Zoe Saldana’s “The Bluff” Acquired by Netflix

Posted on February 23, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Zoe Saldana’s latest project is headed to Netflix…

Netflix has won a hotly contested auction for The Bluff, a pitch that will be written as a star vehicle for the 42-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American actress and Guardians of the Galaxy star.

Frank E. Flowers is directing the film, while Joe Ballarini will write the script with Flowers. Several streamers were trying to acquire the film, and the upfront commitment for those scribes is seven figures.

The project is about pirates in the Caribbean. The drama is set in the Cayman Islands in the 1800s and Saldana plays Ercell, a Caribbean woman whose secret past is revealed when her island is invaded by vicious buccaneers. The intention is to blend visceral action and historical fiction to create a real action vehicle as the heroine fights against the atrocities committed by the pirates. There are strong roles for a second woman who is part of the vigilante campaign, and the nasty lead pirate.

Saldana and Flowers previously teamed in the 2004 drama Haven.

Saldana has the four Avatar sequels and is filming the untitled David O Russell-directed film alongside a cast that includes Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, Anya-Taylor Joy, Rami Malek, John David Washington and Robert De Niro.

Zoe Saldana to Star in David O. Russell’s Untitled New Regency Film

Posted on January 14, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Zoe Saldana has lined up her next film project…

The 42-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American actress has joined the ensemble cast of David O. Russell’s untitled New Regency film.

Saldana will star opposite Rami Malek, Christian Bale, Margot Robbie and John David Washington in the film.

The production, based on an original idea from Russell, is currently underway. Plot details are being kept under wraps.

Saldana will next be seen reprising her role of Neytiri in the upcoming second installment in the Avatar franchise. She’s also returning as Gamora in Disney/Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and recently joined Jennifer Garner and Ryan Reynolds in The Adam Project for Netflix and Skydance.

Rapace In Talks to Star Opposite Hugh Jackman in “Ferrari”

Posted on March 9, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Noomi Rapace is revvin’ up for a new project…

The 37-year-old half-Spanish actress is in talks to star opposite Hugh Jackman star in Michael Mann’s Ferrari.

Noomi Rapace

Jackman would play Enzo Ferrari, while Rapace would portray his estranged wife Linda. Their relationship, as fiery and combustible as the race cars that Ferrari designed, plays a big part in the script Mann wrote.

They have loosely been discussing this teaming for months, and now things are starting to move for a summer 2018 production start.

Ferrari is the drama Mann started in partnership with the late director Sydney Pollack almost 17 years ago. The film takes place in 1957, a year where passion, failure, success and death and life all collided in Ferrari’s battle for supremacy against rival Maserati. Christian Bale was going to play Ferrari two years ago, but developed health concerns when he began putting on weight.

Rapace will next appear in Ridley Scott’s upcoming sci-fi thriller Alien: Covenant.

de la Huerta to Star in Modern-Day Film Adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”

Posted on April 24, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Paz de la Huerta is living the Dream…

The 31-year-old half-Spanish American actress will star in a modern-day film adaptation of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, according to Variety.

de la Huerta will star alongside Rachel Leigh Cook, Hamish Linklater, Avan Jogia, Fran Kranz, Charity Wakefield, Lily Rabe, Ted Levine and Finn Whitrock in the film, which completed production on Dec. 18.

Producers announced the project Saturday to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death.

The new version takes place in present-day Hollywood where fantasy and reality collide. It’s set in a world where glamorous stars, commanding moguls, starving artists and vaulting pretenders all vie to get ahead.

Casey Wilder Mott wrote and directed the feature, marking his directorial debut.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream will feature original music by Mia Doi Todd and Saul Williams, both of whom also appear in the film.

de la Huerta starred in Boardwalk Empire for two seasons. Her other credits include The Cider House Rules, Riding in Cars with Boys and A Walk to Remember.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream has been adapted into movies numerous times, most recently in the 1999 Fox Searchlight film, which included Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Everett, Stanley Tucci, Calista Flockhart and Christian Bale.

Netflix Gives Gomez’s “13 Reasons Why” a Straight-to-Series Order

Posted on October 30, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Selena Gomez is going behind the scenes for her next project…

Netflix has given Anonymous Content and Paramount Television’s 13 Reasons Why, executive produced by the 23-year-old half-Mexican American actress/singer, a straight-to-series order.

The show, based on the New York Times bestselling Young Adult (YA) book by Jay Asher, was created by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Brian Yorkey, who also wrote the pilot.

13 Reasons Why is the second Netflix straight to order series for Anonymous Content. The first is the Plan B collaboration The OA, which goes into production next quarter.

Gomez recently wrapped four films: In Dubious Battle, directed by James Franco; The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving, alongside Paul Rudd; The Big Short, starring Brad Pitt, Ryan Gosling and Christian Bale; and Seth Rogen’s Neighbors 2.

Most recently, she reprised her role as Mavis in Sony Pictures’ Hotel Transylvania 2, which opened to record-breaking box office.

She is not starring in 13 Reasons Why.

As a recording artist, Gomez has sold more than 22 million singles worldwide, and her new album Revival debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. She will embark on a global tour next year.

Aguirre-Sacasa & Duncan Sheik’s “American Psycho” Musical Heading to Second Stage

Posted on July 15, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s psycho project is headed to Second Stage.

