Danny Trejo to Star in Indie MMA-Themed Drama “American Underdog”

Posted on May 2, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Danny Trejo is mixed-ing things up…

The 78-year-old Mexican American actor and Machete star has landed a role in American Underdog, an indie drama set in the world of MMA.Veronica Falcón will also star in the film, which is now in production in Chicago.

The film, marking the feature directorial debut of Peruvian-American filmmaker Gustavo Martin, will also star Vishy Ayyar and Andrew Gray.

The film’s protagonist is Jai (Ayyar), an ex-con on a soulful path wrestling with personal redemption when outside circumstances pit him in the ring against the fierce opponent, Marcus (Gray).

Trejo portrays Dennis, who reluctantly comes out of retirement to train his former student, while Falcón steps into the role of Marcella, a local gym owner and community legend shepherding Jai in his return to fighting.

A production of Peach Partners, in association with Mulberry Films and MxW Ventures, American Underdog will also star Suleka Mathew (Your Honor), Taylor Treadwell (Big Little Lies), Omi Vaidya (3 Idiots), Ranjita Chakravarty (Never Have I Ever) and Jaspal Binning (The Newsroom).

Martin and Matthew Mascia wrote the script, with Naveen A. Chathapuram (The Last Victim, Brown Nation), Rashaana Shah (IFC’s Bollywood Hero) and Cristy Coors Beasley (The Westsiders, LonelyGirl15) aboard to produce.

Trejo is best known for his work in such films as Machete, Grindhouse, Planet Terror, From Dusk Till Dawn, Heat, Good Mourning, The Ridiculous 6, Predators, Halloween, Smiley Face, The Devil’s Rejects, the Spy Kids franchise, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, xXx and Con Air, among many others.

His notable television credits include Better Things, American Gods, The Flash and Sons of Anarchy.

Falcón can currently be seen in the second season of HBO’s Perry Mason and has also appeared on shows like Ozark, Why Women Kill and Queen of the South, to name a few.

Her notable film credits for the actress include The Starling, Jungle Cruise, The Forever Purge and Voyagers. Up next for release for her is the Amazon Studios drama A Million Miles Away with Rosa Salazar, Garret Dillahunt and Michael Peña.

Jordan Gonzalez Upped to Series Regular on HBO Max’s “Pretty Little Liars: Summer School” for Second Season

Posted on November 28, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

There are more liars in Jordan Gonzalez’s future…

The Latino actor, who heavily recurred as Ash Romero in Season 1 of Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, has been promoted to series regular for the upcoming second season of the HBO Max series, which was recently retitled Pretty Little Liars: Summer School.

Gonzalez’s Ash is a handsome transgender student at Millwood High and romantic interest to Minnie, played by Malia Pyles. The fan-favorite Ash is the first transmasculine character to be introduced in the series.

Created by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Lindsay Calhoon Bring, the new series debuted five years after the original Pretty Little Liars series ended, focusing on new characters in the new fictional town of Millwood, PA and with multiple references to iconic horror movies (think Carrie and the original Halloween).

Per the Season 1 logline: Twenty years ago, a series of tragic events almost ripped the blue-collar town of Millwood apart. Now, in present day, a disparate group of teen girls — a brand-new set of Little Liars — find themselves tormented by an unknown Assailant and made to pay for the secret sin committed by their parents two decades ago…as well as their own.

Bailee Madison also stars as Imogen Adams, Chandler Kinney as Tabby Haworthe, Zaria as Faran Bryant, Maia Reficco as Noa Olivar, Bechtel as Karen/Kelly Beasley, Sharon Leal as Sidney Haworthe, Elena Goode as Marjorie Olivar, Eric Johnson as Sheriff Tom Beasley, Alex Aiono as Shawn Noble and Lea Salonga as Elodie Honrada.

Pretty Little Liars: Summer School is produced by Aguirre-Sacasa’s Muckle Man Productions and Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television. Aguirre-Sacasa and Calhoon Bring executive produce. I. Marlene King (who developed the original Pretty Little Liars), Michael Grassi, and Alloy’s Leslie Morgenstein and Gina Girolamo are also executive producers of the series, which is based on Alloy’s bestselling series of books by Sara Shepard. Jimmy Gibbons serves as a producer for Muckle Man Productions.

Gonzalez also recurred in the second season of The L Word: Generation Q for Showtime.

Netflix Releases First Trailer for Guillermo del Toro’s “Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities”

Posted on August 22, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Guillermo del Toro will be scaring up interest in his new project this Halloween.

