HBO Max Renews Leiomy Maldonado’s “Legendary” for Second Season

There’s more legendary moments in Leiomy Maldonado’s future…

HBO Max has ordered a second season of the reality voguing competition Legendary, featuring the 33-year-old Afro-Puerto Rican dancer, instructor, model and ballroom dancer, aka “Wonder Woman of Vogue.”

Leiomy Maldonado

In addition to Maldonado, the reality competition series that puts the spotlight on ballroom culture, the series’ judges also include fashion stylist Law Roach, actress Jameela Jamil and rapper Megan Thee Stallion.

Dashaun Wesley will reprise his role as ballroom MC.

The final two episodes of season one were released this past week. 

The current season takes place in New York but will make its way across the country to Los Angeles for its sophomore run.

Legendary celebrates ballroom culture which started in New York as a subculture that served as a safe haven for the LGBTQ community — primarily for Black and Latinx people. The series brings the culture to the masses as we see families or “Houses” fashion and dance challenges including voguing for the chance to snatch the trophy and win a cash prize.

In the first season, Legendaryfeatured eight voguing houses: House of Balmain, House of Escada, House of Gucci, House of Lanvin, House of Ninja, House of Ebony, House of St. Laurent and House of West. Each house included five performers and a leader affectionately called the house mother. The teams compete in a competition that documents a themed ball every episode from start to finish. Throughout each episode, we learn more about each House and their performers as they tell us their moving and inspirational backstories.

Legendary was an HBO Max, day one premiere,” said Kevin Reilly, Chief Content Officer at HBO Max, President, TNT, TBS and truTV. “We knew we had something special and are proud that critics and audiences alike have embraced the series. Bringing this incredible world back for a second season furthers our commitment to high quality, compelling storytelling.”

“Our goal is to continue showcasing the exuberant and dynamic world of ballroom through the omnicultural stories of its most talented houses,” said Rob Eric, Scout Productions’ Chief Creative Officer and executive producer.

Leiomy Maldonado to Take Part in ATX Television Festival’s First-Ever Virtual Event, “ATX TV….From The Couch!”

Leiomy Maldonado is bringing something legendary to this year’s virtual edition of the ATX Television Festival.

The festival’s first ever virtual version, titled “ATX TV….From The Couch!,” will feature a special panel “Extravaganza” with the cast of HBO Max’s new reality voguing competition, Legemdary, including the 33-year-old Afro-Puerto Rican dancer, instructor, model and ballroom dancer, aka “Wonder Woman of Vogue.”

Leiomy Maldonado

Maldonado serves as a judge on the new reality competition series, alongside Megan Thee StallionJameela Jamil and Law Roach.

Peacock will present a Psych panel with creators Steve Franks and Chris Henze, as well as cast members James RodayDulé HillKirsten Nelson, Maggie Lawson and Corbin Bernsen ahead of the premiere of Peacock’s second Psych movie, Psych 2: Lassie Come Home.

Other panels include a conversation with PopTV’s One Day at a Time including showrunner/executive producer/director/actor Gloria Calderón Kellett as well as cast members Justina MachadoRita Moreno, and Isabella Gomez

They’ll join viewers for an informal brunch conversation discussing the June 16 animated special, “The Politics Episode.”

There will also be a table read with the executive producers and cast of Search Party ahead of its debut on HBO Max.

The festival will feature the marquee panel conversation with the cast and creatives of HBO‘s reboot of Perry MasonAudiences will get a first look at the new gritty drama ahead of its June 21 premiere date. 

Hulu will also bring their original series Little Fires Everywhere to the fest with a special panel featuring the shows producers and writers.

FX Networks will present a Justified reunion with the show’sbehind the scenes team and stars Timothy Olyphant and Joelle Carter.

The fest will highlight the ways women support one another in television with a special “Torchlighters” panel, led by Pacesetter principal and executive producer Jessica Rhoades (Dirty John: The Betty Broderick StorySharp ObjectsUtopia) creator/showrunner/executive producer/director Marti Noxon (Sharp ObjectsDietlandTo the Bone), creator/showrunner/executive producer/director Tanya Saracho (Vida), Francesca Orsi (Executive Vice President and Head of Drama at HBO), writer Lindsey Villarreal (Vida) and writer Erika L Johnson (The VillageThe Good Lord Bird), with additional panelists to be announced soon.

