Enrique Urbizu to Direct Max’s Thriller “When Nobody Sees Us,” The Streamer’s First Series Order in Spain

Enrique Urbizu will be living to the Max 

Max has made its first series order in Spain, with the 60-year-old Spanish film director and screenwriter attached to direct the project.

Enrique UrbizuLast year, Max owner Warner Bros Discovery pulled out of production for Max predecessor HBO Max in much of Europe and underwent a period of painful cuts, but Spain was one of the few countries in Europe to avoid the cull.

Max has now greenlit the start of production on When Nobody Sees Us, an eight-part thriller from Zeta Studios and based on the Sergio Sarria novel of the same name.

This also marks the first Spanish production since HBO Max was combined with Discovery+ to create Max.

Daniel Corpas leads the writing team, with the collaboration of Arturo Ruiz and Isa Sanchez.

Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Spanish Holy Week celebrations, the series is a thriller led by two policewomen trying to solve a series of crimes in the Andalusian town of Morón de la Frontera, in the political and cultural region of Seville’s so-called ‘deep Spain,’ which is home to one of the biggest international U.S. military bases.

Lucía Gutiérrez is a sergeant of the Spanish Civil Guard investigating the bizarre suicide of a neighbor and strange events that have taken place during the first Holy Week float processions. Magaly Castillo is a Special Agent of the Military Police of the United States Army sent to find out the whereabouts of a missing American soldier who seems to be linked to the shady business of Colonel Douglas Hoopen, head of the Air Force Base, and an underhanded marine, Lieutenant Andrew Taylor. They soon discover that the two investigations are connected.

“Throughout my professional career I have made several thrillers with different intensity and themes. When Nobody Sees Us is for me a first and exciting incursion into the television serial of detectives and pure investigation,” said director Urbizu, “With two women as our protagonists, Lucia and Magaly, one from the Spanish Civil Guard and the other from the American Military Police, together they share mysteries, dangers and confidences. Both in tone and rhythm, this is a new adventure for me.”

When Nobody Sees Us is a bet for the purest thriller, in which the limits of different frontiers in themes and narrative are explored,” added Executive Producer Miguel Salvat for WBD. “Of course, there is the border between good and evil, but also the clashes between two ways of life, between countries and cultures, and the weight of tradition. We believe that Enrique Urbizu has all the tools to tell this story that will surprise and engage us all, no matter which side of the border we find ourselves on.”

Wagner Moura to Star as Paulo Freire in Upcoming Biopic “Angicos”

Wagner Moura has landed a new role…

The 46-year-old Brazilian actor, director and filmmaker will star in the upcoming biopic Angicos about Brazilian educator and author Paulo Freire.

Wagner MouraFelipe Hirsch will write and direct the film.

Angicos begins in the town of the same name in Rio Grande do Norte in 1963, with the mission of educator Freire (Moura) to fight against illiteracy by teaching the entire village of blue-collar, domestic, and cotton farm workers how to read and write in only 40 hours – a seemingly impossible feat.

Funded by President John F. Kennedy to solidify the South American nation as an ally in the Cold War amidst worldwide social and economic tensions, the success of the endeavor resulted in the planned implementation of Freire’s literary system on a nationwide level. However, before long, political uprisings, a military coup and authoritarian local politicians resisted Freire’s education initiative, destroying texts, deeming the curriculum “subversive,” and eventually sending Freire into exile. These events demonstrated the power of literacy and education against autocratic rule – a testament to the significance of Freire’s methods.

“The enchantment amongst the people of Angicos by the battery-powered slide projectors Freire used in his classes is undeniable, especially as they associated the projections with cinema – something rare in their city at this time, as home television sets had not yet arrived,” said Hirsch. “To that end, Angicos doubles as a film about the power of cinema and the power of knowledge.”

Casting is underway for the film’s ensemble, with principal photography beginning in November of this year.

Moura’s previous credits include television appearances in Narcos, Narcos: Mexico and Mr. & Mrs. Smith, as well as film appearances in Wasp Network, The Gray Man and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

Hirsch is a Brazilian film and theater director and one of the founders of Ultralíricos, a company where he develops award-winning and critically-acclaimed experiential art. He has been named by O Globo newspaper as one of the most influential thinkers in the country. In 2008, he won the Grammy for his work as the director of the show Homage to Tom Jobim.

