Netflix Gives Series Order to “The Madness,” Starring Colman Domingo

Posted on February 8, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Colman Domingo is embracing the madness…

Netflix has given a series order to The Madness, a conspiracy thriller starring the 53-year-old Belizean-Guatemalan American Emmy-winning actor.

The eight-episode limited series hails from Chernin Entertainment via its first-look deal with Netflix, creator and co-showrunner Stephen Belber and co-showrunner VJ Boyd.

In The Madness, media pundit Muncie Daniels (Domingo) must fight for his innocence and his life after he stumbles upon a murder deep in the Poconos woods. As the walls close in, Muncie strives to reconnect with his estranged family – and his lost ideals – in order to survive.

Belber and Boyd executive produce with Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping and Kaitlin Dahill for Chernin Entertainment (The North Road Company). Clément Virgo will direct and executive produce the first two and final two episodes. Quyen Tran and Jessica Lowrey will each direct two middle episodes.

“Stephen Belber and VJ Boyd thrive in creating suspense driven emotional stories that connect with broad audiences,” said Topping, President, Chernin Entertainment. “We look forward to seeing them bring this timely conspiracy thriller to life and to continue our partnership with Netflix.”

“The Madness is a fresh take on the conspiracy thriller — turning the genre on its head with its multi-layered characters, propulsive action and swift pace,” said Peter Friedlander, Vice President of Scripted Series, Netflix, US and Canada. “We are proud to have such a powerhouse team assembled to bring this dynamic story to life for Netflix viewers around the world, and to continue producing great entertainment with team Chernin.”

Domingo’s critically acclaimed film work includes If Beale Street Could Talk, Selma, Lincoln, Candyman, Without Remorse, Zola, and he was a Film Independent Spirit, NAACP, SAG and Critics Choice Award nominee for his performance in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

He’ll next be in seen in the title role in Netflix biopic Rustin, the first film production from Michelle and Barack Obama’s Higher Ground.

Domingo won his first Emmy award, as well as an Imagen Award, for best supporting actor for HBO’s Euphoria. Domingo can currently be seen as Victor Strand in Fear The Walking Dead.

Natalie Morales to Star in Sony’s R-Rated Jennifer Lawrence Comedy “No Hard Feelings”

Posted on October 5, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Natalie Morales is feelings so good…

The 37-year-old Cuban American actress and director has joined the cast of Sony’s R-rated Jennifer Lawrence comedy No Hard Feelings.

The Gene Stupnitsky-directed film, which is currently shooting, follows Lawrence as a ne’er-do-well who is hired by a rich couple to befriend their socially awkward kid.

Disney+/Broadway star Andrew Barth Feldman plays the kid; his parents are played by Matthew Broderick and Laura Benanti. Ebon Moss-Bachrach also stars.

Morales most recently wrote, directed and starred in Language Lessons opposite Mark Duplass. She also directed the Hulu film Plan B and was nominated for an Imagen Award for her acting work in Language Lessons.

She’ll next be seen in the film I’m Totally Fine, which she executive produces and stars opposite Jillian Bell.

Her television roles include White Collar, The Grinder, Parks and Recreation, and Santa Clarita Diet.

Stupnitsky and John Phillips penned the screenplay for No Hard Feelings. Alex Saks, Marc Provissiero, Naomi Odenkirk, Lawrence and Justine Ciarrochi are producing. John Phillips is executive producing.

No Hard Feelings hits theaters on June 16, 2023.

Desmin Borges to Star in the Military Thriller “Valiant One”

Posted on September 19, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Desmin Borges is a valiant one…

The 38-year-old half-Puerto Rican actor will star opposite Lana Condor, Callan Mulvey and Chase Stokes in Monarch Media’s thriller Valiant One, which goes into production in Vancouver this month.

