Sheen Using His Birth Name in “Machete Kills” Credits

Posted on May 26, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Charlie Sheen is embracing his Latino roots…

The 47-year-old part-Spanish actor is using his real name in the credits for Robert Rodriguez’ upcoming film Machete Kills.

Sheen, born Carlos Irwin Estévez to actor Martin Sheen, stars as the President of the United States in the sequel to Rodriguez’s cult classic Machete.

His brother Emilio Estevez decided to keep the family name and dad Martin Sheen, born Ramón Antonio Gerardo Estevez, regrets changing his name, which he did to get more acting gigs.

“I thought, I got enough problems trying to get an acting job, so I invented Martin Sheen,” said the West Wing star during a 2003 appearance on Inside the Actors Studio.

“It’s still Estevez officially. I never changed it officially. I never will. It’s on my driver’s license and passport and everything. I started using Sheen, I thought I’d give it a try, and before I knew it, I started making a living with it and then it was too late. In fact, one of my great regrets is that I didn’t keep my name as it was given to me. I knew it bothered my dad.”

In the film, Trejo returns as ex-Federal agent Machete, who is recruited by the President of the United States (Sheen) for a mission which would be impossible for any mortal man – he must take down a madman revolutionary and an eccentric billionaire arms dealer (Mel Gibson) who has hatched a plan to spread war across the planet.

Machete Kills also stars Sofia Vergara, Demián Bichir, Jessica Alba, Antonio Banderas, Vanessa Hudgens and Lady Gaga.

Machete Kills is scheduled for release in the U.S. on September 13, 2013.

Lopez to Star in FX Series “Saint George”

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

It’s official… George Lopez is returning to sitcom television.

The 51-year-old Mexican American comedian and actor will star in the FX series Saint George.

Lopez will be portraying a successful engineer with a demanding ex-wife and an overbearing mother, as well as an 11-year-old son and an uncle.

The “Saint” part of the series’ name stems from his character’s new role as a philanthropist; he likes “giving back” by teaching history weekly at night school.

Saint George was created by Lopez and his producing partners Matt Williams and David McFadzean.

Under the deal, FX has given an initial 10-episode order to the project. If it meets pre-set ratings thresholds over the 10-episode run, the network will order an additional 90-episode pickup, the way it did last year with Charlie Sheen’s Anger Management sitcom.

The new show will reflect Lopez’s “no-holds-barred comedic take on the tensions surrounding race, class, sex and family life in Los Angeles through the eyes of a man straddling two separate cultures,” said Lionsgate Television’s president Kevin Beggs.

It’s Lopez’s first starring role in a sitcom since his ABC series George Lopez, which ended in 2007. It aired for six seasons and 120 episodes; and it has enjoyed a strong afterlife in syndication. A decade after its ABC premiere, the show continues to perform well in primetime on cable, Nick at Nite and a Spanish-language version on MTV Tr3s, as well as the afternoon in broadcast syndication.

Vergara Dons Lethal Lingerie in New “Machete Kills” Poster

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Lady Gaga isn’t the only one packin’ (breast) heat…

In the latest poster for Robert Rodriguez’s Machete Kills, Sofia Vergara appears in a weaponized bustier.

The 40-year-old Colombian actress stars as Lady Desdemona, a femme fatale in the Mexican-American director’s sequel to Machete.

The action-packed film centers on title character Machete Cortez (portrayed by Danny Trejo), a dangerous, hard-luck anti-hero. This time the U.S. government (led by a presidential Charlie Sheen) recruits Machete to battle his way through his native Mexico to topple an arms dealer who wants to rain destruction on the U.S. with a orbital weapon.

Along with Vergara, Trejo and Sheen, the cast includes Mel Gibson, Vanessa Hudgens, Michelle Rodriguez, Amber Heard and Lady Gaga, who has donned undergarment firepower of her own.

“It was a whirlwind. She was willing to do anything and everything,” said Rodriguez of Vergara’s performance in the film. “She became this character. It was great fun for everybody.”