In 2009, he directed his first feature film, Sunstroke, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival. In 2016, he directed Severina, his second feature film, which made its world premiere at the Locarno Film Festival. Most recently, Hirsch developed the stage project Língua Brasileira with singer/songwriter Tom Zé, and also directed the concert special 2022 for HBO Max, featuring Chico Buarque, Caetano Veloso and many other Brazilian musicians.

HBO Max to Premiere “And Just Like That…,” Featuring Sara Ramírez, in June

And just like that, Sara Ramírez is back in the City

HBO Max has announced plans to premiere the second season of the Sex and the City revival And Just Like That…, featuring the 47-year-old Mexican actor and singer, on Thursday, June 22.

Sara RamírezThe 11-episode second season will debut with two episodes on June 22, followed by the remaining nine episodes weekly on Thursdays.

In addition to Ramirez, who stars as Che Diaz, the series regulars include Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, Sarita Choudhury, Nicole Ari Parker, Karen Pittman, Mario Cantone, David Eigenberg, Evan Handler, Christopher Jackson, Niall Cunningham, Cathy Ang and Alexa Swinton.

When Season 2 returns, Carrie (Parker), Charlotte (Davis) and Miranda (Nixon) are reunited and catching up on all the latest with Anthony (Cantone). While the show was on break, everyone was living it up in New York City.

And Just Like That... is developed and executive produced by Michael Patrick King, alongside executive producers John Melfi, Julie Rottenberg, Elisa Zuritsky, Parker, Davis and Nixon.

Writers include Michael Patrick King, Samantha Irby, Susan Fales-Hill, Lucas Froehlich, Rachel Palmer, Rottenberg and Elisa Zuritsky.

Directors include King, Nixon, Ry Russo-Young and Rottenberg.

The HBO series Sex and the City was created by Darren Star and based on the book Sex and the City by Candace Bushnell.

Selena Gomez Partnering with Food Network for Two Special Projects

Selena Gomez is expanding his food empire…

The 30-year-old Mexican American actress/singer/television personality, the host of Selena + Chef, is joining the Food Network.

Selena Gomez x Our PlaceGomez is working on two projects for the cooking channel. The first will be a “celebration-focused series just in time for the holidays,” which will launch later in 2023.

The second will debut in 2024 and will have her meeting up with some of the best chefs in the country in a quest to cook their most popular dishes when she visits their kitchens.

Both projects will be produced by July Moon Productions and The Intellectual Property Corporation (IPC), a part of Sony Pictures Television for Food Network.

“The holidays are always huge for Food Network, reaching nearly 60M P2+ viewers, and having Selena kicking off the nearly 100 hours of new and returning holiday programming will certainly make this coming season one to celebrate,” said Kathleen Finch, Warner Bros. Discovery Chairman and Chief Content Officer US Networks.

Gomez last stepped in the kitchen for Warner Bros. Discovery with her series Selena + Chef on HBO Max. The series ran for four seasons and featured Gomez brushing up on her cooking skills with the help of master chefs, learning new recipes, and revealing tips and tricks to deal with disaster in the kitchen.

The fate of Selena + Chef given the star’s new presence on Food Network is unclear.

Selena Gomez Earns Three Critics Choice Real TV Awards Nominations

The critics have showered Selena Gomez with some real love…

The Critics Choice Association (CCA) has unveiled the nominees for the fifth annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards that honors the best in nonfiction, unscripted and reality programming, with the 30-year-old Mexican American actress/singer earning three nods.

Selena Gomez x Our PlaceGomez scored the multiple nominations for her HBO Max show Selena + Chef, including Best Culinary Show, Best Show Host and Star of the Year.

But Gomez isn’t the only Hispanic nominee…

Jose Andres has picked up two nods.

The 53-year-old Spanish chef, restaurateur and philanthropist is up for Best Culinary Show and Best Travel/Adventure Show for his Discovery+ series José Andrés and Family in Spain.

“Looking over the list of this year’s nominees, we can’t think of a better way to celebrate the fifth annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards than by calling attention to so many of the talented and diverse individuals who continue to make unscripted television an essential genre on broadcast, cable and streaming,” said Critics Choice Association TV Branch Co-President Ed Martin.

Winners of the 2023 Critics Choice Real TV Awards will be announced on June 15, 2023, with the in-person ceremony not happening due to the writers strike.

