Manu Rios Signs with William Morris Endeavor (WME)

Posted on March 16, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Manu Rios has new representation…

The 24-year-old Spanish actor and singer, best known for his starring role on Netflix’s popular Spanish YA series Elite, has signed with William Morris Endeavor (WME) for representation.

Rios portrays Patrick Blanco on the international hit series, which is heading into its seventh season on the streamer.

Rios will next be seen starring alongside Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal in the upcoming short film Strange Way of Life from Oscar-winning director Pedro Almodóvar. The short is set to premiere at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. The story follows the reunion of an outlaw and a sheriff after 25 years apart, and the romance that followed them there.

Rios is also set to star in the upcoming Netflix limited series El Silencio from Aitor Gabilondo.

He was previously seen in the limited series La Edad de la Ira for Atresmedia.

Maribel Verdú Starring in Apple Studios’ “Raymond and Ray”

Posted on October 24, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Maribel Verdú is providing care…

The 51-year-old Spanish actress has been cast in Apple Studios’ Raymond and Ray alongside Oscar nominee Sophie Okonedo.

Verdu and Okonedo join a cast that includes Ewan McGregor and Ethan Hawke.

The Rodrigo García-directed and written feature, which is currently filming in Virginia, follows half-brothers Raymond (McGregor) and Ray (Hawke) who have lived in the shadow of a terrible father. Somehow, they still each have a sense of humor, and his funeral is a chance for them to reinvent themselves. There’s anger, there’s pain, there’s folly, there might be love, and there’s definitely grave-digging.

Verdú will star as Lucia, a partner and caretaker to Raymond and Ray’s father. Her character is described as one having the innate strength and alluring personality that will mend the broken family in the wake of the father’s death.

Verdú , an 11-time Goya Award nominee and two-time winner, starred in Y tu mamá también and Pan’s Labyrinth.

Raymond and Ray is produced by Oscar winner Alfonso Cuarón, Bonnie Curtis and Julie Lynn, who’ll produce through their Mockingbird Pictures.

John Leguizamo to Star in the Off Broadway Streaming Production of Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot”

Posted on April 12, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

There’s more waiting in John Leguizamo’s future…

The 56-year-old Colombian actor, stand-up comedian, producer, playwright and screenwriter will star opposite Ethan Hawke in an Off Broadway streaming production of Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot, directed by Scott Elliott and premiering online on Tuesday, May 6.

The New Group production will co-star Wallace Shawn, Tarik Trotter and Drake Bradshaw.

Leguizamo will portray Estragon, Hawke will play Vladimir.

The production is the first in a new venture called The New Group Off Stage, from The New Group in association with John Ridley’s Nō Studios and Frank Marshall.

“This project is the epitome of what we mean by ’theatrical expressions in different media’: bringing together top tier artists across disciplines – film, television, stage, music – to collaborate in a hybrid, on-screen world, finding a way to make a play newly alive for themselves,” said Elliott, Artistic Director of The New Group. “It was a unique and singularly meaningful experience for all of us.”

The New Group describes the production as an “experimental exploration of a storied play” that “combines theatrical invention and innovative filmmaking.”

Waiting for Godot will be co-produced by MiLa Media, with production design by Derek McLane and costume design by Qween Jean. Director of Photography is Kramer Morgenthau.

Waiting for Godot will premiere online o Thursday, May 6 at 7:00 pm ET, and will be available to stream at www.thenewgroup.org.

Tickets can be purchased for 72-hour or seven-day rentals.

Eiza González’s Heist Drama “Cut Throat City” to Open in Limited Theater Release Next Month

Posted on June 24, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a Cut Throatworld for Eiza González…

The RZA-directed heist drama Cut Throat City, starring the 30-year-old Mexican actress/singer, will open in limited release on Friday, July 17.

Written by P.G. Cuschieri, the plot follows four childhood friends in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward who return after Hurricane Katrina to find their homes decimated, with no jobs and no help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Out of options, they reluctantly turn to a local gangster, who offers them one shot at turning their situations around – by pulling off a dangerous heist in the heart of the city. When the job goes bad, the friends find themselves on the run, hunted by two relentless detectives and a neighborhood warlord who thinks they stole the heist money.

The film was originally set to open in theaters April, but those plans were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Well Go USA and Patriot Pictureswill now release the film in 300 screens across the U.S.

