Anjelah Johnson-Reyes to Star in Prime Video’s Holiday Comedy “Candy Cane Lane”

Posted on February 12, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Anjelah Johnson-Reyes is getting into the Christmas holiday season way early…

The 40-year-old half-Mexican American actress and comedian has joined the cast of Prime Video’s holiday comedy Candy Cane Lane.

Johnson-Reyes is among a list of new cast additions that includes Ken Marino and D.C. Young Fly.

They join previously announced cast members Eddie Murphy, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jillian Bell, Genneya Walton, Madison Thomas, Thaddeus J. Mixson, Robin Thede, Chris Redd and Danielle Pinnock.

Reginald Hudlin directs off a script by Kelly Younger, inspired by his own childhood holiday experiences.

Story details are being kept under wraps.

The movie is shooting in Los Angeles and a part of the California Film & Television Tax Credit Program. The film will stream on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide and marks the first film falling under Murphy’s three-picture and first-look film deal with Amazon Studios.

Johnson-Reyes has six comedy specials streaming on various platforms. Additionally, she has guest starred on shows like Life & Beth, Superstore, The Shield, Ugly Betty and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Her film credits include Enough Said, Our Family Wedding, and Alvin And The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.

Decal Acquires U.S. Distribution Rights to Natalie Morales’ Sci-Fi Comedy “I’m Totally Fine”

Posted on May 26, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Natalie Morales is doin’ just fine…

Decal has acquired the North American rights to Brandon Dermer’s sci-fi comedy I’m Totally Fine, starring the 37-year-old Cuban American actress, out of the Cannes market.

The film is slated for release in theaters later this year.

The music video vet’s first feature follows Vanessa (Jillian Bell), who embarks on a solo weekend away to clear her head after the death of her best friend (Morales)—seeing her self-care vacation plans change when she’s met with a situation that’s out of this world.

The film written by Alisha Ketry also stars Harvey Guillén, Blake Anderson and Karen Maruyama.

“We are whole-heartedly excited to share our project with our fellow humans/Earthlings,” said Kyle Newacheck, “and it was DECAL who ultimately matched our passion and proved to be the best fit for the release of this delicate film.”

“The marvelous minds of Kyle Newcheck and Brandon Dermer have created a truly hilarious and thoughtful sci-fi jaunt,” added Decal SVP Ayo Kepher-Maat. “Jillian Bell and Natalie Morales are perfectly cast to deliver the fun and sweetness that makes I’M TOTALLY FINE so heartfelt. We are beyond thrilled to be working with such a talented group.”

Daniella Pineda to Star in AMC’s “Tales of the Walking Dead”

Posted on February 11, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Daniella Pineda has a new tale(s)…

The 34-year-old Mexican American actress will star in AMC‘s anthology series Tales of the Walking Dead.

Pineda joins previously announced cast members Terry Crews, Parker Posey, Poppy Liu, Anthony Edwards, and Jillian Bell.

Details on the characters each will play in the series are being kept under wraps.

The six-episode episodic anthology series will feature both new and established characters from The Walking Dead universe.

Tales of the Walking Dead is scheduled to debut this summer on AMC and AMC Plus.

The show was first announced as being in development in September 2020 and ordered to series in October 2021. In an interview with Variety in 2020, then-AMC COO Ed Carroll said that “Tales” would serve as a “test kitchen” of sorts, meaning that if a particular episode is well received, it could lead to another spinoff.

Pineda most recently starred in the Netflix live-action remake of Cowboy Bebop in the role of Faye Valentine.

Her other television roles include What/If, The Detour, and The Originals.

In film, she appeared in the film Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom in 2018 and will reprise her role as Zia Rodriguez in the upcoming sequel Jurassic World Dominion. That film will debut in theaters on June 10.

She has also wrapped production on the feature The Plane starring Gerard Butler and Mike Colter for Lionsgate and Di Bonaventura Pictures.

Natalie Morales to Star in the Sci-Fi Dramedy “I’m Totally Fine”

Posted on February 24, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Natalie Morales is totally fine… Seriously!

The 36-year-old Cuban American actress will star opposite Jillian Bell in the sci-fi dramedy I’m Totally Fine.

Hailing from producer Kyle Newacheck and music video vet Brandon Dermer, I’m Totally Fine follows a Vanessa (Bell), a woman in mourning who takes a solo trip to clear her head after the death of her friend (Morales). However, Vanessa’s self-care vacation plans change when she’s met with a situation out of this world.