The first feature directed by Monarch’s Steve Barnett watches as a U.S. helicopter crashes on the North Korean side of the DMZ. With tensions between the North and South already on the verge of war, the surviving U.S. Army non-combat tech soldiers must work together to protect a civilian tech specialist and find their way across the DMZ, without the possibility of U.S. military support.

Condor will play Selby, a hard-as-nails and highly capable but very inexperienced Medic Specialist who joined the U.S. military after becoming a citizen to give back to her new homeland.

Borges is set for the role of Josh Weaver, a civilian defense contractor who’s cocky, with enough smarts to back it up, and obnoxious until the weight of the danger settles in on him and he becomes part of the team.

Mulvey will portray Chris Lebold the square-jawed Delta Operative and poster child for American heroic iconography, who’s in a heap of trouble and pain when the team crashes but remains a leader throughout.

Eric Tipton wrote the script, which is based on an original idea by Barnett.

Borges is best known for turns on such series as The Time Traveler’s Wife, Welcome to Flatch, Utopia and You’re the Worst, having received an Imagen Award nomination for his work on the latter.

He’s also appeared in films including Private Life, Never Here, Carrie Pilby, Gabriel, All Is Bright and Compliance.

Also coming up for the actor is Lionsgate’s action rom-com Shotgun Wedding, in which he stars alongside Jennifer Lopez, Josh Duhamel, D’Arcy Carden, Jennifer Coolidge and others.

Ariana DeBose Earns Two Imagen Awards Nominations

Posted on August 16, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Ariana DeBose has earned her first two Imagen Award nominations…

The Imagen Foundation has announced its full list of nominees for this year’s Imagen Awards, with the 31-year-old half-Puerto Rican Oscar-winning actress earning two nods.

DeBose is nominated for Best Actress – Feature Film for her star-making performance in West Side Story, a role that has already earned her an Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA and SAG Award.

She’s also nominated for Best Supporting Actress – Comedy (Television) for her work in Apple TV+’s Schmigadoon!

Eugenio Derbez scored two acting nods.

The 60-year-old Mexican actor and producer, a two-time Imagen Award winner, in nominated for Best Actor – Feature Film for Apple TV+’s CODA and Best Actor – Comedy (Television) for Hulu’s The Valet.

Gael Garcia Bernal is a nominated for two awards…

The 43-year-old Mexican actor and producer, a two-time Imagen Awards winner, is up for Best Actor – Feature Film for his work in Old, as well as Best Supporting Actor – Drama (Television) for his performance in HBO/HBO Max’s Station Eleven.

Rosario Dawson is also a two-time nominee this year…

The 43-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban American actress and activist is nominated for Best Supporting Actress – Drama (Television) for her work on HBO/HBO Max’s DMZ.

She’s also up for Best Supporting Actress – Drama (Television) for her performance on Hulu’s Dopesick.

The Imagen Awards honor Latino storytelling, performances, writing and creative expression in television and film.

“After two years of streaming celebrations, we are ecstatic to be back in person and to honor those who made significant contributions to the television, film, and streaming spaces,” said awards organizer the Imagen Foundation. “With the caliber of talent and the diversity of the roles and projects, our expectations were wildly exceeded with 445 entries, up 125 from 2021! We are beyond proud of this year’s nominees and all those who submitted. Given the excellence of the entries, the judges had a difficult time selecting those to be nominated. Congratulations to all of this year’s nominees!”

This year’s awards show is set for October 2 in Los Angeles.