Netflix has released the first trailer and the premiere date for the 57-year-old Mexican Oscar-winning writer, director and producer’s Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities, a four-day, double-episode event planned for the Halloween season.

del Toro has curated a collection of genre-defining stories meant to challenge our traditional notions of horror. From macabre to magical, gothic to grotesque or classically creepy, these eight sophisticated and sinister tales (including two original stories by del Toro) are brought to life by a team of writers and directors personally chosen by del Toro.

After debuting October 25, two all-new tales will debut daily through October 28, when the entire collection of eight stories will be available to Netflix subscribers around the world.

“With Cabinet of Curiosities, we set out to showcase the realities existing outside of our normal world: the anomalies and curiosities. We hand-picked and curated a group of stories and storytellers to deliver these tales, whether they come from outer space, supernatural lore, or simply within our minds,” said del Toro in a statement. “Just in time for Halloween, each of these eight tales is a fantastical peek inside the cabinet of delights existing underneath the reality we live in.”

Here is the rundown of the stories:

Dreams in the Witch House: Rupert Grint (Servant), Ismael Cruz Cordova (The Undoing), DJ Qualls (Turning Point), Nia Vardalos (Love, Victor) and Tenika Davis (Jupiter’s Legacy) star in an episode written by Mika Watkins (Origin), based on a short story by H.P. Lovecraft, and directed by Catherine Hardwicke (Thirteen).

Graveyard Rats: David Hewlett (The Shape of Water) stars in an episode written, based on a short story by Henry Kuttner, and directed by Vincenzo Natali (In The Tall Grass).

Lot 36: Tim Blake Nelson (Watchmen), Elpidia Carrillo (Predator), Demetrius Grosse (Fear The Walking Dead) and Sebastian Roché (The Man in the High Castle) star in an episode written by Regina Corrado (Deadwood), based on an original story by del Toro, and directed by Guillermo Navarro (Godfather of Harlem).

Pickman’s Model: Ben Barnes (Shadow and Bone), Crispin Glover (Rivers Edge), and Oriana Leman (The Whale) star in an episode written by Lee Patterson (Curve),based on a short story by H.P. Lovecraft, and directed by Keith Thomas (Firestarter.

The Autopsy: F. Murray Abraham (Amadeus), Glynn Turman (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom) and Luke Roberts (Ransom) will appear in an episode written by David S. Goyer (The Sandman), based on a short story by Michael Shea, and directed by David Prior (The Empty Man).

The Murmuring: Essie Davis (The Babadook), Andrew Lincoln (The Walking Dead) and Hannah Galway (Sex/Life) star in an episode written (based on an original story by del Toro) and directed by Jennifer Kent (The Babadook).

The Outside: Kate Micucci (The Little Hours) and Martin Starr (Silicon Valley) lead an episode written by Haley Z. Boston (Brand New Cherry Flavor), based on a short story by comic book author Emily Carroll, and directed by Ana Lily Amirpour (A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night).

The Viewing: Peter Weller (Robocop), Eric André (The Eric Andre Show), Sofia Boutella (Kingsman: The Secret Service), Charlyne Yi (Always Be My Maybe), Steve Agee (Peacemaker), Michael Therrialt (Locke and Key) and Saad Siddiqui (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow) star in an episode directed by Panos Cosmatos (Mandy), who also writes, along with Aaron Stewart-Ahn.

Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities is created and executive produced by del Toro; executive produced by J. Miles Dale (The Shape of Water), who also serves as co-showrunner; and executive produced by Gary Ungar. Regina Corrado serves as co-executive producer. Del Toro also serves as host.

Fat Joe to Guest Co-Host “The Wendy Williams Show”

Posted on January 30, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Fat Joe is returning to the hosting chair…

The Wendy Williams Show has announced guest hosts for the month of February amid Williams’ continued absence due to health issues, with the 51-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban rapper set to return to the show.

Fat Joe and Remy Ma will make a return appearance as they take over the reins beginning Monday, February 7, through Friday, February 11.

Comedian Michael Rapaport will return as guest host of the syndicated daytime talker beginning Monday, January 31, through Friday, February 4.

Bevy Smith and Terrence J, who make their co-hosting debut, will host from Monday, February 14 through Friday, February 18, and Sherri Shepherd from February 21, through February 25.

Rapaport returns to take the helm from Monday, February 28, through Friday, March 4.

The show has pulled in a rotating list of guest hosts since the beginning of the 13th season. The scheduled September premiere was pushed three times due to Williams’ COVID-19 diagnosis, followed by ongoing health issues.

Williams has battled various maladies over during the past few years. Her battle with Graves disease, an immune system disorder, dates to 1999, and her show went on hiatus in 2018. She also passed out on live TV in 2017 during the show’s Halloween episode, an incident that was attributed to dehydration.