“We were making a movie that mirrored what we had all collectively been experiencing over 2020, without being literal. The metaphor of it is 2020 and being powerless – all of a sudden everything got taken away from us as we knew it, everything changed,” says Newacheck.

The film, also produced by Jonas Dolkart, also stars Newacheck, Harvey Guillen and Karen Maruyama.

Alisha Ketry penned the I’m Totally Fine script.

Morales previous credits include films Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps and Going the Distance.

Erica Hernandez to Appear on Epix’s New Dramedy “Bridge & Tunnel”

Posted on December 16, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Erica Hernandez is tunneling forward…

The half-Colombian American actress has joined the ensemble cast of Epix’s upcoming dramedy Bridge & Tunnel.

Written, directed and produced by Edward Burns, the dramedy series set in 1980 revolves around a group of recent college grads setting out to pursue their dreams in Manhattan while still clinging to the familiarity of their working-class Long Island home town.

Hernandez, appearing a recurring role, will play Genie, the fun-loving and sassy sister of Jimmy (Sam Vartholomeos). She and her best friend Lizzie (Barrett Wilbert Reed) dream of rock stardom for their all-girl punk band, Wildfire.

Caitlin Stasey, Gigi Zumbado, JanLuis Castellanos, Brian Muller and Isabella Farrell round out the ensemble cast.

Hernandez can be seen in the feature films Hollywood Fringe opposite Justin Kirk, Lazy Susan opposite Sean Hayes and in Brittany Runs a Marathon opposite Jillian Bell.

She has appeared on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, The Other Two, High Maintenance, Search Party, Dietland, The Brave, The Last OG and Elementary.

Bridge and Tunnel premieres on January 24 at 9:00 pm ET/PT on Epix.

Fred Armisen to Participate in Taran Killam’s “Mafia 4 ‘Merica” Event to Benefit When We All Vote

Posted on October 18, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Fred Armisen is joining the mafia…

The 53-year-old half-Venezuelan American actor/comedian will take part in fellow former Saturday Night Live cast member Taran Killam’s Mafia 4 ‘Merica.

Described as an evening of charity and comedy, the event will take place on Saturday, October 24, at 7:00 pm PT/10:00 pm ET via the Looped app. All proceeds from the evening will benefit When We All Vote, a non-profit, nonpartisan organization founded by Michelle Obama and others.

Armisen, Vanessa Bayer, Jillian Bell, Adam Brody, Will Forte, Natasha Lyonne, Bobby Moynihan, Randall Park, Sam Richardson, Andrea Savage, Ben Schwartz, Cobie Smulders and others will play the popular party game Mafia. Audience members will know everyone’s role, but the players will not.

Mafia consists of two secretly predetermined teams, an informed minority (The Mafia), and an uninformed majority (The Villagers). At the start of the game, each player is confidentially assigned a role affiliated with one of these teams (Mafia or Villager).

The game has two alternating phases. First, everyone closes their eyes and The Mafia must decide secretly to eliminate a Villager in the night. Secondly, everyone is told to open their eyes and The Host announces who has been eliminated. Immediately following, the entire group must debate, accuse, argue and lie through their teeth to save themselves until a consensus is made and the group votes to eliminate who they think is one of The Mafia.

The person with the most votes is eliminated, whether they’re rightfully accused as Mafia, or just a lonely Villager. Whatever team can eliminate their opposing side first wins.

The ticketed event is on sale here.

Murciano to Star in Sony Pictures’ Comedy “Rock That Body”

Posted on September 15, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Enrique Murciano has a new Body of work…

The 43-year-old Latino actor has joined the cast of Sony Pictures’ Rock That Body, the R-rated comedy about a bachelorette party in Miami that goes wrong and ends with a male stripper dead.

Scarlett Johansson, Kate McKinnon, Jillian Bell, Ilana Glazer and Zoe Kravitz star with Demi Moore, Ty Burrell, Dean Winters and Colton Haynes.

The film has a June 23 release date with Lucia Aniello direcing a script she co-wrote with Paul W. Downs.

Murciano starred on Netflix’s Bloodline series. He currently has roles on Starz’s Power and SundanceTV’s Hap and Leonard, also has New Line’s Will Smith starrer Collateral Beauty coming out this year and just finished shooting the TNT pilot Civil.

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