Gabriel Luna Lending Voice to Prime Video’s Adult-Animated Anthology Series “Secret Level”

Posted on October 19, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Gabriel Luna is leveling up…

The 41-year-old Mexican American actor is lending his voice to Prime Video’s adult-animated anthology series Secret Level.

Luna is part of a voice cast that includes Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kevin Hart, Keanu Reeves, Temuera Morrison and Ariana Greenblatt.

The cast also includes Schwarzenegger’s son, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Heaven Hart, Emily Swallow, Ricky Whittle, Merle Dandridge, Claudia Doumit, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Clive Standen, Laura Bailey and Michael Beach.

The series, which hails from the creative team behind Netflix’s Love, Death & Robots, features original stories set within the worlds of popular video games.

The 15-episode series, which will premiere on December 10 with two weekly episode drops, features such games as Pac-Man, Dungeons & Dragons, Crossfire, Exodus, Spelunky, Warhammer 40,000 and various PlayStation titles.

Secret Level, from Amazon MGM Studios and Blur Studio, is created and executive produced by Tim Miller. Dave Wilson serves as executive producer and supervising director.

Here’s the list of games that inspired the 15 stories in Season 1:

Armored Core
Concord
Crossfire
Dungeons & Dragons
Exodus
Honor of Kings
Mega Man
New World: Aeternum
PAC-MAN
PlayStation (Highlighting various PlayStation Studios beloved entities)
Sifu
Spelunky
The Outer Worlds
Unreal Tournament
Warhammer 40,000

Jimmy Smits to Take Part in This Year’s Stand Up To Cancer SU2C Fundraising Special

Posted on August 7, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Jimmy Smits is taking a stand (up)…

The 68-year-old half-Puerto Rican actor will take part in this year’s Stand Up To Cancer SU2C fundraising special that’s set to air on Saturday, August 19 at 8:00 pm ET.

In addition to Smits, best known for his roles on L.A. Law, NYPD Blue and The West Wing, other celebrities making a special appearance during the show include Elizabeth Banks, Jessica Biel, Don Cheadle, Katie Couric, Danai Gurira, Tony Hale, Ken Jeong, Maria Menounos, Julianne Moore, Tig Notaro, Eric Stonestreet and Justin Timberlake.

A special montage of comedic skits from past shows will feature Jack Black, Ben Falcone, Zach Galifianakis, Brad Garrett, Bill Hader, Jon Hamm, Kevin Hart, Ed Helms, Melissa McCarthy, and Matthew McConaughey.

The televised special will also feature past musical performances from the likes of Brittany Howard, Simone Ledward Boseman, and The Who.

The one-hour televised celebration entitled “How It Started, How It’s Going” will recognize SU2C’s impact and progress over the last 15 years.

“We started this movement in 2008 to save lives and it is remarkable to see that in 15 years our scientists have accomplished this goal through breakthrough research that intercepts and treats cancer in ways we never thought possible,” said Katie Couric, SU2C co-founder. “There is more work to do to cure cancer and every dollar counts; we will not stop until we make every cancer patient a long-term survivor.”

The biennial special will air simultaneously on more than 50 participating media platforms across the United States and Canada, including all four major broadcast networks in the U.S. Broadcasters carrying the show are donating one hour of simultaneous commercial-free prime time. The telecast will also be available on-demand on several streaming platforms.

“Our telecast is a powerful tribute that demonstrates the importance of standing together to save lives,” said Russell Chew, president and CEO of SU2C. “Everyone plays a critical role in this goal, and we are so grateful for the support of the entertainment community, the broadcast networks, our generous donors, and the incredible researchers who work tirelessly to develop new cancer treatments.” Chew added, “100% of public donations to SU2C support innovative cancer research and vital awareness programs.”

Edgar Ramirez’s “Borderlands,” An Adaptation of the Videogame, Will Premiere in August 2024

Posted on July 20, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Edgar Ramirez is heading to the borderlands next summer…

Eli Roth’s film adaptation of video game Borderlands, starring the 46-year-old Venezuelan actor, has set an August 9, 2024, release date.

In the film, Lilith (two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett) is an infamous treasure hunter with a mysterious past who reluctantly returns to her home planet of Pandora to find the missing daughter of Atlas (Ramirez), the universe’s most powerful SOB. She forms an unexpected alliance with a ragtag team of misfits – Roland (Kevin Hart), once a highly respected soldier but now desperate for redemption; Tiny Tina (Ariana Greenblatt), a feral preteen demolitionist; Krieg (Florian Munteanu), Tina’s musclebound, rhetorically challenged protector; Tannis (Jamie Lee Curtis), the scientist who’s seen it all; and Claptrap (Jack Black), a persistently wiseass robot.

These unlikely heroes must battle alien monsters and dangerous bandits to find and protect the missing girl, who might hold the key to unimaginable power. The fate of the universe could be in their hands – but they’ll be fighting for something more: one another.

