Ana Cruz Kayne to Star in Netflix’s Opioid Crisis Drama “Painkiller”

Ana Cruz Kayne has landed a (pain)killer role…

The Latina actress will star in Netflix’s limited drama series Painkiller.

Ana Cruz Kayne

Cruz Kayne will star opposite Taylor KitschTyler Ritter, John Ales, Sam Anderson, Carolina Bartczak, Jack Mulhern and Ron Lea in the series, which centers on the origins of the opioid crisis and the role of Purdue Pharma.

The project also stars Uzo Aduba, Matthew Broderick, West Duchovny, Dina Shihabi, and John Rothman.

Cruiz Kayne plays Brianna Ortiz, an ambitious young attorney.

Painkiller is executive produced by Eric Newman, Micah Fitzerman-Blue, Noah Harpster, Alex Gibney, as well as Peter Berg who will direct all episodes. Fitzerman-Blue and Harpster will also write and serve as showrunners.

The New Yorker article ‘The Family That Built an Empire of Pain’ by Patrick Radden Keefe and the book Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America’s Opioid Epidemic by Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist and author Barry Meier serves as underlying material for the series, with Keefe and Meier on board as consultants.

Production on the six-episode limited series will begin later this year in Toronto.

Aimee Garcia Starring in Western Thriller “Murder At Emigrant Gulch”

The (Big) Sky’s the limit for Aimee Garcia…

The 42-year-old Puerto Rican and Mexican American actress is starring in Murder At Emigrant Gulch, the Western-thriller starring Gabriel Byrne, Thomas Jane and Isaiah Mustafa.

Aimee Garcia

Production has wrapped on the project, which is being directed by Richard Gray.

In addition to Garcia, cast members who joined the film later during production include Richard Dreyfuss, Nat Wolff, Anna Camp and Zach McGowan.

Scottie Thompson, Emma Kenney, Tanaya Beatty, John Ales and singer/YouTube star Lia Marie Johnson round out the cast alongside Isabella Ruby in her feature debut.

Set in 1882, the film follows a former slave (Mustafa) who arrives in Emigrant Gulch, Montana, a desolate former boomtown now on the decline, looking for a place to call home. On that same day, a local prospector discovers gold – and is murdered. The sheriff (Byrne) arrests the town newcomer. But as the mystery of the prospector’s murder deepens, and the town’s earnest preacher (Jane) questions the accused man’s guilt, a clash between faith and the law threatens to tear the town apart.

The film was shot in Montana from a script by Eric Belgau.

Director-producer Gray commented: “Filming this ground-breaking story in Montana, with such a strong and diverse cast was a brilliant experience. It’s a unique and modern themed tale, set in a classic, action filled western — we had a blast!”

Garcia is best known for her role on Showtime’s Dexter. Her other television credits include Lucifer, Trauma and Greetings from Tucson.

Garcia’s previous film credits include RoboCop, El Chicano and Saint Judy.

Ash Santos to Star Opposite Kevin Hart & Wesley Snipes in Netflix’s Limited Series “True Story”

Ash Santos is telling a true story

The 27-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American actress has been cast in Netflix’s limited series True Story, starring Kevin Hart and Wesley Snipes.

Ash Santos

Written and executive produced by Narcos: Mexico executive producer Eric Newman, the project is produced by Hart’s HartBeat Production.

In addition to Santos, new cast additions include Tawny NewsomePaul AdelsteinWill Catlett, Chris DiamantopoulosBilly ZaneLauren London and John Ales.

Hart will play a version of himself in the fictional True Story, which centers on his character Kid and Kid’s older brother Carlton, played by Snipes. A tour stop in Kid’s hometown of Philadelphia becomes a matter of life and death for one of the world’s most famous comedians when the consequences of a lost evening with his wayward older brother threaten to destroy everything he’s built.

Santos will play Daphne, an outgoing young woman who joins Carlton and Kid at a VIP afterparty that continues to an eventful night.

Stephen Williams will direct and executive produce the first four episodes. Hanelle Culpepper will direct the final four episodes.

Santos’ previous credits include American Horror Story: Apocalypse and Wrapped Up In Christmas.