Demetrius Shipp Jr., Denzel Whitaker, Isaiah Washington, Kat Graham, Keean Johnson, Shameik Moore, and Tip T.I. Harris star in the film along with González, who portrays Lucinda Valencia, Ethan Hawke, Terrence Howard and Wesley Snipes.

The film was originally scheduled to have its world premiere at SXSW 2020.

The distributors have committed to donating a portion of the film’s proceeds to lowernine.org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the long-term recovery of New Orleans’ historic Lower Ninth Ward.

Noomi Rapace to Star in the Psychological Drama “Angel of Mine”

Posted on February 6, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Noomi Rapace has landed a heavenly role…

The half-Spanish actress has been cast in Angel of Mine, a psychological drama that has Kim Farrant attached to direct.

From a screenplay by Oscar-nominated scribe Luke Davies and David Regal and based on the 2008 French film L’Empreinte de L’Ange, the story centers on Lizzie (Rapace), a mother who, still struggling to cope with the loss of her daughter several years earlier, becomes convinced that a stranger’s daughter is her own. As her obsession grows, she becomes more and more entwined in this young girl’s life, causing her to lose touch with reality.

The film, which will begin production in April, was developed by Garlin Pictures with the assistance of Screen Australia and SixtyFourSixty.

Fortitude will present the film to buyers at the upcoming Berlin Film Market, while Becker Film Group will distribute it in Australia and New Zealand territories.

Rapace, can currently be seen in the Netflix movies What Happened to Monday and Bright, recently wrapped production on Robert Budreau’s Stockholm with Ethan Hawke and Mark Strong as well as the Vicky Jewson-directed thriller, Close.

Freestyle Releasing Acquires Henao’s Horror-Comedy “Meet the Blacks”

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Zulay Henao is ready to Meet you at your local theater…

Freestyle Releasing has acquired horror-comedy Meet The Blacks starring the 36-year-old Colombian actress and Mike Epps.

Deon Taylor wrote, directed and produced the film, which spoofs the 2013 Ethan Hawke–Lena Headey hit The Purge.

In addition to Henao and Epps, the film’s cast also includes George Lopez, Mike Tyson and Bresha Webb. Watch a teaser above.

“Meet the Blacks takes spoofing to a new level and is pure cinematic fun for audiences who just want to laugh,” says Taylor. “This movie assembles a very diverse comedy all-star team that delivers on this promise – in a big way. We truly feel it has all the ingredients for a breakout hit.”

Freestyle Releasing, the company co-founded by Mark Borde and the late Susan Jackson, was acquired by Byron Allen’s Entertainment Studios in October.

Freestyle Releasing has set an April 29 theatrical release for Meet the Blacks.

Amenabar’s “Regression” to Open the San Sebastian Film Festival

Posted on August 14, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Alejandro Amenabar latest project will have its world premiere at one of the most important cinema festivals in the world.

The 43-year-old Spanish-Chilean director’s Regression will open the 63rd annual San Sebastian Film Festival as part of its world premiere.

“The world premiere of the film, presented in the Official Selection out of competition, will take place on September 18 in the Kursaal Auditorium,” the festival’s official website announced on Friday.

Ethan Hawke, Emma Watson, David Thewlis and David Dencik star in the psychological thriller, following in the path he forged with favorites like The Others and Open Your Eyes.

The story focuses on a detective, played by Hawke, who is investigating the claims of a young woman, Watson, who has accused her father, played by Dencik, of a crime that he has no recollection of committing.

When the father unexpectedly admits his guilt, a renowned psychologist, David Thewlis, is brought in to help the father rediscover his apparently repressed memories.

Regression is an English-language film shot in Canada, and will hit select cinemas just a few weeks after its screening in San Sebastian.

“Regression will open in Spain on October 2 followed by key territories, including Germany, the UK, France, Italy, China and Korea later this fall. The remaining worldwide releases will take place in the months to follow,” the announcement added.

Leto to Serve as a Presenter at This Year’s Screen Actors Guild Awards

Posted on January 21, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

It’s another night with The Actor for Jared Leto…

The 43-year-old part-Spanish American actor, who picked up a SAG Award, also known as “The Actor,” last year for his performance in Dallas Buyers Club, will serve as a presenter at Sunday’s 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.

