for their parents. And it will settle once and for all how to pronounce Latinx, Netflix notes.

In addition to Soria, the series also stars Joaquín CosíoKarrie Martin and Carlos Santos

Executive Producer America Ferrera and Wilmer Valderrama are confirmed to guest star. Ferrera directed two episodes along with co-creator Lemus, Marta CunninghamAurora Guerrero and Andrew Ahn.