The off-Broadway powerhouse has announced plans to present the U.S. premiere of the much-praised musical American Psycho, with a book by the Nicaraguan-Americanplaywright, screenwriter, and comic bookwriter, and music by Duncan Sheik.

It’s a musical adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ 1991 novel of the same name, about excess, murder and flashing the right labels. The film adaptation of the same name was released in 2000 and starred Christian Bale.

The show, with staging by Rupert Goold and a starring performance by Matt “Dr. Who” Smith, opened last December at London’s Almeida Theatre and was considered a shoo-in for Broadway next season.

For now, however, the show will begin performances in February 2015 and open in March at Second Stage’s West 43rd Street home base. It will be mounted in association with Act 4 Entertainment by special arrangement with Edward R. Pressman, who produced the film.

Aguirre-Sacasa, who was a Second Stage playwright in residence, has written for Glee and Big Loveand is Chief Creative Officer for Archie Comics.

On Broadway he’s best known as the book-writer for Spider Man: Turn Off The Dark.

Saldaña to Star in NBC’s “Rosemary’s Baby” Miniseries

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

There’s something seriously wrong with Zoë Saldaña baby…

No, no! The 33-year-old half-Dominican/half-Puerto Rican American actress isn’t expecting. But she has landed the lead role in a new adaptation of a classic thriller.

The Avatar and Star Trek star has been cast in NBC’s four-hour miniseries Rosemary’s Baby, an adaptation of the 1967 best-selling suspense novel by Ira Levin.

The miniseries centers on Rosemary (Saldana), a young wife and would-be mother who, with her husband, moves into a Paris apartment that has a darkly storied past. After finally getting pregnant, she becomes increasingly suspicious that both her husband and their mysterious neighbors have ulterior motives about the future of her child.

Mia Farrow famously played the role in Roman Polanski’s 1968 feature film adaptation.

“Zoe has proven that she is one of our most gifted actresses, and we think she has the perfect combination of spirit and gravitas to take on the title role from Ira Levin’s infamous novel,” said NBC’s head of longform Quinn Taylor. “With Zoe leading the cast under the direction of Agnieszka Holland, this reimagined event miniseries is off to a great start.”

Holland is directing the project from a script by Scott Abbott.

Production is set to begin shortly in Paris.

Saldaña recently appeared in the Christian Bale drama Out Of The Furnace, and her upcoming projects include Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy and Blood Ties.

Rosemary’s Baby is the first miniseries greenlighted by NBC as part of its renewed push in the longform arena. It was followed shortly by an order for The Bible sequel A.D.

Peña, Louis C.K. & Their “American Hustle” Co-Stars Earn Palm Springs Film Fest Award

Posted on December 8, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Michael Peña and Louis C.K. will be spending the New Year in Palm Springs.

The 37-year-old Mexican American actor, 46-year-old Mexican American actor and their American Hustle co-stars will be feted on January 4 during an awards gala at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

Peña, Louis C.K. and the cast of David O. Russell‘s fictional film based on the 1970s Abscam scandal will receive the Ensemble Performance Award.

In addition to Peña and Louis C.K., the film’s talented ensemble cast includes Amy Adams, Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Jeremy Renner, Lis Rohm and Alessandro Nivola.

“David O. Russell has created a viscerally powerful film,” said PSIFF Chairman Harold Matzner. “American Hustle grabs you from the start and is populated by a group of eminently believable characters as brought to life by this brilliant cast.” The 25th edition of the Palm Springs International Film Festival runs January 3-13.

Peña to Star in the Demonic Thriller “The Vatican Tapes”

Posted on June 28, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Michael Peña is headed to the priesthood…

The 37-year-old Mexican American actor has joined the cast of Lakeshore Entertainment and Lionsgate’s The Vatican Tapes.

Peña, who earned a Spirit Award nomination for his performance in the police drama End of Watch, will portray Father Lozano in the demonic thriller directed by Mark Neveldine.

Filming is expected to begin next month with Djimon Hounsou, Dougray Scott, Kathleen Robertson, Peter Andersson, John Patrick Amedori, Alex Sparrow and Olivia Dudley part of the cast.

Dudley plays a twentysomething who seems to cause death and destruction to those around her. Peña’s character is the local priest who first tries to help.

It’s the latest project for Peña, who will next appear in DreamWorks Animation’s Turbo.

He recently signed on to star in David O. Russell’s next film alongside Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Jennifer Lawrence.

Peña Cast in David O Russell’s Next Film

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Michael Peña has lined up his next big project…

The 37-year-old Mexican American actor has been cast in director David O. Russell’s next film.

The Sony Pictures drama, which was formerly known as American Bullshit, is inspired by the true story of a notorious financial con artist and his mistress/partner in crime, who were forced to work with an overly ambitious federal agent to turn the tables on other con artists, mobsters and politicians.

Peña joins a cast that includes Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Jennifer Lawrence.

The film is set for a December 13 release.

Peña, whose recent credits include a Spirit Award-nominated role in David Ayer’s End Of Watch and Gangster Squad, recently completed voice work on DreamWorks Animation’s Turbo, which is set to be released in July. He also just wrapped the Diego Luna-directed Chavez.

He has also been cast as the lead in Fox’s drama pilot The List.

Russell’s film is set for a December 13 release.

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