ATX’s previously announced programming includes panels for ScrubsCougar TownThe Bold Type, Nancy Drew, New AmsterdamP-Valley and more. The ATX Television Festival will stream for free on ATX’s official YouTube channel, with an option for viewers to donate to fundraising efforts for​ Direct Relief and​ The Actors Fund ​in an effort to benefit those affected by COVID-19.

The event will take place June 5-7. Click here for the complete schedule.

HBO Max Releases First Trailer of The Unscripted Ballroom Competition Show “Legendary,” with Leiomy Maldonado

Leiomy Maldonado is hitting the ballroom…

HBO Max has released the first official trailer for Legendary, the streaming service’s upcoming unscripted ballroom competition show featuring the 32-year-old transgender Afro-Puerto Rican dancer, instructor, model, activist, and ballroom dancer, known as the “Wonder Woman of Vogue,” as a judge.

Leiomy Maldonado

The series follows young voguing teams competing in balls and showcasing fashion for a panel of judges.

In addition to Maldonado, the judges panel includes Law RoachJameela Jamil and Megan Thee Stallion

Legendary comes from Scout ProductionsJane Mun and Josh Greenberg serve as showrunners. David CollinsRob Eric and Michael Williams also serve as executive producers.

Maldonado was a member of the dance troupe “Vogue Evolution,” which was featured on America’s Best Dance Crew. She has worked with artists like Willow Smith, Icona Pop, and CocoRosie. She’s also a choreographer for the ballroom scenes in FX’s Pose.

Leiomy Maldonado to Serve as a Judge on HBO Max’s Voguing Competition Series “Legendary”

Leiomy Maldonado is legendary

The 32-year-old transgender Afro-Puerto Rican dancer, instructor, model, activist, and ballroom dancer, known as the “Wonder Woman of Vogue,” will serve as a judge on HBO Max’s upcoming voguing competition series Legendary

Leiomy Maldonado

The Good Place’sJameela Jamilwill serve as the host and a judge alongside Maldonado, Megan Thee Stallion and Law Roach. They’ll be joined by a weekly rotating guest judge, with commentary by DJ MikeQand Dashaun Wesley, who’ll emcee with Jamil.

In the 10-episode Legendary, from Scout Productions, divas will battle on voguing teams called “houses,” with the chance to win a cash prize in ballsy fashion and dance challenges to ultimately achieve “Legendary” status. 

Voguing is a competitive style of modern dance featuring over-the-top fashion and choreography based on poses struck by models on a catwalk. 

Legendary will feature 10 voguing “houses,” each comprised of five performers and a leader – the house “parent.” The teams rotate in a round-robin format, and each episode documents a themed ball from start to finish.

The competition show isset to launch on WarnerMedia’s upcoming streaming service, which debuts in spring 2020.

Maldonado was a member of the dance troupe “Vogue Evolution,” which was featured on America’s Best Dance Crew. She has worked with artists like Willow Smith, Icona Pop, and CocoRosie. She’s also a choreographer for the ballroom scenes in FX’s Pose.

Javier Bardem In Talks to Star in Disney’s Live-Action “The Little Mermaid” Remake

Javier Bardem could be heading under the sea

The 50-year-old Spanish Academy Award-winning actor is in talks to star in Disney‘s live-action remake of its animated classic, The Little Mermaid. 

Javier Bardem

He’s circling the role of King Triton, father of Ariel, who is being portrayed by Halle Bailey.

Rob Marshal lis directing the live-action/CGI feature from a script by David Magee.

One Direction’s Harry Styles is reportedly being considered for the role of Prince Eric. Previously announced cast members include Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Awkwafina as Scuttle and Jacob Tremblay as Flounder.

Marc Platt, Marshall, Lin-Manuel Miranda and John DeLuca are producing the film for Disney. 

