CBS Fast-Tracking the Roselyn Sanchez-Produced Drama “HSI: Puerto Rico”

Posted on March 28, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Roselyn Sanchez’s latest television project is on the fast track…

CBS is accelerating development of HSI: Puerto Rico, a drama from the 48-year-old Puerto Rican actress, singer & producer and her actor-husband Eric Winter’s Two for the Road Entertainment and Aaron Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment, where Two for the Road is under a deal.

CBS has set up a writers room led by the project’s writer/executive producer Lisa Morales (Queen Sugar), which will be generating five scripts and a season one bible for a potential scripts-to-series order.

Like its other broadcast counterpart, CBS has been exploring other development paths and alternatives to the traditional development model, a process that was accelerated by the pandemic.

In HSI: Puerto Rico, eyed as a prospective CBS crime drama franchise, a passionate Homeland Security agent reluctantly returns home to Puerto Rico where she works with her talented but jaded training officer as part of an elite HSI team working tirelessly as the first line of defense against all manner of threats to the United States.

Sanchez and Winter executive produce via Two for the Road; Kaplan and Brian Morewitz executive produce for Kapital, which serves as the studio. Jessie Abbott is overseeing for Kapital.

Sanchez and Winter are series regulars on ongoing shows, ABC’s The Rookie and Fox’s Fantasy Island, respectively.

Morales also served as showrunner of the CW’s Two Sentence Horror Stories anthology horror series.

Roselyn Sanchez to Co-Host “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” from Puerto Rico

Posted on December 7, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Roselyn Sanchez is heading home for the New Year…

The 48-year-old Puerto Rican actress, singer and Fantasy Island star is set to co-host Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest in Puerto Rico.

The show also will feature reggaeton superstar and San Juan native Daddy Yankee in a special hometown performance.

Puerto Rico will serve as the inaugural destination for the show’s first-ever Spanish-language countdown.

The new year’s bash will take place on the grounds of the Puerto Rico Convention Center at DISTRITO T-Mobile, Puerto Rico’s newest entertainment and nightlife complex.

The show will air Friday, December 31, live on ABC at 8:00 pm EST.

Puerto Rico’s countdown will occur at 11 pm EST/12 am AST.

Sanchez joins Ryan Seacrest, who will be in Times Square with first-time co-host Liza Koshy, along with co-host Ciara heading up the LA Party, co-host Billy Porter from New Orleans, and Powerball correspondent Jessie James Decker, who will announce the “Powerball First Millionaire of the Year” live from New York.

Additional performers will be announced in the lead-up to show night.

Sanchez stars as Elena Roarke in Fox’s reboot of the classic series Fantasy Island. She previously starred in the ABC drama Grand Hotel and in Devious Maids from Marc Cherry. She will make her feature length directorial debut on Diario, Mujer y Café and made her directorial debut with the award-winning short film Satos. Her other credits include Rush Hour 2, Act of Valor, The Game Plan, and CBS’ Without a Trace.

Daddy Yankee, known as the “King of Reggaeton”, release his international hit single “Gasolina” in 2004, which is credited with introducing reggaeton to audiences worldwide, and making the music genre a global phenomenon. Since then, he has sold around 30 million records, making him one of the best-selling Latin music artists. Most recently, he was awarded Songwriter of the Year for the third time at the 2021 ASCAP Latin Music Awards and received the Billboard Hall of Fame Award becoming the first urban Latino artist to enter. His other global hits include “Despacito” (with Luis Fonsi) “Con Calma” (Ft Snow), “Dura” & most recently “Problema”.

John Gabriel Rodriguez Upped to Series Regular on Fox’s “Fantasy Island” Reboot

Posted on November 22, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

There’s more fantasy time in John Gabriel Rodriguez’s future…

The Latino actor, who recurred as Javier on Fantasy Island in season 1, has been promoted to series regular for the upcoming second season of Fox’s contemporary version of the classic drama series.

Starring Roselyn Sanchez and Kiara Barnes, Fantasy Island takes place at a luxury resort, where literally any fantasy requested by guests is fulfilled, although they rarely turn out as expected. Delving into the “what if” questions — both big and small — that keep us awake at night, each episode will tell emotional, provocative stories about people who arrive with dreams and desires.

