Kate del Castillo to Star on the Third Season of Fox’s “The Cleaning Lady”

Posted on December 14, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Kate del Castillo is cleaning up her resume…

The 51-year-old Mexican actress and former telenovela star and 45-year-old Chilean actor Santiago Cabrera will play siblings Ramona and Jorge Sanchez in series regular roles on the third season of Fox’s The Cleaning Lady.

del Castillo’s character is described as the elegant, beautiful and regal matriarch of the Sanchez family who has the grace and quiet wisdom that belies a ruthless cunning below the surface. To the world, she’s a benevolent philanthropist, art collector and loving aunt to a young child, but behind closed doors, she’s shrewd, powerful and fiercely protective of her family, her business and her many dark secrets.

Her brother, portrayed by Cabrera, is intelligent and intuitive with a deep inner strength. He was born in Mexico but raised in the U.S. with all the privileges that newfound wealth has brought to his family. A Harvard Law grad, Jorge has been working as a successful businessman using legitimate business fronts to launder money and serve as a fixer in his family’s organization. Struggling with his wife’s untimely death, he cycles through stages of grief and an insatiable rage at the world, often making him volatile and unpredictable. The only joy left in his life is his daughter, Violeta, whom he strives to protect above all else.

Based on the hit original Argentine series, The Cleaning Lady follows Thony De La Rosa (Élodie Yung), a whip-smart Cambodian doctor who comes to the U.S. for a medical treatment to save her ailing son, but when the system fails and attempts to push her down, Thony refuses to be marginalized, and instead takes matters into her own hands. Forced to use unconventional measures to protect her family and save the ones she loves; Thony further crosses the moral line as she gets deeper entwined in the criminal underbelly of Las Vegas.

The series also stars Adan Canto, Martha Millan, Sebastien & Valentino LaSalle, Sean Lew, Faith Bryant and Eva De Dominic.

Miranda Kwok developed the series. Kwok and Jeannine Renshaw serve as showrunners and executive producers of season three.

Rose Marie Vega and Paola Suarez also are executive producers. Shay Mitchell and David Dean Portelli are executive consultants.

del Castillo’s previous credits include the career-defining hit telenovela La Reina del Sur, Ingobernable and Dallas.

Cabrera’s previous credits include The Flight Attendant, Star Trek: Picard and Merlin..

Natalia Castells-Esquivel Developing Dramedy “Women’s Studies” for HBO Max

Posted on December 3, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

It’s Studies time for Natalia Castells-Esquivel.

HBO Max is developing the one-hour dramedy Women’s Studies from the Mexican television writer and project co-creator Dani Chase.

Described as “Dear White People meets The L World sprinkled with some Broad City humor,” the series follows Adriana, a Mexican-American student, who starts her first day at a women’s college in Atlanta filled with “queer AF, feminist women” — but it doesn’t seem like Adriana’s scene considering she is superficial and a little ignorant. But like Alice in Wonderland, her ideas and values are challenged the second she steps on campus.

The pilot is loosely based on Castells-Esquivel’s experience at a women’s college in Atlanta.

The series explores the loss of innocence and self-actualization as the audience watches a campus of young women evolve, embracing the new, dispensing with the old, and figuring out how to topple the heteronormative patriarchy in the process.

Castells-Esquivel recently worked as story editor for Disney+’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. She previously worked on HBO Max’s Generation and Netflix’s Ingobernable.

Eréndira Ibarra to Star Opposite Keanu Reeves in “The Matrix 4”

Posted on January 19, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Eréndira Ibarra is enterting the matrix…

The 34-year-old Mexican actress will be reuniting with Sense8 co-creator Lana Wachowski in the Warner Bros./Village Roadshow sequel The Matrix 4, which is expected to begin filming this year.

Ibarra will be joining franchise returnees Keanu Reeves (Neo), Carrie-Anne Moss(Trinity), and Jada Pinkett Smith(Niobe) as well as newcomers Jessica Henwick, Neil Patrick Harris, Toby Onwumere, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who is rumored to be playing young Morpheus. Henwick is buzzed to play a female Neo-like character.

Wachowski will direct and co-write the screenplay with Aleksandar Hemon and David Mitchell. Wachowski is producing with Grant Hill, who executive produced Matrix Reloaded and Matrix Revolutions. The Matrixtrilogy has grossed more than $1.6 billion at the worldwide box office.

Ibarra joined the first and second seasons of Netflix’s Sense8 in the role of Daniela Velázquez.

She also starred in the Kate del Castillo Netflix series Ingobernable and the Amazon Prime series El Candidato. She studied at the artistic studio in Casa Azul.

Ciro Guerra Executive-Producing Netflix’s First Colombian Original Series

Posted on November 23, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Ciro Guerra is (net)flixing out about a Colombian first…

The 36-year-old Colombian filmmaker and screenwriter is set to executive produce Netflix’s first Colombian original series.

