Odette Annable to Star in Pilot for ABC’s “thirtysomething” Sequel, “thirtysomething(else)”

Odette Annable is taking on something big!

The 34-year-old Colombian & Cuban American actress will lead the ensemble cast of the ABC pilot thirtysomething(else), a sequel to Marshall Herskovitz and Ed Zwick’s beloved 1987-91 drama series thirtysomething, playing grown-up Janey Steadman.

Odette Annable

Written by Herskovitz and Zwick and to be directed by Zwick, thirtysomething(else) will follow an ensemble of new faces playing the grown-up children of the original cast, the new generation of thirtysomethings. 

They are being joined by returning original cast members Ken Olin(Michael Steadman),Mel Harris(Hope Murdoch), Timothy Busfield(Elliot Weston) and Patty Wettig(Nancy Weston), reprising their characters in supporting roles.

Annable’s Janey Steadman is the striking spinoff of Hope and Michael. With piercing eyes and unruly dark hair, Janey is a passionate, some might say driven person, possessed of what her boyfriend, Brad, calls a very big engine in a very small car.

Annable joins recently cast Chris Wood, who’ll play Janey’s younger brother, Leo Steadman. The two previously co-starred together on Supergirl.

Although seen as an ensemble drama, the original thirtysomethingseries revolved around husband and wife Michael and Hope and their baby Janey. Little Janey was played by twins Brittanyand Lacey Craven.

Herskovitz and Zwick executive produce for ABC Studios, part of Disney Television Studios, and MGM Television

Filming on the pilot is slated to begin in March in New Jersey.

Annable played a lead on the second season of CBS All Access’ anthology series Tell Me a StoryBefore that, she was a series regular on Season 3 of the CW’s Supergirl, playing the villainous Samantha Arias/Reign.She is reprising her role in an episode airing later this month. 

Her other credits include HouseOctober Road and Banshee.

ABC Picks Up Roselyn Sanchez’s “Grand Hotel” to Series

Life is Grand for Roselyn Sanchez

ABC has picked up the drama Grand Hotel, starring the 45-year-old Puerto Rican actress and former Devious Maids star, to series.

Roselyn Sanchez

Executive produced by Eva Longoria, the series also stars Mexican actor and Oscar nominee Demian Bichir.

Based on the Spanish series Gran Hotel, the bold, provocative drama is set at the last family-owned hotel in multicultural Miami Beach. Charismatic Santiago Mendoza owns the hotel, while his glamorous second wife, Gigi, and their adult children enjoy the spoils of success. The hotel’s loyal staff round out a contemporary, fresh take on an upstairs/downstairs story. Wealthy and beautiful guests bask in luxury, but scandals, escalating debt and explosive secrets hide beneath the picture-perfect exterior.

In addition to Bichir as Santiago Mendoza and Sanchez as Gigi Mendoza, the series also stars Denyse Tontz, Bryan Craig, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Lincoln Younes, Shalim Ortiz, Anne Winters, Chris Warren, Feliz Ramirez and Justina Adorno.

Ken Olin directed the pilot, with the series being produced by ABC Studios.

Justina Adorno to Star in ABC’s Drama Pilot “Grand Hotel”

Justina Adorno is about to have a Grand ole time…

The Latina actress has landed a series-regular role on ABC’s drama pilot Grand Hotel, hailing from Eva Longoria, Brian Tanen and ABC Studios.

Justina Adorno

Written by Tanen based on a Spanish format and directed by Ken OlinGrand Hotel is a soapy drama set against the backdrop of a Miami Beach hotel, centering on the family who owns the business, the staff who run it and the explosive secrets they hide under the perfect exterior.

Adorno will play Yoli, Carolina’s (Feliz Ramirez) twin sister.

Adorno, a member of the NBC Diversity Showcase, can be seen in a recurring role role on Netflix’s Seven Seconds.

She also recently wrapped filming features Mike Mike Tan and Shotgun.

Shalim Ortiz to Star in ABC’s Drama Pilot “Grand Hotel”

Life is Grand for Shalim Ortiz

The 39-year-old Puerto Rican actor/singer has been cast in a series regular role on ABC’s drama pilot Grand Hotel, hailing from Eva Longoria’s production company, Brian Tanen and ABC Studios.

Shalim Ortiz

Written by Tanen, Grand Hotel is based on a Spanish format and directed by Ken Olin.

It’s described as a soapy drama set against the backdrop of a Miami Beach hotel, centering on the family who owns the business, the staff who run it and the explosive secrets they hide under the perfect exterior.

Ortiz will portray Mateo, the Director of Guest Experiences at the hotel who knows every guest by name.

Ortiz played Alejandro Herrera on NBC’s Heroes and had a recurring role on HBO’s Ballers. His other credits include CSI: Miami, Lizzie McGuire and Cold Case.