Roth and Joe Crombie wrote the screenplay. Ari Arad, Avi Arad and Erik Feig produce. Lionsgate made the film with Media Capital Technologies. It’s an Arad/Picturestart production and a Gearbox Studios and Take-Two Interactive production.

Borderlands is one of the world’s most successful video game franchises, with more than 68M units sold worldwide, including more than 24M units for Borderlands 2, which is the best-selling title in the history of 2K. Borderlands 3, launched in September 2019 for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, selling 12M+ units around the globe and was honored with the Best Multiplayer Game awards at Gamescom 2019 and Best Ongoing Game at Gamescom 2020.

The Lionsgate film will face off against Universal’s Speak No Evil and MGM’s Flint Strong.

CBS Developing Latinx Family Workplace Comedy “Family Insurance” Co-Written & Starring Al Madrigal

Posted on November 22, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Al Madrigal is lowering his deductible …

Eric Christian Olsen’s Cloud Nine Productions has sold Family Insurance, co-written by and starring the 51-year-old half-Mexican American comedian, writer, actor and producer, to CBS.

The network is developing the single-camera Latinx family workplace comedy into a series.

Co-written and executive produced by Madrigal and Ryan Walls, who also have deals at CBS Studios, as well as Adam Lowitt, Family Insurance is a Latinx family workplace comedy revolving around Al Fuentes (Madrigal) who after separating from his wife reluctantly returns to his childhood home to work at the family insurance business that his loud, tough, first generation immigrant father started.

Madrigal is known for his role as Senior Latino Correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He was also a series regular and writer on Showtime’s I’m Dying Up Here, and served as a writer, actor, and producer on the CBS show, Broke.

Madrigal’s film credits include The Way Back with co-star Ben Affleck, Night School alongside Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish, and Morbius opposite Jared Leto.

Úrsula Corberó to Star Opposite Kevin Hart in Netflix’s “Lift”

Posted on June 9, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Úrsula Corberó’s career is getting a Lift…

The 32-year-old Spanish actress and model, who rose to acclaim on Netflix’s The Money Heist, will star in Kevin Hart’s Netflix-film “Lift.”

Corberó is among a stellar cast that includes Sam Worthington, Burn Gorman, Jean Reno and Jacob Batalon.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Vincent D’Onofrio, Billy Magnussen, Yun Jee Kim, Viveik Kalra and Paul Anderson are also on board.

Gary Gray will direct the film, with Dan Kunka and Jeremy Doner penning the script. Netflix landed the package last year.

Hart will play a master thief who is wooed by his ex-girlfriend and the FBI to pull off an impossible heist with his international crew on a 777 flying from London to Zurich.

Lift falls under Hart and HartBeat Productions’ creative partnership with Netflix.

Luis Gerardo Méndez Signs with United Talent Agency (UTA)

Posted on March 24, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Luis Gerardo Méndez has new representation…

United Talent Agency (UTA) has signed the 40-year-old Mexican actor and producer, one of Mexico’s biggest stars, for representation in all areas.

Méndez is an actor, writer and producer best known for exec producing and starring in Netflix’s first Spanish-language original comedy series, Club de Cuervos.

He most recently appeared in the third season of Netflix’s Narcos: Mexico, as well as in Los Enviados for Paramount+, where he’s currently under a first-look producing deal for Spanish-language projects.

Méndez will next be seen in a starring role in the Netflix limited series, Belascoaran, and in Netflix’s Me Time, with Kevin Hart and Mark Wahlberg, which is slated to premiere later this year.

He will soon begin filming the Peacock limited series, The Resort, which was written and will be directed by Andy Siara.

The actor made his entrance into the U.S. feature marketplace opposite Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston in the Netflix original film Murder Mystery, which was the streamer’s most-watched original feature at the time of its release.

He was also previously seen in Sony’s Charlie’s Angels opposite Kristen Stewart, and executive produced and starred in Half Brothers for Universal and Focus Features, with that project marking his first English-speaking starring role.

In Mexico, he has starred in several successful features, including Cantinflas and Nosotros Los Nobles, the latter of which is the second most successful film of all time at the Mexican box office.

In addition to his television and feature roles, the actor has also appeared in the Mexico City stage play Privacidad, which he produced alongside Diego Luna, and starred in several international campaigns for global companies such as Verizon, Pepsi and Toyota.

Warner Bros. Animation Releases First Trailer for Diego Luna’s Animated Film “DC League of Super-Pets”

Posted on November 24, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a super time for Diego Luna.

Warner Bros. Animation has released the first official trailer for its upcoming DC League of Super-Pets, starring the 41-year-old Mexican actor/director/producer.