Here’s the full list of nominees:

Best Feature Film

Encanto(Disney+; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
• In The Heights (HBO Max; Warner Bros. Pictures)
• Language Lessons (Shout! Studios / Duplass Brothers Productions)
• Spirit Untamed (DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures)
• West Side Story (Walt Disney Studios)

Best Director – Feature Film

Jared Bush, Byron Howard, and Charise Castro Smith, Encanto(Disney+; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
• Reinaldo Marcus Green, King Richard(HBO Max; Warner Bros. Pictures)
• Alonso Ruizpalacios, A Cop Movie (Netflix; Una documental de Netflix / Una producción de No
Ficción)
• Steven Spielberg, West Side Story (Walt Disney Studios)

Best Actor – Feature Film

David Alvarez, West Side Story(Walt Disney Studios)
• Gael García Bernal, Old(Universal Pictures, Perfect World Pictures, Blinding Edge Pictures, an M. Night Shyamalan Film)
• Eugenio Derbez, CODA (Apple TV+; Vendome Pictures / Pathé in association with Apple)
• John Leguizamo, Encanto (Disney+; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
• Adrian Martinez, iGilbert (Paloma Pictures, Inc/Gravitas Ventures)
• Anthony Ramos, In The Heights (HBO Max; Warner Bros. Pictures)

Best Actress – Feature Film

Stephanie Beatriz, Encanto(Disney+; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
• Ariana DeBose, West Side Story(Walt Disney Studios)
• Leslie Grace, In The Heights (HBO Max; Warner Bros. Pictures)
• Natalie Morales, Language Lessons (Duplass Brothers Productions / Shout! Studios)
• Rita Moreno, West Side Story (Walt Disney Studios)
• Rachel Zegler, West Side Story (Walt Disney Studios)

Best Primetime Program – Drama

Chicago Fire(NBC; Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with Wolf Entertainment)
• El Reino (Netflix)
• Euphoria (HBO/HBO Max; HBO in association with ADD Content Agency | HOT | TCDY Productions, Dreamcrew, Tiny Goat, A24, and The Reasonable Bunch)
• Now & Then (Apple TV+; Bambú Producciones in association with Apple)
• Promised Land (ABC; ABC Signature)
• Selena: The Series (Netflix; A Campanario Entertainment Production for Netflix)
• Señorita 89 (Pantaya; Fremantle, Fabula, Pantaya, and StarzPlay)

Best Primetime Program – Comedy

Acapulco(Applet TV+; Lionsgate Television / 3Pas Studios / The Tannenbaum Company for Apple)
• Gentefied (Netflix)
• Love, Victor (Hulu; 20thTelevision)
• Saved by the Bell (Peacock; Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with Big Wig Productions)
• With Love (Prime Video; GloNation and Amazon Studios)

Best Primetime Program – Special or Movie

Book of Love(Prime Video; Amazon Studios)
• Madres (Prime Video; Blumhouse and Amazon Studios)
• The Valet (Hulu; Hulu, Lionsgate, 3Pas Studios)
• Torn From Her Arms (Lifetime; OZY Media and Motion Picture Corporation of America for Lifetime)

Best Director – Television

Antonio Campo, The Staircase(HBO/HBO Max; A HBO Max and Annapurna Television co-production in association with EMI Pop and What’s Up Films)
• Linda Yvette Chavez, Gentefied(Netflix; Netflix)
• America Ferrera, Gentefied (Netflix; Netflix)
• Zetna Fuentes, This Is Us (NBC Network; 20th Television)
• Reinaldo Marcus Green, We Own This City (HBO/HBO Max; HBO in association with Blown Deadline Productions and Spartan Productions)
• Jorge R. Gutierrez, Maya and the Three (Netflix; A Netflix Series)
• Guillermo Navarro, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey (Apple TV+; Apple Studios)

Best Actor – Drama (Television)

Manolo Cardona, Quién Mató a Sara? / Who Killed Sara?(Netflix; Una Producción de Perro Azul / Netflix)
• Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, The Lincoln Lawyer(Netflix; An A+E Studios Production for Netflix)
• Oscar Isaac, Scenes From a Marriage (HBO/HBO Max; HBO in association with Sheleg, Media Res, Endeavor Content and Filmlance)
• Jaden Michael, Colin in Black & White (Netflix; Array for Netflix)
• José María Yazpik, Narcos: Mexico (Netflix; Gaumont for Netflix)
• Daniel Zovatto, Vandal (Fuse; Exilium, Oscura Film)

