Disney XD Renews Prinze’s “Star Wars Rebels”

Posted on March 5, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

There’s more rebelling in Freddie Prinze Jr.’s future…

Disney XD has ordered a fourth season of the praised animated series Star Wars Rebels, featuring the voice work of the 40-year-old part-Puerto Rican actor.

From Lucasfilm, the series kicked off fourteen years after the fall of the Galactic Republic and the Jedi Order in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith and the rise of the Galactic Empire. A motley group of rebels unite aboard a freighter starship called the Ghost and conduct covert operations against the Imperial garrison on and around the planet Lothal and on other planets in the galaxy.

Production is underway for premiere later this fall. Further details will be revealed during Star Wars Celebration in Orlando next month, according to the network.

Currently in its third season, Star Wars Rebels was Disney XD’s No.1 series in Total Viewers and its No.1 animated series across key kid and boy demos in 2016. The series also generated more than 60 million consumer engagements across digital platforms.

In addition to Prinze Jr., who voices the character of Kanan Jarrus, the Season 3 voice cast includes Vanessa Marshall as Hera, Steve Blum as Zeb, Tiya Sircar as Sabine, Taylor Gray as Ezra, Dee Bradley Baker as Captain Rex, David Oyelowo as Agent Kallus, Forest Whitaker as Saw Gerrera, Sam Witwer as Maul, Tom Baker as Bendu and Lars Mikkelsen as Grand Admiral Thrawn.

“The team behind Star Wars Rebels delivers epic storytelling that has captivated fans of all ages across the globe,” said Marc Buhaj, senior vice president, Programming and general manager, Disney XD. “We’re excited to continue sharing the journey of these fan-favorite Rebels with our audience in the fall.”

Shakira Receives Humanitarian Award at the World Economic Forum

Posted on January 17, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Shakira has a crystal heart…

The 39-year-old Colombian superstar, a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and founder of the Pies Descalzos Foundation, which provides education for children in Colombia, received a humanitarian award at the World Economic Forum as it kicked off in Davos, Switzerland.

“We should be devastated that, in 2017, there are still 250 million kids under 5 who are still at risk, who will likely be stunted physically and intellectually,” Shakira said in a speech while accepting the WEF’s Crystal Award.

“Now take that in for a second. We’re talking about nearly the population of an entire country the size of the U.S. This is a tragedy for those children and an epic, epic failure for all of us.”

Shakira urged global government, business and academic leaders to advocate for the world’s children.

“We need to apply the brains and strategies of business and the assets and human resources and talents of your companies to do social good and to solve social problems,” she said, speaking passionately in English.

“Today’s babies will drive tomorrow’s business. Their capacity to contribute will shape tomorrow’s societies, will solve tomorrow’s problems.”

The WEF also gave humanitarian awards to violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, whose educational foundation provides scholarships and finances instruments for young musicians, and actor Forest Whitaker, who has worked as an advocate for youth empowerment in violent and impoverished communities.

Estefan to Serve as Honorary Co-Chair of Univision & Fusion Media Group’s “Rise Up as One” Event

Posted on September 10, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Gloria Estefan is ready to rise up…

The 59-year-old Cuban singer-songwriter and her husband, Emilio Estefan, have been named as honorary co-chairs of Univision and Fusion Media Group‘s “Rise Up as One” event — a two-day celebration of music, diversity and unity, taking place on October 14 and 15.

The Estefans will serve as co-chairs alongside Calle 13‘s René Pérez aka Residente.

Also attached to the project are Junot Díaz, Ava DuVernay, America Ferrera, Salma Hayek, Samuel L. Jackson, Quincy Jones, Mía Maestro, Jonathan Olinger, Robert Rodriguez and Forest Whitaker, among other artists, thought leaders and influencers.

“We’re honored to have such a diverse group of inspiring and talented individuals joining us to celebrate who we are and the way we live through this unprecedented event. Their passion and commitment will help us put a spotlight on the power of inclusivity in a changing America,” said Camila Jimenez Villa, Fusion Media Group Co-President and COO.

The two-day event will wrap up with a free ticketed concert headlined by artists and musicians that are yet to be announced.

The concert will broadcast live on October 15 on Univision and Fusion at 7 p.m. ET.

