Sofia Carson Lending Voice to Netflix’s Animated Film “My Little Pony: A New Generation”

Sofia Carson is ponying up…

The 28-year-old Colombian American actress/singer is part of the voice cast Netflix’s animated film My Little Pony: A New Generation, which will debut on the streamer on September 24, 2021.

Sofia Carson

It’s the same date the film had been planned to premiere when the eOne animated pic was set up at Paramount. Netflix acquired global rights in February when the pandemic was wrecking havoc with movie theaters.

My Little Pony

In addition to Carson, who voices the character of Pipp, the voice cast also includes Vanessa Hudgens (Sunny), Kimiko Glenn (Izzy), James Marsden (Hitch) and Liza Koshy (Zipp) along with Ken Jeong, Elizabeth Perkins, Jane Krakowski, Phil LaMarr and Michael McKean.

The plot centers on what happens when Earth Ponies, Unicorns, and Pegasi are no longer friends on Equestria and live separated by species. But idealistic Earth Pony Sunny teams with Unicorn Izzy team to travel to faraway lands to find a way to bring enchantment and unity back to their world.

My Little Pony

Robert Cullen and José L. Ucha direct the film, and Mark Fattibene is co-director. The story was created by Cullen & Ucha, and Tim Sullivan. Sullivan and Gillian Berrow penned the script.

The last film, My Little Pony: The Movie released in 2017 via 2017, earned $21.9M domestic and $60.3M WW.

The My Little Pony toy franchise was first launched in 1981, with the brand reportedly grossing over $1 billion annually in retail sails by 2014.

Peter Gadiot to Appear on Showtime’s Drama Series “Yellowjackets”

Peter Gadiot is seeing yellow(jackets)

The 35-year-old half-Mexican actor has landed a recurring role on Showtime’s drama series Yellowjackets.

Peter Gadiot

Gadiot joins a roster of new cast additions that includes Warren Kole, Keeya King and Alex Wyndham.

Melanie Lynskey, Juliette Lewis, Christina Ricci and Tawny Cypress star in the drama series from writers Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson, Entertainment One and studio-based producer Drew Comins.

Production has begun in Vancouver, Canada for a 2021 debut on the network.

Equal parts survival epic, psychological horror story and coming-of-age drama, Yellowjackets is the saga of a team of wildly talented high school girls soccer players who become the (un)lucky survivors of a plane crash deep in the remote northern wilderness. The series chronicles their descent from a complicated but thriving team to savage clans, while also tracking the lives they’ve attempted to piece back together nearly 25 years later, proving that the past is never really past and what began out in the wilderness is far from over.

Gadiot will portray Adam, a magnetic and curious stranger who, drawn to something inexplicable in one of our adult Yellowjackets, will befriend and provoke her at a tumultuous time in her life.

Ella Purnell, Sammi Hanratty, Sophie Thatcher, Sophie Nélisse, Steven Krueger and Jasmin Savoy Brown also star in Yellowjackets, described tonally as Big Little Lies meets Lord of the Flies.

Karyn Kusama, who directed the pilot, executive produces. eOne is the studio.

Gadiot can be seen in the lead role of James Valdez in Queen of the South, which is wrapping up its fifth and final season.

His other credits include Supergirl, Tut, Matador, Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, Fresh Meat, Hot Mess and The Forbidden Girl.

Entertainment One to Develop Series Based on Adam Silvera’s YA Novel “They Both Die at the End”

It’s the beginning of the End for Adam Silvera.

Entertainment One has acquired the U.S. rights to the 40-year-old half Puerto Rican writer’s novel They Both Die at the End to develop for television.

Adam Silvera

Silvera’s novel currently ranks at No. 1 on the New York Times YA paperback bestsellers list three years after it was published.

Silvera is attached to pen the series adaptation. eOne will serve as the studio and distribute the project worldwide.

Published by HarperCollins in September 2017, They Both Die at the End was previously in development as a series at HBO with J.J. AbramsBad Robot and The Other Two co-creator Chris Kelly. eOne pursued the rights when they became available, landing in a competitive situation.

Creative Engine and eOne already have a relationship with Silvera, whose first novel, More Happy Than Not, is currently in the works as a series at HBO Max, also eOne. Andrew Haigh is attached to direct.

they-both-die-at-the-end

They Both Die at the End is a devastating yet uplifting story about two people whose lives change over the course of one unforgettable day. According to the book synopsis: “On September 5, a little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to give them some bad news: They’re going to die today. Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but, for different reasons, they’re both looking to make a new friend on their End Day. The good news: There’s an app for that. It’s called the Last Friend, and through it, Rufus and Mateo are about to meet up for one last great adventure—to live a lifetime in a single day.”