5th Annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards Nominations List

BEST COMPETITION SERIES

  • The Amazing Race (CBS)
    • Lego Masters (Fox)
    • RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV)
    • RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars (Paramount+)
    • Survivor (CBS)
    • The Traitors (Peacock)

BEST COMPETITION SERIES: TALENT/VARIETY

  • America’s Got Talent (NBC)
    • America’s Got Talent: All Stars (NBC)
    • Dancing with the Stars (Disney+)
    • The Masked Singer (Fox)
    • My Kind of Country (Apple TV+)
    • The Voice (NBC)

BEST UNSTRUCTURED SERIES

  • Below Deck Sailing Yacht (Bravo)
    • Couples Therapy (Showtime)
    • Formula 1: Drive to Survive (Netflix)
    • The Kardashians (Hulu)
    • MTV’s Following: Bretman Rock (MTV)
    • Vanderpump Rules (Bravo)

BEST STRUCTURED SERIES

  • Bar Rescue (Paramount Network)
    • Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (Food Network)
    • The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning (Peacock)
    • Gutsy (Apple TV+)
    • Shark Tank (ABC)
    • Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi (Hulu)

BEST CULINARY SHOW

  • The Big Brunch (HBO Max)
    • José Andrés and Family in Spain (discovery+)
    • Magnolia Table with Joanna Gaines (Magnolia Network)
    • Selena + Chef (HBO Max)
    • Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi (Hulu)
    • Top Chef (Bravo)

BEST GAME SHOW

  • Barmageddon (USA)
    • Jeopardy! (Syndicated)
    • Lingo (CBS)
    • Password (NBC)
    • The Wall (NBC)
    • Weakest Link (NBC)

BEST TRAVEL/ADVENTURE SHOW

  • Geography of Bliss with Rainn Wilson (Peacock)
    • The Great Food Truck Race (Food Network)
    • José Andrés and Family in Spain (discovery+)
    • The Piece Maker (Magnolia Network)
    • The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy (Apple TV+)
    • Somebody Feed Phil (Netflix)

BEST BUSINESS SHOW

  • American Greed (CNBC)
    • Bar Rescue (Paramount Network)
    • House Hunters (HGTV)
    • Restaurant: Impossible (Food Network)
    • Shark Tank (ABC)
    • Wahl Street (HBO Max)

BEST ANIMAL/NATURE SHOW

  • Big Beasts (Apple TV+)
    • The End Is Nye (Peacock)
    • Frozen Planet II (BBC One)
    • Our Universe (Netflix)
    • Prehistoric Planet (Apple TV+)
    • The Wizard of Paws (BYUtv)

BEST CRIME/JUSTICE SHOW

  • 911 Crisis Center (Oxygen)
    • Evil Lives Here (Investigation Discovery)
    • How I Caught My Killer (Hulu)
    • In Pursuit with John Walsh (Investigation Discovery / discovery+)
    • Unsolved Mysteries Volume 3 (Netflix)
    • Web of Make Believe: Death, Lies & The Internet (Netflix)

BEST SPORTS SHOW

  • 30 for 30 (ESPN)
    • American Ninja Warrior (NBC)
    • Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers (Hulu)
    • Like a Girl (Fuse Media)
    • Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel (HBO Max)
    • Welcome to Wrexham (FX)

BEST RELATIONSHIP SHOW

  • Farmer Wants a Wife (Fox)
    • Indian Matchmaking (Netflix)
    • Jewish Matchmaking (Netflix)
    • Love Is Blind (Netflix)
    • Married at First Sight (Lifetime)
    • The Parent Test (ABC)

BEST LIFESTYLE SHOW: HOME/GARDEN

  • For the Love of Kitchens (Magnolia Network)
    • Home (Apple TV+)
    • Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles (Bravo)
    • Murder House Flip (The Roku Channel)
    • Trixie Motel (discovery+)
    • Ugliest House in America (HGTV)

BEST LIFESTYLE SHOW: FASHION/BEAUTY

  • Glow Up (Netflix)
    • The Hype (HBO Max)
    • Making the Cut (Prime Video)
    • Next in Fashion (Netflix)
    • Queer Eye (Netflix)
    • Say Yes to the Dress (TLC)

BEST LIMITED SERIES

  • American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing (Netflix)
    • The Hidden Lives of Pets (Netflix)
    • House of Hammer (discovery+)
    • Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty (HBO Max)
    • Pepsi, Where’s My Jet? (Netflix)
    • Super League: The War for Football (Apple TV+)

