Lauren Sanchez Starring in the Vito Schnabel-Led Dark Comedy “The Trainer”

It’s training day for Lauren Sanchez.

The 52-year-old Mexican-American media personality, Emmy-winning journalist and actress, is starring in Vito Schnabel-led dark comedy The Trainer, which has wrapped filming in Los Angeles, New York and the Bahamas.

Lauren SánchezSanchez, who gained fame as an entertainment reporter and news anchor, is part of a cast that includes Paris Hilton, Finneas O’ConnellSandra Seacat and journalist Gayle King.

Written by Schnabel and Jeff Solomon, the film is based on the former’s original story. It unfolds over eight days of sleep-deprived chaos and follows Jack (Schnabel), a down-on-his-luck fitness expert living with his mother in Los Angeles, who takes a maniacal swing at fame and fortune, trying to realize his version of the American dream.

Tony Kaye directed the film boasting one of the most eclectic ensembles in recent memory, which also includes Julia FoxSteven Van ZandtTaylour PaigeStephen Dorff, John McEnroeGina GershonLuka SabbatGus Van SantLenny KravitzBeverly D’AngeloColleen CampGavin RossdaleSoo Joo ParkBrock O’HurnBella ThorneLaird Hamilton and Duke Nicholson.

Schnabel, Kaye and Jeremy Steckler are producing The Trainer, with George Paaswell serving as executive producer.

Sanchez has been seen on programs like The View, KTTV Fox 11’s Good Day LA, the Fox 11 Ten O’clock NewsExtra, Larry King Live, The Joy Behar Show and Showbiz Tonight. Past film credits include Ted 2White House DownCeleste & Jesse ForeverWe Bought a ZooFantastic Four and Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver SurferAkeelah and the BeeThe Longest YardThe Day After Tomorrow and Fight Club. She’s also been seen on series like RakeDirt and Girlfriends, among others.

Sanchez also notably founded aerial production company Black Ops Aviation and serves as Vice Chair of the Bezos Earth Fund.

Bella Thorne Starring in Dark Comedy “The Trainer”

There are several train(er)ing days for Bella Thorne.

The 24-year-old half-Cuban America actress/singer has been cast in the dark comedy The Trainer, directed by Tony Kaye from a script by star Vito Schnabel and Jeff Solomon.

Bella Thorne

Thorne is part of a roster of new cast additions that includes Soo Joo Park, Brock O’Hurn, Laird Hamilton and Duke Nicholson.

The film currently in production, after nearly a decade in development, is based on an original story by Schnabel.

Unfolding over eight days of sleep-deprived chaos, it follows Jack (Schnabel), a down-on-his-luck fitness expert living with his mother in Los Angeles, who takes a maniacal swing at fame and fortune, trying to realize his version of the American dream.

Julia Fox, Steven Van Zandt, Taylour Paige, Stephen Dorff, John McEnroe, Gina Gershon and Luka Sabbat are also set to star.

Character details are being kept under wraps.

Thorne can currently be seen opposite Melissa Leo in Peyfa’s thriller Measure of Revenge, and will next be seen in Graham and Parker Phillips’ thriller Rumble Through the Dark, with Aaron Eckhart.

She’s previously appeared in the films Chick FightRideMidnight SunAssassination NationThe BabysitterAmityville: The AwakeningBoo! A Madea Halloween, The DUFFAlexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, and Blended.

Her television credits include Paradise CityFamous in LoveShake It UpBig Love, My Own Worst Enemy and Dirty Sexy Money.

Roadside Attractions & Vertical Entertainment Acquire North American Rights to Aubrey Plaza’s Thriller “Emily the Criminal”

Aubrey Plaza’s latest project is getting some roadside assistance…

Roadside Attractions and Vertical Entertainment have acquired the North American rights to the 37-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress’ indie thriller Emily the Criminal.

Aubrey Plaza, Emily the CriminaThey’ve slated the film for an exclusive theatrical release this year, with Redbox joining the partnership for home entertainment distribution.

John Patton Ford’s feature directorial debut follows Emily (Plaza), who is saddled with student debt and locked out of the job market due to a minor criminal record. Desperate for income, she takes a shady gig as a “dummy shopper,” buying goods with stolen credit cards supplied by a handsome and charismatic middleman named Youcef (Theo Rossi). Faced with a series of dead-end job interviews, Emily soon finds herself seduced by the quick cash and illicit thrills of black-market capitalism, and increasingly interested in her mentor Youcef. Together, they hatch a plan to bring their business to the next level in Los Angeles.

Ford penned the original screenplay, with Megalyn Echikunwoke and Gina Gershon rounding out the cast.

Plaza produced the film through her Evil Hag Productions banner,.

“John Patton Ford’s propulsive thriller Emily The Criminal is a spectacular directing debut with a revelatory performance from Aubrey Plaza as a wildly entertaining antiheroine that recalls Faye Dunaway in Bonnie and Clyde,” said Roadside Attractions’ Co-Presidents Howard Cohen & Eric d’Arbeloff.