Guerra, who received an Oscar nomination for his film Embrace of the Serpent, will work with Narcos producer Dynamo on the project, which will debut worldwide in 2019.

Written by Carlos Contreras, the as-yet untitled series will follow a young detective and her partner deep into the Amazon, on the border of Brazil and Colombia, to investigate a series of bizarre murders. They soon realize that there’s more mystery to the jungle than the deaths, as they encounter an enigmatic indigenous tribe with an incredible secret that they will take great risks to protect.

Composed of eight hour-long episodes and shot entirely in 4K, the series will showcase the country’s geographic diversity and magnificent landscapes, as well as the region’s complex social and environmental climate.

“We are thrilled to be launching our first Colombian original, featuring great Colombian filmmakers and producers,” said Erik Barmack, Vice President of International Originals. “From 2011, we have been committed to providing a great service in Colombia, and this show, with local talent, will add to our incredible slate of originals throughout Latin America.”

“This is a great opportunity to expand the reach of our local stories and share them with global audiences. Netflix is an extraordinary platform that we are thrilled to collaborate with, and we think this new show will be a great first step in that direction,” added Guerra.

The new series joins a growing slate of original productions being filmed in Latin America, including Ingobernable, Club de Cuervos, La Casa de las Flores, Edha, Narcos, Samantha!, O Mecanismo, O Matador, 3% and Coisa Mais Linda, among others.

Production is slated to begin summer 2018.

Raúl Castillo to Star in the Indie Film “El Chicano”

Posted on September 2, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Raúl Castillo has landed a super new role…

The 39-year-old Mexican American actor will star in El Chicano, the indie film directed by Ben Bray (Supergirl) from a script he co-wrote with Joe Carnahan (Smokin’ Aces).

It’s described as a dark, urban-inspired superhero movie, detailing the crime-fighting exploits of the mysterious barrio vigilante known as “El Chicano.”

The film also stars Lucifer star Aimee Garcia, George Lopez and Kate Del Castillo.

David Castaneda, Noel G, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Marco Rodriguez, Sal Lopez, and Mr. Criminal are also among the cast of the film, which is currently in production.

Castillo recurs in the Netflix series Atypical and was cast as a regular in the streaming giant’s upcoming crime drama series Seven Seconds.

Garcia recently wrapped shooting the film What They Had, opposite Michael Shannon and Hilary Swank.

Lopez currently stars in the TVLand sitcom Lopez.

del Castillo stars in the Netflix series Ingobernable.

Daddy Yankee to Perform at This Year’s Billboard Latin Music Awards

Posted on April 22, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Daddy Yankee is readying for another performance on the big stage…

The 40-year-old Puerto Rican superstar is confirmed to perform at the 2017 Billboard Latin Music Awards, taking place April 27 at the University of Miami‘s Watsco Center.

Daddy Yankee and Luis Fonsi will take the stage for the worldwide television premiere of their monster hit “Despacito.” The pair recently dropped a new remix featuring Justin Bieber, and after just 24 hours on YouTube, it became the biggest musical debut on the streaming platform, surpassing 20 million worldwide views.

During Daddy Yankee’s performance, the five-time finalist will also debut a new track.

Other performers throughout the night include J Balvin, Nicky Jam, Gente de Zona, Zion y Lennox, Alejandro Fernández and Morat.

Mexican actress Kate del Castillo, from the Netflix series Ingobernable, and Puerto Rican actor and singer Carlos Ponce will host the awards ceremony that will air live on Telemundo. Presenters include ChocQuibTown, Sofía Reyes, Olga Tañón, Sin Bandera, Juan Luis Guerra and Ednita Nazario, among others.

The Billboard Latin Music Awards are the culmination of the Billboard Latin Music Conference, taking place April 24-27 at the Ritz Carlton Miami Beach.

Netflix Releases Official Trailer for del Castillo’s “Ingobernable”

Posted on March 4, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Kate del Castillo is uncontrollable…

Netflix has released the official trailer for Ingobernable, the upcoming political thriller drama series from Mexico starring the 44-year-old Mexican actress and former telenovela star and Erik Hayser.

First Lady Emilia Urquiza (del Castillo) has big plans to improve conditions for the country through her commitment to fighting for peace. As Emilia starts to lose faith in her husband, President Diego Nava (Hayser), she finds herself at a crossroad where she will need to find a way to deal with a great challenge and uncover the truth.

In the trailer (with English subtitles), we see Los Pinos, the presidential residence, is not a happy homestead. The First Lady (del Castillo) has filed for divorce, the President (Hayser) then turns up dead, and the First Lady is nowhere to be found.

Per the logline: Emilia is a woman with a strong personality, conviction and clear ideas that make her capable of doing anything: making a president, leaving a president and killing a president.

Netflix will launch the 15-episode first season of Ingobernable on March 24.