Machete Kills is set to open in theaters on September 13.

Rodriguez’s “Machete Kills” Gets September Release Date

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Robert Rodriguez’s iconic character Machete will be returning to theaters in September…

The 44-year-old Mexican American director’s Machete Kills, the sequel to Machete and the second in a planned trilogy, will be released on September 13, 2013.

Kyle Ward penned the screenplay for the sequel, which is based on a story by Marcel Rodriguez and Robert Rodriguez.

Danny Trejo returns as ex-Federale agent Machete, who is recruited by the U.S. President to take down a madman revolutionary and an eccentric billionaire arms dealer who has hatched a plan to spread war and anarchy.

Michelle Rodriguez, Sofia Vergara, Amber Heard, Charlie Sheen, Lady Gaga, Antonio Banderas, Jessica Alba, Demián Bichir, Alexa Vega, Vanessa Hudgens, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Mel Gibson co-star.

Machete Kills will open against Battle of the Year and I Frankenstein.

First Trailer Released for Sheen’s “Charles Swan III” Film

Posted on December 3, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Call it Charlie Sheen’s Swan song…

The first trailer for the 47-year-old part-Spanish actor’s latest film A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III has been released.

The clip is chock full of entertaining moments as the title character (played by Sheen) tumbles into his imaginary world after a recent breakup with his gorgeous girlfriend.

He and his loyal friends, Kirby and Saul, are seen dressing as cowboys on a Western set where a girl hits him with an arrow. In another scene, he gets entangled in what seems to be an espionage world and almost gets exploded.

The film features Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Patricia Arquette and Aubrey Plaza and begs the question: Is it possible to love and hate someone at the same time?

The Roman Coppola-directed dramedy opens in theaters nationwide February 8, 2013.

Sheen’s “Anger Management” Returning to FX in Early 2013

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

It’s official… Charlie Sheen will heading back to anger management in January…

FX has announced the return date for the 47-year-old part-Spanish actor’s Anger Management.

The comedy series will begin its back-90 run on January 8, 2013, launching with back-to-back episodes at 9 and 9:30 PM before settling into its regular 9:30 slot.

Anger Management broke a ratings record with 5.74 million viewers in its series debut and ranks as the most-watched sitcom premiere in cable history, is based on the 2003 film of the same name.

Rodriguez’s “Machete Kills” to be Distributed by Open Road

Posted on October 19, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Robert Rodriguez’s latest feature film is heading down an open road…

Open Road Films has announced that the company will be distributing Machete Kills, the highly anticipated film from the 44-year-old Mexican-American filmmaker.

The second movie in the trilogy, which stars Danny Trejo as rough-faced ex-Federale agent Machete, comes from a screenplay by Kyle Ward. It’s based on a story by Rodriguez and his brother Marcel Rodriguez.

Along with Trejo, the film stars pop diva Lady Gaga in her film acting debut, as well as Oscar nominee Demian Bichir, Sofia Vergara, Amber Heard, Charlie Sheen, Antonio Banderas, Jessica Alba, Alexa Vega, Vanessa Hudgens, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Mel Gibson.

In 2010′s cult favorite Machete, Trejo made a mess while seeking revenge on an old boss, with cameos by celebrities like Lindsay Lohan.

In the sequel, Trejo as Machete is recruited by none other than the President of the United States to take down a “madman revolutionary and an eccentric billionaire arms dealer who has hatched a plan to spread war and anarchy across the planet,” according to the Open Road press release.

Machete Kills is expected to hit theaters in 2013.

FX Orders 90 Additional Episodes of Sheen’s “Anger Management”

Posted on August 29, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

It looks like Charlie Sheen is back in winning form…

Following its 10-episode summer run, the 46-year-old part-Spanish American actor’s FX comedy, Anger Management, has been granted a 90-episode order.