Disney Unveils Trailer for Luna’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”

Posted on April 7, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Diego Luna is going Rogue…

Disney premiered the long-awaited trailer for its first Star Wars spinoff feature, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, starring the 36-year-old Mexican actor, on Good Morning America.

Directed by Gareth Edwards, Rogue One takes place prior to 1977’s Star Wars and revolves around a gang of rebel spies who steal the Death Star plans, which are ultimately uploaded on R2-D2.

Details on the film have been tight, and the teaser comes as a big revelation of what’s to come. Apparently, neither Jedis nor the Force will appear in this movie, although there have been whispers about a Darth Vader cameo.

Oscar nominee Felicity Jones plays chief spy Jyn Erso, while Riz Ahmed and Luna portray resistance fighters assisting in the heist. Ben Mendelsohn portrays a dominant Imperial villain. Forest Whitaker, Alan Tudyk, Donnie Yen and Mads Mikkelsen also star. In addition, there’s a number of AT-ATs wreaking havoc on a tropical beach. But the cameo that has Star Wars fans giddy this morning is red-haired rebel leader Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly), last seen in 1983’s Return of the Jedi and 2005’s Revenge of the Sith. She calls Jones’ Erso “reckless, aggressive and undisciplined”.

Chris Weitz and Gary Whitta wrote the Rogue One screenplay based on an idea by John Knoll. Similar to last year with Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Christmas comes early with Rogue One opening on December 16. Force Awakens broke the domestic box office record with $247.97 million on its way to $2 billion worldwide.

The movie marks the first time that the Star Wars story has been told on the big screen outside the confines of its episodic structure.

Luna to Star in the “Star Wars” Standalone Film “Rogue One”

Posted on August 16, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

May the force be with Diego Luna…

Lucasfilm has announced the cast members and crew who will make up Star Wars’ standalone Rogue One, including the 35-year-old Mexican actor/director/producer, accompanied by the film’s first cast photo.

Directed by Gareth Edwards, the film focuses on resistance fighters who unite to steal plans to Death Star.

Along with Luna, who last starred in Elysium, cast members include Felicity Jones, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Jiang Wen, Forest Whitaker, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk and Riz Ahmed.

“Rogue One takes place before the events of Star Wars: A New Hope and will be a departure from the saga films but have elements that are familiar to the Star Wars universe,” producer Kathleen Kennedy said in a release. “It goes into new territory, exploring the galactic struggle from a ground-war perspective while maintaining that essential Star Wars feel that fans have come to know.”

Rogue One is slated for a December 16, 2016 release.

Maldonado Lands Recurring Role on ABC’s “Black-ish”

Posted on January 13, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Allen Maldonado is ready to assist…

The 31-year-old half-Puerto Rican actor has landed a recurring role in ABC’s breakout comedy series Black-ish.

Maldonado will portray Curtis, the new assistant to Andre “Dre” Johnson’s (played by Anthony Anderson).

Created and executive produced by Kenya Barris, Black-ish centers on an African-American family man who struggles to gain a sense of cultural identity while raising his kids in a predominantly white, upper-middle-class neighborhood.

Maldonado, best known for starring as Honey Nutz on the television series You’re the Worst, appears alongside Jennifer Aniston in the feature film Cake. His upcoming projects include Forest Whitaker’s Dope and Ice Cube’s N.W.A biopic Straight Outta Compton.

He also had a recent guest turn on Adult Swim’s Black Jesus.

Allen Maldonado is ready to assist…

The 31-year-old half-Puerto Rican actor has landed a recurring role in ABC’s breakout comedy series Black-ish.

Maldonado will portray Curtis, the new assistant to Andre “Dre” Johnson’s (played by Anthony Anderson).

He also had a recent guest turn on Adult Swim’s Black Jesus.

Ortiz to Star Opposite Jake Gyllenhaal in the Boxing Film “Southpaw”

Posted on June 17, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Art will imitate life for Victor Ortiz as he prepares for his next acting role…

The Weinstein Company and director Antoine Fuqua have added the 27-year-old Mexican-American former-WBC-Welterweight-Champion-turned actor to the cast of their boxing pic Southpaw.

Featuring Jake Gyllenhaal in the lead role, as well as Rachel McAdams and Forest Whitaker, the film centers on an up-and-coming fighter who loses everything in a moment of rage and has to start from the bottom to get his life back.