Produced by and starring Dwayne Johnson, the film finds one (Super)man’s best friend his only hope. After Superman (John Krasinski) is sidelined by Lex Luthor, the Man of Steel’s faithful companion, Krypto, sets out to save the day.

While Superman has Batman, Wonder Woman and the rest of the Justice League at his side, Krypto has only “a bunch of shelter pets” who, luckily, have been imbued with superpowers.

Johnson plays Krypto, while his ragtag band is made up of Ace (Kevin Hart), a hound who has super strength; PB (Vanessa Bayer), a pig named who can grow to a massive-size instantly; Merton (Natasha Lyonne) a turtle with super speed; and Chip (Luna), a squirrel who can shoot electricity from his tiny fingertips.

“My best friend is in trouble and you have to help me,” says Krypto, rallying the troops. What follows is an adventure full of challenges, surprises and potty humor.

The project reps Johnson’s second with DC after the New Line/DC movie Black Adam, in which he plays the title character, with his Seven Bucks producing.

DC League Of Super-Pets marks the Johnson’s third theatrically-released animated film, after Planet 51 and Moana.

Luna has previously been part of the voice cast of The Book of Life and Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans.

Luis Gerardo Méndez to Star in Netflix’s Comedy “Me Time”

Posted on September 3, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Luis Gerardo Méndez is ready for a little me time…

The 39-year-old Mexican actor and producer has joined the cast of the Netflix comedy Me Time starring Kevin Hart and Mark Wahlberg.

Jimmy O. Yang and Regina Hall are also on board.

John Hamburg will write and direct the film, with Hamburg also producing through his Particular Pictures along with Hart and Bryan Smiley for HartBeat Productions. Hart first announced the casting on his social media.

The film follows a stay-at-home dad (Hart) who finds himself with some “me time” for the first time in years while his wife and kids are away. He reconnects with his former best friend (Wahlberg) for a wild weekend that nearly upends his life.

Méndez recently executive produced and starred in the comedy Half Brothers, which was released theatrically on December 4, 2020. He will be seen next in season 3 of Netflix’s Narcos: Mexico and in Los Enviados, the first series to be co-produced with Academy Award-winning director and screenwriter, Juan José Campanella, and his production company 100 Bares.

Bad Bunny to Appear on HBO/HBO Max’s “The Shop: Uninterrupted”

Posted on May 24, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Bad Bunny is hittin’ the shop…

The 27-year-old Puerto Rican superstar will be making an appearance on The Shop: Uninterrupted’s upcoming fourth season.

The show is set to premiere on Friday May 28 on HBO and HBO Max.

In addition to Bad Bunny, the other stars joining LeBron James and Maverick Carter for the season premiere are iconic music mogul Jay-Z; WNBA star Nneka Ogwumike; and marketing executive Paul Rivera.

The group will discuss confidence on the big stage, parenthood and WrestleMania.

Staged periodically throughout the year, the show offers conversation and debate between some of the biggest names in sport and entertainment.

Past guests include Drake, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Diddy, Jimmy Kimmel, Patrick Mahomes, Lil Nas X, Will Smith, Megan Rapinoe, Kevin Hart, Rob Gronkowski and most recently, Barack Obama.

Executive producers are James, Carter, Jamal Henderson, Devin Johnson and Philip Byron; director is Robert Alexander; producers are Kevin McGrail, Brandon Riley and Rob Roediger; co-executive producer is Camille Maratchi; and creators are Paul Rivera and Randy Mims.

Carlos Gomez to Appear on David E. Kelley’s ABC Drama Series “Big Sky”

Posted on April 12, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

The sky’s the limit for Carlos Gomez.

The 59-year-old Latino actor has landed a recurring role on David E. Kelley’s hit freshman ABC drama series Big Sky.

Gomez, who most recently appeared in ABC’s The Baker and the Beauty joins a roster of recurring actors that includes Anja Savcic and Zoë Noelle Baker.

The crime thriller was created by Big Little Lies’ Kelly based on C.J. Box’s book.

Big Sky follows private detective Cassie Dewell, played by Kylie Bunbury, and ex-cop Jenny Hoyt, played by Katheryn Winnick, who join forces to search for two sisters who have been kidnapped by a truck driver on a remote highway in Montana. But when they discover that these are not the only girls who have disappeared in the area, they must race against the clock to stop the killer before another woman is taken.

Gomez will play Gil Amaya, former ranch manager forever entangled with the Kleinsasser family, including their darkest secrets.

The sries is produced by 20th Century Fox Television in association with A+E Studios.

Gomez most recently starred as Rafael Garcia on ABC’s The Baker and the Beauty. He also portrayed Jose Menendez on Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders, recurred as Agent Jose Campos in CBS’ Madam Secretary, and he previously starred for four seasons on A&E Network’s The Glades.

His film work includes Spiked with Aiden Quinn and Ride Along 2 opposite Kevin Hart.

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