“When we saw the film, we knew we had to have it. It is an exceptional story that is sure to excite and thrill audiences,” said Vertical Entertainment’s Partner & CEO Peter Jarowey. “We are excited to bring two long-standing collaborators in Roadside and Redbox together on one film that we care so deeply about. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.”

“We continue to believe in the importance of the theatrical experience and the power of watching movies together on a big screen,” added the filmmakers in a joint statement, “and couldn’t be more excited and confident in our stellar partners at Roadside and Vertical to connect our film with audiences everywhere.”

Aubrey Plaza to Star in the Indie Film “Emily the Criminal”

Aubrey Plaza has landed an out of this (under)world role…

The 37-year-old half Puerto Rican actress/comedian will star opposite part-Spanish actor Theo Rossi in Emily the Criminal, the indie written and directed by John Patton Ford.

Aubrey Plaza

The film tells the story of Emily (Plaza), a woman down on her luck and saddled with debt, who gets involved in a credit card scam that pulls her into the criminal underworld of Los Angeles, ultimately leading to deadly consequences.

Rossi will play Youcef, a Middle Eastern immigrant who has big dreams and a lot of hustle, with Gina Gershon and Megalyn Echikunwoke co-starring.

Plaza is producing the film with Tyler Davidson and Drew Sykes. Low Spark is the film’s financier.

Plaza’s previous credits include Parks and Recreation, Legion and Ingrid Goes West.

Rossi is best known for his turn as the menacing Hernan ‘Shades’ Alvarez in Marvel’s Luke Cage, and as hacker and intelligence officer Juan Carlos ‘Juice’ Ortiz in FX’s Sons of Anarchy.

Gael Garcia Bernal to Portray Salvador Dali in New Podcast “Playboy Interview”

Gael Garcia Bernal’s art is about to imitate art life…

The 42-year-old Mexican actor and producer is joining a slew of stars who’ll portray famous figures across history in a new podcast series from Playboy and Audio Up.

Gael García Bernal

The two companies are launching Playboy Interview, an audio series that features teleplay-style re-enactments of the most iconic Playboy interview conversations.

In addition to Garcia Bernal, other stars set to take part in the program are Rosanna ArquetteTaye DiggsMaya Hawke, Shea Whigham, Michael Shannon, Kevin Corrigan and Gina Gershon.

The series, which is set to debut in September, will see Arquette voice feminist pioneer Betty Friedan, Diggs will portray Muhammad Ali, Garcia Bernal plays Salvador Dali, Shannon is Tennessee Williams, Shea Whigham is John Wayne, Maya Hawke is Helen Gurley Brown, Kevin Corrigan is Frank Sinatra and Gina Gershon is Oriana Fallaci.

The first two episodes will feature “conversations” with Friedan and Ali.

The series is based on the classic Playboy Interview, which started in 1962 with Alex Haley’s conversation with Miles Davis and has run for more than 500 interviews including the likes of Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Fidel Castro, Bob Dylan, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Steve Jobs, Whoopi Goldberg and Maya Angelou.

“Working on the Playboy Interview was an incredible experience,” said Maya Hawke, who also portrays Ayn Rand in the second season, which is likely to launch in early 2022. “I got the rare opportunity to portray two of history’s most influential, controversial, and complicated women. I was allowed to inhabit the characters rather than being asked to impersonate them, which left me thinking about their respective perspectives for weeks after. And I felt inspired. Even if I don’t agree with them about everything, or anything – their strength, persistence, and insistence on being exactly who they are has reminded me to be exactly who I am.”

“Playboy is culturally iconic for many reasons, but their in-depth interviews and journalistic integrity is a large part of what has made the publication so cool,” said Gina Gershon. “I was so happy to work on a project that celebrates Playboy’s historic interviews with so many incredible individuals. I’ve always been fascinated by Oriana Fallaci, and was so excited to be able to take part in bringing her interviews to life. It was so much fun to explore this remarkable woman and share her point of view with the world.”

“We couldn’t be more excited to unveil the first season of the Playboy Interview podcast,” added Rachel Webber, Chief Brand Officer at PLBY Group and producer of the series. “Audio is the perfect format for these intimate and revealing conversations. Each brilliant performance by this incredible cast gives you chills, making you feel like you’re right there in the room as history unfolds.”

“This podcast is the culmination of a personal journey for me having spent seven years as Playboy’s editorial director,” added Audio Up’s Chief Creative Officer Jimmy Jellinek, who adapted, produced and directed all 10 episodes of season one. “Thanks to the explosion of audio as a medium, today we’re able to reintroduce these incredible conversations to a new generation. I have long thought the Playboy Interview would lend itself perfectly to formats off the page. In my wildest dreams I didn’t anticipate that something this magical would be the result.”