BEST ENSEMBLE CAST IN AN UNSCRIPTED SERIES

  • Below Deck Sailing Yacht (Bravo)
    • Dancing with the Stars (Disney+)
    • RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars (Paramount+)
    • Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test (Fox)
    • Survivor (Season 44) (CBS)
    • Vanderpump Rules (Bravo)

BEST SHOW HOST

  • Selena Gomez – Selena + Chef (HBO Max)
    • Alex Guarnaschelli – Alex vs America (Food Network)
    • Padma Lakshmi – Top Chef (Bravo), Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi (Hulu)
    • Trixie Mattel – Trixie Motel (discovery+)
    • RuPaul – RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV) / RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars (Paramount+)
    • Ryan Seacrest – American Idol (ABC)

STAR OF THE YEAR

• Guy Fieri – Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (Food Network)
• Ina Garten – Barefoot Contessa (Food Network) / Be My Guest with Ina Garten (Food Network)
• Selena Gomez – Selena + Chef (HBO Max)
• Padma Lakshmi – Top Chef (Bravo), Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi (Hulu)
• Sandra Lee – Dr. Pimple Popper (TLC)
• Eugene Levy – The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy (Apple TV+)
• Peyton Manning – History’s Greatest of All Time with Peyton Manning (History) / Peyton’s Places (ESPN+) / Capital One College Bowl (NBC)
• RuPaul – RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV) / RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars (Paramount+)

Keyla Monterroso Mejia to Star in Amazon’s Wedding Comedy “You’re Cordially Invited”

Keyla Monterroso Mejia has officially made the list…

The 25-year-old Guatemalan & Mexican American actress has joined the cast of Amazon’s Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon wedding comedy, You’re Cordially Invited.

Keyla Monterroso Mejia,Mejia is among a list of new cast additions that includes Celia WestonJimmy Tatro and Leanne Morgan, with Nick Stoller directing the film, which he wrote.

In the film, a woman (Witherspoon) who is planning her sister’s (Meredith Hagner) perfect wedding and the father (Ferrell) of a young bride-to-be (Geraldine Viswanathan) discover that they are double-booked for their destination wedding at a remote resort on an island off the Georgia coast. When both parties decide to share the small venue, chaos ensues and disaster awaits.

Mejia has made a name for herself with her scene-stealing appearances on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm and Abbott Elementary.

She currently stars in the Netflix comedy series Freeridge, and can next be seen in Suncoast starring Woody Harrelson and Laura Linney.

Her past roles include Growing Fangs, HBO Max’s The 90 Day Plan#WhitinaLo Que Construimos, and Aguanta.

HBO Max Releases Trailer for Season 3 of “The Other Two,” Featuring Josh Segarra

Josh Segarra is back with the other two

HBO Max has released the official trailer for Season 3 of its critically acclaimed comedy series The Other Two, featuring the 36-year-old Puerto Rican actor’s return in a lovable role.

Josh SegarraFrom Emmy-nominated former SNL co-head writers Chris Kelly & Sarah Schneider, the series stars Drew Tarver, Heléne Yorke, Molly Shannon and Case Walker.

The 10-episode third season debuts with two episodes on Thursday, May 4 on HBO Max.

In Season 3, after comparing themselves for years to their much-younger pop star brother, ChaseDreams (Case Walker), who is now an adult, and their talk show host mother (Molly Shannon), who’s now more powerful than she could have ever imagined, Brooke and Cary (Heléne Yorke and Drew Tarver) are finally standing on their own two feet – fully “successful” in their own right! And yet, they somehow find themselves comparing themselves to new people once again?

In addition to Tarver, Yorke, Shannon, Walker and Segarra, who portrays Lance Arroyo, The Other Two also stars Ken Marino (Streeter) and Wanda Sykes (Shuli) and Brandon Scott Jones (Curtis).

Returning guest stars include Richard Kind, Kate Berlant, Jimmy Fowlie, Alison Rich, Ali Ahn and Marcia DeBonis.

New guest stars include Simu Liu, Fin Argus, Ann Dowd, Edie Falco, Ben Platt, Dylan O’Brien, Lukas Gage, Kiernan Shipka, Lawrence O’Donnell, Spike Einbinder, Andrea Boehlke and Dana Delaney.

The series is created, written, and executive produced by Kelly and Schneider; executive produced by Lorne Michaels.