The book made history as the first YA novel with queer Latinx characters to hit No. 1 on the New York Times bestsellers list.

The novel experienced a resurgence in popularity during the pandemic and hit No. 1 again last month after it became a fixture under the TikTok hashtag #BookTok, where users recommend books and record their reactions to emotional story developments.

It now ranks as the bestselling YA novel of 2021, and there has been a 900% increase in printings to meet demand. The novel also is a No. 1 National Indie bestseller, the No. 1 YA bestseller in the UK and Australia, and the top-selling YA title on the USA Today bestseller list.

Silvera has expressed interest in writing more books in the They Both Die at the End universe.

Netflix Acquires Rights to Latest “My Little Pony” Film, Co-Directed by José Luis Ucha

Netflix is ponying up for José Luis Ucha’s latest project…

The streaming service has picked up the global rights, excluding China, to the Latino director and writer’s My Little Pony film.

My Little Pony

Paramount Pictures was originally set to release the movie on September 24.

The film, hailing from eOne’s animation outfit Boulder Media, was directed by Ucha and Rob Cullen, with co-director Mark Fattibene.

A streaming date is planned for later this year.

The last My Little Pony: The Movie in 2017, released via 2017, earned $21.9M domestic and $60.3M WW.

The My Little Pony toy franchise was first launched in 1981, with the brand reportedly grossing over $1 billion annually in retail sails by 2014.

Ucha’s previous projects include InvizimalsCanimals and Bernard.

Michelle Rodriguez to Star in Film Adaptation of Hasbro’s “Dungeons & Dragons” Game

Michelle Rodriguez is ready to battle monsters, solve puzzles and reap rewards…

The 42-year-old Puerto Rican & Dominican American actress will star alongside Chris Pine and Justice Smith in the film adaptation of Dungeons & Dragons, Hasbro’s popular game franchise from Wizards of the Coast.

Michelle Rodriguez

Hasbro/eOne and Paramount are jointly producing and financing the film, with eOne distributing in the UK and Canada and Paramount in the rest of world.

Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley will direct and write the script based on a draft by Michael Gilio.

Plot details behind this latest take on the IP are being kept under wraps. Dungeons & Dragons is a leading fantasy entertainment franchise, fueled by the imagination of storytellers around the world. More than 40 million fans have interacted with or played D&D since it was first published 46 years ago, including via video games and livestream entertainment on Twitch and YouTube.

Rodriguez is best known for her role of Letty in the long running Fast & Furious franchise. She reprises the role in the next installment F9, which bows later this year.

Camille Guaty to Appear on ABC’s “The Rookie”

It’s a rookie moment for Camille Guaty

The Puerto Rican and Cuban American actress is set to appear in a multi-episode arc on ABC’s The Rookie.

Camille Guaty

Guaty will play Sandra De la Cruz, a businesswoman with nefarious connections who has been the target of a murder attempt.

Her character will be introduced in the Sunday, January 17 episode titled “La Fiera.”

Created by Alexi Hawley, The Rookie stars Nathan Fillion as John Nolan, the oldest rookie at the Los Angeles Police Department.

The series, which also stars Mekia Cox, Alyssa Diaz, Richard T. Jones, Titus Makin, Melissa O’Neil and Eric Winter, is produced by Entertainment One (eOne) and ABC Signature.

Guaty is known for her starring role on VH1’s dramedy series Daytime Divas, where she played Nina, an award-winning journalist and one of the five co-hosts on the popular talk show, “The Lunch Hour.”

She can most recently be seen guest starring on The Good Doctor, as well as in Netflix film Nappily Ever After, directed by Haiffaa Al Mansour, and A Futile and Stupid Gesture, a biopic on Doug Kennedy, the man who started National Lampoon, where Guaty plays his wife.

Alyssa Diaz’s “The Rookie” to Address Police Brutality in Season 3

It looks like Alyssa Diaz’s art will imitate life in the near future. 

ABC’s police drama The Rookie, starring the 34-year-old part Colombian and Mexican actress, will address the issue of police brutality during its upcoming third season. 

Alyssa Diaz in The Rookie

Show creator Alexi Hawley has brought in a number of experts to discuss the issues around policing in America in 2020, according to ABC Entertainment president Karey Burke.