Gael Garcia Bernal to Star in Marvel Studios’ Halloween Special “The Nevers” for Disney+

Posted on January 11, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

It’s never say nevers for Gael Garcia Bernal.

The 43-year-old Mexican Golden Globe-winning actor and producer will star opposite Laura Donnelly in The Nevers, Marvel Studios’ Halloween special for Disney+.

Plot details for the untitled special are being kept under wraps, but, Garcia Bernal is reportedly playing a character based on the Marvel character Werewolf by Night, who is capable of transforming into a werewolf while retaining human intellects.

No official word yet on who Donnelly will portray, but if Garcia Bernal is Werewolf by Night, she potentially could be Nina Price, who becomes Vampire by Night. Price is the niece of character Jack Russell/Werewolf by Night and a vampire/werewolf hybrid. She carried the lycan gene and was changed further after being bitten by a vampire.

The special is due to begin production in coming months and follows Marvel’s Disney+ shows WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki and Hawkeye.

Marvel and Disney also have shows in the works based on She-Hulk, Ms. Marvel and Moon Knight.

Mozart in the Jungle and The Motorcycle Diaries star Garcia Bernal most recently was seen in the M. Night Shyamalan film Old and the HBO Max series Station Eleven.

He’ll next appear in the Jennifer Lopez-led feature The Mother and Amazon film Cassandro.

Netflix to Premiere Season 2 of JJ Soria’s “Gentefied” in November

Posted on September 11, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

JJ Soria is returning to East L.A. in November…

Netflix’s half-hour Latinx dramedy Gentefied, starring the 40-year-old Mexican American actor, is returning for Season 2 on November 10.

From creators Marvin Lemus and Linda Yvette Chávez, the series follows East Los Angeles Latinos on their respective and collective search for the American Dream.

Season 2 picks up after the emotional debut season’s finale that saw Erik Morales (Soria) and his girlfriend Lidia (Annie Gonzalez) welcome a daughter, Delfina. As Erik realizes his grandfather Pops (Joaquin Cosio) is missing from the hospital celebration, it is revealed that he has been arrested for an outstanding warrant and his beloved pick-up truck is being impounded.

The streamer teases the return will tackle Erik and his cousin Chris’s (Carlos Santos) struggle to keep Pops in the country while dealing with new love, new babies, estranged fathers, and tracking down Bad Bunny at a Halloween party. They’ll fight to thrive, but along the way will question where they truly belong in a world made up of borders, family separation, and the potential loss of their beloved taco shop, Mama Fina’s.

Gentefied is a Netflix production also starring Karrie Martin Lachney, Julissa Calderon; and newly added season 2 cast Melinna Bobadilla, Manuel Uriza, Ivana Rojas, and Clarissa Thibeaux.

The series is executive produced by Lemus, Chávez, Charles D. King, Marta Fernandez of MACRO, America Ferrera of Take Fountain, Aaliyah Williams, Kim Roth, and Teri Weinberg of Yellow Brick Road.

Danny Trejo to Appear in Hulu’s Horror Anthology Series “American Horror Stories”

Posted on July 8, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Let the Horror begin for Danny Trejo.

The 77-year-old Mexican American actor has joined the cast of American Horror Stories, Hulu’s American Horror Story spinoff anthology series.

Trejo will join the cast as Santa as part of Ryan Murphy’s horror franchise.

AHS alums Matt Bomer, Billie Lourd and John Carroll Lynch are set to return to the series.

Bomer, Lourde and Lynch are set to play Michael, Liv Whitely and Larry Bitterman, respectively. Naomi Grossman will also return to the American Horror Story franchise to take on Rabid Ruth.

American Horror Stories is a weekly hourlong anthology series that will feature a different horror story in each contained episode. The spinoff will premiere exclusively on Hulu July 15. Murphy’s social media post also revealed that Aaron Tveit, Paris Jackson, Madison Bailey and Virginia Garndner and many more will appear throughout the series. Murphy also confirmed that

“And this isn’t even the half of it,” Murphy said about the packed cast.

The spin-off anthology series will premiere a little more than a month before American Horror Story returns for its tenth installment, Double Feature. American Horror Stories is set to conclude on Halloween.

And this isn't even the half of it. Take a peek at some of the American Horror Stories cast. The brand new anthology series begins streaming July 15 only on #FXonHulu. #AHStories @AHSFX pic.twitter.com/Phu6dh02Vd

— Ryan Murphy (@MrRPMurphy) July 7, 2021

American Horror Stories is executive produced by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Alexis Martin Woodall, John J. Gray and Manny Coto.