In addition to Leto, other presenters just added to the roster include Matthew Beard, Colin Farrell, Jeff Goldblum, Allen Leech, Lupita Nyong’o, Emmy Rossum, Andy Samberg, Liev Schreiber and Reese Witherspoon

They join previously announced Patricia Arquette, Adrien Brody, Ellar Coltrane, Kevin Costner, Laverne Cox, Bryan Cranston, Benedict Cumberbatch, Eric Dane, Viola Davis, Carrie Fisher, Ethan Hawke, SAG-AFTRA President Ken Howard, Felicity Jones, Rashida Jones, Michael Keaton, Lenny Kravitz, Matthew McConaughey, Edward Norton, Eddie Redmayne, Julia Roberts, J.K. Simmons, and Emma Stone.

The SAG Awards will be simulcast live on TNT and TBS at 8:00 pm ET/ 5:00 pm PT.

Iñárritu’s “Birdman” Named Best Feature at the Gotham Independent Film Awards

Posted on December 2, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu is flying high…

The 51-year-old Mexican director’s latest film, Birdman, was named Best Feature at the 24th annual Gotham Independent Film Awards, which were handed out at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.

Iñárritu accepted the award from presenter Jon Hamm, who cracked self-deprecatingly wise before announcing the nominees.

Birdman’s Michael Keaton took home the Best Actor award, and Julianne Moore won Best Actress for Still Alice. The Edward Snowden pic Citizenfour was named Best Documentary.

Uma Thurman hosted the event, which featured presenters including Meryl Streep, Scarlett Johansson, Will Arnett, Amy Schumer, Ethan Hawke and more.

The Independent Filmmaker Project, which hands out the Gothams to “worthy independent films,” calls this the “kickoff to the film awards season,”

Trophies were handed out in six categories, plus the Audience Award, culled from the 15 nominees for Best Feature, Best Documentary and Breakthrough Director.

Here is the complete list of Gotham Award winners:

Best Feature  Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) Alejandro G. Iñárritu, director; Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher, Arnon Milchan, James W. Skotchdopole, producers

Best Actress  Julianne Moore in Still Alice

Best Actor  Michael Keaton in Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue Of Ignorance)

Best Documentary  CITIZENFOUR Laura Poitras, director; Laura Poitras, Mathilde Bonnefoy, Dirk Wilutzky, producers

Gotham Independent Film Audience Award  Boyhood  Richard Linklater, director; Richard Linklater, Cathleen Sutherland, Jonathan Sehring, John Sloss, producers

Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award  Ana Lily Amirpour for A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night

Breakthrough Actor  Tessa Thompson in Dear White People

Bovaira Heading the Seven-Person Jury at This Year’s San Sebastian International Film Festival

Posted on September 12, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Fernando Bovaira is the head of the class at one of Spain’s biggest film festivals…

The Spanish producer will head the seven-person jury that will select the winner of the top prize, the Golden Shell, at this year’s San Sebastian International Film Festival, which runs September 19-27.

One of Spain’s most international names, Bovaira has produced all of director Alejandro Amenabar’s films including The Others, The Sea Inside and the upcoming Regression — starring Ethan Hawke and Emma Watson — as well as Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s Biutiful, Julio Medem’s Sex and Lucia and Javier Fesser’s Mortadelo and Filemon, The Big Adventure.

Bovaira is joined by Venezuelan writer/director/producer Mariana Rondon, who returns to San Sebastian after winning last year’s Golden Shell with her acclaimed film Bad Hair, while Iranian born writer and director Marjane Satrapi will come to the seaside resort town in Spain’s northern Basque region after premiering her latest work, The Voices, starring Ryan Reynolds, at the Toronto Film Festival.

Singaporean director Eric Khoo, who heads Zhao Wei Films/Gorylah Pictures, will also join the panel. He has been credited with putting Singapore on the international film map with films like My Magic and animated Tatsumi.

Berlin-born actress Natassja Kinski, Germany director of photography Reinhold Vorschneider and Romanian character actor Vlad Ivanov, who won the L.A. Critics Award for his portrayal of an illegal abortion doctor in 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days, round out the jury.

In addition to the seven official jurors, named Thursday, jailed Ukraine filmmaker Oleg Sentsov is an honorary jury member. The Federal Security State of the Russian Federation (FSB) arrested Sentsov on May 10 for backing the protests in Kiev and for his opposition to Russia’s annexation of Crimea. The festival said it took the step of officially naming Sentsov to the jury to defend freedom of expression and in response to an request by the European Film Academy.

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