“Alexi Hawley is a really thoughtful ally and partner and has been in the writers’ room for some time, already planning to address the current conversation going on around police work,” she tells Deadline.com. “I’m impressed with his thoughtfulness and leadership about hearing and adapting the current conversations to the storylines. It’s a diverse writers room and I’m hearing that the conversations going on in that room are inspired and give me hope that that show will address and not ignore the conversations around policing.”

In addition to Diaz, who portrays Angela Lopez, The Rookiealso stars Nathan Fillion as John Nolan, the oldest rookie in the LAPDMekia CoxRichard T. JonesTitus MakinMelissa O’Neil and Eric Winter.

The series is produced by Entertainment One (eOne) and ABC Studios.

Diaz’s other television credits include Narcos: MexicoLethal WeaponNCIS: Los Angeles and Ray Donovan.

Aubrey Plaza to Star in the Romantic Comedy “Happiest Season”

Aubrey Plaza has found her Happiest place…

The 35-year-old Puerto Rican actress and Parks and Recreation alum has joined the cast of the TriStar Pictures and Entertainment One romantic comedy Happiest Season, starring Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis.

Aubrey Plaza

Plaza joins a list of newcomers that includes Mary SteenburgenVictor GarberAlison Brieand Dan Levy

Directed and co-written by Clea DuVall, and co-written by Mary HollandHappiest Season follows a young woman (Stewart) whose plan to propose to her girlfriend (Davis) while at her family’s annual holiday party is upended when she discovers her partner hasn’t yet come out to her conservative parents (played by Steenburgen and Garber). 

The film is set to hit theaters on November 20. eOne will distribute the film in UK and Canada.

Filming is currently underway in Pittsburgh, PA.

Plaza’s film credits include Scott Pilgrim vs. the WorldMonsters University,Dirty GrandpaIngrid Goes West and Child’s Play.

Froy Gutierrez to Star in Freeform’s Thriller Pilot “Last Summer”

It’s Summer-time for Froy Gutierrez

The 21-year-old Latino actor has been cast in Freeform’s Last Summer, a thriller pilot from  Jessica Biel and Michelle Purple.

Froy Gutierrez

Gutierrez will appear as a series regular in the project, alongside Michael Landes, Brooklyn SudanoHarley Quinn SmithChiara AureliaMika AbdallaAllius BarnesBlake Lee and Nathaniel Ashton.

Written by Bert V. Royaland directed by Max WinklerLast Summer is an unconventional thriller that takes place over three summers — 1993-95 — in a small Texas town when a beautiful popular teen, Kate (Abdalla), is abducted and, seemingly unrelated, a girl, Jeanette (Aurelia), goes from being a sweet, awkward outlier to the most popular girl in town and, by ’95, the most despised person in America. Each episode is told from the POV of one of the two main girls (Jeanette and Kate), which will have the viewers’ loyalties constantly shifting as more information is revealed.

Gutierrez has been cast as Jamie, the kind of guy everyone loves. He starts as Jeannette’s secret crush, who ends up as her boyfriend the following year. 

The pilot comes from eOneand will be executive produced by Royal and Winkler alongside Iron Ocean Productions’ Biel and Purple.

Production recently kicked off in Texas.Gutierrez’s previous credits include appearances on television in Bella and the BulldogsThe GoldbergsOne Day at a TimeandTeen Wolf

Yara Martinez to Star in Fox’s Police Drama Pilot “Deputy”

Yara Martinez is joining the force…

The 39-year-old Cuban American actress will co-star opposite Stephen Dorffin Deputy, Fox’s police drama pilot from Bright helmer David AyerAquaman writer Will Bealland eOne.

Yara Martinez

Written by Beall and directed by Ayer, Deputy centers on Deputy Bill Hollister (Dorff), a career lawman who’s very comfortable kicking down doors and utterly lost in a staff meeting. But when the L.A. County sheriff drops dead, Bill becomes acting sheriff, in charge of 10,000 sworn deputies policing a modern Wild West.

Martinez will play Hollister’s wife, Dr. Paula Reyes, a trauma surgeon. Strong-willed yet sensitive, she’s a good match for her husband.

Martinez was a series regular for the first two seasons of Amazon’s The Tick, playing Miss Lint. 

Martinez continues to recur as Dr. Luisa Alver on the CW’s Jane the Virgin and also is recurring on CBS’ Bull.