Best Actress – Drama (Television)

Morena Baccarin, The Endgame(NBC; Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with Nicholas Wootton Productions, Jake Coburn Productions, My So-Called Company, Perfect Storm Entertainment)
• Rosario Dawson, DMZ(HBO/HBO Max; Warner Bros. Television Studios in association with Array Filmworks and Analog for HBO Max)
• Ariana Guerra, Madres (Prime Video; Blumhouse and Amazon Studios)
• Justina Machado, Switched Before Birth (Lifetime; Big Dreams Entertainment and Swirl for Lifetime)
• Rosie Perez, Now & Then (Apple TV+; Bambú Producciones in association with Apple)
• Judy Reyes, Torn From Her Arms (Lifetime; OZY Media and Motion Picture Corporation of America)
• Christian Serratos, Selena: The Series (Netflix; A Campanario Entertainment Production for Netflix)

Best Actor – Comedy (Television)

Michael Cimino, Love, Victor(Hulu; 20th Television)
• Joaquin Cosio, Gentefied(Netflix)
• Eugenio Derbez, The Valet (Hulu; Hulu, Lionsgate, 3Pas Studios)
• Frankie Rodriguez, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (Disney+; Disney Branded Television)
• Carlos Santos, Gentefied (Netflix)

Best Actress – Comedy (Television)

Selena Gomez, Only Murders In The Building(Hulu; 20th Television)
• Karrie Martin Lachney, Gentefied(Netflix)
• Victoria Moroles, Plan B (Hulu; Counterbalance Entertainment, American High, LD Entertainment)
• Camila Perez, Acapulco (Apple TV+; Lionsgate Television / 3Pas Studios / The Tannenbaum Company for Apple)
• Emeraude Toubia, With Love (Prime Video; GloNation and Amazon Studios)

Best Supporting Actor – Drama (Television)

Gael García Bernal, Station Eleven(HBO/HBO Max; HBO Max presents a Paramount Television Studios Production in association with Tractor Beam Productions, Shadowfox Productions, Stone Village Television, Inc., Pacesetter Productions, and Super Frog)
• Benjamin Bratt, DMZ(HBO/HBO Max; Warner Bros. Television Studios in association with Array Filmworks and Analog for HBO Max)
• Santiago Cabrera, Star Trek: Picard (Paramount+; CBS Studios in association with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment)
• Clayton Cardenas, Mayans M.C. (FX; 20th Television and FX Productions)
• Alfonso Herrera, Ozark (Netflix; MRC for Netflix)
• Jon Huertas, This Is Us (NBC; 20th Television)
• Felix Solis, Ozark (Netflix; MRC for Netflix)

Best Supporting Actress – Drama (Television)

Aimee Carrero, MAID(Netflix; John Wells Productions, LuckyChap Entertainment, Warner Bros. Television for Netflix)
• Rosario Dawson, Dopesick(Hulu; Danny Strong Productions, John Goldwyn Productions, The Littlefield Company, 20th Television)
• Alexa Demie, Euphoria (HBO/HBO Max; HBO in association with ADD Content Agency | HOT | TCDY Productions, Dreamcrew, Tiny Goat, A24, and The Reasonable Bunch)
• Fátima Molina, Torn From Her Arms (Lifetime; OZY Media and Motion Picture Corporation of America)
• Natasha Perez, Selena: The Series (Netflix; A Campanario Entertainment Production for Netflix)
• Patricia Velasquez, List of a Lifetime (Lifetime; Ninth House Films and MarVista Entertainment for Lifetime)

Best Supporting Actor – Comedy (Television)