“We’ve paired the greatest conversations of the 20th century with the greatest actors of the 21st. Audio Up is in the business of pushing the boundaries of audio entertainment and this project exemplifies that mission in every way,” said Audio Up founder and Chief Executive Officer Jared Gutstadt.

Xolo Maridueña Signs with United Talent Agency (UTA)

Xolo Maridueña has new representation…

The 19-year-old Mexican, Cuban and Ecuadorian American actor, who portrays Miguel Diaz on The Karate Kid sequel series Cobrai Kai, has signed with United Talent Agency (UTA).

Xolo Maridueña

The news comes as Maridueña is set to star in season three of the karate drama, which has moved from YouTube to Netflix. The series, in which he plays Diaz, the top student at the Cobra Kai Dojo, recently debuted its first two seasons on Netflix following the shift and will launch the third season in January.

On Parenthood, which aired for six seasons on NBC between 2010 and 2015, he played Victor Graham, the adopted son of Erika Christensen’s Julia Braverman-Graham and Sam Jaeger’s Joel Graham.

His other television credits include guest roles on Major CrimesTwin PeaksRush Hour and Mack and Moxy

In film, he featured in Dealin’ with Idiots, directed and starring Jeff Garlin alongside Gina Gershon and Kerry Kenney and has also performed on stage in Light in the Darkness and Little Red

Lopez to Star in NBC’s Live Television Adaptation of the Hit Broadway Musical “Bye Bye Birdie”

Everything’s coming up Rosie for Jennifer Lopez

NBC has slated Bye Bye Birdie as its next live musical, with the 46-year-old Puerto Rican actress/singer set as the star.

Jennifer Lopez

Lopez will executive produce with Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, Benny Medina, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, and her company Nuyorican Productions will produce with Universal Television.

Harvey Fierstein will write the television adaptation, with the special set to air in 2017.

The original Broadway production of Bye Bye Birdie won the Tony Award in 1961 for best musical. It starred Dick Van Dyke, who also won a Tony for best actor in a musical, as Albert Peterson, the manager of rock star Conrad Birdie, and Chita Rivera as Rosie Alvarez, Albert’s girlfriend and secretary. When Birdie is drafted into the Army, Albert and Rosie concoct a plan to have Birdie give “one last kiss” to a small-town high school girl live on The Ed Sullivan Show before heading off for induction.

The show was adapted into a 1963 feature film starring Van Dyke and Janet Leigh. A short-lived 2010 Broadway revival starred John Stamos and Gina Gershon.

Lopez, who stars in NBC’s Shades of Blue, will play the part of Rosie in the NBC version. No other casting has yet been announced.

Under Greenblatt, NBC has made a tradition of airing live musicals in December, where the network believes the holiday time is a fertile ground for family-friendly co-viewing. The first, Sound of Music Live! starring Carrie Underwood, aired in 2013 and was watched by 18.6 million viewers. That effort was followed by Peter Pan Live! starring Allison Williams and Christopher Walken, and The Wiz Live! starring Queen Latifah and Shanice Williams.

Zadan and Meron have served as exec producers on all four NBC live musicals, and Fierstein previously wrote the television adaptation for The Wiz Live! and wrote the adaptation for NBC’s upcoming Hairspray Live!, which will air on December 7.

Natalie Eva Marie Starring in the Thriller “Inconceivable”

Natalie Eva Marie is preparing to make her film debut…

The 32-year-old half-Mexican American actress, fitness model and professional wrestler is starring opposite Nicolas Cage in the thriller Inconceivable.

Natalie Eva Marie

The film, which also stars Gina Gershon, Faye Dunaway and Nicky Whelan, follows Katie (Whelan), who moves to town with her young daughter in order to start a new life after enduring abuse in her past and she quickly befriends another mother, Angela (Gershon), and her husband Brian (Cage). Angela notices odd behavior from Katie, and begins to question whether Katie’s intentions are as innocent as she makes them out to be, or if something dark is lurking beneath the surface.

Written by Chloe King, filming is set to begin next month with Lionsgate Premiere releasing the picture in the U.S., while Highland Film Group will sell internationally.

Natalie previously appeared on the reality television series Total Divas as part of the main cast.

Guzmán’s “The Lookalike” Acquired by Arclight Films

The future looks bright for Luis Guzmán’s latest project…

The Lookalike – starring the 56-year-old Puerto Rican actor, John Corbett, Justin Long, Jerry O’Connell and Gina Gershon – has been acquired by Arclight Films.

Luis Guzman

The crime-comedy, directed by Richard Gray, follows two criminals as they attempt to find a lookalike love interest for a drug lord after the unexpected death of the girl he’s actually interested in.

The Lookalike is not your everyday crime-romance,” said Gray of the film, which recently wrapped production in New Orleans. “The writing is superb — a beautiful twisting plot and I feel we have something special here, a balance of wit and action, made real by such a talented and diverse cast.”

Guzmán portrays Vincent in The Lookalike, which was written by Michelle Davis-Gray.