Leguizamo to Star in CBS’ Comedy Pilot “Taxi-22”

John Leguizamo has flagged down his next role…

The 50-year-old Colombian actor has been cast as the lead in CBS’ Taxi-22, a single-camera comedy project that had been shepherded by the late James Gandolfini.

John Leguizamo

Based on the hit French Canadian comedy, Taxi-22 centers on a politically incorrect NYC cab driver (Leguizamo). In addition to starring, he’ll also co-executive produce the project.

Written/executive produced by Tad Quill, CBS’ Taxi-22 adaptation originally was ordered to pilot in January 2014. After difficulties casting the lead in a competitive pilot casting marketplace, CBS pushed the project. The network and CBS Television Studios, which produces the project, explored several casting choices in the off-season and made it clear that the pilot remained a priority.

CBS bought the project, with Gandolfini on board to executive produce, just two weeks before the Emmy-winning actor’s tragic death in June 2013.

Taxi-22 had been a passion project for Gandolfini, who first developed it at HBO. The project went through three incarnations at the pay cable network with different writers and Gandolfini loosely attached to play the lead at one point.

Gandolfini is getting a posthumous exec producer credit on the pilot and potential first season of the series.

Leguizamo recently completed the films The Nest with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler; Stealing Cars; and The Experimenters, which will premiere at the Sundance film festival.

Currently, he’s playing his one-man show, Latin History For Dummies, around the country.

Trailer Released for Rapace’s Crime Drama “The Drop”

Noomi Rapace is ready to drop everything…

Fox Searchlight Pictures has released the international trailer for the crime drama The Drop, starring the 34-year-old half-Spanish actress.

Noomi Rapace

In addition to Rapace, the Brooklyn-set feature stars Tom Hardy and the late James Gandolfini.

The Drop centers on Bob Saginowski (Hardy), an ex-con turned bartender who finds himself at the center of a robbery gone awry, which sends a ripple effect through the neighborhood to his friends, family, and the gangsters on the block.

Rapace portrays Nadia in the film, while Gandolfini plays Marv, another ex-con who is trying to go legit.

Directed by Michael R. Roskam, The Drop is based on Dennis Lehane’s short story Animal Rescue, which was also the film’s original title.

The film will be released on September 19, 2014.

Trailer Released for Rapace’s “The Drop,” Featuring the Late James Gandolfini

There’s overwhelming interest in Noomi Rapace’s latest project…

Fox Searchlight has released the trailer for The Drop, starring the 34-year-old half-Spanish actress.

Noomi Rapace

The film, which opens in theaters on September 19, features the late James Gandolfini in what would be his last movie.

The crime drama, based on a screenplay from author Dennis Lehane (Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone), follows lonely bartender Bob Saginowski (Hardy) through a covert scheme of funneling cash to local gangsters — “money drops” — in the underworld of Brooklyn bars. Under the heavy hand of his employer and cousin Marv (Gandolfini), Bob finds himself at the center of a robbery gone awry and entwined in an investigation that digs deep into the neighborhood’s past where friends, families and foes all work together to make a living — no matter the cost.

Michael R. Roskam (Bullhead) directed the movie, which also stars Matthia Schoenaerts, John Ortiz, Ann Dowd and James Frecheville

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Gandolfini died in June at age 51 of a heart attack while vacationing in Italy. Following his death, he also appeared in Enough Said, released last September.

Trailer Released for Bledel’s New Film “Violet & Daisy”

Alexis Bledel is Hollywood’s next hit girl… Literally!

Alexis Bledel in Violet & Daisy Violet & Daisy

Cinedigm has released the trailer for the action-comedy-drama Violet & Daisy, which stars the 31-year-old half-Argentinean American actress and Saoirse Ronan.

Bledel, who recently announced her engagement to her former Mad Men co-star Vincent Kartheiser, and Ronan star as a pair of hit girls swept up in intrigue surrounding their latest target (portrayed by James Gandolfini).

Violet & Daisy

Bledel portrays the volatile character of Violet in the film.

Precious writer Geoffrey Fletcher penned and directed the 2011 Toronto Film Fest entry.

Cinedigm is planning on a June release, but has yet to lock down a specific date.