Damián Alcázar, Acapulco(Apple TV+; Lionsgate Television / 3Pas Studios / The Tannenbaum Company for Apple)
• Jaime Camil, Schmigadoon!(Apple TV+; Broadway Video / Universal Television in association with Apple)
• Fernando Carsa, Acapulco (Apple TV+; Lionsgate Television / 3Pas Studios / The Tannenbaum Company for Apple)
• Aaron Dominguez, Only Murders In The Building (Hulu; 20th Television)
• Harvey Guillén, What We Do in the Shadows (FX; FX Productions)
• James Martinez, Love, Victor (Hulu; 20th Television)

Best Supporting Actress – Comedy (Television)

Sheila Carrasco, Ghosts(CBS; CBS Studios in association with Lionsgate Television and BBC Studios’ Los Angeles production arm)
• Ariana DeBose, Schmigadoon!(Apple TV+; Broadway Video / Universal Television in association with Apple)
• Melissa Fumero, Brooklyn Nine-Nine (NBC; Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with Fremulon, Dr. Goor Productions, and 3 Arts Entertainment)
• Selenis Leyva, Diary of a Future President (Disney+; Disney Branded Television)
• Grasie Mercedes, Grand Crew (NBC; Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with P-Jack Industries, Dr. Goor Productions)

Best Young Actor (Television)

Raphael Alejandro, Bunk’d(Disney Channel; Disney Branded Television)
• Everly Carganilla, The Afterparty(Apple TV+; Lord Miller / TriStar TV / Sony Pictures Television for Apple)
• Scarlett Estevez, Christmas Again (Disney Channel; Disney Branded Television)
• Justin Sanchez, Ghostwriter (Apple TV+; Sesame Workshop / Sinking Ship in association with Apple)
• Nik Sanchez, Safe Room (Lifetime; Astute Films for Lifetime)

Best Voice-Over Actor (Television)

Summer Rose Castillo, Alma’s Way(PBS KIDS; Fred Rogers Productions, Pipeline Studios)
• Eden Espinosa, Alice’s Wonderland Bakery(Disney Junior; Disney Branded Television)
• Sarah-Nicole Robles, The Owl House (Disney Channel; Disney Branded Television)
• Zoe Saldaña, Maya and the Three (Netflix)
• Neo Vela, Alma’s Way (PBS KIDS; Fred Rogers Productions, Pipeline Studios)

Best Variety or Reality Show

¿Quién Es La Máscara?(Televisa, Las Estrellas; Endemolshine Boomdog / Televisa)
• Aida Rodriguez: Fighting Words (HBO/HBO Max; HBO Max in association with Art & Industry and Dancing with Raymond Media House)
• Don’t Cancel Me with Amara La Negra (Fuse; Fuse Media Content Studio)
• Home Sweet Home (NBC/Peacock; Warner Bros. Unscripted Television in association with Warner Horizon and ARRAY Filmworks)
• Pan Y Circo (Prime Video; Amazon Studios)
• We’re Here (HBO/HBO Max; HBO in association with House of Opus 20 and IPC)

Best Youth Programming

Alma’s Way(PBS KIDS; Fred Rogers Productions, Pipeline Studios)
• The Casagrandes (Nickelodeon)
• The Owl House (Disney Channel; Disney Branded Television)
• Victor and Valentino (Cartoon Network; Cartoon Network Studios)

Best Music Composition for Film or Television

Carlos José Alvarez, Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami(Netflix; A Netflix Original Documentary Series / A Rakontur Production)
• Tim Davies and Gustavo Santaoalla, Maya and the Three(Netflix; A Netflix Series)
• Camilo Lara, Gentefied (Netflix)
• Lin-Manuel Miranda & Germaine Franco, Encanto (Disney+; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
• Cristobal Tapia de Veer, The White Lotus (HBO/HBO Max; HBO in association with Rip Cord, The District and Hallogram Inc.)