As part of the network’s deal with Lionsgate, Sheen’s comedy had to hit a certain undisclosed ratings threshold over the course of its run to move forward with 90 more episodes. During its first nine weeks on the air, the series delivered 4.53 million total viewers and 2.5 million in the coveted 18-49 demo. The final weeks took a ratings dive, possibly due to the London Games.

“We set a very high ratings bar that included some additional hurdles for Anger Management to earn its back-90 order, and the series met and exceed those metrics,” said FX Networks executive vice president Chuck Saftler at the time of the renewal. “[Showrunner] Bruce Helford has created a sitcom that works extremely well in our pre-10 p.m. programming lineup. Charlie Sheen and the entire cast did an amazing job in the first 10 episodes, which were produced in a very tight window. I have no doubt that the producers and cast will be able to pull off the Herculean task of producing 90 episodes over the next two years.”

The half-hour series, which co-stars Selma Blair and Shawnee Smith, reportedly sold at the highest CPM rates FX has seen for a first-year series. The studio has sold the series in Canada, Latin America, Germany, Scandinavia and Australia, among other territories, for roughly $600,000 an episode, more than what established sitcoms like Seinfeld and Sheen’s own Two and a Half Men commanded out of the gate.

As the series begins its back 90, Martin Sheen will reprise his role as Charlie’s father on the show. The elder Sheen, who has turned up in one episode already, is expected to appear in some 20 of the 90 episodes, says sources. As Landgraf sees it, the addition will make the series more of a “multigenerational family comedy,” much as Two and a Half Men once was with Sheen at the helm.

Meanwhile, Martin Sheen will reprise his role as Charlie’s father on the show. The elder Sheen, who has turned up in one episode already, is expected to appear in some 20 of the 90 episodes, say sources, which could make it more of a “multigenerational family comedy.”

Production is expected to resume on September 24, with new episodes premiering in January.

Sheen to Star in “Scary Movie 5”

Posted on August 7, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

It’s about to get scary for Charlie Sheen…

The 46-year-old part-Spanish actor has reportedly signed on to star in Dimension’s Scary Movie 5, the fifth installment of Dimension’s horror spoof franchise.

Sheen—currently starring in FX’s new comedy series Anger Management—will reprise his role as Tom Logan in the previous two installments of the franchise, according to E! Online.

Lindsay Lohan and Ashley Tisdale, as well as franchise stalwarts Anthony Anderson and Regina Hall, are among the cast.

It’s the latest film project on the schedule for Sheen, who will be portraying the president of the United States in Machete Kills.

Production is expected to start September in Atlanta.

Sheen Donates $1 Million to the USO

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Charlie Sheen is planning to share the wealth with our nation’s troops…

The 46-year-old part-Spanish actor has announced that he’ll donate one-percent of the profits from his new FX series Anger Management to the United Service Organizations Inc. (USO), guaranteeing a minimum donation of $1 million with an unlimited cap on the final donation amount to the military aid organization.

“It’s an honor for me to be able to give back to these men and women of the military who have done so much for all of us,” said Sheen of his donation. “They put their lives on the line for us every day, and I’m just happy that my work on Anger Management can bring a little bit of relief to the troops and their families.”

This donation marks the largest contribution ever from an individual to the organization as well as the first time the USO has received a percentage of the profits from an actor’s television show.

The first installment of the donation is $250,000 and will be handed over later this week in a private ceremony to Sloan D. Gibson, President and Chief Executive Officer of the USO.

The funds from Sheen’s donation will be used towards an entertainment facility for injured military troops in Bethesda, MD.

“The USO would like to thank Charlie Sheen for his very generous $1 million donation to our Operation Enduring Care Campaign and his interest in helping us lift the spirits of those who have endured so much to protect the freedoms we enjoy daily,” said General John I. Pray, Jr., Executive Vice President and Joint Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force. “His support is greatly appreciated, especially from our wounded warriors and their families.”

The USO is a private, non profit, non-partisan organization whose mission is to support the troops by providing morale, welfare and recreation-type services at hundreds of locations around the world.

Sheen’s new show Anger Management airs Thursdays at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on FX.

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