Rugged, handsome and charismatic, Javier (Rodriquez) is Fantasy Island’s head of transport – a pilot, mechanic and jack of all trades. While the island provides Javier refuge, as with everything else it offers, it may come at the price of a reckoning.

The series stars Sanchez as Elena Roarke, a descendant of the iconic Mr. Roarke, who set aside her own ambitions, and the love of her life, to uphold her family’s legacy.

Barnes plays Ruby Akuda, a young woman with an old soul who arrived on Fantasy Island with a terminal illness and was given a new lease on life as Roarke’s right hand.

Fantasy Island hails from Sony Pictures Television, Gemstone Studios and Fox Entertainment.

In addition to Fantasy Island, Rodriquez has done guest starring/recurring stints on NCIS, Young and Hungry, The Fosters and Rosewood and was a series regular in the NBC pilot Miranda’s Rights.

Dailyn Rodriguez Adapting “Tropicana Nights: The Life and Times of the Legendary Cuban Nightclub” for Television

Posted on September 29, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Dailyn Rodriguez is preparing for some hot Havana nights…

The Cuban American television writer and producer and Queen of the South showrunner is teaming up with Keshet Studios, to adapt Tropicana Nights: The Life and Times of the Legendary Cuban Nightclub by Rosa Lowinger and Ofelia Fox.

Tropicana Nights, which is in the vein of Moulin Rouge, Cabaret and Casino, tells the story of the notorious Cuban nightclub in the 1950s, when the club provided a fun, vibrant, wildly entertaining safe haven for those looking to escape the political unrest and persecution on the streets of Havana.

It centers on the love story and partnership between the club’s owners Martin and Ofelia Fox, who tirelessly fought to preserve their paradise under the stars against various threats, including rival club owners, the mafia and Cuban revolutionaries.

The El Tropicano night club, which opened in 1939 and is still open today, played host to greats such as Nat King Cole and party goers included Marlon Brando, Ernest Hemingway, Rita Hayworth and J.F.K.

Keshet Studios’ president Peter Traugott tells Deadline that the project came out of a general meeting with Rodriguez, who has also written on series including Fox’s Fantasy Island reboot and ABC’s Ugly Betty.

“It’s a spectacularly beautiful space that still exists today. But when you peel it back a bit, [the Tropicana] was this kind of safe-haven for people who didn’t fit in, people from all over the world –people of different colours, sexualities, genders and whatever was going in beyond the walls was left behind,” he said. “It’s a really crazy love story at the centre with this backdrop and at it centre its exploring lots of issues that are still relevant.

Rodriguez added, “I’ve wanted to write about the Tropicana for years. My mother used to tell me amazing stories about the shows she and my father saw there, so this dynamic, special world is close to my heart.”

Keshet Studios is now taking it out to market.

Fox Eyeing Season 2 Order for Roselyn Sanchez’s Drama Series Reboot of “Fantasy Island”

Posted on September 9, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Roselyn Sanchez may not be leavin’ the Island anytime soon…

Fox is is considering a second season of its summer drama series Fantasy Island, starring the 48-year-old Puerto Rican actress/singer.

The series is a reboot of the 1977 original.

Fox Entertainment President Michael Thorn has told Deadline that as its “first real, recent attempt at a cost effective” drama series, the network and producers Sony Pictures Television are “really proud of it”.

Thorn said that the series, which premiered to a 0.4 in 18-49 and 1.97 million viewers, “held its own this summer.” “We’re really high on it and it’s been exciting for us to cross pollinate some of the stars that we have in other series and do other exciting turns on Fantasy Island. We definitely see a potential second season and it’s something that we’re talking about now. We’re very pleased with the show and Liz [Craft] and Sarah [Fain] did a very good job,” he said,

Sanchez stars as Elena Roarke, a descendant of the original series’ enigmatic Mr. Roarke, in the series, which premiered on August 10.

Set at a luxury resort, where literally any fantasy requested by guests is fulfilled, although they rarely turn out as expected. The resort is run by Elena Roarke (Sanchez) who set aside her own ambitions, and even the love of her life, to uphold her family’s legacy. Sophisticated, insightful and always charming, Elena’s calm exterior masks the challenges of the responsibilities she has assumed as steward of this mysterious island.