Best Music Supervision for Film or Television

Lynn Fainchtein, Selena: The Series(Netflix; A Campanario Entertainment Production for Netflix)
• Tom MacDougall, Encanto(Disney+; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
• Javier Nuño & Joe Rodriguez, Acapulco (Apple TV+; Lionsgate Television / 3Pas Studios / The Tannenbaum Company for Apple)

Best Documentary

America ReFramed: Five Years North(WORLD Channel; American Documentary, Inc., WORLD Channel)
• Invisible Valley (Fuse; Invisible Valley LLC)
• Los Hermanos/The Brothers (PBS; Patch Work Films, ITVS and Latino Public Broadcasting)
• POV: On the Divide (PBS; A Fishbowl Films production in association with Giving Voice Films, Willa Productions and Latino Public Broadcasting, and is a co-production of POV)
• Through Our Eyes (HBO/HBO Max; HBO Max and Sesame Workshop)
• VOCES: American Exile (PBS; Burning Box Studio, WKAR Public Media/East Lansing, and Latino Public Broadcasting)

Best Informational Program

KIKIMITA: The Hansel Emmanuel Donato Story(ESPN)
• La Frontera with Pati Jinich (PBS; Mexican Table and Frank in association with PBS)
• SC Featured: Rooted (ESPN)
• Somos Latinas (ESPN)

Best Short Film

American Masters and VOCES: Lights, Camera, Acción(PBS; NGL Studios, Latino Public Broadcasting, and American Masters Pictures)
• Growing Fangs (Disney+; The Walt Disney Company)
• Us Again (Disney+; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
• Worry Dolls (Crypt TV; 8A Entertainment)

Best Commercial Advertisement or Social Awareness Campaign

Are You Listening?(HBO Max; WORD Creative)
• Drawn To (Cartoon Network; Cartoon Network Studios)
• Iconos (MARCA Miami, Right Cut Media, Landia)
• Nuestras Niñas, Las Mujeres Imparables del Futuro (Telemundo Network; GYE/ Kreative Kontent)

Mía Maestro to Star as Fidel Castro’s Real-Life Lover in Miguel Bardem’s “Alina of Cuba”

Posted on August 4, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Mía Maestro has landed her next proyecto…

The 47-year-old Argentine actress will star in Miguel Bardem’s Alina of Cuba.

The Imagen Award winner will portray Natalia “Naty” Revuelta, the Cuban-born socialite who as a passionate love affair with Fidel Castro.

James Franco will play the late Cuban leader.

They join previously announced actress Ana Villafañe who is portraying Alina Fernandez aka Castro’s Daughter. The screenplay from Oscar-nominated scribe Jose Rivera (The Motorcycle Diaries) and Pulitzer Prize winner Nilo Cruz, follows the true-life story of Cuban exile turned social advocate, Fernandez, whose birth was the result of the tryst between Revuelta and Castro.

Revuelta sacrificed her and her physician husband’s personal belongings and finances to help fund the start of the communist revolution.

Fernandez learned that she was Fidel Castro’s daughter at the age of 10 when after years of secret visits to her home, her mother finally revealed that “El Comandante” was her biological father. Alina grew to become one of Castro’s most outspoken critics, arrested on more than one occasion for trying to leave, and was classified as a dissident forbidden to travel outside of Cuba. Ultimately, she defected to Spain in 1993, an event that drew headlines from every major news network around the world, before she made Miami her permanent home.

Rounding out the supporting cast are Alanna de la Rosa, Maria Cecilia Botero (Encanto), Harding Junior, and Cuban-born actors Sian Chiong and Rafael Ernesto Hernandez.

The film is being shot entirely on location in and around Cartagena and Bogota, with Colombia’s colonial Spanish architecture and design playing for Castro-era Havana, Cuba. Cameras roll on August 15.