Melissa Fumero to Appear on Upcoming Episode of NBC’s “Lopez vs. Lopez”

Melissa Fumero has landed a special guest-starring role…

The 40-year-old Cuban American actress and former Brooklyn Nine-Nine will appear on the May 2 episode of George Lopez and Mayan Lopez’s NBC’s Lopez vs. Lopez.

Melissa FumeroFumero will play Natalia, a Latina mother who mistakes Mayan for white.

But Fumero isn’t the only guest star on the episode.

Danny Trejo will play Danny Martinez of Martin-E.Z. Movers, who is George’s rival and biggest competitor.

Additionally, Judge Marilyn Milian and Erik Griffin will appear in the episode, with character details not yet revealed.

Fumero is best known for starring as Amy Santiago opposite Andy Samberg in NBC’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

Recently, she voice acted in Samberg’s adult animated Comedy Central series Digman! and HBO Max’s adult animated series Velma. In 2022, she appeared in the IFC comedy film Barfight! and the Netflix comedy Blockbuster.

Her other prominent credits include One Life to Live, Gossip Girl, Royal Pains, CSI: NY and The Mentalist.

As a director, she has worked on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Grand Crew, Gordita Chronicles and the upcoming Freevee comedy Primo.

Trejo is a prolific charcter actor with film credits including Desperado, Heat, the From Dusk Till Dawn series, Con Air and Spy Kids.

In television, he’s appeared in Sons of Anarchy, King of the Hill, Breaking Bad, The Flash, American Gods and The Book of Boba Fett.

Milian has been the judge presiding over the syndicated arbitration reality series The People’s Court since 2001 and in the fall will launch “Justice for the People With Judge Milian.”

Lopez vs Lopez is produced by Universal Television in association with Mohawk Productions, Travieso Productions, Mi Vida Loba and 3 Arts.

Madeleine Stowe to Star in “It” Prequel Series “Welcome to Derry”

Madeleine Stowe is extending a welcome

The 64-year-old half-Costa Rican actress will star in the Max Original series Welcome to Derry (working title).

Madeleine StoweThe former Revenge star will appear opposite Stephen Rider, Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs in the series, which is a prequel to New Line’s hit Stephen King film franchise, It.

Stowe will have a recurring guest role while Rider is a series regular. Their parts are being kept under wraps in the series which expands on King’s It universe, particularly that laid out in Andy Muschietti’s It movies. He’ll direct several episodes in the series including the first.

Stowe also joins previously announced cast members Taylour PaigeJovan AdepoChris Chalk and James Remar.

Stowe’s long-running career includes such movies as The Two Jakes, Stakeout, The Last of the Mohicans, 12 Monkeys, Blink, Unlawful Entry, The General’s Daughter and We Were Soliders.

For 89 episodes, she played the wicked Victoria Grayson on ABC’s hit TV series Revenge, and stars on the Netflix series Soundtrack.

Welcome to Derry is produced by HBO Max and Warner Bros. Television.

Taylor Ortega to Star in Prime Video‘s Paul Feig-Directed Action Comedy “Grand Death Lotto”

Taylor Ortega is playing the lotto

The Latina writer, comedian and actor has joined the cast of Prime Video‘s Paul Feig-helmed action comedy Grand Death Lotto.

Taylor OrtegaIn addition to Ortega, who starred in HBO’s Succession, other new cast additions include Michael HitchcockBecky Ann Baker, Sam Asghari, Leslie David BakerMurray Hill and Adam Ray.

The actors join an ensemble led by John Cena, Awkwafina and Simu Liu, which also includes Ayden Mayeri, Seann William Scott, Dolly de Leon and Donald Elise Watkins.

Written by Rob Yescombe, the film currently in production is set in a very near future, in which a Grand Lottery has been established in economically challenged California. The only catch? You’ll need to kill the winner before sundown in order to legally claim their prize. New L.A. transplant Katie (Awkwafina) accidentally finds herself with the winning ticket and must join forces with amateur jackpot protector Noel (Cena) to make it to sundown in order to claim her multi-billion-dollar prize, all while dealing with Noel’s protection rival Louis Lewis (Liu), who also wants to get her to sundown in order to claim his rich protection commission.

Ortega is a series regular on Fox’s mockumentary series Welcome to Flatch, directed and executive produced by Feig, and has also been seen in Starz’s continuation of Party Down, as well as the HBO Max anthology Love Life and HBO’s Succession. She’ll next be seen leading the indie comedy Wine Club from directors Eric D. Cohen and Matthew Hirschhorn.