Netflix to Premiere del Castillo’s “Ingobernable” in March

Posted on February 4, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Kate del Castillo is ungovernable…

Netflix will premiere the first season of its Mexican original series Ingobernable, starring the 44-year-old Mexican actress, on March 24.

del Castillo and Erik Hayser star as the First Lady and President of Mexico in the 15-episode fictional series set in the present-day.

del Castillo, a key player in the real-life saga of Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, portrays First Lady Emilia Urquiza, a woman who has big plans to improve conditions for the country through her commitment to fighting for peace. She’s a woman with a strong personality, conviction and clear ideas that make her capable of doing anything. As Emilia starts to lose faith in her husband, President Diego Nava, she finds herself at a crossroads where she’ll need to find a way to deal with a great challenge and uncover the truth.

The presidential couple will be joined by their two children Maria Nava Urquiza (Alicia Jaziz) and Emiliano Nava Urquiza (Alessio Valentini).

Other cast members include Erendira Ibarra (Las Aparicio, Sense8, La Vida Inmoral de la Pareja Ideal), Luis Roberto Guzmán (El Pantera, Ladies Night), Fernando Luján (Mirada de Mujer, Todo por Amor), Marina de Tavira (El Señor de los Cielos, Capadocia), Marco Antonio Treviño (The 33, Las Aparicio), María del Carmen Farías (Hostile Border, Las Aparicio), Aida López (Frida, Capadocia), Alberto Guerra Ramos (Hasta que te Conocí, Siempre Tuya Acapulco), Harold Torres (Crónica de Castas, Sin Nombre), Maxi Iglesias (Dueños del paraíso, Velvet), Alvaro Guerrero (Amores Perros, The Mission), Diego Cadavid (The Snitch Cartel, Blind Alley), Tamara Mazarrasa Lopez (Camelia la Texana, Everybody’s Got Somebody…Not Me), Marianna Burelli (Paramédicos, El Torito), Hernan del Riego (Cantinflas, Fantasma), Jeirmarie Osorio Rivera (Celia, Fast Five), Mitzi Mabel Cadena (Capadocia, El Señor de los Cielos), and Pablo Astiazarán (La Última Mirada, Goes And Runs).

The series was originally set to shoot in Mexico, but plans changed and production was moved to the U.S. del Castillo had told ABC News last year she was afraid to go to Mexico for fear of being arrested and prosecuted after she had come under scrutiny from the Mexican government over her connection to the notorious Mexican drug lord Guzman, which led to her and actor Sean Penn’s infamous secret meeting with El Chapo while he was on the run following his escape from a Mexican prison. El Chapo was eventually re-captured and extradited to the U.S. last month to face charges connected to leading one of the world’s largest narcotics organizations.

Caro Bringing 13-Episode Dark Comedy Project to Netflix

Posted on October 11, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Manolo Caro has landed a high-profile project…

Netflix has set an untitled half-hour dark comedy from the Mexican filmmaker.

Shooting will begin in Mexico early next year with the 13-episode series later available across all 190 Netflix territories.

Shot in 4K, the comedy revolves around a seemingly successful and idyllic family-run flower business full of dysfunctional secrets. When the patriarch finds out his longtime mistress has suddenly passed away, he decides to bring their children into the household alongside his current wife and family who didn’t know they existed.

The series explores the need to protect and forgive loved ones, no matter how uncomfortable.

Erik Barmack, Netflix vice president of international originals, cites the success of Club De Cuervos in Mexico and in other countries as reaffirming “our bet on Mexican talent and productions like the upcoming Ingobernable, and this new project with Manolo.”

Caro is best known for such films as Tales of an Immoral Couple, Elvira I’ll Give You My Life But I’m Using It, Love of My Loves, and I Don’t Know Whether to Slit My Veins or Leave Them Long.

This project will be part of the Netflix Original productions slate filmed in Latin America including Narcos, Club de Cuervos, Ingobernable, 3%, Edha, O Matador and the untitled project from Jose Padilha based on current events in Brazil.

del Castillo’s Netflix Series “Ingobernable” to Film in the U.S.

Posted on May 5, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Kate del Castillo’s latest project is heading north of the border…

Ingobernable, Netflix’s new original series toplined by the 43-year-old Mexican actress and telenovela star, is heading to production with a twist.

The series, whose star was a key player in the El Chapo saga, was originally slated to film in Mexico.

It will now shoot in the United States. According to Spanish-language reports citing del Castillo’s personal trainer, Ingobernable is expected to film in San Diego.

del Castillo, who recently became an U.S. citizen, lives in California and told ABC News in March that she is afraid to go to Mexico for fear of being arrested and prosecuted.

del Castillo has been under scrutiny by the Mexican government over her connection to notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, which led to her and actor Sean Penn’s infamous secret meeting with El Chapo while he was on the run following his daring escape from a Mexican prison.

“It’s a telenovela within a telenovela. It’s a strange turn of events for sure,” Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos said at the height of the controversy in January, reaffirming the company’s commitment to film the series this year.

Ingobernable was picked up to series in summer 2015, long before del Castillo’s El Chapo ties were revealed. It was originally slated to begin shooting in early 2016, but production was delayed.

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