The original film’s composer Alan Menkenis back to write new music and will craft the lyrics with Miranda.

Bardem, who picked up a Best Actor Oscar for his role in the 2007 Coen Brothers film No Country for Old Me, will co-star in Dune, the Denis Villeneuve-directed film adaptation of Frank Herbert’s bestselling novel, which is set up at Legendary.

Oscar Isaac in Talks to Star in Denis Villeneuve’s Adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Sci-Fi Epic “Dune”

It could soon be a Dune dealfor Oscar Isaac… 

The 39-year-old Guatemalan-Cubanis in talks to join the cast of DuneDenis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi epic. 

Oscar Isaac

Isaac would play the father of Timothée Chalamet, who will star as Paul Atreides. 

Rebecca FergusonDave BautistaStellan Skarsgårdand Charlotte Ramplingare also aboard. 

Villeneuve, Eric Rothand Jon Spaihtspenned the script. 

Legendary acquired film and television rights to the Herbert novels in 2016, with the intention of making multiple films. 

Villeneuve chose that film over numerous offers as his follow-up to Blade Runner 2049.

Isaac has appeared in the Star Wars sequel trilogy as X-wing pilot Poe Dameron, and in X-Men: Apocalypse as the titular mutantsupervillain Apocalypse. 

Anthony Ramos In Talks to Star in the Film Adaptation of the Hit Broadway Musical “In The Heights”

Anthony Ramos may be reaching new Heights

The 26-year-old Puerto Rican actor, part of the original cast of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony Award-winning musical Hamilton, is in negotiations to star in In the HeightsWarner Bros.’ adaptation of Miranda’s other Tony-winning musical.

Anthony Ramos

If the talks pan out, Ramos would play Usnavi, the bodega owner at the center of the action in the Washington Heights-set musical, according to Deadline.

Miranda originated the role in the musical and earned a Tony Award nomination for his performance.

The musical won four Tonys in 2008 including for Best Musical, for Quiara Alegría Hudes’ book, and for Miranda’s lyrics. In the original storyline, Usnavi strikes it rich and plans to leave, until the pull of the neighborhood and the people in it give him pause.

The synopsis of the In The Heights film: Residents of the largely Latino Upper Manhattan neighborhood Washington Heights – a bodega owner, a college student, a taxi driver, a beauty salon worker, and an old woman – aspire for better lives as gentrification begins to take hold, and a sweltering summer power blackout brings their personal life crises to a head.

This is the first cast action since it was announced in May that Warner Bros. had wrapped a $50 million deal to acquire film rights to the musical. The property was the subject of a hot auction after it was extracted from the The Weinstein Company ahead of its bankruptcy.

Jon M. Chu is directing the film, adapted by Hudes.

Ramos, who played Philip Hamilton and John Laurens in Hamilton, appeared in Netflix’s She’s Gotta Have It.

He currently appears in A Star is Born, as well as toplined the Sundance Film Festival film Monsters and Men.

He’ll next appear in Legendary‘s filmGodzilla: King of Monsters.

Rodriguez to Star in Guillermo del Toro’s “Pacific Rim 2”

Shyrley Rodriguez is Pacifically inclined…

The 23-year-old Latina actress has been added to the cast of Legendary/ Universal’s Pacific Rim 2, the sequel to Guillermo del Toro and Travis Beacham’s 2013 sci-fi film that stars John Boyega, Scott Eastwood and Chinese actress Jing Tian.

Shyrley Rodriguez

Steven S. DeKnight directs the pic, which is currently in production with a storyline that has “a strong connection to China,” according to Jack Gao of Wanda, which owns Legendary and made the announcement today.

The film is scheduled to hit theaters on February 23, 2018.

Rodriguez, who can currently be seen on Baz Luhrmann’s Netflix musical series The Get Downhas also landed a role in the film Wheels, the directorial debut indie from Top Chef and Project Runway helmer Paul Starkman. The film follows Max, a teen from Brooklyn, who pursues his dream of becoming a DJ.

Rodriguez plays the love interest Liza, a neighborhood girl who is strong willed, street smart, and sees the good in the world.