Carlos Gomez to Appear on Season Two of Starz’s “Hightown”

Posted on December 19, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Carlos Gomez is coming to (high)town…

The 58-year-old Latino American actor has landed a recurring role on the second season of Starz’s crime drama series Hightown, starring Monica Raymund, from Jerry Bruckheimer and Lionsgate Television.

The second season picks up about six weeks after the events in the Season 1 finale, around Halloween, in Cape Cod’s desolate, cold but still achingly beautiful off-season. The tourists are gone, and all of our characters are in a different place compared to where they were at the beginning of season one. The weak are now powerful, and the powerful are now weak. But beyond that, there is darkness beneath the surface of all of our main characters, particularly Jackie and Ray. Both have shadow sides of their personality — holes in their souls that they try to fill with drugs, alcohol, women, ambition and work. There’s a new terror on The Cape, and it may be its greatest White Whale yet.

Gomez will play Rafael. Father of Jackie (Raymund), past his glory days but always looking for a good time. Charismatic and charming with a dark side, Rafael is a fisherman in New Bedford, MA. He has a strained and complicated relationship with his daughter.

Rebecca Cutter created the series and serves as executive producer with Jerry Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman and KristieAnne Reed.

Gomez’s previous television credits include The Baker and the Beauty, Chicago Med, Elementary and Madam Secretary.

“The Craft: Legacy” Star Zoey Luna to Take Part in Blumhouse’s Virtual “BlumFest”

Posted on October 27, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Life is Blum a dream for Zoey Luna…

The 19-year-old Latina transgender actress will be taking part in Blumhouse’s first-ever BlumFest, a virtual event featuring panels of talent from the studio’s upcoming movies, both big screen and PVOD, and more.

The virtual event will take place Thursday, October 29 at 10:00 am PT on Blumhouse’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.

“This year has sidelined a lot for all of us, but Halloween is a treasured season at Blumhouse, so we conceived BlumFest to celebrate with our fans via a virtual event that will feature exclusive interviews and never-before-seen footage on an upcoming release or two,” said Jason Blum, Blumhouse’s CEO and founder.

Panels featured include:

Welcome to the Blumhouse – Join Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios and Blum for a lively convo about the collaboration between Amazon and Blumhouse on the recently launched movies The Lie, Nocturne, Evil Eye and Black Box. Mamoudou Athie from the film Black Box will join the duo along with surprise guests. The four films are currently streaming on Amazon Prime.

The Craft: Legacy – Writer-director Zoe Lister Jones and the film’s stars Cailee Spaeny, Gideon Adlon, Lovie Simone and Luna will chat about the cult hit reboot. The movie will debut Wednesday on PVOD and electronic sell-through domestic, with a big-screen release abroad.

Freaky – Writer-director Chris Landon, stars Vince Vaughn and Kathryn Newton, and Blum will chat about the body-swap horror comedy which hits theaters November 13 and select offshore markets via Universal.

Halloween Kills – Filmmaker David Gordon Green and the horror franchise’s scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis, producer Malek Akkad from Trancas Films and Miramax producer Bill Block and Blum will converse about the October 2021 release.

The Good Lord Bird – Ethan Hawke, EP, writer and star of the Showtime series and Blum, who’ve worked together over several projects, will discuss their most recent collaboration.

Pabllo Vittar to Host Virtual Halloween Benefit Event, “111 Halloween Club Night”

Posted on October 19, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Pabllo Vittar want you to have a spook-tacular Halloween…

Social-distancing policies are still in place throughout the world, so celebrating Halloween will be quite different this year. But the 26-year-old Brazilian drag queen, singer and songwriter hopes to keep the spirit of the season alive.

Vittar has announced a brand-new live experience, 111 Halloween Club Night, to take place on Halloween (Saturday, October 31). In partnership with online 3-D avatar site IMVU, the event will feature Vittar hosting her own spooky festival with special guests, DJ sets and a lot of great music.

The event will feature six digital “stages,” each with their own set of performers, including Vittar, Christine and the Queens, Kim Petras, Purity Ring and many more. Starting at noon UTC, each set of performers will take to the stage throughout the day, with Brooklyn-based duo Spirit Twin serving as producers throughout the day.

Along with giving fans some much-needed live music, the event will also raise funds for a good cause: 111 Halloween Club Night will help raise money for the National Independent Venue Association and their ongoing Save Our Stages campaign to provide economic relief to indie venues impacted by the global pandemic.

“It’s an honor to help curate this event with IMVU and all of the incredible artists,” Vittar said in a statement. “Let’s all get dressed up online for Halloween this year and help save our stages for when the world re-opens.”

Check out more details for the event and RVSP to Pabllo Vittar’s 111 Halloween Club Night here.

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