Maestro recently wrapped the Apple+ anthology series Extrapolations, starring opposite Edward Norton, as well as the lead in Domenico De Feudis’ Italian feature Il Legame (aka The Binding) for Netflix, produced by Academy Award winner Paolo Sorrentino. Maestro recently starred in the acclaimed Sundance Film Festival premiere The Cow That Sang Into The Future. She is known for her roles in Carlos Saura’s Oscar-nominated feature Tango, Walter Salles’ The Motorcycle Diaries, Julie Taymor’s Frida, as well as her recent role in FX’s hit series Mayans M.C.

Aubrey Plaza to Star in the Second Season of HBO’s Dark Comedy “The White Lotus”

Posted on January 10, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Things are in full bloom for Aubrey Plaza…

The 37-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress/comedian will star as a lead in the second installment of HBO’s dark comedy series The White Lotus.

Plaza, the Parks & Recreation and Legion alum, will be a series regular.

She is the second confirmed cast member for the upcoming follow-up to Mike White’s breakout social satire limited series, joining previously cast Michael Imperioli.

The six-part original series followed visitors vacationing at the White Lotus, an exclusive Hawaiian resort. The second installment — also written, to directed by and executive produced by White — will leave Hawaii behind for a new location and is expected to follow a different group of vacationers at another White Lotus property.

Plaza will play Harper Spiller, a woman on vacation with her husband and his friends. Imperioli plays Dominic Di Grasso, a man traveling with his elderly father and recent college-graduate son.

Of the original cast, standout Jennifer Coolidge has been rumored to be returning. White executive produces alongside David Bernad and Mark Kamine.

Plaza will next be seen starring in Guy Ritchie’s Operation Fortune: Ruse De Guerre opposite Jason Statham, Hugh Grant and Josh Hartnett.

Additionally, she stars in and produced Emily the Criminal, which will premiere at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. On television, Plaza is starring in and producing the upcoming Hulu drama series Olga Dies Dreaming, which is based on the novel by Xochitl Gonzalez.

Most recently, Plaza starred opposite Michael Caine in Best Sellers, which premiered at the 2021 Berlin Film Festival.

She won the 2021 Imagen Award for Best Actress for Black Bear and the 2018 Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature for producing Ingrid Goes West.

HBO to Premiere Season 2 of “Euphoria,” Featuring Colman Domingo, in Early January

Posted on December 29, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Colman Domingo is ready to remember this feeling in early 2022…

HBO recently unveiled the first poster for Euphoria season two starring Zendaya and the 52-year-old Guatemalan American actor.

The season premiere is set for January 9, 2022.

Along with Zendaya and Domingo, the show also stars Hunter Schafer, Sydney Sweeny, Jacob Elordi and Storm Reid.

Sam Levinson is executive produce alongside Drake, Future the Prince, Ron Leshem and Daphna Levin, Tmira Yardeni, Ravi Nandan, Kevin Turen, Hadas Mozes Lichtenstein, Mirit Toovi, Yoram Mokadi and Gary Lennon. Augustine Frizzell directed the pilot and are co-executive producers. A24 Television is also producing.

Euphoria, directed by Levinson, follows Zendaya’s Rue Bennett, a drug addict fresh from rehab who’s struggling to make sense of her future. Her life changes dramatically when she meets Jules Vaughn (Schafer), a girl who recently moved to town following her parents’ divorce and like Rue is searching for where she belongs. They navigate the intense dramas of drugs, sex, identity, love and friendship in their small town. The season 1 finale, which saw Rue and Jules part ways, was followed by two special episodes centering each of the friends.

SEASON 2. #EUPHORIA pic.twitter.com/2F24rkfzib

— euphoria (@euphoriaHBO) December 27, 2021

The series received nominations for the British Academy Television Award for Best International Programme, and the TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Drama. For her performance, Zendaya won a Primetime Emmy Award and Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series.

For his performance, Domingo received an Imagen Award for Best Supporting Actor – Television (Drama).

Colman Domingo to Executive Produce the Short Film “Leylak”

Posted on November 29, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Colman Domingo is putting on his producer hat…

The 51-year-old Guatemalan American actor will be executive producing Scott Aharoni and Dennis Latos’ short film Leylak.