Ortiz will portray Ramone, a flyweight kid from the streets with real sparring potential. The character parallels Ortiz’s own rags-to-riches story of rising from childhood as a foster kid, to brawling his way to the championship belt in 2011.

Sons Of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter wrote the script for Southpaw, which also stars Miguel Gomez.

It’s the second significant role for Ortiz, who makes his feature film debut later this summer as one of the Young Expendables in Expendables 3. He was personally selected for the role by Sylvester Stallone.

Shooting on Southpaw just began in Pittsburgh.

Brühl Earns His First SAG Award Nomination

Posted on December 11, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Life’s a SAG for Daniel Brühl…

The 35-year-old half-Spanish actor has earned the first SAG Award nomination of his career.

Brühl earned his nod in the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role category for his portrayal of real-life racing legend Niki Lauda in Ron Howard‘s Formula One racing drama Rush, which centers on the rivalry between drivers James Hunt (portrayed by Chris Hemsworth) and Lauda.

But Brühl isn’t the only Latino nominee this year…

Michael Peña and Louis C.K. have earned a nomination in the Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture category, along with their co-stars from David O. Russell‘s fictional film based on the 1970s Abscam scandal American Hustle.

Mariah Carey has earned the second Screen Actors Guild Awards nod of her career. The 44-year-old singer/actress and her co-stars from Lee Daniels’ The Butler, including Oprah Winfrey and Forest Whitaker, are nominated in the Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture category. Carey had previously been nominated in the same category for being part of the cast of Precious.

Sofia Vergara and Rico Rodriguez will be gunning for their fourth straight Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. The onscreen mother and son and their Modern Family cast mates will face off against the casts of 30 Rock, Arrested Development, The Big Bang Theory and Veep.

Morena Baccarin, meanwhile, is nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series with her Homeland co-stars.

The nominations for the 20th annual SAG Awards were announced this morning at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood by Rizzoli & Isles’ Sasha Alexander and Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.‘s Clark Gregg.

Winners will be revealed at the SAG Awards ceremony on January 18 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, which will be simulcast live on TNT and TBS.

Here are the nominations featuring Latinos:

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips
Daniel Brühl, Rush
James Gandolfini, Enough Said
Michael Fassbender, 12 Years A Slave
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
12 Years A Slave
American Hustle
August: Osage County
Dallas Buyers Club
Lee Daniels’ The Butler

Television Programs

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
BOARDWALK EMPIRE (HBO)
BREAKING BAD (AMC)
DOWNTON ABBEY (PBS)
GAME OF THRONES (HBO)
HOMELAND (Showtime)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
30 ROCK (NBC)
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (Netflix)
THE BIG BANG THEORY (CBS)
MODERN FAMILY (ABC)
VEEP (HBO)

Guzman to Star in “Enemy’s Way”

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Luis Guzman is getting in his enemy’s way…

The 56-year-old Puerto Rican actor has signed on to star in the Western film Enemy’s Way.

Directed by Oscar-nominated French-Algerian director Rachid Bouchareb, the film stars Forest Whitaker as William Garnett, a Muslim ex-con struggling to rebuild his life in a small New Mexico border town after 18 years in prison.

Harvey Keitel will portray Bill Agati, the sheriff determined to put Garnett back behind bars for life.

In addition to Guzman, Whitaker and Keitel, the film also stars Robert Duvall, Brenda Blethyn and Ellen Burstyn.

Guzman’s most recently starred in The Last Stand opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger and Genesis Rodriguez.

Trailer Released for Rodriguez’s “The Last Stand”

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Genesis Rodriguez is joining forces with “The Governator”…

Lionsgate has released the official trailer for Arnold Schwarzenegger’s The Last Stand, which co-stars the 25-year-old Venezuelan American actress.

The action-packed film centers on the leader of a drug cartel who busts out of a courthouse and speeds to the Mexican border, where the only thing in his path is a sheriff (Schwarzenegger) and his inexperienced staff.

Rodriguez, who will next make an apperance in Identity Thief, will play Agent Ellen Richards in the film.

Rodriguez, who made her big screen debut in Man on a Ledge, most recently appeared in Will Ferrell‘s Casa de mi Padre.

Directed by Kim Jee-woon, the film also stars Luis Guzmán, Rodrigo Santoro, Forest Whitaker and Johnny Knoxville.

The Last Stand is set to open on January 18.

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