Kiara Barnes plays Ruby Okoro, a young woman with an old soul who arrives on Fantasy Island with a terminal illness, and is given a new lease on life there, while heavily recurring John Gabriel Rodriquez plays pilot Javier, who also is the head of island transportation and a jack of all trades.

The reboot keeps the semi-anthological format of the original Fantasy Island with three main characters played by Sanchez, Barnes and Rodriquez, who live/work on the island with new guests arriving in every episode.

From writer-producers Craft and Fain, it’s produced by Sony Pictures Television and its Gemstone Studios label, which co-produce with Fox Entertainment.

The original 1977 series, created by Gene Levitt and executive produced by Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg, starred Ricardo Montalbán as Mr. Roarke and Hervé Villechaize as his assistant Tattoo as they grant guests so-called “fantasies” on the island for a price.

Daphne Zuniga to Guest Star on Fox’s “Fantasy Island”

Posted on July 20, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Daphne Zuniga is livin’ a fantasy…

The 58-year-old half-Guatemalan American actress will appear on Fox’s Fantasy Island.

Zuniga will reunite with some of her former Melrose Place cast mates, Laura Leighton and Josie Bissett, in the episode.

They’ll guest star as friends whose island birthday bash exposes the cracks in their friendships.

The all new version of the series, which originally aired from 1977 to 1984, will premiere on August 10 at 9:00 pm.

Production is currently underway in Puerto Rico, with the date of Leighton, Bissett and Zuniga’s episode yet to be announced.

Fantasy Island takes place at a luxury resort where literally any fantasy request by guests is fulfilled, but these requests rarely turn out as expected. Each episode will tell emotional, provocative stories about people who arrive with desires and depart transformed by the island’s magical realism.

The series stars Roselyn Sanchez, Kiara Barnes and John Gabriel Rodriguez.

Sanchez’ Elena Roarke keeps the island running as its steward. A descendant of the iconic Mr. Roarke, she set aside her own ambitions and the love of her life to uphold her family’s legacy.

Fox Releases Trailer for “Fantasy Island” Reboot Starring Roselyn Sanchez

Posted on June 29, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Roselyn Sanchez is livin’ a fantasy…

Fox has released the official trailer for its upcoming Fantasy Island reboot, starring the 48-year-old Puerto Rican actress and singer-songwriter.

The teaser gives fans of the original and new viewers a glimpse at what Fantasy Island has to offer: beautiful scenery, crystal-clear waters and life-changing magical powers.

Fantasy Island is set at a luxury resort, where literally any fantasy requested by guests is fulfilled, though they rarely turn out as expected. The resort is run by Elena Roarke (Sanchez), who set aside her own ambitions — and even the love of her life — to uphold her family’s legacy. Sophisticated, insightful and always charming, Elena’s calm exterior masks the challenges of the responsibilities she has assumed as steward of this mysterious island.

The original 1977-84 series, created by Gene Levitt and executive produced by Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg, starred Ricardo Montalbán as Mr. Roarke and Hervé Villechaize as his assistant Tattoo as they grant guests’ so-called “fantasies” on the island for a price.

The latest reboot comes from writer-producers Liz Craft and Sarah Fain as well as Sony Pictures Television and its Gemstone Studios label, which co-produce with Fox Entertainment. Kiara Barnes and John Gabriel Rodriquez are among the cast for the Fox reboot.

Fantasy Island, from Sony Pictures Television, Gemstone Studios and Fox Entertainment, will debut at 9:00 pm Tuesday, August 10, on Fox.

Filming is underway on location in Puerto Rico.

Roselyn Sanchez to Star in Fox’s “Fantasy Island” Reboot

Posted on April 27, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Roselyn Sanchez is livin’ her fantasy…

The 48-year-old Puerto Rican actress/singer will star in Fantasy Island, Fox’s contemporary reboot of the classic drama series.

Sanchez will portay Elena Roarke, a descendant of the original series’ enigmatic Mr. Roarke, in the project, which received a straight-to-series order and will debut on August 10.

The project hails from writer-producers Liz Craft and Sarah Fain as well as Sony Pictures Television and its Gemstone Studios label, which co-produce with Fox Entertainment.

Fantasy Island is set at a luxury resort, where literally any fantasy requested by guests is fulfilled, although they rarely turn out as expected.