The short, shot during the pandemic, follows an immigrant gravedigger, a frontline worker, who buries his pain in order to shelter his daughter from an unspeakable loss but learns that the only way forward is together.

Leylak made its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival where it won the Special Jury Prize, going on to garner top awards at international film festivals like Galway Film Fleadh in Ireland, Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia, Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival, Port Townsend Film Festival, Leiden International Film Festival, Tacoma Film Festival, New York Shorts International Film Festival, and many more.

“Leylak’s setting couldn’t be more timely, but it’s the film’s piercing and honest look at loss, guilt, anguish, love and hope that make it timeless,” says Domingo. “With quiet intensity, Leylak is executed with such nuance in its portrayal of how unbearable circumstances can splinter people apart, but at the same time, bring them even stronger together.”

Domingo’s critically acclaimed film work includes If Beale Street Could Talk, Selma, Lincoln, Candyman, Without Remorse, Zola, and he was a Film Independent Spirit, NAACP, SAG and Critics Choice Award nominee for his performance in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. He also won the Best Supporting Actor Imagen Award for HBO’s Euphoria.

As a writer, Domingo’s plays and musicals include the Tony Award nominated Broadway musical Summer: The Donna Summer Musical and Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole. The multi-hyphenate is currently shooting season 4 of his series, Bottomless Brunch at Colman‘s for AMC, and is developing various TV, film, theater and animation projects with his production company, Edith Productions. He is currently shooting a new film called, Rustin, where he has landed his title role and set to play gay rights activist Bayard Rustin, which is the first film production from Michelle and Barack Obama’s Higher Ground.

New York-based filmmakers Aharoni and Latos directed and co-produced Leylak. The short’s story was written and co-produced by Mustafa Kaymak, the award-winning writer and producer of Green, the winner of the 2019 short film U.S. Jury Award at Sundance Film Festival.

Benjamin Flores Jr. Signs with Hyperion for Agency Representation

Posted on October 29, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Benjamin Flores Jr. is under new representation…

The 19-year-old Latino actor and rapper has signed with Hyperion for agency representation.

Flores most recently starred in the Leigh Janiak-directed Netflix feature trilogy Fear Street, released this past summer.

He’s also a series regular on the Showtime drama Your Honor alongside Bryan Cranston and Michael Stuhlbarg. The series, which has been picked up for a second season, became the most-watched debut season ever on Showtime as well as the network’s most watched series.

Flores was previously a lead in the McG-directed Netflix feature comedy Rim of the World and played a supporting role in the $605M-global grossing Transformers: The Last Knight for Paramount.

The actor got his start as a series regular on Nickelodeon’s The Haunted Hathaways followed by Game Shakers.

He is a recipient of the Imagen Award for Best Young Actor-Television.

JD Pardo to Star in Robert Rodriguez’s Action-Thriller “Hypnotic”

Posted on October 13, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a hypnotic time for JD Pardo…

The 41-year-old Argentine Salvadoran American actor will star in Robert Rodriguez’s action-thriller Hypnotic, alongside Ben Affleck, Alice Braga, Dayo Okeniyi, William Fichtner and Hala Finley.

Currently filming in Texas, Hypnotic follows a detective (Affleck) who becomes entangled in a mystery involving his missing daughter (Finley) and a secret government program – while investigating a string of impossible high-end crimes.

Rodriguez and Max Borenstein wrote the film.

Pardo recently had a cameo as character Jack Toretto in Universal’s blockbuster hit F9: The Fast Saga and he’ll next be seen in STX’s Violence of Action alongside Chris Pine and Ben Foster.

He recently wrapped work on Amazon’s conspiracy-thriller series The Terminal List opposite Chris Pratt. Earlier this week he was awarded the Imagen Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of EZ Reyes in FX’s hit show Mayans M.C. which has been picked up for a fourth season.

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