The resort is run by Elena Roarke (Sanchez) who set aside her own ambitions, and even the love of her life, to uphold her family’s legacy. Sophisticated, insightful and always charming, Elena’s calm exterior masks the challenges of the responsibilities she has assumed as steward of this mysterious island.

Sanchez joins previously cast series regular Kiara Barnes and heavily recurring John Gabriel Rodriquez. The reboot is keeping the semi-anthological format of the original Fantasy Island with three main characters played by Sanchez, Barnes and Rodriquez, who live/work on the island and new guests arriving in every episode.

The original Fantasy Island series and the 1998 reboot starring Malcolm McDowell as Mr. Roarke, will begin streaming on Fox Entertainment’s free-streaming platform, Tubi, on May 1.

On the new series, alongside Sanchez’s Elena Roarke, Barnes plays Ruby Okoro, a young woman with an old soul who arrives on Fantasy Island with a terminal illness, and is given a new lease on life there; Rodriquez plays pilot Javier, who also is the head of island transportation and a jack of all trades. There is no direct version of the Tattoo character in the reboot.

The Fantasy Island reimagining, written and executive produced by Craft and Fain, delves into the “what if” questions that keep us awake at night. Each episode will tell emotional, provocative stories about people who walk in with a desire but end up reborn to themselves through the magical realism of Fantasy Island.

Sanchez, whose major English-language television credits include lead roles in Without a Trace, Devious Maids and Grand Hotel, has been nominated for an ALMA Award six times, winning in 2008 for Without a Trace.

John Gabriel Rodriquez to Appear in Fox’s “Fantasy Island” Series Reboot

Posted on April 21, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

John Gabriel Rodriquez is livin’ a sweet, sweet fantasy…

The Latino actor has been cast in a recurring role on Fantasy Island, Fox’s contemporary version of the classic drama series that has a straight-to-series order to air this summer.

The project hails from writer-producers Liz Craft and Sarah Fain, as well as Sony Pictures Television and its Gemstone Studios label, which co-produce with Fox Entertainment.

The reboot is keeping the semi-anthological format of the original Fantasy Island with three main characters, one played by Rodriquez, who live/work on the island and new guests arriving in every episode.

The original series, created by Gene Levitt and executive produced by Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg, starred Ricardo Montalbán as the mysterious Mr. Roarke and Hervé Villechaize as his assistant Tattoo as they grant guests so-called “fantasies” on the island for a price.

The new Fantasy Island will be run by Elena Roarke, a direct descendant of Mr. Roarke.

Rodriquez will play the rugged, handsome and charismatic Javier, Fantasy Island’s head of transport — a pilot, mechanic and jack of all trades. While the island provides Javier refuge, as with everything else it offers, it may come at the price of a reckoning.

There is no direct version of the Tattoo character in the reboot.

Rodriquez, who has done guest starring/recurring stints on NCIS, Young and Hungry, The Fosters and Rosewood, was a series regular in the NBC pilot Miranda’s Rights.

Michael Peña to Star in the Film Adaptation of the Classic Television Series “Fantasy Island”

Posted on October 9, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a sweet, sweet fantasy project for Michael Peña…

The 42-year-old Mexican American actor has been tapped to portray the iconic Mr. Roarke in the Sony Pictures and Blumhouse-produced Fantasy Island film adaptation from director Jeff Wadlow.

Peña will take on a role that was originated by Ricardo Montalban when the television series, from Aaron Spelling, launched in 1978 on ABC.

Mr. Roarke, joined by his sidekick, Tattoo (Hervé Villechaize), was the mysterious overseer of the island who granted the fantasies of visitors for a price. Created by Gene Levitt, the series dealt with dark themes and the supernatural as visitors come to the island to live out their fantasy wishes.

Wadlow co-wrote the screenplay with Truth or Dare scribes Chris Roach and Jillian Jacobs.

Sony holds the rights to property and will distribute.

Peña has had a solid 2018 lineup appearing in blockbusters like A Wrinkle in Time and Ant-Man and the Wasp. Up next, he co-stars opposite Clint Eastwood and Bradley Cooper in The Mule at WB, and is part of the main cast of the upcoming fourth season of Netflix’s Narcos.

Peña is also currently in production on Paramount’s Dora The Explorer live-action film.

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